Bowled Over By The Broken

Chapter 47: All in the name of society

22nd July, 2018

"I urge you to treat women well."

Narrated by al-Bukhaari

Chapter 47:

All in the name of society

Anabya had a problem, and yes, it had to do with Tanzila. Because if you'd go back to the phone call that ended a few minutes back, calling it a disaster was a very mild word.

"I'm sorry, but as long as I could, I've been polite and sidelining all of your mother's taunts, but here, I draw the line," Anabya said, coming into the bedroom.

Not looking up from his phone, Shamaaz shook his head and asked, "What happened now, Bya?"

"Keep the phone aside and listen to me, Shamaaz," she said, crossing her arms as she stood near him.

Pausing his game, but with his phone still in hand, he looked up to find a very disturbed and upset Anabya.

"So I told you a few months back that I'd like to work, right?"

"Yes."

"And what did you say?"

"If it makes you happy, you should go ahead with it."

"And today your mum called me, right?"

"Right..."

"We were having a conversation about the things I need to take for your Dadi Masi since you said we'll be visiting her, and then somehow she asked me my plans for the week after that, and I told her I had applied for a few jobs, and I had received a response from one and they called me for an interview. And you know what she said?"

"What?" Shamaaz asked, already dreading the answer.

"She told me she doesn't want me to go out and work, that if the daughter in law of the house steps out to seek a career, society thinks the husband is not capable of taking care of her and is living off of her money. Totally pointless if you ask me."

"Ugh... and what did you say?"

"I told her that I knew the rules of Islam, and our religion doesn't say it is haraam for a woman to work. If she observed the proper hijab, and if she avoided free mingling with males, and stayed in the limits of Islam, then she could do her bit to contribute to the society. Your mum just listened to me, but replied with 'it's always better for a woman to stay at home' and then hung up on me."

If, at this point, Shamaaz opened his mouth and said anything in support of Tanzila's ridiculous behavior, Anabya would totally lose it. However, as she waited for his reply, she figured out he was not going to say anything at all.

"You really aren't going to say anything?"

As if on cue, the phone in his hand beeped with an incoming call and both glanced at the screen at the same time.

Not moving to the side, Anabya looked on as Shamaaz answered his mother's phone.

After they had exchanged greetings, he was quiet while he heard what his mum had to say from the other end, before replying, "Yaar, come on, Mom, I don't have a problem with her working, what's the big deal?"