18th May — my dear childhood Gallian friend, Sohail Javed’s birthday. He left us over two decades ago, yet the memories remain as vivid as ever.
Sohail Javed joined Lawrence College Ghora Gali the same
year I did, in 1976, in Senior School, Class VIII. From the very beginning, he
was gentle, soft-spoken, and noble in temperament. Our beds in the dormitory
remained side by side throughout our years in GG, until we left after our
Intermediate Board examinations in 1981.
In Class IX, Sohail used to narrate incidents late at night,
in a hushed voice before sleep, from the famous Islamic horror books Maut ka
Manzar and Marnay Kay Baad Kya Hoga. Those eerie narrations still
send shudders down my spine.
He was firmly against my smoking. Once in Class XII, Alamzeb
and I were smoking secretly on the terrace after lights out. Suddenly, Sohail
stepped out of the dormitory. I quickly passed the cigarette to Alamzeb, who
dramatically exhaled smoke to make it appear as though he alone was smoking.
Sohail instantly understood the whole scene. Looking straight at me with mock
annoyance, he remarked:
“Keep smoking! You’re the one who’ll die!”
…and quietly walked back inside. Alamzeb and I burst into laughter.
My prayers in the College mosque were often alongside Sohail
Javed. At times, we would even offer Tahajjud together late at night in the
Babar House common room. Those moments now feel timeless.
I still remember one amusing incident vividly. Once on the
College field, while talking to Sohail, I casually used the famous GG
expression “bloody fool.” Unfortunately, the Principal, Brigadier Safdar Nawab,
happened to overhear me from atop the field.
The next day, our House Master, Mr. Najam, summoned us and
conveyed the Principal’s displeasure. Then, turning to Sohail, he asked:
“Why didn’t you stop Yazdani from using that language?”
Sohail, in his trademark innocence and simplicity, replied:
“Sir… mein bhool gaya tha.”
(“Sir… I forgot.”)
Mr. Najam could not help smiling wryly.
Sohail’s mother had passed away before he joined GG. In
Class VIII, I was perhaps the only one in whom he confided this deeply personal
sorrow. I still remember him showing me a small newspaper cutting carrying the
news of her death — a treasured keepsake he carried with him. Even at that
young age, one could sense the quiet grief he bore within.
Today, I find myself flooded with memories of those
irreplaceable years spent with Sohail Javed — memories wrapped in affection,
innocence, youth, friendship, and loss. And yes, with a tear in my eye.
Rest well and easy, dear Sohail. Souls as noble and gentle
as yours deserve nothing less than Allah’s mercy, pleasure, and eternal peace.
May Allah bless you abundantly, elevate your ranks, shower His mercy upon you,
and protect your beloved family, children, and spouse. Ameen.
And perhaps — by Allah’s grace — we shall meet one day again.
And when we do, my prayer is that we relive once more those
immortal summers of Lawrence College Ghora Gali from 1976 to 1981.
— Aamir Yazdani
No comments:
Post a Comment