The Lotus-An OS

Hi everyone,new member here.This is my first fanfic on the show.Feel free to comment and correct if I have made any mistakes.

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Dr.Fareed looked at the narrow street with a flicker of doubt.There was no way his car could fit through.He had no choice but to walk if he wished to make it to Mahid's house.He reversed the car and parked it under a tree, conscientiously making an effort to keep it out of sight of a flock of pigeons.He had no desire to spend the rest of his day scrubbing it clean.

He gingerly made it to the cobbled pathway but stopped in horror.The recent rains had turned the once pristine street into a veritable swamp.He'd have to navigate entire muddy swathes to make it to his destination.And to make matters worse,he'd chosen his most professional looking suit which happened to be the most brilliant shade of white.And his shoes....oh the shoes,he bemoaned.

For a moment,he considered using the rooves but dismissed the idea almost immediately.He was a respected doctor.No one would take him seriously if he were caught clambering on rooftops.Besides,he wasn't as young as he used to be,he realized with a pang.Sighing,he removed his shoes and socks and proceeded barefoot.

He winced everytime he heard a squelch as his feet touched the mud.It took him all his concentration to avoid slipping and keeping his shoes away from the bud.It was a long labourious journey.By the time he had made it halfway down the street,he had removed his blazer and folded his pants up to his knees.Unfortunately for him,he soon found himself in the middle of a very intense cricket match.

There was no way they'd let him pass through.He gingerly approached the oldest of the boys who must have been around thirteen.

"Can I please pass through?"

"Where are you going?" the boy asked.

"The maulvi's house."

The boy looked at him judgementally,"Dressed like that?"

"You wouldn't understand." he shot back,looking positively affronted.

"Fine,why are you going to the maulvi's house?"

"That's between me and him."

The boy gave him an appraising look."I'll let you pass if you win this match for us."

Fareed wanted to protest,but gave in with a sigh.Before he knew it,he had been divested off his possessions and given a bat.He took his place by the makeshift stumps and prayed his day wouldn't get any worse.

His opponent was a nine year old with a rather poor aim.The first ball hit him square on the head.The shock of it sent him careening backwards and he fell into a particularly large puddle,covering him in mud from head to foot.All the boys around him burst into laughter.Incensed,he got up,determined to teach them a lesson by destroying them in their game.

An hour later,he was absolutely spent.The ball had managed to find every location except his bat and the stumps.And it was currently missing.They had spent the better part of the hour,digging through the mud but to no avail.He just wanted to call it quits and go home.He could always meet Mahid later.

A loud cheer caught his attention.The boys had found the ball.He prepared himself.For the first time ,his bat made contact with the ball and to his delight flew upwards.His joy was shortlived when he heard a resounding crash and a shout,and was engulfed by a shower of what seemed to be lotuses.

The boys ran away,leaving him standing in the middle of the street,bat in hand and stray lotus petals stuck to him.A woman ran out of the house and he steeled himself for the onslaught when the woman stopped,looking shocked.

"Dr.Fareed?"

He felt his ears burn and mouth go dry.Never had he imagined meeting Mrs.Kausar under such humiliating circumstances.

"Kausar ji....the thing is....the bat.....mud",he found himself babbling ,to his mortification.To make matters worse,he was sure he could see a glint of amusement in her eyes.

"Assalam alaikum,doctor."

"Walaikum assalam," he found himself mechanically replying.

"Would you like to wash up?"

"No...it's alright.I don't want to impose.And I'm really sorry about the flowers.I'll help pick them up."

Without wasting a minute,he was on his eyes,hunting for the flowers.He bundled them up and was about to give them to her but stopped short.

"Oh no,they're all muddy." He remarked sadly.

She tilted her head quizically."Why would that e a problem?"

"It's muddy and unclean."

"Isn't mud a part of nature?We all come from the earth and will return to it one day.Who are we to decide what's clean and unclean,when everything's God's creation."

With a smile,she took the flowers him.There was a clap of thunder and suddenly it began to rain.

"Oh no!The clothes!" and she ran back inside,forgetting him completely.
He watched her retrear.Feeling lighter all of a sudden,he picked up his blazer and shoes and made his way to the car.Strangely,he no longer minded the mud and rain.He caught the boys dancing in the rain and shook his head,torn between exasperation and amusement.

He burst into laughter when he found his car.A cat had made herself quite at home on the roof.Not wishing to disturb her,he settled himself on the bonnet and leaned back against the windshield.The cat crawled onto his lap and promptly fell asleep.In the distance,he could make out the blurry outline of Kausar scurrying about,taking down the clothes.

He turned his gaze back to the street and enjoyed the storm he was caught in.He could always go back home later.