A Shallal Gift!!

By: Hashim Mahmoud Hassan

Hajj Taher is a man in his sixties with five children, born to him by his first wife Khadija, who died from her injuries sustained in a car accident while returning from the neighboring city to their village.

He then married a woman from the village to help him raise his five children. The eldest was in secondary school, while the second and third were in their final year of preparatory school, and the fourth and fifth were in primary school.

Hajj Taher is known for his diligence and hard work in earning a living. He works on cultivating his orchard during the rainy season, and in the summer, he sells vegetables and fruits in the village market. All his sons help him, except for the eldest, who was lazy and unwilling to exert any effort in any work.

Years passed with him in this state, while his wife did not bear children. As is often the case with stepmothers, she was in conflict with the head of the family, who saw her as an invader, while she saw him as a consumer who contributed no effort. A hidden conflict unfolded in that beautiful hut where Hajj Taher’s family lived.

The eldest son graduated and worked at a health institution in the neighboring city, which is only a few kilometers away. He would visit his father every weekend. The stepmother began talking about him frequently: whether he worked or not, he carried no responsibilities and didn’t help his brothers. He was very strange.

While his brothers helped their stepmother and viewed her with respect, unlike that troublesome eldest son. After a year, his younger brother followed, working as an employee at a bank, and sought to relieve his father from the toil and exhaustion of work due to his advanced age.

In the afternoons, Hajj Taher sits beside his wife, drinking coffee in front of that silver brazier and those cups distributed on the edges of the small table that separates them while sitting. She sits on that medium-height chair, while Hajj Taher lies on his bed with a “National” brand radio beside him, listening to the local station.

His second son arrives carrying gifts and items for the house, and he is warmly welcomed while his wife smiles. His elder brother entered behind him, empty-handed, sat next to his father, and inquired about matters, while the wife looked at him with a sullen face.

The family gathered for lunch; loud laughter and beautiful smiles. They spent their weekend and then returned to work the next day.

The eldest son thought about what he would bring with him the following week and consulted his brother, who advised him of the necessity to contribute to the household expenses by deducting any amount from his monthly salary for his father.

The awaited day arrived when the second son was absent due to special work circumstances. The eldest son came carrying half a kilo of coffee beans. He entered where his father was sitting, kissed his head, and placed the bag secretly next to the brazier, unnoticed by his father. Then he went to his room to change his clothes.

His wife picked up the bag and waved it at Hajj Taher, who asked about it. She said: “Shallal brought it.” He responded in amazement: “What are you waiting for, woman? You should unleash a cascade of ululations!”

So she did, releasing her ululations very loudly. The villagers rushed towards Hajj Taher’s house to inquire about the occasion. Everyone knew they had no new baby, only to find him holding in his hands half a kilo of coffee beans…Shallal gift!!