3. Soldier meets Hakeem

CHAPTER 3

Soldier meets Hakeem

At the same time, many 10-12 tribals were waiting near Hakeem’s hut for medicines. Hakeem was treating the patients one by one. One patient was coughing badly. Hakeem approached him and put his hand on his nose with disgust.  The patient went on coughing without reacting to the fact that Hakeem had his hand on his nose.

           

Politely, patient said, “I have been taking your medicine since last three days but my cough has not reduced.”

Hakeem got very angry. He pointed his hand at the patient in disgust and said seriously, “If you keep drinking like this daily, how can your cough reduce? I will give medicine only if you gave up drinking. Go away.”

The patient was scared that Hakeem might not give medicines. He folded his hands and pleaded coughing badly. “Please excuse me, Hakeemji. I feel I do not have the strength to even cough. I promise on forest goddess that I will not drink again from tomorrow. Please do not send me away empty handed.”

Hakeem calmed down seeing that the patient was promising on forest goddess. He looked at the forest and folded his hands. “You have promised on the mother who was protecting this forest that you will not drink, hence I will trust you.”

Patient relaxed. Looking towards the huts, Hakeem called his assistant loudly, “Daughter, Jamali.”

Jamali was packing ayurvedic power into small packets inside the hut. Tribal ladies were very fair and beautiful. But Jamali was very special among them. God had created her like full moon.  Jamali was the most beautiful lady in the forest. She was around 23 years old and was wearing a tribal dress.

Hearing the shout, Jamali looked at the door. “I am coming, uncle.”

Taking at packet of powder in her hands, Jamali got up and moved towards the door.

Seeing Jamali come out of the hut, Hakeem smiled. Pointing to the patient, Hakeem said, “Give this fellow cough medicine.”

Jamali was so efficient. She already had the cough medicine packet in her hand. She showed the packet to Hakeem and said, “Here it is, uncle.”

Jamali gave packet to patient. The patient took the packet happily and moved away.

At the same time the old man and young boy brought the soldier towards Hakeem’s hut. Jamali saw them approach. She was shocked and stared at the soldier. She approached Hakeem and put her hand on his shoulder. She pointed to the soldier with excitement.

Jamali said, “Hakeem uncle, see a stranger is approaching.”

Hakeem looked towards the soldier in surprise and excitement. Seeing him come limping, Hakeem understood that he must be a patient. He moved towards the approaching men. Jamali followed.

Looking at Hakeem, Soldier understood very well that this must be the man he was looking for. He felt relieved and happy.

Old man pointed to Hakeem and said, “That is Hakeem, who is looking after the health of the tribals.”

Soldier was most excited. Looking at the dress worn by Hakeem, soldier was sure that he was a Muslim. So he said, “Salam vale kum.”

Hakeem wished back saying, “Vale kum salam”

He looked at the soldier from top to bottom. Looking at the army dress, Hakeem felt sure that the man must have come from the border. He looked at the wounded leg. Then he looked at the soldier’s face which was filled with pain. Soldier was not able to even put that leg on the ground.

Hakeem went and gave his shoulder as support. “Come and sit on the bed. Let me take a look at your wound.”

Hakeem helped the soldier move towards the bed outside the hut. Jamali was looking at the soldier with great excitement. Seeing that they were approaching the bed, she immediately put a sheet over the bed and kept the pillow in proper position. All the patients were watching the soldier with great excitement.

Hakeem and young boy helped the soldier lie on the bed. Soldier relaxed on the bed. He felt a new life come to him. He looked at Hakeem’s face with gratitude. Hakeem nodded and smiled, understanding the soldier’s feelings. He put his hand on soldier’s head and pointed another hand towards the sky. “Allah is there. He protects all of us.”

Looking towards Jamali, who was observing everything with great excitement, Hakeem said, “Bring water for soldier.”

Jamali immediately ran towards the hut excited and eager to do something for the stranger. She came out with water pot and extended it to the soldier. Soldier tried to take the water pot.

Seeing that he was very tired, Hakeem said, “Jamali, you help him to drink water.”

Jamali put the water pot to the soldier’s mouth. Soldier drank water happily with closed eyes. After drinking the water, soldier opened his eyes and looked at Jamali with gratitude. Jamali brought a wet towel and wiped soldier’s face and hands. Soldier was shocked to see this service. He felt relaxed and happy. He looked at Jamali with liking.

Looking at soldier, Hakeem said, “I can see from your face that you are very tired. Take rest for 10 minutes and then I will come to talk to you.”

Soldier looked at the Hakeem with satisfaction. He nodded and closed his eyes. He had already walked for so many miles hunting for Hakeem. He just wanted to forget everything and sleep for a while. He lay down. Jamali helped him lie fully on the bed. Hakeem lifted his legs and put them on the bed. Soldier winced with pain. Jamali corrected the pillow below soldier’s head. Hakeem removed soldier’s shoes. Soldier winced with pain. Hakeem exposed soldier’s leg to take a good look at the wound. He was shocked to see the bullet wounds. Then he was excited because he had never seen such a wound in his life. He had seen so many different types of wounds from thorn wound to broken leg. He had all types of medicines and had cured thousands of patients. But now he looked at the soldier’s face in surprise.

Hakeem asked soldier, “What is this wound? How did it happen?”

Soldier looked at Hakeem sadly. Jamali was looking at soldier in excitement waiting for soldier to speak. All were watching with excitement.

Soldier started speaking slowly and with pain. “Hakeemji, I am a soldier. When I was fighting the terrorists in Kashmir, I got bullet wounds on my leg.”

Hearing this, Hakeem looked at him with great excitement. This man was a brave soldier of the country who was fighting for the country. He nodded. “I am so happy to meet a brave soldier like you.”

Hakeem put his hand on soldier’s chest and said, “We are all proud of our soldiers.”

Hearing this all were excited and looked at the soldier with love.

Hakeem asked, “Tell us what happened.”

All were excited to hear more about soldier’s story. Soldier continued coolly. “Some of the terrorists died but some escaped. But I got bullet wounds.”

Hakeem looked at the wound again. With the great experience, Hakeem understood the bullets must still be inside the leg.

Soldier said sadly, “The bullets are still in the leg.”

Hakeem looked at the wound on soldier’s leg. Blood had oozed out and formed a clot. The area was swollen.

Observing the wound and then looking at the soldier, Hakeem said, “Yes, I can see that the bullets are still inside your legs. But why didn’t you get them removed at some big hospital?”

All look at soldier wondering what answer he was going to give.

Soldier looked at Hakeem desperately. “Hakeem sab, I know I should have got them removed immediately. But I have diabetes. The doctors at the military hospital refused to remove the bullets.”

Looking at him from top to bottom, Hakeem asked, “You look like a soldier. Why have you left the border and come here?”

Old man said, “He is a brave soldier. He has hurt his leg. That is why he has left everything and come looking for you.”

Hakeem examined soldier’s leg carefully. 

Soldier said, “I have sugar, sir. I did not see any improvement in our army hospital. The bullets remained in the leg. When a man from your tribe told me about you, I came all the way from Kashmir searching for you.”

Hakeem said confidently, “Don’t worry. Alah is there.”

He asked the old man to help the soldier lie on the bed. Old man and the boy helped the soldier lie on the bed.

Jamali looked at the soldier. She remembered some old incident. She had tears in her eyes. She wiped her eyes.

Looking at her lovingly, Hakeem said, “Daughter, I know why you are crying. Not only you but the whole forest is feeling sad with you.”

Looking at Jamali, Hakeem ordered, “Jamali, give water first.”

Jamali went in the hut and brought water.

Hakeem touched soldier’s leg. He shouted with pain. “Ahh!”

Hakeem slided up soldier’s pants above the knee to look at the bullet wound. It was all red and swollen. Hakeem was worried. “Removing these bullets is new to me.” 

With fear, Soldier asked, “Hakeem sir, I have sugar. Can you remove or not?”

Hakeem was not worried about that. With inspiration, Hakeem said, “Your sugar cannot play any game in front of my herbs. Don’t fear. Removing and curing is not a great thing for me. But…”

Soldier was shocked. Jamali was watching. She knew the reason why.

Hakeem said, “When any stranger comes here, I cannot treat him without the permission of the tribe elders.”

Looking at the boy, Hakeem said, “You go and brought the elders. Tell them that a stranger has come.”

Boy and old man left. Jamali helped Jawan drink water. He looked at Jamali with gratefulness.