Don't know what to do!

DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO

I just received a phone call from a woman, I barely know.

She was crying and wanted advice on what to do with life.

She has been living with the father of her kids, for a long time.

He had promised her a marriage that has yet to see the day.

This afternoon, he raised his hand on her and stormed outside.

She knew that after some time, he would be back, late at night.

There would be tears but then making up, to set the things alright.

It was a norm and nothing wrong as he was with the might.

She never had the guts to stand and always took it all in stride.

But something changed, shook her up and made her call out for help.

Today, her son, the three year old, had seen his father raise his hand.

She had to stop but did not know how she or he was going to change.

She needed help and wanted to know, how to work things out with him.

I tried convincing her to find a way of leaving him, for he wasn't going to change.

She sobbed a lot and kept on repeating,

"I don't know how or what to do. I want him and I love him."

                                                                                       Shamsa Anwar.

Love at first sight

He was sitting alone in his apartment.

It was a cold evening in January, when the phone rang.

It was his mother, calling from the other side of the globe.

He had not seen his family for years in pursuit of studies.

"Son, we got you engaged two days ago. Her name is Shamsa. You will get her picture in the mail in a couple of coming weeks".

He tells me that he fell in love the moment he looked at my photo....

And also that...

He has been loving me ever since!

My Love Story

"I have been searching for past three years.
I have seen her in my dream.
I am not leaving until you say yes."

A few weeks back, she had seen me at my grandma's funeral. She was my aunt's neighbor. She waited for a grace period and then visited our house with her daughter and my aunt as she knew that my father had to go back to Saudi after his two week's vacation.
She visited again, a couple of days later, with her younger son and daughter.
She said, "Our family knows your's. We both belong to well known families. I've seen her in my dream. She's going to be my daughter in law. You can inquire all that you want, but I'm not leaving until I hear your yes, about my older son's proposal for her".

My parents panicked. Didn't know what to say. My uncle said close your eyes and accept the proposal. He had seen the guy grow up since childhood.

My dad came with my uncle to my room, handed me two pictures and asked my opinion.
I stole a shy glance at the pictures, in which the young man stood so far away that I could not even make out his features in that hasty glance but I knew right away....he was the man I was going to spend the rest of my life with.
I told my father, his wish was my command.

Within five days, I was engaged to a man,
I or my parents had never seen or met in life.

Shamsa Anwar









https://plus.google.com/109693724428773152681/posts/ZjmVZPUUko4

She Doesn't Know!

She was a family friend.
A few families were traveling together.
Everyone told her to ride in the comfy car.
She refused and sat with me, saying,
"I'll ride with my little sister".
I sat still with my aching muscles,
watching her peaceful face, as she slept with her head in my lap.
She changed my life that day.
I stated looking up to her as the sister, I never had.

Years later...
It was her wedding day.
I had flown from another country to be there for her.
With much struggle I was able to get into her dressing room.
She was surrounded by the others.
Her cousin was everywhere.
I tried to get closer.
Someone asked her about me.
She passed a fleeting glance and turned her head saying,
"She's merely a family friend."
She did not even notice how I backed out and turned away.
She changed the course of my life, as I left the room, that day.

DECEPTION

It took me some time to understand why those girls had to hit the restrooms right after arriving and before leaving the university. They would come from home, covered up in huge scarves all wrapped up, in public buses. They would go to the restrooms after reaching the university, before classes, remove the scarves and spend time doing make up. After classes, they would wash off their faces in the restrooms and board the buses after wrapping themselves once again in those giant scarves.
The first year when we had to organize a university function as a farewell for the previous class, none of those girls wanted to participate. They were awkward on stage and in spotlight. I was the only female in a group of boys who arranged the function. I've described the shocking experience of that night in another blog. http://shamsasays.blogspot.com/2013/12/oh-shame.html
By the next year, when we had to throw a welcome party for the incoming class, the same girls overtook the stage. I was not able to attend the function due to my own engagements with my in laws, but next day I found some girls crying miserably in the class when I went to the university. A small group of our male class fellows was trying to console the young damsels in distress.
On inquiry, I came to know that the local newspaper had run the coverage of the function on the front page. Those girls were prominent in the pictures published in the newspapers. The girls were afraid to return home as they had not told their parents where they were the previous night. They were crying on the shoulders of the boys about the shame their fathers would feel on seeing them fully made up, without head covers, on stage, with boys, in the pictures.
I did not use to wear any head cover in those days. I had already appeared twice in television programs by then. I had my own car, freedom and no restrictions. I was all about women lib and expression. Yet, I had out right refused the offers of "friendship" from my male peers as I knew the "mentality". Those girls were surrounded by the same guys they now called their close friends. I did not feel any compassion for the girls as they bawled. I only felt disgust.
I was not against makeup, friendship with the opposite gender or gaining confidence. Those were things all closer to my heart, except friendship with the opposite gender as I always had a lot of reservations about that. What I failed to understand was the deception. Either be strong enough to own up to your freedom or simply accept the circumstances. It's the lying that gets me. Lying is cheating to ones own self. http://shamsasays.blogspot.com/2013/12