By Asif Khan, TwoCircles.net
Shadab moved to Kanpur for pursuing higher studies. Since then he has found employment, and teaches at a local college.
During his childhood, Ramadan used to be a trying time back in his village situated in the neighbouring district of Kannauj. “We wouldn’t sleep after Sehri, and would roam around the lanes of the village with our friends,” he remembers. At daybreak, they would leave with the elders for the fields. It was a time for harvesting the wheat crop, and they would spend the day out at work.
Working in the fields was excruciating because of the oppressive heat. “Never was quitting a fast an option,” he went on, “one fasts only because of mental strength and for Allah”. Of course, there were those kids too who in their enthusiasm to cool themselves at the tubewell would accidentally gulp a few mouthfuls of water.
TCN series: Ramadan 1437