Hope

My wife had a close friendship with the owner of a beauty parlor in our neighborhood and often spoke highly of her. One day, she told me about a woman named Shehla, whose life had slowly turned from happiness into hardship. The story I share is based on what my wife learned from Shehla herself.

My first meeting with Shehla took place at her beauty parlor, which had a strong reputation in the area. When I visited, I realized the praise was well deserved. Shehla was graceful, well-groomed, and extremely professional. More than her appearance, her kindness and warm attitude stood out. She treated everyone with respect and often charged less than others, always considering her clients’ situations. This is why anyone who visited her parlor once would surely return.

Over time, my friendship with Shehla grew stronger. She confided that her marriage had ended in divorce because her husband was addicted to drugs. Though I tried to comfort her and encouraged her not to lose hope, Shehla had become emotionally exhausted and was unwilling to take the risk of marriage again.

Life moved on, and soon I got married and relocated to another city. My meetings with Shehla became rare. During one visit to my parents’ home, I went to see her again and learned from her mother that a good marriage proposal had come for Shehla. Her parents wanted her to reconsider marriage, reminding her that parents do not live forever.

Months later, I was surprised to hear that Shehla had married and moved to her in-laws’ house. I found this out when I visited her parlor and learned that she had sold it. The decision troubled me, as the parlor was well-established and located in a prime area. Though my mother reassured me, my heart remained uneasy.

Around the same time, my own life took an unexpected turn. After a minor disagreement, my husband asked me to leave the house. I returned to my parents’ home, struggled emotionally, and eventually started working at a school to support myself.

One day, on my way to school, I met Shehla’s mother, who invited me to visit her. When I finally went to her home, Shehla embraced me warmly. Nearby, a chubby infant lay in a cradle. Smiling, Shehla said, “You’ve become an aunt.” I was overjoyed and showered the baby with prayers.

Shehla explained that her husband had gone to Saudi Arabia for work. However, I noticed tears in her eyes. When I pressed her gently, she finally confessed the truth: her husband had divorced her, and she had returned to her parents’ home. Worse, he had threatened to take their child away from her.

Despite her fears, Shehla refused to go to court. She said she had placed her case in Allah’s court and trusted Him completely. Sadly, her fear came true when her former husband took the child away. Shehla was shattered and went from shrine to shrine, praying for her child’s return.

Her faith did not go unanswered. One day, her former husband returned the child on his own. No one knows what softened his heart, but Shehla was reunited with her son.

Today, Shehla runs a small beauty parlor from one room of her home. Her income is modest but sufficient for her and her child. Her son is now four years old and enrolled in school. Shehla says she is willing to live on simple food if it means securing her son’s education. Though memories of her past still make her ill at times, one look at her child renews her strength. Her only goal is to raise him into an educated and honorable human being. I firmly believe that Shehla’s hope will one day bear fruit.