Everyday he use to walk up to the Jungle to collect some woods.
It was his habit and requirement.
He had abandoned his youthful life in search of Reality , he was away from the hassle of City life and lights , in a Jungle , where his Guru was performing "Chilla" , a sacred oath of abandoness for God.
He was here to serve him , as he knew he cannot walk this road without a guide.
All night he use to stay awake staring at the stary nights and trying to understand what God has created around him.
He was amazed That millions of Stars could make a reflection on the glass of his eyes but his eyes couldn't see himself.He had asked this question to his "Guru".
"Why is that God has given me vision to look around and a whole world is as if it is in my eyes , but i cannot see my self with them"
"When God Wants you to be close to him , he will open your eyes towards you "
His Guru was a strange man , Filled with Wisdom , it was as if his Guru could see his Soul , he had learned so much from him, that is why he decided to dedicate his life for his Guru as every step he was learning something.
He always saw his Guru doing only two things ,
either Praying in front of God or reading the scriptures ,
and yes , there was one more thing he loved doing,
Smoking "Hukkah" , a smoking pipe with a burner on top to keep the tobacco hot.
May be this was his shortcut to "Estacy".
He always loved to work for his Guru , ........offering prayers after him ,
Collecting woods from Jungle ,
and keep the "Chilum(the burner containing Tobacco) hot" for his Guru to have a Good Smoking break off his routine.
"Guru , I dont understand the concept of Havens "....He asked
"why is that " The guru Asked back
"I dont know , but i cannot imagine Happiness without Pain , I cannot understand healing without wound , i cannot separate ambiguity from reality ,a day without night , a night without morning , isnt that we only feel relief of pain after we had pain, isnt it we feel happy when we have crossed the barrier of sorrow , i cannot imagine a place that has one way life , Only happiness , Only Reality , Only Flowers and peace , How would God justify that all"...the man replied
"If he wants something to happen , everything comes in order , he is the Lord and if there is something you still want to know , Ask God, yourself , because , i am nothing but a man".....Guru looked him in the eyes and said.
But he knew inside his answer didn't convinced the man who was looking towards him with narrowed eye-brows.
"Sleep it out Son , Tomorrow we will take a walk".....Guru said and went to his "Hujra" , a place reserved for his prayers.
"How can i ask God Directly , wouldn't that be a blasphemy , besides , why have i taken i a refuge in Guru's shelter when he cannot help me understand".....He murmured with himself.
A thorn of disbelief had struck his heart.
But he couldn't do much about it ,of course , he couldn't see himself with his own eyes.
Next Morning , it was cloudy and because of Dense forest the visibility of surroundings was very dark.
"You haven't burned the Fire today Son " ....Guru walked out of his Hujra and said to him while sitting on a stone.
"It was cloudy here , i think its going to Rain anytime soon, we might not find Fire today Guru"...the man replied
"what about the Hukkah", Guru Said " Is it still warm"
"Its cold , i am sorry , it took me a while to wake up today"
"I dont care , Go .....Get it from HELL" Guru Shouted at him and angrily walked back to his Hujra , while the man looked towards him with a strange sight.
He never saw his Guru so angry , he remembered his conversation last night ,
He never wanted this , he knew if he Lost his Guru , he would be Shelter less just like the millions living in the city.He couldn't afford that.
"I think he is angry on me for my last night questions , i was so stupid , shouldn't have asked him , of course he is a man God sent for me from heavens , and my questions were as if i wanted to know something of his home , nobody can tolerate that" ,
he felt a wave of sorrow and sadness pass through him.
He started walking towards west , he had heard HELL is there ,
"Hell is so Hot that even the Sun takes a Shower in West" one of his friends told him
"Its Burning , Red hot , It is not something we can imagine , " his friend added
All his life he heard these stories , but he was ready as ever to take that Risk , he just wanted to see his Guru Happy ,
"Listen Kid , if you are walking this path , don't take away your sight from light ,or you will be entangled with Wit and Wish" , he remembered the first acceptance speech he heard from his Guru when he took him to his fold of clan " When you make a Mistake , don't forget to fix it before its too late , The Biggest Trick that Devil will play on you is to Cast Delay on your motives , especially when you are trying to do something good".
"I am in the Dark and that is why i am walking towards Hell , i am walking towards Fire ,.............. My Guru , my Light has abandoned me"
"I will get the Fire , i will lit up the light again , i will not let the Devil play his Tricks on me" he self motivated him while walking towards West , THE HELL
He walked ........and walked ............the Distance was immense but not more than his motivation.......and then Finlay he reached
It was the Door of Hell he was standing at , but it was NOT Burning ,
It was just like many places he left behind.He couldn't believe
He saw a Caravan on the Left side , un-packaging and walking line by Line towards the Door ,
Their Faces were Pale with sorrow imprinted on their faces , They were all OLD , and couldn't walk easily , and they were all Barefooted , shouting to avoid their first ever Glance of Hell.
They never wanted to enter , but Guards were not listening ,
"Please let me go back, let me go back to my kids and family , i will be faithful , i sever i will be , listen to me, don't let me enter the door that never opens from inside , I see now what i denied , I will go back and tell the world of Reality , please let me go back "
"You see now what you denied , because , you denied what you saw"...one of the Guard grasped them from their foreheads and dragged him inside Hell.
They all had concerns left behind , and they were all looking back , again and again , but there was nothing .......Just the dust of time eluding away , they could barely see the movements of hands their families were waving towards them with tearful eyes , ..............
but .............
It was an Order from the Lord God to take them to Hell , No one could deny that.
....
This was very different than what he had imagined ,
he imagined Fire ,Flames and Screams of Hell residents from the pain of their punishments, ..............it was nothing like it , .....................only the Wind of Sadness grasped this place,only the sorrow of looking back and "finding nothing" was there.
" Was this the The Pain ,God mentioned , " he asked himself,
"Is it Really Hell ," he asked one of the Guards in amazement of his findings
"Yes it is " the Guard Replied
"it can't be true, " he replied in disbelief
"Why is That " The Guard asked
"It was Fire that i imagined , it was suppose to be burning hot ,
i imagined screams of people living in Hell ,
i imagined Flames ,
i need Fire ,
i need to lit up my Life again , where is the Fire ? "
he looked around as if he had lost his ground in disbelief
"Hell doesn't have Fire . it is only what you bring with you " the Guard replied
(an Adaptation of "Talash" by Mumtaz Mufti)
