‘Dying to live’:

Taj Muhammad awaits help for her daughter’s marriage

The poor have always been crushed under the heavy burden of deprivation and the hardships of life. Looking at the mercy and blessings of Almighty Allah to be showered upon them or waiting for any miracle that might change their miserable lives altogether and bring comfort for them in the hard times of life is the trademark of this class.

Taj Muhammad, 70, a poor labourer is dying to live while living a very pathetic life. He sells pop-corns, fried grains and baked maize while wandering in various areas of Rawalpindi and he carries all this stuff on his head. He earns Rs 100-200 per day which is a meagre amount to support his family during the spiralling price-hike.

He has three daughters and his only son is unfortunately abnormal. His one daughter has nearly come of age while he does not have the resources to get her married and he may be held responsible at the Day of Judgment for not fulfilling his duty as a father.

He said, “I got ill few years back and there was a stone in my kidney, an examination showed and later my kidney’s condition started deteriorating further so I had to get it operated. The doctor removed the entire kidney along with stone and now I am running on one kidney. It is very difficult for me to do hard work but despite that I try to earn something for the sake of my children who cannot beg from others for two-course meal a day.”

“Undoubtedly, I am passing through the hardest phase of my life but I am happy at the Will of God Almighty who is the creator of the whole world. Everything is in the hands of Allah, to whoever he wants, he gives respect and money but he also tests human beings as well. He watches each and every single act of ours.”

Taj lives in Dhok Ratta, Rawalpindi in a small house. He is a posthumous child while he was adopted by his Grandfather and later when he came of age, he shifted to Rawalpindi from his native place Talagang and bought a small house (of nearly 2 Marla) in Rawalpindi to live after selling all the land in he had in his village Talagang.

“I come out of my house for selling grains at 9 am and return back at 7:00 pm. If anybody helps me sort out the greatest problem of getting my daughter married, I will be very much obliged and it would be as if to buy me for a lifetime.”