A Short Story by Ehtisham Rizvi
Art by Tehreem Naeem
“What is on the other side of the wall, father?”
The infinitely large wall was as wide as it was tall, and seeing it for the first time was a wondrous and somewhat overwhelming experience for young Abdul.
“What is on the other side of the wall, father?” He pulled on
his father’s sleeve.
“Where do I begin?” The father sounded a little tired, but
it was important for him to pass the legend on to his son. The story of the
wall was passed from generation to generation, and every peasant knew it by
heart. The reason why Abdul’s father had brought him to the wall was to tell
him the story, and to introduce him to the entity that he would face for the
rest of his life.
“Behind the wall, there lies a lush green valley where the
rivers are sweet and cold, the trees are bountiful, and there is enough food
for everyone.” For a second, it seemed as if Abdul’s father could look beyond
the wall, as if he could see the valley he was describing, smelling the flowers
and feeling the soft caress of the cold air on his cheek.
“In that valley, everyone gets their heart’s desire and all
wishes are fulfilled. No one sleeps hungry at night. No one has to fear for his
life. There is peace in the valley. There is bliss…there is happiness behind
that wall.”
“Is that why all these people are trying to break this
wall?”
“Yes, and we have to join them.” His father picked up his
sledgehammer, and handed a smaller hammer to Abdul.
Days turned into weeks, weeks into months, and months into
years. As Abdul grew taller and his shoulders grew wider, his father seemed to
shrink with every passing day. The father and son continued the daily ritual of
beating the wall with their hammers, until the father grew too weak for the
tiresome activity. Abdul continued the proud tradition, waking up early each
day and trying to break down the one and only obstacle that stood between him
and a good life.
The huge wall still continued its stubborn existence, but
for some reason it didn't seem as majestic to Abdul as it did the first time he
saw it. The wall was not the only thing that lost its charm - the food tasted
bitter, the songs out of tune, and everyday worst than the last. The slums
where he lived grew filthier and more dangerous, and with every passing day he
lost the most important thing a man can lose – hope.
While Abdul hated the wall, he acknowledged it as the only
constant in his life. Growing up, he had found love, lost it, got married, and
had a son. Now that his son was big enough to hold a small hammer, it was time
for him to pass on the legend.
“What is on the other side of the wall, father?”
His son asked him the same question he had once asked his
father. Before he could reply, something stopped him. He saw the large horde
chipping away tiny chunks off the seemingly infinite wall. He noticed that the
many hammers striking the wall failed to do much damage, and it was at that
moment he realized that the wall was there to stay. In the split of a second,
reality came crashing down on him and his dreams were shattered. A better life
beyond the filthy slums, the lush green valley behind the wall, the
bountiful trees, the cold air - everything revealed itself to be an empty
promise.
“What is on the other side of the wall, father?” The kid
pulled on his sleeve. Abdul looked at the innocent face of his pride and joy,
and made the toughest decision of his life.
“Behind the wall, there lies a lush green valley where the
rivers are sweet and cold, where the trees are bountiful, and there is enough
food for everyone…” He repeated the legend to his son - word to word - as was
told to him by his father. After all, he did not want his son to grow up
without hope.
