Daudayal was standing at the gate. Rehman fell at his feet and said, ‘I am in big trouble again. Allah knows that all my fortune has turned to dust.’
‘Did all the sugar cane burn?’
‘Master, have you heard about it already? It’s as if somebody has swept the farm clean. The sugar cane crop had reached so high, kind master, that if the mishap hadn’t occurred, I would have at least repaid the loan.’
‘What do you intend to do now? Will you pay now or shall I file a suit?’
‘Sir, you are my master, do as you please. I just know that I owe you money and must repay every penny. I don’t care about myself. I promised you twice and both the times I failed to keep the promise. Now I won’t make any promises; whenever I earn something I will keep it at your feet. I will toil, starve and save in whichever way I can to return your money.’
Daudayal smiled and said, ‘What is your deepest desire right now?’
‘The same, to return your money. Honestly. Allah knows.’
‘Okay, then consider it repaid.’
‘Master, how can this be true? If I don’t pay you here I will have to repay you after my death in another world.’
‘No, Rehman, do not worry about this any more. I was testing you.’
‘Sir, don’t say that. I don’t want to die with this burden.’
‘What kind of burden? You don’t owe me anything. And even if you did, I have waived that, for this world and for the world after this too. Now you don’t have to return anything to me. Actually I am only paying back whatever I owed you. I am your debtor, you are not my debtor. Your cow is still with me. She has given me at least eight hundred rupees’ worth of milk. And also two calves as an additional profit. If you had given the cow to some brutes how would I have enjoyed this profit? You bore a loss of five rupees that time to sell the cow to me. I still remember your honesty. It isn’t in my power to repay that favour. When you could bear the loss of five rupees in order to save the life of a cow despite being so poor, how can I, being a hundred times more affluent than you, be doing such a big service by waiving off four or five hundred rupees? Maybe you didn’t intentionally do me a favour but it was a favour done to my rectitude. I gave you money for a just cause. Now you and I are even. Both your calves are here with me. If you like you can take them with you, they will help you till the soil. You are an honest and respectable person; I will always be ready to help you. In fact, tell me if you require money even now—you may take as much as you like.”
Rehman felt as if an angel was sitting in front of him. If a man is generous, he appears like an angel; and if despicable, he seems like a devil. These are the two faces of a man. Rehman was so speechless that he could not even thank Daudayal. He somehow kept his tears in check and said, ‘Sir, God will reward you for this kindness. I will consider myself your slave from this day onwards.’
‘No, you are my friend.’
‘No, sir, your slave.’
‘The money a slave pays in order to free himself is called muktidhan. You have already paid that. Now never utter this word again in your life.’
Translated from the Hindi by Shradha Kabra
Forgiveness1
Muslims had been ruling Spain for several centuries. Mosques had been built in place of churches; the sound of the call to prayer had replaced the sound of bells. In Granada and Alhambra, palaces had been built that laughed at the ravages of time. Even today, their ruins show sight-seers a glimpse of their former glory. Prominent Christian men and women were leaving the protection of the Messiah to join the brotherhood of Islam, and even today historians are surprised by how any trace of Christianity survived there. Among the Christian leaders who had not yet surrendered to the Muslims and who still dreamt of establishing independence in their own land was a merchant named David. David was wise and courageous. He didn’t let Islam set foot in his neighbourhood. Poor and indigent Christian rebels from various parts of the country came to him as protégés and he fostered them with great compassion. The Muslims were always suspicious of David. Not being able to win him over with the force of the faith, they wanted to sway him with the power of arms, but David would never confront them. Yes, wherever he heard of Christians converting to Islam, he would go there like the wind and with counsel or humility inspire them to stay true to their original faith. Finally the Muslims started closing in on all sides, preparing to arrest him. Soldiers had surrounded his neighbourhood. David had to flee for his life with his associates. Having fled his home, he came to Granada, which was at that time the Islamic capital. There, staying aloof from everyone, he passed his life in anticipation of better days. Muslim spies tried in vain to discover his whereabouts. Enormous rewards were offered for his capture, but not a clue was found about David’s location.2
One day, bored of his lonely existence, David went out for a stroll in one of Granada’s gardens. It was twilight. There were Muslims walking on the paths in their flowing robes, wearing very large turbans on their
