Traveling across the globe has given me the ability to understand the term “Strength”. It has satisfied my passion of understanding life from people`s point of view . My journey has started couple of years ago. I hope it will go on for years to come. During my journey I have came across so many fine individuals who has inspired me. I feel blessed to have an opportunity to meet them and more importantly get to know them via close interaction. Here i will pen down my experiences.
I am not a story teller but narrator of their marvelous strength. I hope to continue my journey to meet many more people and show their strength to the world. I am truly thankful to all those people who have allowed me to be part of their journey which is full of pain, sorrows, happiness, laughter, misery and COURAGE. You guys have truly inspired me to become a better human being. Thank You!
Rani
Do not judge a book by it`s cover, it was the first thing that crossed my mind when I spoke to Rani. She was tall, brown almost 40 years old woman with missing and cracked teeth. When i first saw her i thought she is an ordinary domestic help. One day when she was leaving after her shift, she asked me if i was fasting? I said yes and asked her the same question. My question was an ice breaker. She said she was fasting and when i appreciated her she sat down and shared her life with me.
“I was born in Faisalabad (Industrial city of Pakistan), my father was Imaan at a local Mosque and my mother was a house wife. I have never been to school but learned to read Quran at home. I was married before my 16th birthday with a boy who was 3 years older than I. Initially, we lived in the same village for four years then me and my husband moved to Lahore for work. I came to Lahore with two little boys. My husband found a job at nearby posh colony as a night guard. After two months, I conceived my third child. Life was tough here. Rs. 8000 were not enough to feed my two boys and one unborn. It was difficult pregnancy and labor. I had my third child at home with the help of local midwife. When my third boy was 20 days old, i had to go out to look for work. I asked other women about work in my neighborhood who were already working as maids. A week later I went to see a lady, who needed someone to clean her dishes and wash clothes.
I was married for Six years when I was pregnant again. At 23, I had four children and was working as a domestic help for two households. I was unable to take care of my children, therefore I have put two elder ones to Madrasa (religious school). My new born and 3 year old boy used to accompany me to work. One day, when i was finishing my work around 4 o clock, my husband came to pick me up. He said we have to rush to the hospital as my 2nd boy fell from the roof of Madraasa. Later that night he took his last breath, unconscious and full of blood, in my lap. ”
Here Rani stopped for a minute and wiped her eyes. Leaving me with no words to speak. Then she started again.
“I went back to work after a week, as I had to feed three more children. Two years later I broke down again when doctors diagnosed that my youngest boy was deaf and he will not be able to speak. It was very difficult time. My husband was aloof and begin to stay out late. If i ever asked him, he became very angry and used to shout and slap me. I left him on his own.
Six more years passed by, my eldest son had finished Quran and found the job as a driver. My third child was memorizing Holy Quran by heart and youngest one used to stay home. One day my husband came and told me that he was marrying another woman, and he would not contribute in our house financially any more. I could not say a word. It affected my health and it gradually and I had menopause at the age of 36 . Two years ago my second child complained that he was unable to see clearly. I though he was making excuses to avoid memorizing Quran. One night I send him out to get milk, due to his poor vision he could not see a bike coming and got in to an accident. We took him to the state hospital. During scan doctors spotted tumor in his head.
During last two years I have spend all my saving for his treatment. Now i cannot afford more. He has lost his sight completely. He is sixteen now and whenever he complains about swear headaches, I buy him pain killers. I know he will die in a year or so. But I have faith in God that whatever will happen, it will be for the best of my son. I do not know where my husband is. He never came back. ”
She got up and said she has to go and prepare for Iftar (breaking fast). She got up and left. I thought how the word happy would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness.
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AmnaB 