KAFILA - Journey Towards Freedom (Part 3)

The Road Not Taken To:

Rukaiya had gone over the things she needed to pack several times. Though there was not much, she constantly had a feeling that she was leaving something behind. Rafique was busy since morning making arrangements for their trip. He has been in and out of the house the whole morning. It was their first trip outside their country and they were both tensed to take up this long and dangerous journey.

Rafique seemed more stressed than Rukaiya, jittery and nervous.

"It must be about crossing the border unseen and unheard that he is nervous about", thought Rukaiya.

If they wanted to go to Kolkata they would have to slip in through the porous border. That was the only way. Many a time Rukaiya had asked Rafique how they are going to cross but every time she brought it up, Rafique smoothly changed the topic in no time.

Rafique sudden entry brings Rukaiya back to the small one-room flat.

"Do I need to pack something special for crossing the border?", asked Rukaiya.

"No, that won't be necessary. If Allahtalla is with us we will safely cross it with no hurdles on our way", replied Rafique.

"How are we going to cross?", asked Rukaiya timidly.

After a moment's silence, Rafique said, " I don't want you to be tensed so I didn't want to tell you, but you are my wife so you have a right to know. Truth is even I don't know much, all I know is that the man I have spoken to has helped many people cross like this before and this is his job. He has promised me that we will cross the borders safely and reach Kolkata. Probably we will cross through a river. Please don't worry much, I have checked up everything, we'll be fine."

"Which river are we going to cross?? Did that man ask for money"? asked Rukaiya.

"I don't know which river and you don't worry about money, just be happy", smiled Rafique.

Satisfied with Rafique's answers she went back to the work at her hand but devoid of any reasons a nameless worry gnawed at her constantly and Rukaiya failed to ignore it. Rafique left again for some last-minute work while Rukaiya was finishing up.

"We'll leave once I come back", said Rafique before leaving.

1000 meters away in the dark corner of a dirty bylane a man of average height and built was smoking a biri (tobacco rolled in dry leaf). He didn't see Rafique coming from behind, so engrossed was he seeing the contents of the brown packet that he held so dearly.

" Salaam Alaykum, Rehman bhai" greeted Rafique. Startled by his voice, Rehman dropped the packet on the ground and with lighting speed pulled out a sharpened knife.

"Woah woah, slow Rehman bhai slow. I don't wish to die so soon, just got married you see", said Rafique picking up the brown packet.

"You should handle such precious things carefully bhaijaan". He gave the packet back to Rehman.

"Maauf karna miya (forgive me friend) for the behavior. Anyway, I came to give you the packet, why hand me back. It's yours only." said Rehman.

"Shukriya bhaijaan, (thank you brother) Khuda Hafiz (good-bye)".

As Rafique was about to leave, Rehaman reminded him, " Your car for Rajshahi leaves in an hour, don't be late".

" I won't, don't worry", assured Rafique.

Gumraah (Astray):

Rukaiya was feeling sleepy and tired, She leaned her head on Rafique's shoulder to get some sleep. Long road trips are just not her cup of tea, she always feels sleepy on roads. Soon after lunch Rukaiya and Rafique had left their one-room flat and hopped onto a matador which headed for Rajshahi, the silk city. It is a 5 hours journey from Dhaka to Rajshahi and already Rukaiya was falling asleep. Except for two more men leaving Rafique, all the other passengers were female. There were 12 other women leaving Rukaiya and they all looked very excited just as Rukiaya. The woman sitting beside Rukaiya was close to her age.

"Are you also going to Kolkata bibi??, asked that girl

"Yes, are you too?"

"All of us in here are. Why are you going to Kolkata?"

"To get the blessing of my aunt - in - law. I just got married you see. Why are you going?"

"Oh!! that's wonderful, Shaadi Mubarak ho (congratulations on your wedding). I am going to ........................"

"RUKAIYA", shouted Rafique, who himself had dozed off for a while, "haven't I told you not to talk with strangers about where we are from and where we are going. Why don't you listen to me?? It's for our own safety."

Rukaiya, who had never seen Rafique angry was scared for the first time. Timidly she said " I didn't tell much and she is also going to Kolkata"

"I don't want to hear your explanations. You are not talking on anyone on this journey. Remember that." Rafique ordered.

All Rukaiya could do was to give a small nod and let a drop of tear escape her eye. The girl sitting beside her gave her a sympathetic look and turned away. Rukaiya didn't want her magical trip to ruin before even starting so she promised herself to listen to Rafique from then. Stealing a glance at Rafique she could see him dozing again. He looks like a child when he sleeps, thought Rukaiya. Tired as she was, the matador's lulling moves over the smooth highway as if assisted the sleep to come to her and take her away.

Rafique woke up Rukaiya when they reached Rajshahi. He was amused to see her sleep soundly like a child all throughout the journey. After some fidgeting she opened her eyes, They were red from exhaustion and lack of sleep but still beautiful. It was 7 o' clock in the evening, after some quick snack, they would leave for Charghat, their last stopping point in Bangladesh, on another matador. Helping Rukaiya down all of them went to a shanty to have some food.

"I am sorry", apologized Rafique during their meal, " I shouldn't have shouted on you, but you see it was for our safety. We are not crossing the border legally."

"Please don't apologize", pleaded Rukaiya, "I am at fault, I shouldn't have opened my mouth at the first place."

Glad that all was well between them Rafique concentrated on his food. After half an hour when all were done they headed for the next matador. Helping Rukaiya up, Rafique excused him for a minute and went back to the shanty again. In the meantime, the matador was ready to leave and roared up its engine. Rukaiya listening to the engine being started panicked that Rafique would be left behind and she will be all alone. She got up to get down from the matador, and as she was about to jump Rafique caught her hand from the side.

"What in Allah's name are you doing?", asked a bewildered Rafique.

"I thought the truck would leave without you and I would be alone, so I was going to call you", Said Rukaiya

"Oh! you silly girl. I just went to get some food packed for the night", Rafique sid gesturing to the food packet at hand.

After another half an hour through the dark Rajshahi - Charghat road, they reached the border town of Charghat. The man, who would help them to cross the border, appeared from thin air as soon as they got down from the matador and guided them through unmetalled roads, rice fields and unlit villages to an unmanned jetty. As soon as they got to the jetty a motorboat appeared to whisk them away into the dark water of river Padma.

"This is it, soon we will be in India", whispered Rafique in a low voice to Rukiaya huddled together in a corner of the dimly lit motorboat.

"Give me some water", said Rukaiya

"Water has finished, why don't you have this sherbet I took from Rajshahi" offered Rafique. Rukaiya had some of it and left the rest for Rafique. She didn't have a watch but so she didn't know how soon she fell asleep. The only things she remembered before falling asleep was the soft lapping of the river water, the roar of the motorboat and the faint heartbeat of Rafique, on whose chest she had kept her head.