A Life Full of Sorrow

Mumtaz Bibi and Ameer Khan were living a happy life with their children—Shabbir, Mubeen, and a daughter named Saadia—in a small two-room house. In their small village, even if material possessions were limited, relationships were abundant, and these bonds were far more valuable than wealth

Shabbir, the elder son, worked in the city, while the younger son, Mubeen, worked as a conductor on a local vehicle in the village. Their daughter Saadia was a seventh-grade student. Mumtaz Bibi’s sister lived nearby, as did her brother. Relations with the sister were good, but the brother remained somewhat distant and upset.

Life was passing normally when Mumtaz Bibi began to fall ill. She grew weaker day by day, suffering from headaches and stomach pain. They tried every remedy suggested by people, but nothing brought relief. Saadia, too, became deeply worried.

Before her mother’s illness could improve, another calamity struck. Mubeen fell from a moving vehicle and was rushed to the hospital. The village landlord, whose vehicle Mubeen worked on, bore all the hospital expenses. After remaining unconscious for three days, Mubeen left this world forever, leaving behind his grieving mother and sister.

The illness and the loss of her beloved son shattered Mumtaz Bibi completely, confining her to her bed. Ameer Khan was equally broken, as if his backbone had snapped. Mumtaz Bibi could not bear the weight of her sorrows for long and soon passed away. For Ameer Khan and his children, it felt as though everything had been destroyed. Ameer Khan became silent and withdrawn.

Time moved on, and the month of Ramadan arrived. Initially, Saadia managed meals with help from neighbors, but it soon became difficult. She was neither too young nor old enough to shoulder all household responsibilities alone. Ameer Khan was slowly wasting away in grief for his wife and son. Shortly after Mumtaz Bibi’s forty-day memorial, Ameer Khan also passed away.

Now only Saadia and Shabbir were left in the world. Their maternal aunt, who lived nearby, decided that Shabbir should get married so that Saadia would have companionship and Shabbir would have support. While searching for a suitable match, Shabbir revealed that during her lifetime, his mother had chosen a proposal for him. He wished to marry into the same family his mother had approved.

They went with the proposal, which was accepted. Preparations began, and soon Shabbir was married. With Ayesha’s arrival, the house came alive again. Saadia was delighted to have a sister-in-law, and Shabbir felt somewhat at peace.

As days passed, Saadia’s paternal cousins proposed her marriage to their son, but Shabbir refused. He said that since they had not maintained good relations with their parents while they were alive, he could not now give them his sister’s hand in marriage. Offended, they severed all ties.

When sorrow and failure enter a person’s life, even loved ones turn into strangers. Soon after, Saadia and Shabbir’s aunt—their greatest support after their mother—was struck by a fatal illness and passed away after a few days in a major city hospital.

This was another fresh grief for Saadia and Shabbir. Human beings plan for one thing, yet fate brings something else. Over time, however, time proved to be the greatest healer, slowly soothing even the deepest wounds. Eventually, Saadia’s maternal uncle proposed his son for her, and this time Shabbir agreed. The engagement was simple—only a verbal promise.

Later, Saadia and Ayesha moved with Shabbir to the city where he worked. Ayesha proved to be a kind wife and a caring sister-in-law. She taught Saadia cooking and household management, and they soon became close. Whenever Shabbir got leave from work, he brought them back to the village—where memories of their parents and beloved brother still lived on, memories they could never forget.

Although Shabbir and Saadia’s lives were filled with mountain-like sorrows and their story was one of pain, they never let go of patience. In the end, happiness finally became their destiny.