A piece of puzzle

by Syeda Fatima (Pakistan)

Making a local connection Pakistan

You never know where time leads you and how local connections establish in a flickering way. It is all the game of time. Three years back I moved to Sargodha to pursue my dreams. On the way to my destination I met different people and they served their explicit part in my life which they were supposed to do. But my entire journey introduced me to a man whose personality moved my heart. In university I met an old poor man of dark complexion. He had grey eyes which enchanted every person to him. He seemed to be living a starving life as he belonged to no one. He was residing in university but neither he was a teacher nor any other designated official. Although, he was allowed to stay inside the university and it was a question. There were certain rumours about him that he used to be a professor at this university and his children kicked him out of his house for giving away his property to government for welfare purpose. For that reason he was allowed to live in the university. However, It was a complete mystery. My heart felt something deep for that man. I often went to him and spent plenty of time in his company. Albeit, I felt solace while talking to him as I could share anything with him without the fear of being dodged. But I could never find what he was doing there. He wont to wear white salwar kameez all the time. He was a man of crowd. Everybody was curious about his story. I was always lost in cogitation; where he used to sleep from where did he get food. His eyes screamed to me all the time that there was something deep inside him. But he never revealed what he was hiding in his heart. He wandered everywhere in university. While passing by students he oftentimes guided them about the morality, few listened to him while others used to ignore him but he kept advising. I had an intense connection with him unaware of how it built, it grew stronger and stronger. I always desired to do something for him. One day in winters I saw him in worn out shoes without socks so I arranged something to diminish his cold. I happened to go back my hometown for few days and when I came back to university I could not find that poor man. Ten days passed but I did not descry him. I soothed myself by thinking that might possible due to changed time table of my classes I was not able to see him. Nevertheless, it created perplexity in me. One day I was occupied in thoughts that there happened to be a dead body which was being carried by four people. I was shocked to see that. It pinched my heart so badly. It was a trembling sight for me. I came back to hostel but my mind was engrossed with that incident. I remained in the state of agitation for few days then I began to ask everyone about that man with growing solicitude inside me. But no one saw him for many days. I got antsy for him. One day a friend of mine came to me and told that poor old man had passed away many days back in university. So, it clicked my mind immediately that the dead body I saw was of him. I was numb to listen that. I had no one who could understand my situation at that time because I had lost a connection of heart which belonged to my soul. There could never be any replacement for that loss. Even after knowing the fact my eyes still kept on searching that old man. It was really a strange as well as deeper connection that was built via travelling. The sight of that pathetic day is still fresh in my mind. How someone comes in your life acquaints with you while making a strong bond and leaves you silently. I realised that connections are temporary in the world no matter how wholeheartedly they are built. Though, travelling gives you so many valuable memories.