Completely lost she still lay in her bed when her mother entered the room. Her mother asked her to get dressed and be ready to meet Masooma auntie. Sadia knew what it was all about, yet she asked. “Meet her for what? I am so tired. I want to sleep.” Mom told her Masooma auntie had come to ask her hand in marriage. This was not the first time someone has come for a proposal. Every now and then Sadia would get these proposals. And what is interesting was the fact that Sadia’s mom welcomed everyone, served them well during the stay and at the end always asks them for some time to think. Later, however, she always said no in a polite way. “Her dad wants her to finish her studies before her engagement or marriage.” She would tell the family on phone.
This time round it appeared a bit different. Mom never asked Sadia to dress well or even come before the families that had come with a proposal. Sadia was scared when mom told her she should wear a new suit, even specifying which one exactly, and that she should sit with Masooma auntie, and even talk politely. Sadia did not have the courage to ask mom if she was seriously considering this relation for her. She was very scared by smell of it. She wondered how she would ever say no if the family decided on a yes.
Sadia wore her green tunic, which her uncle bought for her in Italy, a few months back, and which she never thought she would ever wear, since she was the kind of girls who preferred to dress traditionally, albeit expensively, and mostly wore loose shalwar qameez. Probably mom did not want Masooma to reaffirm the conclusion of the rest of the family about Sadia who thought she was too mundane. Sadia looked unusually pretty in her green tunic and blue jeans. She did, however, feel a little shy when she sat in front of Masooma auntie. In fact, she felt as if she was a sort of display item, made more attractive by finishing for a prospective buyer.
Masooma auntie was not a bad person. She was a school principal, and her husband, Sajjawal uncle, was an architect. They had lived about 15 years in Norway and probably that was why they were visibly more liberal and sort of open minded. Masooma auntie asked about Sadia’s study and her routine. She was pleased to know Sadia was doing very good in the class and appreciated her performance. She then started telling her about the luxurious life that they were living. Sadia knew by no means Masooma auntie’s lifestyle was more luxurious than her, even not close, yet she had to smile and, sometimes express through her facial expression some amazement at things like her son driving a BMW and uncle buying a new villa for him.
When Masooma auntie left, Sadia was filled with nervousness. She did not know if mom had already said yes, or given some hope to her for the proposal. She however still lacked the nerve to ask.
Completely lost she still lay in her bed when her mother entered the room. Her mother asked her to get dressed and be ready to meet Masooma auntie. Sadia knew what it was all about, yet she asked. “Meet her for what? I am so tired. I want to sleep.” Mom told her Masooma auntie had come to ask her hand in marriage. This was not the first time someone has come for a proposal. Every now and then Sadia would get these proposals. And what is interesting was the fact that Sadia’s mom welcomed everyone, served them well during the stay and at the end always asks them for some time to think. Later, however, she always said no in a polite way. “Her dad wants her to finish her studies before her engagement or marriage.” She would tell the family on phone.
This time round it appeared a bit different. Mom never asked Sadia to dress well or even come before the families that had come with a proposal. Sadia was scared when mom told her she should wear a new suit, even specifying which one exactly, and that she should sit with Masooma auntie, and even talk politely. Sadia did not have the courage to ask mom if she was seriously considering this relation for her. She was very scared by smell of it. She wondered how she would ever say no if the family decided on a yes.
Sadia wore her green tunic, which her uncle bought for her in Italy, a few months back, and which she never thought she would ever wear, since she was the kind of girls who preferred to dress traditionally, albeit expensively, and mostly wore loose shalwar qameez. Probably mom did not want Masooma to reaffirm the conclusion of the rest of the family about Sadia who thought she was too mundane. Sadia looked unusually pretty in her green tunic and blue jeans. She did, however, feel a little shy when she sat in front of Masooma auntie. In fact, she felt as if she was a sort of display item, made more attractive by finishing for a prospective buyer.
Masooma auntie was not a bad person. She was a school principal, and her husband, Sajjawal uncle, was an architect. They had lived about 15 years in Norway and probably that was why they were visibly more liberal and sort of open minded. Masooma auntie asked about Sadia’s study and her routine. She was pleased to know Sadia was doing very good in the class and appreciated her performance. She then started telling her about the luxurious life that they were living. Sadia knew by no means Masooma auntie’s lifestyle was more luxurious than her, even not close, yet she had to smile and, sometimes express through her facial expression some amazement at things like her son driving a BMW and uncle buying a new villa for him.
When Masooma auntie left, Sadia was filled with nervousness. She did not know if mom had already said yes, or given some hope to her for the proposal. She however still lacked the nerve to ask.