Rabia was a highly educated woman, raised in a household where education had utmost importance. Rabia's father had always been in favor of girls' education; it was because of him that she succeeded in obtaining the highest degree. She also worked in an organization and reached the position of manager within a period of four years.
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She was so adorable at birth that her aunt, her mother's elder sister, couldn't resist herself and asked her sister to engage Rabia with her son, Asad. Asad was four years old at the time. Rabia's mother couldn't say no to her elder sister and agreed to the engagement. At the age of 28, Rabia and Asad got married.
On the other hand, Asad had only graduated from high school. He ran his father's auto parts shop. His father was a man of traditional beliefs who considered woman's place to be strictly at home. After marriage she should be a housewife and nothing else. Rabia was told politely to leave her job and focus solely on the house hold.
At first, Rabia struggled with sudden changes. She was used to attending meeting, fulfilling targets, and gorwing professionally; now she had nothing but household activities and routines. She slowly adjusted to her new environment, this was mainly made possible because of Asad.
Asad though was not highly educated, but he had a kind heart. He had been deeply fond of her and affectionate toward Rabia since he was a boy, Rabia felt the same. He respected Rabia and her ambitions, even though he didn't completely understand them. He tried to spend as much time as possbile supporting her emotionally while she got used to her new responsibilities.
Asad's father, Jalal, had built the business in a time when there was almost no competition and profit was stable. Things were already changing when Asad took over the shop. More auto parts shops started opening in the vicinity of his shop. This gradually reduced his profit. Slowly and gradually, the competition grew to a level where his business, which once supported a comfortable lifestyle, became just enough to survive.
Despite all these difficulties, the bond between Rabia and Asad was growing stronger by the minute. They were falling more and more in love with each other.
Rabia often felt disappointed for not pursuing her professional career. When she had this feeling, her mind filled with bitterness. This bitterness never dominated her heart, during these episodes she always reminded herself of a truth she once read...
Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls. - Maya Angelou
This quote always gave her strength, helping her fight not only her own battles but Asad's as well. She never complained or asked Asad for anything.
Financial pressure was increasing and weighing heavily on Asad. Most of the time, he would sit silently, thinking about losses and financial difficulties. He was not used to living under such harsh circumstances, let alone facing them. This was making him emotionally exhausted.
Rabia felt that Asad had supported her through her emotional distress, and now it was her turn to support him.
One evening, Asad said softly, "I feel I am failing you".
Rabia shook her head and said, "No. We are just going through a difficult phase".
She sat beside him, offering him support in dealing with business difficulties. She believed in something deeper than circumstances. She told him, inspired by a though she had read...
"The best thing to hold onto in life is each other" - Audrey Hapburn
Her words didn't solve their financial problems, but Asad did feel emotionally relieve when he realized that he was no longer alone in facing life's harsh realities. Asad accepted Rabia's help in solving the problems.
Rabia began helping Asad in managing accounts, organizing suppliers, and advising him on better price strategies. Her managerial skills slowly brought structure into the struggling business.
She couldn't change the mindset of her father-in-law's community, though. They still questioned her role and her choices as a housewife. Sometimes, this was too much for her - their tone, their judging eyes filled with disppointment - but over time, she had learned something powerful...
"Where there is love there is life." - Mahatma Gandhi
Asad was not blind to her sacrifices; they had initiated a change him too. He started valuing her intellect even more and of asked for her opinion, even in front of his father. Their love had reached a stage where they no longer saw each other as separate beings. What Aristotle said was true for them...
"Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies."
It felt true in moments when they understood each other without speaking, when a glance was enough to convey comfort, encouragement, and assurance or communicate worry, uneasiness and discomfort.
Life was still not easy. Competition in the market kept increasing, and profit margins shrank further. Stress had become another name for normal in their lives. Love wasn't making their lives easy, but it was making them bearable.
One day, after a particularly exhausting financial loss. Asad sat quietly in his room, disappointing. Rabia entered the room, looked at him and placed a cup of tea in front of him. When their eyes met, she smiled and said, "We will rebuild, slowly but surely."
Asad looked at her with tired eyes and asked, "Why do you still stay so hopefull."
Rabia replied with a hopeful smile, "Because I believe in us."
Those words stayed between them like an unspoken promise.
Once Asad said to Rabia, "We didn't choose an easy life. I couldn't make you happy."
Rabia instantly replied, "But I am happy because we chose each other."
Over time, something unexpected happened, they started improving. Rabia introduced better stock management. Asad learnt negotiation skills from her. Together, they stabilized the shops.
They realized that relationships are not tested in comfort but in difficulty.
"A strong relationship requires choosing to love each other even in those moments when you struggle to like each other" - Dave Willis
Because in the end, Rabia and Asad discovered and realized that Love is not about ideal conditions. It is about standing together when conditions are far from ideal.
And, that's what made their story extraordinary.
