A few days ago, I was standing outside a shopping mall waiting for my Begum when a well-dressed and well-spoken man knocked on my car window. I lowered the glass and looked at them questioningly. He shook hands with me very lovingly and introduced himself:* *”I am Tayyab”.* *Can I talk to you?*
I got down from the car and turned towards him and said: “Say yes.” My name is Taib Khan. I am 78 years old. I have some wishes. Will you finish?* *I thought the same thing, as you are now thinking. I was in a mood to lecture them to ask Allah Ta’ala etc. But I thought whatever it was. True or false, he was sent to me by Allah. So why not listen to him first.*
* I said yes I will try, you order. A mixed expression of surprise and happiness appeared on his face. They said, will you really try? I reassured them and turned towards them to listen patiently.* *I was the owner of a textile mill. In the previous political era, I received death threats for not paying extortion, so I left everything and went to Bangladesh and set up a garment factory there.
The system worked fine for a while, but then I was betrayed by my Bengali partner and not only kicked me out, but ate everything. When I came back to Pakistan, I had nothing. The mill was closed and there was nothing for investment. The elder son got the mill in his name and threw me out of the house. Instead of a mill, he built a colony. I stayed with my sister for some time, but her husband did not like her, so I left there too.
He met his son, but he humiliated him and kicked him out. Then I went to a mosque and requested the imam there to serve the mosque and teach the children and asked for a place to stay, so he agreed. I have been there for four years. Sometimes the heart wants to go out and drink coffee. I three a day Kip used to drink coffee. I was obsessed with coffee. Now, whenever I feel like it after a couple of months, I come here wearing these clothes as my only clothes and I ask for coffee to be fed to any person who seems to me to be a godly person. If I agree, I thank Allah; if I don’t, I return. “Can you get me some coffee?”*
I was stuck to the ground. My hair stood up. The eyes were moist. I held her hand and called Begum to return my phone because I was going to have coffee with a *friend*. Taking me to the nearby Gloria Jeans Cafe, I fed Tayyab Sahib his favorite coffee and cake. He drank two mugs. We didn’t talk anymore and went out after drinking coffee in silence. I asked for permission to drop him to the mosque and give him some financial assistance, so he said: “Tasir Sahib, there is no more desire left. May Allah bless you abundantly. Amen”* * shook hands with me
and went.*
*I stood watching them go and they disappeared from my sight without looking back. * Don’t think to fulfill anyone’s wish and don’t lecture everyone. Those who knock on your door are not the guests of Allah. What do you value about them? Because time doesn’t stand still*