The earth beneath her feet slipped when she was told she needed 2000 Rupees for abortion. Although it may not be that much of money for a regular person, for Shabo it was unimaginable to afford that amount. She told the lady she could not afford the money. The lady finally agreed to have it done in 1200 Rupees--- no less and no more.
When she came out of the facility, she walked back home. On the way, she got tired and tried to rest under a tree on the bank of the road. A black Mercedes stopped near her, and from it came out a lady in her late thirties. She asked Shabo, “Why are you sitting here?” She also noticed that Shabo’s lips were so dry they almost cracked. Shabo told her she was just resting as she was tired. The lady offered a ride, Shabo refused since she feared people would see her and might ask her where she had gone. Somehow the lady took pity on Shabo and told her, ok, tell me what do you want and I will give you. Shabo wanted to say 1200 Rupees but was too shy to utter the words. She wondered she might get slapped for making such an unreasonable demand. But the lady reassured her, “Go on, tell me what do you want?” Shabo told her, “I need 1200 Rupees, and I need it very urgently.” The lady got back into her car, took out her wallet and gave Shabo three notes of 500 each. “Here, take this, but listen, I want you to do something in return. Do you agree?” “Yes, yes, yes, madam, I agree, I agree with my life even,” said an embarrassed and happy Shabo.
“OK, dear, I want you to pray for me. I do not have any child. I have a health problem, and I have lost several pregnancies. I just came to know I am pregnant again, but I urge you to pray that this pregnancy lasts. Will you please pray for me?”
Shabo was a bit flabbergasted. She received the money in return for her agreeing to pray for a child and with the same money she would slay the one in her own womb! She was speechless, yet she was able to quickly regain her composure and said, “yes madam, sure, I will do. Inshallah, this pregnancy will last and you will have a beautiful child.
The earth beneath her feet slipped when she was told she needed 2000 Rupees for abortion. Although it may not be that much of money for a regular person, for Shabo it was unimaginable to afford that amount. She told the lady she could not afford the money. The lady finally agreed to have it done in 1200 Rupees--- no less and no more.
When she came out of the facility, she walked back home. On the way, she got tired and tried to rest under a tree on the bank of the road. A black Mercedes stopped near her, and from it came out a lady in her late thirties. She asked Shabo, “Why are you sitting here?” She also noticed that Shabo’s lips were so dry they almost cracked. Shabo told her she was just resting as she was tired. The lady offered a ride, Shabo refused since she feared people would see her and might ask her where she had gone. Somehow the lady took pity on Shabo and told her, ok, tell me what do you want and I will give you. Shabo wanted to say 1200 Rupees but was too shy to utter the words. She wondered she might get slapped for making such an unreasonable demand. But the lady reassured her, “Go on, tell me what do you want?” Shabo told her, “I need 1200 Rupees, and I need it very urgently.” The lady got back into her car, took out her wallet and gave Shabo three notes of 500 each. “Here, take this, but listen, I want you to do something in return. Do you agree?” “Yes, yes, yes, madam, I agree, I agree with my life even,” said an embarrassed and happy Shabo.
“OK, dear, I want you to pray for me. I do not have any child. I have a health problem, and I have lost several pregnancies. I just came to know I am pregnant again, but I urge you to pray that this pregnancy lasts. Will you please pray for me?”
Shabo was a bit flabbergasted. She received the money in return for her agreeing to pray for a child and with the same money she would slay the one in her own womb! She was speechless, yet she was able to quickly regain her composure and said, “yes madam, sure, I will do. Inshallah, this pregnancy will last and you will have a beautiful child.