The Players

The Players(Nashat Aslam) The Players
A short story by Nashat Aslam

It was near dusk. The sprawling marketplace, resplendent with modern hi tech facilities, was abuzz with shopaholics. Shama, on the hunt for some new clothes, entered an apparel store. The salesman was quick to his feet. Approaching her with a professional stride, he repeated his daily monotone, “Good Evening Ma'am, Can I be of some help to you? May I ask what type of material and design you’re looking for?”
Shama described her choice of color and design. The salesman drew aside the crystal curtains revealing the interior of the shop where he welcomed her inside. He lay in front of her several colorful clothes in a heap and off he went, “Look madam, we have the exquisite Lizi Bizi fabric, the beautiful Crepe, and oh yes the hot favorite Burgundy. And if none of these appeal to you, then I suggest you have a look at this,” he said “I present you the sensationally popular original Egyptian cotton with the softness of rose petals, and this I’m willing to offer at a special discount, just for you madam. So tell me, which one of these you like?” he said admiring and caressing the apparel with the amazement as if he had seen it for the first time.

Shama ran her fingers through the cloth, examining its quality when all of a sudden her expression changed from one of admiration into shock, “But these...these cloths look really strange! What are these meant for anyway?”
“These are shrouds, madam”. The salesman replied in a strangely cold voice that sent chills down Shama’s neck. Then he went on as usual in his banal tone “These have been designed by a famous fashion designer. By the way, you can buy your choice of apparel and make an order for the same. Our in house tailors will prepare your shroud in less than 2 hours. By the way, may I know whether you’re buying these shrouds for yourself or are you gifting them to someone in which case I’d advise you to have it gift-wrapped by us?”
“Th...This...is...an apparel store for shrouds?!” An appalled Shama stuttered.
“Yes madam, we sell the finest shrouds in the city. Why, you seem pretty surprised; didn't you see the board outside before coming in?”
A petrified Shama hurried outside where her eyes fell upon the “Smart Ladies Shrouds” neon signboard hanging on top of the shop.
She turned to the counter and remarked to the shop owner “A shop selling shrouds! Now how weird is that!”
“Weird? I think you’re here for the first time madam. This shop has been here since the times of my great grandfather. It was inaugurated way back in 1713 during the reign of the unfortunate Mughal emperor Farrukhsiyar.”
A bemused Shama thought to herself, 'Couldn't they have found someone else or some other topic to joke about! Weird shop and even weirder people.'

Without replying and totally avoiding eye contact with the shop owner she quickly moved on forward. At some distance from that shop, a board with huge bright letters caught her eye which read “New Horizons of Modern Architecture”.
Just for fooling around a bit, she decided to give this shop a visit. At the counter many female customer executives were busy with customers. With a huge smile on her face, one of them turned to Shama, “How can we help you madam?”
“Okay tell me about the time and cost of construction of a 3 bedroom flat complete with interiors and furnishings.”
Suddenly the owner of the shop showed up at the counter and said, “Time and cost are not a worry madam. But let me clear things here a bit, because I think you've been misinformed. As a matter of fact, we don’t deal in the construction and lease of homes but the construction and maintenance of graves. We specialize in the furnishing of single, double and multi-storied graves at a reasonable cost. Different types of graves are available at different rates whether it be simple, carved or ornamental. Here, have a look at this catalog.” The salesgirl eagerly spread the glossy catalog on the table.
Astonished and barely holding herself, Shama exclaimed, “What?! In my entire life of 28 years I have never seen or heard of such a shop. Ever!”
“What are you saying madam! As if ours was the only shop here selling merchandise related to death. Look around, every store in this market is selling those goods and services which you’re supposed to take with yourself after death. And you can find such shops not just in this market but all over the city. We've been keeping pace with the new and emerging trends in fashion. We also fully understand the sophisticated taste of beautiful women such as you. Now if you will please go through these catalogs.”
There was something immensely attractive about his tone and style of speaking.
She muttered quietly, “No thank you.” She looked to slowly tip toe out of the shop, but there was something so compelling in his voice that made her stop dead in her tracks.
“At least have one look at these catalogs, we are willing to provide a heavy discount to you. I know why you’re so bewildered; it’s because such shops were not very common until now right? Selling shrouds and graves out in the open was considered immoral, but we’re now in the 21st century madam! The sale and purchase of death is now an art. Traders of death are now recognized as artists of the highest order.” He said in a very reassuring tone.
Shama had to agree with this unfortunate fact.
“Anyway, now you tell me. How would you like your last resting place? Would you like to book a single, double, or one room in a multi-storey graveyard? The land is shrinking day by day which has forced us to go vertical and make multi-storied graveyards.”
“But one can only be buried in the earth so how can one have their graves in multi storied towers?” A puzzled Shama asked.
“Oh you don’t worry about that. Expert architects have found a way to counter that problem. Consider this - If water from the ground can reach any height then why not soil?”
“Oh really, wouldn't it be more logical to provide roofs for the hundreds of homeless people than wishing them to be dead?” Shama retorted.
“Madam why don’t you understand, all these efforts are being done only to ensure that human beings can survive and flourish. The more dead people, the merrier. As long as people die in hordes, then only they will make way for the health, wealth and resources for the generations to come.”
“A very strange and peculiar philosophy indeed!”
“Look, this conversation can go on forever. Why don’t you just finalize this and get it over with. So, shall I book your personal graveyard madam?” The bald shop owner said eagerly, ready with a pen in his hand.
Shama nervously joked “No thank you, I don’t have any intention of dying right now.”
But the experienced shop owner was not one to let go easily “But madam isn't it better to secure your future? And all this can be done at a very low price. In fact you must get yourself registered with our Graveyard for the Masses scheme now.”
“What on earth is that?”
“Let me explain. Nowadays mortality is sold at wholesale price. So natural disasters are very helpful in providing us with situations where thousands die which in turn augments our sales. Thus the special Graveyard for the Masses scheme. But if somehow the probability of disasters happening naturally is less, then we decide to take matters into our own hands and make sure such arrangements are done because the success of our trade is dependent on the demise of people in huge numbers. Today we have so many different vaccines for curing different diseases, be it jaundice, hepatitis or typhoid, where unwanted viruses are removed from the body. Likewise a certain set of people are exterminated from our city at the right time. These people are those whose ideals and beliefs don’t match ours.”
“What do you mean?”
“It means that if I like the flower Marigold then you've to like Marigold only, the Rose adornment on your hair won’t do. If I’m a fan of the color red you cannot have white as your favorite. And if I relish Pumpkin pie then your liking of Apple pie would be simply outrageous.”
“As such I don’t have a particular liking for Apple pie but may I ask who gave you the right to make such decisions? Don’t people have fundamental rights to choose whatever they want to?” Shama sought to overwhelm the shop owner.
“Preferences and Rights are to be gained forcibly. Nobody gives it to anyone. But now let’s leave aside this debate and tell me what type of grave you’d like to have built for yourself. Have you selected any plot or are you a member of a group tomb society?"
“You are trying to project the horrible reality that is death as something beautiful and are using it for personal gains. How can I ever be a part of such an atrocity?”
“This endeavor has been going on for ages madam! Whether it be the Pyramids of Egypt or the magnificent and monumental Taj Mahal, all these are nothing but exercises in the glorification of death. Today this has become a necessity as the evolution of human beings is dependent on death. Just look at it as carrying forward a very important tradition of our ancestors.”
“Do you also involve other companies in your endeavors? I mean would you like to collaborate with other companies?” From out of nowhere Shama revealed her real intent of being there.
The shopkeeper was taken aback by this sudden change in the tone and behavior of Shama, “If the market is strong and there is scope of profit-making then by all means we are ready to collaborate, but how does this concern you?”
“Actually I come from a firm which is looking to invest in such kind of business. I was assigned to do a survey of different cities and after careful research your city has been chosen as ‘the most favorable city’. And after much deliberation and investigation I think your company is best suited for us to collaborate with.”
With much pride she presented her business card.
The shop owner’s face beamed with happiness and he bragged on, “Why, this is wonderful! And why would we not be the best, the foundation stone of this city was laid by four well known personalities. When the land was being measured, one end of the rope was held by Sultan Ahmed Shah and Shaikh Ahmed Ghato while the other end was held by Qazi Mulla Ahmed and Shaikh Ahmed. All four were very pious and God fearing people. It is the efforts of all these four that this settlement today is so well known all over the country for its splendor and beauty. Historians of all ages have described the charm of this city in their own words. And if my words are not enough then you can see it for yourself.”
“So are you ready to discuss the details regarding the contract?” Shama asked
“Why are you still standing? Come inside and we shall talk.” The shop owner was more eager than ever.
“Thank you”

Finding it hard to contain her happiness, Shama took out her mobile phone and reported to her boss about her successful quest.