Reverse Romeo and Juliet

‘So late Bint?’ he responded, closing the door behind him, ‘It’s still not 8pm yet.’‘No, it’s not but for someone who is always home before Magrib, it’s natural to be concerned when you alter your routine.’ I insisted, rising from my chair to collect his Ipad and some newspapers he came in with.‘You are right, […]

‘So late Bint?’ he responded, closing the door behind him, ‘It’s still not 8pm yet.’
‘No, it’s not but for someone who is always home before Magrib, it’s natural to be concerned when you alter your routine.’ I insisted, rising from my chair to collect his Ipad and some newspapers he came in with.
‘You are right, and I was actually on my way out of the office a little after 5pm when something came up that derailed my plans. I had to do what was necessary and that took a bit of time. But like you said, Alhamdulillah, I am home at last.’ He explained, enigmatically, sitting down to remove his socks.
‘So what happened?’ I asked.
‘It’s nothing too serious or important’ Tahir claimed ‘just get me some fruit juice to drink before dinner. I won’t be eating till I observe isha prayer.’ He added.
‘Alright’ I answered walking towards the kitchen. Once there, I picked a jug of home-made guava juice from the fridge and his favourite glass tumbler from the cupboard and put both on a small tray, then made my way back to the sitting room. Now relaxed with the cap off his head, Tahir had his feet stretched below the centre table and was fiddling with the TV remote.
‘Here you are, I brought you the guava juice I made this afternoon. I hope it will taste as good as what you had over there.’ I said, pouring him a glass.
‘What I had over where?’ he asked.
‘Wherever it is that you went which you are not willing to disclose.’ I explained, grudgingly.
‘Or there? Don’t tell me you are getting suspicious of me Bint. I thought we are too old for that kind of thing.’ He joked.
‘No we aren’t. You, especially, are just ripe for mid-life crisis. Sometimes it begins with secret rendezvous and late nights.’ I accused.  
‘Ha ha ha, secret rendezvous indeed!’ He laughed. ‘Well yes, I had a good, tall glass of juice but it’s not as good as yours, nothing is ever as good as what you do.’  He added, flirtatiously.
‘Flattery won’t get you anywhere Tahir.’ I warned, trying hard not to sound angry. ‘Now that you admit you were with someone, can you tell me who she is?’
‘Oh, it’s Murtala’s wife.’ He replied simply.
‘You dare to tell me that you were with your colleague’s wife?’ I accused.
‘Yes, but her husband was there as well. In fact he dragged me home from the office.’ He explained, suddenly looking serious.  
‘Murtala dragged you home, why?’ I demanded.
‘Like I said earlier, I was walking down the corridor, having closed from work, when I noticed Murtala’s slightly-opened door.  I peeped in to say goodbye and there he was looking very worried. I asked what the problem was and he answered.
“My wife has grown so unreasonable over a small   problem that I dread going home because I hate to discuss the matter again.” He replied.
“I’m sorry to hear that, is there anything I can do to help?” I offered.
“Unless you will follow me home and try talking some sense into her, I can’t see how you can help me.” Murtala replied.
“I hope it doesn’t involve having to convince her that you need to take another wife, because I will do no such thing. I do not relish the idea of losing a tooth or two to any angry first wife.” I warned him.
‘No, no Tahir, I really only need you to convince her that there is nothing wrong with what our son is planning to do. She has done nothing but condemn the boy for what I feel is an honourable thing on his part. You see two days ago, he told us that he wanted to marry the daughter of her very close friend. Mairo kicked against the idea outright and said he wanted to cause problems between her and her friend. Our son told her that he had the best of  intentions and that the only reason both he and the young lady kept everything to themselves till they were sure about their feelings was precisely because they knew how close their mothers were. So they had a secret courtship for over a year by mainly speaking on phone and only seeing each other when he visits her on campus. Now that she is about to graduate, they decided to let us know because they want to marry before she starts her NYSC. But Mairo will hear none of that. For the last two days she had done nothing but oppose the idea. She keeps harping on the conspiracy theory that our son wants to separate her from her dearest and closest friend by marrying her daughter.” Murtala concluded.
“But this is very surprising. Usually when people are close, they encourage their children to marry so they can strengthen that bond. Why is your wife so against this wedding, can it be that she doesn’t like the girl in question?” I asked, finally taking the chair opposite him.
“No, in fact she claims that she loves Habeeba like her own daughter. She said the girl is beautiful and well-behaved but that she was like a younger sister to our son. That she can’t imagine the children they brought up like siblings, now turning round to say they want to marry each other. Mairo fails to understand why they couldn’t fall for others rather than themselves. I reminded her that even first cousins do marry, what could be closer than that? But she remained adamant that any such attempt will cost them their prized friendship. Can you believe that?” he asked.
“No, I can’t. But pardon my saying this, can it be that your son is of unreliable character and she fears that he might not make a good husband?” I asked.
“On the contrary, she has always been proud of our son’s exemplary character. She is always telling his younger ones to be as good as their eldest brother because he is her model child. So I don’t think this has to do with his character. It is more like she is completely against the match, that is all.” Murtala said.
“In that case someone needs to tell your wife that she is incredibly selfish. How can she stand in the way of such true and decent love? Why should her friendship matter more than the feelings of these two young people who are keen to practice The Prophet’s sunnah? Please look at her straight in the eyes and tell her you have given your blessings to this marriage and unless she has a better argument to prevent it, her friendship with the girl’s mother should be a plus rather than a minus to the relationship.” I argued heatedly.
“Believe me I have said all this or something similar in the last two days. Unless you will come along and repeat it to her, when it came from me it made no impact.” He replied.
“Ok then let’s go. If your wife is immune to the truth because it came from your mouth, we will see how she will react to mine.” And with that we walked to our cars and drove to his house.
After the pleasantries, I sat Mairo down and repeated to her all the arguments her husband and I discussed in favour of the marriage. In the end, she broke down and said she only feared that something might go wrong because children of today do not treat marriage with the seriousness it deserves. She added that Samiya’s mother was her very best friend right from secondary school and was her chief bride’s maid when she got married so she hated to think of anything that could end that relationship.
I advised her to be optimistic about everything and also learn to trust in Almighty Allah over everything He decreed. After a few more sentences including my threat that if she continued to resist, I will personally take charge and marry off the love birds, she smiled and assured me that she will visit her friend so they can discuss the wedding.
And this dear Bint was the reason I came home late, not a mid-life crisis or some secret rendezvous at all.’ Tahir assured me.
‘Wow, what an interesting story. I mean usually parents oppose their children getting married to offspring of their enemies or business rivals, in the tradition of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, but this is the first time I heard of a stiff opposition to marriage between children of friends. It’s like a reverse Romeo and Juliet, don’t you think?’ I asked.
‘Yes it is, but don’t worry your pretty head over it, by the time I return from praying isha, I want you to have thoughts for none other than this Romeo.’ He replied, patting his chest before walking out of the room.