2. A Soldier enters forest

CHAPTER 2

A SOLDIER ENTERS FOREST

An army soldier was walking through a deep forest. He was limping due to pain in his leg. He had a deep wound in his leg. Blood was oozing from the wound. Pain was making his progress through the dense forest a difficult task. But he was determined to reach his goal. He had tears in his eyes. He sat down and looked at the sky with tired eyes. Then he got up and moved ahead painfully. A bag was hung over his shoulder and he had a supporting stick in his hands. He sat here and there feeling tired. Then he looked around from top of small hill.  Everywhere there was greenery but not a soul around. Soldier felt tired and desperate.

“I am not able to bear this suffering. It is so painful to put even one step ahead.”

He sat down at one place and removed a water bottle from his bag. He drank water and quenched his thirst. Getting up again, he walked some more distance.

“I am moving only with the inspiration I got when I heard the name of Hakeem. I wonder where he is in this forest. In which tribe is he?”

Again he moved forward. Then he stood on top of a hill and looked around.

Seeing some huts, soldier felt very happy. “Ah! I can see some huts there. I will enquire and find out whether they know anything about the Hakeem.”

Even in that desperation, a new hope rose in him and he moved putting heavy steps forward. He moved step by step ahead with a new hope feeling sure that he will find the Hakeem soon and get his leg cured.

At the same time, a little distance from the soldier, in that forest one old man and a young boy were sitting on a rock talking. The boy was looking at the old man with excitement.

Boy said, “Uncle, I did not see you in the forest for two months. You were you not feeling well, isn’t it? How are you now?”

Hearing this, the old man was excited. He laughed. “I had to remain home due to sickness. After taking medicine from Hakeem, I am feeling better now.”

The boy was very happy to see that the old man was now cured. He was used to asking for cigarette from the old man. “Uncle, give one cigarette.”

The old man looked at the boy in surprise. Then his face brightened up.

“It is two months since I stopped smoking. It is all due to Hakeem. He said that he will give medicine only after I left smoking. My disease was cured and my habit of smoking also went away.”

At that time the soldier was approaching the place limping with pain. He winced and shouted with pain whenever the wounded leg touched the ground.

The old man and the young boy heard the sound of soldier shouting with pain. They turned to look towards that direction. Both were shocked to see the soldier since they had never seen him before. They get up and stared at the soldier.

Turning to the old man, boy said with excitement, “Uncle, I think he is a stranger.”

Old man looked at the soldier keenly and nodded his head. “He is limping. Looks like as if a wild animal has attacked him.”

The old man and boy moved towards the soldier, who was approaching them, limping. Seeing them approach, soldier fell down tired. They were shocked and ran towards the soldier to help him. Both helped him get up supporting him on two sides. They took him to a rock nearby. The soldier looked at them with gratitude. Old man looked at the soldier with pity. Soldier tried to talk but he was too tired.

Old man said, “Sit down first. Talk afterwards.”

Soldier sat down and closed his eyes to regain strength. The old man and boy looked at the soldier’s face, dress and legs. They were shocked to see the wound on the leg.

Looking at the army dress, boy and old man were excited.

Pointing to soldier’s dress, old man asked, “Looking at your dress, I think you are a soldier. Where have you come from? Why have you come here?”

Soldier opened his eyes and looked at his dress and then at the old man and nodded.

“True, I am a soldier. I have come in search of Hakeem.”

Hearing the name of Hakeem, the old man looked at the soldier’s wounded leg. He nodded.  “When I saw you come limping, I knew that you have come to see Hakeem. Any stranger entering this forest always comes for Hakeem only.”

The boy also looked at the wound on the soldier’s leg. He was shocked. He sat down near the leg and pointed to the wound. “Your leg is wounded.”

Soldier pulled his pant up to show the wound. Wincing with pain, Soldier said, “Bullet has entered my leg. It is not coming out. That is why I have come in search of Hakeem.”

Both the old man and the boy were shocked to hear this. Old man was observing the soldier with excitement. The boy was filled with curiosity.

Unable to stop himself, Boy asked, “You say that you are a soldier. Why have you come here leaving big hospitals?”

Soldier was shocked to hear this. He observed the boy keenly. Then he said sadly. “I have sugar disease. That is why they said they cannot remove. At that time a man from your place told me about Hakeem. That is why I have come here.”

Old man and the boy were excited for they were proud of their Hakeem.

Happily, Boy said, “Looks like word about our Hakeem of this forest had reached very far.”

With new hope, Soldier looked at the boy. He asked, “Can Hakeem cure my leg?”

Old man was shocked. With great confidence and faith in Hakeem’s medicines, Old man asked, “What have you thought of our Hakeem? He is a magician. If he touches it is enough. You will walk in 10 days. Come. Let us go.”

Soldier was ready to go with them. The boy was still admiring the soldier’s dress. Then with excitement the boy shouted with his hands raised, “Jai soldier.”

Soldier looked at the boy shocked.  He looked at the boy seriously. The boy’s excitement reduced seeing the seriousness on soldier’s face. He opened his mind and said, “We like soldiers very much.”

Hearing this, the soldier nodded and calmed down. The boy took the soldier’s bag and hung it on his shoulder. Old man took the stick from soldier’s hand.

Old man said, “You don’t worry. We will take you to the Hakeem.”

The old man and the boy held the soldier’s hands and helped him to get up. Soldier put his arms over their shoulders and stood upright. Three of them slowly walked towards the Hakeem’s hut.