10-
PARENTAGE
Vs.
Parentage
Story
by:
Nizar B. Zain
Translating by: Dr.Dinha T.Gorgis
Hashemite University, Jordan
"Hi, dad! Hi, mom! Terrific news!”
“What is
it?”
“Well,
I've got acquainted with a fabulous girl. She's my mate
in the university and loves me in return …"
His
father, struck by what he had just heard, gazed at him
and held his mouth wide open…
His
mother, on her own part, was also stunned; she could
hardly draw a smile on her face…
Giving
him no time to utter a word more, she machine-gunned him
with questions: "Is she beautiful? Tall? Short? Fair?
Brown? What about her family? Her social and economic
status? Are her parents aware of their daughter’s ins
and outs and her ill-favored behavior? And are ….? And
…..?"
Shocked
by his mother's stand, Tarik went breathless. When he
started to answer, his father interrupted him
reprehensively: "Have you joined the university to love
and make love , you scoundrel? Haven't you got rid of
your boyish behavior yet?!"
Still
unable to restore his normal breath, Tarik retorted with
difficulty: "This is not boyish or girlish, dad? It's
serious; this is my life, dad!" Then he turned to his
mother , now more confidently and resolutely, saying :"
Irrespective of her appearance, mom, and regardless of
her family's social and economic standard, I love her,
and I will get married as soon as I get a university
degree. As for her manners, she's the noblest of all
nobleness.."
The
father jumped off his seat furiously in retaliation of
his son's: " This, I call 'audacity' , you scoundrel!
It's just unacceptable! We cover your high expenditures
in order for you to learn, not to waste time on talk
that is void of common sense…! " Then he resolutely
concluded: " No for married love.. No for marriage off
the traditional record.. No marriage prior to
graduation, work, and self-reliance. You have no right
to choose whoever you admire…Go to your books right
now, you scoundrel! And stop this ridiculous show!"
****************
"I've not
died yet. I am Kawthar's father. I am her guardian; she
is my responsibility. I have the upper hand in their
house. Therefore, you are not in a position to offend
her at all. Just leave the matter to me. This is an
order, not a plea. Got it?!"
Kawthar
got back from university. She made her way to the
sitting room. Faces were grim! She noticed her mother's
tears. As she had used to, Kawthar kissed her father's
hand, but he shunned her roughly.
"What's
the matter?" she asked.
Her
brother, a physician, wanted to answer her , but the
father asked him to say no word.
"What's
the matter, for God's sake?" she asked again, but
insistently.
The
father answered her briefly: "Some lady called up your
two brothers and told them that you have a relation with
a university mate, called Tarik. Is that true?"
"Yes,
that's true," she honestly answered. His fury
culminated; he continued with a more forceful note:
"But the
lady also said he has a rented flat and that you both
meet there. Isn't that true?"
Kawthar
smacked her cheeks with her two hands, and rushed to the
holy Qur'an hanging on the forefront of the room. She
picked it up and swore that it was not true, and that it
would have been mischievous for her to do such an act…
"But who
is this fraud?" asked Kawthar excitedly.
Her
brother, the physician, answered ironically:" It's his
mother, Miss Kawthar; it's his mother!"
**********************
One
year later
"Good
morning, dad. Happy feast!"
"Who?
Tarik? What has reminded you of us after all these
days?"
" You and
mom have ever been on mind, dad. It's feast days; all
people ought to have their hearts open, and be merciful,
isn't it so, dad?"
"Is it
that simple? And after you've betrayed us?"
"
'Betrayal' is too much a word, dad! But let's forget
about the past, dad, and give ‘coming into good terms’
some chance…
" We've
been told that you became a father!"
" Yes,
that's true! Our son is three months now. Aren't you
anxious to see your grand- son who carries your name,
dad?"
" We've
also come to know that you've been living in a place
owned by your father –in-law?!”
" That's
also true. And he covers all our expenditures, including
university fees. He's nice and sympathetic ,dad.”
"And you
did accept him to buy you?!"
"No, dad;
no body could buy me! I'll pay him, as agreed, every
single penny he has spent on us as soon as I get a
degree and find a job."
Then
added he with a blameful tone:
"Don’t
you ever stop reprimanding me, dad?"
"But you
ignored us, Tarik…and hurt us…"
"And what
about the pain mom has caused my wife and me? Anyway,
dad, let’s forget it and start afresh."
Then
Tarik added with a tender voice filled with hope:
" I
wonder if you'll receive us warmly, dad, have we paid a
visit and bade you ' good wishes' on the occasion of
Fitr Feast?"
And all
unexpectedly, his mother snatched the receptor off his
father's hand and answered her son resolutely:
"Listen,
Tarik ! We hold no grudge against you personally; you
are our offspring, and the only son ! You and your son
will be always a welcome in this house. As for your wife
who took you away from us, I say: no way!".
