Peer-e-kamil

Chapter 1 (Part 4)

Asjad opened the door and entered his mother's room.

"Ami, I need to discuss something important with you."

"Yes...what is it?"

Asjad sat down on the sofa. "Have you been to Hashim Uncle's lately?"

"No...is there anything special?"

"Imama is over for this weekend."

"Very well, we'll go this evening. Have you been there?" Shakeela smiled at him.

"Yes..."

"How is she? She's come home after a long time," Shakeela remarked.

"Yes, after two months."

Shakeela sensed Asjad was upset. "Is there a problem?"

"Ami, I find Imama a little changed," Asjad said with a sigh

"Changed? What do you mean?"

"I cannot explain what I mean. It's just that her attitude towards me is rather strange." Asjad shrugged his shoulders. "Today she took offence to something quite minor. She's not the way she was before. I am not able to figure out the reason for this change."

"It's your imagination, Asjad. Why would her attitude change? You are thinking too emotionally."

"No, Ami. Initially, I thought I was being oversensitive, but after today I don't think I am imagining things. She treats me in a very offhand manner."

"What do you think is the reason for this change in her attitude?" she asked as she put the brush back on the table.

"I have no idea..."

"Did you ask her?"

"Not just once, but several times."

"And?"

"Like you, she always says that I am mistaken." He shrugged again.

"Sometimes, she says it's because of her studies, sometimes, she says it is because she has matured now..."

"It's not so far-fetched; perhaps, that is the reason" Shakeela replied pensively

"Ami, it's not a question of her becoming serious! I think she's moving away from me," said Asjad.

"You're being silly, Asjad. I don't believe there's any such issue. You have both known each other since childhood. You know your temperaments."

Shakeela felt her son's fears were meaningless. "Obviously, changes do take place as the years pass: you're no longer children. Stop worrying over trivialities,"she tried to reason with her son. "In any case, Hashim Bhai wants the two of you to get married next year. Imama can continue and complete her education afterwards. He wants to fulfill his responsibility," Shakeela revealed.

"When did he say this?'"Shakeela was taken by surprise.

"Many times. In fact, I think they may have started the preparations." Asjad breathed a sigh of relief.

"Maybe that is why Imama is agitated."

"Yes, possibly. The wedding should take place next year," Asjad replied

with some satisfaction.

__________________________

He was a tall, thin lad of sixteen or seventeen. He had a fuzzy growth on his face and had an innocent look about him. He was dressed in sports shorts and a baggy shirt, and had on cotton socks and joggers. He was in the middle of a crowded road, on a heavy duty motorcycle which he was racing recklessly without any consideration for traffic lights or oncoming traffic. Zigzagging his bike through the traffic, he periodically lifted both his feet off the pedals performing wheelies. Then, without breaking speed, he turned and changed lanes going the wrong way through the oncoming traffic. Suddenly he braked with a sharp screech. He raised his hands from the handlebars and the motorcycle slammed full speed into an approaching car. He was flung into the air and thrown down. He had no idea of what had happened...his mind plunged into a dark abyss.