“What seems to us as bitter trials, are often blessings in disguise ” ~ Oscar Wilde.
Yes! You’ve read it right. Hard times are often blessings in disguise. In situations like this, we need to let go and let life strength us. The known but not not cherished truth to be told is, life always teaches us the hardest chapters which our souls needs the most, for which our spirit craves. So this story is a journey of a young girl, for whom a little secret turned into the greatest blessings in her life, she calls it “BLISSFUL SECRET..!”
It’s the Story of a young girl Aliya, pursuing her graduation degree in Journalism, from the Delhi University. Aliya belonged to a Polytheist family where she was brought up in an environment of a very narrow minded towards people of other beliefs. She was taught, ever man with a beard and every woman with a veil or headscarf, we’re “BAD HUMANS “, so was always asked to stay away from people of that description. This made Aliya restrict to only friends who could fit into the category approved by her family, but still some where deep Inside, she was disturbed with things happening with a curiosity to know “why?”- why her family hates them but did not have the courage to question, also the 21 years of upbringing too had overpowered that feeling of disturbance of her spirit.
So as time flew, she finished with her graduation and now it was a new chapter of her life. Yes her work life had just began. Unaware that this chapter would change her completely, she was appointed as a junior assistant media person in a news channel directed by her father’s close friend, Mr Khannah. It was her first day, the Director divided the freshers into teams with one senior staff in each team to guide them in work. To her notice it was a lady with the veil named Ayesha Shaziya!!
Aliya requests the director, as he was her papa’s close friend, to change her team, and also let’s the director know her issue is with the team head wearing the headscarf. The director gets shocked, to know the extent of narrow mindset of hers. He warns her, telling this profession should not be affected with communalism, if it did then the entire nation would have to pay for it. And.. The director puts forth a condition, saying that you got to work with Shaziya for a week, and let me know your experience. Still if you hated her I’d change your team. Hearing this Aliya got a sense of relief, but working for a week was no a easy task for her. Still she agreed. But asked the director to keep this a “SECRET” And not to let her papa know about this condition, for her family would not let her work if known under whom she had to work.
Then next day was her first work day with Shaziya, she was nervous to her core. She knocked at her cabin, ” May I come in Ma’am..? ” “Yes Aliya you may come in I was waiting for you ” Was shaziyas’s reply. The first thing she objected on Shaziyas’s point regarding the work, was by saying you are wearing a headscarf, why do you think we should listen to you..? Shaziyas was shocked at once, then she smiled at Aliya patting on her back and said to her, ” Yes I’m wearing a headscarf, no doubt. But it’s only covering my head, and not my thinking, not restricting my opportunities in life, in fact it’s a sign of obeying my Creator. ok let me put it in easy words, will you not obey the orders of the director of this firm? Aliya replied yes I will!, but some where not able to understand what shaziya was up to. Yeah exactly we won’t ignore the director’s orders then how can I ignore, or not obey my Creator’s order? I’m just fulfilling my duties what my Creator has asked me to do, my dear. I hope you understood child”.
Aliya never imagined of getting a smooth and lovely mannerd answer to her rude questions. She had a thought, that women with a veil, we’re oppressed, not exposed to the challenges in work life etc, but now one by one all her false notions were coming to an end. She was mesmerised with Shaziyas’s knowledge of work, her tone of speech, her tenderness in handling even the toughest of the toughest situation with ease. Yes! Aliya started liking Shaziyas’s company. Another reason for her appreciation was that, Shaziya never bossed over any intern, she was very friendly and had an ocean of knowledge about things not restricted to her profession alone. So with this fondness Aliya started to spend more time with Shaziya.
Shaziya too liked Aliya, for her love towards the holy profession of Journalism. Now both were good friends, Aliya would question her on her beliefs etc to genuinely know things and Shaziya would patiently clear all her doubts. And this made her feel there’s nothing wrong in not belonging to the same religion, because this religion never affected their friendship. But deep down she regretted her misbehaviour on her first day with Shaziya, with disturbed her often. So she apologized for the same.
Shaziya smiled and said her, I had developed a feeling of appreciation towards you from day one because you dared to question, which gave me an opportunity to clear the prejudice against my community, but sighs on the bitter truth of how many people carry this wrong notions about a person without even not knowing them personally.
She advises aliya saying hat,
” My dear, I’d never want my dearest friend to walk on the wrong path. It’s a piece of advice that I’d love to give you my friend. I and you are in a holy profession, where the entire nation trusts us, thinking that we are genuine enough and making the truth reach them. When you step out, keep aside all the Preassumptions about the people you meet. Use the faculty of understanding, gifted by The Almighty and act accordingly. Misconceptions leads to mishaps. ”
With this piece of advice Aliyah makes an oath to herself that she’d be loyal to her profession, and will make only truth reach the Nation.
All these changes happened in only one week’s time . The next day she had to report to the director as per the condition, so she went smiling cheerfully. The director knew the reason behind the change as he knew how Shaziya was, she was a lady with a serene soul with remained unshaken in dignity.
Soon aliya too got promoted as a senior staff for her genuine and fabulous reporting skills. Their friendship got even stronger as time passed. Indeed she found a true companion in Shaziya.
Thus Aliya calls this journey, “Blissful secret” that turned out to be a greatest blessings in her life.
Zinerah hussain, Mangalore, Karnataka
