“Sinners judging sinners for sinning differently.”
“That is a major sin, indeed, and my heart goes out to them all. I pray that Allah Pak will forgive us for not helping the flood victims the way we should. Their faces circle in front of my eyes, and my heart cries for being ungrateful. Allah has granted us more than we deserve… True Bhabhi! We keep sinning, and He keeps forgiving! He never abandons us. Indeed, He is all Merciful.”
“Yeah. I agree. And we all must try to stay righteous. You know, what do I despise the most? Gossiping and character assassination! Alhamdulillah, I am not yet failing at these!”
“Yes… yes. True. May Allah keep all of us safe from the devil of gossiping. Oh, I forgot to tell you… Saba got the job as well. The salary is quite low, but Bhabhi, it is enough for my poor, innocent girl…Well! You are right, but you know her baba does not allow her to work outside the house. We are not modern like Bano Baji to allow the girl to do an office job all alone.”
“Hahaha…That’s true. That family is a pinnacle of shame. I heard about how Bano’s only daughter brought shame to her and her husband by demanding to live with them after marriage. I mean, that is against our tradition and culture. And what are we without our roots? Now, she says shamelessly, ” I cannot leave my parents alone.” You tell me Bhabhi, do we not love our parents? Did our hearts not sink when we bade goodbyes to our parents at our weddings? Do we still not feel empty? We do! The only difference is of Tarbiyat. We learned what our parents taught us. We were so well brought up that we agreed to marry as per our parents’ wishes and traditions.”
“Yeah, you are right. What a disgrace! Maybe it was Bano’s idea?”
“No…Bhabhi! I heard that the daughter asked Bano tos tay quiet on the matter, and Bano eventually agreed. Now, you tell me, my girl is also an only daughter, but I will not let her stay with me after marriage even if she insists. I mean how will I face the world?”
“But nobody is as mature as Saba.”
“Alhamdulillah! My Saba has never disobeyed me, NEVER. The day before yesterday, she went to Bano Baji’s house. Oh yes… Actually, she was feeling bored, so I asked her to visit them. The poor child had to go alone. No. no.no. Please do not be angry. I asked her to visit you, but she said that she was at your place last week. You know the little girl wants to live her life as her heart wishes.”
“And yes, as I was telling, Saba went to visit them, and you will not believe that she was met with utter hostility. Did I not use to say that their house is cursed? One affliction after another. Again, we sinners are not judging other sinners, but the Maul was telling us that a curse of this magnitude attacks those people who are too sinful. Those who have committed major sins. Astaghfirullah…”
“Yeah..that makes sense. I mean, look at us, we pray five times a day, recite the Holy Quran daily, and host religious gatherings, and we stay fine. Allah’s blessings shine upon us. And they, God forbid me for saying, but that family has never hosted a small Maillad. I believe it is Bano’s fault. She is the woman of the house and clearly has failed… Anyways, to hell with them and their sins. You tell me, what did Bano do this time?”
“No, no. Bano Baji did nothing. Her daughter Nida humiliated my child. Saba cried a lot, and she is still unwell. Saba asked Nida to share her plans regarding marriage and told her that what she plans to do is very wrong, and you tell me, Bhabhi, what is wrong with it? Tell me, Bhabhi?”
“I see nothing wrong here.”
“I know, but Nida got angry, fabricated some stories about how staying with parents after marriage is a virtue, and when Saba argued, Nida snubbed her immediately. My poor child!”
“Hmm.”
“Saba meant well, right?”
“Hmm.”
“And you know Bano Baji was preparing soup for her husband. Yet, she could have asked Nida to shut her mouth and respect the guest. But what can we say… Nida was also telling me that Nida has started to work again, and she congratulated Nida too. And when my Saba asked about her salary, Nida did not answer. I don’t know why people try to be so secretive. We never hide things from our relatives.
“Oh okay, how much is she earning?”
“She must be getting a lot, I presume from her lifestyle. She could have told my Saba so that my daughter may learn a thing or two from her. Alas! These shallow, shameless, and proud people forget that the easiest way to Allah is by helping His creatures. Yet they turn their faces, and when calamity hits, they cry, “Why us, God?” Only if they look into their own souls!
“Yeah, right.”
“Do tell what your children are doing? Yes. Yes. Saba will come for sure; but I will not. I am sorry, but I have to go to the market. No, no, she will be coming alone … The times are challenging, and we can trust no one. So I was wondering if Ehsaan can come to pick her up? Her brother will be sleeping at that time; otherwise, I would have asked him. You know his head hurts when he doesn’t get a good sleep.”
“Hmm. I will ask Fasih to come pick her up. She will be comfortable sitting on the bike with him, right?”
“Yes… why would she be not? Fasih is her cousin, and she can do whatever she wants to do…Bhabhi, the doorbell just rang, and I think Saba’s papa has come. I will call you later. Take care, Allah Hafiz!”
