Musharraf Farooqi - Between Clay and Dust

That the ties between them could be so easily severed — and that there would be no attempt at a rapprochement by Ustad Ramzi — was something Tamami could neither understand nor bear. Only drugs brought him relief from his pain.

Days passed. It was rumored that Tamami was off drugs and Kabira had arranged for him to attend a makeshift akhara.

Gulab Deen was in a lively mood when he came to see Ustad Ramzi. He offered many apologies for not visiting earlier. He said it was not done out of disrespect, and enumerated many reasons for being held up.

“Tell me Ustad,” he finally asked, “Why is Tamami not exercising in this akhara? Forgive my saying this, but there are no differences between two brothers that cannot be resolved.” Without waiting for an answer, he added, “Tell me that I can count on your forgiving him if I were to bring Tamami to you. A treasure is wasting before my eyes, Ustad! A treasure!”

Ustad Ramzi was infuriated by the promoter’s suggestion that he exercised some influence over his own brother. In his heart he had not yet renounced his right to make decisions about Tamami’s life.

“I wish to have nothing to do with him,” he replied. “You can continue arranging fixed fights for him and making a living off it.”

“As God is my witness, Ustad, it was a true fight!” Gulab Deen swore, kissed his fingers with reverence, and raised them to touch his eyes. “True as true! Sher Ali issued the challenge and Tamami accepted it. Fair as fair. I know of no fixing. Both men are hot-blooded and neither would agree to such a thing.”

Gulab Deen once again denied knowledge of any wrongdoing in the fight between Tamami and Sher Ali. Then he got up and took his leave of Ustad Ramzi.

❖

Everyone in the clan realized that, though Ustad Ramzi may have turned Tamami out in a fit of anger, it would grieve Ustad Ramzi if they ostracized his younger brother as well, for in the end there would be a rapprochement between the two. Besides, they admired Tamami’s talent and strength. When they learned that Tamami had started attending the makeshift akhara, they went there to assist him with his exercises and to spar with him.

Tamami had cut down on his exercises. He stopped after just a few hundred leg-squats. But the trainees were still unable to throw him off his feet. His robust constitution continued to triumph over the adverse effects of addiction, even though he was still on drugs. Kabira often saw Gulab Deen take Tamami out in the evening. Since Tamami had no source of income, Kabira could guess where the drugs were coming from.

A couple of days later Tamami told Kabira that he had appointed him his manager.

“I have become your manager?” Kabira asked with some surprise.

“Yes, Kabira,” Tamami confessed in an embarrassed tone.

“And who appointed me? You?”

“Yes. Gulab Deen asked me to appoint you my manager so that someone could take care of my affairs.”

“Gulab Deen said that? Huh!” Kabira’s brow clouded over. There was something wrong with the way Gulab Deen was manipulating Tamami’s professional affairs. It made Kabira apprehensive. He decided to have a word with Gulab Deen.

“Tamami will be fine once he sees that he does not need Ustad Ramzi to arrange his challenge fight,” Gulab Deen told Kabira. “He is still used to him making all his arrangements. You are his manager now. He trusts you and listens to you. Tell him that everything will be all right.”

When Kabira brought up Tamami’s use of drugs, Gulab Deen looked at him in silence for a few moments. Then he spat out a shred of tobacco from his cigarette, and looked hard at Kabira with a strange gleam in his eyes.

“If Tamami loses a fight he could always win in a challenge bout.”

“Don’t say that again!” Kabira cut in angrily. “It is one thing for him to prolong an exhibition match. Throwing away a fight would destroy his name.”

“You are right,” Gulab Deen said in a changed tone. “It will not do. We should ask Tamami to stop. He listens to you. First talk to him yourself. Then, if you need me, I will come with you and we’ll get our pahalwan to see the error of his ways.”

Gulab Deen’s words had raised strange fears in Kabira’s mind, and he decided that he must go and see Ustad Ramzi to bring about a reconciliation between the brothers.

When Kabira mentioned his intent to Tamami, his face brightened.

Kabira was glad to see that.

❖

A crisp wind was rustling the paling leaves on the branches of the banyan and holy fig trees. The sun was westering and its last light was falling on the gates of the akhara. Some trainees were arranging wooden planks outside the akhara and a few others were lying on wooden benches, having their bodies rubbed with mustard oil.

Ustad Ramzi sat in his customary place by the side of the akhara. He shaded his eyes to see who was entering the enclosure. The others had recognized Kabira and stopped their activities. It was Kabira’s first visit since Ustad Ramzi had expelled Tamami from the akhara. The trainees regarded him inquisitively and when Kabira came up and greeted Ustad Ramzi, they drew nearer.

Ustad Ramzi had a feeling that everyone in the akhara was watching him. He felt his throat contract. He softly returned Kabira’s greeting. Catching Ustad Ramzi’s uneasy glance, one of the trainees brought a chair for Kabira. Another brought glasses of sardai.

Finally Kabira spoke: “Ustad, Tamami made a mistake. I have come to ask you to forgive him.”

Ustad Ramzi was hardly looking at Kabira. He only heard the words. Now, more than ever, he felt the intense gaze of the trainees on him. He felt a sharp expectancy in them.

“When did he become such a lord that he could not come himself…”

“He will come. I will bring him, Ustad. He needs you,” Kabira said quickly and in one breath. “Forgive him!”

“Forgive him for what?” Ustad Ramzi roared. “For befouling the akhara with his deeds, this place that five generations had kept pure?”

As Kabira listened with his head bowed, Ustad Ramzi felt his resolve weakening. But he could feel the gaze of the trainees still riveted on him. It made him angry.

“Why does he need my forgiveness?” he sneered. “He did not need me when he participated in the fixed bout and smeared his fathers’ honor. Now what does he need me for?”

“He has a manager and a promoter now,” Ustad Ramzi’s voice trembled as he cast a glance at Kabira. “Souls find angels of their kind. Now all of you can win ever greater glories for yourselves.”

Ustad Ramzi’s anger was spent. Kabira could have broken his defenses with another plea, but he maintained a respectful silence.

The moment weighed heavily on Ustad Ramzi.

“Why don’t you answer?” he shouted, more in irritation at the silence than to elicit a reply.

A few trainees moved forward to console Ustad Ramzi. They took charge of the situation and turned on Kabira:

“It would be best if you left now.”

“Ustad has not forgiven Tamami. Take him that message. “

“Why did he not come here himself? Now he need not bother.”

Kabira quietly rose to his feet. Ustad Ramzi had turned his face away to master his feelings. Without speaking another word, Kabira left.

“Get lost! Don’t show your face…I don’t wish to see his face again!” Ustad Ramzi shouted after him.

❖

Tamami was sitting up on his charpai carefully tying the folds of his turban. He had taken a bath and dressed, in expectation of his reconciliation with Ustad Ramzi. Hearing Kabira’s footsteps he looked up, but the expression on Kabira’s face immediately told him that his visit to Ustad Ramzi had been unsuccessful. Tamami’s spirits sank.