Special Relationships
The columnist Nazneen Gulamhussein Mukhtar (Arusha, Tanzania) is the headmistress of Yaadgare Murtazawi Madressa, She is a mother to five children and loves writing and reading. She always wanted to inspire children – her favourite audience. Writing has been her passion for as long as she can remember, and believes that effective learning takes place through story telling.
The relationship between Fatima and her son Aliasgher was a special relationship full of love and kindness. Fatima was excited the moment she held her little baby boy in her hands for the very first time in the hospital and she thanked God verbally and showed it through her actions by being a really good parent.
She taught her son good morals and Akhlaq and she was his first teacher, as all mothers ought to be. Fatima was a young widow as Aliasgher’s father was killed in the war between Iraq and Iran, and was thus a martyr. She taught her son to be proud of his father and to be a true soldier of Imam Mahdi (as).
Whenever Aliasgher was sad, she would cheer him up and say, “A true soldier is supposed to be strong and happy my darling!” and his little face would light up and he would agree with her.
Sometimes when Aliasgher would fall and hurt himself, she would say, “There’s a bit swelling here and there, but the pain will soon disappear, as I am here to take care of you!” what beautiful words they were.
The first time Aliasgher went to school was really a big day for Fatima. She could not help feeling proud of her little son carrying his cute bag to school. She missed him for those few hours in the morning and waited eagerly when he came home from school. It was a routine that Fatima would be at the door to welcome Aliasgher when he came home from school and she would ask him to tell her all that happened, she laughed at his jokes and shared those moments with him. How lucky Aliasgher was. He did not realize this until he was 6 years old.
One bright day Fatima walked along the road with her heavy shopping basket and wanted to be home on time as it was 12 o clock and Aliasgher would be home at 12:30. She could not miss this opportunity to welcome him as she always did. Unfortunately, as she crossed the main road to go home, her purse fell down and she bent to pick it up, and just at that very moment a car came speeding and Fatima was thrown across to the pavement and there was a sickening thud as she fell and her head banged on the roadside. There was blood all over where she fell, and she was taken immediately to the hospital. The Doctors had to operate on her almost at once because she had severe head injuries and her jawbone was hurt too.
As soon as she regained consciousness she realized what had happened and frantically looked around the room for a clock. There was none to be seen. She rang the bell and a nurse came in smiling.
“I see that you have regained consciousness Alhamdulilah….” said the kind lady.
“Thanks a lot. May I know what the time is? You see my little son comes home at 12:30 and if I am not home to receive him, he will be frightened and alone!” said Fatima and she spoke with difficulty because her jawbone was aching.
The nurse was overwhelmed by her concern for her son and told her, “It’s 5 p.m., Fatima. You have been in a terrible accident and have a bad cut on your head, and your jawbone is in a bad state, although not broken. But do not worry about your son, as your neighbour has been kind enough to keep him at her house and will bring him to see you as soon as I call her.”
Then Fatima remembered that she must look a sight after the accident. She asked the kind nurse to bring her a mirror and told her to call her neighbour to bring her son as soon as possible.
The mirror was brought and Fatima looked with horror at her face. It was puffed up and her head was shaven where they had stitched her up. Her jawbone looked twice its size due to the swellings. What a sight she looked!
Fatima wished now that Aliasgher was not coming, what would he think of her? Would he love her as much? She looked so ugly!
Suddenly there was a patter of small running feet and Aliasgher entered the room. Fatima looked at her son with mixed feelings of apprehension and joy.
Aliasgher looked at her and slowly hugged her . “it’s okay, mummy! I will take care of you” said the sweet little boy!
Fatima could not help the tears that flowed in her eyes, her little boy was smiling at her and looking with such tenderness and love, there was absolutely no sign of the repulsion she had expected at his reaction on seeing her face.
“I must be a sight dear!” she said slowly,
Aliasgher looked at her with love and said, “You are my own darling mummy! There are some stitches in your head, and I guess your hair will soon grow longer, I know your jaw must be hurting, but the pain will soon disappear, now that I am here to take care of you!”
Mother and son talked for a long time and at last, the nurse came to collect Aliasgher and said, “Darling, it’s time to go home.. don’t worry your mother will be back soon!”
Aliasgher smiled and said, “Mummy I am leaving now, but I will soon come and take you home! You know I just realized something, you are a very special mummy!”
“And you are a special son, Aliasgher. Khudahafiz darling…I will soon be home…”
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