Living in Hope

MAKING THE BEST OF THINGS Adverse circumstances should be seen for what they are—steppingstones to newer and better horizons. W hen a certain young Mullaji was appointed the Imam of a mosque, he was expected, as a matter of duty, not only to lead the congregation in prayer, but also to give daily lessons from the Quran. For this, his remuneration was a mere Rs. 100 per month, but because he was also given a room to live in and two meals a day, he tried to make the best of it. Having a roof over his head gave him a much-needed sense of security, and he also hoped that his situation in the mosque would, eventually, provide better opportunities for his son’s education. However, the treatment meted out to this young Imam by the Namazis (devotees at prayer) was very far from being cordial, for they tended to regard him as their servant. For very minor things, he was taken to task and humiliated. Why was there no lota (pot for water)