Another instance, showing a latent phase, hitherto dormant, in his character, we note.
Among the steerage passengers is a Syrian girl who much resembles his cousin Najma. She was seasick throughout the voyage, and when she comes out to breathe of the fresh air, a few hours before they enter the harbour of New York, Khalid sees her, and Shakib swears that he saw a tear in Khalid’s eye as he stood there gazing upon her.
Poor Khalid! For though we are approaching the last station of the Via Dolorosa, though we are nearing the enchanted domes of the wonder-working, wealth-worshipping City, he is inexplicably sad.
And Shakib, directly after swearing that he saw a tear in his eye, writes the following:
“Up to this time I observed in my friend only the dominating traits of a hardheaded, hard-hearted boy, stubborn, impetuous, intractable. But from the time he related to me his dream, a change in his character was become manifest. In fact a new phase was being gradually unfolded. Three things I must emphasise in this connection: namely, the first dream he dreamt in a foreign land, the first time he looked pensive and profound, and the first tear he shed before we entered New York. These are keys to the secret chamber of one’s soul.”
And now, that the doors, by virtue of our Scribe’s open-sesames, are thrown open, we enter, bismillah .