"Nibhaane waale nibha jaate hain, rafaqat mein bhi, judaai mein bhi"

This old man, probably in his 60s, was praying Taraweeh alongside me. What seemed little peculiar was that although he was alone, he had two water bottles with him. Simple water and flavored water.

At first, I guessed maybe he had polydipsia (increased thirst). But as the Taraweeh progressed, I noticed that he only drank the simple water, and that too only scantly. While the other one just laid there in the shopping bag. I decided to talk to him after the Taraweeh prayer.

"Assalam o Alaikum taya g"
"Wa Alaikum Salam beta"

"Namaz ke doraan mein ne note kia keh aap aye akele hain aur pani waali bottlen 2 hain, koi aap ke saath tha?"

"(laughs) beta mein Taraweeh parhne apni biwi ke saath aata hota tha, toh yeh Rooh Afza woh laati thi."

"Abb aap akeley hain?"

"Haan, 2 saal pehle uska intiqaal hogya, yeh bottle mein le kar aata hoon, koi paani mangta hai toh uski bottle se deta hoon ke usse sawaab pohunche."

"I'm so sorry taya g"

"Koi baat nahi beta. Woh hayaat hoti toh mere saath uski 26ween taraweeh hoti.

Abb uske hissey ki taraweeh parhun ga (pours me a glass of Rooh Afza) aap kia karte ho?"

"2nd year MBBS ka student hoon"

"MaShaAllah g, (while laughing) mujhe sugar ka masla hai mein Rooh Afza pee bhi nahi sakta"

"Chalen uncle phir aap parhen mein chalta hoon, JazakAllah"

Time, money and power. Spending these on the person we love explains how much Love is worth. The way he is spending all three on the person who is not with him tells how much he did when they were together. or maybe they are still together. In his heart. Forever.

22/04/2021