Amir gave Rashid a hefty push sending him flying backwards straight into the trunk of the big mango tree. There was a resounding thud mixed with Rashid's scream of pain as he slumped unconscious to the ground. Amir watched in horror at the still body and then at the sound of running feet behind him. His classmates were hurrying to see what had happened. Another glance at Rashid's prone body and the blood running down his head, and Amir's fear commanded his legs to take off. Some of his classmates tried to catch him but he slipped from their hold and ran away.
A group of boys rushed to the principal's office. He was having a meeting with some of the teachers.
'Sir! Sir! There's been a fight. Amir pushed Rashid and there's blood all over him!'
All the teachers got up in a hurry and rushed out.
'Mr. Ahmad, please call the doctor and the boy's father.' The principal called out to the clerk after him.
When the teachers got there, Rashid was still unconscious. The doctor arrived and gave him a once over. Then the principal picked him up and took him to the hospital.
Mr. Akram Khan, the boy's father arrived soon after they had brought Rashid to the hospital. When he saw his son, his face paled with shock that soon changed to anger. 'Who is responsible for this?' he demanded.
The principal explained, 'Rashid had a fight with a classmate, Amir Saleem … I don't know the details yet, but as soon as I saw him I picked him up and brought him here.'
'I'm very grateful for that,' said Mr. Akram Khan.
'It was only my duty. But I'm really sorry for what happened and we'll look into the matter. I hope Rashid gets well soon. Do tell me when he gains consciousness.' So saying the principal left the hospital to investigate what had happened.
Akram Khan was a rich man; he was also a man whose temperature took very little to shoot up. Rashid had to stay in hospital for three days and those three days were enough to send his father's temperament sky high. He was so annoyed by the waste of his time and the pain of his son that he went to the police station and filed a complaint against Amir Saleem.
The police came and took a stunned Amir to the police station. Amir's father, Khalid Mahmood was a shop owner. He got the news at his little shop and went running to the station. 'What is this? Why have you taken my son, what has he done?'
'You can ask Akram Khan or your own son as to what happened.' Said the policeman pointing to Amir who was now crying his heart out on a bench by the wall. 'However,' he continued, 'if the injured party agrees to settle the matter between you, we can let your son go. Otherwise he will have to be presented in the juvenile court.'
The words made Khalid Mahmood even more alarmed. After kissing his son and telling him to be a brave boy, he went to meet Akram Khan.
Akram Khan gave him a very ungracious welcome. 'There is nothing to talk about, whatever is there to be said shall be said in court!'
'But,' countered Khalid sahib, 'look, they are just kids and they were only having a little fun …'
'Fun? I should say not! Your son did it on purpose.' Declared Akram khan. 'He dislikes my son. I know because I have talked to a lot of their classmates.'
'I'll send for Amir, he will beg your pardon and also Rashid's.'
'No need for that … the decision will be reached in court.' Akram khan's voice was cold.
'Please Mr. Akram, I beg of you. I'm just a small shopkeeper, I can't afford going to court.' Khalid Mahmood was now begging him.
'Your son should have thought of that before pushing my son. The doctors tell me Rashid could have died if the wound had been deeper.' There was anger in his words now. 'Just go now, there's nothing else to say!'
Khalid Mahmood came home and had his son paroled. As soon as he saw him back he hauled him over the coals. Just one moment of giving in to one's feelings had them all in a very hot soup. In a few days Amir began to look pale and ill. He was frightened all the time. What if the magistrate made him go to jail? How could he live so far away from home? Would they let him see his mother, father, his brother and sisters? Would they ever let him go? He shuddered at every thought.
His parents were in a hell of their own. How would they be able to pay for the lawyer? What would they do to their young son? They couldn't sleep or eat, their nerves were stretched to breaking point.
At last the day for the hearing arrived. Although his lawyer had reassured him that this was just a trivial case, Amir was trembling from head to toe as he faced the magistrate. He had to attend court four times and at last the date for the verdict arrived. Amir felt his heart go to his feet, his throat was constricted, he could imagine a cold dark cell of jail that would be his fate, the magistrate seemed like an executioner about to take the life from his body. When the magistrate banged the gavel, he felt like passing out, but he held on. He could hear the last words, '… keeping minority in mind, the accused is being set free. However, it is advised to be careful in future.'
Amir couldn't believe his ears! He could only thank Allah with every breath as his father hugged him tightly with tears running down his face. His uncle was there too holding him from the other side. Jubilantly they returned home. Uncle said, 'all of
us should pray two rak'a of thanks to Allah for delivering us from this dilemma. He has certainly awarded us with His rahmat and with it given us a lesson to remember.'
'Lesson?' Amir and his father asked in unison.
'Remember how we felt when the magistrate was about to give the verdict? There will be a day when we will be feeling even worse for we will be standing before the greatest of all judges … Allah. What will we be feeling then? If the fear of this world is so great what will it be like then? Fear Allah in this life, fear to stand against Him, so you will have no fear on that day of reckoning.'
What uncle said made them think and they all nodded as the truth of his words hit home and they all resolved to remember them the rest of their lives.