Life is back on track.
I am invited to a desi student dinner on campus, where the hosts
ask me to recite my poetry. I recite an old Ghazal
"Tawalat Shab e Gham Bhadhati Rahogi
Mujhe Kab Talak Aazmati Rahogi?
Kabhi Gham Banega Husool E Tabassum
Kahan Tak Bhala Muskurati Rahogi?
I speak with my heart so the repercussions were bound to happen. I
was mobbed by some beautiful people in the audience "Kon thi?” " Kis
Ke liye likhi?" was the frequent question. These girls were student from Oglethorpe,
Agnes Scott and Georgia State. I rely on Ustaad Jigar Moradabadi to get out of
the situation and say " Koi Ek Ho To Bataoon!"
However, this incident establishes my writing ability in the eyes
of my hosts. They ask me to write a play for them, which they were planning to stage
at GSU auditorium.
I write a play called "Roshni " which was against a
system prevalent in Sindh, in which men of wealthy families get their sisters
and daughters to marry the holy Quran.
That way they save their land and wealth from outsiders. It was shocking
to me when I heard this custom. Nazish Mushedi plays the lead role and Shad
Khan helps in production.
"Roshni" was staged at the Georgia State University auditorium
to a full house. I introduce the play. Dona was in the audience throughout the
play even though she could not understand a word.
At the end of the play, an on lady came looking for the writer of
the play. She put her hand on head and said ‘ Beta bahut accha likha. Allah
Tumhen Khsuh Rakhe!’ – That sentence from an old women that night, still gives
me a high. What I did was right….needed.
Summer 1990, GA Tech
I have taken an elective in the school of management. There I meet
someone awesome. After keeping quiet for
18 years I write about her on my blog in 2008. Here is the cut and paste of it:
September 8, 2008
It’s past midnight here in Atlanta, GA and I am writing
about you on my blog. Why? Why now after so many years? I don’t know. I just do
not know. Just felt like it.
I have been missing you more since my office moved in to the
building on North Avenue. While we were enjoying the views of midtown from
27th floor, I saw the College of Management at Georgia Tech. I saw that
classroom, conference room, that tree outside and I saw that lonely bench
underneath the tree - and I saw you!
My friend Shakir found me after 15 years. The
first thing he did was to enquire about your whereabouts. I had no update,
no information to give. I never made an attempt to meet you or find you since
we departed.... I am a man of my words.
I don’t know why we were attracted toward each other to
begin with? I have some clue of my reasons, but you had no reason to come close
to a small time jebroni like me. Back then, I had nothing, not even a
basic car. I was surprised when one day in the conference room you touched my
face and said " Shahid, I never imagined I would fall in love with
some one from overseas". I was surprised. I assumed you were
joking, pagal hai - I thought?...apparently you were not!
I was the only engineering graduate to have signed up for
Org behavior in the school of management. That is when I met you for the first
time. I, a jebroni and you, the most beautiful thing in the class.
You with Brunette hair, deep dimples and green eyes that used to disarm and
grab me by my senses.
Do you remember one day during the class I started writing
your name in Hindi in your notebook and you in turn responded by writing mine
in French.? I came back with Urdu and you chose German to write my name. We
kept going back and forth oblivious to the ongoing class. I don’t remember how
many languages we exhausted until we found the professor shouting in our
direction " IS THIS SOME KIND OF A UNDERGRADUATE CLASS?” The entire class
burst into laughter. I felt good for some reasons - you were embarrassed!
That moment changed a lot though, and everyone in the class
after that started looking at us differently. My other fiends who were in the
reckoning to get your attention gave up after that.....life was not the same! I
knew I was the chosen one. I remember telling you after the class that if I end
up making movies, this scene will find a place...you just smiled and kept
walking.
I used to feel protected while hanging around you. I used to
enjoy those long drives with no destinations. Your talks of contributing and
changing the world still live in my imagination. My writings and films do show
a flavor of what we used to talk back then. I have not changed!
One day, when a bully made me realize that " America is
not your country", I was feeling depressed and down when you showed up and
took me to the library. Thrusting the constitution of the United States in my
hands you said, " This is as much as your country as theirs, don’t let
anyone tell you otherwise, Shahid!".
You always pronounced my name right. I was surprised and
wondered where and how you learned to pronounce my name properly. It’s been so
many years now and yet my friends and colleagues don’t call me Shahid, I
am Shaheeed to them. The other day Mullah's FPN called my
name properly. I missed you!
In spite of being such a gem of a person you had
complexities too. You never allowed me to take your pictures. One evening,
while we were driving under a moon lit night, I wanted to take your pictures. I
had bought a camera for that purpose. You said no and that was it. I pleaded
and cited the magic of moonlight dancing on your face, the poetry of the
moment, the lovely environment. But you did not relent even at the cost of me
remaining upset for a few days.
However, a week before my departure for India, you came to
my apartment with a few pictures. This time I did not even ask for them. I
don’t remember what happened other then that Shakir was not in, and I
was watching Atlanta play Minnesota for the World Series. I was totally
engrossed in the game when you showed up.... I took the pictures from you but
did not open the envelope as I was waiting for a commercial break. In a few
seconds you did a reversal, and announced you not only wanted to go but also
would like to take the picture back as well.
I still have those pictures...
I always admired your ability to rise above the petty
boundaries of religion, border and color. You wanted to " go work in a
third world country and contribute". You were a global citizen even before
it became a buzzword. Mullah says “by working and living in Vermont you are
like living and contributing to a third world Country”. You have kept your
words! (Please don't mind him. He is a dear friend and an occasional side-kick).
Ps: I found you on classmate’s finder web site. It provided
me all the information about you like where you are now, where have you been
since leaving Tech and whom you are married to? What distance you have
traveled!
PPS: I am not going to call you. I am a man of my words!
