Chapter 47 - Unfair

Mrs. Ahmed smiled amiably and turned to the two men present in the room.

"I need to have a heart to heart conversation with my daughter in law. You guys can go and take rest."

After the pair of father and son left, Mrs. Ahmed stopped smiling..her expressions turned serious.

She looked directly into her eyes and asked her, "Exactly what is your plan? "

Lisa didn't exactly understand what she meant.

"I don't understand what you are asking."

Mrs. Ahmed replied, "You and Ruhan are in honeymoon period now. It is the most appropriate time to cultivate your relationship. But instead of spending time with him you are even forbidding him from touching you. What exactly is going on in your mind?"

Lisa pursed her lips. Although she didn't oppose her mother-in-law directly, it was clear that she didn't agree with her either.

Mrs. Ahmed sighed. "I know that you are thinking that I am being nosy. But I am doing this for your own good. If you really do not ley him touch you and he finds someone else to satisfy his needs, won't your marriage be ruined then?"

She tried to persuade her in a soft voice. "I know you are an independent and capable girl. But the society is always harsh on women. If you do not get support from your husband, your life will be very difficult. Public criticism will not let you have peace in your life."

Lisa gave a mocking smile.

"Let's say that theoretically I am a very good wife and try heart and soul to make Ruhan happy. Can you guarantee that he will be faithful to me? That he won't go out and look for another woman?"

Mrs. Ahmed was startled.

"That...."

"You can't...can you?"...It was clear that Lisa was mocking her mother in law.

"If you make him happy...may be he won't look for another woman. Or even if he did, as long as you give birth to a child, your position will be unshakable." It was clear that Mrs. Ahmed herself wasn't that confident about her son.

This time Lisa laughed out loud.

"Wow! So according to you, I should act like Ruhan's loyal dog. Whenever I see him I should waggle my tail and try to please him. As long as he lets me live in this house I should be thankful? "

"Why are you twisting my words?

When did I tell you to act like a dog? I am just teaching you about the duties of a wife. Don't tell me as a mother in law I don't even have the right to do that?"

Mrs. Ahmed became angry this time. This girl really didn't know how to respect her in laws.

"Haha..Ruhan was also teaching me about the duties of a wife. Indeed you have the right to educate me and even scold me if I do anything wrong. But let me ask you my respected mother in law...did you...even for a single time...teach Ruhan about the duties of a husband? Forget about being a husband...does he even know about the duties of a good son?" When it came to arguement, Lisa had never backed down.

"I...." this time Mrs. Ahmed was speechless.

"You didn't... I knew it. When it came to your son, you are very liberal and amiable. You forgive him for everything he does. But when it came to me, you are not even ready to cut me some slack! Why? Just because I was not born to you?"

Lisa just hated these types of narrow minded people. Instead of educating their own children, they always find fault with others and pass on harsh judgement. If they had spent that much time on their own children, then perhaps they would not have been spoiled rotten.

"That's enough." Mrs. Ahmed said in a sharp voice. All these years, apart from Ruhan's grandmother, no one had argued with her like this. She had always been respected. While Mr. Ahmed oversaw business, Mrs. Ahmed had absolute power in the internal matters of family.

Even her disobedient son, Ruhan, doesn't use such sharp languages in front of her. And this girl...who just got married yesterday, dare to challenge her authority like that!! How could she tolerate it!

Not matter what...she had to teach this damn girl who held real authority in this household.

"Who the hell do you think you are? You are just a young girl who still hadn't set foot in the real world. Do you think just because you have some fancy degree and skill in business you can go against the society?

In this conservative society, no matter how accomplished you are, if your family life is not stable, you are counted as a failure.

No matter how capable you are, men will always see you like a pig waiting to be slaughtered.

Having a husband is not all about love and happiness. It is also a protection.

You might be very well educated and modern. But this society is not. Do I have to remind you that this is Bangladesh, not a western country?"

Mrs. Ahmed's face was red and she was breathless.

Lisa bit her lips. Deep down she knew what she said was not wrong. But she was unwilling... Unwilling to compromise. She had never accepted defeat until she had tried every possible methods.

Seeing her like this, Mrs. Ahmed thought that Lisa was contemplating.

So she softened her voice, "I know that you feel wronged. You think it's not fair that men can do whatever they wanted and you can't. But dear, the society had never been fair. The strong has always written the rules."

"I would never let Ruhan touch me unless he has devoted himself fully into this marriage.

Neither I will bring any child in this fragile relationship. "

Lisa said in a low voice after thinking for a long time.

"A child should not be a mean to establish foothold in a family. Rather it should be the result of mutual trust and love between husband and wife. Even if there is no love, there must be mutual respect."

Mrs. Ahmed sighed..she was about to oppose but Lisa interrupted her,

"I Know that you don't agree with me. But this is what my parents taught me about marriage. Neither of us is wrong, just our thinking is different. And neither of us is willing to change our mind. So it would be better if we stop our argument. "

Mrs. Ahmed was speechless. She never thought that it would be this difficult to handle Lisa.

Naturally she became angry again.

"If that is the case then why did you elope with Ruhan in the first place? Don't tell me that you didn't know about his reputation? The situation that you are in is your own fault. So you had better not boast about your high morals and family values."

"I didn't... " Lisa finally decided to show all her cards.

"What did you say?" Mrs. Ahmed was confused.

"I didn't...elope with him..."