Namal (English Translation) By Nimra Ahmed

Chpt 15: The Two Hearts of Man

"Abandon all hope, you who enter here!" I saw these words written in a sorrowful tone at the top of the gates of hell. I asked, "Their meaning is difficult for me, O teacher."

In a manner akin to an experienced man, he replied, "Here, all doubt must be cast aside; all cowardice must be erased. We have come to a place that I have mentioned to you. Here, you will see the wretched souls who have been deprived of wisdom and goodness."

Saying this, he took my hand securely, and when I felt some comfort, he led me into the mysterious place.

There, cries of anguish and complaints echoed, resounding in the starless air. Hearing them, I wept profusely! Different languages were spoken-terrifying. The angry intonations conveyed tales of pain-loud, rebellious voices accompanied by the sound of hands striking.

Like a ball, they were swirling in the eternal air. And I, whose head was bound by fear, said, "O teacher, what do I hear? Who are these tormented souls?" He replied to me, "They lived without fame or infamy. Rather, they existed solely for themselves.

The souls of these unfortunate people are placed in such a way that they were neither rebels against God nor loyal to Him.

The heavens expelled them so that justice would not be compromised, and hell's lower pit is unwilling to take them in, as the damned cannot gain any honor from them.

The world will no longer give them any recognition. Both comfort and justice regard them as worthless. Do not address them, just look and pass by."

-Dante Alighieri, Inferno (The Divine Comedy)

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Scene Transition

The blue and red lights of the police mobiles were flashing. The officers were putting Faris into the vehicle.

"Mrs. Zumar, we need to search the house," Sarmad Shah said, pointing to the lady police officers standing nearby. Zumar's mind was paralyzed. She looked at the lady officers, then at the ASP. Her mind began to awaken. She pressed one hand against the door knob and the other against the wooden frame. She tried to harden her pale face, but when she spoke, her voice trembled.

"After all these years of work I have done for you, or you for me, is any of it worthy enough for you to enter our home?"

"Mrs. Zumar, I have a search warrant, but I just remembered that I need to make a call to my son for ten minutes." He looked at her firmly in the eyes. "I will enter your house in ten minutes."

Zumar quickly nodded in agreement and closed the door. When she turned around, she bumped into Haneen and Sameer, who were standing in front of her, frightened and worried.

"Zumar,Did they take Mamoon? What will happen now?" Haneen was very scared. She was holding Sameer by the elbow. Zumar stepped forward.

"Haneen, the police have given us ten minutes. After that, they will search the house."

"Oh God." Haneen let go of Sameer's elbow. "The basement... our papers... our laptops and mobiles... how will we get rid of them?"

"We won't need to." Zumar came to Zumer, who was standing completely silent and confused. Zumar took both of his hands. His hands were cold, while Sameer's were warm. "Are you scared, Phuppo?"

Looking into his eyes, Zumar shook her head. "I am very, very scared."

"I am with you. Don't be afraid!" he said worriedly. "Sameer, listen to me!" She was speaking between broken breaths. "Sadi is not here, and neither is Faris. There is no man in this house except for you. Sameer, you are the man of this house from today. Look into my eyes and tell me that you are the man of this house."