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‘Oh, I was just reminiscing about the early days of our marriage. I always feel this way when I come across newly-weds. Now that we are waiting for your nephew and his bride, I just found myself transported to that wonderful world of honeymooners where nothing ever goes wrong because love rules their world. That […]

‘Oh, I was just reminiscing about the early days of our marriage. I always feel this way when I come across newly-weds. Now that we are waiting for your nephew and his bride, I just found myself transported to that wonderful world of honeymooners where nothing ever goes wrong because love rules their world. That is why I was smiling.’ I explained.
‘Yes those were the good old days. I remember having eyes for no one but you.’ Tahir agreed, smiling back.
‘Does this mean you have eyes for others now?’ I asked with mock anger.
‘Now Bint, don’t you start your word-twisting because you know very well what I mean.’ He replied.
‘No, I’m sure I don’t. The words “Those were the good old days. I remember having eyes for no one but you” are clearly in the past tense; which means things are not the same today.’ I insisted.
‘Oh that man was so right who said “women always have to have the last word and even that is the beginning of a new argument.”’ Tahir quoted.
‘I am not being argumentative, I just want to know the truth. Do you have eyes for others now? Is that what you are trying to tell me?’ I asked.
‘Yes Bint, I have eyes for four others.’ He admitted, seriously.
‘Four others Tahir? You can’t be serious. Even our religion doesn’t permit you to have four more. Unless you plan to get rid of me. Is that it Tahir? Am I to be shown the way out?’ I demanded.
‘No darling Bint, no one will ever show you the way out in this house.
But those four others do exist and I can’t deny that. They are our children, they share my heart with you.’ Tahir said reassuringly.
‘Oh thank God for that.’ I said, rising up to sit next to him. ‘For a moment I thought you really meant you were involved with other women.
Now I must regain my romantic blues before our newly-wed guests arrive. I was reveling in it when you decided to hit me with your expensive joke.’ I disclosed.
‘Oh yes, try to bring that mood back, it will come in handy when our guests have gone and we are once again on that memory lane back to the first year of our marriage.’ He encouraged.
‘All right, but I think our guests are here now. I just heard the doorbell and saw Ahmad walking down  the hallway to open it.’ I answered. At just that moment Tahir’s nephew Mahmud stepped into the sitting room, his young bride, Munirah, following closely behind. She looked very beautiful in her delicately embroidered brocade kaften.
Her matching veil, purse and shoes were of the same colour as the thread embroidery on her dress. She looked very bridal indeed, the pride of every groom.
‘Assalamu alaikum,’ the two of them chorused as they walked into the sitting room from the hallway.
‘Wa alaikumussalam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuhu’ Tahir and I answered, welcoming them.
‘Let’s just walk to the dining table to eat.’ I said as soon as the greetings were over.’ Your cousins have already eaten because two of them still have to go to school tomorrow.’ I explained to Mahmud, leading the way to the dining area.
‘Come and sit next to me’ I said to Munirah after her husband had taken the seat next to his uncle. She did so shyly and sat quietly throughout. I kept trying to draw her into our conversations but Munirah remained quiet, answering only in monosyllables. Putting it down to normal bridal bashfulness I decided to let her be by not addressing any conversation specifically to her. To my great surprise she rose to say she wanted to talk to me as soon as we had eaten the fruit salad I served.  Having made it clear that she wanted to talk in private, I stood up to lead her to my room.
‘You don’t need to take Aunty Bint anywhere to make your complaints you can tell her here and now if you wish. No one among us is a stranger.’ Mahmud said, rather aggressively. A lover’s quarrel so soon? What could have caused this when they look so adorable together?
I wondered. But aloud I said: ‘Is anything wrong, what makes you think she is about to complain?’ I addressed Mahmud.
‘Because it’s obvious to me that she can’t wait to tell someone about our argument.’ He replied.
‘You two argued before coming here?’ I asked.
‘Yes we did, because I said I will use my hijab on top of the clothes I wore earlier.’ Munirah explained in a low voice.
‘So did he force you to change into this Kaftan. Was that why you were unhappy?’ I asked, sitting back on my dining chair and asking her to do the same.
‘I had earlier won my fitted lace blouse and skirt. I then wore a matching hijab on top of it. He took one look at me and said I had to remove the hijab straight away. I told him I needed it and he said he will have none of it. Mahmud insisted that I should use one of the small matching veils that could only cover me up to the shoulders. I told him that it won’t be right for me to expose my figure like that but he wouldn’t have it.
In the end I had to change my clothes. The Kaftan is a compromise, I said to him that if I had to use a small veil I will only wear  something loose-fitting, like a bou-bou or a Kaftan. So he chose the kaftan. But I am worried Aunty Bint because I have so many new fitted dresses as well as skirts and tops that I cannot wear and go out without my hijab. From what Mahmud said I can’t wear the hijab in his house. How can I obey him?’ she asked, tearfully.
‘Did you really say that?’ I asked her husband, who sat listening to us defiantly.
‘Yes I did. I told her that I didn’t seek a beautiful woman to marry just so she will be covering up her charms with some big veils. I told her that she will have to dress smartly and enchantingly whenever we are going out together because I need to show her off to my friends and associates. This is the part she finds too hard to accept. She wants to be seen walking with me in some flowing veils, like an old woman.’ Mahmud complained.
‘But she is right Mahmud. You are the only one allowed to see her in her attractive best. She is supposed to cover up her adornments when she is going out or when you have male visitors. So do not pressure her to do something wrong just so you can serve your male ego. You have no right to make her disobey Almighty Allah because the hijab is His command to all Muslim women , both young and old.’ I argued.
‘Yes Mahmud, your aunt is right, observing the hijab is adhering to Almighty Allah’s commands.’ Tahir spoke for the first time. ‘However much we would like to be seen with our beautiful wives, showing them off to friends and relations in order to excite their envy, we have to remember Almighty Allah’s command on the hijab, and all the numerous reasons for using it. But look on the bright side, it means that all her beauty and natural adornments are for your eyes only, for your exclusive viewing pleasure. Isn’t that worth all the covering in the world?’ Tahir ended, persuasively.
‘Yes, it is Uncle, now that you’ve put it this way.’ Mahmud replied, seeming to accept our arguments on the matter.