Safina always wanted to be a happy wife with a husband who would appreciate and love her and with whom they would create a happy future. She started to feel the signs of disappointment accumulating in her every day. Her parents always told her to wait for the man of her dreams, but Safina could wait no longer, especially after meeting Abdulwaheed.
The rain of bullets, however, didn’t deter Abdulwaheed from visiting the town as he was not new to the place. He was famous not for being rich or for being generous but for the difficult marital relationship he had with his first wife, Talatu, and five children. Safina didn’t mind that he was a bad husband and father to their kids, who left them alone to suffer while he enjoyed his reckless hearty life. This caught the eye of Daw Thirty Years, and she was mesmerized by the façade Abdulwaheed presented before her.
Since they came across each other, Abdulwaheed began spoiling Safina with material things, ranging from ornamental jewels to beautiful apparel and stacks of money. It was like he had the formula for laying down power where her heart was concerned. She was special, loved, and, at long last, wanted – sentiments that every lady admires most. He showered her with words of affection saying that he wanted someone like her by his side since she knew him better than Talatu.
Safina's friends warned her. They dragged her to the many times the man had failed in his responsibility as a husband and a father, how Talatu had been left to fend for their children and the house alone while Abdulwaheed roamed the streets for who knows what. However, all these Safina did not get a chance to see at all. To them, Abdulwaheed was not quite like them; even in their presence, she was misunderstood.
“He has become different,” she says it. “He does exactly what I have said a man should do: he treats me like a queen. ”
And so, Safina ignored all the red flags and succumbed to Abdulwaheed’s proposal, hearsay and disapproval from relatives and friends. The wedding was the best, and Abdulwaheed did not conform to budgeting since Safina was well-dressed in the best dress. It seemed like this could be a fairy tale— at least it was till the time it was not.
However, once the excitement of the wedding wore off, the true Abdulwaheed began to reveal himself. His once kind gestures disappeared, replaced with a coldness that Safina could not understand. The gifts stopped. The money, which once flowed generously, dried up. When Safina asked about the change, Abdulwaheed would snap, blaming her for nagging or inventing problems. Within months of their marriage, Safina found herself trapped. Abdulwaheed had not only stopped providing for her, but he had also begun to mistreat her. He became cruel and demanding, expecting her to take on the responsibilities of his household without support. He would come home late, barely acknowledging her presence, and when he did, it was only to complain or make unreasonable demands. Safina’s world began to crumble. She saw firsthand the life that Talatu had endured for years—the neglect, the cruelty, the lack of support. She had been deceived by Abdulwaheed's initial charm, only to be trapped in the same misery Talatu had long suffered. The fairy tale she had imagined turned into a nightmare. Months passed, and Safina’s patience wore thin. She could no longer bear the pain and suffering Abdulwaheed had brought into her life.
The man who had once professed love for her now treated her as an afterthought, a mere inconvenience. She realized her mistake—she had fallen for a mirage, believing the sweet words and lavish gifts without seeing the truth. Finally, after much reflection, Safina made the difficult decision to leave Abdulwaheed. It wasn’t easy; there were moments of doubt and fear of the unknown. But Safina knew that staying with Abdulwaheed would only destroy her
further.As she packed her things and prepared to leave, Safina reflected on the choices she had made. She had been blinded by material things, by the desire to be loved, and had ignored the signs that were so clear to everyone around her. Abdulwaheed had never changed; he had simply pretended to be someone else long enough to deceive her.Safina returned to her family, wiser and more cautious. She had learned a painful lesson—one that Talatu had known for years. True love is not bought with gifts and promises, and a person’s character is not something that can be hidden for long. What matters most in any relationship is respect, responsibility, and kindness—qualities Abdulwaheed never possessed.
In the end, she emerged stronger and more aware of the true value of love. She now knew that material things could never replace genuine care and responsibility, and that rushing into marriage with the wrong person could bring a lifetime of regret.
