Announcement 2: End of Chapter 1

After 13 parts, its time to end Chapter 1.

Starting 1 August,  The Real Diary of a Guji Wife, brings to you, its very first Mini Series'...

Want to know how Fatima met Imraan?
Why Talha calls Fatima, Fatima Ma'am not Fati Mamee like the twins do?
How did Imraan propose?
How did Fatima's Nani pass away?
What was Fatima and Imraan's wedding like?
...
All this and more, in the four part, Flash Back Mini Series... Starting 1st August!

Love&Duas...Chutney, spice and other things nice...
Ree!

Part 13-The end of the beginning...

When Imraan got to the china mall he barely acknowledged the other man, he just gave him a business card and said, "call me after Eid, Il sort you out...get your car assessed...give your details to my friend, I'll file an AR form later, right now my wife needs,medical attention.

He leaned into the car and asked me how I felt, if anything was sore...when I said no, he helped me out, he hugged me and said, come, your uncles expecting us.

"My car?", i asked Imraan.
"Luqmaan will drive Dadi home and take your car in.", Imraan replied offhandedly.

"jaja, koonche Luqmaan1! I'm coming with your", Dadi said.
"Dadi this is private...",Imraan started...
"Ma bee accident ma wagu2...i got hypertension too! I can feel my heart beating!" Dadi said dramatically

Luqmaan,Imraan's friend from work, roared with laughter!

"okay, okay, come both of you...Luqmaan just take the car by your ballie...I'll phone him one of the days." Imraan said

I remembered that Luqmaans father was a mechanic and owned a full auto yard and workshop. As he drove away, I had a fleeting thought about forgetting serviettes and deco in the backseat.

When we got to my mamagees3 surgery he sent Dadi to the nurse to get checked while he took my vitals.
"Fati fati...what have you done batchoo, okay lay on the bed for me, lift your abayaa little, lets do an ultrasound.", he said.

"everything seems okay Fatima, I'm guessing its a healthy fetus of about 6-8 weeks. Alhumdulliah"

"Imraan, the next 48 hours are crucial, she can't be on her feet, that means nothing for her to do for Eid. I mean it! She's stubborn, I know, but this is important...the slightest pain and she needs to be taken into casualties...we don't know if there will be any after effects from the jerk."
" Fatima, the receptionist will give you a list of good Obs&Gyni, there are some excellent Muslim females on the list, choose somebody from that list. You need to start taking folic acid, Il give you a script. Look after her Imraan, insha'Allah everything will be okay"

"oh and maybe keep her away from the roads too, for our safety more than hers" my uncle joked. "even Nasreen scared us by hitting a bar case last month, she was 6 months pregnant!"...
"oh you know, the garage might take very long with her car", Imraan said seriously
"it wasn't such a big smash", I protested
"you a panel beater now, are you?", Imraan teased me.
"go go you'll...I'll see you tomorrow, don't forget, supper at my house." my mamagee said

Dadi and I went home with clean bills of health. Dadi and Imraan ensured I was of my feet and on Eid morning we told our families, everybody was thrilled, Sumaya hugged me warmly. My mother started crying over the phone when she heard everything that had happened plus my news...i told her Imraan and I would be visiting the coming weekend, Insha'Allah.

Eid went very well, I found some time in the Dadi to ask Dadi how she guessed I was pregnant.
"no guess guess like your dress Barbie, when you get as old as me, you know when a paatri paatri pooiri3 gets a small pehtu4 and starts making ulthi5 all the time and starts looking more roopari than before, then she must be getting a batchoo6."
Wow!I was amazed...
"orrh, and Imraan let me use your bathroom for wudu fajr time yesterday...that pink test something box was by the sink...i chupchaapti7 put it in the bin", Dadi said with a naughty wink!
Un.believe.able!! I laughed so much, even Talha seemed to hear me.

In the evening I met the heavily pregnant Nasreen who was too thrilled about my news...
"you must go to Dr. B,at Crompton...he is beyond excellent...and quiet good looking too, you know, for an old man.." 
Oh this girl! She will never change! 


That night as I lay in bed I studied my husbands face...
"what you think...", he asked.
"it feels like the end of a chapter, doesn't it...the newlyweds phase is almost over, we going to be parents Insha'Allah.", I replied.
"Ameen, I'm really looking forward to it..."
"so am I,baby... so am I...we held hands and fell asleep..."

Glossary:

1. what!whos Luqmaan.
2. i also got hurt.
3. thin, thin girl
4. stomach
5. vomiting
6. baby
7. quietly

Part 12-Maru naam, Tahru kaam (your hard work, I take the credit)

Today at sehri Imraan and I were like love sick teenagers...we had a secret and it made us feel closer than ever.

After sehri nobody went back to sleep, there was tons to be done. Imraan warned me to take it easy and gave Sumaya instructions to watch me carefully because I was still 'not completely recovered."

Sumaya took over the mithai1 making for which I was grateful, my burfee was too hit-or-miss and I didn't want to 'hit a miss' and face MiL.

Shireen was still recovering from the 'shock' but said she wanted to make mini cakes and desserts.
My mother-in-law insisted that chevroo2 and the biryani3 was her forte every year and shouldn't be touched.

That left biscuit making for me...something I was very good at! I had a secret for making tons...

Dadi Ma presided over the kitchen, watching Sumaya and I...that left MiL free to torment Tumi and Thembi.
'Sula lapa, shiya la, Anza lo, boyica le inntor...' could only be heard from her lips...kitchen Zulu at its best.

Dadi entertained us as we worked with stories of the 'olden days' which made us laugh, baby Tariq was content in his playpen in the corner, I kept looking at him, wondering what my baby would be like...


As I pulled my last batch from the oven I remembered I hadn't bought serviettes and table decor for the lunch tables yet.
"Sumaya do you want to come with me to china mall?"
"oh no, Fatima I have so much still to do...i need to get everything ready for the chevroo and biryani for mummy still" she replied.
Whaaaaat
"Haa! Taru kaam-Inu naam "4, Dadi said crossly...
"wait wait Fatima, I'll come with you"...

Okay, now this was going to be interesting...
Surprisingly, Dadi was great company and didn't slow me down at all, we were done in record time and she had great taste. I actually really liked her!

As I was driving out of the mall parking, Dadi hit me for a six..." so you pregnant Fatima...when the batchoo going to come"
I slammed brakes so hard and fast without thinking...what kinda spooky intuition dose this women have!!!

Before I could reply, the car behind me rammed into us, causing us to jerk forward...
OMW...
I got out on shaky legs, Dadi was already busy with her phone...i felt dizzy...
I heard her say, " Imraan betha, its Dadi, you must come quick...Fatima and I had an accident at china mall..."

Oh! 0...

The driver of the other car, a Muslim man, was walking towards me, red in the face...
He was already screaming and swearing at me...
"you stupid young girls don't deserve cars!..who taught you to drive like this, you must be bought your license .."
"as salaamu alaikum, I'm Fatima...my husbands on his way, his a lawyer...I'd like to wait for him"
The man said, maaf maaf, you okay? And he went to sit in his car...
if My husband wasn't a lawyer, he would probably still be hurling abuse me...agh some
people!

I moved my car to the side and slumped back against the seat, Dadi put her hand on mine, she was reading Ayatul Kurse5...I closed my eyes and waited...i could only imagine the state Imraan was driving in...


Glossary

1. indian sweetmeats
2. spicy cerel and nuts snack
3. rice and lentil dish
4. her name, your hard work
5. prayer of protection

Part 11-Stab wounds and blood everywhere!

Just as I was about to tell Imraan the test results, we where interrupted by blood curling screams!

I thought choir barayaa1, and almost dove under the bed!

Knock knock knock KNOCK 

Somebody was banging on the room door!
"IMRAAN IMRAAN, COME QUICKLY, THE TWINS ARE BLEEDING..."

What! Both of them!?, I jammed on my slippers, left the test on the bed and ran after Imraan who was already halfway to the lounge. My job at an ECD facility for special needs made me an excellent first-aider...I knew I could help calmly. Calm was not what I walked into...

The sight of the two boys was not one for weak stomachs, they both were covered in bright red blood, it was dripping from their heads, running little rivers down there faces, all over their hands and the carpet they where sitting on was smeared.

The twins however, were staring wide-eyed at everybody in what I hope was fear.

Shireen was besides herself and hysterical...my babies, my boys, they going to die Bilal, do something! Oh Allah...
She herself appeared to be blood-free however.
Bilal was shouting at her to shut up so he could think.
My MiL was trying to console her while ordering Imraan to tell the doctor its an emergency.
Imraan was scrolling through his phone, no doubt looking for my Mamagees2 number.
My FiL was frantically flipping through the phone book looking for the ambulance number.
Muhammad Bhai3, oddly enough, was calmly reading the paper, oblivious to the drama before him.

I wanted to laugh! The smell was distinctive, how did they not recognize it!
I kept a straight face and walked over to the boys...in a clear loud voice, I said: stand up and give it to me right now!

"oh Mari ma4...they have a knife, Bilal, Fatima saw a knife! They stabbed each other in the head, Bilal", Shireen started with another round of hysterics.

"give you what Fati-Mamee5", said one boy.
"yah, what you want Fati-Mamee", said the other.
"STAND UP RIGHT NOW, BOTH OF YOU!!", I said, using my teacher voice.

As they stood up, bottles and bottles of Maccurachomb tumbled out from under their 'blood stained' T-Shirts.

The room had fell silent. 

"where did you get these?" I asked them.
"you gave us!", said one...
"don't lie, we took it from Nana's shop", said the other.
Shireens family owned a supermarket situated on the ground level and they lived in an apartment above.

How two 5year olds managed to do this without anybody noticing, was beyond me...but I also know how resourceful children are, especially if there are two of them.
I can't count how many times, my sister and I had put a drop of Macuracomb on our fingers to show our mother we got cut. We loved the fancy plasters she use to keep.

I suppose Muhammad Bhai had been sitting there the whole time too, but he knows better than to discipline 'Bilal's Children'

"they just need a bath Shireen, the red stains should fade in a week..." I said.
"oh Allah, they can't have red faces for Eid!", she said.

I sensed a new drama unfolding so I started retreating. Imraan was already late for Tarawee6 and his best friend Saleem was waiting outside. Saleem was getting married soon to a girl from Malawi and was having huge issues with land conveying for the extension he was trying to build, so he often needed Imraan's advice. His wedding was going to be in Malawi and the Walima7, two weeks later in Durban, Imraan and I had decided to go to Malawi instead of taking a holiday for our anniversary. We were really looking forward to the upcoming trip.


Back in my room I wondered how to recreate the moment Imraan and I had lost.
I looked through Imraan's cupboard for the smiley face tie he never wears, I got a huge chart board and folded it into a shirt with a collar, inside I wrote, "Congratulations, you going to be a dad, Insha'Allah.8" I draped the tie and leaned the card against Imraan's pillows.
Inspired! I quickly looked for his smilely boxer shorts and stretched it over the bottom of the card leaving the legs dangling. I found a powder blue sock and a pink one in my draw and stuffed them up with some of his rolled up socks, creating 'legs' I placed these poking out from the shorts. A baseball cap backwards resting on the top of the card and pillow completed my make-shift man. I tucked the positive pregnancy test into the stuck on pocket of the card. There...that was cute.

That night I did my tilawaat9 of Quraan with one hand over my abdomen and a silly grin I couldn't wipe off.

When Imraan came home, he woke me with a kiss and a tight hug, then he slipped a Lindor into my mouth. 
"Il take you to the Dr. after work tomorrow." he whispered.

We snuggled up and fell asleep smiling...dreaming of the good things to come.

Glossary:

1. Robbers gained entry.
2. maternal uncle
3. brother
4. oh my mother-dramtic expression
5. aunty-married to fathers brother
6. extended night-time prayer in ramadaan
7. feast after the wedding
8. if Allah wills
9. recitation

Part 10- Golden brown samoosas and 10-10 kilos Burfee

We into the final few days of Ramadaan, I have to seriously up my Ibadaat now. No Facebook time till after Eid. 
However I still need diary time, penning my thoughts has always kept me sane. I always wrote, but never a diary like this one...another first amongst many.

I need to energize though, there is a ton of baking, mithia making and chocolate decorating to do, ahead of Eid!

I also don't know what funny chores MiL will come up with too since this is my first Eid married. 

Which reminds me! I need to find something awesome to give Imraan for Eid then I need to think of a gift for him for our anniversary next month. Maybe Sumaya would come shopping with me after Jumuah...luckily i am off from today till the day after Eid because i worked during the holiday-care program.

When I asked Sumaya to join me she looked like she was going to say No, my heart sunk...then she said, "I would love to come, really but I can't leave these boys here, Mummy won't manage and I worry they will get hurt when the twins rough play, I'm so sorry."
Oh! "why do you want to leave them?we can take them, Il help you push Tariqs pram too."
"you don't mind them coming along?oh that's great, I'll be ready straight after Jumuah"

I'm still not feeling 100% but I'm alot better, I taught the flu was over but this morning at sehri I couldn't take the smell of all the fried eggs with leftover aloo ghose1. I had to run for the bathroom to gag.
Imraan has been looking very worried, I know he'll start troubling me to go to the doctor again! 
I'm also starting to get suspicious about these symptoms...my period still hasn't arrived! Not that Imraan and I have had enough 'time' so to speak, recently...
Ramadaans so hectic and who wants to look freshly showered at the sehri tables...its a dead give away, I would be red faced through-out. 
I also know how loud the plumbing sounds late at night, I cringe, embarrassed on behalf of whoever it is...
Ah, the downsides to joint family living!

My shopping trip with Sumaya went so well, I found such a nice gift for Imraan and Sumaya got a few last minute gift shopping done too. Imraan and I had already purchased Eid gifts for everybody else.

We made it back home just in time...luckily it wasn't either of our turns in the kitchen! 
But when I got to the kitchen, I was met with sour faced MiL taking orders from Dadi. Shireen was nowhere to be seen. 

I was pouring Imraan's milkshake when I heard him come in, my MiL was all over him as soon as she saw him...

"Oh, batchoo! Rooparoo rooparoo2 gift bags, for me?"
"you'll get yours on Eid day mummy, these are for my lovely wife",Imraan gave me a chaste kiss on the cheek.
"Imraan!you fasting!" my MiL yelled, as if he drank a whole bowl of haleem.
"areh kayroon!one small butchor got you all bothered, you must learn to let your sons go, they married now!" Dadi said
"look who's talking!" my MiL muttered into the samoosa oil.

Dadi got up in a huff, "meri aankoo karaab hai, meri kaan perfect cher!3", she said and stalked out!

I could hear Imraan laughing all the way to our room.
"stop dreaming Fatima, these platters won't walk to the table you know!" MiL snapped.

At iftaar time, Imraan's big brother Muhammad made a rare comment
"these samoosas look unfried, so pale"

"don't eat them then!I had no help today too! Sumaya and Fatima went to naachwa4 in the mall", MiL shot back...
(shew things are getting heated today!)

"they deserved a break Ma, don't worry, tomorrow Sumaya will make them perfectly golden brown", Muhammad said 

"be careful you don't turn into a triangle bru", Imraan teased his brother
"watch out you don't get all pink pink like sarbaat milkshake", Muhammad retorted.

Their banter almost drowned out MiLs remark, but the look on Sumaya's face told me she had heard that"golden brown like her" comment too.

"I think Shireens complexion is perfect, like burfee5", my MiL said
"jee ha.." Dadi chirped in...
Everybody looked surprised, was Dadi agreeing with MiL???
"shireen looks just like burfee...she looks like she ate 10 -10 kilos of burfee!" Dadi said 
Everybody burst out laughing...thankfully shireen and Bilal were having iftaar with her family tonight!

When I went in our room after Magrib, Imraan gave me the smaller gift bag first, inside was a...pregnancy test!!!

"I was Google-Ing all your symptoms and every search led here" he explained.

I looked at the box quietly, it was a super sensitive test that could be taken at any time with 90% accuracy.

"what's in the other gift bag?" I asked.
Imraan handed me the bigger one, it contained a tray of Ferrero and a box of Lindor. I looked at him confused."what is this for Imi?"

"kinda depends on the result...might be a congratulations gift or sorry you really are sick, you need a doctor gift" he said

Only my husband...

Well nows as good a time as any I thought  nervously and I did need to pee, yet again.

I took the test and washed up while I waited for it to prove. Imraan was sitting at the edge of the bed...

I looked down at the result and back at him...
"Imraan, ...", I began saying.

Glossary:

1. mutton curry
2. beautiful
3. my eyes are bad, but my ears are perfect
4. gallivanting
5. rich indian sweetmeats

Part 9- Family scandales and skeletons

I was seriously getting home-sick now... I missed my parents and sister and I had the most intense craving for the Chicken Tikkah pizza that one of the local food outlets in my hometown makes.

I must talk to Imraan about going to Port Shepstone after Eid, it was long overdue and quite frankly we could do with a sea-side break.

Most Guji DiLs go home for their first Ramadaan, at very least for a few weeks, but Imraan's family was paranoid and I didn't want to drag up any old ghost, especially after I noticed that Sumaya too, doesn't go home for Ramadaan. She did go for a week before though, brought back lovely savouries from her mum and nice things from a butchery in laudium.

Before I got married, Imraan told me about Bilal's first wife Farzana, she went home for her first Ramadaan and then decided she's not coming back. Nothing Bilal or my in-laws said would change her mind. 
I also heard that sumaya and farzana got along really well, like sisters almost, so when the trouble started, Bilal accused Sumaya of causing some if it. (that may explain why Sumaya has taken so long to start warming to me.)

After a long drawn out dispute and trying to make it work living apart, Bilal and Farzana eventually decided to divorce. Much to my MiLs horror! She couldn't stand the tainted reputation and whispers, I'm sure.

Shortly after the talaaq, Bilal married Shiraan in a small Nikkah and backyard walima, nine months later...out popped the twins.

Shireen is my MiLs sisters daughter, at the time she was fending off a stigma of her own...the community was buzzing over her broken engagement after her fiancé called it off to make secret nikkah to the 'madragee' secretary from his office. Shireens mother was in a panic, Shireen was already 25 at the time and Imraan's Kala didn't want her daughter to be sitting on the shelf.

The two unfortunate situations made Bilal and Shireen a perfect match in every bodies eyes and my MiL had always had a soft spot for Shiraan because she and Bilal had been born a week apart, their mothers had confinement together. It was ment to be for then, apparently...(to bad they don't act 'ment to be,now') 

Wait, wait...i stopped my self, backspace that thought...never judge anybody's relationship no matter how it looks from the outside, least you be wrong, worse if a similar situation should befall you, too.

Not like I didn't have my own fair share of time in the rumour spot light...when I met Imraan, Nasreen had just gotten engaged and rumours were flying around that I was jealous and trying to break off her engagement, after all, she's 6 months younger than me and getting married first. The rumours almost ruined our friendship, but good thing Nasreens so level-headed.

More than a year ago, when Nasreen heard that a boy from Port Shepstone was coming to see her, she immediately phoned to ask me if his name was familiar, I told her I had had a classmate by the same name, if it was the same boy, we were sort of friends in school and he was very nice, super intelligent too and cute! But I wasn't sure, I hadn't seen this boy in ages. Nasreen didn't mind, she was glad to have a positive vibe because this prospect did sound promising.

Things worked out for Nasreen... Muhammad was a "hunky, quantity surveyor" who grew up in Port Shepstone but studied, worked and lived in Durban. Nasreen never wanted to be a live-in DiL so for her, that was a real plus. The fact that Muhammad's parents lived almost an hour away, didnt hurt his rating either. She really makes me laugh.

At her engagement I immediately recognized Muhammad as the same one I had meant now with a designer beard.
When I went to congratulate the shy couple, Muhammad recognized me and the three of us fell into easy conversation, I think Nas&Mo were kind of glad to have a mutual buffer. Ofcorse the gossip mongers' watched on, eyes wide open...
The very next day the damaal started. I was accused of jealousy, conceit, lies etc it was very stressful because my relationship with Nas was on the line as well as her engagement.

Nas was understandably upset and full of doubt, luckily I managed to convince her that whatever school day comradeship Mo and I had was long in the past and it would never match to the relationship she'll have with him as husband and wife. Plus, I would always respect the boundaries of that. Nasreen is very level-head and once the rumors died down, things were fine.

Luckily Imraan had heard this whole damaal straight from me before he even proposed, ah...Imraans proposal, now that's a story!... But, for another time...too bad I didn't keep a diary back then...  

Part 8- Dadi Ma, Nani Ma and Chaachi Ma

When Imraan got home from work his Dadi called him, "Imraan betha, yaa ow"1
"so long you never see me, you can't come make salaam!"
"sorry Dadi. I wanted to see if my wife is feeling better today"
"Dadi you must get Facebook, then I'll always check up on you"

Dadi has a soft spot for these 'poiro's'2, she started laughing!
"tubaa, tubaa...suram ke waat3 ,what I'll do with bookface and hando4"
"find 1 Dada" Imraan laughed back.

I couldn't stop smiling watching them banter!

"areh jaja, doohi like me5, I don't want to wash any mans underpants"
"ask Fatima, Nani Ma got a Madala on facebook"
"hatchi waat, Fatima?"6
I laughed aloud, "my nani is in Jannat Dadi Ma, Imraans talking about a page 'Ask Nani Ma?"

"ask nani ma about what!?" my MiL asked as she walked in...

Imraan was to busy laughing to reply.
"we talking about that Facebook group" I said
"oh, acki ghaam nee panchaat that is"7, my MiL replied.
"No,no...i think that ones Ask Chaachi Ma!"
"aye I don't know all this, must ask shireen, she always busy with her phone"

"Ask Shireen?, oh that would make a very good panchaat8 page" Imraan said, sending his Dadi and him into another laughing fit.

My MiL just tsstsst at them.

Iftaar time Dadi was back to criticizing MiL..."are these dukaan9 samoosas kayroon gori?
Aye but your DiLs beat you, they roll round rotis.
You must make jaraak kuri kitchri10 for sehri, my haroon always use to like that."
"I make curry for him every morning, Ma" my MiL said.

I just knew Sumaya was smirking behind her milkshake glass.

Glossary:

1. imraan darling, come here
2. boys
3. sinful, sinful, shameless talk
4. everything
5. oh get out, old thing like me
6. for true 
7. whole worlds gossip
8. gossip
9. store bought
10. little bit of maas and rice dish

Part 7- Double Trouble and Saat piece luggage...

Dadi-in-law arrived in a tornado of talcum powder and a rainfall of gujirati even I couldn't understand. Poor Tumi and Thembi broke their backs offloading her seven piece luggage set and lugging it in. "Deekreek raak, saat saat che"1 she greeted me...
I dutifully stood and counted the bags that looked like she brought enough to move in permanently! One look at my MiLs face, told me she thought the same.

Soon as the Moti MiL caught sight of her DiL the terrorizing began..."Kayroon Gori its so garaam garaam2 in here, you don't open windows? I'm getting gabraat3 just standing here!"
My MiL hopped to it..."nay Ma, aww aww, Tamara room ma aircon ne handoche che, aww aww4. 
Tameh cheir jwech?5"-"Sumaya don't just stand there, go put the kettle on!"


"...and let the fun times roll" Sumaya whispered as she walked passed me.
This time, I know I didn't imagine it!
I giggled to myself, I could still hear Dadi lecturing my MiL on the importance of keeping the house well aired even in winter...it keeps all the karaab waah6 out.

When Dadi came back out she was in a much better mood, " kaache pooira lorko7?"
"the boys are all at work, Ma-you want a naan khatia8?"
"nay nay, oh boor sukaar ne khay se Kai9, sugar is too bad for my health. ooh Ayesha ne Shireen kache?10"
"Ayesha can't come today, it's too hard with the boys and Qasim works till late in the dookaan11 too. She'll come in the weekend."
"and Shireen is gone to her mothers house, today is her day there..."
The better mood was short lived.
"jaja..hoo hundi wakaat tha doori12, she keep going mothers house, mothers house, once you get married you must forget all that! Jaja, ma ke ghaar13, thats why you have all those problems"

I had to escape to keep from laughing...my MiL was totally breaking a sweat! I caught Sumayas eye as I was leaving and I gave her a sly wink...she beamed me a smile in return!

glossary for my terrible attempt to transliterate  guji:

1. keep your eyes open, there is seven...meaning make sure the maids don't steal.
2. very hot
3. hyper ventilate due to heat
4. come to your room, there is an aircon and 'everything'
5. do you want tea?...said to pacify
6. bad wind
7.  where are the boys
8. indian ghee biscuit
9. no, i cant have too sweet things
10. where are A & S
11. shop/business
12. what does she run there for all the time
13. mothers house...said mockingly

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You can expect a dose of panchaat from the FICTIONAL Fatima in  "The Real Diary of a Guji Wife" weekday mornings at 9am.
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If you still don't believe me, sit tight, most of the story is already done...with alot of surprising twist and turns that will clear all doubts.
Thanks for joining me on this journey, each part is as new to me as it is to you and because I'm already so far into the writing, I also read the published post every day like I never saw it before;) I'm just crazy like that!
Love&Dua's with dashing's of chutney and spice...
Ree!

Part 6- Chicken Soup with a helping of Suspicion

The weekend passed in almost a blur, I spent most of it sick and in bed. This flu really got me messed up. Every time I thought I was feeling better and tried to get up, the nausea and vomiting would return. To top it all of, I was cranky and moody and bloated too, my period was also due.

My mother was very worried, I had to insist that she doesn't need to come from Port Shepstone to see me. Luckily my father was already sitting for Itiqaaf and she also needed to be home to prepare the supper basket for him so my brother could take it after Magrib.

Imraan was worse than my mother, he was insisting I go to the doctor, but really I hate tablets especially antibiotics so it would just be a waste. I wouldn't take them anyway. I'm very stubborn when I want to be.

To pacify everybody I called work and asked for 2 days off, I must have sounded very bad because the secretary didn't even try to guilt trip me...in a small school like ours, they can't afford to let the children catch anything. Germs spread like wildfire! That's probably why I got sick so fast, all the snotty noses and grubby fingers all day, but shame, I love my job. I hope they get somebody nice to sit with my kids.

My MiL has surprised me beyond measure, she and Sumaya have been up to my room so often to check in with me and take care of me. My MiL even brings me tea and soup in bed. Not 'cup-a-soup' too, real chicken invalid soup from Indian Delights!
 She has been forcing me to eat and drink a little every few hours, "You need the taarkit1 Fatima, thoo boor paatri che2"
My MiL has been so caring I'm actually suspicious, after the steak fiasco last week, I didn't expect this!
She's been in a bit of a panic mode this weekend too, cleaning every inch and square inch of the entire house, poor Tumi and Thembi must be finished! 

This week Imraan's Dadi will be coming to stay, she'll be here till after Eid. Its fun to watch my MiL turn into a stressed DiL for a little while, but I know from the last visit Dadi spent here, the minute Dadi around my MiLs big girl champals3 come back on and she tackles us with new energy. Okay,maybe I exaggerate a little...

I can't believe that we days away from Eid already, I still have a few Paras left to finish my Quraan Khataam. I also have so many recipes I want to try for Eid.

I'm a bit nervous and excited for this Eid, it is my first Eid married, so it's the first one Imraan and I will be spending together. 
My cousin Nasreen told me that on her first Eid married last year, all the old aunties kept touching her tummy asking when she's bringing one Baba and coming...Nasreen's very mischievous, she had gotten married just a month before Ramadaan so she kept telling them, "Oh, still 5 more months before my due date!"
I laughed myself silly when she described the look on their faces when they did the Math...it helped that she's a bit on the chubby side too, plus she had worn an Abayaa for Eid!
Neither less to say, her MiL didn't see the funny side to that story, she was fuming the next day after fielding off calls of 'concern' all morning...which was  like a double win for Nasreen, ofcorse.

This Eid falls exactly a month before my first wedding anniversary and when we got married, Imraan and I agreed to start talking about having a family once we pass the one year mark...

Looks like alot of 'first' on the horizon, waiting for me...

Glossary:

1. strenght
2. you very thin
3. sandals

Part 5-Coffee, Salt and all things right...

My Sehri alarm shook me awake...I must have fell asleep waiting for Imraan to come home from Tarawee so I could tell him about the steak.


Everybody was eating grumpily, the sound of slurping and spoons could only be heard when MiL broke the silence...
"Imraan my batchoo, how was the braai last night, the boys enjoyed the steak?"
"hmmm we where expecting BBQ though, what happened Fatima?"

Before I could reply, MiL spoke up,"oh you know how late Fatima gets home, I didn't want to trouble her so I did it for you, I don't know all these navoo navoo styles so I made my plain and simple one."

Oh the cheek! 
"I had enough time to make it after work but it was already done before I even got home"
OMW!!where did that come from, who said that...did a sehri gandi take over my brain!!

My MiLs thin eyebrows shot up like arrows pointing at the ceiling, her mouth formed a tight O!
I gulped and looked down, but not before I caught the humorous smirk that crossed Sumaya's lips...did I have an ally across the table?
No time to think about that, Imraan cleared his throat, I waited with my heart in my throat for him to speak, but he just went back to eating his cereal.

Thankfully one of the twins crying in bed shifted every bodies focus...shew...saved by the cry, for now, I guess!

After fajr I went back to bed, it was finally Saturday and I was exhausted.

I woke up two hours later with the most awful feeling of nausea...I barely made it to the bathroom before I vomited my barely digested sehri...one mouthful, then two, then three...I gagged for eternity.
Finally I looked into the mirror, swollen red eyes, leaky nose and a flushed face greeted me...yes, the dreaded flu was in the building!

Imraan was standing at the bathroom door, his eyes full of concern, then... he turned and left the room. I sat on the bed clenching my towel, I wanted to cry but I had no energy. I know he must be so angry at me.

When the bedroom door opened again, I didn't look up till I smelt coffee, "Take a sip, its black...you will feel better"

I smiled a weak smile of relief, I didn't want coffee but it meant my husband cared about me still. I took a small sip and spat it out immediately, in a coughing fit, I managed to rasp "Who made this Imraan!, it's terrible"
His face fell, I made it for you...I'm sorry!
(shew, I thought he'd say it was his mum)

I tried to laugh. "I think you put salt instead of sugar..." 
He started laughing too, "I was wondering why the sugar was with all the spices! lay down and relax, I will get you water"

"Imraan...about this morning..."
"don't worry, you know my mother means well,she likes to make life easy for her daughter-in-laws. Isn't that a Mufti Menk quote too?"

Trust a man to see the good...but hey, I'm just glad he isn't mad at me!

When Imraan came back he surprised me with what he said..."I know it must be hard sometimes all of you sharing the kitchen, I mean Ayesha and my mother use to fight all the time when it was only them, so I don't expect it to be easy with four of you in there now...you have never complained so far and I really appreciate that, tiMwah"

Oh, my man has all the right words...

Part 4-Two twins and Masaala steak

I got home to chaos in the kitchen, it was Sumaya's turn for savoury and Shireen's turn for main dish.

Sumaya had spring rolls out that she was crumbing and frying and 1 dozen mince samoosas ready to fry for her husband, I smiled to myself when I saw them. Her baby was parked in his pram in one corner, I went to tickle and coo at him, he is just too cute!

Shireen was frantically trying to put her chicken tarkaree together, she was loudly complaining to Sumaya that there is just no barkaat in time now days, "I don't know if these aloos will even get done, lucky Bilal won't eat curry, you know how he likes soft soft aloo only"
A loud yell sent her scurrying from the kitchen, she just knew her sons were up to no good.

I quickly got out my marinade ingredients onto the furthest counter top when MiL dearest walked in..."Sumaya leave all this and go see Talha, he was fighting with the twins! You only making one savoury? Bilal can't eat one type only, poor man is rozdaar too you know. Leave it, leave it...too late now, we'll just make do...
Let me check this tarkaree, bechari shireen, she got her hands full with those 'two twins' of hers, areh areh"

I could have sworn I saw Sumaya roll her eyes and wink at me as she left the kitchen...did she? Must be my imagination!

"Fatima what you doing with all that khatbhat there, don't you want to go read Quraan before iftaar..." (guess with nobody else left in the kitchen, it was my turn now...)
"Gee mummy, I just want to marinate some steak for Imraan then Il go"
"oh I already gave masaalah to that steak, you have to masaalah steak early, then its hawaat...Imraan likes my crushed chille masaala from small too"
Nasreens voice shouted 'say something, say something' in my head.
But my MiL had already moved on to complaining about Sumaya , "so much teel Sumaya frys in, well all will get jara jara...not enough her rung is all wrong now she wants to get jari too...lucky her two didn't get her complexion"
I just mumbled thank you and walked out. (Score: MiL-2, Me-Nil)

After iftaar I could barely keep my eyes open...I was just beyond tired. Imraan came into the room and saw me laying down, "You oki TiMwah?" he asked touching my forehead lightly.
"Gee baby, just so so sleepy."
"You must take it easy..why don't you sleep early, leave those steaks out for me, I won't wake you up later"
I smiled sleepily in thanks , only after he left for tarawee I dragged myself to retrieve the old ice cream container of steak from the fridge, (guess you can't put that much arad in real tupperware) and then I realised I forgot to tell him its not BBQ...ohh 0!

Part 3- Seeing Good, Doing Good

As I drove to work this morning I was still thinking of last nights incident and mentally kicking myself.

I had just let it slide, there just wasn't much I could say while my mother was on the other end of the line saying, "kaynee kaynee, these things happen, Kayroon...atleast now I can ask you to remember me in all your special duas."

My MiL slithered back to her room as I finished up my call with my mother. 

In my room I berated myself for not calling her out on it, but wouldn't it be my word against hers? I decided not to mention it to Imraan.

My cousin Nasreen would be very angry with me if she hears this, she warned me of these moments and made me promise not to be a doormat...oh well, pick your battles I think.

Now, in the car this morning I'm daydreaming about what I should have, could have, would have said to put my MiL in her place...I always hate how all the best lines come to me way too late!

Peeeeep, peeeeeeeeeeep, peep peep peeep!!!!!!!

I was jump started out of my fantasy by the impatient driver behind me, guess he was tired of reading prices for fishy things. I glanced in my rear-view and immediately pressed my hazards...when I was little I use to call it the 'tick tock' button, now since I started driving, I think of it as the 'sorry and thank you' button.

I changed gear ready to move off only to realize that the car in front of me was the one holding us up...it was swamped with beggars trying to get to the window...OMW! This was a bit much, even for Crescent street!
As they passed by me I saw the joy on their face and realized they each were clenching an assortment of chocolates at their chest...rolo and aero slabs, bars of tv bar, bar one and lunch bar...Yoh! This car must have tons to share!
As the driver ahead turned right I saw that she was a Muslim lady...Wow, what a lovely thing to do.

During my lunch break today I read Yaseen and then I decided to log on to Facebook  after ages. My news feed is full of Gaza related post and pics that just break my heart...many of my friends are actively following the plight and campaigning against the oppression. I put my phone away and read another Yaseen for the men, women and children of Gaza. May Allah (SWT) ease their plight, Ameen. Why do I only notice how bad it is during Ramadaan, they live this everyday, all year through. 
I saw a lady on BBM advertising for Palestinian scarves, the proceeds' go to Al-Imdaad to aid disaster relief, I need to order a few from her later.

This Ramadaan I just don't feel like myself, I'm restless...tired...achy...i think I am getting the flu. At least it is not my turn for iftaar, just need to fry grill some masaala some steak for Imraan, think he wants to braai them after Taraweeh, he says he loves the BBQ sauce marinade I make.