Greetings! Greetings to you! What is all this?
What all? All these things! Mom, it's the groceries.
Where did it come from? You're the one who brought it! Zoya and I put everything away.
We were actually surprised that you bought such expensive items; we thought maybe we were having a party at home. No, no! This isn't ours.
Pack it all back up. It belongs to that Mr Jamal. Honestly, you should have asked first!
Asked what? Like, 'Mom, we don't use such things, is this actually our stuff? ' Mom, you were the one who told us to take the stuff out and put it away, so we did.
You should have still checked! Now, pack it up. Fine, sorry.
We'll put the rest back and pack everything up. Stop using it! Stop all of this and put it back in the shopping bags.
Pack everything quickly! Greetings! Is everything okay?
What made you think of me so early this morning? Greetings to you! You sent your own groceries to my house instead of mine.
You should at least know that much. So what? My kids have already taken out all the groceries and started using them.
I’ve just told them to put everything back in the bags, so if you can send someone to pick this up and drop ours off, please. . Look.
. I know you don’t have a very high opinion of me, but do you really think I’m the kind of person who would just send a driver to pick up the stuff? I mean.
. It doesn't matter if the children used it; they are like my own kids to me. We aren't in the habit of using these things; we are used to our own stuff.
Well, what can we do now? But. .
. change is a good thing. In fact.
. I’m actually using your groceries right now. The quality is honestly great; you were worrying for no reason.
And as for the tea. . Look, this is really inappropriate.
What? All of this. If you aren't sending someone to pick it up, then I’ll come and drop it off myself.
Well, if you promise that you’ll come yourself, then fine. . I’ll wait for you.
You are absolutely. . .
By the way. . .
it felt nice hearing you call me informally. Could you please say that one more time? Hello!
Hello? Mom, we’ve packed all the stuff; what should we do now? I’ll tell you later; for now, you’re getting late for school.
My bus is about to leave, so you all should get going too. Leave it be, we'll finish it once we're back. Why didn't you go to college today?
I wasn't feeling very well; I'm just feeling a bit lazy. Hey! What happened?
No, it’s not a fever, just a little. . .
Yes, your body is cold. How long is this laziness going to last? I don't know.
But don't worry, I'll be fine. No matter how much a child says 'don't worry,' a mother can never truly be at peace. So, just pray; everything will be alright.
Madam, where did Ma'am Anila go? I don't see her anywhere. She has gone to her parents' house.
Is everything alright? She just got back from her home recently, and now she’s gone again. She wasn't feeling well.
And besides, she was getting very disturbed by Zaviyar's crying. In her condition, peace and quiet are essential, which is why I sent her to her parents' house. You’re right; peace is the most important thing in life.
If you had taken my advice, you would have sent Sister Warda back to her in-laws instead of Sister-in-law Anila. Then there would be nothing but peace in your life. Speak softly!
What's wrong with you? Your voice is always booming like a drum. If she hears you again, she will humiliate you.
Even last time, I only stayed quiet because of you. Otherwise, I would have set your daughter straight. You're the one who has spoiled her and filled her head with unnecessary pride; that’s not how homes are built.
Women have to grind and sacrifice in life before they ever get to rule their own kingdom. And she is incredibly lucky to have found such a loving and caring husband. If she had ended up with some hot-headed man instead, he would have made her beg for every penny.
You’re right. But now. .
. what should I do? I’m completely lost.
How can I point out my upset daughter’s mistakes to her? So will you destroy her home just to prove her wrong? And on top of that, you’ve sent the owner.
. the heir of this house away with your daughter-in-law. What will you even gain by raising someone else’s heir?
My concern is only for Anila. He is my only son… and this is his first child. What should I do?
I’ve called twice since this morning. Look, if she isn't feeling well, I’ll go over to her place. And the thing is, you aren't listening to a word I say.
I don't know what world you're living in. Why don't you just send Ma'am Warda back to her in-laws? I’ll figure something out.
May Allah grant guidance. I'm coming! Greetings uncle!
Greetings! I hope I’m not disturbing you? No, no, you could never be a disturbance.
Please, come in. How are you? I'm doing great.
How about you? By the grace of Allah, I'm perfectly fine. How is Aunty?
She's doing great too. Come in, come in. .
. sorry, just a second. Please, have a seat.
Thank you. What can I get for you, Uncle? Nothing for me.
Hey, no, please have something. I was just working at home. There's no one at home but just say the word.
What can I get you? Please. I know no one is home and you're alone; that’s exactly why I came to see you.
I had a conversation with sister Zeba. I won't take much of your time. I just want to talk to you about a few things.
Being the father of a daughter, so. . I feel a bit hesitant speaking about certain matters.
But when the daughter is as beloved and cherished as Daneen, then a father must find the courage to speak plainly and clearly. Uncle, I. .
Subuk You know exactly what I want to talk to you about. What flaw do you see in my daughter that makes you not want her as your life partner? Tell me.
There isn't a single thing wrong with her. Daneen. .
She is perfect. There is no flaw in her. The fault is in me.
I am the one who is lacking. The flaw, the deficiency, is in this house of mine. No, no, dear, there is nothing wrong with you.
If there were, I wouldn't have even let her think about you. I am her father. Uncle, will you come with me for a minute?
Please, I need to show you something. Come in, please. Come on.
There are two bedrooms in our house; this is the first one. This is where both of my sisters stay. Look at this wardrobe, we hang our clothes here, but they often don't fit.
So, we end up piling our things on the bed or wherever we can find space. And look over there, where the door is open that’s the washroom. You probably have a servant's quarter at your place; this washroom is likely even smaller than the one there.
Come on, the tour isn't over yet. Come. This is the second room of our house, the master bedroom.
My mom and I stay here, but I don't actually sleep in here at night. You probably saw that bed set up outside when you were coming in? That’s my bed; that’s where I sleep.
I can't work in here at night because if I do, Mom won't be able to sleep. Come, the kitchen is over here. This is our kitchen, and the terrace is right there.
And this is how it looks after cleaning. This is the stove, sometimes the gas works, sometimes it doesn't, but mostly it doesn't. We've had to tie strings to the cabinets just to keep them shut.
The drainage system is broken; water is constantly leaking here. The drain gets blocked, and when the sink overflows, my sisters and I have to sit right here and clear out the filth with our bare hands. Just imagine Daneen for a second, outside of your house and your kitchen in this kitchen, in this house.
Uncle, you won't even be able to picture it. Do you think I want Daneen to come here and clean up this mess? This is our kitchen, our home, our life, Uncle.
Come. Daneen doesn't see all of this, but I do. Daneen comes to my house and spends time with my sisters; sometimes she even stays the night once or twice.
They all enjoy themselves, but Uncle, there is a world of difference between spending a couple of days somewhere and spending your entire life there. She won't be able to cope; she won't be able to live here. She will become miserable, and when she is distressed, I will be distressed.
My sisters and my mother will be worried too. I’ve shown you, there are only two bedrooms in the house; there isn't a third. I need to get a three-bedroom house, and that is going to take a lot of hard work and a long time.
How can I tie her to me with empty promises? Daneen is your only daughter, and she is so dear to you. She is very dear to me as well.
She has been coming to my house since childhood; I grew up with her. How could I ever wish her harm? Uncle, I.
. I am not a good option for Daneen. I am not a good option for her.
Uncle, there are so many options out there. You'll find plenty. If I were a good match, do you think I'd be crazy enough to let anyone else take my place?
I am. . I am not right for her.
Is there anything else you want to say? Yes, I. .
Uncle, look I. . I won't take anything from you, even if you offer to solve my problems.
I won't accept it, please. No, I don't have that kind of solution for you. However, I do want to share some things about my own life with you.
Come here. Have a seat. Please sit.
Look. . I have listened to everything you said very quietly.
Now, I expect you to listen to everything I have to say with the same silence and patience. You know, I started my life with a pushcart a street cart. I used to sell plastic goods on it.
We were so poor that my father couldn't afford to set me up in any other business. Even my education was something I barely managed to complete. Then one day, while I was out selling those plastic items.
. . I caught sight of your aunt.
She touched my heart; I was drawn to her from that very first moment. But she was the daughter of the wealthiest man in the neighborhood, living in a double-story house. How could a man with just a pushcart gather the courage to send a marriage proposal to her home?
Yet, I had fallen for her. I don't know what stroke of luck it was. .
. but I found the nerve to tell her how I truly felt. You probably know that young girls are often innocent and naive… a bit foolish too.
They don’t look at the house of the person who loves them the size of his rooms, his kitchen, or his bathroom. They just see a loving heart and follow it. And sometimes, because of that, they end up going through a lot of hardship.
Her father wasn’t even willing to agree to our marriage. He set all kinds of conditions this is needed, that is needed, bring this, bring that… Five years passed, and I couldn't achieve anything. In fact, my situation grew even worse.
I did exactly what you are doing now; I went to Shehla and told her I wasn't the right person for her. I told her she should marry the man her father wanted. I tried to make her understand, but she wasn't ready to marry anyone else.
I kept pleading with her, swearing that I wasn't right for her, while she just kept crying. And as it turns out, her father overheard our entire conversation. You know, he came to me the next day and said to me.
Bring Shehla’s proposal to our house. I couldn't believe it. He felt that perhaps I was hardworking, honest, and sincere.
Maybe not today, but tomorrow… and if not tomorrow, then the day after. . my time was bound to change.
And it did change, dear. You can see it yourself now, thank God. Even today, I think that if I hadn’t married Shehla, I would still be there… dragging my life along on that same pushcart.
When I married her, I made a promise to myself that if I was bringing her from such a respectable home, I would build a palace for her too. And God supported me, and you can see the result. You know, my fate changed because of Shehla.
So why don’t you believe that your destiny could change because of Daneen? And you know, these rich boys with big houses and lots of money. They’re all around us, in the area we live in.
But neither Daneen liked them, nor did they feel right to us. Because our hearts have chosen Subuk. And no matter how long he makes us wait even if it takes a lifetime we are ready to wait.
What did Subuk say? Well, a lot was discussed between us today. And then?
Then I simply told him that we would wait for his answer. So, what did he say? For now, he remained silent.
He remained silent? You mean no hope, no reassurance. .
just silence? But staying silent is his way of giving us reassurance. He could have easily said, 'Don't wait for my answer.
' The fact that he stayed silent means he will think about us and what I said. He is a sensible and wise man. Besides, there’s no need for us to be impatient.
Daneen still has her studies to finish; she needs plenty of time. Listen. There’s no need to mention anything to Daneen for now, okay?
I haven't told her anything before either; I’m just giving you a heads-up. The truth is, you can't hide your happiness or your anger. Yes, yes, I know.
You don't need to keep reminding me. Mom Wait. Ameen.
Yes? Some Mr Jamal is here to see you. Jamal?
Who Jamal? I. .
. I don't know any Jamal, dear. I don't know either.
He is mentioning your name and Dad's. I also have a suspicion that I’ve seen him somewhere before, but. .
. he says that once you see him, you’ll recognize him. Really?
He might be one of your dad’s acquaintances or friends, but I never really socialized or interacted with his friends. Oh well. .
. let’s go and see Let’s see. Come on.
Greetings Aunty! Greetings to you, dear! How are you?
I. . Forgive me, dear, I didn't recognize you.
Sit down, please. Your face looks familiar, but. .
my memory has become so weak that I don't remember. Aunty, once I introduce myself, then you will definitely recognize me. His face looks somewhat familiar, but I can't quite place it.
My memory just isn't cooperating. Aunty, I came to your house five years ago with my sister, Shehla, and my brother-in-law. We came for your younger daughter’s proposal.
We were introduced through Farhana Aunty. Oh yes, yes. .
. I remember now. And despite liking her, you all refused the proposal.
That’s how it was, right? Your sister called me; I remember it now. She was saying.
. . that they had just returned from your house when suddenly, out of nowhere, her brother refused the proposal.
Even though he liked everything, she couldn't understand the reason behind it. Yes aunty. I had refused.
Actually, Aunty, I didn't realize. . .
I didn't know that I had come here. . .
for your younger daughter’s hand in marriage. What do I mean? I mean, Aunty.
. . I wanted to marry your eldest daughter, Zeba.
Aunty, please. . .
listen to what I have to say with patience, without getting angry or upset. I was very young when I saw Zeba at a function at my friend’s place. And aunty, from the very first moment, I really liked her.
By coincidence, my family was also looking for a marriage proposal for me at that time, so I tried very hard to get Zeba’s contact number from my friend. But then I found out that she had gotten married in an emergency. I was very upset, aunty maybe it was love at first sight.
After that, my family kept insisting that I should get married, so I came to your house. But when I got there, I realized that I had actually come to see Zeba’s younger sister. If I couldn’t marry Zeba, aunty then I had enough self-respect not to marry her younger sister.
Then, it was at your house that I met Zeba again. After that, I clearly refused that proposal to my sister and brother-in-law. Without even giving them a reason.
What could I have possibly told them? Then, just a few weeks later, Aunty I got married. My wife.
. . she was a very good woman.
We had a wonderful life together, but aunty, a few years ago. she passed away Now, I have two sons; both are studying abroad, and I just performed the Nikkah for one of them recently. And now, Aunty.
. . some time ago, I met Zeba again.
I found out about her divorce, and I came straight here to you all. I came to say that. .
. I want to marry your daughter. What?
What nonsense are you talking? Have you lost your mind? Aunty, if you want to investigate anything about me, I am ready to provide all the details.
My home, my family. . .
you can look into whatever you want. And Aunty, I have already met Zeba’s family. I am ready to accept Zeba along with her children.
I don't have a daughter of my own, aunty. But I promise you, I will raise Zeba’s daughters as my own. That is my word to you.
You have neither sense nor a shred of modesty! She is a mother of grown children, and you are a father of two yourself. Does it look good for her to be looking for a husband at the same time she is searching for proposals for her daughters?
Mom. . She is in the middle of arranging marriages for her own grown daughters.
Mom, at least listen to him! Be quiet! Instead of telling me to shut up, silence him.
He’s talking nonsense. Get him out of this house. If a servant hears this, what will they think?
If your wife hears this, she’ll taunt you for it later. We are respectable people; we don't do such things at this age. My daughter is a mother of grown children, and you are a father of two.
Have some shame! Aunty, where in the Quran is it written that if children grow up, a man or a woman cannot remarry if they don't have a partner? Allah commands modesty, and He emphasizes it for both men and women.
Aunty, alongside modesty, Allah also commands Nikkah. Allah also commands us to pursue halal and legitimate relationships, Aunty. Tell him to be quiet!
I cannot tolerate this talk. I cannot listen to these things. Mom.
. . Make him understand!
You, go away! Just go! Don't say such things to me.
Did you propose to Sister Zeba? Yes. What did she say?
She said the exact same things that Aunty just said before leaving. And that is exactly why I came to you guys. She harbors the same fears and anxieties in her heart that Aunty does.
And that was my whole purpose for coming here, to be able to sit down and talk to you all. Has he left? Yes.
You should have sent him off with a piece of your mind. People these days have no shame; they just show up out of nowhere. Look at his age and then look at his demands.
And listen, do not say anything in front of Sania. She will unnecessarily talk about it in front of everyone and Zeba will be mocked. Mom.
. Mom Mom. .
This is a suitable proposal, and I will talk to Sister Zeba about it. It seems his words have influenced your mind too; you’ve lost your senses. My mind is perfectly fine, Mom.
I have seen Sister Zeba suffer and struggle, and I don't want her to keep wasting her life like this. Now that a proposal has come and it has come at the right time So, we must consider it. Usman Is this the right time?
You tell me, is this really the right time? Mom, if you had accepted this proposal back then, Sister Zeba wouldn't have had to live a life like this. And since when is it wrong to like someone or wish to marry of your own will, Mom?
Where is it written that this is wrong? I remember, that boy had probably written a number on a handkerchief and given it to my sister, and you all. .
. you just rushed. You were so quick to get Sister Zeba out of here.
You all just sent her away in a panic. What was her fault? A handkerchief?
But Sister Zeba wanted to study, Mom. If she had been educated, she would have had a proposal from a good family and been married into a respectable home, just like Aliya. Oh sister Zeba oh.
. I have seen every moment of my sister's life, Mom. As a young brother, I wanted to help her back then, but I couldn't.
But now, I am in a position to help, and I will. Please mom. Let me do this.
Usman dear, at least look at the situation. . .
she is the mother of grown children. She has already married off one daughter and has to marry off the rest. How will she face the world?
She will show the world her true face, Mom. Why this constant 'world, world, world'? Why do we care about facing them?
What does the world even do for you? When my sister’s children were starving at home, did this world come to put food on their table? What has this world ever done?
When my sister was in trouble, when she was going through hardships, what did this world do for her? This world knows nothing besides talking rubbish, Mom. People will gossip for four days, and then they'll shut up.
For the sake of "the world," she spent 24 years of her life in hell. What is she doing wrong? Is she making friends or having an affair?
No, right? It's Nikkah. Nikkah, Mom.
And she doesn't want to do that either; just like you, she has refused, worrying about what the world will say. But we have to convince her and make her understand, Mom. Honor has already ruined Sister Zeba's life once.
I won't let my sister's life be destroyed a second time for the sake of this false pride, Mom. Please Mom, this world, this fake respect, this false honor. Just stop it!
Enough, Mom. Alright dear, don't you worry. That’s enough, my dear.
