Winner

It was the Club Championships for the 74-kilogram division. Ibrahim defeated all the opponents one by one and reached the semi-finals. That year Ibrahim had practiced very well. He powerfully defeated most of his opponents. If he could win this game he would surely be the winner in the final game. But he wrestled very poorly in the semi-final. In the end, he lost the game by one point! That year Ibrahim came in third place. A few years later I saw the same boy who was Ibrahim’s opponent in the semi-final. He came to visit Ibrahim. He was telling us about his memories with Ibrahim, and we were listening. Then he got to the story of how he got to know Ibrahim, “Our acquaintance goes back to the semi-finals of the Club Championships in the 74-kilogram division. I was supposed to wrestle with Ibrahim.” But, whenever he tried to tell that story, Ibrahim kept changing the subject and didn’t let him say what had happened! And in the end, he didn’t permit that story to be told! The next day I saw the same man and requested him, “Please tell me the story of your wrestling match.” He looked at me, breathed deeply, and said, “That year I was Ibrahim’s opponent in the semi-final. But, one of my legs was injured very severely. I didn’t know Ibrahim up until that time. I told him, “Hey pal! My leg is injured. Watch out for me.” Ibrahim said, “Ok brother! For sure!” I had seen him play. He was a master in wrestling. It was Ibrahim’s technique to attack the legs, but he didn’t get close to my leg at all! Then, I knocked him down with impudence and went to the finals with the happiness of this victory. Ibrahim could have easily defeated me and been the winner; but, he didn’t do that.” Then he continued, “Actually, I think he did that on purpose so that I could win! He wasn’t upset about his loss either, because the championship had a different meaning for him. However, I was happy. I was happy because my final opponent was from our own neighborhood. I thought everyone is generous like brother Ibram. But in the final game, even though I told my friend that my leg was hurt, he grabbed my injured leg in the first move. I called out in pain from deep inside. Then he threw me on the floor and I lost. That year I was second and Ibrahim third. But I was sure that the championship was Ibrahim’s right. From that day I have been friends with him. I have seen strange things from him. I thank God that he has given me such a friend.” After he finished talking, he said goodbye and left. I went back too. On the way I was only thinking about his words. I remembered in the army headquarters of Gilan Gharb a sentence was written on one of the walls for each soldier. They had written for Ibrahim, “Ibrahim Hadi, a soldier with the characteristics of Puria Vali.”