Consent

Jameela was brave and intelligent by birth. She always stood for the right. She always regretted that she could not get facilities and privileges as her brothers have. She often was scolded by her mother Fatima for this tenacity.

Fatima – ‘See we are women. We have been bestowed with the responsibility of nurturing home. That’s why the men have been given status and facilities different than women.’

Jameela – ‘I live to change this mind-set. I don’t want to wear ‘Burka’ to go out after marriage.’

Fatima – ‘There is no harm in wearing ‘Burka’.

Jameela – ‘There is absolutely no harm. Everyone is free to wear clothing of her choice. But I find it restrictive.’

Fatima – ‘What would you do if your husband tells you to wear it?

Jameela – ‘I won’t marry a guy who forces me to do that’.

Fatima – ‘Let’s see, big mouth’.

Jameela –‘Ok! Let me go, it’s time for college.’

Fatima –‘Ok, go’

Shamira lives close to her house. They both study in the first year of LLB in Abdul Kalaam University. It was just the third day of the college and people were trying to make friends with each other. Someone glances on someone and that someone was casting a furtive glance on somebody else. But then one sight always followed Jameela wherever she went. A guy named Malik Noor Muhammed, son of the renowned builder of the town. The abundance of wealth has brought an expensive lifestyle along. Bringing Audi to the college and parking right beside the Director’s car and not giving importance to anyone around. He was always being noticed by a few. Booze, smoke and foul language were a part of him. Complex and stubborn but was good in judging the characters of people, Shrewd by nature. Everyone was ready to mingle with him to enjoy his company. But he was mesmerized by Jameela.

His friends would tease and tell him- ‘Where are you lost sir’, and he would just laugh off and brush the talk aside. 

Rohit, Rehmat, Jubin, and Ayesha were his good friends now; all will stroll around the whole city along with him. One day he was smoking outside the college, he noticed that Jameela is smoking there too. Malik got down from his car and straight away went to Jameela and told- ‘Oh wow! Madam is having a puff today.’

Jameela raised her right eyebrow and told – ‘Why dude, a girl can’t smoke? Has it been labeled as ‘only for boys’?

Malik – ‘I did not say that girls can’t smoke. I am only asking that what made you smoke today?’

Jameela – ‘Go away! The professor has blown my brains out already, now you don’t start.’

Malik (laughingly) – ‘Oh man! You are upset because of the professor’s scolding.’

Jameela – ‘Like you, I don’t have a group of attendants moving around me who will tend to cater to my needs and do my homework.’ 

Malik – ‘Chill Dear! All Hail to the Lord for bestowing wisdom and skills on his messenger called Malik.’

Jameela spoke with a smile – ‘Oh wow! You can speak the dialogues very well,’

Malik – ‘Aren’t you in a good mood now!’ He stretched his hands and told- ‘Friends?’

Jameela shook hands – ‘Friends’

Rohit came running and told – ‘Oh good! Malik bro has finally made her friend at last.’

Malik – ‘Are you jealous?’

Jameela interrupted in between and told – ‘Oh Rohit! Malik is just a friend but you are my best friend.’

Malik felt bad but somehow he calmed himself and sat back in the car.

This time he took out a big cigar and tried to light it many times with his lighter but couldn’t light it up.

Ayesha lit the cigar with her lighter. Malik mumbled ‘Dogs!’

Ayesha – ‘What man! There are so many girls after you in college and you are behind this girl in the class.’

Malik –‘You mind your own business.’

Ayesha – ‘Oh oho! My poor child is heartbroken!’

Malik snapped his finger and told –‘Go away you freak! Run or else I will break your jaw.’

Ayesha – ‘Listen, I will talk to her about you. At least I can do this much for my buddy!’

Malik’s face was slightly lit with a pleasing smile.

Ayesha – ‘Don’t be overjoyed. I will take a treat to hook you up with her.’

Malik –‘Ok, ok, done.’

Next Day

Ayesha sat down on Jameela’s seat and told Shamaira to sit behind. Jameela was surprised to see this.

‘How come you are here?’

‘I have come only for two minutes. Fifteen minutes still left to start the class.’

‘Tell me’

Ayesha – ‘I saw you with Malik yesterday.’

Jameela – ‘So?’

Ayesha – ‘So? Are you nuts? So many girls in the college are crazy behind him. Do you have any idea?’

Jameela – ‘Why are you recommending him? Did he send you? Why don’t you yourself get hooked up with him?’

Ayesha – ‘He didn’t send me. I would have been happy being hooked up with him, but that bugger is crazy for you.’

Jameela – ‘So what? I like Rohit.’

Ayesha – ‘Rohit is also his follower. What is so great about Rohit? Scored 90% in 10th once and plays a little cricket, that’s all.’ Moreover, he is not of the same religion. You will face difficulty in getting married to him also. If I were at your place, I would have gone for Malik. He is a good guy, I don’t want to preach, and you yourself are quite smart.’

Jameela didn’t say anything and Ayesha got up and left. With time Rohit slowly started to make exit from Jamila’s life. On the other hand, Malik continued to come closer. At the end of the third year, Jameela and Malik announced to stay together and everyone in the college knew about them. Shamira and Rehmat also started liking each other.

After one year

‘I cannot let you marry that girl’ Jainab (Malik’s Mother/ Ammy) told him.

Malik – ‘Why Ammy?’

Jainab – ‘I don’t want a girl who drinks and smokes and doesn’t wear a ‘Burka’. We have certain rules and regulations at home. She has to follow them.’

Malik – ‘Please Ammy! None of the regulations can be bigger than your own son’s happiness. The world is changing; each individual deserves a little freedom, or else will feel suffocated.’

Jainab – ‘A girl, who manipulates you from now on, Will mold you in the ways of her liking.’

Malik – ‘Please Ammy, agree now for your son’s sake, don’t I always listen to you!’

Jainab –‘Ok, ok, Stop flattery. Tell her that if she has to go to any function she will have to wear; Burka’. Other than that she is free to wear whatever she likes. I will not bend the rules beyond this.’

Malik that his work will be done, after the tussle of the first meet, he could see a ray of hope.

Next Day

Malik –‘Oh my beloved! Why you look so down? How long will you be upset? I have good news for you.’

Jameela – ‘If I had known I will have to deal with such people, I wouldn’t have fallen in love with you. I invested so much on this relationship; I have given four years, full four years. Understood! I would have many other things within this span of time.’

Malik – ‘Don’t say like this Jameela, My love for you is great. The whole college knows. I refused so many for you and never betrayed your trust.’

Shamaira – ‘Stop this drama! Why don’t you tell Malik, what is the good news?’

Jameela – ‘Shut up Shamira! This all is drama for you? My life is at stake.’

Shamaira held her head in her hands.

Malik –‘You saw Shamaira, my madam is too furious.’

Ayesha – ‘You are not telling anything too.’

Malik – ‘Ammy said, Jameela is free to wear whatever she likes inside the house but while going out to functions she will have to wear ‘ Burka’ ’

Jameela – ‘You know very well that I won’t do so. I did law so that I could fight for the fundamental rights of the people.

Malik – ‘Please agree Jameela’, Malik embraced Jameela.

Jameela’s heart shattered. She felt that something very precious is going to be lost forever. A person whose love for you finds no boundaries is difficult to find. She lost him, she started to weep. Malik wiped her tears and was going to kiss her forehead, Jameela pushed him back. Malik was baffled and asked – ‘What now?’

Jameela- ‘I can’t marry you.’

Malik – ‘Why?’

Jameela- ‘I just can’t’

Malik called Jamila’s mother Fatima - “Aunty, I spoke to my mother, she told that Jamila will wear ‘ Burka” in the functions held at home and outside, rest all the days she can wear whatever she likes.

Fatima - ‘It is right in a way.’

Malik – ‘But our madam is still unmoved.’

Fatima – ‘Why? Give her the phone,’

Malik passed the phone to Jameela.

Fatima –‘What is the problem Jameela?’

Jameela – ‘Mother, you know that I will not marry in such family. I studied law so that I can protect the people from these social deformities and fight for their rights.’

Fatima – ‘Yes, yes but the relationship is laid on mutual understanding. Each step taken by both of you will bring you close to each other.’

Jameela –‘God Ammy! It was not expected of you. She will restrict my clothing first, then she will say why to do a job, then take care of the household and then to play cards with her in the kitty party and at last, I will be asked what have I done throughout my life. You know very well Ammy what change I want to bring and what am living for.’

Fatima – ‘Do whatever you want; anyways you will never listen to me.’

Malik snatched the phone from her hand and disconnected and told – ‘Not a word against my Ammy. Have I ever spoken ill against your mother? You might not agree with her but don’t insult her.’

Shamaira – ‘Malik, no means no.’

Malik – ‘I want to hear it from Jameela.’

Jameela – ‘No’

Malik’s eyes got wider. His soul shattered. He could feel anger, pride and hearted all emotions simultaneously. He was heartbroken and left from there. Jameela lost her balance and fell down. She started crying bitterly and inconsolably.