The Shepherd's Love Story

 

WARNING! This is a fictional story. It is an attempt to shed light on the realities of life through the pen. This story was written in 2008 as a satire of the personality of a well-known professor at the Federal Urdu University. That professor is no longer in this world. May Allah grant him a high Potion in Jannah al-Firdaus. Amen.

One day, it happened that only a few moments had passed since Payalo (The shepherd) Malang Jan had come from the forest. His head was spinning from wandering in the forests, and everyone knows why he wanders in the forests, that is, he takes the goats to graze. She was dressed in a traditional Phiran and Khoee (A warm coat and hat made of sheep's wool), and she had a healthy complexion and a completely rustic appearance. Her face was red from the sun, and her eyes were filled with both complaints and the desire to say something. After resting for a moment, she looked at Malang Jan with reproachful eyes and sat down in front of him before he could say anything. A few moments of silence passed between them. They were completely alone, with no fear of anyone coming or going. Each of them was waiting for the other to make the first move. Finally, she began, speaking in a soft voice. There was a simplicity even in her slowness. Her innocent face testified to the fact that there was no one more beautiful than her in the universe. Word by word, she tried to make Malang Jan understand that he had become alienated in the past few years. He does not even exchange gifts. He has even forgotten the social game of “Mai Farmosh”()I

() “Mai Farmosh” means that two people make a conditional agreement that if one of them gives something to the other, the other must say “Mai Farmosh”, meaning “I remember the agreement between us,” before picking up the object. If he fails to say this sentence, he will have to pay a fine, which is agreed upon by both parties before the game. This game is usually played in the winter season. 

Her voice was full of complaints and she seemed quite excited. As the conversation progressed, Malang Jan saw that there was a storm of emotions on her face, which was constantly raging. Malang Jan did not interrupt her because he knew that any interruption would be unpleasant for her. When she had vented her anger, Malang Jan spoke:

“Jillay Suri (My love)! Where do I start? Words cannot compete with you; they are incapable of praising your beauty. The earth and sky, the mountains and rivers are all nothing before you. You are the beginning of beauty and you will be the end of beauty.”

Malang Jan saw a flash of happiness cross her face. This was the moment he had been waiting for. He began to shower her with compliments. After all, a woman is always susceptible to flattery. Malang Jan apologized for all his mistakes and tried to make her understand that if he had made these mistakes, it was also her fault. If she had made up from the beginning, they would not have had to see this day, and she would not have been complaining, and Malang Jan would not have made mistake after mistake. She was not willing to admit that she had also been at fault in Malang Jan's mistakes, but when Malang Jan put all the past events before her, she agreed that she had also been wrong somewhere. It was a very romantic atmosphere. He was repenting for his actions in front of his beloved, and she was listening to him very carefully. They say that apologizing does not diminish one's honor, but rather increases it. Although Malang Jan had gone astray in the past few years. Bad company, bad friends, and social evils had entered his veins. In those few years, he never even bothered to think that he was also the lover of a beloved. However, Malang Jan did not feel any shame in confessing to her. Stories will be created, people will come and go in this world, but it is certain that there will also be differences and conflicts. The middle of the night had passed. Some complaints, some loving words, some memories. The sunrise was only a few minutes away, and it was time for her to go. Malang Jan reluctantly gave her permission to leave. As she left, she stressed that Malang Jan should take care of himself in every way and that he should regularly send her SMS. She left. Loneliness once again became Malang Jan's companion.

Sometimes Malang Jan wonders why people fall in love. What is the point of love? Does it bring anything other than loneliness, sorrow, troubles, difficulties, and separation? Malang Jan has been in a relationship with “her” for the past two years. She is a strange girl. What will she gain by loving a “Shepherd” like him? There are hundreds of young soldiers in the village, strong and fit men. If she points her finger at any one of them, they will come running to her on their knees. Malang Jan is just a “shepherd”. He has no identity or recognition. Yet she is dying for him. Who will explain to this crazy girl? Anyway, Malang Jan is also stubborn now. He has sworn to love and cherish her till his death. And Malang Jan knows very well that it is very important to have a companion in sorrow and happiness, joy and sorrow, comfort and discomfort. And in his opinion, there can be no one better than “her”.

Dated: August 19, 2008