FRACTURE

One day, I was entering the main gate of the eighth building of our college, where our classes used to take place during our first year. Everything about me was perfectly in line with the college regulations. My uniform was neat, my shirt was tucked in, my sleeves were unfolded, my hair wasn’t long, and I was wearing my ID card as well.

There wasn’t a single rule I had broken. They had no chance to find any fault in me, despite sitting in front of the gate every day, seemingly waiting to catch students making the smallest mistake.

Yet I was missing one thing. I didn’t say “Assalamualaikum” to the teachers.

Two teachers were sitting in front of the entrance, almost as if they had been stationed there to catch criminals crossing a border. The moment I stepped one foot inside the building, one of them called out, “Hey, science! Come here.”

I walked over, stood politely in front of them, and said, “Yes, Sir?”

I never realized that not saying “Assalamualaikum” could make someone feel so disrespected that they would choose to disrespect me in return.

One of them looked at me and said, “You’re a science student, and you still have no manners? Do you know me? Have you seen me before?”

The teacher beside him added, “You walked right past your teachers without giving ‘salam’? Huh? What does your father do?”

I stepped a little closer and, with a polite smile, replied, “He’s an English teacher.”

“A teacher? And that’s what your father taught you? Where does he teach?”

“He teaches at a coaching center.”

“A coaching teacher?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“A coaching teacher?”

I smiled respectfully and repeated, “Yes, Sir.”

“Hah? A coaching teacher! Yeah... keep laughing with your teeth showing. ‘Coaching teacher’... huh! Remember what you just said. Idiot!”

I stood there silently, looking at his face.

The first teacher then said, “We used to give ‘salam’ to our teachers from yards away, and you walked right past us without even noticing. Go now. I already know what’s waiting for you in your future.”

Even now, I still don’t understand whether all of that was necessary simply because I didn’t say one sentence: “Assalamualaikum.” It means, “May the peace of Allah be upon you.” Muslims say it as a greeting and a sign of respect.

But are people so desperate for happiness that they need others to pray for it on their behalf every time they meet? Can’t they simply pray to their Creator themselves? Or does every person who says it somehow add another blessing to their life?

Why must I announce my prayer out loud? Isn’t prayer something directed to Allah—the One and Only Creator? Is saying it really any different from saying, “Hey, I just prayed for your happiness”?

Maybe I’m simply not educated enough to understand the logic behind it.

A florist may give you flowers every day. But that doesn’t necessarily mean he loves you. Meanwhile, someone else may struggle their entire life just to bring you a single flower. And that doesn’t mean they love you any less. In fact, they might be the one who loves you the most.