Adiamond is forever. This line was immortalized by De Beers and when we think ofdiamonds, the first image which comes to mind is that of the prospectors of Kimberley, South Africa, or the markets of Belgium or Surat, India. But inLahore when the topic is diamond market, it means only and only one place: ShahiMohalla (Royal Neighbourhood). Established by the Mughal Emperors some 500years ago, it is located in the proximity of the Shahi Qila (Royal Fort) and Badshahi Masjid (Royal Mosque). The royals and the elites used to visit thisplace to entertain themselves with the music, singing and dancing. The most famousmusicians and dancers used to live here. The beautiful girls (called Heeras orDiamonds) sat in the balcony type stalls to attract the visitors. Even thoughwhen the British came and the place was diluted with the ‘other’ trade, stillthere are dancers and musicians living in the area. But now it is synonymous with the RedLight area of Lahore. And then of those balcony type houses, one isconverted into a 5-star restaurant, known is Cooco’s Den, by one of the Area’s own, Iqbal Hussain, amaestro of arts and painting. The restaurant is frequented by elites of the city as well as foreigners. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are sitting on theroof top enjoying the food.
Watson: Since the days of my service in the Royal Army inIndia, I have never tasted such a delicious meal.
Holmes: (Looking at the paintings displayed on the walls and insome abstract thoughts) Hmm.
Watson: You are not going to taste some of the exquisite Pakistani cuisine on the table?
Holmes: It is the mind that needs food more than the stomach. To let the brain work without sufficient material is like racing an engine. It racks itself to pieces.
Hemoves from the table to the edge of the building. It is already dark but thestreet below is glowing. And the city of Lahore is glowing in mosaic with darkpatches due to power outage in some parts.
Hemoves from the table to the edge of the building. It is already dark but thestreet below is glowing. And the city of Lahore is glowing in mosaic with darkpatches due to power outage in some parts.
Holmes: You see Watson, the people below in the street are such a diverse mix. And I engross myself in deducing their professions, their lifestyles, their joys and agonies. Humans are such a riveting subject. For example, look at that teenage boy standing in the corner. He wants to see from the inside but has not enough money. The middle aged man, with uncombed hair, has lost all his money and is discarded. The other man down the house, is probably a driver and is in heavy debt, fearing for his life. And then the man who is well dressed is probably a rich one and…
Suddenly he catches aglimpse of something unexpected. He asks Watson to come at once and see. But thenhe tells him to settle the bill and meet him downstairs. And he rushes outside.
Hesees Mujeeb walking briskly towards the end of the street, alone. They bothfollow him until he enters a house. Without the interpreter, who has excused himselffor the evening, they cannot do much. There are no sign boards or anything onthe house. They wait there and after an hour or so, Mujeeb comes out and withthe same pace exits the area. They think of coming the following morning.
Nextmorning at 8 O’clock, they asked the interpreter to come to their hotel room.And when he hears that they intend to go to Diamond Market at this hour on aSunday, he burst in to laughter. Both Holmes and Watson are perplexed. Then theinterpretor explains that it is a nocturnal market and it opens only aftersunset. So they wait. And immediately after sun set, they enter the same house.
Alady, in her 50s, probably the owner or the manager of the place, with oneplait of her hair in her hands, asks them to come and sit comfortably on thelavish carpet. She asks them in Punjabi. The interpreter brags much about hiscommand of the language but what he hears is totally unexpected. His face turnspale.
Holmes: What is the matter?
Interpreter: The only translation I can provide is that the ladyis asking what we would like to eat. But I know it is not the right question.
Holmes: Ask her for the best that she can offer.
Andthen they wait and wonder what is this all about. The interpreter tells themthat he is frequent visitor but he has never experience anything like thisbefore. And then arrives the lady with a large tray. And there is only onedish. Chapli Kebabs with Roghni Naans. The interpretor, who bynow has become sort of a guide, explains that this dish is not native to thecity and it is only eaten and served in Peshawar and adjacent parts especiallyby the Pakhtoons. In fact, the city of Mardan is more famous for it, he explains.
Watson: If Mr. Mujeeb comes here only to eat this dish, thenI guess he may belong to Peshawar?
Holmes: My dear Watson, your deduction powers are at peaktonight. Go on.
Watson: I mean why would a man like Mr. Mujeeb, who canafford any restaurant of the city would come here?
Theyeat while Holmes is busy in his thoughts as usual and not eating.
Watson: What is your guess, Holmes?
Holmes: I never guess. It is a shocking habit – destructive to the logical faculty.
They do not talk much during the rest of their meal.
Holmes: (Ontheir return to hotel) I must admit my friend that the more I try tosolve the case, the more intriguing it becomes. There are more half clues but no solution. Now this Peshawar connection. May be we should meet Mr. Mujeeb once again to know about his origins.
Holmes: I never guess. It is a shocking habit – destructive to the logical faculty.
They do not talk much during the rest of their meal.
Holmes: (Ontheir return to hotel) I must admit my friend that the more I try tosolve the case, the more intriguing it becomes. There are more half clues but no solution. Now this Peshawar connection. May be we should meet Mr. Mujeeb once again to know about his origins.
Earlynext morning, Holmes is up and returns from his walk, lilting.
Watsonis still in his bed and is awakened by the sun rays coming through the windows which Holmes has just opened.
Afterbreakfast, Watson asks him if he would like to go and explore the city.
Holmes: I am waiting for an email. I would better be in myroom.
Inthe afternoon, the email arrives.
Holmes: (Jumps in his chair) Look at thisWatson.
Watsonreads it:
Bovine: No
Canine: No
Equine: No
Feline: No
Porcine: No
Camel: No
Ovine: No
Rabbit: No
AndWatson almost fall down when he reads the last line.
Human: Yes
Watson: Holmes, what is this?
Holmes: I woke up early and went to the University of FoodSciences where DNA Testing of food is done routinely. Pretending as an officialfrom WHO, I asked the technician to determine the origin of the food sample, thatI took from last night’s meal, on urgent basis and email me the results. And herewe are.
Watson: But…
Holmes: Quick Watson. There may be lives at stake.
Theyrush towards the Neighbourhood where police have already arrived as Holmes haveinstructed the interpretor to take police to the place. In the kitchen theyfind a human corpse with limbs amputated.
Watson: Such a gory scene. I have never seen anything likethis in my whole life.
Holmes: Grotesque my friend.
Theyleave the place and move towards the Royal Castle to explore the architectureof the Mughal era and revive the tales of Anarkali.
The End
(P.S.The story is base on folklore but the places and names as well as the settinghas been changed as it took place in a place far away from Lahore. I have included some quotes from the original Sherlock Holmes stories.)
Syndicated from: Misterio Vida