Must Read: The Silent Lover - Season 1 - Episode 68

7 years ago

Must Read: The Silent Lover - Season 1 - Episode 68

“Deeba! Oh my God, it’s so hot in Karachi these days. It’s already forty degrees today, how could you wear an Abaya in such a hot weather?” Sheeba almost screamed in shock.

Her sister smiled and replied, “Ah yes, but the fires of Hell are hotter still!”
“Your philosophy is always out of my mind.” Sheeba shrugged her shoulders.

“I wonder if you have one.” Deeba smiled again and slowly, deliberately, she put her arms inside the sleeves of light gray Abaaya of fine silk. Turning towards the dressing table mirror, she gave herself a final look and her lips twisted to exclaim a fine ‘Wow’ on herself. With black scarf, her gray Abaaya produced a wonderful contrasting effect, creating a grace and powerful magnetism around her.

“Deeba. Are you crazy or something?”
“Why do you ask so?”
“Come on. We are going to a birthday party.

Take this coat and scarf off, NOW!” Sheeba said, frustrated.

“So, you think Hijaab should be reserved only for religious gatherings, right?”
“Of course, dressing should be appropriate according to the occasion and atmosphere.

You don’t need to wear your covering in a function that is purely non-religious.” Sheeba said firmly.

Deeba sighed and looked at her sister for a second.

She felt like it was not her sister speaking; it was ‘devil’ speaking inside her dear sister.

Yes, he sure was a Satan, who was trying cleverly to change her positive thinking in a glamorized way.

“Hey where are you?” Sheeba shook her hand in front of her eyes. “Come on sister.

Don’t be an extremist. Okay we’re Muslims and everything but one should keep a balance between the world and religion.”
“Oh My God.” Deeba thought, stunned.

That’s what Miss. Hijaab had told her in the school, in her very first class.

How could she forget those words, which had brought a new life in her?

“When the devil sees that all of his cruel, evil tactics had no use finally, he then attacks through his worst weapon. He makes you feel that you’re already religious and follows all the basics, but you should not go more into the religion and shouldn’t be an extremist.

Oh yes, he sure tells you to keep a balance between the ‘world’ and your ‘faith. It is in fact a balance, but not between your world and the religion but it’s a balance between God and devil, which of course has no grounds at all. He wants you to place one of your feet in hell and the other one in the heaven at the same time. That’s his balance and that’s what being moderate means according to the evil devil.”
“Why don’t you stop saying the same thing again and again?” Deeba said to her younger sister.

Sheeba looked at her for a long moment,

and then sighing she shrugged her shoulders. “You’ve become an extremist Deeba, a religious fanatic to an abnormal extent.”

“Wow,” Deeba couldn?t help herself laughing on her remark. “When we are with the rest of the world in everything they do, they say we’re normal but as soon as we start following our Allah, everyone calls us an ‘extremist’ or an ‘abnormal’ person.”

“OK.” Sheeba gave her a determined look. “Do whatever you like.”
“That’s what I’m doing.” Today, Deeba’s smile was just as charming as she herself was. “I was wondering if you could follow the orders of our dear Prophet and Quran.” Deeba added in a low, impressive tone. “You’d look wonderful in Hijaab you know.”

Shocked, Sheeba stared at her for few seconds, and then began to laugh uncontrollably.

“Did I say something funny?”
“You can’t be serious. Are you?”
“Of course, I am.”

For an instant, Sheeba looked at her elder sister, trying to judge if she was really serious or not, but the sober expression on Deeba?
s face made her think twice about her statement.

“I just can’t do it.” She stated expressionlessly. “And you know that very well.”
“You’re very sure of yourself in disobeying your Allah and Prophet’s orders. Aren’t you?” Deeba asked, clearly disappointed, feeling sorry for her beloved sister.

“Well, our Allah and our holy prophet have ordered us for so many other things as well. Do we follow them all?” Sheeba asked sceptically.
“Wow, what a logic.” Now, it was Deeba’s turn to laugh. “Why don’t we stop following our religion at all? That would be the best solution. No restrictions, no limitations, no hard and fast rules to follow upon.”

“Now.” Sheeba shifted her position on the sofa uncomfortably. “I didn’t say that.”
“We can at least try to adopt easy things first.

If we can’t change the society, we can at least change ourselves on individual level. Can’t we?”

Sheeba didn’t answer this time; she was lost in her deep thoughts.

“Just suppose for an instant, your dear Prophet, whom you respect you so much, is telling you, he is in front of you!” Deeba got closer to her sister. “Did you listen? He is here, asking you that why don’t you obey his simple and plain order? Hmm?”

“Stop it, Deeba, it’s enough, ” She hid her face in her hands, almost crying. “I…I will cry.”

“Allah gave us so much, everything, parents, home, siblings, money, car everything.

And yet what do we give Him in return?” Slowly, gently she ran her fingers through Sheeba’s soft hair.

“What’s the use of us being Muslims then, if we can’t put a simple piece of clothing around our head and body for Him?” Deeba looked deeply into her younger sister’s eyes, trying to search some traces of the effects of her words. “Is this our Islam? Do we love Him?”

“Yes I…I love Him.” Sheeba said aloud. “I love my Allah.”

“Then why do you do the opposite?” Her smile broadened into something almost genuine.

“Funny it is.” Deeba laughed softly. “We believe in God…but don’t believe in what He says.”

She grinned and then added. “Just like, everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die.”

“Don’t ever think Sheeba, that I am forcing you to do something you don’t want to.
Such things should come by heart and naturally.” She caressed her sister’s face and brought a tissue to wipe the tears off.

“If you mind, I won’t say anything again on the topic. But I love you very much, and can’t see you burning yourself in the devilish fire of your materialistic desires.”

Sheeba raised her head finally, and turned her face to look into her sister’s beautiful eyes.

“I promise…” She finally said. “I’d try about Hijaab. I’d give it a try.”

“That’s the way of a good girl.” Deeba hugged her affectionately, her heart racing.

“Congratulations in advance for even thinking about taking such a great step.”

“But we also need proper atmosphere for that. Don’t we?” Sheeba questioned genuinely. “Our parents never told us the importance of Islam and Hijaab.

They never educated us in this regard.” She said disappointedly. “It’s too late now, I suppose.”

“I’m from the same parents.” Deeba told her in a soothing voice. “There’s always a time. It’s never too late.”

“By the way, there’s a very interesting talk show on this weekend. They would telecast it live on T.V. Our School teacher Miss. Hijaab Zehra is representing those women who wear Hijaab.” Deeba told her sister happily.
“Really?” Sheeba asked, excited.

“Yes, and she’ll face Pakistan’s number one female debater, Sania Rubab who holds a totally opposite view on the subject.”

“Wow, what’s the topic?”
“It’s…. The question of Hijaab: suppression or liberation?”