"Sadia and Saud grew up in the same neighborhood, like two intertwined vines, their love was as pure as that of wild grapes, a friendship as clear and steady as the flowing river. Eventually, even the families started noticing. Saud's mother was a close friend of Sadia's mother, they had also spent their childhood together. Listening to their stories, they started advising each other. One said to the other, 'Sister! The world is talking about our children. Before someone else talks nonsense, why don't we become relatives as well? Why don't we make them sisters-in-law?' Saying this, they both laughed. Sadia also heard this sentence from her mother outside the door; her whole being lit up with a smile. Suddenly, everything started looking cheerful to her. Even the golden flowers in the courtyard seemed to be smiling.
On that very day, Saud arrived with a covered tray, which contained almond sweet, and his aunt had prepared it with great care. Sadia stepped forward, took the tray from his hand, and burst out laughing involuntarily. Then he said, 'What's wrong? Have you gone mad laughing like this? If I tell you why I'm laughing, you'll start laughing too.' Saying this, he waited for her response without revealing the reason, and she hesitantly replied, 'Is it because you're getting married? I heard it from my mother and aunt. It's really a happy thing.' Saying this, Saud also laughed with joy. He used to come to Sadia's house every day to deliver the monthly grocery, as there were no men in their house. Sadia's father and brother had gone to Saudi Arabia to earn a living and had instructed Saud to take care of their house. Saud's mother also instructed him to visit Aunt Batool's house once a day and to do whatever work she assigns him there. Thus, he would come to their house every day. Then Sadia's mother would say, 'Daughter! Give food to Saud.' He would refuse, but then he would sit down to eat and start talking to Aunt Batool. In the course of conversation, he would always bring up something that would irritate Sadia. Aunt Batool, why don't you start teaching Sadia now? She's grown up now, don't send her out of the house. 'Oh son, she is very fond of studying, even if I stop her, she won't listen.' Aunt Batool used to respond with a sarcastic tone. Sadia would say in anger, 'Saud! Why are you jealous of my studies? Do you want me to remain ignorant? Yes, I want to work in a bank after completing my MA? Yes, I want to work in a bank. You become a bank officer, then I won't work. ' He would say this while leaving, smiling quietly. You'll see what it's like when it comes time to read.' Sadia's father and brother both died in Saudi Arabia while working on a construction project near the Haram Sharif. Some other people were also there when the accident happened. This news struck like lightning, and Sadia's mother and daughter were struck. On top of the grief of the death of her father and brother, the flow of money that they used to receive every month also stopped.
His two younger sisters were studying in school, and his brother was still young. So all the burden of the family fell on Sadia's shoulders. Where the mother was, thinking about the dowry for her daughter's wedding, and where she was always looking at the newspaper, saying, 'Daughter, look at these advertisements, maybe there's a job somewhere.' Give an application. You might get a job. The mother only gives jobs through recommendations, not just by giving applications. Okay, still give an application. I'm not in a hurry to get you married. Saud had already become a daily wage worker here. His mother was dreaming of decorating her son's head with a crown. Good fortune came to him, he got a job at the bank. His friend's father was a big shot in the bank, so he didn't have to run around too much, but Sadia had to run around now. One day he turned aside his veil and said, 'Saud! You try somewhere. Mom wants me to work for a while so that they can save some money for our wedding. Saud knew that marriage was just an excuse, the real issue was financial constraint. He knew all the secrets of this house. Anyhow, he told his officer, 'These days, some vacancies have come out, and with his efforts, Sadia also got a job in the same bank where he himself was working. She was happy that they were together. Both were working in the same branch. Keeping in mind Aunt Batool's financial situation, Saud had left the demand for marriage. It's so difficult to tie knots on rising tides; only a sailor can tell you. Sadia also supported her cousin financially, and Saud had taken a considerable share of his life in it, thinking that if they manage the issues, they will think of getting married. They had no idea that problems are like the thorns of a bush. When one kind of problem ends, other problems arise. One should understand that this is the name of life. This was also the case with these loving people. When Sadia's younger sister completed her matriculation, instead of continuing her education or seeking employment, she fell in love with a boy from the neighborhood. Thankfully, the boy's parents were decent people. As soon as they found out, they came to ask for the girl's hand. They were aware of Aunt Batool's suffering. They wanted to save her from further distress, whereas the boy did not want to get stuck in the intricacies of marriage yet, but the parents, sensing the danger, tied them in the bond of marriage. Thus, a big burden was lifted off their heads. Sadia and her mother breathed a sigh of relief. Rashida was in the eighth grade. Her mother thought that this girl is serious and compassionate. If she completes matriculation, we will get her enrolled in a teacher training course. If she gets a job in some school, Sadia's wedding will be done. Until the little son grows up, we'll request Saud to get her a job. Aunt Batool did not know how much the world had progressed. Now a job after passing matriculation is an unattainable effort. Well, mothers don't stop thinking, they would say to Sadia as well, 'Daughter! You have sacrificed a lot, now the destination is near. When she gets a job, she will be free from the burdens of our house chores, and I will marry her off to you.'
Saadiya's younger sister Malikah turned out to be the fastest. For two years she kept failing in the eighth grade, then she adopted the same tactics as Rashida, but she couldn't sit on the mark. The boy disappeared after cheating, and Malikah gave up studying and went to console herself. This way, Saadiya's golden three years and the future slipped away. Meanwhile, Saud's parents and Saud himself were exhausted from Saadiya's and his mother's long neglect. Now Saud's behavior wasn't the same as before. He had even stopped going to Aunt Batool's house, where previously he used to frequent. He was spending more time away from home, and when Saadiya asked him about it, he would just change the subject. They used to go to the office together before, but now he started coming and going alone. Then Saadiya also didn't mind insisting on going with him. His jealousy did not allow him to tolerate it, because Saud had progressed to higher positions, and he said that the staff thinks it is flawed to come and go with his wife. In this way, your respect will decrease in people's eyes. Saadiya also thought that it was okay. I've been patient enough. He kept himself away from his happiness for me, yet he hadn't refused to marry yet. Eight long years had passed, and Saud's transfer had taken place in another branch. White hair began to appear in Saadiya's hair. When the graduation was completed, Saud got him employed. Aunt Batool's waist was now bending. Time passed slowly but silently. Finally, Malikah also got married. All duties were fulfilled, now Saad remained in the house with his mother. Now she was constantly thinking seriously about herself. Saud had reached a higher position and became so busy that she began to fear seeing him once a week. Finally, she began to meet him, asking him to get married now. She thought Saud would be happy with this, that the waiting hours were over. The time came when she waited anxiously. She thought that as soon as she mentioned it to him, he would immediately talk about the date, but Saad felt a big shock at this point when instead of showing impatience, he worked with indifference and coldness. Saadiya felt that he was avoiding the issue. When she asked the reason, he finally said that first your conditions were not right and now mine are not right. Father has incurred losses in business, my entire salary goes into the house. Let a few days pass, I'll collect enough money so that our wedding can be celebrated with pomp and circumstance. Meanwhile, he had started meeting Saadiya during this time but he never told her the truth that he had already married secretly, which his family was not aware of. He used to go straight from the office to his in-laws' house. He used to stay with his wife until eleven o'clock at night, then come home. He had told his mother that he was doing a part-time job somewhere else. Aunt Batool also started the demand for marriage with Saud's family. When pressure increased from the family's side, Saud said to Saadiya, "Saadi, the thing is that I am getting a chance to go abroad, but for that I need some money, that's why I am doing a part-time job. If you help me, I will complete my course soon and come back, and I will take you with me as my bride." Saadiya had blind faith in him, she said, "How much money do you need?" "Five lakh." "Five lakh is a big amount." She fell silent. After thinking for a while, she said, "Tafil has got a job, if I keep collecting my salary, then in four years, I will have accumulated so much money. Can you wait until then?" "No, because I can wait for a chance, but the chance cannot wait for me. I only have six months, then I have to collect the fee. Going abroad also requires showing the bank balance, that also needs to be arranged. I have already taken a loan, so the amount is deducted from my salary. I cannot take a loan again because if I find good opportunities abroad, I will resign from my job. Yes, you can take some loan from the bank." "I'll return it later." "Okay," Saadiya said, "How much loan can you get?" "Take as much loan as you can. I'll return it later. I'll also return all the remaining money after accumulating my savings for a year. I hope that enough money will be accumulated by then to solve your problem." Saadiya worked hard for a year, saved, and borrowed some money from her sisters, and gave five lakh to Saud. He was very surprised. He was thinking that Saadiya would be quiet after hearing five lakhs. Anyway, after taking the money, he disappeared for a few days. In fact, he had gone to the bank for training for two months on the bank's expenses. When he returned, he got a transfer to another city and left with his wife and children from there, while Saadiya kept thinking that he was abroad. It is regrettable that Saud had given her a false hope, whereas she had kept all her savings in his hands. After a year, Saud's family found out from Saud's family that he had come from abroad. He is now in another city and comes home very rarely. Saadiya's sacrifice was in vain. To pay off the loan, she had to sacrifice even the ordinary comforts of life. Life's car kept moving slowly but surely. The loans that were paid off repeatedly also decreased, but after that, Saadiya had become accustomed to accumulating money in such a way that she would keep accumulating pennies and dimes. Whether clothes were old or worn out, she didn't care. If sandals broke, shoes got worn out, she would put patches on them and wear them again. If friends saw her condition, they felt sorry for her. She would buy new shoes forcefully. The curry was cooked in the house, if the sister-in-law wasn't in the mood to give, Saadiya would eat roti with chutney and sometimes go to bed hungry, but she wouldn't eat anything for herself. No fruit was bought for years. The office also went by bus, although now the salary was such that she could buy a car easily, hire a driver. She had become an officer now. Mother would ask why she didn't spend on herself? For whom do you keep accumulating money? If these rupees don't work for you today, whose work will they do tomorrow? You have worked hard all your life. Now it's time to live a good life, but you have become so self-sufficient that you have left behind the stingy ones. After repeatedly telling her mother, one day she told her heart, saying, "Mother! I am not crazy, nor miserly and stingy. People laugh when they see my simple way of life in the office, but I don't care. I just have to collect a lot of money because I have to go abroad to Saud. It is easy that the money decreases on time." When Aunt Batool heard this, tears flowed from her eyes because she knew that she had never come to marry her daughter. He had already built his own house, grown old hair, and taken his parents
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