Ayesha at Last

by Uzma Jalaluddin

“Laik, why did you not join the RCMP? They always get their man.” Because this time I am after a woman.

“Your granddaughter comes from a good family, and girls should be married young, otherwise they become stubborn and set in their ways.”

“This is Ayesha. Hafsa’s much older, unmarried cousin. Hafsa is much prettier than her, with lighter-colored skin too.”

“As far as I’m concerned, I have no daughter.”

He bought us matching notebooks, she realized with a lurch.

Tarek eyed her. He had never sought Farzana out before, not in all these years. She had become a bogeyman in his mind, the manufacturer of his greatest disappointment. But after her performance at the conference meeting, he had finally been able to see her for who she truly was: a pathetic caricature, a puffed-up phony who needed to be knocked off her self-righteous pedestal.

Khalid paused, unsure what to do. Then he grabbed Amir’s arm and pulled, hard. Amir planted his feet firmly on the ground, but after a second he went limp and allowed himself to be led, like a child, to the basement of the church.

“Wherever you go, there you are,” Joyce said, patting Khalid on the knee. Khalid wasn’t sure what she meant, but he appreciated the support.

You can quit teaching and focus on writing your little poems.

September is a good month for weddings,

It’s not enough to find someone you love. You have to be ready for that love, and ready to make changes to welcome it into your life.”

“However, a few weeks’ acquaintance is not enough to sustain a working knowledge of another person.” “But it’s enough time to decide to marry them?”

You are upset with me for belittling your work, yet you seem to have little regard for it yourself.

Sometimes prayers floated up to heaven. Sometimes they hung around here on earth and waited for you.

“Just remember to pack light. Dreams tend to shatter if you’re carrying other people’s hopes around with you.”

Always dream together, raja. Always leave space in your life to grow and soften.”