Vengeance
Yasmin Jaldin
In the days of yore in Dharga Town lived Zanoon, a very rich trader’s
wife. She lived in the lap of luxury with valets at her beck and call.
Even though, she was blessed with wealth, Zanoon and her husband were
not vain, they helped the poor immensely. Fathima was her only daughter
and the ‘apple of her eye’. Zanoon had very high hopes of giving her in
marriage to a wealthy trader but alas, her expectations did not
materialise since Fathima was secretly in love with Rasheed, her
immediate cousin and none other than Zanoon’s poor nephew.
 Rasheed was a humble young lad, a smalltime trader striving hard to
climb up the ladder. In fact he sent a marriage proposal asking for
Fathima’s hand but Zanoon rejected it. Although repeated requests were
made to Rasheed to give up the affair he was adamant and defied her
requests.
Finally, Zanoon accepted him as her son-in-law. Thereafter, the
mother-in-law and son-in-law were always at loggerheads over trivial
matters and Rasheed never commended or agreed to whatever Zanoon
discussed with the family, and this led to bitter enmity with his
in-laws. No sooner the young couple were betrothed, Zanoon requested them
to leave her mansion and live separately.
Rasheed was humiliated and degraded, and he kept his distance
avoiding Zanoon as much as possible. Since he was a very persevering
young man, in no time he became very prosperous as a booming trader in
spices and now owned a chain of stores with many working under him.
His business thrived and he was well accepted in Dharga town.
Despite Rasheed being wealthy, Zanoon showed her displeasure towards him
refusing to entertain him.
As time went by, sadly, Zanoon was inflicted with a very serious
illness which several doctors diagnosed as incurable. Her distressed
relatives and friends visited her except for Rasheed. Even though he did
not visit her, Zanoon would enquire of his welfare and often say that
she wished to see him.
Since this was a call from a very serious patient, he was pestered by
everyone to visit his sick ma-in-law. He never paid heed, and would put
it off saying that he was very busy. Anyhow, Zanoon’s life was now at
stake and her days were numbered.
Regrettably, a few weeks later Zanoon passed away. Rasheed did not
even bother to pay his last respects, but on the day of her Janaza he
secretly wended his way to the burial grounds and hid himself until the
gathering took leave after the burial.
After performing all rites when the congregation had left, a guilty
Rasheed came out of his hideout and made his way to Zanoon’s grave. He
pleaded for pardon several times from his ma-in-law and lit the incense
he had brought reciting a prayer for his forgiveness. With a very heavy
heart he paced his steps to return, when he heard someone call his
name, turning back he saw his ma-in-law beckoning him with a smile,
which jostled him.
That day, he had a sleepless night and had many bad dreams. He did
not disclose the episode even to his wife but kept on reciting prayers
morn, noon and night. Fathima observed his change of attitude and
enquired, to which he replied disdainfully, saying he should not be
bothered.
Alas, a few months later, Rasheed developed a fever and was inflicted
with the similar illness that snuffed out Zanoon which doctors diagnosed
as an incurable disease. Several doctors administered various
concoctions but it was of no avail. Any hope of curing him was bleak.
Sadly, he too passed away. |
