Reigns and Chains

Reigns and Chains


[Wrote it for my college magazine about 2 years back. They never published it. Guess blogger has no problems with it :) 

Only for muslims with deep understanding of religion]

Tahir: Assalam-o-AlaikumwaRehmatullah bro… How are ya?
Salman: Wa-alaikumusSalaamwaRehmatullahiwaBaraaktuh. I’m fine, Alhamdulilllah. U?
Tahir: Me too, Alhamdulillah.

(They smile at each other for a while; a relaxed calm look in both their eyes)

Salman: let us find a place to sit somewhere.

(He grabs Tahir’s hand, who follows effortlessly)
(Both are sitting cross legged on the tiled floor)

Salman: So, how are you?
Tahir: (his smile spreads and bows his head) Not doing so well… you?
Salman: (simply) Alhamdulillah!
Tahir: Great…
(They remain silent for a while)
Salman: How’s it going?
Tahir: Ah! The same routine essentially…
(Silence)
Salman: (Throwing Tahir a calculating look). How is your comrade?
Tahir: That, my friend, is the real problem.
(Salman looks questioningly)
Tahir: Can’t get a good hold on him.
Salman: Only last time you said you almost had him…!?
Tahir: My reigns aren’t strong. He is clever.
Salman: Ah! It will be a while before you can catch him again. He is a difficult rival.
Tahir: And longer it will take too to kill him.
Salman: Yeah (a worried and despaired tone)
Tahir: How is your mate doing, then?
Salman: You can say he is a bit under control… but it is essentially the same here, can’t keep him at bay longer than a day at max.
Tahir: Yeah… Well, except when we are out of the hell we live in to focus purely on capturing him…
Salman: (a small laugh) Hmm. No chains, yeah...
(Silence falls between them again)
Tahir: (in a desperate tone) Why can’t we just stab him once we have caught him?
Salman: (grinning) don’t know the knife that would work on him. He is cunning…
Tahir: Ahan…! May be… poison him?
Salman: With what would you poison him?
Tahir: Err… Wine may be?
Salman: (sarcastically) Yea, that would work. Like he would let us get our hands on it…
Tahir: yeah… (hangs his head in despair)
(Silence)
Tahir: yar bro Salman, we need help on it…
Salman: We have been unable to find it.
Tahir: Yes, that’s true… but we won’t give up, will we?
Salman: No. (He gets up) Let us look around here…
Tahir: (startled) That is no way to find help.
Salman: Then what is?
(Tahir appears to have no reply. He too gets up)
Salman: Can you see that baba g there? (Pointing at the other end of the masjid)
Tahir: Yes. Why?
Salman: He has been eyeing us.

(Tahir gives an expression of curiosity, amazement and amusement)

Salman: Let us try him…

(A small child is sitting with his dad nearby the recently vacated spot.)

Child: Dad…?
Father: Yes, son?
Child: (with a scared voice) Those two boys sitting here, they were talking about killing someone.
Father: Yes, they were.
Child: isn’t it bad?
Father: (smiling)… That would be, yes. But who they were talking about, that is an enemy, inside… They have to kill him.

(The child’s a face is filled with confusion and awe)

(Salman & Tahir sit in front of an old man with his back to the wall. His eyes are closed)

Salman & Tahir: Assalam-o-Alaikum baba g!
Old man: Wa-alaikumusSalaam.
Tahir: Baba g, we are looking for a friend…
Salman: “The” Friend, actually (correcting Tahir)
Salman: Yes… Can you help us?
Old man: (smiling) I would… but your wine is not here… I cannot give it to you.
Tahir: (imploringly) At least tell us where it is, then?
Old man: You will find soon enough, if you really want it…
Salman: we do.
Old man: Keep looking, then…
(Tahir & Salman, both understanding themselves dismissed, got up)
***The End***

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