Everyone in this world has their own grief, worries, and problems
Ruxshona Rasulova, a young writer from Uzbekistan, reviews the short story ‘Helpline’, of writer Khayriddin Sultonov
“Helpline,” by our beloved writer Khayriddin Sultonov, is one of the most uniquely crafted literary works. The short story tells of individuals with diverse fates who, finding themselves in a dead end, call a helpline seeking a glimmer of hope, pouring out their woes to the operator.
In the story, we encounter those who have been unjustly victimized, as told by Maqsuda opa; those like Gulsara who have been deceived and crushed; swindlers like Qobilov; simpletons like Begmat; and those, like Telman, who are consumed by regret in their old age. This single work encompasses a multitude of diverse destinies. Some are heartbreaking, some are humorous, and some provoke anger.
While you may feel pity for individuals like Behruz, who is remorseful for his actions but too late, you might laugh bitterly at fools like Abduazim, who, due to his naivety, believed in a false inheritance and lost everything he had.
Through the character of Elzod Eminov, the author reveals the life of the entire artistic community, demonstrating the heaviness of this field and how challenging it is to make a living. Through Ilhom Soliyev, he seeks to explain that the medical profession has its own unique and difficult hardships, and that doctors who face such challenges every day are not valued enough.
Mahbuba’s sorrows are a separate story within the story. It is a tale of humanity, loyalty, and true love. Her life is a remarkable display of self-sacrifice. No one can remain unmoved upon hearing the mournful tale of a pure-hearted woman who wanted her beloved fiancé to leave this life content during his remaining days. You cannot help but exclaim, “Ah-ha-a, so such love still exists, even in the 21st century!”
You cannot help but get irritated listening to Begmat Rajabovich’s efforts in the poverty reduction program. As he himself puts it, he overexerts himself trying to “share what isn’t there.” We see in Begmat’s son, Khudoiberdi that trying to teach a hopeless, foolish, unresponsive person to catch a thousand fish is futile, as they will find fault with the fishing rod or the river, achieving nothing. The role of parents in a family is extremely important. If parents are inept, the same foolishness can be expected from the children. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree…
There once was a merchant. He traveled a lot and couldn’t come home for months. He had a beautiful wife whose life was spent waiting for her husband. Not knowing who to confide in, the woman would sit and tell her sorrows to a pumpkin. One day, the husband came home and saw his wife talking to someone. Suspicion entered his mind, and he thought she was cheating on him, so he killed her. He then realized that there was no one else there. Distraught by his actions, the husband struck the pumpkin in anguish. The pumpkin split in two, and pus and bile gushed out. The pumpkin had rotted…
The operator, Mohidil Ismatova, was like that pumpkin. Everyone would come and tell her their troubles. They would demand things from her. But no one would ask what her own problems were. In reality, the personal life of the girl who was providing solace to everyone else was not so good. She had been orphaned early, her sister had gone abroad, and Umidjon, the child her sister Oygul left behind, had been imprisoned for murder. On top of that, there were the threats of Qodir, a swindler of a boyfriend, who had shared intimate photos of the girl with the public… Finally, Mohidil’s heart, like that pumpkin, rotted away. She couldn’t bear the filth of this world.
People find comfort in each other, but the negative energy of the speaker’s sorrows and woes is also passed on to the listener. The same thing happened to Mohidil. If she hadn’t listened to the daily sorrows and shared in the troubles of strangers, perhaps she could have overcome her own problems? But who knows.
Everyone in this world has their own grief, worries, and problems. Often, the person who is silently listening to you and giving you advice has enough worries of their own. But we humans can’t help but pour out our sorrows and complain about something…
Read: Me – A Short Story from Uzbekistan
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Ruxshona Rasulova, born on October 16, 2008, in Rishton District, Fergana Region of Uzbekistan, is a student. She is the recipient of the “Follower of Great Jadids” badge (2024). Her creative works have been published in the newspapers and magazines. Approximately 20 of her creative works have been published in foreign journals in Germany, USA, Kenya, and Great Britain.
