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STORY TIME: The mystery
“Dad! What is the reason you don’t want to send Fatima to school? She is my sister and she has equal rights,” I argued with my father.
“My son, as you know very well that in our family there is no concept of educating girls,” father replied. I belonged to a middle class family. My father was a government servant. In the salary he got we could barely run the house. I had a sister name Fatima and she was very found of learning. She wanted to go to school with me but could not express this desire to father.
None of the girls of my family were educated; I had five female Cousins, but no one went to school.
One day Fatima came to me and expressed her desire. “Ahmad I want to study. Please help me. If you do not help me in this case then give me another suggestion.” When I looked at her, tears were streaming down her rosy cheeks, and her eyes were full of pearls.
“Fatima you know that it’s father’s responsibility,” I replied sorrowfully. Suddenly Fatima said, “I have an idea but promise me not to tell any body.”
For a few moments I started at her, “I shall not say a word to anybody, I promise”, I assured her.
“You have your old books, if you start teaching me daily for some time I can learn, please Ahmad.” Fatima’s suggestion was very sensible and I promised her to teach her daily.
From next day I started teaching Fatima. I found her very intelligent and hardworking. Soon Fatima completed her primary school education. She was so happy.
Father and mother were unaware of this activity. At the same time I passed my matriculation exam. Fatima continued her study; she worked hard day and night. After some years my father retired.
To support my family financially I had to take up a job in a private company. My father wanted me to be an officer, but due to hurdles in life I could not come up to his expectations.
Days passed by and Fatima completed her graduation.
One day while going to my office I met with an accident. A truck was coming towards me. I thought that the driver wanted to turn left. I crossed the road quickly. But in this commotion a car hit me. I fell down on road. Then I don’t know what happened. When I opened my eyes I found myself in a hospital. Father, Mother and Fatima were standing around me. All were very worried. My mother came near my bed and sat beside me.
“Ahmad... you have lost your leg in this accident”, she said to me in utter despair. It seemed as though I was struck by lightening.
A few days later I was discharged from the hospital.
My office in charge told me that I could not continue my job as I was now unable to take the stress of the position. I was the only earning member and now I was unable to help my family.
One day my father came to me and said, “Ahmad! I want to discuss a problem with you”.
“Why not Dad, Please go ahead”.
Ahmad I am too old to support our family and you are also unable to help me. I wonder how we are to manage the house.”
I could clearly see the worry in my father’s eyes.
“Father today I will tell you a secret”.
“Fatima, please come here”. I called Fatima, and then said to father. “Fatima, my sister and your daughter is not an uneducated girl, she is B.A.”
“What?” My father asked in utter astonishment.
“Yes father it is a big secret and a long story,” I continued and told my father the whole story. With the permission of my father and mother the very next day Fatima gave her interview in a school for the post of a teacher.
With the blessing of God and her own efforts she cleared the interview and began service.
When my uncles came to know about this they were very impressed. It was unbelievable for all. They decided that they will also teach their daughters. They accepted that females play an important role in our society.
Because if today my sister was uneducated she wouldn’t have been able to take the responsibility of whole family on her shoulders.
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