4. Ibrahim tries to kill Laxman

CHAPTER 4

Ibrahim tries to kill Laxman

Saleem reached his area somehow. There was tension everywhere. Muslim boys were moving around with sticks and swords.

One boy stopped him. “Saleembhai, who is this boy?”

He approached Saleem to look at the boy. Saleem covered the boy with a cloth. “He is my cousin’s son. I am taking him to the hospital.”

***********************************

Rajeshwar was shocked to hear about the missing child. He tried to console his crying sister. “I just visited the police station on my way home. Inspector Jha has promised to look into the case personally. He will find Laxman for us.”

Srilaxmi clutched his hands. “I am worried what they will do to the boy.”

“There is curfew out there. I came home under tight security. Not a single person is out there in the streets.”

He looked at his wife. “I have to leave now.”

Srilekha asked, “Do you have to go in this curfew too?”

Rajeshwar laughed. “The trains don’t stop if there is curfew in the city, you know. I have to go.”

*******************************************

Saleem entered his house with the boy. His mother and sister saw the boy and were shocked. “Brother, whose child have you brought?”

Saleem placed the sleeping child near his father on the bed. “Men were going to kill this small child. I saved him.”

Sister looked at the sleeping child. “Good. Those Hindus will not leave even our children.”

Mother patted the cheek of the boy. “Such a lovely boy.”

She looked at her daughter. “Give him food when he wakes up. When the curfew is over, we can hand him over to the police. His parents must be worried.”

It was evening and the curfew was not yet over. Police were rounding the area.

Ibrahim came to Saleem’s house.

Saleem’s father asked, “How is the situation out there?”

Ibrahim got angry. “5 of our men have been killed. 2 by the Hindus and 3 by the police. I am going to kill 5 Hindus as revenge tomorrow itself.”

The old man looked at him. He patted his back. “You will not get anything by killing each other. In 1947, when I was a small boy, there were dead bodies everywhere. Out nation is divided in the name of religion. It has also divided our minds.”

Daughter said, “You keep bringing up old stories.”

She looked at Ibrahim. “You know what a good deed Saleem has done? He saved the life of one Muslim child. He was going to be killed by a Hindu.”

Ibrahim was shocked. “What? Has he brought that kauffer’s child home? He is a Hindu boy. I was going to kill him in the bazaar. But Saleem did not allow me.”

All were shocked. Daughter went inside and brought out the small boy. Ibrahim removed the boy’s shirt and pointed to his arm.

There was a sign of ohm. “See. He is a Hindu. See the mark of ohm on his arm.”

Ibrahim held the child’s neck. The boy screamed.

Begam came running. “What are you doing to that child?”

Ibrahim said angrily, “Let him die. He is Hindu.”

Begam was feeling bad. “He may be a Hindu or a Muslim. It did not matter. But he is still a child.”

Ibrahim said angrily, “Sister, please don’t stop me.”

Begam pulled the boy. Daughter came and pulled her mother. “You keep quiet. Do you realize that 5 of our men have been killed already? Let the child die.”

Begam slaps Ibrahim. Suddenly Saleem entered. The old lady took the child in her arms. Saleem stood at the door and watched what was happening.

Begam shouted, “You are becoming demons day by day.”

Ibrahim said angrily, “If you had seen the dead bodies outside, you will understand who the real demons are.”

Ibrahim looked at Saleem. “Saleem, I warn you. If I see this boy here tomorrow, I will start my killings with him.”

He went out.

The boy was crying loudly. The girl hit the boy. “Quiet. It is all because of you only.”

Saleem took the boy and slapped the girl. “Are you a lady or monster? How can you hit such a small child?”

Daughter stood staring at Saleem angrily.

Begam went in and brought a packet of biscuits. She gave it to the boy but he refused to eat. He kept crying for his mother. Old man watched everything.

Begam said, “Eh! That Ibrahim is a demon. He will not spare this child if he sees him here tomorrow morning. Take him to his parents or the police station.”

Saleem said, “Mummy there is curfew out there. I will go at night.”