“You Would Be Better off Saving That Money for Her Dowry”

Photo by Diogo Nunes on Unsplash

All the parents had gathered in the auditorium to collect their children’s primary school certificates. Mr. Ismail saw Mr. Shoukat in the crowd. Mr. Ismail was holding the hand of his daughter Areesha while Mr. Shoukat was with his two twin children Fazeela and Akhtar.

Mr. Ismail greeted them and asked Mr. Shoukat in which school he planning to enroll the twins. To this Mr. Shoukat said, “I want my son to join the army. I am planning to send Akhtar to cadet school.”

“And what about Fazeela? Won’t you give her the opportunity to get further education, so she, too, can pursue any career?” asked Mr. Ismail.

“What would she do by getting education? Don’t tell me you are going to send Areesha to secondary school!”

Mr. Ismail’s eyes widened. “Not only secondary school. I plan to send her to university as well. In fact, I would suggest you give the same opportunities and rights to Fazeela as you are giving to Akhtar.”

Mr Shoukat shook his head and replied, “Girls do not need an education. Their expenses are met first by their father and later by their husband. All they need is to be efficient at housekeeping. You are going to waste your money on Areesha’s education. You would be better off saving that money for her dowry.”