Ashique, ‘pure and unadulterated love’ does his name denote but questions lurks, how much such love does he enjoy? He was deprived of the tender love of his parents when he landed up in foreign land to serve foreign master. His daily chore includes scrubbing the floors, cleaning the toilet, doing the basins, babysitting and all other odd jobs he failed to remember. In return to his dedicated service, he is fed with whips and heart-wrenching words. He received all black and blues for little mistakes he committed sometime even for no reasons. He is treated no better than creature that is common nuisance at home.
When he thought he can go on no more with it, he framed up a plan to run away for once and ever and go back to the safe hands to nurture with his beloved parents. That’s when I met him on his way back. But a confrontation does await him ahead. He carries no cash to expend his journey, without which he can hardly make home.
He was born to the destitute family just across the border town of Phuntsholing. His family had anything but just enough to afford them single meal a day. He grew fed up with such poor life and looked forward for greener pasture at other side of the river. His dream did materialize when at the age of eight, just when he grew old enough to work; he was hired to be taken to Thimphu to serve under one ‘Malik’ (Master). The then he looked it as a lifetime opportunity and when it knocked right in front of his door he can hardly effort to let it go.
But things didn’t turn out the way he expected. The love he sought was surrogated for him with hatred and abuse. He was exploited beyond his capacity of service and he woke up everyday to wake up to endure another unending day of ill treatment. He had to rise before everyone and silently make sure the breakfast is ready. He ate when everyone’s leftover and sometime when there is not enough, he went hungry. He slept in stinking kitchen with a thin carpet and a rag to warm him just enough in cold winter days in Thimphu. Then, he wanted to put an end to everything. He thought it was better anyway with his destitute parents only.
This only raised me few questions. Are servants not human? Do they not feel the pain when beaten to blood? Do they not deserve the food to the brim? Are they too not made of flesh and blood as is every human? What if we have to face the same endurance?
‘Hand that helps is holier than the lips that pray’. I saw him off at Chuzom leaving behind some cash which I prayed that it help him find his way home. In the evening, as I lay comfortably on my bed, I thought, where could Ashique be sleeping?
God help Him!!!
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