Chapter 5
As soon as Imran left Baba Waqas's house and reached the main road, he remembered Baba Waqas had called him for some important matter. That important matter still remained. Imran didn't feel it was proper to go back, but what could be so urgent that Baba Waqas had called him? And why was reading this book necessary to understand that matter? These questions kept bothering him, which he wanted to find answers to as soon as possible. But one thing he was sure of—that Baba Waqas, whoever he was, was a pious person. Now, he no longer felt any fear of Baba Waqas, nor did a sense of unfamiliarity remain after this meeting—in fact, his trust had increased.
When Imran met Baba Waqas and reached his office, the entire day was spent in a whirlwind of thoughts, wondering how strange and peculiar the events of today had been. Imran would hold one end of a thread, only for the other end to slip from his grasp; he lost track of when day turned to dusk and when the shadows of evening grew darker, yet he had no idea. But he had reached a decision: he would no longer take the path that led to Baba Waqas's house, no matter what.
Before Maghrib prayer, Imran was walking briskly along a different route towards his destination, but as he drew nearer to his home, it felt as if his steps had become lighter, yet each step increased the weight on his chest. His destination was just a few steps away, but then a strange thought began to take hold in his mind—what if what he saw today was just a beautiful dream? Because he had passed this way a thousand times before, but he had never encountered Baba Waqas on this route. Surely it was some dream, some mirage that couldn't possibly have any connection to reality. This conviction grew so swiftly and firmly in Imran's heart and mind that his steps, instead of heading home, automatically veered towards Baba Waqas's house.
This new curiosity seemed to snatch away all his ability to think and understand. When Imran finally reached Baba Waqas's house, he saw a crowd entering it. His curiosity piqued — what was happening that so many people were gathering there? He followed the crowd into Baba Waqas's house. Inside, the people were sitting on mats spread out on the floor, while some had already been sitting there for a while. Baba Waqas, dressed in white, was performing Maghrib prayer on a prayer mat. His white beard added to his radiance. Then Imran remembered that he himself had not yet prayed Maghrib, so he quickly joined the others in prayer on the floor spread out on the mats behind Baba Waqas. After finishing the prayer, he sat down among the people. Baba Waqas then turned his face towards everyone, greeted them, and they started kissing his hand. At that moment, Baba Waqas's face radiated a strange glow that seemed to draw the heart towards him.
When Imran moved to kiss Baba Waqas's hand, Baba Waqas pulled him closer and made him sit beside him. Imran experienced a strange joy just sitting next to Baba Waqas. Slowly, people began to share their problems with Baba Waqas, who would tell them certain prayers; some people would leave after just greeting him, while others presented some offerings. Eventually, this phase came to an end, leaving only one quiet, composed man remaining, who started to gather the mats and blankets after everyone departed.
Baba Waqas called that man over and, raising his voice, said, "Servant Miyan, our guests have arrived. Will you not serve them tea?" The straightforward man nodded affirmatively and went to prepare the tea. Then Baba Waqas, addressing Imran, asked, "What's the matter, Imran Miyan? Why do you hesitate to come to us?" Imran pondered what to say. Not knowing what to reply, he said, "Everything feels really strange to me."
That's why he didn't want to come, but he had to after all. Baba Waqas's words further startled Imran, making him wonder how Baba Waqas could know all these things himself. Just then, Baba Waqas spoke again: "Imran Miyan, don't tire your mind so much that we can't even speak the words that we have brought you here twice without your desire, just know one thing—We wish you well, not harm. Moreover, I want to tell you that although I am older than you, we are also related as paternal uncle and nephew, and I possess a trust from you that I wish to hand over to you. But first, you must trust us; only then will things fall into place."
While Baba Waqas was speaking, servant Miyan returned with tea, along with some biscuits that carried a fresh aroma. Baba Waqas kept the tray of tea aside and handed the money collected as offerings to Miyan, telling him, "Use this money to prepare morning's meal, and now you can go home." Imran was just about to take out his wallet and add some money as his share when Baba Waqas signaled him to stop and said, "Imran Miyan, not now. First, restore your trust in us. After that, we will definitely take your money." After Miyan left, Imran started drinking tea, while Baba Waqas went into the room across the hall. The whole house was empty as it was in the morning. The room Baba Waqas had gone into had a large lamp burning in front of it, and a bookshelf filled with books was visible. Baba Waqas was taking out a book from it. He closed the room and placed the book beside a cot's headrest, then said to Imran, "Imran Miyan, I wrote this book in my youth. You are among the few people I've given permission to read it during my life. After you read this book, you will understand all my words easily. Read it after having tea, until I perform the Isha prayer." As soon as Baba Waqas finished his intention of prayer, Imran began examining the book. It was a handwritten book of about 200 pages. Though in good condition, its decay suggested it had been written quite some time ago. It was meticulously bound, so from a distance, it looked like a published book. It was divided into seven chapters. Starting the first chapter, Imran realized it was about the Jinn community. As he began reading, he praised the author's style — very engaging and captivating. As Imran moved from the first to the second chapter, he became convinced that it was undoubtedly a rare book on this subject. The author's manner of narration held the reader in a spell; there was no flaw, no broken flow, nothing that would create a sense of longing or boredom in the reader. The first chapter contained detailed information about the jinn, such as how they obtain their food, their birth and death, and all circumstances from birth to death; it explained in detail in which matters jinns need humans. It described why their dispositions differ from humans and how, just as humans fear jinns, jinns also fear humans. Among humans, there are religious and non-religious people, and similarly, among the jinn, there are religious and non-religious ones.
Also discussed were the pursuits of jinn, where they prefer to dwell, with which types of humans they are familiar, how they acquire religious knowledge, and why they bother humans... and so on.
Imran joined for dinner, and when he finished eating and reached his room, the children had already fallen asleep. As soon as Imran lay on the bed, he took out Baba Waqas's written book and started reading. The fifth chapter was about the interest and love of jinns among humans.