Food of love

‘A few stolen moments are all that we share,’ Whitney Houston’s voice flooded the room as soon as he took the seat next to me. ‘There we go again Bint, why must we always suffer this ritual every time one of your favourite musicians dies?’ He complained reaching out to reduce the volume for the […]

‘A few stolen moments are all that we share,’ Whitney Houston’s voice flooded the room as soon as he took the seat next to me.

‘There we go again Bint, why must we always suffer this ritual every time one of your favourite musicians dies?’ He complained reaching out to reduce the volume for the song ‘Saving all my love for you.’

‘Every time Hubby dearest? Don’t exaggerate.’ I replied, flashing my welcome-from-the-office smile at him.

‘Believe me it’s every time Bint. When you lost Luther Vandross, for days ‘When I say goodbye it’s never for long’ and ‘There’s nothing better than love’ were the lyrics I heard wherever I moved in this house. Luckily, for four or five years no one you cared about died. Then Michael Jackson died and we heard nothing but ‘This is it’ till you finished your period of mourning. When are you going to outgrow this musical obsession and accept that this people die like everyone else and you shouldn’t even mourn them because they are not the right role models for you?’ He demanded.

‘Well, first point of correction’ I said handing his glass of orange juice to him ‘I do not mourn these people and I do not consider them role models. I admit to having a weakness for music, especially love songs, but then every human being is allowed a certain spiritual weakness, and I’m glad that mine does not hurt anyone. I mean some people gossip, some spread lies and slander, others steal or cheat unsuspecting people. But I have a weakness that affects me alone, it hurts no one and maligns no one. Secondly it’s something I’ve been trying to contain for long. When was the last time I played music in the sitting room? I always restrict it to our bedroom because I am trying to shield the children from it. The day I spent playing ‘This is it’ while spring-cleaning my room was a Saturday when the children were in the garden learning the Holy Quran with Malam. So you see, mine is actually a harmless weakness, it hurts no one.’ I explained, resuming my seat.

‘It’s not that harmless Bint, it bothers me. In fact it disturbs me. I feel we should outgrow it by now.’ Tahir answered.

‘We should? No, you know music is the food of love. No one ever outgrows love unless they want to live in a cold, hard world. Love is what makes the world go round, at least that’s what poets say. And for an incurable romantic like me it will amount to romantic suicide to say no more music from now on. So please don’t shut it out, allow us to keep playing it, if only as a fuel for passion.’ I appealed.

‘But Bint it can be distracting, it can take your mind off important matters and spiritual pursuits.’ He insisted.

‘No Tahir, if music had that ability then it only succeeds when given the chance. Look at me for instance, I observe my daily prayers, I read the Holy Quran daily, I do all my life’s daily routine. I am never distracted. Whatever people do without moderation will overtake and control their lives. Way back in my university days I was fond of lying on my bed and listening to music on the radio, but it didn’t affect my spiritual pursuits or even my MSS activism. I still recall that some friends called me Social Sister. Throughout my campus days I never ever went to a party and up to today, I have never seen the four walls of a night party hall. The only party my friends and I knew in those days was the wedding cocktail which kept happening because many of our classmates got married as undergraduates. When some clever party-goers created the weekend picnic, just to entice those of us who wouldn’t go to night parties, I still never accepted an invitation. In fact I remember only going for my very first picnic after getting married to you. So you see, it’s not just listening to music that makes people transgress, one has to have the inclination to do so.’ I argued.

‘Wow what an impassioned speech, who would ever believe the woman who dedicatedly reads the Quran at dawn and conducts Ta’alim classes for her children every evening will still have time to argue so eloquently in favour of music. You are a mass of contradictions dear Bint.’ Tahir joked.

‘May be so, but you know when your Zodiac sign is a Gemini, you get pulled in different ways by the twins…..’

‘Aha and you believe in horoscopes, another contradiction.’ He interrupted.

‘That’s only because, I agree with their description of the character of people born under the various signs. But I have never believed in their predictions, in fact I never read them.’ I insisted. At that very moment Whitney Houston’s voice was fading to the chorus of ‘Saving all my love for you.’

‘So until you are done with mourning, we are again doomed to several days of Whitney Houston’s melody.’ He observed rising up to go to his room.

‘No Tahir darling, since you’ve complained I have no wish to play any more of her songs henceforth. And please be reminded that I am not into any kind of mourning. Indeed I’m only affected by the death of showbiz stars in the sense that it is a rude reminder that whatever or whoever you are in life, death is your inevitable end. You know they always acquire some larger-than-life image because of their celebrity status, but in the end they are all mere mortals like you and I. So this is just it. If it looks like mourning to you, believe me it’s more of contemplation. I use the period to tell myself, in the words of Shakespeare that ‘Death, a necessary end, will come when it will come.’ I assured.

‘I certainly hope you mean this Bint. Knowing you, I could return from the mosque after Magrib and hear something like ‘I fell in love with every heartbeat / falling in love is so bitter-sweet’ coming from your room or mine.’ Tahir taunted.

‘For someone so averse to love songs, you have a surprisingly good memory for lyrics. I mean I can’t remember the last time I played “How will I know if he really loves me?” but here you are sounding almost as good as Ms Houston herself.’ I joked.

‘I certainly don’t wish to sound like her or any of your departed heroes. Right now am rushing to prepare for the mosque, to seek salvation before I meet their fate.‘ He replied, opening the door to leave the sitting room.

‘And am right behind you too, to seek my own salvation in the privacy of my room.’ I answered, rising to my feet.