Puria Vali

It was the Club Championships in the year 1355. The winner of the games would receive a cash prize and also go to the Country Selection Tournament. Ibrahim was at the height of his preparedness. Whoever saw one of his matches confirmed this matter. His coaches said, “This year in the 74-kilogram division no one can oppose him.” The games started. Ibrahim defeated everyone one by one. He played four matches and reached the semi-finals. He either “fell” his opponents or won with a high point advantage. I told my friends, “For sure, one wrestler from our club will go to the National Team.” In the semi-final game, although his opponent was very famous, Ibrahim won. He went to the finals with a strong lead. His final opponent was Mr. Mahmud K. That year he was the winner of the World Army Championships. Before the final started, I went into the locker room to Ibrahim and said, “I have seen your opponent play. He is very weak. But for God’s sake, just be careful dear Ibram. Wrestle well. I’m sure that you will be chosen for the National Team this year.” The coach was giving Ibrahim his last recommendations while Ibrahim was tying his shoelaces. Then they went together to the mat. I went quickly and sat down among the spectators. Ibrahim went on the mat. His opponent entered too. The referee hadn’t come yet. Ibrahim went forward and shook hands with his opponent with a smile. His opponent said something which I didn’t understand. Ibrahim shook his head in confirmation. Then his opponent pointed somewhere among the spectators in the back! I turned back and looked. I saw an old woman sitting alone on top of the bleachers with rosary beads in her hands. I couldn’t understand what they had said or what had happened; but, Ibrahim started wrestling very poorly. He was just defending. Poor Ibrahim’s coach, he shouted and directed him so much that his voice cracked. Ibrahim did not seem to hear any of the shouting from his coach or me. He was just wasting time! Then, Ibrahim’s opponent, who was afraid in the beginning, became brave. He started attacking continuously. Ibrahim was calmly defending. The referee gave the first and then the second warning to Ibrahim. In the end Ibrahim got three warnings and lost, and his opponent was the winner of the 74-kilogram division! When the referee lifted his opponent’s hand up, Ibrahim was happy! It looked as if he had won! Then, both wrestlers hugged each other. Ibrahim’s opponent bent down and kissed Ibrahim’s hand while he was crying! Both wrestles were leaving the hall. I jumped down from the platforms and went to Ibrahim angrily. I yelled at him, “Wiseman! What kind of wrestling was that?” Then I punched him in the arm because of my anger and said, “If you don’t want to wrestle, tell us and don’t waste our time.” Ibrahim said calmly with his smile which was always on his lips, “Don’t be so obsessed!” Then he quickly went into the locker room, put on his clothes, put his head down, and left. I was punching the doors and walls because of my anger. Then I sat down in a corner. Half an hour passed. I became a little calmer. I got up to go. In front of the gym was still crowded. Ibrahim’s final opponent was standing there with his mother and many from his families and friends. They were very happy. Suddenly that man called me. I turned around and asked with a frown, “Yes?!” He came towards me and said, “You are Mr. Ibram’s friend, right?” I asked angrily, “What do you want?!” Without introduction he said, “What a generous friend you have. Before the match I told Mr. Ibram, “I have no doubt that I will lose. But, watch out for me. My mother and brothers are sitting on top of the bleachers. Do something that I won’t be too embarrassed.” Then he continued, “Your friend did a wonderful job. You don’t know how happy my mother is.” Then he cried and said, “I have recently gotten married. I needed the cash prize of the competition very much. You don’t know how happy I am.” I didn’t know what to say. I was silent for a few seconds and looked at his face. I finally realized what had happened. Then I said, “Dear friend! If I was in place of brother Ibram, I wouldn’t have done such a thing after so much practicing and suffering. This is what the great people like Mr. Ibram do.”I said goodbye to that man. I looked at the happy, smiling old woman out of the corner of my eye and left. On the way, I was thinking about what Ibrahim had done. This kind of generosity was not compatible with wisdom! I was thinking that when Puria Vali found out that his opponent needed to win the championship and that the ruler of the city had harassed him, he lost to his opponent. But, Ibrahim… I remembered the hard practicing that he had done during this time. I remembered the smiles of that old woman and the happiness of that young man. Suddenly I started crying. What a human being this Ibrahim was!