Ahangar

Ahangar

 

Ahangar was a mighty swordsmith who used to live in the Eastern valley of Afghanistan.

In peacetime, he used to make plows and horseshoes. Above all he sang.

Many used to come from a distant land to hear his song – ‘Valley of paradise’. While he sang, all, as long as he sang, listened transfixed; and heaven could be felt in the surroundings.

After the song is over when silence is broken - all would ask 'Is this paradise real?'

The song had a strange lilt and haunting quality; most of all it had a story distantly familiar and people felt they knew this valley.

Many came from a distant land beyond Hindu-Kush, from Herat and Paghman, from Qataghan and Badakhshan, from a forest of Walnut trees, from snow-capped mountains and Central Asia to hear this song.

'As real as real could be', Ahangar would answer.

'How do you know?' they would ask, 'have you ever been there?'

'Not in an ordinary way,' Ahangar would answer.

They would ask where that paradise is.

'"It is where the azure sky originates from silhouettes of the mountain' and he would gaze at the distant boundary of Mountains.

Ahangar was in love with Aisha but she was least interested in him and she would laugh at Ahangar. She did not believe paradise did exist!

So did Hassan a braggart and fearsome swordsman who swore to marry Aisha.

'If you believe that valley is real as you say in those mountains of Sangar where blue haze rises, why don't you find out? Hassan asked.

'That won't be right, I know that', Ahangar said.

'Aisha does not believe in your absurd story of paradise; you believe what is convenient for you, while you would not believe what is otherwise. In case you marry Aisha, there shall not be trust between you and Aisha - all manner of evil shall result from this union. You must find your real paradise before you marry her.’

'Do you want me to go to the valley then? Will Aisha marry me if I go and return safely?' asked Ahangar.

'Yes,' Hassan and Audience said together. 'Yes,' Aisha murmured.

Collecting some dried mulberries and a scrap of bread, Ahangar left for the distant mountain.

He climbed and climbed till he reached a wall encircling the mountain. With great difficulty he climbed the wall soon to reach another one, then another - a total of five of them.

Descending the last one he found himself in a valley strikingly similar to his own!

People came out to meet him - he realized something very strange was happening!

Months later Ahangar the smith limped back to his native village walking like an old man to his humble hut.

Words spread throughout the countryside - all gathered before his hut and wanted to hear his stories of adventure.

Hassan, the swordsman on behalf of all the people spoke and called Ahangar to the window, 'Did you Master Ahanghar reach the valley of paradise?'

Everyone was surprised to see how old Ahangar had become when he came to the window.

'I did'.

'What was it like?'

Ahangar fumbled for words and looked at the assembly with weariness and hopelessness.

'I climbed and climbed. When it felt that there can be no human habitation in such a desolate place, after many trials and disappointments I came upon a valley. This valley was exactly like the one in which we live. And then I saw the people - they are not only like us people: they are the same people! For every Hassan, every Aisha, every Ahangar, and for every anybody, we have here, there is another one, exactly the same in that valley. They are not likenesses and reflections to us; while we are likenesses and reflections of them. We are here, we are their twins ....'

Everyone thought Ahangar has gone mad from his privations, Aisha married Hassan. Ahangar grew rapidly old and died.

All the people who listened to this from the lips of Ahangar rapidly grew old and lost interest in life itself. They always felt something going to happen over which they have no control over which they have no hope.

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This story is quickly forgotten as soon as those who have heard the story are dead.

আমার ইচ্ছেতে কখনো কিছুই নয়।