What an abomination (II)
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‘Baba would like some tea in the garden’ little Bint shouted through the kitchen door.
‘Tea in the garden, at 5.30, on a week day? Are you sure that’s what your father said?’ I asked my youngest daughter,‘Yes that’s what he said.’ She replied, walking away.
‘Is he alone?’ I asked her retreating figure.
‘Yes, he came alone.’ LB answered closing the front door. I quickly plugged the tea kettle and put the honey bottle on the tray. As soon as I cut the lemon into two and placed it on a saucer, I poured the boiling water in Tahir’s flask and picked the tray to walk towards the garden.
‘I couldn’t believe you were asking for tea now, and in the garden too.’ I commented as soon as I put the tray down.
‘I just decided I need some fresh air. I was in an air-conditioned office all day, then I drove home in an air-conditioned car and might end up in an A-C-d room upstairs. I cautioned myself on all that artificial air and decided to go for something safe and natural.’ Tahir explained.
‘Okay, so how was your day at work?’ I asked, sitting opposite him.
‘It was ok, nothing dramatic happened.’ He replied, smiling back.
‘I wish I can say the same about my day.’ I said with a sigh.
‘What happened to ruin your day?’ Tahir asked.
‘It’s this issue of Maryam’s siblings. She texted to say she made no headway with their parents and that it’s bad news through and through.’ I explained.
‘Well, keep yourself out of it Bint. Don’t get too involved. If it’s proving too difficult for Maryam to solve, it shouldn’t rob you of your peace of mind. More importantly it’s a family affair. If Maryam and her parents feel one way about the issue, you have no excuse to side with her younger siblings. They all know them better than you and personally I see no reason why they should choose to fall for each other in the first place. They just want to stir a scandal.’ He cautioned, sipping his tea.
‘And speak of the devil’ Tahir suddenly said looking over my shoulder at Maryam’s approaching figure.
‘I didn’t hear your car coming in’ I said turning over to face her.
‘Yes I honked once and when no guard came to the door, I decided to park outside and walk in.’ She replied hugging me before sitting on one of the garden chairs. ‘Assalamu alaikum Tahir, how was the office?’ She asked, looking over at him.
‘Alhamdulillah Maryam. And how is your struggle for the new love-birds?’ He mocked.
‘Not too great I assure you. I started out hating the whole idea and thinking it was an abomination. Then your goody-two shoes wife convinced me it was a worthy cause to champion. So I took it up and went to my parents with the news. I have never seen them so united against something in all my life. They never agreed on anything for as long as I can remember. I still recall the major debates they had over my wedding, with each of them demanding his/her relatives should host more events than the other.
That was the first time I understood why they had to get divorced after giving birth to only me. They couldn’t seem to agree on anything. But yesterday they shocked me when they stood united against this love-match. I saw them one after the other, beginning with Umma. But they totally agreed with each other, you would think they were telepathic. Umma said it will kill her to see the day Bashir will marry Baraka. She doesn’t just consider it an abomination, but she says it’s sin. There was no need telling her it wasn’t unlawful. Her mind was all made up. Discouraged but undaunted, I drove over to Abba’s house, hoping to make inroads there. The moment I told him what those kids were up to he blew his top. He said he had always suspected something was amiss, because of the way Baraka was always looking for an excuse to spend days in my house.
Now he knows it’s because in my house no one will raise eyebrows on seeing them together because they were both my siblings. Anyway he will never agree to such a match. Is it not bad enough that my mother was his ex-wife, they now have to make her his in-law? He argued. I just sat there marvelling at how every argument they had against the proposed marriage echoes that of the other. Because mother too had argued about how impossible it will be to be an in-law to my father.’ Maryam concluded.
‘After all these years they still seem to hate each other. But they shouldn’t use their mutual hatred to stand between these young people who are obviously in love. We have to find a way to convince them.’ I urged.
‘So Bint, you are determined not to heed my advice on this matter, aren’t you?’ Tahir asked sternly, looking straight at me. ‘Just before you came I was trying to convince her that it is a family affair and she mustn’t get too involved.’ Tahir explained looking over at Maryam. ‘And now she’s already saying you have to find a way to convince them. What can you do that Maryam hasn’t done already?’ He challenged.
‘Actually I wish her luck in trying. All I know is that my father already has plans for Baraka. Let me quote what he said, ‘I have been checking the advances of this generous man next-door, who has asked for her hand in marriage since she was a secondary school teenager. My hope was for her to find a suitable young man to settle with because I really feel our neighbour is a bit too old for her. But the man is only in his fifties and very rich. For years he has been sending me gifts every Ramadan and during the two Eids. I think it is time I repay his kindness by giving him the one thing he ever asked of me - your sister. Yes it’s better to have her married to an elderly neighbour than a totally unsuitable guy like your brother.’ He emphasised. I had nothing more to say. So I just rose from my seat and bade him good night.’ Maryam added.
‘Well this all might sound discouraging but not when we try to handle it selflessly. All of us here had love matches. We married the people we loved. Now here are two young people who ask for nothing other than to be allowed to marry their heartthrobs, in a match that is totally lawful, but we are allowing some artificial issues to deny them this chance. I think it will be selfish to fold our arms to let Baraka end up with her elderly suitor. It isn’t fair, even if he’s her father’s choice. With all due respect Tahir, and with no wish to disobey you, I wish to reiterate that we should do all we can to convince their parents’ to let them marry. It’s the least we can do.’ I argued, passionately.
‘Ok Bint, do as you wish. Just remember that you are on your own in this. I feel really strongly that it’s a family affair.’ Tahir stated, with finality.
Articles
What an abomination (II)
Category: Al-Bint's diary Written by Al-Bints Diary Hits: 2900
‘Baba would like some tea in the garden’ little Bint shouted through the kitchen door.
‘Tea in the garden, at 5.30, on a week day? Are you sure that’s what your father said?’ I asked my youngest daughter,‘Yes that’s what he said.’ She replied, walking away.
‘Is he alone?’ I asked her retreating figure.
‘Yes, he came alone.’ LB answered closing the front door. I quickly plugged the tea kettle and put the honey bottle on the tray. As soon as I cut the lemon into two and placed it on a saucer, I poured the boiling water in Tahir’s flask and picked the tray to walk towards the garden.
‘I couldn’t believe you were asking for tea now, and in the garden too.’ I commented as soon as I put the tray down.
‘I just decided I need some fresh air. I was in an air-conditioned office all day, then I drove home in an air-conditioned car and might end up in an A-C-d room upstairs. I cautioned myself on all that artificial air and decided to go for something safe and natural.’ Tahir explained.
‘Okay, so how was your day at work?’ I asked, sitting opposite him.
‘It was ok, nothing dramatic happened.’ He replied, smiling back.
‘I wish I can say the same about my day.’ I said with a sigh.
‘What happened to ruin your day?’ Tahir asked.
‘It’s this issue of Maryam’s siblings. She texted to say she made no headway with their parents and that it’s bad news through and through.’ I explained.
‘Well, keep yourself out of it Bint. Don’t get too involved. If it’s proving too difficult for Maryam to solve, it shouldn’t rob you of your peace of mind. More importantly it’s a family affair. If Maryam and her parents feel one way about the issue, you have no excuse to side with her younger siblings. They all know them better than you and personally I see no reason why they should choose to fall for each other in the first place. They just want to stir a scandal.’ He cautioned, sipping his tea.
‘And speak of the devil’ Tahir suddenly said looking over my shoulder at Maryam’s approaching figure.
‘I didn’t hear your car coming in’ I said turning over to face her.
‘Yes I honked once and when no guard came to the door, I decided to park outside and walk in.’ She replied hugging me before sitting on one of the garden chairs. ‘Assalamu alaikum Tahir, how was the office?’ She asked, looking over at him.
‘Alhamdulillah Maryam. And how is your struggle for the new love-birds?’ He mocked.
‘Not too great I assure you. I started out hating the whole idea and thinking it was an abomination. Then your goody-two shoes wife convinced me it was a worthy cause to champion. So I took it up and went to my parents with the news. I have never seen them so united against something in all my life. They never agreed on anything for as long as I can remember. I still recall the major debates they had over my wedding, with each of them demanding his/her relatives should host more events than the other.
That was the first time I understood why they had to get divorced after giving birth to only me. They couldn’t seem to agree on anything. But yesterday they shocked me when they stood united against this love-match. I saw them one after the other, beginning with Umma. But they totally agreed with each other, you would think they were telepathic. Umma said it will kill her to see the day Bashir will marry Baraka. She doesn’t just consider it an abomination, but she says it’s sin. There was no need telling her it wasn’t unlawful. Her mind was all made up. Discouraged but undaunted, I drove over to Abba’s house, hoping to make inroads there. The moment I told him what those kids were up to he blew his top. He said he had always suspected something was amiss, because of the way Baraka was always looking for an excuse to spend days in my house.
Now he knows it’s because in my house no one will raise eyebrows on seeing them together because they were both my siblings. Anyway he will never agree to such a match. Is it not bad enough that my mother was his ex-wife, they now have to make her his in-law? He argued. I just sat there marvelling at how every argument they had against the proposed marriage echoes that of the other. Because mother too had argued about how impossible it will be to be an in-law to my father.’ Maryam concluded.
‘After all these years they still seem to hate each other. But they shouldn’t use their mutual hatred to stand between these young people who are obviously in love. We have to find a way to convince them.’ I urged.
‘So Bint, you are determined not to heed my advice on this matter, aren’t you?’ Tahir asked sternly, looking straight at me. ‘Just before you came I was trying to convince her that it is a family affair and she mustn’t get too involved.’ Tahir explained looking over at Maryam. ‘And now she’s already saying you have to find a way to convince them. What can you do that Maryam hasn’t done already?’ He challenged.
‘Actually I wish her luck in trying. All I know is that my father already has plans for Baraka. Let me quote what he said, ‘I have been checking the advances of this generous man next-door, who has asked for her hand in marriage since she was a secondary school teenager. My hope was for her to find a suitable young man to settle with because I really feel our neighbour is a bit too old for her. But the man is only in his fifties and very rich. For years he has been sending me gifts every Ramadan and during the two Eids. I think it is time I repay his kindness by giving him the one thing he ever asked of me - your sister. Yes it’s better to have her married to an elderly neighbour than a totally unsuitable guy like your brother.’ He emphasised. I had nothing more to say. So I just rose from my seat and bade him good night.’ Maryam added.
‘Well this all might sound discouraging but not when we try to handle it selflessly. All of us here had love matches. We married the people we loved. Now here are two young people who ask for nothing other than to be allowed to marry their heartthrobs, in a match that is totally lawful, but we are allowing some artificial issues to deny them this chance. I think it will be selfish to fold our arms to let Baraka end up with her elderly suitor. It isn’t fair, even if he’s her father’s choice. With all due respect Tahir, and with no wish to disobey you, I wish to reiterate that we should do all we can to convince their parents’ to let them marry. It’s the least we can do.’ I argued, passionately.
‘Ok Bint, do as you wish. Just remember that you are on your own in this. I feel really strongly that it’s a family affair.’ Tahir stated, with finality.