Mariah by Che Husna Azhari

Mariah

Mariah was a widowed nasi seller in Molo, a small village in Kelantan, who at the same time so much admired by the village men. She was regarded as a threat or a troublemaker by the society especially the women in the village because their husbands neglect their home cooking and pursue to Mariah’s Kedai Merpati for her nasi berlauk. The village Imam who has been married fifteen years with Cik Yam discovered that Mariah looks so much alike to his past love, the Sheikh’s daughter during his first visit to Mariah’s stall. He started to breakfast more frequently there until when he finally decided to take Mariah as his second wife. His decision was agreed by Cik Yam out of her love towards the Imam. The marriage received blessings from the community as the issue with the troublemaker may be put to an end when the most righteous Imam marry Mariah and at the same time resolved the childless problem in the Imam and Cik Yam’s marriage.

          The writer, Che Husna Azhari highlighted several issues in this story and eventually uncovered some problems women encounter in the Malay society. First and foremost, Che Husna Azhari storied about the perception to see widowed women or any women without husband as threats or spinsters in the Malay society from the plot of the story when the village ladies visited the Imam’s house and talk bad about Mariah to Cik Yam. They reckoned that Mariah is the troublemaker in their village and accuse that she put ‘something’ in her nasi to attract customers. In old times, widowed or unmarried women had often classified as the weak group and need protection from men and therefore men offered themselves and provided protection through marriage (most of the time a polygamy marriage). In my opinion, widowed woman shall not be regarded as a threat nor should she be seen as a spinster or a troublemaker. Such thinking and serious accusation should be eliminated from the mindset of every person. Besides, I personally disagree with the thought that women are weak and need protection from men. Today’s women are independent. Mariah is a very good example of an independent woman. She makes her own living by selling Nasi and depends on nobody but herself. She behaved just as normal as the others and was morally well kept too. Therefore, she definitely is not to be blamed as the culprit when husbands neglect their wives cooking at home nor she is to be seen as a weak person since she survived for years without a husband.

                The writer also highlighted the polygamy issue in this story. Although polygamy is not an illegal practice and in fact it is religiously permitted in certain religion but I still don’t think that it is a right relationship one should have. Marriage should be purely between two people. Not three or four! The couple should uphold the lifelong promises, give commitment to both parties, to accept the good and bad parts of their spouse and to tolerate and experience good and bad times together. I feel disappointed with the Imam in this story. He blamed Cik Yam as the culprit for the heirless issue in their marriage but never discuss this matter with his wife or to resolve their problem such as seeking medical advice and treatment. In fact, fertility problem not only happen to woman but to man as well. Just how awful he is by accusing Cik Yam without evidence and medical proof! If the problem comes from the Imam, he will never have his own blood even after he marries Mariah. Polygamy could not promise a happily ever after ending in a family and in fact it gives rise to family problem as polygamy families are often dramatic. Quarrels between wife and mistresses, competition between the children, fights for attentions and so on are among the problems encountered in a polygamous family. The Imam promises Cik Yam that his love for her will be continuous even after his marriage with Mariah but things are subjected to changes. No one knows how long the promise will last and jealously is always as deadly as poison. Can Mariah and Cik Yam live happily under one roof, sharing the love of their husband?