Yaqeen ka Safar - The Journey of Faith

2

Five days after her interview, she received a call from Dr. Asifa Ali, "You can  start from the first day of the coming month."

She recognized her voice immediately. Dr Asifa had been there on the day of the interview. She quickly started her preparations for leaving. Once again, she was being exiled.

"Do come on the weekends, okay?" Mohsin had come to drop her off at the airport. He seemed quite uncomfortable with her sudden departure and kept avoiding her gaze. His behavior made her uncomfortable too. She nodded her head in response as if she was whole-heartedly ready to spend every single holiday and weekend with them. Before leaving she had said goodbye to Rubi, who had stalked into her bedroom without replying. Shela, however, came with Aunt till the gate to say goodbye. She too had repeated the formal words of 'spend your holidays with us' and Zubia had agreed lightly.

Sitting in the airplane, unaware of her surroundings, she recalled a poem she once read years ago.

Karen rukh nagar nagar ka,
keh saragh koi paen,

kisi yarnama bar ka,
har ik ajnabi se puchen,

jo pata tha apnay ghar ka

She wanted to abandon all her thoughts. Freeing her mind of every worry, she lost herself in the natural beauty of the land she was going to.

When the car stopped in front of the old building, she looked in wonder at the ancient architecture. She had been interviewed in Peshawar and it was her good luck that they had chosen a big hospital. The picture she had painted in her imagination didn't do it justice. The building was beautiful. As she entered, she was greeted warmly by Dr. Asifa Ali.

"Welcome, Dr. Zubia!" Dr. Asifa seemed to be around fifty-five to sixty years old. A black Sawati dress, overalls, and a black shawl coupled with light, delicate jewelry made her look graceful and pretty. She wore red lipstick that looked beautiful with her fair complexion. She had acted quite coldly on the day of the interview but today she was all warm and welcoming smiles.

"Was your journey comfortable? Did the driver come on time?"  She kept asking questions as she took Zubia around the hospital. Zubia observed her surroundings carefully as she answered her questions. Looking at the grand interior made it hard to believe that this was actually a small, underdeveloped town.

As they talked, Dr Asifa took her into a room. Dr. Shehzor Ali stood up and greeted her. "How was your journey?" She could hear the kindness in his voice. She was impressed by the compassion of these people. From the driver to this respected doctor, everyone was so nice and welcoming as if she was a beloved guest rather than a mere worker. While talking to her, he kept teasing Dr. Asifa every once in a while.

"This lady is actually my wife." He had said while smiling at her surprised face.

"Asfandyar had some work to do in the health ministry, so he's in Islamabad. He'll probably be back by tomorrow. These days you know, its impossible to start a hospital, a private college, a university, or any other organization if you don't have good connections in Islamabad." He took a sip of his coffee and then said after a pause, "You know who Dr. Asfandyar is, right? He was present on the day of your interview."

She suddenly remembered the intimidating man from that day. 

"Asfandyar is actually the owner of this hospital. Six years ago, I, Shehzor and Asfandyar set the foundations of this hospital. We had no resources in the beginning. The number of doctors and other staff was practically zero. We were giving it our all, but we still didn't have much hope of being successful. But Asfand...he believes in tireless working. We were close to giving up but he stayed firm on his ambition, and just look at this hospital now. It has progressed so much in just a few years. X-rays, Ultrasounds and other tests can be conducted right here. Its been three years since our operation theater was set up. The people used to have to go to the main city for a simple blood test, but now we have all these facilities in this very place." She could see the pride and happiness on Dr. Asifa's face as she spoke. 

"Are you two from around here?" Zubia asked because she was curious about their fair complexions and thick accents. They both spoke English clearly, but their Urdu accents made it seem that they belonged from these areas. 

"Yes, I was born here. Asifa however, is from Abbottabad. When I was young my family settled in America. I completed my education, and married Asifa soon after. There was no one here to come back to, and so I spent my whole life in that foreign land. We continued our education after marriage, gaining many degrees and much knowledge. Earning lots of money wasn't a problem either, and so not a stray thought of Pakistan entered our minds. And then I met Asfandyar. I was a professor in the university of Fluorida and he was my student. He was a talented boy, and from my country too, so we developed a good understanding. He completed his post-graduation with distinction. Being the insanely capable surgeon that he was, he received a lot of job offers from many reputable places. But he didn't accept a single one. I thought he was crazy. That he had no interest is securing his future and career. But when I tried to make him see sense, he had answered me abruptly.

"'You want me to give these people the happiness of new life although they have no shortage of good, talented doctors. And back in my tiny little village, people slowly die in pain every single day because of no good medical facilities. Sorry, sir, but I don't want this success. Here I will have a career, a good name, and lots of money, but the human of me will never let me do such a thing.'

"That was the first time I saw the world from his eyes. How different that young boy was. For the first time, I was drowning in guilt. He was young and surrounded by the attraction of that fast-living world. But still he gave up everything and came back. I, on the other hand had spent my whole life away from my motherland, trying to make others happy."

He was speaking so seriously. While speaking of Asfandyar his voice had been laced with paternal affection. He told her that when Asfandyar was coming back to Pakistan after completing his education, they had decided right then to establish a hospital in this tiny little village. The dream was Asfandyar's, and the married couple had promised him that they would be with him in every step along the way. Six years ago, Asfandyar had given the happy news that the buliding was complete, and then invited them to join. They had set off straight away. Their only daughter had already been married off and so they were free from all responsibilities. They had decided to leave their comfortable lives and well-paying jobs to live here for the rest of their lives.

She really liked the old doctor. The beard and signs of prayer on his face added purity to his powerful character. 

"Come on, I'll introduce you to the staff." Dr. Asifa invited her along after they had finished their coffees. The staff was by no means small in quantity. Technicians, ward boys, nurses...she was being introduced to everyone. But there was almost no female staff. 

Dr. Asifa explained when she asked the reason. "Its considered very wrong for women around here to work, and for women to come from other far-off places to work is too difficult. There was no other lady doctor besides me. Female para-medics are also very few and because of the strict rules of parda on women, they refuse to be treated by men.

"The need to appoint you arose because of this problem. I was the only lady doctor and I had no time at all to rest. Asfandyar said that we should hire another female doctor so that the work load on me would be lessened."

There were two other doctors there and she was able to meet only one. Dr. Shahab Rafeeq was a citizen of Sawat and his family lived in Mangora. The other doctor that she hadn't been able to meet was Dr. Jadar Khan. Everyone welcomed her with open arms.