Life, Death, Father and his shoulder

Sometimes in mid-1980’s….

A night crawls as if it will not see the day light ever….

The child undertaken by fever, misery and pain.

Struggle with venomous malaria goes on…

Parents decide to rush him to Emergency at the hospital, before it is too late…

The child so frail, unable to carry his own self, trembling every step as if he will collapse into dust and sand.

But just then the wide and strong shoulder of his father comes to rescue. He joins the battle, lifts his son and rushes towards emergency ward.

The smell of death seems close. Following like a blood thirsty hyena.

He reaches hospital on his father’s shoulder, who is running, panicking, shouting…. doing anything and everything so his son may dodge death!

Doctors, nurses, injections and life saving medical-tech…. all in a race.

And Allah grants his mercy !!!

The child opens his eyes – Father lives again!

A sigh of relief helped with tears….

The flashback started streaming when Abu on phone told about the news that his post retirement medical cover maybe abolished by the authorities.

He sounded worried. I felt it struck him like a blow on his face.

At retired life when income dries down, you only survive with the currency of dignity and minimizing expenses.

As much I could comfort him not to worry about expenses, as we being his children are dutybound to serve….

Abu with his pristine dignity is not ready to accept.

The question that stares at me now:

Can the son shoulder the father….?

بچے پالن سوکھے ہوندے
اوکھے پالن ماپے

پچھلی عمرے اس نقطے دی
سمجھ آجاندی آپے

میاں محمد بخش