A Long Way To Go: A Travelling Story (2015)

Chapter 12

Haroon and the boys went talked to the hotel manager about the chairman’s son.

The manager said “Look, we all tried our best sir but now he’s tormenting us”.

Haroon angrily said “Damn retard!”

The manager said “True Sir”.

Then the boys including Haroon decided that they had to take the girls and me to the village chairperson. I had no comment on their decision. Therefore we girls went to sleep. As the sun rose, we went to the village which was surrounded by houses made of clays and some were made of bricks. At the center, loads of people from the villages were crowded. When they looked back at us, they cleared the crowd. There was a man sitting at the bottom of the peepal tree. He wore a white kurta and a lungi. He had a mustache and a long beard. The man introduced himself as the village’s chairperson.

“So here we are. What is your complaint Haroon, my child?” asked the chairperson.

“Sir, your son is creating a mess again. They came to our guest house and harassed our guests!” said Haroon.

“The outcast, the extremist and what to say? Enough of abusive words. I was so wrong about everything until you and Ali entered our life. So are these your guests?” pointed the chairperson.

“Yes” said Haroon.

“So it is Debra, your darling wife. Debra dear, it’s been pleased to see you” said the chairman.

“It’s pleased to see you too” said I.

“Please sit down. Debra dear, your husband Haroon is really a manageable man. I must say. At the time, our village and tourists were tormented by my son’s men. I was a foolish person who used to criticize tourists and told children not to mix with them. I was also blinded by my son’s thought that I have spoiled him a lot. As Ali tried to inform about my son, I banished him. Until, Haroon and Ali made a team of a campaign against my conservative ideologies. However, Haroon convinced me so much about education, life and finding oneself. People protested me for it too. I realized that I raised my son wrongly. I tried my best to convince him but he was beyond limits. Then I banished him as he continue to terrorize all the guest house and hotels” said The chairman.

“Bygones happen sir” said I.

“Yes, Dr. Haroon cares so much about you but yes, I think I found your real identity. Anyways, we have to take a straight action towards this extremist and vulgar fellow. He will be never called ‘son’ until he gets back on track” said The chairman.

“So, fellow villagers. I would like to say, the campaign hasn’t ended yet. Therefore, we have to convert the conservatives into the open minded people. Illiteracy and half literacy always define the bad things about people. Today, we will protest the team of extremists to be banished or otherwise, punished” said Haroon.

All the villagers chanted “All hail Dr. Haroon!”

I was so proud of him! I had never seen such an honor but yes he was an honorable person but much more honor! I can’t explain through words but feelings are the pivotal part.

Another day, the boys donated clothes as us donated food for the poor. Haroon gave some money for education as Ali was giving them free education. Most people were happy until the gang came, burning some donated clothes.

“What are you doing here, you cold blooded son of the chairman! What kind of a new misbehavior is this?” shouted Haroon.

“They call me Jhor-The King of Thunder!” said Jhor (the chairman’s son).

Then, Jhor was such that he had beaten a young woman with an iron rod in her back.

“Young women should not go out without their gentleman” said Jhor.

“YOU REGRET THIS!” shouted Haroon angrily and punched most of his gang members. After that he punched Jhor in such a manner that blood spilled out from his mouth and Jhor panted.  Most of the boys were shocked about Haroon’s aggressive punching style. He took Jhor to his father.

“I am sorry father! I will do what you and good people ask me to” said Jhor.

“You are barely forgiven. This time you will be imprisoned. Literacy is the key to do something but you forgot who you really were” said the chairman.

After that, the police took him to the prison. The villagers chanted Haroon. I            liyas asked “how did you get to know we were here?”

Haroon revealed:

“I arrived few days after Debra. During your visit at Sameen’s studio Debra called me. She gave her cell to Sameen. We patched up. I was aware of your conversation. Sameen gave me Ali’s number. He called me for a campaign against those who are too conservatives. Therefore, Ali and I made a team as the villagers gave us support. The rest is revealed by the chairman”.

“What happened after you left the college?” asked Sameen.

“I think I have to repeat this fully for my wife. Yes, once we were friends in college but also schoolmates too. Saiful used to write a bad poetry, Iliyas used to mock much of law, Sameen used to make bad films and Ali used to teach vulgar things to students. I was so much of a soft-spoken person that no one was aware of my martial arts. Until one day, one of my juniors, Sheeba used to take help for my notes and research. I thought that she was like my sister but I found out that she had a crush on me. Ok I accepted.

Later on, at the graduation day, my friends glared at me. I didn’t know what really happened. He said that he wanted give a break up of our friendship for copying Iliyas’s research, burning the design and poetries of Saiful, Sameen’s film script was plagiarized and Ali’s theories were stolen. Until then, Saiful and Ali realized that something was wrong. Saiful went inside the library along with Ali. They saw Sheeba was laughing hysterically that he broke our friendship just to get Haroon. They just used the recording radio box and recorded her voice. When they showed it to the principal, he rusticated her” Haroon revealed.

We were surprised about his revelation but sighed with relief that at least the suspense was revealed.