When a brain operation was actually performed the following morning, the doctor kept up a brave front but privately concised the survival chance at only ‘1-2 per cent’. Immediately, an araz for shifaa was tendered in Hazarat aaliyah. Huzurala responded with a tabassum. No words, just tabassum.

 The story fast-tracks to the urs mubarak of Syedi Abdulqadir Hakimuddin Saheb on 5 Shawwal. Huzurala was present at Sakinabensaab on Charni Road; following the ziafat at the sanatorium, he suddenly asked unprompted: “Bachcha kahaan chhey?” The result was that Huzurala was ushered into the intensive care unit of the neighboruing Saifee Hospital, he proceeded to cabin 505, Huzuarala yeh maseh farmaavi on my son, said ‘tamey kem chho’ three times and then asked Dr Moiz bhaisaheb to tell my son that his Dai had come to see him. By this time I had reached the room as well; I was asked to repeat the message to my son, who remained unconscious.

 The next day – Jumoaa - my son opened his eyes for the first time in months.

For the following four months, my son remained in coma. Intravenous fluid sustained him. When Huzurala left for Germany, he pronounced “Khuda shifaa aapey!” In late Mohurrum we took him by ambulance to Burhani Hospital, Surat. Some time later, we shifted to recreated hospital room at our residence.

Seven months after the accident, Mufaddal moved a leg. Physiotherapy followed. Injections followed. Water was drained from the brain. The following Shehrullah, a year after the accident, Mufaddal was finally administered food through the mouth. The mouth moved. The tongue slurred. The memory faltered. The movement staggered. But the hifz of the quran remained intact.

Kitaabo ma Isa ni maseehi shaan nu bayaan aavey chhey; apna Maula maseehi shaan na saheb chhey; humey Maula ney murda ne zinda karta dekha chhey!   

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