As I descended the last stairs in its open cemented
compound, facing the main gate, I was instinctively drawn towards the
spot where a motley crowd of around 100 faithfuls had gathered around a
person wearing loose blue shirt, red threads tied around his wrist. The
man was terrified and was making weird gestures. He was the same man who
distributed free Urdu News paper: " Aftab-e hind" to the faithfuls
every Friday. I too had collected the newspaper from him a number of
timesin the past. "pickpocket", "thief" such words bandied in the crowd.
The cloud dissipated. The Mullaji - one of the maulanas and caretakers,
a young man in his 30 had beckoned the poor man from inside the mosque
compound. He refused his biddings. The Mullah had sprinted towards him.
He made a bid to flee in panic. He was caught. As Mullaji grappled with
him he laid himself flat on the sidewalk. The faithfuls coming out of
the mosque after offering friday prayer lifted into the compound holding
his hand and feet and without giving a second thoughtbeat him up. That
was the end of the matter with him.
"Your manner of beckoning him
must have been intimidating that made him panicky, given he is a poor
fellow and belonging to another community." I said angrily.
The Mullahji retorted : " The same treatment would have been meted out to you if you had behaved like him"
"I would have thrashed you if you had done so with me" I said.
"you'd have known if it had only happened." replied mullaji dirisively.
Some
lawyers from our court who had come to the mosque to offer Friday
prayer approached the site and asked me to leave the place because they
were afraid about my safety.
As I was leaving the mosque the mullahji
passed highly derogatory and provocative comments. He also was making
fun of my weak frail and poor dress to the accompaniment of laughter of
the crowd of faithfuls there and additions and polishing up of taunts.
This happened day before yesterday on Friday the 24th June 2009 at grand Jamiat mosque situated at I.T.O New Delhi.
Remorseless Mullaji.
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