DUSK

20 years ago

The sun was setting for the day, and there sat a lady admiring its beauty and downfall. The sun of her youth was setting too for she was 56 at the moment. But it didn’t bother her since she had a husband to spend her life with and four beautiful children to rely on. But she wasn’t aware of what fate had planned for her and what her choices would to.

Back to present

The dark clouds had taken over the sky and perfectly engulfed the town in their melancholic aura. The town looked depressing and wrecked. But it wasn’t just the town but Fatima- now old and widowed, felt the same way. Why wouldn’t she? Her husband had left her four years ago and she had completely cut off two of her daughters from her life and the latter was not one of her best decisions.

Currently, she was surviving with her eldest daughter and her family. ‘Surviving’ is the word used because they did not want her and not only did they not want her, they tortured her for staying, for staying at her OWN DAUGHTER’S HOUSE. It was a complete torment for Fatima to live there. Her daughter didn’t talk to her while her son-in-law loved to degrade her at every opportunity he found. Her two grandchildren- whom she loved with her whole heart and had raised them into the young adults that they were – mocked her every aspect. Her’s was certainly not a happy life. 

Recalling the ridicules and the sneers brought tears to the widow’s eyes. For she had never thought her own blood would treat her so. She remembered how she had always flaunted her daughters in front of her sister who had 4 sons. She was sure that having a daughter would give her a free pass to a peaceful life but she had never been this wrong her whole life.

She pondered and pondered but couldn’t understand why destiny had been so unjust to her. Then she recalled her yearlong stay at her son’s before she moved into her daughter’s. Well, it was no better but at least here grandchildren there didn’t ill-treat her so. She recalled how her eldest daughter had cursed at her brother for the mistreatment of their mother and how she had pretended to be so very virtuous and had brought Fatima home. And that’s where you know it went downhill. She had thought her life would be different here but it was worse.

And so she looked at the sky once again, she had the sudden urge to disappear in the darkness and from this world. But God was unjust, he wouldn’t grant her salvation, she had to keep on living.

An icy, cold wind blew and took the clouds with it. Fatima looked up to see the moon and in that moon she somehow saw her daughters faces – no, not the eldest one but the daughters she had abandoned. Unaware of the smile that had made its way to her lips, she dialed her second elder daughter’s number. She didn’t know why she did this but her heart was heavy and she wanted to be heard.

After a few rings she picked up the call.

“… Maa?” asked a voice but it was met with silence.

“Maa? Are you there? Maa?!”

“Arfa…”

Arfa sighed in relief and longing for it had been years since she had heard her mom take her name. but her moment was disturbed when she heard her mother’s muffling cries from the other end. But before she could say anything, she heard her mother cry out her name repeatedly, making her even more concerned.

“What happened Maa? What is wrong? Did something happen?” queried Arfa.

“They treat me awfully. They hate me and don’t even try to conceal it. I cant live here any longer. Arfa, I feel like dying.” Cried out Fatima.

“WHATT- Is this how they treat you?? Those venomous snakes- Don’t worry Maa, I’ll get you out of there, okay? I’ll send my car tomorrow with the driver and you just have to pack up. Is it alright Maa? Will you be ready?”

But Arfa didn’t get an answer for her mother was deciding on one. Five minutes passed by in silence when her mother finally answered,

“Okay. I’ll be ready.”

Daria Khan