The Diary of a Woman in a Polygamous Relationship...

It is a universal fact that has baffled people for ages as to why people readily share their fathers, mothers, siblings,children.etc. but never their spouses. Similar is the case of my story as one day without prior notice, my husband's new wife entered the threshold of our house and our married life. The news of his marriage came like a speeding train crushing me under its impact even before I could react.

The justification in his case, or rather excuse was that The Quran said: "And if ye fear that ye will not deal fairly by the orphans, marry of the women who seem good to you, two or three or four; and if ye fear that ye cannot do justice then only one." One thing he forgot was that there were no orphans around; and in another part of the same chapter it said:"Ye will not be to deal equally between your wives, however much ye wish to do so." So what does this amount to-a total contradiction? I often wonder why this verse has not been pointed out by Muslim scholars. Is it primarily because there have been no feminist interpretations of The Quran .Is it that we thrive in a patriarchal world? It is justified that the Prophets got the revelation only after they married. But did the men thereafter pretend not to know'?

My sentiment was of an old scooter being replaced by a new bike. Nevertheless, I hung on to the marriage: not because I was forced to. I did not have much of a choice as I looked onto the innocent faces that were labeled as his children; who had an identity to cling on to. It was not as though my identity was inadequate: I comprehended that if something were to happen to me, they would atleast be looked after. I was advised by those around me to stay on- for my children, for my old parents. They said that 'Maturity'was putting others before you.Yes,it was true:I was the only one getting eclipsed behind.

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Being in a polygamous marriage is horrendous than being divorced, as there is always the feeling of uncertainty-of Nights and days-of being less preferred than The Other. It is awful than being widowed; as a widow atleast has the consolation that her husband loved only her throughout his life. The first wife in a polygamous marriage always feels like a handicapped individual: physically and spiritually. For, it was as though the substitute was brought in, as the first had some inadequacy. In this way, I always felt incomplete though marriage is supposed to make a woman feel complete.

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They say that marriages are made in heaven. Well, what about recycled marriages?

(Please note that this is a fictional piece)