Sugandha Pallan

New Delhi (India)

To make our ends meet

“Kehkasha! You got the job. It’s a miracle,” Assadullah said as she entered the house.

“Abbu! Why did you leave the opportunity?” Kehkasha asked, wiping off the tears off her face.

“Only one of us could get the job, they told me,” Assadullah informed her.

“So, why didn’t you take it, Abbu?,” she asked furiously.

“We fled Afghanistan two years ago and came to Delhi not because I feared death, but I feared that your education would go to waste. Displacement is not a replacement for happiness. I did it for your career,” Assadullah said, consoling her. “It’s okay as long as one of us has the job,” he said.

“I didn’t take it either,” she said. “I have seen you toil to make our ends meet. You are educated too. You don’t have to sell vegetables. I did what I had to do for your self-respect,” she said.

Silence took over and overrode the emotions of fear, turmoil and love, only to be broken by the ringing of the landline. Kehkasha picked up the phone and listened carefully. “Thank you,” she said as she cut the call.

“Abbu! Both of us got the job,” she said. A miracle had happened.