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110
THE WAY OF LIFE
had to work every day to eke out their livelihood were dying of hunger. A poor Muslim was working in a mill. He had not gone to the mill for fifteen days. Since there was not a paisa at home to buy anything with and since the disturbances had subsided, he thought of going to the mill. He set out from home. There was silence everywhere on the roads. Very few were seen moving about on the roads. Some were walking with fear; and some were running. The atmosphere was pervaded by fear and anxiety.
When the Muslim reached the mill, the gate-keeper stopped him and did not permit him to enter the gate. He said to the gate-keeper: "Brother! Please allow me to go in. For fifteen days I have not been able to come. To-day, I have come to work".
The ghurka said : "You can't go in. You have come late. Get away from here". When the worker made repeated appeals to him the ghurka became angry and said : “Will you go away or not? Shall I call the police and hand you over to them ?”
The worker turned back in bitter disappointment. He was experiencing a great ache in his heart. He was afraid of the trouble that might break out any time. There was nothing at home to eat; and he had no money with him to buy anything. He was walking on the road. There was a small shop on the road-side. In the shop, there were toys and photographs of gods and goddesses. There were some lockets of some Hindu gods also. The Muslim desired to buy one locket because the road on which he had to go passed through a Hindu locality. With the little money he had, he bought the locket and put it round his neck. Now, he began to feel secure. "I could not go to work in the mill. At least, I can go home safely", he thought. He began to walk speedily towards home.
Meanwhile, there shot out from a nearby lane two Muslims weilding large knives and attacked him saying: “You faithless fellow ! you shall not go alive from here". He tried to save himself from Hindus but he was killed by men of his own religion. If he had not worn the locket of the Hindu god, at least he would not have died at the hands of Muslims.
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