The Clay Bird Page #2

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She always bathes there,

dunking her head below the water.

She disappears for a while,

but then, she comes up again

her hair draped in red flowers.

Will you go home for Eid?

No, it's too far

for the few vacation days I get.

But you should both go back home.

I won't go.

I'll go.

You've always used allopathy.

Try homeopathy for a month and see.

Allah willing, his tonsillitis

will never return.

Please come have a seat,

Khan Bahadur.

Are you feeling better?

By the grace of Allah

and the means of your medicine,

- I'm much better.

- It's all Allah's will.

In fact,

allopathy treats only the illness

while homeopathy treats the patient.

You're right about that.

For example, fever.

We think it's an illness

but it isn't.

It's just a symptom.

What's needed is to treat

the root of all disease.

You see,

how anarchy

was threatening our country.

A little tear gas and gunfire

at demonstrations couldn't stop it.

We needed real medicine:

Martial law!

Now see, the troublemakers

have been cut down to size.

Don't you agree?

Ma, Anu's come!

Isn't it pretty?

- It's for you.

- Where did you get it?

At a village fair. Don't let father

see it. He'd get mad.

I'll hide it somewhere

even you won't find it.

Anu, have some milk.

What do they teach you?

The call to prayer?

Allah is great.

Silly girl!

- So, how are your studies going?

- Well.

Is your toupee cap

only for madrasa?

- Do they feed you well?

- Yes.

- You've made new friends?

- Yes.

Rokon.

The other kids tease him

'cause he's different.

But you know, he's really nice.

And your teachers?

I really like lbrahim sir.

He tells lots of stories.

You know what we call Halim sir?

Catfish!

But the Head Sir, he's scary.

It's getting late. Let's go.

What about this tomato?

Keep it for Asma.

One night Abraham had a dream:

Allah asked him

to sacrifice his dearest one

Abraham pondered

who was dearest to his heart

Then he realized it was his son

He told his wife:

"Dress our son for a journey"

As they departed,

the mother looked on with foreboding

She wondered whether

her son would ever return

Arriving at Mina Mount

Abraham told his son

the will of Allah

His son said:

"We cannot defy His will"

Helplessly he allowed Abraham

to lay him down

But the moment Abraham

pressed the knife

on his son's throat,

at home, the mother's heart

began to cry out

Hearing her cries

the sky, the trees,

and the birds,

all began to weep

Grab it! Hold it tight!

Bring the knife.

What are they doing to our cow?

They're not doing anything.

No need to watch.

Come put your Eid clothes on.

You look pretty.

Hey Milon, just pudding for us?

There's no main course?

Don't worry!

We have chicken for you.

Just eating beef once

won't make you a Muslim.

Uncle Milon,

look what Anu's done!

You've ruined your new clothes!

Look at that! Go and change.

Is Kazi back from Eid prayer?

- He's preparing the meat.

- We should go.

Come visit us later.

- Please wait a bit.

- We won't eat now.

You've spoiled your clothes!

Can I wear the shirt Milon gave me?

You needed an excuse

to wear Milon's shirt.

Don't you think I know?

Go ahead.

Uncle, Eid is a festive day.

Why do we wear white

like we're in mourning?

Good question.

Look at the pretty flowers!

Uncle will you bring me one?

Of course.

That white one!

Okay.

Abdur Rahim?

You're good in Islamic History,

Urdu and Farsi

but so bad at Arabic writing.

He's left handed,

but he's told to use his right hand.

If he could use his left hand...

The Arabic alphabet is sacred!

You can't use your left hand.

Who's next?

Muhammad Rokonuddin Khan?

You have no concentration.

You are particularly bad in Urdu.

You use Bengali words

in your Urdu writing.

But you're very good in Arabic!

Because I like Arabic.

I don't like Urdu at all.

You insolent boy!

Who are you to decide

what's good and what isn't.

This won't be tolerated here!

I've heard

you don't play with the others,

you wander outside the madrasa.

Some westernized schoolboys

must be corrupting you!

Understood?

Yes.

Get out!

They say I hang out in the bazaar,

with boys from un-lslamic schools.

But I never leave the madrasa.

I have no place to go.

This madrasa is my home.

I want to take you somewhere.

Do you want to go?

- Where?

- The place I go every day.

My secret hideaway.

Let's go.

I had no idea such a place

existed behind the madrasa!

Watch your step.

Do you get a strange scent?

Try to smell it.

Where did you get all this?

I just collect it. Nice isn't it?

See the picture of a winged horse?

I drew it myself.

What incredible stuff!

Only you and my special friend

know this place.

He comes here?

Remember the sweets

I gave you that night?

He gives me a lot of things.

But no one can see him.

Only he cares for me.

- Let me show you something.

- What?

Look at this!

Isn't it neat?

Her fever isn't going down.

Your medicine helped her last night

but now she's worse.

She needs a doctor.

No, she will get better.

Have trust in Allah.

Don't worry, I brought medicine.

The doctor refused to give it

without seeing her

but I explained the situation

and told him her symptoms.

He gave this syrup.

Give her one dose in the morning

and one in the evening.

How is she?

Give that to me.

You have no idea.

You know what

this antibiotic will do?

It will totally destroy

the effect of my treatment.

After much effort

I found a special remedy.

It's the best homeopathy

for her fever.

You understand?

Rokon, hurry up!

A rainstorm is coming!

Uncle Milon!

Asma is very ill.

We must go immediately.

I've arranged your leave.

Go get your things.

Fulpur! Anyone for Fulpur!

Milon!

Good that you brought Anu.

Karim, let's go.

Every day,

the floodwaters are rising...

Your mother did try to save her.

But luck wasn't on her side.

Uncle!

It's Allah's will.

You have to be strong

for your mother's sake.

She struggled so hard

with your sister.

I remember

when your mother came to

the house as a young bride.

She was like Asma, very restless.

She was only fourteen.

Kazi was much older

so she used to play with Milon.

Kazi was very different then.

He dressed like an Englishman.

But he suddenly changed.

He became deeply religious.

What a change that was.

Suddenly,

with toupee cap and beard...

His wife's games ended then.

A wall sprouted around the house.

She had to wear a veil,

even at home.

Kazi was a new Muslim,

full of fervor!

Your father is more mellow now.

.... We bring you forth as infants

and make you reach youth

Some of you die at an early age

... Thus you see barrenness,

but when We bring the waters

down upon Earth

the land becomes alive

with exquisite flora and fauna

For Allah is the ultimate Truth

and He will bring the dead to life

Rokon!

Lbrahim sir, where's Rokon?

He was here not long ago.

Look around.

What are you drawing?

I've been looking for you.

- When did you get back?

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