HAIDER ABBAS GAzi

The Gazi Mansion still had the same grandeur it had always possessed, but today it seemed slightly bowed.

What had happened years ago had made this mansion bow a little. Time changed, and along with it, everything had changed.

The heavy door of the mansion opened, and everyone’s eyes suddenly settled there. Tall in stature, broad-shouldered, with such a fierce gleam in his eyes that even in darkness, they shone like a lion’s eyes.

There was steadiness in his steps, but every step he took left such an echo on the ground as if he were marking his presence.

People looked at one another, but no one dared to meet his eyes.

“Haider Abbas Gazi.”

Haider, lion, brave. Abbas, lion-hearted, powerful and dominant. Gazi, the one who fights the enemy and achieves victory.

His name alone was enough to evoke a sense of fear and stature. There was no arrogance in his personality, rather, he possessed that natural dominance that only a lion had. Wherever his name was spoken, the silence grew deeper.

He had not been raised, he had been prepared, to conquer every enemy. The marks of the sins the Gazis had committed had been blurred within the character of Haider Abbas Gazi.

“Go to the lands.”

At his powerful voice, the driver’s hands trembled.

He stepped out of the car and looked outside. He saw some birds coming toward the lands. Haider raised his head and looked.

“Even the enemy’s birds are not allowed to roam here.”

He took the gun in his hand and took aim. A glimpse of blood appeared in the flowing river. At that very moment, a shot was fired from the other side too. Perhaps someone from here had reached there.

This had been happening for twenty-six years. Humans, birds, animals, everyone feared going from one side to the other. If someone went there by mistake, they never returned.

“Bhai, Bhai…” Someone was coming running from behind.

“What happened?”

“Haider Bhai, there is langar at the Dargah this evening. The Jahangirs have made better arrangements than us.”

“Sameer, then do you not have the guts to do something? Go and make such arrangements that nothing like it has ever happened before.”

Hearing Haider’s command, Sameer ran away.

Haider raised his head and looked at the tall Red Mansion.

“You will have to answer for it too, Yakub Jahangir. Honour left your house, you took one honour, this circle will turn around and reach your own threshold. This time, at your threshold, you will face a lion.”

He turned and went toward his fields.

Dargah

Every year, on the occasion of the Urs, this place became lively, and people took an interest because there was a competition between the Gazis and the Jahangirs, who could do more.

For years, this had been the only place that had become a meeting place for these two enemies.

People were coming from both sides. Sameer leaned toward Haider and said, “Bhai.”

“Shahryar Jahangir is coming with his people.”

“We will not change our path.”

Haider did not stop. Shahryar was also walking toward him from the opposite side.

Haider Abbas Gazi, the eldest son of Abdul Abbas Gazi, was the chief of his territory.

Shahryar Gazi, the son of Sher Mohammad, was the head of his territory. Both were equally matched, the same age, firm in maintaining their enmity. They possessed the same pride that their fathers and grandfathers had, and they kept women and children away from their enmity.

Haider Abbas Gazi had a dusky complexion. His tall height and muscular body were a reflection of his commanding personality. His thick hair fell below his ears and swayed in the air with every step, making his dominating presence felt. His deep, dark eyes moved as if a hunter were watching his prey, sharp, piercing, and capable of reaching straight into anyone’s soul. That day, he was wearing a white Pathani suit, and there was nothing less than a king in the way he walked. When he entered the gathering, the crowd automatically divided into two, as if the paths had been made only for him.

Haider and Shahryar stood facing each other.

Both stared into each other’s eyes with fierce looks. Neither was ready to move aside.

Khadija Begum said, “One should pass by while staying away from dishonourable men, Shahryar.”

Shahryar passed by her side. Haider remained there with his jaws clenched.

Shahryar went ahead and sat on a chair.

Shahryar Jahangir… The moment his name was heard, a sense of authority and dominance settled into the mind. A black beard and moustache against his fair complexion, deep eyes in which both the calmness of a hunter and the arrogance of a king could be seen. The shawl draped over his shoulder over his black Pathani attire further enhanced his royal grandeur. The chair on which he sat seemed no less than a throne. His legs crossed, a ring set with a stone on his finger, and deep seriousness on his face.

The langar was held in such abundance that there was more than enough for the people. After that, the qawwali also began. Shahryar called the qawwals from his side, and then Haider did the same.

Until then, it had been happening as a competition, but as always, Haider began to disappear.

He got up and came to sit among the qawwals, joining them. They were singing very beautifully without any drums or music.

He closed his eyes and swayed, placing his hands on his knees.

Shahryar cast a narrow glance at him and got up from there.

Gazi Mansion

Haider returned with tabarruk (prasad) in his hand. He looked into the hall. There was no one there.

“Ammi, Ammi…”

A maid came running. Without looking at her, Haider asked, “Where is Zara?”

“Zara Bibi has gone to the garden.”

A girl wearing a white anarkali, with a multicoloured dupatta flowing in the wind, stood there. Her long hair was swaying, her eyes were dancing over the view in front of her, and her lips were smiling. She spun around in a circle and sent all the birds flying away.

All the birds flew away with a loud sound.

Zara turned. Her round face emerged, her red lips, her big eyes, and nervousness in those eyes.

“Yes, Bhai Jaan.”

Haider came forward and said, “Why are you scared? I just came to give you what you had asked for.”

Haider hugged her and once again thanked God for keeping her safe.

“You won’t take me with you, Bhai Jaan.”

“One day, I will definitely take you with me.”

Haider placed his lips on her forehead.

“Your result has come.”

She made a face and said, “Bhai, I won’t do Masters.”

Haider laughed at her manner.

“Okay.”

Placing his hand on her shoulder and walking alongside her, he said, “Now get into the kitchen. Mehendi should be put on your hands.”

She began to blush. After a few moments, she stopped and said, “Bhai, I will do Masters and PhD too.”

She asked the question with such innocence that Haider burst into laughter.

Red Mansion

Shahryar was going to his room.

“Shahryar.”

He turned around.

“Yes, Ammi.”

Halima, Sher Mohammad’s wife, said, “Has any news come from the city?”

Shahryar shook his head.

“It is strange. It has been two weeks, and there has been no call from the university.”

Sher Mohammad, who was reading the newspaper, said, “That was the last one, right? The exam? So it is over.”

“No, Abba Jaan. There is one more semester after this. For now, it has been stopped because of the competition.”

Halima looked at Sher Mohammad.

“When will she come home? Twenty years have passed.”

Khadija Begum said, “Swords are not made just like that. They burn in the furnace, after that they clash with stone and become sharp swords.”

Jahangir Alam, who had been silent, said, “Now the time has come. They should be taken out of the furnace.”

“Shahryar, go and bring them back.”

At this announcement, everyone fell silent.

SRMT UNIVERSITY

All the players could be seen on the basketball court. A competition was taking place between the boys and girls. The actual competition had already taken place, but someone had challenged the team captain.

The game was reaching its end. The sound of “Ifra, Ifra” echoed everywhere. A girl had her hair tied into a bun, and there was sternness in her eyes, which were fixed on the ball.

“Come on, Ifra Di, you can do it…”

She raised her head and saw two girls jumping. She blew them a flying kiss. Beads of sweat shone on her forehead, but there was only the determination to win burning in her eyes.

Dribbling quickly, she bounced the ball against the ground and passed through the opponents like lightning.

Every move she made was so precise, as if the game were completely under her control. Suddenly, she jumped, threw the ball toward the ring with both hands, and within a moment, the ball fell into the basket.

“This… I am fire, no one can stop me…”

“Come with me, I will cool you down, just in a little while.”

She looked at him with her sideways glance. The boy standing right behind her was smiling at her.

The very next moment, a scream echoed there.