Seven Heavens

by Samim Ahmed, Arunava Sinha

Genres: Literary Fiction

Synopsis

German Hossain?s dreams never seem to leave him in peace. As India?s independence approaches, bringing with it a wrenching partition and the bloodbath of communal riots, German, a resident of Birbhum district in Bengal, sets out for Murshidabad in the hope of curing himself of his dream-sickness and, in his newfound sympathy of the Muslim League, to make his home in a place destined to become part of Pakistan. But when, after a three-day tug-of-war of sorts, the Radcliffe line recommendations deem that Murshidabad be returned to India, German decides to return to his place of birth, still plagued by his dreams and led by them, still in search of his destiny. This is the story of his journeys. Political, personal and surreal landscapes are intricately woven together in this exquisite novel about djinns and fairies, demonology and Sufism, the partition of a country and, above all, the dreams that make men who they are.

Release date: April 10, 2015

Publisher: Hachette India

Print pages: 121

Sample

SEVEN HEAVENS

Samim Ahmed

Translated by
Arunava Sinha

First published in Bengali by Gangchil Publishers in 2012

This translation first published in 2015 by Hachette India (Registered name: Hachette Book Publishing India Pvt. Ltd) An Hachette UK company
www.hachetteindia.com

This ebook published in 2015

(Text) Copyright 2012 Samim Ahmed English translation (text) copyright 2015 Arunava Sinha

Samim Ahmed and Arunava Sinha assert the moral right to be identified as the authors of this work

All rights reserved. No part of the publication may be copied, reproduced, downloaded, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any
means without the prior written permission of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover or digital format other than that
in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, or actual events or locales, is purely co-incidental.

Print edition (HB) ISBN 978-93-5009-771-7

Ebook edition ISBN 978-93-5009-772-4

Cover design by Rivet Design Studio

Originally typeset in Garamond 11.5/16 by InoSoft Systems Noida

Hachette Book Publishing India Pvt. Ltd 4th/5th Floors, Corporate Centre Plot No. 94, Sector 44, Gurgaon 122003, India

Contents

Al-Makam-al-Amin

(A Safe Heaven)

Dar-ul-Makam

(Home)

Dar-us-Salam

(Abode of Peace)

Dar-ul-Akhira

(The Other World)

Al-Jannah

(Paradise)

Jannat-ul-Khulad

(The Eternal Garden)

Jannat-ul-Firdaus

(The Highest Spot)

Al-Makam-al-Amin

A SAFE HAVEN

The night before Runas mother was born Nana Grandfather had a dream.

Nana was given to changing the story of the dream every now and then. Sometimes he said that a dervish a sage with a flowing salt-and-pepper beard, and
wearing a black cloak that covered him from head to toe, had told him, Todays the day your family will get an heir. At other times he claimed that it
wasnt a dervish at all; that in fact, he could not make out whether the speaker was a man or a woman. The garments the speaker wore were unusual too, for
they made it appear as though the person wearing them had arrived at this unknown village in Bengal from the deserts of Arabia. In a genderless voice the
figure had told Nana, This day marks the arrival of one who will glorify the name of your family. In yet another version, a boy-child addressed Nana as
Abbu.

Nanas dream had several variations, which kept changing as he grew older. Runa had heard from her Nani her grandmother about the various dreams Nana
had had before Runas Maamu, her mothers older brother, was born. Nana had waited eagerly for a male child and the story of his dreams had changed
repeatedly in that time. However, there was one aspect that always remained constant a male heir found centre stage in every version of his dream.

Nani went into labour one night, and Runas mother was born when the first light of dawn was streaking across the sky. When her labour pains started, Nani
was taken to the designated labour room in the house. When Runa and her siblings grew older they named this room the German Hussain Private Nursing Home,
after their Nana. At the moment when Nanis pain became excruciating, Nana felt a violent pressure in his bowels. The toilet for men was some distance from
the house. On his way there with a pot of water, he noticed a man standing near the pond next to the toilet. In the half-light of dawn Nana identified him
as Robin. But, strangely Robins elbows, knees and ankles were all pointing in the wrong direction. It was as if Robins head had been set front to back, so
that he was looking behind him all the time. Seeing this, Nana could not control his bowels any longer. Runas brave and arrogant Nana, who was reputed for
going for a shit on horseback, was literally left shaking in his shoes. He noticed, even as he began to scream Robins name, that though the strange
spectacle of a man was walking towards him, the distance between them constantly increased.

Nana was found unconscious and brought back home. By then there was a crowd at home, including the ladies of the locality and a midwife, the only Hindu
woman present. In these parts, only the women from the tribal Hadi families worked as midwives and she had been keeping a sleepless vigil by Nanis side
since the previous evening. By the time Nana was carefully carried into the house, his body limp with fear, Nani had given birth to a child and was lying
unconscious in a corner of the labour room.

Word about Nanas ill-health had spread quickly and soon, a doctor well versed in the ancient science of Ayurved had arrived at the house. After all, Nana
was the president of the Congress party of the area; he deserved prompt attention. The doctor gave Nana medicines and suggested various nutritious foods to
revive his health. Meanwhile, there were other important matters to attend to. The call for prayer the azaan had not been sounded after the birth of
Nanis child and customarily, neither Nani nor her newborn were allowed to eat a morsel till it was read. Eventually a solution was found. Tentuli, the
permanent farmhand of the family, arrived to tend to the cattle. He bathed and offered the azaan, after which an old woman of the neighbourhood smeared
honey on the babys lips. When Nani came, she was given tea with jaggery. Runas mother was born in the month of Shravan, on a Thursday, the day of the
goddess Lakshmi. The year was 1348, according to the Bengali calendar.

As the day progressed, the formidable Maulana Sahib from the neighboring village arrived. Nana was laid on the veranda, on a mattress covered with sheets
and the Maulana was given a chair next to him. He enquired in minute details about the events that had taken place and Nana spoke slowly of his dream. He
described how he had seen the devil in Robins form in the half light of the monsoon dawn. He shuddered as he spoke about how Robins ankles and elbows were
turned the wrong way, and shamefully confessed that the sight had resulted in him soiling his cherished Ismail lungi. Hearing this Maulana Sahib said You
dreamt all this German Mian? These events took place at dawn on Thursday, which means the nymph has set her sights on you. This creature attacks while her
victims are relieving themselves. You have to be very careful for the next ten days and even after that because the influence of this jinn-nymph will
persist. The evil eye of the nymph will keep troubling you in the form of all kinds of illnesses. Sometimes your back will feel as though it is breaking, at
other times it will be an excruciating headache. A thousand nightmares await you because of your ill fortune.

The matriarch of the family, Runas great aunt, her Mejo Nani, opened the door a crack and from inside the room asked, Maulana Sahib, what is the cure for
this? We will spend whatever is required. Just make the arrangements. The Maulana said, Look Bhabijaan, you will have to make an offering to the poor. The
offering will have to include a black cock, though a yellow one of moderate size will also do, five spoons of ghee, some mehndi leaves and half a bhari (10
grams) of silver. After this, when the namaz for the ceremony is done, I will send you an amulet. Chant the Bismillah along with three verses, and tie the
amulet with a black thread on Bhaisahebs right arm, above the elbow.

Very well, said Mejo Nani and went off to make the necessary arrangements.

Maulana Sahib asked Nana, How do you feel now?

Nana replied, So Maulana, are you sure those offerings will cure me? The ayurvedic doctor Ramlochan Kaviraj has prescribed medicines so that I get
stronger, shouldnt I be eating all those things you just mentioned to gain strength? What is the point of giving them to the poor? Do you know how much
half a bhari of silver costs? I believe in amulets, I know that jinns and nymphs wont dare to come anywhere near me if I wear Khudas discourse on my body.
What is this that you Muslim League people are doing! Is this the faith of my ancestors, is this the dween - the path - that they brought from Arabia!
Youre not just an ignorant village maulvi; youre a maulana with a degree from a university. How can you say such things? You claim you want Pakistan, but
your Hindu habits refuse to go away. Not that its your fault, each of your leaders has crossed the line, theyre worse than infidels!

Maulana smiled at this barrage of words and the reason was revealed when he spoke. Whatever you may say, German Mian, the Muslim League will definitely
win. You people can keep saying whatever you like. Their teachings will spread far and wide. Tabligh is inevitable. The faith will spread. The common people
will follow the learned leaders, and there are plenty of those among us. Nana said, Yes! You have Maulana Thanvi and Shabbir Usmani, with Jinnah as your
head. Naturally you will be uncompromising. This doesnt surprise us. But if the country is split, where will you and I go, abandoning our paternal homes
and farmland? That chief leader of yours, Jinnah, do you know what he said? He proclaimed that he will become a martyr for the sake of a Muslim-majority
state. It doesnt matter to him if were murdered. He will let twenty million of us be martyred on the streets and build Pakistan on our corpses.

Have you heard of Kamal Pasha? The one about whom they said, Kamal tune kamal kiya bhai
(What wonders you have wrought Kamal!) If Mustafa Kamal could
create a Turkey, why cant we? The leaders of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind have only been badmouthing Jinnah. They refuse to understand that an Islamic state can
easily be created with the Muslim-majority provinces, built upon the fundamental faith, laws, jurisprudence and rules of Islam. The Jamiat is now under the
control of the Congress. They will go whichever way the Congress wants them to. What you refuse to accept Mian, is that the Congress is the party of the
Hindus.

Do you know what Madani Sahib has said? Those leaders who dont accept Islam want to have Pakistan. Hah! Ladke lenge Pakistan
. Well wrest Pakistan by
force. Madani has written that if Pakistan is indeed formed, its people will starve. How will its economy be created? Can you tell me that, Maulana? The
Jamiat believes that if Pakistan is created it will become the factory of politics for England and Russia someday. I think so too. Can a man like Thanvi
understand our plight? The Muslim League does not have a single alim, a single learned leader, who can divert you from the path that leads away from the
Sharia or think of the welfare of our nation, our qaum.

Whom do you consider a learned man, German Mian? Madani you think Madani is learned? asked Maulana. What does he know besides enmity with the British?
He is not concerned about Muslims. He will continue his holy war against the British. And the Congresss Abul Kalam Azad! He is neither learned nor a
politician. Put all your wise men on one pan of the scales, well put our Thanvi Sahib on the other. Check for yourself which way the scales tip. The
formation of Pakistan is inevitable.

At this point Mejo Nana, the second eldest of Runas great-uncles and the head of the family, entered the room. The eldest brother lived in Dhaka, where he
worked at the post office and in his absence Mejo Nana took care of the estate and its affairs.

Calling out to the Maulana, he said, Now what, Maulvi? Has Jinnah Sahib come up with anything new? Have you managed to draft German to your cause? I dont
think he will join your League or anything. Can your people finance his three horses and Ismail lungis? We do that now. Ha ha ha. While the Mian was seeing
a ghost on his way to the toilet, he had a daughter. Now that youre here, why dont you give us a suitable name for her and workout her star sign. Well
look after your needs.

Suddenly, Nanas face turned pale. He appeared to have seen Robin again, and seemed ready to repeat his earlier reaction to the vision.

The Maulana said, This means the girl was born between five and six in the morning on a Thursday. This girls astrological sign is Zahul, what you refer to
as Shani in Bengali. Call her Zahura. She will be quite dark-skinned. But her life will be wrapped around God, her lifespan is long. She will have a
lovely voice. Your niece will have a ...