ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Two Women and a Man Two Women and a Man Rihab sat alone, musing to herself about the recent events that had taken place within her home. "….everything is over. Hasanat has achieved happiness, having decided upon a harmonious future for herself. All the guests have left after celebrating the happy occasion with Hasanat, whose finger is now embellished with an engagement ring.

She has got the man of her dreams and is now thinking of her future happy marriage. Everyone left, praising the bride and groom. What bothers me most is that I now have to go to my room and suffer tortuous boredom and isolation. How cruel it is to have to live in this spiritual alienation. My family is against me, on the pretext that I am wayward…. In fact they are!

With their background and old-fashioned ideas that are the mainstay of their lives, they are all deviated, even my sister Hasanat, who now thinks she's chosen the right path and tries to make out that she's a saint. She is really misguided and abnormal. How could she agree to marry a man whom she has never seen, and who is far away? He didn't even take the trouble to attend his own engagement party! Instead he asked his father to represent him! They say that he is a committed believer.

Then he's the same as Hasanat; both of them are crazy. How could he ignore beautiful European women and choose someone like Hasanat? He could get the most beautiful girls –he is rich and charming. Anyway, it must be some defect in him that made him turn to Hasanat and neglect those beauties. Infact, Hasanat is beautiful and educated, but I never thought she could get such a man. He is a complex person though -she won't be happy with him." Rihab tried to dismiss the subject from her mind.

She took a book from the shelf and tried to read. The book was entitled ‘Nothing Counts’ and written by an Egyptian Author. ‘Nothing is important. Neither dignity nor conscience, not even what comes after death.’ She enjoyed reading the story, written for people like her and read till late. The next morning, Rihab awoke late. She sat listening to the happy voices of her mother and sister in the living room. She dragged herself out of bed and joined them with a forced smile on her face.

She saw her sister was wearing a white gown. She was happy and cheerful, satisfied with her future. Jealousy increased in Rihab's heart, but she tried to look normal.