The Special train from Amritsar to Mughalpura took eight hours to transverse the distance of mere 49.1 kilometres. In the way, there was massive bloodshed, many were injured and a few strayed away. Apparently, the passenger trains have been turned into the train of goods, carrying abiotic people and being transported from one place to other.
The clock showed exact 10 when Sirajuddin opened his eyes on the freezing land. Only the sky with a few clouds which was infinite above his eyes appeared independent, elsewhere when he turned his face, he could see a tide consisting of men, women and children approaching due to which his thinking capacity became the same as a person of old age. Though there were so much chaos in the camp but the void within Sirajuddin has deafened him. He was unable to hear a single uttered word, how could he discern the voices in the chaos? Any passerby who had seen him must be thinking that he is in deep sleep but no. He was unconscious. His whole existence has sneaked into the void.
While inspecting the sky which resembled as the colour of dirt, his eyes became collinear with the sun. That moment, Sirajuddin rose at once as if the brisk rays of the sun has stirred him with instant energy. In some part of his brain, several images started flashing back consisting of ransacking, fire, people running aimlessly, station, darkness and Sakina……., he stood at once and as the people of asylum, he started steering through the crowd which was like the sea in her search.
It had been three hours but his mouth hadn’t tired uttering Sakina-Sakina and simultaneously loitering all over the camp to search her only daughter but she was nowhere. The surrounding was occupied by the people where everyone was looking for someone. Observing from distance, one could say that the camp had been turned into Chakravyuh of Mahabharata. The age of Sirajudin which was moving towards sunset couldn’t support him long. Disappointed and hopelessness had withdrawn all the energy in him and he sat in one corner and contemplated that where Sakina was separated from him but during this thinking process, he couldn’t go beyond his wife’s death, whose intestine was bulging out.
Sakina’s mother had died, that too before Sirajuddin but where was Sakina? He could well remember the last words and wish of Sakina’s mother who said, “There is no use of wasting time for me, I can’t be saved, try saving Sakina”.
He got the link which propelled him to think more. Sakina was running with him barefoot. Meanwhile, her scarf falls down. He had to stop to fetch it. He could remember well, Sakina screaming “Abbaji, leave!” but he had lifted the scarf. While considering this, his hand involuntarily moved into the bumped packet of his coat, where he found Sakina’s scarf but Where was Sakina?
Sirajuddin took one last attempt to emanate thoughts from his tired mind but he couldn’t reach any conclusion. Was he able to take Sakina to the railway station? Had she boarded the train with him only? When the train was stopped and mob entered inside the compartment, had he become unconscious, as a result- they kidnapped Sakina?
There were many questions like this which plagued Sirajuddin whose answers were only known by the almighty. But how to ask? He needed empathy but from whom? Wherever his sight went, he could see the people caught in more or less in a similar situation like him. He desired to weep but tears betrayed him. As like his daughter, his tears were also lost somewhere without any address.
It took six complete days to restore the consciousness of Sirajuddin. He met some people who were ready to help him. Eight sturdy, big bruiser men equipped with lathis and guns, set out on the hunt for Sakina. He showered uncounted blessings on them and outlined the caricature of Sakina i.e fair complexion and damn pretty, Xerox of her mother. Age is about seventeen years with the eyes appropriate to her texture. Mole on the right cheek and black coloured hairs. She is my only daughter and only support in this world. Please find her, God will give you prosperity.
Those young men assured Sirajuddin to find her daughter at any cost. if she is alive, she will be with him in a few days.
Those eight sturdy men tried hard. Keeping their life at stake, they went Amritsar where they rescued many men and children and helped them to reach to a safe habitat. Ten days had passed like this but they couldn’t find even Sakina’s shadow anywhere.
One other day, for similar community service, they were on their way to Amritsar where their sight caught glimpse of a girl beside Chahrara road. Frightened by the sound of the lorry, she first walked quickly followed by running. Lorry stopped and all the men started chasing her. The race couldn’t go as long as they entangled girl in one of the fields. The girl was indeed beautiful and she had a mole on the right cheek too. A man after inspecting her said- Don’t be afraid, Are you Sakina?
On hearing such remark the colour of the girl almost faded. She didn’t consider it right to disclose her identity but when they said that they are here to save her, the fear of girl vanished. She agreed that she is Sakina- daughter of Sirajuddin.
Those eight sturdy men talked heartedly to Sakina. They cared her in every possible way. They made her eat and drink and seat in the lorry with hope that she’ll soon in her father’s house. The unavailability of the scarf around her neck made her feel insecure as she was constantly trying to enclose her breast within her arms. One person nearby lent his coat to make her feel relaxed.
Several days had passed. Sirajuddin couldn’t find any information about Sakina. He kept hovering around different camps and offices the whole day to get any information about Sakina but unfortunately, he couldn’t. It had become a part of his daily routine to sit in the devotion of God uptill late night for the success of those men and in the hope that his daughter will return safely. The promise made by those young men worked as a ray of hope to lead the life in his old age.
One day, Sirajuddin saw those young men sitting in the lorry. He approached them with quick steps just before the lorry was about to go and asked with the great hope and politeness –
Any information about Sakina?
All men replied in unison- we’ll find soon and the accelerator of the lorry was pressed. Once again Sirajuddin blessed him all the best for their success which inculcated in him, a feeling of satisfaction.
At the time of dusk, Sirajddun was sitting near the camp where he saw something being drawn by four men. On enquiring, he got to know that a girl was found in an unconscious state near the railway line. Sirajuddin inadvertently followed that group which handed over the girl to the hospital and then left.
Sirajuddin supported himself with the parapet of wood outside the hospital for some time and then with snail’s pace, crept into it. There wasn’t a symbol of life in the room. Only a stretcher with a body on it was kept and darkness enveloped the room. With heavy steps, he started walking towards the stretcher, to be more precise the body. Suddenly, the room was lighted. Sirajuddin’s sight at once reached to the face of the body where he saw the mole on cheek shining and cried – Sakina!
Doctor, who had switched on the light came and asked in abrupt voice – What’s up?
The chocked throat of Sirajuddin could utter only these words, stammering…. Ji, I am her father!!
The doctor reached out for the pulse of the body lying on the stretcher and ordered– open the window!
The body of Sakina which was ready to be taken to Sepulcher, shook a little. Sirajuddin loosened the drawstring and pulled her salwar down.
Alive…She is alive! Old Sirajuddin cried with joy.
_ Saddat Hasan Manto
(Translated by Shashank Shekhar)
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