Jala
Published on Feb 17, 2016
No Description
MORE DECKS TO EXPLORE
PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Jala
An Indian/Muslim Cinderella Story
Long ago, in India,
a beautiful girl named Yasmeen after the jasmine flower
lived happily with her lovely mother and father.
Her parents taught her to be thankful to Allah,
for she was truly blessed with integrity and intelligence.
Yasmeen's happiness would not last, however.
Yasmeen's mother was claimed by the 1817 cholera epidemic,
and her childhood ended abruptly.
As her father became overwhelmed with sadness,
Yasmeen urged him to remember to pray,
and she took charge of all household chores.
Yasmeen's father noticed how large the amount of work was for the child
Photo by martinak15
and decided to remarry to give Yasmeen assistance.
Yasmeen's stepmother quickly grew jealous of Yasmeen
for Yasmeen was more beautiful than her own two daughters and herself.
Yasmeen attempted many times to become close with her new family
She smiled at her stepsisters, Anjali and Dhriti, every morning,
but she was met with their jealous snarls.
Yasmeen's father soon grew weak.
He would be sick and confined to his bed often.
Without her father watching,
Photo by KevinLallier
Yasmeen's stepfamily treated her awfully.
Photo by Arlo Bates
Not wanting to upset her dying father,
Photo by Eliezer Borges
Yasmeen remained uncomplaining and smiling.
Fueled by greed and envy,
Yasmeen's stepmother took her belongings as her own.
and had to sleep next to the fireplace if she wanted keep warm.
Photo by Werner Kunz
One morning, Yasmeen awoke to her face smeared with ashes.
Her stepsisters began to laugh when they saw her.
"Jala diyaa! Jala diyaa chehrah!" Anjali and Dhriti shrieked. ("You burned it! You burned your face!")
Photo by Zoriah
Yasmeen had never felt so despised.
Photo by Nathan Rein
Out of spite, Yasmeen stole a golden watch from her stepmother's room.
Photo by Romina Campos
The watch had been her father's and then hers through his will.
Yasmeen played with the watch, resetting the time just to watch the hands move.
Nine years after her father's death, every wealthy home in Mumbai was invited to the Eid festival.
Photo by ⌡K
Yasmeen was compelled to run from fabric stores to seamstress homes to food markets for the next two weeks.
Photo by Xavier Roeseler
Yasmeen put off asking to attend the festival,
Photo by Nick Kenrick.( away in Europe )
Walking through the street to shop for food one day,
Photo by khalid almasoud
Yasmeen met a funny old man.
Photo by khalid almasoud
When Yasmeen reached for the money her stepmother had given to her to buy the food,
Photo by marzbars
buying groceries instead of preparing her dresses for the festival?"
Photo by davidmulder61
Abdullah urged her to take the food free of charge
Photo by Jeff Kubina
and use the money she was given to buy herself materials to make a dress.
and took his advice.
Photo by Muhammad Shahmeer Athar
While her stepfamily was being fitted into their gowns,
Yasmeen was sewing together the pieces of her anarkali.
Photo by NatureNerd (probably outside)
Yasmeen traveled to Abdullah's food stand to thank him once again.
Photo by Lachlan Hardy
Abdullah smiled, and gave her a hug.
Yasmeen knew her family would be returning from the festival at half-past twelve,
Photo by Jonas B
so she planned to return at a quarter-till twelve.
Dressed in her gold dress, she quieted the banquet hall as she walked in.
She had kept her father's golden watch with her to keep track of time.
Her family was used to Yasmeen frowning and only dressing in work clothes,
and they did not recognize her at all, for tonight, she was radiant.
After the Isha prayer,
the royal princess requested Yasmeen to join her family's table upon her brother's request.
The majority of Yasmeen's time was spent eating the Eid feast.
She was asked many questions by her hosts, the royal family.
She explained her orphanage to them.
The royals pitied the beautiful girl,
Photo by desertdutchman
and offered her a new home in their palace
Photo by Stuck in Customs
Before being able to answer, Yasmeen had checked her watch.
Photo by Jim Belford
Yasmeen's stepfamily treated her worse than they had ever done before.
Within a week, Yasmeen had finally had enough.
Photo by Farid Iqbal
She packed her most treasures possessions in an old sheet,
and promptly left her childhood home.
Yasmeen found herself heading toward the royal palace.
A year later, she was wedded to the prince,
and they lived happily to the end of their days.
Photo by Steve Snodgrass
