Marriage or Education?
Chapter 9 of “Hold On”: Kohat 2006
(N.B. I’m writing a novel, a chapter a week, here on Medium. Find out why I write here, start from Chapter 1 here, and always feel free to give me feedback in the comments. I write here for the community.)
Hira sat in class, staring at the low-hanging fans and flickering lights. The flicker added to her anxiety, as she waited for the bell to ring. As soon as it did, Hira picked up her bag and began walking home, hunched under its weight. Yet, more than the physical weight of her schoolbag, it was her emotional baggage that was weighing her down, as usual. Her final exams for the 8th grade were just around the corner, but she could not focus on them and her thoughts remained preoccupied with the traumas of the last three years.
As she reached home, she heard Shafaq’s voice booming in the kitchen. Shafaq was her elder sister. She was currently in the kitchen helping Nosheen with lunch. Upon hearing the door, Shafaq came out and greeted Hira. The two were close and often shared stories when they were cramped together on a single mattress at night. Shafaq asked Hira how her day at school had been, but as usual, Hira deflected the question, changing the topic to Shafaq’s education.
“At least wait till your matric exams, Shafaq,” Hira once again began attempting to convince Shafaq to sit her exams at least.
Shafaq waved her hands in the air, signaling how little that meant to her. She was not interested in completing her education at all.
“I am not one to memorize long texts. Imagine having to memorize entire textbooks as we normally need to do for these exams!” laughed Shafaq. She had never had any good memories associated with her school life. Being a talkative, creative child, she would always be scolded by her teachers for talking or doodling, or wasting time on useless hobbies.
Nosheen then called the girls to carry their plates from the kitchen, interrupting their conversation.
Later that night, as Aftab watched the two girls chattering away, he told Nosheen that they must move to Peshawar as soon as possible. He told her he did not wish for Hira to repeat Shafaq’s fate. Aftab was determined to provide a better environment and education for his children. Nosheen tried to talk him out of it, reminding him of how it would be ten times more expensive to live in a big city. But Aftab said he did not want the same fate for his children as he had witnessed with his older brother. Aftab was very serious about this move, Nosheen realized, when he told her that he had already discussed this with their local member of the provincial assembly (MPA) for his transfer to Peshawar. Aftab gave the MPA his word that they would maintain their family’s votes in the Kohat constituency and would travel to cast them whenever the MPA desires.
When Hira found out, she was relieved. She loved the idea of moving out of this town and looking for a better life with more possibilities; however, she knew the memories of recent events would weigh her down wherever she went. While she rejoiced at the possibility of moving, she was saddened because her father had also declared that he would find a match for Shafaq and marry her off before leaving. He said it would be difficult to find a Rishta (match for her) in the new city.
Later in the week, Aftab came home and announced that he had talked to a distant cousin of the family, who lived in Dera Ismail Khan. The cousin’s 28-year-old son supported him in running their freight forwarding business and earned well.
Shafaq was just 15 years old. Hira’s heart sank at the thought.
That night, sharing her mattress with Shafaq as usual, Hira asked her how she felt about the news. Shafaq shrugged. It had to happen, she explained to Hira. “We are girls. We all have to get married and go to other places.”
Hira tried to imagine Shafaq’s 28-year-old fiancé. She tried to imagine how he would look next to Hira’s sister and how he would treat her. But Hira was the only one losing sleep over this. To the elders, this was a mechanical process or duty, that was being performed as per routine. In fact, the elders were less worried about Shafaq, who had always been good with household chores and did not have any demands about studying or working after marriage.
Aftab arranged some additional funds for the wedding from some friends. The date was drawing closer, but there was not a lot of excitement at her home. The kind of excitement and preparations Hira had always noticed in PTV dramas was missing. In these dramas, there was festivity and cheerfulness in the air and the bride sat happily among her cousins and friends, bedecked with jewelry and mehndi (henna). No such merriment surrounded Hira and there was a hint of finality and somberness in the air, as if this wedding was simply a rite of passage that had to be completed with no space for emotion or warmth. Despite her fears for Shafaq, Hira could not wait to get away to Peshawar.
