Author: Rizwan Ahmed
Memon
Many
people collect a lot of wealth in this world. They remain so busy in
accumulating affluence that they forget their loved ones and become selfish. On
the other hand, many live a simple life giving importance to love and peace.
Rani was one of those people who was not interested in money and material
things.
Rani was
the only daughter of Janzaib, who was one of the richest men in the city of Karachi.
Rani’s father had disowned her from the day she had married an uneducated, poor
and simple man, Rahat. He had come to Karachi from Larkana, and he sold flowers
in a shopping mall.
On
Valentine’s Day in 2015, Rani went to the shopping mall where Rahat worked.
Rani purchased some clothes and books from the shops in the mall. When she was
going out, she saw a flower stall. She came to the stall, and for a while, she
looked at the beautiful flowers. “Which one would you like to buy, miss?” Rahat
asked her.
“Yet, I
don’t have anyone to give flowers to,” she sighed.
“Look
this is a nice one. Your mother will like it,” he added.
“Yes.
Well, my mother had died when I was three, and only my father is alive. He
doesn’t have time for anything but his business.”
“I am
sorry to hear that. Well, ma’am, today is the day of love, so here is a rose
for you from my side.” he smiled warmly.
“Oh,
thank you!” beamed Rani. She took a note of one thousand from her purse. “Here
you are,” she replied as she handed it to Rahat.
“Miss,
this flower isn’t that much!”
She
smiled and said, “My father says everything has its price!”
“Yes,
well, maybe but love has no price. No one can purchase love with money. One can
get many things with money from the mall, but no one has the love for selling
in their stocks.”
“You are
right. I believe so.” After saying this, she took the flower and left.
When Rani
came home, she wept a lot in her bedroom. She thought she had no one to share
love with. She thought about the business of her father. He has wealth, but no
love, care and feelings. He is too busy and greedy trying to get more money all
the time. “I don’t like his principles and his life. I need to live my life
according to my rules. If all people thought like the man at the flower stall,
this world would be a better place,” she whispered as if reminding herself.
The next
day, she went to Rahat. “You have nice thoughts. I want to listen more from you
about love, care and life. What are you doing this evening?”
His eyes
lit up with the sudden acceptance. “I will remain here up to the night. I am
usually free on Fridays.”
“All
right. Can we meet on Friday evening at the café?”
“My
pleasure.”
So that
Friday, Rani felt that the prince who will bring happiness in her life was Rahat.
She started to go out with him regularly. One evening, while they were
strolling along the beach, she asked Rahat to marry her.
“I am a
poor man, and I have no degrees. What will your father say?”
“Rahat, I
am an educated and assertive girl. I will not let anyone snatch my rights. Here
in Karachi girls are not so much limited as in interior Sindh. We will do court
marriage. After marriage, we will live wherever you will say.”
At night,
when Rani’s father came, she said him, “Dad, I am alone. You are too busy doing
business, and so I would like to get married.”
“Oh,
that’s a good news! Who is the lucky man? Has he a big bungalow and what does
he do? He must be a doctor, right?”
“No,
father he is a poor, and uneducated man. He sells flowers in a mall.”
“What!
The daughter of mine will marry an uneducated and above all a flowers seller? I
will never allow this!”
“I’m
sorry dad, but money is not important to me, and after marriage I will teach
him reading and writing.”
“You
still live in the thoughts of novels. These all are lies written by some
foolish writers. You’d better be realistic. Think about your career and
future.”
“Father,
my happiness is with Rahat. I knew you wouldn’t like this. Tomorrow, I am going
to marry him in the court.”
“If you
do so, I will not give you a penny from my wealth, and I will disown you. I
will not let you live in this house.”
“Don’t
worry, dad. I will not take anything from you, and I will not live here. I just
want you to attend the marriage ceremony.”
“Not at
all. I don’t want to see you here anymore.” After saying this, he went to his
bedroom. Although angry, her father also felt happy, because he would have a
chance to marry for the second time.
The next
day, Rahat and Rani came to the court and tied the knot. On this occasion, Rani
wished that her mother had been alive and seen her as a bride. Rahat’s mother,
Zulaikha, his younger brother, Adnan, and his sister, Malaika came from Larkana
to attend the marriage ceremony. After few days, Rahat decided to leave Karachi
and go to his native city Larkana. “In Larkana we will live a simple and happy
life. I will open my own shop where my younger brother and I will work together
and sell flowers.”
“I will
live with you wherever you say,” submitted Rani.
After a
week, they had come to Larkana. “Welcome, this is your house. Oh how lovely!
Now I have two daughters,” Rahat’s mother spouted in joy.
At night,
Rahat said to Rani, “I don’t know whether you will get any sleep on the cot or
not because you are used to sleeping on the bed.”
“Rahat,
in fact, I feel more comfort here on this cot and in this house. Here I have
your love and your family’s love. I feel I have got my mother and siblings.
Now, I will not feel alone. I will sleep well on this cot.”
“Thank
you, Rani for coming into my life. I am so happy, too. You have brought
happiness into our lives.”
“Rahat,
why did you not go to school?” she asked.
“When I
was in grade six, my father had died of cancer. At that time, I left school and
helped my mother to earn money to keep the house going. Would you teach me
reading and writing?”
“Oh, you
took the words out of my mouth!” said Rani.
With
Rahat and his family, Rani was happier than she was with her father and that
big house. In the evening, she had started teaching English and computer skills
to the children in their neighborhood. She had a good heart which found
happiness in giving and receiving love, not in collecting wealth. Indeed, that
happiness is the real happiness.
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Respond
to the story:
What do you think is real
success? Do you measure one’s success in terms of wealth, skills, character, or
a good and simple happy life?
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