My Mother — Page 6
6 ’s happy and carefree life in her parents’ home came to an end with her wedding, when she took up her residence with her parents-in-law. Her husband was still a student, and was away from home most of the time. Her father-in-law was fond of her, and was prepared even to indulge her within the limits of his resources, but she was determined to adapt herself in every respect to the austere ways of the family and to demand nothing for her- self. Even when her mother-in-law offered her something by way of a treat by enquiring, ‘Would you like some of this?’, she would decline it politely with, ‘No, Ma’am, I do not care much for it’; though, if the offer had been made without an enquiry she would have availed of it gratefully. She helped with the household chores eagerly and shirked or evaded nothing. She rose early in the latter part of the night and put in two hours grinding corn at the hand mill before the call of Fajr Prayer sounded from the mosque. She visited her parents for brief periods when she was invited, but did not linger with them, though life with them was luxury as compared with her life at Daska. She knew where her duty lay and was content with it.