Episode 7
Haider gathered all the money and placed it in the cupboard. When he looked at the time, it was already 4 PM. Due to all the recent events, he hadn't been able to study or teach properly. He took out some of the money and headed to his tuition class on his motorbike.
On his way, he passed by a large restaurant he had seen countless times in his life but never dared to enter—he'd never had the means. As he passed by, the aroma of barbecue hit his nose. He stopped his bike for a moment, hesitated, and then made up his mind.
Walking into the restaurant, he was immediately surrounded by the cozy aroma of food, soft music, and ambient lights that lifted his spirits. The hall was spacious, filled with elegant people dressed in stylish clothes. Glancing down at his own attire, Haider felt a twinge of inferiority. He awkwardly sat at a table in the corner.
A waiter approached and politely asked what he'd like. Haider stared at him uncertainly, so the waiter placed the menu on the table. With trembling hands, Haider picked it up. The dish names were so unfamiliar—he had never heard of such things. Eventually, he ordered chicken jalfrezi and kebabs—a name he had only heard in passing.
Fifteen minutes later, the food was served. The aroma alone was enough to make his mouth water. He began to eat, savoring the taste. It was perhaps one of the most delicious meals he had ever eaten. He thought about how the wealthy lived lives of luxury—eating what they wanted, when they wanted. This was only the second time in his life he had tasted such food; the first had been in that mysterious village.
When he finished eating, he asked for the bill. At first, the amount shocked him—but then he remembered the money in his pocket and paid without worry. As he walked out, he felt a strange change inside his body. Something odd was happening to him. Without thinking, he called his tuition employer and informed them he would no longer be teaching and they should find someone else.
---
Bano Qudsia had said it right: when one feeds their body with haram (forbidden) sustenance, Allah initiates a change in the body's genetic system. These changes may continue for generations. Sometimes people wonder why someone is pious, but their children are evil—it's often a consequence of consuming or feeding others with forbidden earnings. Perhaps something similar was happening to Haider—because the money he had was not halal.
But wealth is a powerful temptation. Indeed, Allah tests people.
> "And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits—but give glad tidings to the patient."
(Surah Al-Baqarah, 155)
Yet not everyone passes these trials. Only those chosen by Allah do. And those who persevere in trials are truly successful.
---
Rabab had spent the entire day thinking about Haider. Her mind kept circling back to whether he had any feelings for her. He had never hinted at anything. She finally made a decision: she would confront him, tell him she was receiving proposals—and one of them had even been accepted by her family. If his facial expressions changed, she'd know he cared. If he didn't react, she'd take it as a sign that he didn't feel anything.
That night, she fantasized endlessly. Perhaps at this age, girls prefer the world of dreams—detached from harsh reality. But reality always finds a way to break through.
---
It was Sunday morning. That night, Haider had been thinking about his future. First and foremost, he wanted to get rid of his decrepit motorbike—his biggest source of embarrassment. His college friends often mocked him, saying he should carry a sack with him so he could collect the broken pieces of his ancient ride if it split in half. Though he used to laugh at the joke, today it irritated him deeply.
---
Morning arrived. Haider bathed, got ready, and took some money to go buy a new motorcycle. But first, he wanted to enjoy a nice breakfast. Meanwhile, Rabab also got ready and told her mother she was going to check on Haider, who hadn't been well. Her mother allowed her to go and told her to take the driver—but she walked instead, as the house wasn't far.
Within five minutes, Rabab was standing in front of Haider's house—but the door was locked.
Annoyed, she waited. After about ten minutes, Haider appeared at the end of the street, walking toward her with some shopping bags in hand. From a distance, he looked nothing short of a prince—neatly combed hair, modest clothes, and a gentle presence.
As he reached the door, he said, "Oh! Rabab, it's you?"
"No, it's my spirit," she joked.
He smiled and unlocked the door. "Come in, I'll bring the breakfast."
"No, don't bother. I've already eaten," she said while walking inside.
Haider brought in the food and sat down. Rabab knew she had to say what she'd rehearsed last night. But as soon as she saw him, all her words vanished.
"How are you feeling now?" she asked shyly.
"Better," Haider replied flatly while eating.
"At least you had some good food," she added.
But he didn't respond. It was as if he was lost in thought. She mustered courage.
"I've been getting some proposals lately… my parents want me to get married soon."
Without even looking up, Haider replied, "That's good."
His indifference struck her like a slap. It was as though he cared more about his meal than her presence. Angry, she stood up and walked toward him.
"I'm getting married. I'll send you the invitation card."
With that, she left.
Haider froze.
Her words echoed in his mind: "I'm getting married."
What just happened? Why didn't he say anything while she sat there? What was wrong with him?
Love is a magic for which there is no cure. He ran out of the house to find her—but she had disappeared.
He returned, devastated, and called her number. Her mother, Jahan Ara, answered.
"Hello Auntie, is Rabab home?" he asked, trying to control his emotions.
"No, dear. She went to your place," she said. But just then, Rabab walked in.
"Speak of the devil," Jahan Ara chuckled. "She's just come home."
"Who is it?" Rabab asked.
"Haider," she replied.
"I don't want to talk to him," Rabab mumbled as she walked away.
Haider heard every word. He was heartbroken. He asked gently, "Auntie, is Rabab really getting married?"
Jahan Ara laughed. "So she told you, huh? She can't keep anything in. No, it's just a proposal from my cousin's son, Jawad."
Haider hung up and left—heading straight for the cremation grounds.
---
There, the same eerie atmosphere loomed. He ignored it all and ran to the hut, bursting through the door.
"Kali Das! Come out!" he shouted.
Suddenly, a metal door in the ground creaked open. Kali Das rose from below, laughing maliciously—his body crawling with insects and a large chameleon sitting on his head.
With a snap of his fingers, the creatures vanished.
"Looks like love has made you mad," he laughed. "You're not meant for petty things. You're a great soul, born once in a century."
"Enough! I'm here to make a deal," Haider barked.
Before he could continue, Kali Das interrupted, "Done! Rabab is yours. What else?"
Haider's anger melted into shock. He sank to the floor.
Kali Das crouched beside him. "Now tell me—what will you give in return?"
"You already know," Haider replied.
"But I want to hear it from your mouth," Kali Das insisted.
"Bring Rabab into my life—no matter what it takes. In return, I'll do whatever you ask."
Kali Das burst into laughter so loud that Haider felt like his ears would explode. Voices echoed along with his—unseen entities laughing too.
"That's all? Go, she's yours now," Kali Das said. "Anything else?"
"Will she really be mine?" Haider asked, still in disbelief.
"Don't you trust my word?" Kali Das said. "Now leave. You've disturbed my meditation."
Haider got up, then hesitated.
"Can you tell me… who are these Beers, Bherus, Lona Chamars? What are they?"
Kali Das smirked and replied:
"Why not? Let me tell you everything…
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