Urdu Writings Chapter 3; “Baba Ki Chappal” – A Memory That Never Left Me (The Unsaid Chapters)

Unka naam lena abhi bhi meri raaton ko bheegaa deta hai.
Bachpan mein har subha ek awaz se aankh khulti thi:
“Utho beta, school ka waqt ho gaya.”

Woh awaz, woh kadam ki chaal, woh muskurahat
Sab kuch chala gaya ek din. Sirf ek cheez reh gayi: Baba ki chappal.

Wo Aakhri Din

Baba hamesha kaam se thak kar late aate thay,
Lekin mere liye chocolate zaroor laate.
Unka tareeqa pyar jataane ka alag tha
Khat likh ke takiye ke neeche rakh dena,
Ya naya bag khareed ke kehna: “Sale par tha le aaya.”

Us din bhi baba ghar aaye…
Mujhe lagta tha waqt hamesha jaisa hi chalega…
Lekin maut kabhi darwaza knock nahi karti.

Subha pata chala baba nahi rahe.

Funeral Ke Baad

Sab log ro rahe thay.
Main chup tha.
Logon ne kaha: “Bachpan mein gham samajh nahi aata.”
Par mujhe sab samajh aa raha tha…
Main bas toot chuka tha.

Woh chappal jisme wo roz subha walk pe jaate thay
Ab mere kamray ke kone mein rakhi thi.
Kabhi kabhi main unse baat karta tha…

"Baba, aaj result aya... first aya hoon."

"Baba, mujhe job mil gayi..."

"Baba, aaj shaadi ka card gaya..."

Zindagi Barhti Gayi…

Main bara hota gaya.
Har saal baba ki yaad kam nahi hui…
Bas logon ne kehna chhod diya: “Baba ki yaad aati hai?”

Lekin har nayi cheez naya job, nayi car, nayi zindagi
Mujhe sirf ek purani chappal tak le jati thi.

Wo yaad nahi wo mohabbat thi.

Roman Urdu Quote:

“Log jaate hain… unki cheezein nahi.
Aur kuch cheezein… rooh ban jaati hain.”

Aakhir Mein…

Baba ki chappal ab bhi mere paas hai.
Purani, ghisi hui, aur ek taraf se thodi phati hui…
Lekin mere dil ke sabse qareebi jagah par.
Kyunke kuch log chalay jaate hain  lekin woh kabhi chhodte nahi.

Closing Note:

This was Chapter 3 of The Unsaid Chapters for everyone who lost someone but still finds them in memories, in smells, in sounds… and sometimes, even in an old pair of slippers.

If this reminded you of someone, close your eyes… and say a prayer for them.

For previous chapter ...

Chapter Number 2: click here!

Chapter Number 4: click here!