The Cabuliwallah
Tales in Romanian.
Once upon a time, there lived a writer with his wife and their five-year-old daughter, Mini. Mini was a lively little girl who loved to talk incessantly. She loved asking questions, jumping from one to another without her parents having a moment to answer.
— Mama, why is the sky blue? And why do dogs have tails, but we don't? Oh, and what's that? — Ah, that's a dish sponge. — What is it? — It's used to wash dishes. — Why? — Because they're dirty. Go play somewhere else.
Mini and Her Father
Unlike her mother, who often got annoyed by her curiosity, Mini's father adored her, and their conversations were lively. One morning, while the writer was working on his novel, Mini entered the room.
— Father, Ramdaial's portal says "ceacă" instead of "cioară." He doesn't know anything, does he?
Before the writer could explain the difference between languages spoken by different peoples, she moved on to her next curiosity.
— Bola says there's an elephant in the clouds that sprays water with its trunk, and that's why it rains. Is that true? — Mmm. — Where do babies come from? — My dear child, please go play with Bola, I have work to do.
Mini's First Meeting with the Cabuliwallah
Then, Mini ran to the window, from which she could see the main road. That's when she saw the Cabuliwallah, passing by on the road.
— Yes, we have dried fruit! Almonds, pistachios, hazelnuts!
The Cabuliwallah was a merchant who sold several types of nuts and fruits, which he carried in a cloth sack.
— Ooh, a Cabuliwallah! Cabuliwallah!
Just then, the Cabuliwallah turned and looked towards the child. Frightened, little Mini ran from her father's office, and the Cabuliwallah approached their door.
— Ah, I'll never finish this chapter in peace.
The Writer Meets the Cabuliwallah
The writer went to the door to speak with the Cabuliwallah, who was waiting, smiling.
— Good day, sir! — Hello! How's business? — All good, sir! — Very good. What have you brought today? — I have some almonds, raisins, grapes, pistachios. What would you like? — Eh, I'd like a box of grapes and some almonds. — Of course, sir! — Thank you.
As the Cabuliwallah was preparing to leave, he asked:
— But where is the little girl, sir? — Mini!
Mini was hiding behind the doorframe, peeking at her father and the Cabuliwallah.
Mini Overcomes Her Fear
— What is it, my dear? Come meet the Cabuliwallah. — No, Father! I'm scared! — Don't be afraid, little one. Come. It's impolite not to come and say hello.
He brought her to where the Cabuliwallah was standing.
— Hello, little one! Here, have some raisins.
Mini looked at her father with an innocent gaze.
— Come on! Take a few. — Tell me, do you like them?
That was the first time Mini met the Cabuliwallah.
The Friendship Between Mini and the Cabuliwallah
One morning, as the writer was leaving for work, he found Mini sitting on the bench, talking with the Cabuliwallah. She had never had anyone listen to her with such patience and pay attention to everything she said. And right on her skirt, there was a small pile of nuts and raisins. The Cabuliwallah had managed to win the little girl's trust with a few dried fruits.
— Why did he give them to her? — Here you go!
The writer handed the Cabuliwallah eight coins, which he discreetly took. A few hours later, when the writer arrived home, he found his wife asking Mini many questions. The Cabuliwallah had given the little girl the eight coins.
— Where did you get the coins? — The Cabuliwallah gave them to me. — Oh, dear! How could you take them from him? — You shouldn't take money from strangers. — Yes, Father.
The "Father-in-Law's House" Joke
In the following days, the Cabuliwallah and Mini became the best of friends. He would often come and chat with Mini. The two would tell many jokes, at which Mini always laughed heartily.
— Oh, Cabuliwallah! Oh, Cabuliwallah! What do you have in your sack? — An elephant!
— Well, little one, when will you go to your father-in-law's house?
Hearing this, Mini's face was filled with wonder.
— Will you go too?
For someone of the Cabuliwallah's age, going to the father-in-law's house would mean something entirely different. It was an expression for going to prison, a place where someone takes care of you without you doing anything. Thinking of the poor father-in-law, Mini began to laugh, and the Cabuliwallah joined her.
Mother's Worries
However, Mini's mother was unhappy that her little girl was chatting with a grown man.
— How many times do I have to tell you? I really don't like knowing she talks to that stranger. Be very careful with him.
Mini's mother was a very shy woman and always made the writer keep an eye on the Cabuliwallah.
— Oh, don't worry so much. He is a good friend. — I still don't trust him. — I know. I'll make sure I don't lose sight of him.
Raman the Cabuliwallah
The Cabuliwallah often visited and even discussed various things with the writer.
— Where are you from? From Kabul, aren't you? — Yes, sir! I came here to make an honest living and earn enough to help my family back home.
Once a year, in mid-January, Raman the Cabuliwallah would return home to visit his family.
The Cabuliwallah's Arrest
As this time approached, the Cabuliwallah was quite busy, collecting debts, visiting his customers for the last time before leaving. Even so, he still made time to stop and see Mini.
— Hello, Mini! — Cabuliwallah! Oh, Cabuliwallah!
And so things went, with the two telling their jokes, laughing and giggling heartily. One beautiful morning, as the writer sat at his desk by the window, basking in the warm rays of the sun, writing his book, he suddenly heard the noise of an angry crowd in the street.
— Ah? Oh, no!
Outside was Raman the Cabuliwallah, escorted by two policemen and surrounded by several people. The writer hurried to find out why the Cabuliwallah was being taken by the police.
— It seems the Cabuliwallah stole some money from the house of a local pastor. — He didn't have enough money to go home.
Hearing the commotion outside, Mini ran out onto the balcony, where she saw the Cabuliwallah and shouted:
— Oh, Cabuliwallah! Oh, Cabuliwallah!
Mini's Last Question
When Mini saw that he didn't have his sack with him, she couldn't ask her first question and asked the next one:
— Are you going to your father-in-law's house? — Yes, little one, I am. — See? I told you not to trust him.
However, this time, Mini was not amused by the Cabuliwallah's answer. He noticed the girl's expression and raised his hands, saying:
— My hands are tied!
And so, Raman the Cabuliwallah was sentenced to 25 years in prison for theft. And in the days that followed, Mini was sad, but soon new friends appeared in her life, and she forgot the Cabuliwallah.
Mini's Wedding
Years passed, and little Mini was no longer a little girl. She had grown into a beautiful young woman who was to be married that evening. And the writer sat in his office, flipping through the accounting records for the wedding.
— The cooks, the decorators, the florists...
Just then, a tall figure appeared next to the writer. It was the Cabuliwallah.
— Good day, sir!
— Yes? Ah, Raman! When did you return? — Last night I was released from prison.
Hearing this, the writer was a little hesitant to host a criminal on such a special day.
The Truth Comes Out
— Oh, I thought the sentence was 25 years? — Yes, sir, because I was wrongly accused. Just because I was poor and often passed by the pastor's house, they assumed I was the thief. However, they caught the real thief last week, after he stole some more things.
— Oh, dear! Anyway, this is a very important day. Can you come back another day? — Yes, yes! Of course it is. But before I leave, can I see the little one? — As I said, it's a very important day and you won't be able to see anyone. — No problem, but before I leave, please give this to Mini. — Yes, please, here you go. — You are very kind, sir. I have a little girl at home, whom I always remember when I spend time with Mini. That's why I bring her fruits and nuts. I never did it for money.
A Life Lesson
The writer was taken by surprise, and his eyes filled with tears. Then, the writer and his wife realized they had judged Raman by his appearance. They forgot that besides him being a writer and Raman a fruit merchant, they were both fathers.
Realizing his mistake, he immediately called Mini.
— Mini, please come! There's someone here who would like to see you. — Yes, Father!
She entered the room, dressed in a red silk skirt, adorned like a young bride. She looked confused at the Cabuliwallah, because over the years she had forgotten him.
— Are you going to your father-in-law's house?
That was the moment Mini remembered that the person in front of her was the Cabuliwallah. She smiled and said:
— Oh, Cabuliwallah! Oh, Cabuliwallah! — You've grown, little one! You remind me of my daughter, who, like you, will be getting married soon.
Hearing this, the writer was moved. He understood what it meant for a father to marry off his daughter. He understood how the Cabuliwallah felt because he knew how he himself would have felt if he hadn't seen his daughter for so long.
— Here, take this. Go home and be with your daughter on her wedding day. — Thank you very much, sir!
Taking the money offered by the writer, the Cabuliwallah's eyes welled up, and then he said goodbye.
It often happens that when we miss our loved ones very much, we see them through others and try to remain cheerful, while facing situations that prevent us from being close to them.
