Yasmin's Corner: Nada

Nada had it all. It was no secret. Anyone associated with her knew it too. Her creativeness was to thank for her head turning style. Even as a Mohajaba her looks had brothers canoeing down the river of sin. She was beautiful with a body to kill for. She was that female with her hand raised in class answering questions that made its challenge level look like child's play. Despite her social status her head was in the clouds, dreaming of the day she could finally wear her white dress and tell her husband she promises to love him for better or worse. In her final year of high school that dream became a reality. A suitor proposed to her with his credentials in check: graduated from the city's top University with honors in Biochemistry. He was set to enter medical school this upcoming fall. All he needed now was for Nada to say yes and his life was complete. Her mother was ecstatic at the news calling all her friends and inviting them to a wedding that hadn't been set up. Her father, with a grim expression, asked Nada to reconsider. He had the funds for her to enter a University hoping that she would graduate in a couple of years with a degree that would take her places. "What was the point?" she thought. She'd be popping out children anyway, right? She politely declined her father's offer. Did she need to study the laws of thermodynamics when her husband would be giving her a limitless VISA card? She didn't think so. Her father persuaded her to reconsider. She could still be married and pursue an education. Children were a gift of God, it wasn't a promised matter. A trivial matter like that should not hold up a girl who's potential could soar through the universe. Her best friends envied her each secretly hating how lucky her life turned out to be while they had to fend for themselves in a cruel unforgiving world. They praised her for not having to worry about finding a husband, that she was extremely lucky to be a young mother. She didn't have to sleep lonely nights without shedding a tear because everybody was getting married while she was not. She was now one of the masses. Wedding day came and it was just as she imagined it, if not better. Her husband looked handsome in his suit while she was breath taking in her white lace dress. They looked into each others eyes, imaging the world of possibilities between them. Everybody around her smiled wholeheartedly, happy for the girl who now had it all. Eventually, her friends went back to school each pursuing a degree in their preferred fields. They caught up with each other often talking about their lives, gossip, and weekend getaways. They were also planning a party, celebrating the pregnancy of their dear friend Nada. They sat there throwing out names at random for her future boy or girl. Time came and left. Her husband was now a family practitioner and Nada was now a mother to a handsome three year old boy. She was also pregnant, hoping to give birth to a girl. Meanwhile, her friends were finishing up their undergraduate's. Each hopefully pursuing a spot in Law school, Dentistry, Medical school, and even teachers College. Aisha the future Barrister was now engaged to a brother from Tunisia. One by one these girls were all next in line to celebrate their engagements. Nada was all happy for her friends, but she felt a tinge of bitterness, a voice in her head told her that could have been her. She could have been married to her husband and pursue a career. In fact she was sure that she would have held a prestigious rank in a bank by now. Though it was too late she was now 25 and her life had already moved on. She had responsibilities as a mother. Surely she couldn't dwell on the past? But poor Nada, that was all that consumed her. The once loving wife now became bitter, she hated her husband for proposing to her earlier than he should have. Didn't he have the decency to wait? He took the brunt of her worst, never uttering a sentence that could cause her to explode. Instead he stayed away from their home, now almost a stranger to his wife and children. The jealousy of her friends lives drove her to taste blood in her mouth, biting her tongue when she heard they were taking maternity leave to give birth to their child. Still, she smiled giving the customary congratulations, buying baby clothes when ever the occasion called. One afternoon Nada was sitting beside her husband with his arm over her seeking to comfort her. She was trembling uncontrollably her eyes red from crying. She was tired, unimaginatively tired. Her kids demanded so much from her and sometimes she couldn't give them what they wanted. Her husband only demanded one thing, but she would rather die than give him what he wanted. He was concerned with the future of her and their children, but his choice was final. He wanted a divorce. But at that moment Nada wasn't crying because of a silly signature on a paper. She was crying because she should have listened to her father all those years ago. Some women choose to follow men, and some women choose to follow their dreams. If you're wondering which way to go, remember that your career will never wake up and tell you that it doesn't love you anymore.