She was looking elegant in that surkh jora on which golden beads were beautifully woven...
STORY
She was looking elegant in that surkh jora on which golden beads were beautifully woven. Each tanka of embroidery reflected the legacy of the women who wore it in the past and the girl who was wearing it at present. The intricate embroidery on the dress relayed how, as time passed over several generations, the stories of the women who wore it remained the same. The characters changed but the struggles remained the same – the struggle of unfulfilled dreams, the pain of unfulfilled wishes, the patience expended, the sacrifices made, and the compromises done to save the relationships.
That ancestral heirloom was once worn by her grandmother on her big day, then years later by her mother, and now Tayaba was wearing it with small alterations. Despite being so many years old, that surkh jora still had the same charm, maybe because of the women who wore it or the women who made it.
Tayaba was uncertain about her future. The fear of uncertainty had taken the place of anger in her heart, the anger of not being the independent girl she always wanted to be. It was an arranged marriage for her. Tayaba was not happy. She didn't want to live a life like her mother and her grandmother.
Marriage had always been a dreadful thing for her. She saw her mother making compromises and sacrifices for her family. She hadn't lived a life of her own. Tayaba always wanted to make her own identity and marry a man who respects her choices and decisions. But now she was forced to leave her education incomplete and marry a distant relative whom she had never seen. This uncertainty of the future was making her more fearful.
Sitting on the stage in the marriage hall, her heart was beating fast, and she was wearing a forced smile on her face. People came and took selfies with her. They would never know what she was feeling. When the bride is sitting on the stage with hundreds of guests watching her and passing comments about her beauty, dress, jewellery, weight, and even her height, the only thing she can do is smile. After half an hour, the nikah khawan came and she was asked, “Kia aap ko yeh nikah qabool hae?” What else was she supposed to say except “yes.” Despite her unwillingness in that relationship, she was an Eastern girl who obeyed her parents’ orders. There is never a choice; there is only a command for a girl in Pakistan.
After the nikah meal was served and as the event ended, she had to say goodbye to her parents and siblings. It was the time for rukhsati. She failed to hold back her tears. She wept, cried, and hugged her parents and siblings. She was going to leave the house where she had spent eighteen years of her life. Her parents had given her a lot of love, and taught her everything from how to walk to how to get up after every failure. She was leaving that house and her parents forever. From now on, she would always visit the house as a guest.
After arriving at her husband’s house, she was accompanied by her husband's sisters, Zara and Mawra, to her room. After a few minutes, her husband, Kamran, came in. She saw him for the first time at the nikah and now their eyes finally met. Kamran looked like a decent man but her fears were still stinging her in the corner of her heart.
“As I met you today for the very first time, I want to know about you, your likes and dislikes, about your dreams and your struggles and your fears,” Kamran said, “because, from now on, I am responsible for your happiness, and I promise, I will be standing beside you though all the ups and downs of life.”
Tayaba mustered her courage and asked, “I want to complete my education. Can I?” Tayaba’s heart was beating faster and faster as the answer from the other side was going to decide whether her dream would come true or not.
“Tayaba, dear, I want you to get an education,” Kamran replied. “Just as it is necessary for a man to be educated, it's equally necessary for a woman, and I will fully support you,” he assured her.
She felt as if her heart was at peace and her future secure. For a moment, Tayaba felt as if she was daydreaming, but she realized it was reality when she saw her hands in his and he was presenting her a ring.
Tayaba was happy and content that she found a companion who would help her fulfil her dreams. The surkh jora witnessed that change had come over the generations. It was proved that marriage is all about companionship; it was never about superiority and compromises – it’s about equality.
Tayaba was fortunate that Allah had blessed her with the companionship of a gentleman who would help her pursue her dreams. The day which started with uncertainties and doubt ended with belief and contentment.
