First impression
Story By Thiyam Ningol, Africa

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Malika had tried hard. She wanted to have a normal relationship with her uncle. All her younger siblings get along very well with her uncle. But she could not feel free in his presence.

Malika’s father Abraham was a muslim. He fell in love with a Christian girl- Joyce. Abraham’s relatives objected strongly to the relationship. They knew Joyce was a staunch Christian. She was an active member of the choir group. She would never agree to give up her religion. Even though they belong to different religion groups, Abraham’s family members knew her very well. They were neighbours.

Abraham and Joyce knew if they get married, a lot of challenges would be awaiting ahead. But despite the protest from both sides, they went ahead. They got married. Civil marriage. No relatives from both sides were present at the marriage. Only friends and colleagues were present.

Abraham and his family had a family business dealing with import/export. As his family disowned him after his marriage to Joyce, he lost his inheritance in the family business. He joined other companies. To become an employee after being a long time employer was not easy. They had 3 children and his job was not stable.

Joyce’s parents were against the marriage but as the days went by things have changed. The arrival of the grand children made her parents to change their opinion. They have excused Joyce, their marriage was recognized. They were welcomed home, the children made them happy and livelier.

Abraham was depressed. He needed to belong to a society, a society where he could proudly present himself as the head of a family. He converted to be a Christian.

Abraham’s younger brother who had become the sole owner of the family business was bitter with his elder brother.

One day, there was a hot discussion between Malika’s parents. Both of them raised their voices; were accusing each other. Malika was only 7 years old, she could not understand the reason, but she felt the tension. Her younger sister was crying clinging to the mother. So Malika took the younger sister in the corner and was trying to calm her down. After few minutes of exchanging heated words, her mother came out crying. Asked Malika to accompany her to her uncle’s place. Malika humbly followed her mother.

When they reached the uncle’s place, entry to the house was denied. After ringing the bell for a long time, her uncle came out fuming. Malika saw her uncle from a close distance for the first time. She greeted him; was ignored. She saw her mother pleading and begging for something from him. But he scolded with loud voices and threw them out from his house. Malika’s mother continued begging. With anger, the uncle pushed her mother with force and she fell on the ground. The gate was shut behind them. Malika could not cry. She was frightened and stunned and her voice was chocked. She helped her mother to stand up and they returned home.

Many years have passed. Many changes have taken place. Her grand parents were dead. Her father and uncle reconciled and were running the business together. It seemed her mother and uncle had excused each other. They were behaving normally as if nothing happened. Her cousins, the children of her uncle and her younger siblings were very close to each other.

Malika had graduated, had become a successful banker. But she could not make herself feel comfortable in the presence of her uncle. She could not erase the image of the man who threw her mother out of his house, who pushed her and hurt her emotionally and physically. She understood that if the elders had managed to come into terms, then it could be an ordinary family crisis, which she witnessed. She was not worrying about the cause.

But the first impression which was imprinted in the innocent mind of a seven year old girl, the impression of a cruel man who hurt her mother, the gentlest person she knew, was too deep to be erased.