The master

Yasmin Jaldin

Ikram a lad of ten was the only child of Hassan and Minna. Hassan was a tractor driver engaged in the transportation of rock stones to building sites. They were a very happy family when fate struck them. Hassan met with a tragic death. While engaged in his daily routine, a large boulder crushed him. Poor Minna and Ikram grieved for months. After Hassan's demise, mother and son had no shelter with none to help them. They sought refuge in the mosque. Their prayers helped them, when fortune smiled on them. With the compensation received by the Company, Minna bought a small dwelling.

Minna who was adept in dressmaking commenced a business. Sewing was a tedious task but the income she earned was sufficient for the mother and child.

Sometimes, she would stay up till late night to finish her sewing and the son too would keep his mother company by studying. Minna was a pretty woman who never thought of a second marriage for fear that a step-father would ill treat her little boy. Now in her late forties, she was still beautiful and was fortunate to be protected by her good neighbors.

Ikram was a handsome boy, he bore all the features of his mother. He attended the central school and was very intelligent. From the very first day his new class master set eyes on the little boy, the master reminisced his schooldays, when he had a deep crush on a beautiful girl. He remembered the features, her almond eyes and olive complexion which could not be erased from his mind.

Even though he tried to win her love, he was rejected and booed by her since he had a limp in one leg. Thus he was humiliated and also disillusioned. Kismet suffered in silence and vowed not to neglect his studies.

From that day, Kismet just hated anyone who had the particular complexion and eyes. He furthered his studies and chose teaching as his vocation.

Whose child was Ikram the master pondered? The master was from a wealthy family and married to a woman not so good looking also from a equally rich family. That night Kismet was in deep thought which aroused his wife. They too had a mischievous son, an year older than Ikram. The boy was backward in his studies which angered his master father.

Staying up late one night to keep his mother company, Ikram was not concentrating on a lesson that the master was explaining, his little mind was elsewhere when the master noticed that he was half asleep. He called upon the boy to explain just what he said. Caught unawares, Ikram blurted out a wrong answer which sent the entire class into peals of laughter.

The master was angered, he took the chalk duster and threw it at the little boy which struck his eyes nearly blinding him. Chalk dust contains a chemical which could ruin one's eyes. The master further punished Ikram to stay after school for half an hour and write hundred lines.

Little Ikram never complained to his mother of the wicked deeds of the master, lest she would grieve. But, that day since his right eye was swollen and red he was compelled to tell her of the master's misdeeds.

Minna cursed the master who was mean to her fatherless child and said , 'has this master no feelings, has he no children, he should consider all little boys as his own, perhaps he is unaware of our plight'' she said and consoled the pathetic boy.

In another instance too, the master picked on Ikram to spell a word, when he stuttered he was severely punished. He suffered in silence. Very often, his classmates would discuss the day's happenings with their parents and inform them of the master's attitude towards Ikram. All were saddened, but none dared to discuss the misdeeds in public. One parent plucked up the courage to inform Minna of the new master's attitude. It would be best to confront the master was her thought, but then Ikram would be sidelined she thought. As an after- thought, she decided to see the master herself incognito.

She disguised herself and lay waiting to glimpse the master. At a distance, she recognized a familiar gait of a man with the slight limp. 'Was this Kismet after two decades? Yes, he was the man, now with a distinguished look. Why was he picking my child, what was the reason she pondered. Should I meet this wicked man, never, when he finds out that I am a widow he would make scathing remarks at my misfortune.

Please God save my child she prayed.' With a heavy heart she returned home. An year went by and Ikram was promoted to the next class, while he had a new master. Nevertheless, the English master was once again Kismet. Ikram excelled in his studies and passed his Grade V scholarship examination with flying colors.

Fate struck wicked Kismet. At the school sports-meet, his son a marathon runner knocked against another damaging the right eye. Many doctors were consulted but it was of no avail there was no remedy, the boy's vision in the right eye was impaired forever.