SECRET REVEALED
Some family friends discovered their conversion. Dad was well-respected family physician to almost every one in Vadugapatty. When mom and children attended Bible study it was big surprise to everyone. They believed something bad was happening and so they informed dad secretly. Hearing this he got very angry; but he didn't want to ask mom at once; because he decided to get them red handed.
On one occasion, when dad was at Vadugapatti mom was not able to read the Bible or pray openly; she was very eager to pray. She thought of praying without his knowledge- praying silently in bed when he is fast asleep; she did so. Suddenly dad awoke and walked by the room where mom was praying. The very sight of his wife praying on her knees gave him a shock. He got her red handedly and she could not hide anymore. His anger knew no bounds. He scolded and beat her; he quarreled with her whole night. He thought, "My wife deceived me...there is nothing more shameful than this". He angrily said, "while eating my bread, you have deceived me". Mom stood there crying with no words. Her long last fear of her husband knowing their conversion at last happened. She wondered as to what will happen in the family next. She lamented in her heart to God, "Lord! You are our refuge and fortress". Dad thought that since he is leaving Vadugapatti often...that's why his wife and children are acting so boldly; he planned to take them to their native town to live among their relatives in order to stop their conversion. So early in the morning around 4 o'clock he took his wife, Shahjahan, Saleem and Ayub to a city called Thiruvadavur near Melur. There he tortured them daily accusing them of becoming Christians. Months passed. One day mom begged her husband, "If children miss school, their education will be affected.... so can I take them to Vadugapatti". Just like a wounded cobra, he snarled, "Ah...ah... prestige of this family itself has gone to the dump ....who cares about kids education". The very thought of their conversion added fuel to his anger. Bringing them back to Islam and reinstating family's prestige were more important than children's education. He refused permission. Mom begged for permission daily and got beaten badly. Seeing this, children got frightened and shed tears silently. Days passed in tears. Dad even stopped talking to them. Mom silently prayed, "Lord...Please let us find mercy in the eyes of my husband". After few days....because of his love towards kids he thought, "Why should children's education be spoiled for the mistake she did, so let them go and continue their education". He consented them to return to Vadugapatti.
After coming back to Vadugapatti mom warned children, "Once again if dad knows that we are going to Christian meetings, then great danger is imminent to happen; so let us believe in Jesus Christ secretly." Pastor Stephen visited them. Mom said, "Brother! My husband knows that we are attending Christian meetings, got angry and even thought of stopping children's education. But....only God changed his mind so that children could continue their education. My children and me won't come for meetings and you also need not come here; because his friends would tell him what all happens here. Me and children will pray to Jesus Christ in our hearts". All Christian activities were stopped. They were full of faith and their zeal for Jesus Christ increased.
Dad was not interested to come home, since his family turned out to be his enemy. As weeks passed by his anger started to subside and felt pity for them. Even though he was not able to completely remove the hurt from his heart, he tried to bury it in a corner of his heart, which took some time. One day he went to Vadugapatti. When his family saw him back, they got frightened. They thought that he might still be angry and would beat them. Surprisingly dad did not talk about the past.....at the same time he was not happy. An unseen wall rose between them. After few days he started speaking to them; his family was happy. When dad started to love them like before mom and children were like a plant which had seen sun after a long time. They believed that this was also one of the miracles of God. Everything returned to normal. There was not a sign of any Christian activity in the house. Just like before dad started going to Melur regarding the legal court case, Thiruvadavur Clinic and back to Vadugapatti When dad went away, they didn't go to prayer meetings nor talked to pastor; but read the Bible and prayed at home. They hid the Bible in a secret place and everything was done very cautiously. When dad comes home all these activities vanished. Dad was satisfied to see they are changed.
One-day dad went to Melur regarding legal case. It usually takes two or three weeks for him to return. So mom and children started to talk about Jesus, read Bible and Christian books. One night around eight o'clock Shajahan was reading the Bible to his mom sitting on a bench, while mom was cooking in the kitchen listening to it. Suddenly dad returned, entered the house very quietly and nobody noticed him. He stood straight in front of Shahjahan, angrily snatched the Bible from him with both hands and yelled, "What a good book you are reading"? and hit him on head with the Bible. He threw the Bible to a corner, ran to mom and hit her repeatedly. He shouted, "You and children have become Christians". They all got so frightened that they did not say a single word. The entire night, he beat and scolded mom; they didn't sleep. Next day early morning around four o'clock dad commanded, "Its enough living in this place, since there are no relatives you have started to live as you like again. Not only you were spoiled ...you even taught children to live in your own way. Get ready to go to Melur now itself". At once mom packed some clothes and everybody went to Melur. He took them to Thiruvadavur. Dad had another clinic in Thiruvadavur. The ill treatment continued there. Few weeks later, Shajahan's S.S.L.C. public exams were getting closer and mom advised him, " Shajahan! Your exams are getting near and your dad does not remember your studies: he is very angry.... tell him that you want to write exam...otherwise he won't send you". Shajahan was afraid to ask dad. As mom insisted, with great fear he mumbled, "Dad! My public exams are coming closer, can I go to write exam?" Dad scolded him pointing out their conversion to Christianity, "Is it so important now?". Mom who was listening from next room and Shahjahan were frightened like a mouse in front of cat. Dad finally said, "Okay! You can go to write exam...but if I hear anything about you involving in Christian activities, I'll kill you all". He at once sent them back by bus. Same evening they came to Vadugapatti. They were so tired in both body and mind as they entered the dusty house. Because of all the things that happened in the past weeks Shajahan was not able to prepare for exam. Following week Shajahan wrote the public exam and graduated with very good marks. They believed that this was a miracle of God, since he wrote exam without preparation. They praised God for miraculous victory. In the midst of these troubles, mom meditated upon God's suffering on the cross of Calvary unceasingly. She was encouraged by the conviction that when God has suffered so much for us why can't we suffer atleast this much for him. Omar, Fathima and Mytheen who were in the university colleges did not know about any of these things.