Sara and Tom

            by Faryal Wadood

 

         Sara and Tom have shared a special bond since childhood and is put to the test when Tom’s father sent him away to England to further his studies. Sara writes him letter twice a year. Also she waits for him and lights a diya signifying her undying love for Tom. Tom comes back from England after ten years and Sara’s world lights up again.

When Tom first comes to town. He gave his luggage to his servant and took it to his haveli (palace).Tom goes straight to meet Sara. Their love is fully supported by Sara’s mother Sami who is full of life and joy.

“Sara I heard Tom is back to town and you will see, if it is true then first he will come to see you,” says Sami.

“May be he even doesn’t remember me,” Sara says smiling.

“Of course he will, how can that happen that he will  forget about Sara and now if he sees you, he will be shocked,” says sami.

Some one knocks on the door.

“I think this is Tom,” says Sami.

       Sara runs to her room barefoot and Sami laughs at her. Sámi opened the door and when she looked. A tall guy is standing dressed up in black suit and black hat.

“Tom,” said Sámi. You have grown up so much and you are very handsome. Tom gives hug to Sami and asked her, “where is Sara”.

“Sara is feeling shy that is why when I told her you came, and she ran to her room.”

“Go meet her she is up stairs in her room.”

Tom goes up to her and knocks on the door.

He goes in and sees Sara lying down on her.

“I came to meet you after so many years and still you are hiding your face from me.”

“Why do you care? You didn’t even send me any letter. Even there are four seasons in one year so should have sent me at least one letter in every season.”

“Ahan so that is the reason, actually I never thought about you there so why would I send you letter,” Tom laughs and says just joking.

“OK now show me your face,” says Tom.

“No I don’t want to show you my face because then you won’t stop looking at me, you will see my face at night when the moon comes out,” says Sara proudly.

“Oh please, don’t insult the moon but if you are saying then ok I will see you at night.”

         Tom goes to his house but his mother doesn’t talk to him. She is up sit with him because Tom first went to meet Sara but not his mother.

“So mom you don’t want talk to me.”

“No I don’t, go stay with your Sara.”

“Ok then I will leave,” Tom hides under the chair. His mom calls him don’t go

Then he comes out of under the chair.

“I wasn’t gone anywhere mom,” they laugh and gives hug to each other.

       Again at night Tom goes to Sara’s house. He sees Sara sleeping outside in a bed and lighting a candle close to her face. The big moon in the sky reflects her face.

Tom can’t really believe that it is Sara because she is so beautiful. Tom makes a black mark on her face so she can safe from evil eyes.

Tom tells Sara, “that you are truly beautiful like a moon”, and leaves.

Sara was pretending that she is sleeping, when she sees Tom leaving. Tears come in her eyes.

         On the second day Tom brings two bangles for Sara that his grandmother has given him to give it to the girl you want to marry. Sámi talks to her father that I want to arrange Tom’s and Sara’s marriage. Also she talks to Sara.

How ever thanks to a meddling sister_in_law, she always tell Tom’s mother that Tom wants to marry but you should never let this happen.

       The love story takes an unfortunate turn after Tom’s mother insults Sami and refuses to accept Sara as her daughter in law. Tom also tries but his parents didn’t listen to him. Hurt by the turn of events Tom turns to his college friend kher who open Tom eyes to a new world of alcohol and prostitutes. A popular tawaif, who falls in love with righteous Tom.

         Tom send letter to Sara and tells her, “I don’t want to be with anymore because nothing will ever work out for us. I tried my best but my parents will never listen to me. so forget about me.”

         The hurt Sami arranges Sara’s wedding to a rich widower.

On the wedding day Tom comes back to town. He asks Sami about Sara.

“Why you came here again, stop ruining her life, you can’t meet her anymore, says Sámi. She is getting married today and her groom will come any time so you should leave.”

“Let him come mom,” says Sara.

“You sent me a letter and said forget about me and now you are here again why you did do these to me say Sara crying.

“You know that it is not true, you know that I never think, it was just a mistake.”

“You did a big mistake,” says Sara.

“What ever that was but you cannot marry so some else otherwise it will be good for you,” Tom replied.

“Why? What would you do? You always took my rights from me, now it is my time.

Both of them gave hug to each other and cried.

          The man Sara got married to be 45 years old. Sara didn’t know till she went to the and found out that the man was married and have 4 kids. She was shocked but the family was only rich. Sara’s husband told her that I love my wife and I can never love another woman.

          Tom goes back to his friend’s house. The tawaif really loves him. Sadly even her love cannot save the doomed Tom who quickly becomes an alcoholic. The pain of his lost love can only be numbed by alcohol and it is that alcohol which ultimately consumes Tom’s life.

Also Sara never forgets about Tom. She doesn’t talk to anyone and only thinks about Tom.

Once again Tom comes to the town and Sara forces him not to drink but he doesn’t listen to her.

          Once when Sara finds out that Tom is staying with a tawaif girl. She makes an excuse to her husband that she has to go for puja (worship).Sara goes and meets the tawaif.She gets very happy when she sees Tom’s love and also she tells Sara that how much she loves Tom. Sara also feels happy that Tom is staying with a right girl but both of them don’t know where Tom is now days.

          Sara’s husband finds out that she didn’t go for puja and went to meet the tawaif.

He tells Sara that you will never be able to go out of this house.

Tom gets very sick. The doctor tells him not to drink but his friend forced him to drink.

He gets very serious and he tells the driver to take me to Sara’s house.

           Sara is feeling worried from the morning. She finds out that there is a crowd of men outside. She sent the servant to find out .When he comes back; he tells Sara that one man is lying down on the ground and saying your name. She knows that it is Tom. She screams and run in the haveli to go out but when she gets closer to the gate. The servant closes the door. And Tom lying down dead outside in cold winter. Sara never gets to see Tom when he is dead.