A story from ‘Loabinfaru’
Preparations for the wedding of the Atoll Chief and Sanfa were underway. The date had been decided. It was going to take place four days from now on Sunday night, next week. The Atoll Chief was going to host a dinner for all the people of Ihuvanfushi on the occasion of his wedding. Important people from the Atoll would also come for the dinner. Sanfa would be wearing a red dress with the neckline embroidered with silk thread. The colour red was chosen for the dress because it was the Atoll Chief’s favourite colour. She would also be wearing a feyli with stripes of silk embroidery.
The young men of the island have now lost all hope of winning the most beautiful girl Ihuvanfushi has ever known. The days that they would see her long neck, slim waist, long silky black hair, perfect lips and bewitching eyes were coming to an end. What could they do? They were up against the Chief of the Atoll. He was determined to marry Sanfa. Her father was willing to give her away against her wishes. They hated the Atoll Chief. They were fed up of Hassanbe. The young men of Ihuvanfushi did not want to allow the wedding to take place. How nice it would be if only the Atoll Chief would marry Mariyambu, the other daughter of Keyolhu Hassanbe, they thought. But the Atoll Chief did not want to marry her. They were aware that Mariyambu, herself wanted the Atoll Chief to marry her sister, Sanfa. In fact, Mariyambu appeared to be very pleased that the Atoll Chief was so determined to marry Sanfa. Perhaps she believed that this let her off the hook. It was with the greatest satisfaction that she helped her aunt make Sanfa’s wedding dress.
Sanfa repeatedly told them that she would never wear the dress that they were making. That she would never marry the Atoll Chief. But they did not believe her. They were all determined to force her to marry the Atoll Chief. Sanfa was unhappy about it. She spent her time lying on the bed crying. She hardly talked. Sanfa’s mother was heartbroken to see her daughter suffer like this. Once she had come to her bedside and had spoken about her marriage.
“I am so sad to see you suffer like this. But your father will go ahead with the wedding. He is doing it not because that man is the Atoll Chief. He is doing it because he has no other choice.”
Then her mother explained why her father felt compelled to go through the marriage. She told Sanfa that the fishing dhoni that her father used was not his. That it had belonged to the Atoll Chief’s father and now it belonged to the Atoll Chief himself. That even though people believed that her grandfather had bought the dhoni in exchange for dry fish, they were mistaken. Sanfa’s mother then added, “Now that the Atoll Chief’s father and your grandfather are dead, your father would like to keep the dhoni at any cost. If he lost the dhoni he would lose his whole livelihood. The entire family is dependent on it.”
After listening to the story, Sanfa was convinced that the story was a fabrication, made up in order to put pressure on her to change her mind. But her mother would not lie knowingly. So, this must be what her father had told her. Sanfa then said, “You are concerned with your livelihood. You don’t care what happens to me in the process?”
“Your father does not think that marrying the Atoll Chief will ruin your life.” Dhalayka’s eyes welled up with tears as she patted Sanfa on the back. People believe that even if you did not like a person at first, things will get sorted out after marriage.”
“Nothing will get sorted out,” blurted Sanfa.
“I know you want to get married to Moosa. Your father also knows that. I have even spoken to him. But I could not change his mind. He says that there are so many people who get married without love. But after they get married they live happily ever after.”
“How do you know that they are happy? You can only be sure if you can see their heart.” As she spoke, she was thinking of the miserable life of the Atoll Chief’s mother. Sanfa remembered what she had told her even on the day of her departure from Male’.
Hawwa Fulhu had told Sanfa, “There is no life without love. There will only be fighting. It is love which makes life pleasant. Both people should love each other. Love should be eternal. Marrying a person you don’t love is like setting fire to your life. My whole life was shattered by marrying a person whom I did not love. I do not want what happened to me to happen to you. My advice would be, whatever your parents say, whatever they do to coerce you, do not agree to marry the Atoll Chief.”
After remembering what Hawwa Fulhu had told her, Sanfa said softly, “Even if I die, I will not marry the Atoll Chief. I will not marry anyone but Moosa. This is my last word. Don’t speak to me on this subject again.”
Dhalayka cried. She did not want Sanfa to marry someone whom she did not love. But she knew that her husband would force her to marry the Atoll Chief. If that happened, she knew what would happen to her daughter. Her heart would break. Finally she said, “I would like you to marry someone you love. But this is not to be. Dear daughter, I hope you have the strength.” Dhalayka then entered the etheregeythere still crying. Sanfa turned to the other side.
Sanfa thought about Moosa. She wished he would come soon, save her from her predicament and marry her. Her heart called out to him, “Moosa. Come soon. Why are you so late? They are getting everything ready for my wedding. I have not heard from you. If only you would send a letter, I would wear it in a locket around my waist. If I could hear your voice, I would be so happy that I would be singing. If I could see you I would run and hug you. Oh! Moosa. Please protect me with the umbrella of your love. Give me shade from the sun, shelter me from the rain and the storms and save me from any possible dangers that may come my way. Oh! Moosa. Will I ever see you again? I weep for you. My body has become thin and wilted. But my love for you has not wilted. Moosa. The day is coming to an end. The sun is about to set. To be replaced by darkness. Moosa. Is my life also coming to an end? But don’t be sad. My love for you will never come to an end.”
Sanfa wiped the tears from her eyes. She continued to think of Moosa as she lay on her bed. “Moosa. Have you broken your vows? Have you given me up? But I am sure you won’t do that. You are a much better person. Moosa. I will not marry the Atoll Chief. I will wait for you. I will keep expecting you until my last breath. If you do not come, I will remain like this until I die.” Sanfa finally slept, tired and crying.
