A ray of hope

‘Wallahi, no idea. But we were as shocked as you are to read that divorce letter. We cried some more, wondered what came over him and wished endlessly that there was a way we could turn back the clock. It is truly distressing.’ I answered. ‘Could he be thinking of taking another wife?’ ‘Even if […]

‘Wallahi, no idea. But we were as shocked as you are to read that divorce letter. We cried some more, wondered what came over him and wished endlessly that there was a way we could turn back the clock. It is truly distressing.’ I answered.

‘Could he be thinking of taking another wife?’

‘Even if he was, I don’t think that will make him divorce Asabe, because he didn’t have to do that when he married his Corper, did he?’

‘Yes, you are right, and please stop calling that lady Corper, she must have a name of her own’ Tahir protested.

‘Frankly I don’t remember what her name was. Ever since she married Mansur when she came to his office for her national service, Asabe had named her Corper. And since we hardly interacted because  she lived in a different house, it was most convenient to call her what our friend called her. When he claimed that she had walked out on him, we never commiserated with him because we were not her friends.’ I explained.

‘Oh women and your vindictive solidarity.’ Tahir responded.

‘It is not vindictiveness per se, it is just that we never really got to know her, and even when the marriage fell apart Asabe was the last to know. He kept it away from her and continued going to the house as if there was someone there. It was not until the rent expired that he showed up at their door with a lot of his stuff and claimed that she had left him.’

‘Why do you doubt what he said? You were not so sceptical when it first happened.’

‘Because then I thought he was trustworthy. After what he did to my friend I’m not sure he didn’t divorce the Corper, on a whim, as well.’

‘Yes, you have a point. Actually I was sceptical about the story from day one, you were the one who bought it the way it was told. He said she had grown depressed after losing her only child, but that she was also always picking up quarrels with him; then one day he went to the house and found her gone, leaving a note that she couldn’t live with him any more. Somehow the story just didn’t add up. The more I thought about it, the more I felt something was missing. But I soon dismissed it because unlike Asabe they have not been together for long, there are no children involved and we were not that close to the young lady.’ Tahir concluded.

‘Incidentally, where did you hold your meeting? Maryam and I have been curious about where he moved to since the divorce.’ I asked.

‘He moved to his new house, that’s where we met him.’

‘His new house? Is it furnished?’

‘Yes naturally.’

‘What is so natural about it Tahir? This is the one house he spent 5 years planning and building with our dear friend.  Now he furnishes it and moves alone, leaving her in a rented old house with a divorce letter and you say it’s natural?’ i protested.

‘You are getting hysterical Bint, but don’t get me wrong. ‘ Tahir responded, finally sitting up on his side of the bed. ‘ There is nothing either right or natural about what Mansur did. All I said was the house was naturally furnished, because you don’t build a beautiful house like that and then move in while its not furnished.’

‘You are right, I’m sorry I overreacted. The truth is I am on an emotional tight rope since I heard about this divorce. And when think about the last time we went to that house together, I feel so angry and helpless.  We were driving home from our Ladies Parliament meeting when Asabe said we should come and see her Mini Taj Mahal. We drove there and let ourselves in because she had the key. Everything was done except the furnishing. I remember telling her the house had a ‘perfect finish’ and she joyfully answered that the choice of cream and lemon green paint was her idea.  Maryam and I quickly offered to do an asoebi of the same colour the day they move in or when she decides to do a house-warming walima. And all that is not to be now. Our plans have vanished in thin air….’ my voice trailed away.

‘Am sorry Bint’ Tahir said moving my head to his chest ‘I know how you feel about this incident. But all hope is not lost now. Some ulama believe that three divorces at a go is equal to one, because the Prophet  SAW, had said that the three had to be pronounced separately to be effective.  So you see, there is still a ray of hope in this seemingly hopeless situation.’

‘Yes there is, and I hope it works.’

‘It will inshAllah darling Bint, it will.’ Tahir answered assuringly.