If we look through the condition and mindset of Indian Muslims ,most of them are ruled by two things:what their clerics preach or what they have got in their lineage from Zamindari system .Islam does not talk about appearance or prayer only but gives priority to inner traits based on human psychology.But there is chaos everywhere when it is understood superficially just like it did in Mr.Khan's family .
Sometimes people display themselves sophisticated and advanced by their clothes and living style ,but in reality they are the same caricatures who do not let their mindset to evolve by an influence and Mr.Khan's is like a Speck in the ocean .
Zara and Saad were born in this family where father considered himself as LEADER and his wife and children had to obey him whatever he instructed ,the so called 'patriarchy system 'was at its height .According to him ,the role was designated to him according to Islamic teaching .He was true literally but never understood the meaning of a leader .A leader is someone under whose shadow people feel safe and satiated ,he suffers but not let the people under his guardianship suffer ,he favours but does not boast or to make it a burden for the obliged.But the problem lies in the fact that this position most of the times turns them into a dictator .Mr.Khan is one them ,who considers himself modern religious Muslim but in reality lacks most of those qualities and is ruled by his wits and superficial understanding.
He sent his children to esteemed convent schools of his city but his intentions were like most of the conservative families have ,to boast in the crowd and secondly they should feel obliged to their father for it and repay it back once they do something in career ,and he used to remind this to them atleast once a week ,that they were like burden to him ,so they should be highly grateful .He wanted his children to be at top in initial classes by letting them to mug up the lessons when he used to teach them at home .They did but there was a little understanding of them .He beat them at their minute folly in studies ,so Zara became stern and decided not to recite her lessons before him ;Saad didn't dare to do that resulting a good beating everyday .He was so essentric that at one time he shunned down their t.v. as it would affect his childrens' mind ,on the other hand he sometimes got so addicted to any series that he kept the volume much audible during their exam era .He used to scream loudly at his children or wife at their insignificant mistakes and it didn't bother him whether any body else was present there ,and labelled his doings as 'Training '.The children behaved to him or anybody in polished way and were rewarded the title of best children .Despite having so many qualities ,they felt inferior as he had lowered their self esteem by constant nagging .When children reach the place where there was no trace of their father found ,they felt their lungs free to breathe fully , enjoyed every moment or showed their true capacity .
After completion of secondary studies,Saad went out of the city to study ,however his childhood trauma affected his full being after that also .
Now was left Zara at home ,hue and cry ,constant nagging ,interference at every step ,high expectations on little shoulder ,when divided her into two personalities ,she did not recognise .When she was out of house ,she was gaily ,talkative ,extremely understand ,self disciplined and confident girl.Whenever her parents were around ,she mostly kept quite and her cognitive ability got retarded.Whatever she was told by her parents that how a good girl should be ,she took it as their order and tried to transform herself into that ,no matter how absurd it was .Taking an example ,if a guy eaveteased her in the area near to her home ,she ignored him or she would notice her shortcomings or she would confine herself ,on the other hand if same happened to her at the place which was out of reach of her parents ,she would say a word or two to make him understand .She accepted her meekness before her parents normal .
Zara got a job in an institution .When she stepped into it ,a sudden rush of freshness felt by her,her aura got brighter .The institution was at her favour spot of her city ,far from her locality .The most significant thing was here her parents had not to pay her fees so that she should feel obliged ,she has got the chance to become self dependent and to prove her capabilities which would not be governed by her guardians but self discovered .
Within six months ,she became one of the most responsible and loved employee there .She was concerned for everyone whether it was staff or management ,always tried to sort out problems and differences ,therefore was considered maturer than her age ,many relied on her .
She never boasted about her recognition before anyone specially her parents.Many events took place at her work temple ,other members invited there families or relatives in that but Zara never did that because she believed that seeing her prominent position ,her parents would be thundershocked and addition to that they would become proudy and more boastful and consequently they recognized her as employee of little importance .
Everything was going smoothly ,but nature always wants to divert our attention to that which is not o.k.but is considered as normal ,here was the psychological condition .
The boss of the institution liked her and offered her to be his partner as it would be good for the institution also as well as for them .She told him to let her parents go and talk to her parents ,as they considered 'love marriage ' taboo.From the day ,everything fidgeted in her life .When she was at her work place ,everything appeared as simple and easy ,when she was at her home ,it looked like climbing Mt.Everest without proper training ,their preoccupied mind and conservative thoughts and her image started haunting her.She was again divided as her institution comrades and her boss couldnot imagine her as so weak and childish as she was in her home and her parents couldn't imagine her bold and self dependent face .And first time she questioned herself who she actually was,what her real personality was .Her bubble image of best child ,sister and relative and the lesson she had learnt in her childhood of obeying her parents governed her every aspect .And from the moment apparent transformation started occuring in herself .Her confidence level started declining ,redness of her face turned pale ,clearity of vision turned to confusion .Nobody understood her dilemma ,which resulted her heart go bitter ,the positivity she radiated was diminished .Everything in the atmosphere looked grey and bleared.Her mind felt shrinked ,she started considering herself inappropriate for the job.
She disclosed about her boss's proposal collecting mammoth courage ;the consequence was not unknown to her ,she was blamed to ditch their trust .
She had to leave the job because of so much pressure ,without actually discussing the matter with management .Once she wanted to explain but who in the outer world would believe her .Her irresponsible behavior was considered as rejection of her boss's proposal which shook his ego .Feeling of enmity grew for her at management side and staff members were clueless .
Deep depression took her over and she confined herself in her room at the most she disliked place ,where she could be what she actually was ;a meek ,indesicive school girl who did not have any understanding of outer world so she could not take any decision .
She promised herself that no matter how much time be taken or pain be felt,when she could break this 'cage of image 'at her house ,then only she would play the maturer and truer part of her in the outer world .
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4 comments
Great story! I love your word choice!
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Thank u .....m just a beginner ...miles to go .....
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I like the ending of the story~ 👍😃
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I appreciate your liking
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