SHAKIL AKHTER: AN ANGEL IN DISGUISE FLIES BACK TO HEAVEN

OBITUARY COLUMN:

MAHTAB BASHIR
mahtabbashir@gmail.com
0333 53 63 248
ISLAMABAD

The Almighty saw you getting tired.

And a cure was not to be. 

So he put His arms around you,

And whispered, "Come to me". 
With tearful eyes we watched you,
And saw you pass away;
Although we loved you dearly,
We could not make you stay.
A golden heart stopped beating,
Hard working hands to rest.
Allah broke our hearts to prove to us,
He only takes the best.

This is a tale of a self-made individual who dedicates his laborious life to his family members. But, just at the time of the celebrations, he says adieu to all of his dear ones. He epitomizes all the qualities of a hardworking, caring and loving persona to an extent that each family member claim he loves him/her the most. 

I believe, he is an angel in disguise, who amid Covid 19 pandemic covers non-stop distance of 8443 km from Barcelona (Spain) to Lahore (Pakistan) with acute liver cirrhosis, comes home on May 14, looks around for a while, spends a brief time with his wife Samina, daughter Maira (20), Son Talha(18) and then suddenly flutters his wings and disappears for good on Saturday, June, 6, 2020. 

His dejected looking daughter Maira says, “As I come to know Papa is suffering with liver disorder and his kidneys are also infected, I start reading the symptoms and remedy. I chat him on and off on video call, he looks pale with merely weighing 30-35KG. None of us or even Papa himself ever thinks to turn back to us after two decades, with such a fragile health”. 

“On May 14, he reaches Lahore and on the same day I meet him in National Hospital, Lahore. He is not able to talk but whisper. Spontaneously, he asks “O mera bara beta a gia hay, kia hal hay puttar,” she maintains adding Papa while looking at Talha says, “If I get better, I will send you abroad for studies, and if I’m not- don’t weep. She says the very next day, I meet him again, and he gifts me his (own) mobile set, that gives me a clear indication that his days are numbered but I continue to pray for a miracle. 

An altruistic soul, Shakil Akhter, lives an overwhelming life. Spending more than half of his life abroad, while he persistently keeps in touch with his family on daily basis, no matter, wherever he is.

As an MBA graduate, he is an avid reader and loves to go places. He visits all major countries of Europe as well and shares us that various flavours and diversity of all countries.

Since our childhood, we used to play cricket and participate in every tournament held at any nook and corner of the Federal Capital. With his jerky action, he is too quick for the batsmen and being a left hander he is our trump card (in bowling). We often visit places. Whenever, he comes to Islamabad, hiking at Margalla trails is inevitably included in his schedule.

Last three weeks (of his life), Shakil spends among his family members, are mixed bag of emotions- love, fear, anger, dedication, care, trust, anguish and hope, to say the least. But a sense of responsibility to live with his kids constantly observed in him as he wants to get rid of his ailment.

Shakil is larger than life and is most energized by being right in the middle of the action wherever he goes. He is always laughing and smiling, and has something money cannot buy – his charisma. But those 21 days, he spends with family members’, he remains numb because of his dwindled health. Everyone including his kids keep asking as what he thinks- he looks up the heaven and then closes his eyes. It is a moment of anxiety.

He often repents that his family members are standing beside his bed, and he is not able to greet them, or to do something for them. He wants to help them in all means. He apologizes all of them for being staying apart for decades. It is a time of unusual thoughts. Sigh!

He has tremendous generosity and care for others; he is loving, understanding, and nonjudgmental. His proudest accomplishments are his kids. He will be remembered as a family man, as a father to his kids, and as the guy to call when anyone need support.

In early 2000, Shakil is the one who makes me technology savvy. First he donates me Nokia 8210 (a chic and trendy hand set), later a smart phone of Samsung (when it was not so common in this part of the world) and later I become an owner of a Sony Vio laptop.

Shakil Akhter is a clairvoyant who wants to have eternal sleep beside his late Mother- and this intense wish ultimately, fulfills on Saturday morning, June 6, when he departs for Heaven.

This scribe finds Shakil Akhter does not have role-models but two- his mother (my Phupho) who expires in 1992 when he is a school-going kid and Moazzam Bhashir (my brother) who disappears in 2008. http://mahtabbashir.blogspot.com/2008/03/my-brother-walking-lexicon-walks-away.html

As a youngest among his siblings, he is the most pampered of family and in particular the most closer to his mother. I remember, long ago, when I ask Shakil, “You are a bike-lover, than how you are switched to a 4-wheeler”? He smiles and replies- “because of my ailing mother”. 

In 2003, an Indian romantic drama film titled “Tere naam” releases. Whenever, I travel along Shakil on a four wheeler, I find only one played song of the movie “tere naam, hum nay kiya hay....”. Without asking the reason, he says, “… it’s a dedicated song to my mother- now and forever”. 

His last post (of life) on facebook appears on April 23, 2020. I hurriedly call Samina (my sister and his wife) just to let her know that Shakil is getting better with an impression (of writing by his own).

It (the post pictured) reflects his love for his mother, inscribing “Dear mother, why don’t you come in my dreams? Always love you till I come to you or even Roz-e-Qiyamat will hold your finger. You know everything, my dear Mom”. The post is attached with an emotions pack tribute with a song from “Tare Zameen Par”- Tujhay sab hay pata- haina Maa- a song that captures every child’s emotions for his mother. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LGuovVCTQYg&feature=youtu.be

Shakil Akhter’s maiden overseas journey is of Australia in 1997. He returns back to Pakistan in 1999, and ties the knot in the same year. In August, 2000, Maira (to whom he calls Bara Beta) and in 2002 Talha is born.

With the completion of family, in 2004, he again packs up for England to earn for family. In 2007, he visits Pakistan for a short period (of a month). From 2008 till 2020, he settles in England and later in Spain.

Time continues to fly, he remains in touch with his wife Samina, his kids and all the near and dear ones on a daily basis. He cares for his wife and kids to an extent that he fulfills their wishes in a time as quick as one’s blink his eyes. He never forgets birthdays’ celebrations as he sends (surprise) gifts to his wife and kids all the way from Barcelona.

Fast forwarding, after two decades, amid the Covid-19 pandemic, there comes a moment when Shakil reaches back home from Spain. On the wee hours of May 14, (Thursday), when the plane touches the runway of Allama Iqbal International, everything looks unusual to him.

Liver cirrhosis makes him lean, sedated and exhausted. He continues to fight against it valiantly. He feels comfort as soon as he finds his family members around him. He knows well, his days are numbered but has high hope, courage and unflinching willpower to live on. On May 30 (Saturday) at 7:17am, a week before his expiry, I heard his voice for the last time. 

Samina Shakil, the deceased’s wife while talking to this scribe says, “He (my husband) hates procrastination, every time I talk to him on a video call or an audio, he insists to complete all the undo works, whether they are big or small (in nature). He is a “do it now” sort of a person who advises the same to his kids and other family members. He wants every task to be completed in real time with perfection and without delay. Perhaps that’s why, he leaves us with the same (quick) pace”. 

When asked, he lives for three weeks here, what does Shakil emphasizes, she says, “There are two heroes in his life, his mother (my Phupho) and Moazzam bhai (my elder brother). Whenever he whispers, I could hear he is remembering these two. He wants to meet his mother and he lives to fight against this deadly disease like Moazzam Bhai did. He does the both acts and that too so quickly. I wish he could spend some time more with me and kids and also to see all renovated rooms but this not happens (with the will of Allah).    

Narrating an incident of his initial ailments (couple of months back), Samina says “During his ailing days, once Bushra (his sister) takes him on video conference call and after a while Maira (our daughter) also appears on screen. As soon as Maira glances his Papa, she forgets to speak a single word. He looks pale and his weight is reduced drastically. She keeps on staring him and ends up with tears rolling down her cheeks. Her father reacts in same manner”, she maintains adding Shakil later, says to avoid repeating this act in future because Maira knows it all (about my disease). 

One of the most courageous women on this planet earth, Samina opines, “During our 21 years marital life, we remain intact for only 5 years (including those last three weeks he spends here). In hospitals, he persistently holds hands of Maira and Talha and repeatedly whispers me to take care of both. We have been doing Iftari and Sehri in hospital at times, we all pray for just one more miracle of Shakil's recovery during this Holy month, but...". She says, “I’ve noticed, for the last many months, Shakil is disturbed. But he avoids sharing with me. May be because of that immigration card, or may be something else. But he is perturbed for sure.” She says her husband is a superlative introvert, but I trust him for life.

Shakil's flabbergasted brother, Ishtiaq Ahmed, who is his companion of all weathers and residing in Spain, says, “I have no words (for dear departed). No one recognizes Shakil (in deeper sense) as I do. He is a gem of a person. The way he fights against this deadly disease- I assure you two giant elephants could have been surrendered too earlier. He is not only my brother but my best friend- or my everything to say the least,” adding every moment spend with Shakil is my treasure- and I will love to live with it.

He says, “Now, he is no more around me, this house (in Barcelona) has become a haunted one. Time is not a healer for me- and I will not get rid of this shock. May the Almighty give him superlative spot in Heaven”.

Dr. Noman Iftikhar, living in Australia, says, “All my life, I’ve been closest to Shakil. Unfortunately, at the final stage of liver cirrhosis that converts into liver Cancer, only dua is the most effective medicine. He could have not survive the severe attack in the mid of December, 2019, had he been in Pakistan or any other place. Shakil gets the best treatment in Spain but it is the will of the Almighty. I don’t have words to utter, I’m astounded- I am in pain”.

Rizwan Anjum, who is in UK while paying tribute to Shakil, says “he has lost the asset of his life. I met this angel 43 years ago, he promised to be with me throughout his life. Then he becomes my life-time companion. On June 6, my companion leaves me in a lurch. He is (indeed) an angel. This pain is eternal,” he maintains.

Bushra Anwaar, sister of Shakil while remembering his brother says, Shakil is a workaholic person- who earns for his family while staying away from all of them. “He worked 20 hours a day at times. Often his neighbors’ ask him why are you paying the rent, if you come here to spend only one or two hours.”

She says he is the most pampered child of our family, the closet to our mother. During his ailing days, he often gets annoyed when I call him- because of his serious condition. But within few days time, he calls me back asking, “where were you, I have not received a call from you since couple of days, are you angry...?”

Shakil’s son Talha says “He (papa) paved for us a life full of great possibilities, abundance of hope and a plethora of privileges, which, when we introspect, would not have ever materialised without his empowering presence in the family and infinite contributions.

Rounding off this write-up, I must say the void that has encapsulated our lives in the wake of Shakil Akhter’s absence knows no bounds. From the day we were together till the day he passed away, he had always made it a point to shield us from each and every unfavourable circumstance that hit our paths- that’s what his family members, relatives, friends and hundreds of mourners from Canada to USA, England to Australia and Lahore to Islamabad, observe on the sad day of June6, 2020. 

As a tribute to him, this essay offers snippets of his life and brings together some relevant anecdotes and reflections, which have social and historical significance.

It would be a sheer injustice if I forget to acknowledge the services of Ishtiaq Ahmed (his brother in Spain) who is a great source of strengthen and inspiration during the laborious work in the ill-fated days from dawn to dusk. He single-handedly or should I say “single-leggedly” (because of his fractured leg) looks after Shakil for the months- that would not be easily forgotten.

Words are totally inadequate to express my thanks to Editor Daily Dunya, Islamabad Muhammad Adil, my office colleagues and hundreds of friends from print, electronic and social media, for their confidence and help extended to us.

I owe a huge debt of gratitude to all the relatives who assist and help him from the day of his arrival to Pakistan (May 14) to his departure to Heaven (June 6). Their efforts are literally unparallel whose reward will be bestowed to them by the Almighty in this world or hereafter.

Words fall short to thank Pakistan Consul General in Barcelona (Spain), Imran Ali Chaudhary whose’ unflinching efforts make the miracle of bringing Shakil back to Pakistan when the world is halted, air flights are grounded because of Covid-19 Pandemic and Physicians team disallow him to travel. Imran Chaudhary’s imperative role in difficult moment would never be compensated even by my posterity. He, indeed, belongs to that rare breed of bureaucracy who reaches down and lifting people up. During these hard days, to say the least, his response is quick. He (always) calls me back, whenever I send him a text message (casually). He is a saint in bureaucrat's clothing. May the Almighty Allah give him more power, prosperity and health to keep going…!

Shakil Akhter has left behind plenty of memories to cherish, an array of wise words to live by, a wealth of achievements to take inspiration from. We truly hope that his soul finds solace in the heavens above.

Dear readers, they say, "time is a great healer", but to me, every passing moment gets me closer to Shakil Akhter, spiritually and emotionally. I know well, this is where no one can help you but one can feel sorry (in condoling)- that's what only you can do and that's what only we all need. I, on behalf of my sister, extend a deep debt of gratitude to all of you. And I sanguinely request with hope, you would remember and pray for Shakil’s soul (maghfirat) as keenly as you did (pray) for his recovery during his ailing days. Your overwhelming support reminds all our family members to smile again.

Thank you all!

PS: The writer has intentionally used ‘present tense’ writing this obituary, because he believes Shakil Akhter ‘IS’ and not ‘WAS’.