Majid’s dream

Majid was in deep emotional distress when he returned from engineering department. He bunked classes and reached hostel early with sullen face, disheveled hair and tearful eyes. Belal his room partner was leaving for classes when Majid entered the room. Worried, Belal enquired about his health. Majid pretended that nothing was wrong with him.

Belal Bhat, his room partner for the last four years was from Anantnag, Kashmir. Belal did not go home since he joined university due to the disturbances back in Kashmir. His parents preferred safety over their desire to see his beloved son. Belal’s elder brother Maqbool Bhat was Phd scholar researching on influence of sufi-ism in Kashmir at the same university. He too appeared to have made the university a temporary refugee camp. Belal and his Kashmiri visitors spoke Koshur, the language primarily spoken in Kashmir. Majid found the hissing sound of the language irritating so he would leave the room whenever Belal had some visitors.  

 Majid too did not go home for the last two years as he was unable to meet traveling expenses. Majid lied to his parents that he needed to stay at hostel to prepare for his upcoming competitive examination.

Last night while returning from library he visited market and dialed home. After struggling for half an hour the line got connected. The conversation he had with his mother was still ringing in his head.

‘Assalam Alikum amma’ how are you all’?

‘Walikum Assalam Majid, my son, everyone is fine here. Do not worry about us. Just concentrate on your studies.  What did you eat in dinner’? Asked Majid’s mother

‘I ate at university canteen Amma’. Replied Majid

University canteen served food at subsidized rate just to keep soul and body together. As the canteen had captive customers, its contractor served watery daal, half cooked rice and half baked chapati. Majid survived on that food so never bothered how it tasted.

‘How is your study going on?’ Amma asked in weak voice.

‘It is going on well Amma. How is abba’?

Majid’s father Razi Ahmed was a construction worker in Middle East and returned after he was laid off after the completion of project he was engaged on. A happy family soon slid down the abyss of poverty. Razi Ahmed suffered from heart attack and was bed ridden. With sudden change in financial condition, Majid’s dream appeared shattered.

‘He is better now’. Majid’s mother said in frail voice.

May I talk with abba.

‘He has just slept’ said Majid’s mother and the line disconnected.

With heavy heart he left the telephone booth. It was drizzling outside but deep in thought Majid did not notice and walked to his hostel.

Majid knew his mother was hiding something from him. The ailing father needed medicine, younger brother was not attending school as fee was not deposited for several months. The house needed repair before rainy season as it was leaking. Mother too was not keeping well. In the evening he had to go for a photo sessions arranged for batch directory. He was expected to be properly dressed with tie and shining shoes. He felt humiliated last time when he borrowed shoes from his friend Qurban.

Unable to cope up, Majid lied and soon went into deep slumber.

He dreamt that he is walking on a slippery road. There was scorching heat wave which burnt his skin. The wind was ferociously blowing and he was unable to move ahead. He was panting and sweating but to no avail. Suddenly there appeared cloud and it started raining cats and dogs. It flooded the area and swept Majid to a totally alien place. He found himself in a garden with beautiful flowers and ripe fruits. A gust of air opened the gate with creak that awoke Majid.

The dream enlivened and rekindled hope in Majid. He felt better now. University canteen must be closed so he decides to go to Zahid’s café near his hostel. He ordered mutry ommlette, a unique cusine of university and a cup of tea. There he decided that he will drop from Engineering and will join call center, a thriving outsourcing business……