Transition

Transition

13 mins
344


Why do we make decisions fully aware of the grave consequences that they may have? Why and when does one make the transition from human to the beast? 


This is the sordid story of Salim, Salma, and their family.


They are married for more than twenty-five years now and despite the apparent lack of wealth, they produced eight children, four boys, and four girls. Salim ran a grocery shop in the old part of the city and was barely able to manage the expenses required to be met. They all lived in an old and dilapidated building where the accommodation and utilities were shared amongst at least ten families. The children grew up in the squalor and filth of the surroundings and went to study in a community school nearby. 


Religion and faith were virtues that were integral to the community and to the family. Salim and family followed tradition with great fervour and passion. It was Salim’s earnest desire to make the ultimate trip to Mecca, the Haj pilgrimage when he fulfilled all his family responsibilities. Salma was a devout wife and managed home and children with great efficiency.


Rehana was the third child in the family and was eighteen years old. She went to college to study Arts. After graduation, she intended to take up a job to supplement her father’s income and to save up for her marriage. Though not brilliant, she did manage to pass in her examinations. There was no pressure from her family to excel in studies. She lived up to the expectations of her parents and learnt the art of running home. Her mother was happy with the assistance she got from Rehana and her daughter’s docile and obedient nature. Rehana was adept in stitching and even managed to earn small money by stitching clothes in the neighborhood.


Salim ran the business honestly and resisted the temptation to adulterate food supplies like most other shop keepers. This earned him a good reputation and he had a regular clientele. He took an active interest in community functions and was generally known in and around the neighbourhood as a very helpful person, as he would always heed to any call for assistance. Though a staunch Muslim, he harboured no ill feelings for other religions. Being in business, he had to deal with many customers and traders from other communities and he never had any trouble with them, ever. He had quite a few friends in the neighborhood from other communities including some long and cordial relationships. 


It was customary for girls to be married as soon as they grew up into women. Salim and Salma were conscious that Rehana, their first daughter, had attained that age and were painfully aware of the burden they carried and the expense that was required for the marriage. Salim had been putting away small amounts from his income for the marriage and Salma, like all mothers, was forever accumulating things they would have to give away in the marriage.


Marriages are not made in heaven, and parents had to work a lot to get a suitable match. First came the family. It was the parent’s responsibility to ensure a good, religious, progressive families for their daughters. The selection of the boy for marriage was another challenge. The boy had to be fit physically without any disease or defect. Secondly, he had either to be reasonably educated to find a stable job or be in some good business. Young Muslim boys these days were prone to go adrift and join fanatic groups, misled by religious bigots. There was big and easy money in such activities, but lives hung on a thread. As parents, Salim and Salma were, therefore, determined to exercise due care and diligence in verifying the credentials of every prospective match for Rehana.


Rehana’s marriage was critical to the parents for another reason. Being their first daughter, Rehana’s marriage could well determine the fate of other daughters, and this made the task more onerous for the parents. Anything going wrong with Rehana’s marriage would definitely affect the marriage prospects of their younger daughters. So they were determined to ensure that nothing went wrong.


The trouble was, where could one find boys meeting all these essential parameters? One had to cast the net far and wide, use every available channel and contact to shortlist such boys. The problem then would be meeting demands and matching expectations. The means being limited, the search would have to be narrowed down to fit their budget. All this meant sleepless nights for the parents.


Rehana was quite aware of her parents’ dilemma. She would be under thorough scrutiny, her background and activities would be thoroughly cross-checked, she would be constantly paraded and cross-examined by strangers. And at the end of it all, she would face possible ignominy of being rejected a dozen times till someone who considered her fit would stamp his assent. All this, least to say, was revolting. But this is how it would be, and this is how it had been.


There are so many significant “unknowns” in our lives that could make or mar our destinies. All of us dream for ourselves and dream of living a life that would move in the direction in which we intend to drive it. But more often we find ourselves taking decisions we never thought we would make.


Rehana put her parents exactly in one such situation. She fell in love with a boy, quite unknown to her parents. One may criticize her decision to fall in love, particularly so when she was fully aware of the consequences such an act could bring in its wake. There were no compelling reasons for her to fall in love with anybody. She had no reason to mistrust her parents, have misapprehension whether they would protect her interests and integrity whilst arranging an alliance for her. She had absolutely no reason to fear that she would be forced into a marriage against her wishes. Her parents were doing their very best and within their means, she did not doubt all that.


Then why did Rehana have to fall in love at this stage; that too with a boy from out of their community? We would have empathized with her had her love been for a boy of her own religion. Strange are the ways of love, which, as we have seen time and again, is blind to vision and reason. There is no way in which such situations could be explained.

Rehana, surely, must have dreaded love and the consequences of her actions. She would have definitely spent sleepless nights thinking about it, before taking the bold but dreadful decision to announce her affections for the boy to her family. An announcement that would change things for her and her family in a manner which no one could foresee or dream of.


The first reaction was that of shock and utter disbelief. Salim and Salma were struck speechless. This could not be true, they told themselves. Rehana could never dream of doing this. There were tears all around as Salim requested Salma to explain what she was saying in greater details.


Rehana burst out with her tale, packing it with sentiments she was sure would win her parents over to her side. She had met this boy at the college and there was nothing between them. The boy, it seemed, had some sort of crush on her which he was too shy to profess. However, by strange and unplanned coincidences their acquaintance had grown into friendship until she started developing unexplained emotions for him. Even then she had never dreamt of marriage or any long-lasting relationship with the boy. Then one day, not very long ago, he had proposed to her seriously enough to merit her attention. She had worried, fretted and consumed days and days of thought on the proposal. She had listed mentally every single concern her family and community would voice and then let the Almighty Allah decide and guide her.


Meanwhile, the boy had sorted things with his family who finally got around to the fact that their son was serious and would go ahead even without their approval. They demanded an appointment with the girl and her parents. Rehana had met them and her charming looks and simple manner won their grudging approval. They now wanted to see her parents and get their sanction. They made it clear that the marriage would happen only with their approval.


Rehana, therefore, was forced to play her hand and tell her parents about the boy. She now sought her parents’ assistance and support for the marriage. The boy was good and she was convinced that he would take good care of her. His parents were nice people and would assist her in making the required adjustments in life. It was all very workable, provided her parents approved.


If Rehana thought that she had it all well covered and planned, and had made the best possible emotional pitch to her family, she was wrong. She could not have bargained the wrath that descended upon her. The parents were outraged that she had the courage to decide on their behalf. How could she dare to believe that she had done the right thing for the family? She had betrayed their trust and love in a manner which they could never ever imagine. There was no way she could get their consent and she would never ever be allowed to do anything which would bring disrepute and dishonour to their community and family. Rehana wanted to explain but they would not listen to her. Rehana was convinced that her love would never harm her family, but the family was equally strongly convinced that it would.


The discussions had reached a dead end and Rehana was now feeling helplessness. Did she want to continue her action and take it to its logical or illogical end? Was she prepared to lose family, community and relations for the boy? Was her love so strong or so adamant that it would have its way whatever the consequences are?


Rehana discussed all this with the boy’s family. The boy’s parents were prepared to meet her parents and talk some sense with them, but the question was, would they be allowed? Finally, at the risk of being humiliated and rejected, the boy’s parents sought an audience with Rehana’s family. Salim, not knowing who they were, and out of sheer courtesy allowed them into his house. The meeting ended without results, with the boy’s parents regretting they came there. 


Two days later, Rehana married the boy she loved. There was strategic thinking in her camp that once the marriage was solemnized, the parents would reconcile to it and there would be a passive acceptance. She knew her parents, how much they loved her. They may never forgive her for what she had done, but would certainly bless the marriage for her own sake. She remembered how her father would worry when she was ill. How her mother would sit by her bedside and ensure she took all medications. She remembered how her mother fought with her father to allow her to go for higher studies. How she would give her money for movies or dresses. Tears came to her eyes as she felt guilty of hurting such loving parents. But what could she do? Her love for the boy was far too greater than anything else in the world. Something she could never bring upon to sacrifice. She prayed for their forgiveness and hoped that time would heal the wounds.


Salim and Salma could not understand all that was happening to them. They had never harmed a soul, had sacrificed all for their children, gave them all love and affection in abundance. How then could Rehana even think of doing such a thing? Was there something they missed giving her? Reason would certainly dawn upon Rehana, they consoled themselves. She will realize her mistake and give up her demand. Love for her parents was certainly stronger than the newfound love for the boy. At least she could have loved someone within the community.


They could have forgiven her and accepted the boy. How could they ever face the community? They would never be allowed to live here amongst their own people. The business would be destroyed. And the other girls? Who would marry them, with such a stigma? Everything they assiduously built over their lifetime would be razed to dust. Rehana was too simple to understand all this. The boy and her parents had conspired to brainwash her into the marriage, for reasons best known to them. There was still time to stop this madness. They would reason with Rehana and call elders to talk to her. 


Rehana failed to come home that day. Her parents and family did not sleep through the night. They feared the worst and were preparing to take on the boy the next morning. They needed to be taught a lesson, though Salim and Salma were not violent types. They would seek help from relatives and friends to close the chapter once and for all. Salim was under the influence of fury, so intense that it pervaded his entire being. Rehana had stepped beyond limits he could ever imagine. She had no love left for her parents or family. Family honour did not matter to her anymore. She did not care for her brothers and sisters. So brazen had she become that she did not return home at night. He would teach her a lesson she would never forget. 


Just as Salim was struggling to control his beastly emotions, Rehana walked in. She had married the boy and the marriage has been consummated the previous night. She had come to seek their blessings. She had come alone in one final attempt to convince her family.


The stage was set for the ultimate showdown. Here was Rehana, who had done the unthinkable, facing her family. And there stood Salim and Salma with their hopes dashed, all lost, honour, existence-nothing but a disgrace to live the rest of their lives. They could not believe Rehana could be so brazen as to stand before them, the vermillion mark smeared bright on her forehead, challenging them to accept the despicable deed with grace and forgive her. Anything could have happened then. Salma fell down with a thud in a swoon.


Salim, blood boiling all over, grabbed Rehana and trashed her at will. The other children, bewildered, rushed to attend their mother. Meanwhile, Salim was abusing Rehana in the foulest of language-words that hitherto he was incapable of uttering rushing forth from the deep recesses of wherever they were. 


Rehana was helpless and defenceless. By now her mother had revived and joined her spouse in the barrage of abuses. The brothers and sisters were not far behind. Everyone against Rehana.


Soon, Salim dragged Rehana into a room and threw her on the bed. He was in a frenzy and was shouting at others to teach the whore a lesson. What lesson was befitting of the occasion-he asked? Kill her was the reply in unison, and whether they literally meant it, no one was sure. The family had turned into a pack of beasts which had closed in on their prey. Rehana was crying for mercy, she would give up the boy, return home, no one would know what happened. But it was all too late.


One of her sisters grabbed a pillow to stifle her. Others grabbed her arms and legs to hold her still. The pillow was strangulating her and Rehana found it difficult to breathe. In a short while, it was all over, and the lifeless body of Rehana lay on the bed. There was a deathly silence in the house as the realization of the foul deed sunk into each one of the surviving family members.


Salim was the first to recover. They had meted out the punishment and now they had another job to do. He quickly sent one of his sons to the shop to fetch some gunny bags, large ones. Rushing into the kitchen, he grabbed a few knives, used for cutting meat. Without a word he handed the knives around, keeping one with himself. He then began the task of dismembering Rehana into pieces which could fit into the gunny bags. Others followed suit, understanding what he was doing without a word being said. It was not an easy task and took them hours to finish. By then, everything was bloodied, their clothes, the bed, the walls, the floor. The parts filled up three bags.


It was late in the night when Salim and his sons dumped the bags and returned. Salma and daughters were busy cleaning up. They had almost finished the job and were washing clothes. No one was in a mood to talk about what would happen tomorrow.


A murder most foul had just been accomplished. No one was regretting Rehana’s death. This simple family had somehow managed the transition from human beings to beasts.



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