On 16 June, when yesterday I received the news regarding the departure of  Baz Khan, one  of  my friends along the grand mother were traveling from Turbat to Bal Nigwar by car which was destroyed by the massive flood around the Meerani Dam.

When I got the news, my heart (though) directly regarding the short story of Bazeed “Bemas en Kalam (A pen without ink) who has given to me a few days ago. In the story, a woman says to Bazeed to jump into the sea but he doesn't.

A few people among the relatives and friends were aware that Bazeed used the name “Baaz Khan" while wrote short stories. At the first time, when he shown his first short story as " Nem Shap e Sarbaan (The Camel man of the midnight) I became amazed that how he writes such a write-up. But, when I sent the short story to the magazine “Mahtak Aasap" it was published with his name “Baaz Khan instead of his real name Bazeed Khan. I thought that he must not be angry regarding his name confusion I met him but he himself remarks that “I’m too excited I like the name Baaz Khan rather than Baaz Khan".

Before a month of his death, he gave another shot story” Bemas en Kalam “(A pen without ink) he compelled me to publish it with the name Baaz Khan.” Ok it gets published and it is a readable piece as well “I responded to him.

" Bazeed! I have some doubts that you might have stolen this short story", I said.

Instead of becoming angry, he became excited and expressed:

“Everyone trusted about this short story when I showed it to them I start writing more if they are good".  “I think you are occupying our opportunities let us get something, you don't let get changed that we discus about short stories and became eminent personalities" I said amazingly. “Your time passed, let us get some opportunities" I said in a kiddingly.

I'm worried that he can write, but the death does not let him to do something and passed away after a month.

“What kind of person he was"? One day a friend asked me.

“He was like us as we are" I claim.

“No... I'm asking which kind of person he was" he questioned.

“I don't know" I answered.

“He became confused and said that he was your friend you don't know about him"?

“No, I remarked".

I don't know what he thought and did not say anything.  Which kind Bazeed was. I can't answer still! If I imagine him, a kind of man appears in front of me. For example, he was a nationalist. He was the president of B.S.O of Bal Nigwar but was a courageous man. He was a great personality but was too hasty. Whatever he did, honestly but he did not know entirely and was confused that what is good and what is bad for him. He was everything. Bazeed was an energetic man. He was about 25 years did something good. In his shortage life, he did a lot and no one can do it in hundred years.

Some years before, Bazeed was prisoned of a murder case of a boy namely Tajuk. He was indicated of the murder. The victim ( Tajok) was murdered by someone else, but Bazeed took the responsibility because he was involved in this case. Tajok was my acutance I felt hurt about his departure and was worried about prisoner ( Bazeed).

When Bazeed was released from the jailhouse, then he announced that he brings his wife from Gwader to Bal Nigwar to open a girl  school where his wife teaches  them because there was no a single 8th class girl student to educate the girl students.  One day he informed me about his wife, but I said that she is recently appointed at Gwader.

“Bal Nigwar girls students need more education than Gwader ones" he viewed.

Then he brought his wife and their girl’s school opened. He was a great supporter for the residents of Bal Nigwar. Before a week, he took his wife at Turbat for the purpose of practicing about courses. After clearing his wife's training, he got an incident when he took his wife at Turbat and returning to Bal Nigwar. In fact, how he supported the all surrounding children and spent his life for them.

Bazeed was a great sympathy. He helped everyone in the hard time. When the flood pushes the car and then people were took by flood itself. After that, Bazeed takes out some victims from the water and when he again enters into the water to take out the people but, unfortunately, the car fell down at himself. Giving these kind of sacrifices, it is not easy. People don't care when they face these kind of situation.

There was a shopkeeper among the flood affected people. He tried to take out himself from the water but some of his boxes of mangoes destroyed due to a massive water. He requested to the people that if anyone take out his mangoes, he gives him or her one hundred. People are suffering from flood and lost their precious lives but another side, the man is worried about his mangoes.

On the other side, there is   a driver, who is more worried than the shopkeeper. When a dead body of a lady taken out from the water, people requested to the car driver to drop the departed soul in Machat, an area of Bal Nigwar. But man demanded two thousands from the people. The driver was not stranger and Meerani Dam also is not too much far away from Machath and if anyone goes to by bus it needs 20 rupees.  Bazeed always ready to support the poor people in any kind of situation but his surrounding people were selfish.

Bazeed only had his wife and two small daughters. When Bazeed migrated from Gwader and came to Bal Nigwar, then bought house and passed his life. His house was near to my house therefore I went there sometime.

One evening when I went. Bazeed was not present there. His wife and his little daughters were at home. One daughter was having a clay and making circle it like a flour.  “What are you doing daughter" I expressed.

She became ashamed a little and did not say anything.

“She is baking breads" her mother answered jokingly.

“Do you not give me" I sat around her and said.

“She nodded her head for not giving.

“I’m your uncle why you don't give me" I stated.

“It is for my father “she said.

“You both eat food and kept the clay for my friend" I remarked.

And now Bazeed went another world may his little daughter still sits during sunset to wait for him to bake and circle flours hopefully and waiting for him that when he comes back.

 

Balochi : Dr. Naguman

English: Nawaz Nigwari

Turbat Kech Balochistan