|
|
|
Story Time: A fair weather friend
Akram Khan was astonished to see a new big bowl on the dinner table and asked his wife, “Who brought this bowl.”
His wife said, “Your friend Saleem Ghouri sent this.”
Akram Khan said astonishingly, “Saleem Ghouri? I don’t have any friend by this name. Anyways, what’s in this bowl”.
The wife answered, “It’s something cooked, a new kind of roasted meat. It’s very delicious, I have tasted it,”
“It’s strange! Who is this Saleem Ghouri? Anyways, when he will come to take his bowl I’ll ask about it, after saying this Akram Khan tested the gravy and was amazed. He was very fond of different kinds of food. His wife was also a good cook and prepared delicious food, but he had never eaten such delicious meat in his life before.
After almost a week Akram Khan saw the same kind of bowl like the one that was sent to him by Saleem Ghouri on the table again. He was astonished that Saleem Ghouri did not collect his first bowl and has sent another. This time he had sent Feerni. When Akram Khan tested the feerni he jumped on his seat because he hadn’t tasted Feerni as delicious as this in his life before. Akram Khan ate the feerni happily and didn’t even touch the other dishes on the table. After finishing his dinner he asked his wife “Who on earth is this Saleem Ghouri”.
“How would I know?” his wife replied. Then he called his servant and asked him, “Who brought this pan?” The servant replied “Sir, Saleem Ghouri’s servant. But there was also the same kind of pan a week before.”
“Yes! That’s what I am saying. Now if he comes again just let me know, I’ll ask him about Saleem Ghouri,” said Akram Khan.
“But sir you are usually in your office when he comes here,” said the servant. “Now, if he comes tell him to come in the evening, said Akram Khan.
“Ok sir as you say,” said the servant. The very next time Saleem Ghouri’s servant came in the evening by co-incidence. Akram Khan was also at home at that time. He called Saleem Ghouri’s servant inside the house, gave him a chair to sit and asked “Who is Mr. Saleem Ghouri? I don’t even know him.” Saleem Ghouri’s servant was shocked to hear this and said, “What do you mean?” Akram Khan asked, “Why are you so shocked?”
“He asked me to go and give this ‘gravy’ and ‘feerni’ to his friend Akram Khan. He gave me your address for the first time,” said the servant.
“Where does he live?” asked Akram Khan.
“Model Colony block ‘M’, if you are interested I can also give you his phone number,” said the servant.
“Yes! Sure, why not.” said Akram Khan.
Akram Khan noted the number and saw the servant off and then called Saleem Ghouri.
“Yes! Saleem Ghouri speaking,” came the response to the call.
“Oh! So you are Saleem Ghouri who sends all of those delicious dishes,” said Akram happily. Saleem Ghouri was also very happy to talk to him and said, “And you are Akram Khan?”
“Yes! I am, but I don’t even know you and I wonder why are you being so good to me?”
“There is a very interesting reason for that; I’ll tell you if you give me the honour of having dinner with you at my house tomorrow. I‘ll get some exotic dishes made for you that will make you forget the ones that I sent for you before.”
“Ok then I’ll take the dinner with you tomorrow,” said Akram.
“By the way, come with your family. It would be a great honour for us.”
The next day Akram Khan went to Saleem Ghouri’s house with his wife. They had a very delicious dinner.
During dinner Akram Khan thought to himself that Saleem’s wife is the best cook in the world. In the end he couldn’t help himself and asked her where she had learnt to cook so well. “From her mother,” Saleem said.
The series of parties continued from both the sides. One day Mr Ghouri came to Mr Khan‘s office. Mr Khan was the man who sanctioned contracts to builders to build houses and Mr Ghouri was a builder. Mr Ghouri asked Mr Khan to help him to get the contract. Mr Khan gave him the contract in friendship. Mr Ghouri achieved a lot of success and wealth due to Mr Khan’s kindness.
As Mr Khan retired from his post the series of parties ended, so did the gifts. Mr Khan wondered what happened and called Mr Ghori, but he refused to attend the call.
One day Mr Khan went to his previous office for some work. There he saw Mr Hamid who was now on Mr Khan’s post. He saw Mr Hamid in a hurry going some where. He came and met Mr Khan and said hello to each other. Mr Khan asked Hamid, “Is everything OK why are you in a hurry, where are you going?”
“I am going for the lunch. I have a new friend; I have heard that his wife cooks very well. His name is Mr Saleem Ghouri.” Hearing this Mr Khan was very depressed and he lost his trust on friendship. He knew instantly what the secret to this friendship was.
|
|
|
|
