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THE FIRST LOCK

A short story by Riazur Rehman, Khalabat Township, Pakistan

As it is generally observed that some people are by nature credulous. So was

Shamrooz. He never forgot to put a pitcher of water covered with a basin beside his

cot because he believed in the old saying:Do not sleep thirsty otherwise your soul will roam hither and thither restlessly.

He also believed in the saying that

If you leave the pitcher of water uncovered an evil spirit will enter it

Shamrooz had a firm belief in dreams. He had on the cornice of his room a khawbnama-e-Yosef (Interpretation

of dreams by Yosef), several almanacs and Fundamentals of geniture and a storybook of Punj pirs. (Five Saints).

One day he had a nightmare. He saw that a man, his face covered with black veil and nothing on his body

except underwear, his white skin glowing owing to the oil smeared on it, entered his shop from the front door

which was left unlocked as was the custom in the village. He took a doll from the shelf, picked up several pins

and pierced the doll through its eyes, heels, heart and loins. Then he let the doll lie on the shelf and scratched a

match- stick. Light brightened the face of the doll. In the light he noticed that it was not a doll. It was his wife

Sakina. He woke up with a shocking jolt .His wife was sound asleep. He raised himself up, slipped his feet into

the slippers and noiselessly traversed the patio, went into the shop and thoroughly inspected it. Nothing was

stolen. He reached back his cot, contemplated his wife from top to toe. She was calm and quite. But he was not

satisfied. His peace was stolen. In the village, old people used to say, The blight on a wife also befalls thehusband.

He anxiously waited for the morning. When the day broke he instructed his wife to distribute black barley and

informed her by saying:

I am going to the bazaar of Turbela.

What for?

I shall buy a lock.

What is this?

You will see it and its functions too.

He dismissed her inquisitions with a masculine authority and at once left his house for the river.

He came back from the bazaar of Turbela with a pair of horse- shoe and an old fashion lock that resembled a

handcuff. He nailed the horse- shoes each on the front and the back door of the shop to dispel the jinx. An

amulet was also hung inside of the shop. He put the lock in the latch for the first time in the history of the

village. His wife was surprised to find out that lock could not be unstuck from the door of the shop. She

inquired:

But why did we need it?.A thi____ef. He stammered, I mean I suspect someone is pilfering.

Who?

I dont know.

One of our relatives?

May be.

He avoided giving the details of his nightmare.

Bring me the lunch.

He tried to divert the topic and succeeded in it.

People were surprised to see the lock. They asked each other:

What is it?

One of them who was well aware of the modern appliances informed them:

This is called lock.

No one knew who the first was to tell on Shamrooz. Perhaps they were the strap-bearer who whipped the

young ones sitting in the corners of the streets at the time of prayer. Whatever the source might be, he was

summoned to appear before the Girga to explain the importation of the lock as if he had brought in an idol from

India.

The Girga sat in the main hujra. Shamrooz turned up with the pounding heart. He had not foresighted such a

dire consequence. Interrogation started.

Did you buy a lock?

Yes. he answered timidly.

Why? Did you find anything stolen from your shop?

No ----yes he could not decide.

Say one thing. Shamrooz was dumb.

Name the person or personsyou suspect.

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It was in the dream that I saw a man entering my shop in the middle of the night.

Do you have the key in your pocket?

Yes I have.

Show it.

He fumbled into his pocket and took out the key.

The elders of the Girga gave the decision:

Since the key of the lock is with the owner of the lock, it thus proves that Shamrooz suspects his wifeof stealing and she must be the guilty of this immoral act. Therefore, the Girga has arrived at the decision that

Shamrooz shall separate her for the period of forty days and during this period she will stay with her parents.

O, no---non---o.

Shamrooz remonstrated vehemently but he was hushed by the elders. To speak against the decisions of the

Girga meant another punishment.

When Shamrooz left the hujra he swore:

Cuss you----but he could not decide whether he should curse his dream or the Girga or the lock.

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