Love & Sacrifices (Part 2)

As decided in their last chat, Shella had to visit her friend Fatima’s house for tea. In their telephonic discussion, the day and time for the visit were sewn up. Shella was eager to listen from her friend about the past years since the time they had lost contact.

It was third the week of September and a cool breeze had started in Manhattan making the weather pleasant. Shella carefully selected her dress and ensured all things for her husband. Shella drove by herself and parked the car outside the main gate of her friend’s house. Locked the car, she looked at the front elevation of the house which was quite impressive. She entered the big car porch where four cars were already parked. She walked through the big lush green lawn to approach the entrance door.

Suddenly, a young male voice welcomed her. She turned to see a young smart boy in a dark Shalwar suit standing on a black marbled pathway. He opened the big strong wooden door for her. He said, “Aunty, kindly park the car inside.” She smiled and while giving car keys to him asked, “Are you Fatima’s son?” The boy smiled back and said, “yes”.

He guided her to a nicely decorated drawing-room. In the meantime, Fatima entered and embraced her old friend apologizing that she had been busy with her son. She then pointed towards the boy and introduced him as her elder son Dr. Hamid. Shella turned towards the boy and saw him with deep eyes and smiled.

Fatima excused and left the room calling her servant. Shella quickly looked around. The wooden floor was fully carpeted. There was an eighteen-seater sofa set with expensive lamps in all corners where a big chandelier hung. Fatima returned along with the servant carrying two large glasses of fresh orange juice. The servant placed the car keys on the side table. Shella admired the layout of the house and the interior decoration. Having such a lifestyle in Manhattan was something truly enviable. Fatima gave her some details.

After some time Shella said, “You know I have to reach home by the evening prayer so quickly come to the point.” Fatima, while dragging the tea trolley closer, said, “My dear, my life hasn’t been so stable as appears from this house.” She paused and while having a close eye on the trolley said, “I remember our last telephonic discussion in which I informed you about my initial days in Manhattan after I moved to the USA as an immigrant.

I was in my 12th grade at high school when my mother and I went to a relative’s wedding ceremony. I was looking pretty in my blue suit. My cousin Ali’s parents were also there. It was a big gathering so I did not know they were having a close eye on me. Moreover, I was too innocent. Not even a week had passed that his parents visited our house with Ali’s marriage proposal for me. Ali had completed his house job in a government hospital as a medical practitioner and was getting ready to go abroad on scholarship for specialization in eye surgery.

I was stunned on hearing this as I had never thought of this. In my viewpoint, it was too early as I wanted to continue my studies. They were relatives on my mother’s side but we’d never have close contact. I had just heard of him. My parents considered this proposal seriously because they were financially strong. Ali’s father was an eye surgeon and had a good reputation. He was running his clinic and that was the reason that Ali had also selected specialization in eye surgery.

My parents decided not to disclose this proposal to anyone because Ali’s parents had requested to keep it between themselves unless decided. My elder brother Shahid was in his third year of MBBS in the same medical college from where Ali had graduated. My father asked him to check Ali’s reputation in college and hospital where he had completed his house job. I had no one to discuss with.

One day, while sitting in the college cafeteria, I could not resist and disclose this proposal to my classmate Ameena. I forgot that she had an acquaintance with my cousin Sana, the daughter of my aunt Nadia. Sana although studied in the same college but was a senior to me. The same evening, Aunt Nadia telephoned my mother started talking about Ali’s bad character. Mummy kept on listening but remained silent. My parents got worried as well as surprised that why she talked like this on those particular days. Mummy could not understand the situation as Aunt Nadia had very good close relations with Ali’s parents”.

Fatima got up to serve as Shella had just finished her juice. Fatima had to push the plate towards her as she resisted. Fatima continued, “My brother collected information from the college Professors and the hospital about Ali and gave a satisfactory report to my father. A family who lived near their house also did not hesitate to give good wording.

The next night my mother came to my room where my younger brother and I were studying. She asked my brother to go to his room. We discussed the matter of Ali’s proposal in detail. I said that I wanted to complete my Bachelor’s degree first. She said that Ali’s parents were themselves educated and had already given commitment regarding my education after marriage.

She also explained to me about their small family setup. Papa joined later and also called my brother in. We all discussed this matter for a long time. All the three had made up their minds and wanted to take me in confidence, Papa showed concern on Aunt Nadia’s remarks but afterward, decided to dump her words. Papa placed his hand on my head and kissed me saying, “Allah will take care of you”.

The next day, Mummy informed Ali’s mother about the acceptance of the proposal and invited them to dinner. She later called and expressed her desire to bring Ali and thus, sought permission, which my mother granted. Papa arranged a lavish dinner on the lawn. Ali’s parents brought gifts and sweets. I found Ali’s both sisters of good nature.

One was married and had a small boy while the other one was of my age. Ali also looked joyful and well-mannered. Both families agreed to inform relatives. They requested for early marriage as Ali had to go abroad for studies.” Fatima stopped as she heard someone crying. She left at once. Shella took advantage of this and telephoned her daughter Hina.

Fatima, while entering the room asked, “Would you like some ice cream?” Shella laughed and pointed towards her belly that it had no space. Fatima said, “Ok.” After some time, she resumed the topic where she had left the discussion. “On getting the news”, she continued, “all the relatives congratulated us. Aunt Nadia also came with her husband. During the chit-chat, she bluntly said that the family of Ali had eyesight disease, which could be transferred to the children.

My mother kept quiet keeping in view the relation with her. A few days later, my cousin Sana, daughter of Aunt Nadia, approached me in the college and told me to reject the proposal of a mentally sick person. I was embarrassed in front of my friends. Also, I got worried about why similar messages were being conveyed to me. I was immature and innocent. So, I could not understand the way things were being planned around me. On reaching home, I wept a lot and told the whole incident to Mummy. She consoled me and waited for my Papa. In the evening, my parents discussed the matter and different options they had but, in the end, decided to remain silent.

I g and started a new life. The time I spent with Ali was very short as he had to go abroad for his studies. During that period, I was very comfortable. All my doubts were gone. Ali’s lifestyle was quite different from ours. The house was very big and had all the latest facilities. Ali was very Cheerful and caring. He helped me adjust to my new life.

After Ali flew to the USA, I had ample time. So, I restarted my studies. It was all done as my father-in-law and Ali had desired. The chauffer used to pick and drop me at the college. Aunt Nadia was very close to my mother-in-law and used to call and visit occasionally. Within a few days, I noticed a significant change in the attitude of both my mother-in-law and elder sister-in-law. She was expecting her second baby, so she had come to stay at her parent’s house to spend those days.

They avoided me and often passed taunting remarks. The gap increased day by day. I felt that they were having a check on me. I started to spend most of my time in the bedroom as the environment in the house was no longer comfortable. My younger sister-in-law Rabia tried to give me company. She was just my age and at that time studying at a different college.

She had been super polite sweet from the beginning. She never talked about touchy topics but did her best to make me feel good. We used to sit together for dinner daily. But there was very little to discuss there. Rabia and my father-in-law felt all this change but were helpless. It seemed to me that no one knew the actual cause. He supported me more than a father. Despite his busy schedule, he managed to sit daily with me and Rabia.

Ali used to call me weekly although the overseas telephone service was not as convenient as it is today. We used to have a general talk but I never told him about the complications at home. After almost a year, Ali arranged my visit as he had a vacation. On knowing this, my mother-in-law was apparently not happy but she did not say anything. My father-in-law as usual stood at my side.

It was a short visit of two months but Ali had planned it very well. Those days were very happy and time flew pretty fast. I was getting upset as the vacation was to end shortly. First Ali took it normally but one night he asked me, “Is everything normal at home?” I told him everything in plain words. On hearing that all, he kept quiet for some time but then decided to accompany me on my way home.

Finances were no problem for him. Everyone was happy to see us back. I gave small gifts to all which I had bought from abroad. My parents along with my siblings also visited in the evening to meet us. Since Ali had come on a very short visit, he sat at night with his parents to discuss the affairs at home. I also sat there. My mother-in-law took it in another way.

She thought that I had brainwashed her son’s mind against them. Most of the time she remained tight-lipped. I tried to clarify my side but my father-in-law asked me to be quiet. Nothing came out of the meeting. Ali realized that something was there but he couldn’t figure it out. He was hesitant to talk with his elder sister on the matter which his mother did not like.

The next day, I started feeling severe nausea and did not feel like eating anything. Ali thought it was because of the long flight and tension. A day before his return, he got my diagnostic tests done from a lab. A few hours later, the test results declared me pregnant. Ali celebrated the good news. With the advice of his father, he told me to go to stay at my parents’ home for a few days. not married in the next four months He dropped me there on the way to the airport.

In a week, I rejoined the college. After a month or so, Rabia came with her mother to take me back home. Time was hard but I managed to pass. In the last weeks of pregnancy, Ali arranged my visa and I traveled abroad. I was mentally relieved to be with Ali. Hamid was born there and we were super happy. I stayed there for two weeks till Ali’s exams were over.

Upon returning, Ali started his job at a hospital in the morning and established a polyclinic in the evening. The environment at home improved because of Ali’s presence. He and his father planned to extend the polyclinic and convert it into a small hospital. I completed my bachelor’s degree. I was happy despite some severe criticism from my mother-in-law.

On the third birthday of Hamid, life took a quick new turn. I was expecting my second baby. It was a nice cool evening.” She thought for a while looking towards a large window as if recalling. She then said, “It was the end of November. Rabia was sitting on the lawn fumbling with snaps of her engagement which was held two days back. Hamid was playing near her.

I went there after completing my work and discussed snaps. Suddenly, she informed me about the marriage of Sana. I smiled and took it as per routine. She cautiously said a few words about Aunt Nadia, which I could not hear properly but I got alert. I questioned her what she had said. She kept quiet and tried to involve in snaps. When I repeated my question, she closed the album and saw it in my eyes for some moments. She blinked her eyes and her face turned gloomy. She was unable to decide what to say.

I patted her back and realized my love for her. After some moments, she said, “Now, Sana is getting married and In sha Allah problems of our house will be solved.” I got anxious, could not say anything but gripped her arm. She said, “Aunt Nadia had rumored bad words about you to mama and my elder sister. She had long wanted my brother Ali to marry Sana. She had poisoned Mama’s mind. She paused for a while.

My throat got dried and I took the juice bottle from Hamid for a sip. Rabia realized my feelings. She placed her hand softly on my face and said, “Do not worry. Things are settling now.” She then said after a while, “You know Aunt even advised Mama to arrange your divorce.”

I started shivering and sobbing. She put the album aside and rushed inside. She came back almost running with a tissue paper box and a bottle of cold drink with two glasses. She said, “Please do not tell anyone. I tried my best to cool down Mama and our elder sister at every stage. Papa does not know anything about it.” We sat there for quite some time despite it being dark and cold.

At night I had a high fever. I couldn’t help crying. Ali gave me medicines but the temperature did not fall. The next day, Ali got worried and his father also checked me. Rabia looked after Hamid and visited my room many times. My mother-in-law just came to enquire. In the evening, Rabia sat with Ali and they whispered to each other. I was sleepy but could sense that she was talking.

Rabia told her brother all about the part played by Aunt Nadia over the last year. Ali put his head down and complained why she did not tell him before. Rabia kept quiet biting her lips. Ali got up and placed his hand on my forehead. Rabia came towards me from the other side and kissed my hand and left the room with Hamid. Ali sat with me for hours and astonishingly I improved. My mother continuously rang me but I did not attend as I didn’t want to put her into hot waters.

At last, Ali attended her phone and informed her about my health. She was satisfied as Ali was with me. At midnight, I got better and ate a slice of bread with soup. I slowly told Ali, for the first time, what Aunt Nadia had told my mother about the eyesight problem of Ali’s family and the words of Sana, which she had spoken to me at college. Ali kept quiet for some time which worried me. He, then, complained that why he had been kept blind over the years.

He did not go to the hospital the next morning and stayed in the room. Over the next days, he sat several times with his parents to neutralize the problems but aunty Nadia had poisoned the hearts too much. Allah had saved my home through Rabia and my father-in-law.

A few days had passed when Ali complained about his standing posture, which was taken lightly. He consulted his fellow doctors and took various physical exercises, but to no avail. He could not take rest as I was in pain because the days of the second baby were nearby. He wanted me to be relaxed. So, he did not tell me much about himself. Hamza was born but we could not even celebrate as he got sick and was transferred to Baby nursery.

Despite the many links between Ali and my father-in-law, we had hard days. Doctors suspected of problem in his nervous system. We brought him home but had to take him again to the hospital many times in an emergency. Ali’s treatment carried on along with frequent medical tests and visits to doctors for Hamza. I knew very little about the disease of Ali as he always consulted doctors alone but he was worried.

Many days later, when Hamza’s condition settled down a bit, I came to know that Ali had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. I had heard of it but never knew how bad it is at a later stage.”

Fatima paused as she was tired of speaking continuously and called her servant to bring two glasses of juice. She then started, “Ali sent Hamza’s medical reports to many doctors in different countries and then decided to take him abroad for a physical checkup.

We went to the USA where Ali had his own and Hamza’s detailed medical check-up. Regarding Hamza, the doctors were doubtful as they suspected a paralyzed life. I did not believe it. Upon returning from abroad my mother and took Hamza to many religious places. I was confident that Hamza would one day stand on his own feet.

Over time, Ali’s disease aggravated and it became impossible for him to do surgery. His father advised him to do only the administrative work of their hospital. Ali’s confidence shattered as his walking style changed and often had constipation problems because of the side effects of medicines.

One day, I was shocked to know that my mother had throat cancer and was at the fourth stage. My brother who himself is a reputable Pulmonologist tried hard to save her life, but she expired in a few weeks. It was a big loss to me. She was the only one with whom I had shared all the difficult times and ups and downs of life.

Hamza improved slowly. We moved to the USA for advanced treatment of Ali and Hamza. With the help of my father-in-law, we bought this precious house and invested in a few real estate projects that earned us good profits. To protect Hamza’s quality of life and because of Ali’s bad health, we avoided all social gatherings, even relatives. I was very happy when Hamza used Toilet by himself but we had to wait eleven long years for that.”

She stopped for a moment and while looking at her glass, blinked her eyes many times; perhaps to stop tears from falling. In almost a weeping voice, she said, “Those were long years. One cannot imagine how we protected Hamza from others. Then another happy moment came in our life when Hamid got admission to King Edward medical college.

He had made history as his grandfather and father had been students of the same college. His grandparents arranged a superb dinner to celebrate the long-awaited happy news. He is now post-graduating here. Ali is in a wheelchair and Hamza is fully dependent on me. Overall, he looks good, but he is bad-tempered and full of anxiety.”

Fatima paused and wiped her tears with a tissue paper. Then, she continued, “This was my past. I had all the luxuries of life from day one but always had to wait for small happy moments. I do not know what people got by spoiling my life. No doubt, I had love of my husband but I sacrificed a lot for it.” In a saddened voice, she said, “Shella, one thing which I forgot to tell you that Aunt Nadia, the lady who spoiled my married life and told me to reject Ali’s proposal because of the eyesight disease in the family, is now keenly interested to get her granddaughter married with Hamid.” She managed to smile.

With that Shella got up as it was already too late. She said, “Today, I am sure that Allah made us friends because of many reasons. My dear, love requires sacrifices at every stage and a successful love cannot be obtained without any sacrifice.” On hearing these words Fatima said, “How sweet of you to say this! I have the same feelings after hearing you.”

In-car porch, both friends embraced each other and Fatima whispered in her friend’s ear, “In my last visit, I met Hina and found her very lovely. Soon, Ali and I will visit you to have Hina as our daughter-in-law. I hope you and your husband will not disappoint me. Should we come?” Shella was surprised and overjoyed. She kissed her friend and embraced her tightly. They both had tears of joy in their eyes.