Childhood Friend Poem by Mehta Hasmukh Amathaal

I saw childhood friend named as Ibhrahim
Very pious, devoted and near replica of Him
True Momin(follower of truth) and servant of poor
He will welcome, provide the service but never show door

"Hello, Hello I shouted and ran after
He saw me and instantly greeted each other
He was medical practitioner and had dispensary
An ordinary man in outfit and a true missionary

I saw some kind of invisible pain on his face
He was pale, concerned individual and almost chased
He was never like this before so I hunted him
I simply stared in his eyes and beamed

He opened up slowly by saying
I am dejected and heavily paying
My dispensary was about to be burnt
I was shocked to hear from his mouth when learnt

"Two more brothers suffered same fate" he just broke down
"Their houses were burnt of late" he made me known
One brother has sold out property and moving out
Another was saved miraculously and what more to talk about

I could feel the pain behind his voice
He had every reason to feel bad without any choice
"Do you know I could make out a man in crowd"?
"I had saved his wife when she was almost dead"

I silently heard him without watching his face
"If you have holy reason to burn my clinic"
"Please do so along with me as an undesired person"
The crowd heard him silently and withdrew without any reason

He looked at the roof and thanked almighty
For sparing life and showing mercy
I saw now a man now in great pain
It has almost killed him and drained

I am living my beautiful motherland
To go abroad and settle in alien land
I loved the people so much here
I don't know what will be waiting there

Now was the turn for me to think
His plight was genuine and made me to sink
He had only one solace that crowd had spared
Otherwise he was almost over and dead

*Ibhrahim… name ….Momin...follower of truth