In the potter's village: Chapter - 11 (of 12)

The third day of the trial was almost a formality, lasting just 10 minutes, as Masood summarized the proceedings, and delivered his judgement. Having known the outcome from the moment the trial began, Karim had spent the last 3 days in a state of stoical waiting.

The previous evening he had visited Rahman in prison.

The two looked at each other, and knew exactly what they both knew.

Karim: How can you just sit there, knowing what is to happen tomorrow?

Rahman: I can, because I must. It is the path I have chosen, and that has chosen me.

Karim (hesitating): Do you know where you shall go?

Rahman: It is unto my father that I proceed, how else is one to see one's life fulfilling itself?

Karim: But what if there is nothing.. no light.. no truth.. nothing divine at the other side?

Rahman (smiling): What is light? What is truth? What is divine? Are they not figments of one's belief in the end? Then how does the case of the contrary arise?

Karim: No.. yes.. no, what I mean is, what if you find yourself floating in a sea of darkness looking for the image you see in the hut, but find nothing at all?!

Rahman: The answer would then be clear, wouldn't it, that the divine indeed lies in the path one takes, and not where one ends. One lives and is one with the Creator during his life, for that is all one has. There is no 'ending', for there is no end. The end and the beginning always meet.

Hearing this, Karim stood up, walked slowly backwards, dropped down to his knees and offered namaaz to the prisoner in front of him. Then he ran away.