Ammon News - Randa Habib’s Corner

His father named him “Urdoun” when he was born, simply because he loved Jordan so much.

Urdoun’s parents were far from being rich, but they managed to make sure their son got a decent education. When he grew up, he worked as a clerk at some company and married his neighbours’ daughter. The couple has two daughters and twin baby boys.

Now, at 37, Urdoun struggles every day to make ends meet, but it is becoming harder and harder with the new taxes and price hikes.

His JD450 monthly salary does not cover his basic expenses: JD120 for rent, JD50 for electricity, water and telephone and JD6.5 for a gas cylinder. The food for the family and the milk and diapers for the twins cost him JD300 (JD10 a day), and he needs JD50 for transportation. Urdoun is in the red every month, needing at least JD25 more, and he cannot cover any other family demands.

His father passed away last year, and his mother is trying now to live on half of the pension, so Urdoun has to help her from time to time. As for his two sisters, he could not send them gifts during Shaaban, which is customary before Ramadan, and he felt embarrassed.

Urdoun’s brother-in-law is getting married and his wife wants a new dress because nothing fits her after giving birth to twins. And recently, his eldest daughter told him she needed a new bag before school starts in September. His other daughter complained that her shoes were too tight and that she needed a new pair.

On top of that, a “celebratory” stray bullet coming from a nearby wedding guest last week broke a window in his house and it needs to be replaced. So Urdoun had no choice but to go to a bank for a loan, but was told that his salary must be transferred to the bank and he also needs a guarantor.

Urdoun thought he would never be able to repay the bank and his guarantor would be in trouble. He would not do that to anyone.

Back home he felt sad and helpless. His daughter will have to manage with her old schoolbag, and his wife and other daughter will have to buy second-hand dress and shoes. He will have to use a piece of cardboard to fix the broken window. As for his sisters, they will have to wait until the next Shaaban to get gifts.

Overwhelmed, Urdoun thinks of his father. He asks for his forgiveness because he has failed to fulfil his promise to take care of his sisters and mother.

He can only hope a light will at the end of the tunnel.


* Jordan Times