Short Story Corner

The girl who looked like a bear (4)

We need to acknowledge the elephant in the room. Muslims have fallen from grace. Culture has hijacked our religion. It has left us in anxiety and panic. When people become absolute that's the moment when pride and devil takes over. 

They automatically stride away from right and path of Allah. Then we have the audacity to complain that Allah has left us. No Allah has not left us. We have taken seat to be Lord of people's life. We are interfering into super natural and lives of His beloved creations.

The act of oppression and un-fairness are never okay. We normalize saying life is unfair get used to it but thats not the answer. If you can not be nice don't be the person that brings halt to someone's life.

In the midst of divorce and custody case, Alia went to market one day. She came back home only to find her son in the hands of her husband. All of Alia's things were packed. Alia turned towards her mother. Father turned his face from her and her mother yelled at her.

'Just shut up and leave. We are getting degraded because of you.'

'But don't you remember he raised his hand on me.'

'Oh stop making such a big show, its just a slap.'

It was not just a slap. It was a whole planned series of acts of cruelty. People love the idea of independent women. Yet they never praise them for being themselves. Girls are treated to be nimble where they should be headstrong. Alia took hand of Mehmet and locked herself in room.

After it she dialed 15. Her husband was beating on door with her mother cussing her. She held onto Mehmet. As mother it was her duty to do right and choose right living conditions for herself and her son. The police arrived and shifted her to a safe place while arresting her husband.

Kashana was a orphanage. Alia put Mehmet to sleep and arranged her stuff. The infrastructure was decent yet irony of fate was heart breaking. She never thought to be standing in a place like this. It was moment when her mind whispered, 'What if?'

Alia quickly recited astagfar and moved on. Trials and tribulations are a part of life. We get tested. The point is to stay strong and pushing towards what's right without giving up while ignoring these whispers of devil. Compromising yourself into wrong is also ungratefulness.

She has done everything in her power to stay and make things work. It was society as collective which failed her. All the naysayers can go to hell; because she has a right of safety while her child has a right to get education and grow up well. 

Now was the time to get things together and move towards quality of life. Her husband assault was reported by police as attempt to kidnap the minor and harass his mother. He would be staying behind bars for sometime. It was a relief.

Yet the tough emotions and trauma that event left on Alia it lingered. Wounds particularly that were there because of emotional turmoil take a long time to heal. They bleed wordless and endlessly. She felt honor less but women around her reminded her it was Allah who has power.

It the pain you can not talk about to many. Not in Pakistan where you get tutored for even giving your opinion. Acceptance is key which is rare. We are forced to bow down in-front of culture. What is culture? Good decisions of elders and bad decisions of elders-a form of peer pressure from generations.

She found peace in Kashana. There were separate sections for everyone. The little children, old people and the married women. There were 12 other women with a manager named Ayesha residing with her in married women section. They took care of food and clothing for Alia.

There was peace; no banging doors, no whispers behind her back and no rage, just acceptance. Everyone there had a story somewhat similar to each other so everyone understood each other. They never shamed her for talking about it. They encouraged her to get financial independence out of baking.

Alia started slowly started applying for jobs. Ayesha connected her to Al-Khidmat foundation with her reference. She started as project manager. This shifted her life. In the meanwhile the case of divorce and custody settled. They surrendered everything to save her husband.

'We have nothing to do with a shameless woman like you. You will see when world bite you in foot. Don't come crawling to us!'

Families are essential part of everyone's life. We form our identity in these people. We grow up and spend our lives in them. Yet conformity and comfort should not be traded for peace. Do invest in families but when they draw you away from yourself and what Allah said set boundaries with silence.

Alia threw away her sim card. She has come to a point where she was indifferent. She was suffering for long and things have to shift. She was mindful and grateful; seeking possibilities. She placed her heart into creating her work and started blooming not forgetting Mehmet.

Mehmet was 5. They placed him in a school. Alia purposely chose Kashana to stay in regardless of being able. It was safer than many places. This place provided meaning and value to grow out of adversity. After the way their blood relations abandoned them she wanted Mehmet to grow up in the joy of community support. 

 Alia taught Mehmet the basics in educational terms. At the same time she made sure the boy saw her being good. She wanted her boy to have the sensitivity of never hurting a fly. At the same time she made sure he saw her being brave where needed. 

The greatest service a person can do is to stand in their trust and to live a life utilizing their best capacities for good. One should live a life aligning with themselves and what Allah has subjected us to be not what people dictate us. Right will come to be with you but point is to keep trying.

This is where soft life starts, a life of class, empowerment and blessings. It is the place where so surrender to Allah and believe while doing your best. In these times of fitnah there is little or no khair present. We have to make effort to guard ourselves and our iman. Focus should be Allah.

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To be continued!