My Doll

Grr...grr...grrrrrrr... the sound of huqqa(smoking pipe) spread in the air. With the suction of a long puff, Karam Din's lungs filled with thick, water filtered smoke. The tobacco was fresh and strong. Karam Din choked with the amount of smoke he inhaled. A milky white cloud came out of his mouth with the continuous loud coughing. He always enjoyed the fresh and strong tobacco. Karam Din could not understand why people smoked expensive cigarettes. He tried to smoke them a couple of times, but never liked it. To him smoking huqqa was a very satisfying, entertaining and a social activity.

He looked from the veranda of his house while he puffed again, at the children playing in the street. What a life! no worry, no responsibility. I wish I could be young again, Karam Din thought. The young face of his fifteen-year-old daughter came into his mind. Oh God! How big she had grown in the past few years. I have to find a groom for her very soon. But how am I going to arrange a dowry for her? I do not have any job yet. These days people are asking for a huge dowry, The thought scared him.

Last year his cousin Akbar Ali hinted, that he was interested in Razia for his son Jamil. He was in his final year of high school. Karam Din knew that Akbar's other daughter-in-law brought a truckload of dowry to her wedding. The dowry was on display for two whole days. He remembered how happy and proud Akbar Ali was with this. He had said to Karam Din, "Are you saving for your daughter. I will not accept any less than this."

Karam Din knew the greedy nature of Akbar Ali. He would never accept Razia for his son without a handsome dowry. Karam Din was worried. It was not only the dowry, which was making him, worried, but also how he was going to feed his family. For one year he had not worked at all. Because one year before he had had an accident. He was a mason by profession. The accident happened while he was working in the new house of Haji Allah Rakha. The scaffolding had broken, and Karam Din had fallen from the third floor to the ground. He landed on his hips and his right leg twisted underneath. His leg was broken in two places. Haji Allah Rakha took him to local the hospital in his car. The duty doctor plastered his leg but did not pay any attention to his hip injury. Because he had a constant pain in his hips and the lower back, the specialist decided to x-ray his hip. From the x-ray report they found out that he had a fractured and a dislocated hip joint.

After six months of treatment and therapy he was only able to walk holding a cane. The speed of recovery was very slow. Haji Allah Rakha supported his family for six months and then gave him five thousand-rupee lump sum. It was nice of him, he was not really obligated to pay anything. Five thousand rupees helped them through the next six months. The treatment was over, but money was running out. Karam Din tried to work on some construction projects but found out that he was no longer capable of doing any physical work. Now he was really worried. If he did not find work within a few days, the family would be starving.

Karam Din was startled by the knock at the gate. He was so deep in his thought that he did not see Faizy come to the door. "Come on in Faizy," Karam Din invited him. Faizy was his childhood friend. They both grew up in the same neighborhood. Faizy enrolled in the local school, and after graduation started as an account clerk for contractor Jamal Khan. Karam Din never went to school. He learned mason work by helping his father and had worked as one since then.

"Pull that chair close to me and have some huqqa," Karam Din said as he handed the wand of the huqqa to his friend.

"How are you doing Karam Din," asked Faizy as he put the wand in his mouth.

"I am much better with the grace of Allah. I can walk and sit quite easily but still have difficulty keeping my upper body straight," Karam Din responded with a sigh.

"Did the doctor tell you when you will be fully recovered?" Faizy asked.

"Well, he said I will recover a little more and will be able to stand straight eventually, but probably will not be able to do my mason's work," Karam Din replied.

"That is too bad. Did he say what can you do then for a living?" Faizy asked.

"Yes, he said I can do something other than heavy work. But you know! I only know construction work. I am not an educated person like you that can find a clerical job," Karam Din said jokingly, and he smiled.

"Listen, I have a suggestion. You know Jamal Khan, the contractor?" Faizy paused for a moment and then continued." My boss! He needs somebody to supervise the technical work on his construction sites. I can fix up you there, but..."

"But what? You know, if I do not find any job within a few days, my family will be starving. We have nothing more to keep us going," Karam Din said impatiently.

"The problem is that Jamal Khan wants to marry Razia," Faizy replied in a very low voice.

"What! That old goose wants to marry my doll?" Karam Din yelled loudly, "Isn't he already married?"

"Yes, he is. But you know; he is rich, his wife is old and unable to bear any children. He wants to have a young wife and a successor for his estate," Faizy explained in a very low tone.

"But he is double the age of my Razia. His daughter and Razia are in the same class. How old is he by the way?" Karam Din asked absent-mindedly.

"He is in his early forties. He is not demanding any dowry you know! He said that he would give you ten thousand rupees for the marriage expenses. I say it is a very generous offer," Faizy replied.

"Forget it! He thinks my daughter is for sale? I am not going to ruin my daughter's life. He is too old for her. I would rather push her into the well then marry her to Jamal Khan. He is very close to my own age, might be a little younger. What will people say? You know!" Karam Din said in a determined voice.

"Don't worry about people. They always talk. They are not going to feed your family or give you any dowry for your daughter's wedding. I am just trying to help you my friend. I hate to see you and your family suffer. You are my friend, after all. Don't forget you can get a supervisor's job in his company. He is willing to pay you two thousand rupees a month," Faizy said this very convincingly.

"But", Karam Din wanted to say something but was interrupted by Faizy, "Think about it. Where else will you find such a good life for your daughter? Jamal Khan is a wealthy man. He can provide your daughter with all the luxuries and good things of life you dream about. Believe me, your daughter will be very happy."

"Where would he intend to take Razia after the wedding? Is she going to live in the same house with her rival?" Karam Din asked.

"No Jamal Khan has another house. He is willing to give that house to Razia as a wedding present. He said that you and your wife can also live in that house," Faizy replied.

"Faizy! I know you are my friend and a well wisher. I have to think about it. I cannot decide it all by myself I have to ask my wife as well. She is her mother after all," Karam Din responded as he was half convinced.

"Ok, then I will come again tomorrow. I am telling you, this is a good proposal. You have a chance to give your daughter a good life, don't ruin it. Accept your fate my friend. You are not the same Karam Din any more. From where will you bring the money to give your daughter a handsome dowry? By begging?" Faizy asked as he stood up to leave.

Help me God, what should I do? Karam Din thought. Shall I accept this proposal? Jamal Khan is too old for my Razia. But she probably will be happy in his household. Faizy is right, how am I going to arrange a dowry for my doll? He stood up with the help of his cane to go inside the house to talk to his wife.  

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