Only yesterday mother had chided me for being so bold and brazen with my remarks. She had seen an ignorant nonchalance in my attitude and thought it her duty to warn me of the imminent perils of unattended speech. Today I had to return the favour. She was being too emotional, invested in reasons that were faulty and irrelevant, careless at best. So we hashed it out between ourselves; she would be the devil and I the pawn, and tomorrow we would switch places and re-enact the entire play. Now that the parts were assigned, we stood stripped of ambition and malevolence, courageous enough only to scream profanity back at the spectators who once marveled at our fortitude from the sidelines. And today I am what I have become – the daughter who turned against mother, who swore to be good and follow the lettered command to be honourable, but in a bid to be caring and protecting, left her to sleep while promising to be there, waiting with a glass of milk when she awoke.
Mother was sick and though she would never have me, I knew she needed me here. But a selfish abandon beckoned and I ran as soon as her eye lids stopped fluttering and never looked back to see her gasping for breath when she awoke. Tomorrow will be my turn to play devil.
Your writing in this piece is once again exquisite. I’ve read it several times and am trying to understand the many layers of symbolism in the passage. Interestingly, each time I read it I reach a different conclusion as to what it means. One can’t put a finger on just one message that is trying to be expressed.
I can certainly feel the emotion.
Well done my dear. Please update more regularly.
I like the glass of milk, Hajera. There’s nothing better in the middle of a long metaphor than some cold refreshment. Was it cold? I want it to have been cold.
I loved this. You are a gifted writer…masha’Allah. (I know I love something when: I finish reading it and immediately sigh at the perfectness of it…and then wish I could write something like it!) Just returning to the blogging world and so far I love what I’m reading around. Thanks.