Part 43: dholl and yellow rice...

Friday evening with Ayesha was such a laugh! She had tons of tales about her new SiL that had us all in stitches!

Nothing brings guji women together quiet like gibbaat of other guji women...so while Ayesha had enough stories for many a novels...she also had a very attentive audience made up of MiL, Sumaya, Shireen and I.

Ayesha's youngest BiL had just married a month ago and his new bride had brought her own drama to the household.
Ayesha gleefully told us about the day her MiL had to rewash Every.Single.Thing in the kitchen...Everything!

"Everything!", exclaimed Shireen, " Why on earth!"

" Ay that Gori Bhen has a problem! She likes to wash dishes too much! How she washed everything that time we came for supper..Areh areh...then she put clean clean dishes in the dishwasher! Jaa-Jaa!", My MiL said.

Sumaya was nodding in agreement, while shireen and I looked at each other shocked!

"Wait...wait...it gets better!", Ayesha said,  trying to hold her laughter.

"when Suleman and Rizwaana came back from honeymoon, after supper we never let her help, nuwe dulhaan and everything...so as usual my MiL 'rinsed' all the supper dishes and loaded the dishwasher, she always puts it on after breakfast everyday.

Anyway, in the morning when I got the kitchen I set the table and made breakfast and lunch for Qasim and the boys.

After breakfast my MiL went to put the dirty 'rinshed' breakfast dishes in the washer but the dishwasher was empty!

Aye she was panicing!

Then Rizwaana told us she woke up early and emptied the dishwasher and packed all the clean dishes away!"

We all looked at Ayesha with our mouths hanging open as we put two and two together!

O.M.W!

Ayesha nodded laughing!

"Yup, she thoughed all the dirty dishes in there were already washed! That's how clean my MiL rinses them! So she packed it away...
My MiL almost fainted! She rewashed Every.Single.Thing in the kitchen...by HAND! Coz she didn't know where what went!", Ayesha ended in laughter...

Shoh...i almost felt sorry for her MiL, poor thing! And poor Rizwaana! She must have been mortified!

"wait wait! That's not all...have you ever eaten dholl and kitchri?", Ayesha asked us.

" eeew! No!", Sumaya said.

" Ayee...whats that?", Shireen asked.

" That's what I had for Jumuah lunch last Friday!", Ayesha said with a naughty smile.

" Jaa-Jaa!...ghandi waat!", MiL said, shaking her head at Ayesha.

"Last Friday my MiL told Rizwaana to cook, so Rizwaan decided to make dholl and rice, aloo fry, paapar, fried fish, sorji, salsa and she even went and broke mangos from the neighbours tree to make fresh methi pickle...", Ayesha explained.

"Sounds yummy!", I said.

" Yah, it was! She went through so much trouble...except she stressed herself out so much she put Urud(tumeric) in the rice!", Ayesha said in another fit of laughter.

" whaaaaat!!!", we all said together, laughing in disbelief!

"yup! She tried to rinse it out but it was too late and she couldn't  waste 4 cups of rice! Yes...she made enough yellow rice for 20 people!", Ayesha finished.

Shame, I was amused but I also felt sorry for this Rizwaana girl...being a new DiL is no easy thing...little boo-boos kinda freak you out.

For the rest of the evening Ayesha entertained us with all her stories...but the real gem of the day came from my MiL who said...

Drum roll please...

" at least my DiLs have ackaal (common sense)..."

Oh but she said it so off handedly we didn't even get a chance to bask in the glow of her backhanded compliment...

Part 42: babies and birth plans

Meeting Nasreen's little Baba on Friday was so lovely, he was tiny and too precious. Small eyes, little nose, a tiny rosebud mouth, wrinkled fingers...aww and the smell! That sweet sweet newborn smell, ahhh.

Imraan ofcorse didn't leave his Guji mentality in the car park, as soon he looked at baby Nabeel, he started with the "He looks just like...".

Nasreen wasn't hearing any of it, "My son looks just like himself, nobody else...dont project your speculation on to him."

...shew! I forget sometimes how blunt Nasreen can be.

Imraan wasn't phased though...he was use to it, his sister Ayesha was alot like Nasreen in that regard.

We had a lovely visit with Nasreen but once we got to the car Imraan asked me why we were the only visitors their...i had to explain to him that Nasreen only started telling people she had a baby now, and we were amongst the first few to know...he was beyond shocked!

She wanted her labour and delivery to be a private affair, her mum and MiL will only meet the baby this evening and they can start telling the rest of the family but Nasreen won't be accepting visitors for the next two weeks.

Imraan was having a hard time swallowing all this...

"What she going to do if people come to visit by her mums place?, there won't be nurses to keep them away!", Imraan said

" she's not going by her mum, she's going home, she has a doula who will come to show her how to bath her baby etc...her mum is considered a visitor too...", I explained

Imraan was blown away, " I get no visitors, kind off...but not even her mother!!!"

Lol, how do you explain to Imraan, Nasreen's crazy philosophies'...

" She wants her post delivery period to be about their new little family, just her, Muhammad and baby. she doesn't want disruptions, inconvenience and irritation...she says that it would be a nightmare dealing with visitors when you should be bonding with the baby..." I tried to explain.

"she also doesn't want her mum or MiL because they will want to help by taking over the baby, she doesn't need that, she needs help running errands and doing house work. the baby must be her only job...something about other peoples scents and perfumes interfering with establishing breastfeeding."

I could see Imraan being completely lost...

" All I remember is that when Ayesha had her baby she came to stay for over a month, I was in matric and the house was crazy!", Imraan said

" There was alot of people around and my mother was so busy seeing to Ayesha, plus the baby, plus the visitors...Mummy really got tired."

" Ayesha's son use to cry so much, all the time...he was always hungry I think."

" Thank goodness when she had the second fellow, I was staying on campus! Maybe Nasreen has a point!", Imraan said with a laugh.

I suddenly started thinking about what kind off boundaries I want to set for when I have my babies...

That made me realize I really needed to think about it, it was going to be a logistical nightmare!

I will be living in PMB by then, our hospital was in Durban. If I wanted to do traditional Huwawar Il have to go to Sheppy, traveling for an hour with two small newborns?...shew!

Imraan must have read my mind..." don't worry, lets move first then we can make a birth plan"

I burst out laughing...a birth plan is for the labour I told him!

He smiled, " Lucky you booked us in for those prenatal classes, then"

I decided he was right, Il wait for the classes and then make informed decisions that would suit our needs.

When we got home, a familiar car was parked in the driveway...one we hadn't seen in awhile but!

" Ayesha's here!", Imraan said excitedly.

Imraan's sister barely visits nowdays, which is too bad, she such a riot! I couldn't wait to hear all her funny stories'...

The weekend looked very interesting....and it was!

Part 41: End to the crazy, start of new beginnings

Yesterday, I woke up to a brightly lit room, as the events of the previous day came to mind, I shot up from bed..."hey sleepy head, how you feeling", Imraan spoke from the  desk in the corner of our room, he was typing on his laptop but he was still in PJs.

I looked at my bedside clock, 10:45, OMW!!! I was majorly late for work...!!!!

" I called us both in sick!" Imraan said, reading my mind again.

I looked at him shocked...Imraan never takes sick leave...a few hours off, yah...but a whole day?!

I couldn't seem to find my voice.

" you hungry ?", Imraan asked as he walked towards me, he bent to kiss me..."wash up and meet me in the kitchen", he smiled as he left.

I got out of bed wearily, in the bathroom I stared at myself in the mirror...after I washed up, I went to the kitchen, Imraan's was already sitting to eat

..i wanted to ask him about the helicopter when the twins walked in with Shireen...

Yusuf had a bouquet of red roses that he gave to me, " Thank you for finding us yesterday.", he said to me.

 I hugged him.

Yusair handed me a gift bag, " we sorry for being so naughty we won't do it again", he said...

" thank you Yusair", I said as I hugged him, I hope you and Yusuf are going to be good now...

Yusuf, Yusair , Imraan and Shireen were looking at me like I had two heads suddenly...

"what?" I asked confused.

" you can tell them apart now?", Shireen said amazed.

I started laughing...i didn't even realize that! "Guess you can't play tricks on me anymore", I told the two boys...

As we ate I finally managed to asked Imraan about the damn helicopter that MiL mentioned that night.

.."oh that, when we couldn't find you I phoned insurance to track your car, the tracker picked up that the car was on the freeway, slow moving...that didn't tell me if you were safe though, just that the car was moving...i knew I wouldn't be able to get to you in traffic by road so I requested that they send a helicopter to check on you, they didn't want too, some 24 hour wait period crap...so I paid them to send it , I wanted a clear confirmation that you were driving..."

What!!! Imraan's like a real stalker...his insane!

I just shook my head, un.be.live.able!

I was about to tell him that, when MiL walked in tears...Bilal was at her heels, ranting and raving...i didn't get the whole story, but it was obvious that MiL was being blamed for fiasco...she had given the twins the money, after all...

I knew Bilal won't let this go until somebody takes the blame...i wonder if he stopped to think about how he made it seem that they were kidnapped because of the shop...

Aye...

Today as we got ready for Jumuah, Imraan reminded me that we have two weeks to get ready to move into our new place, everything was finalized...

Oh wow!

We decided to just buy the basics to function and then do up each room and furnish as time goes...

Two weeks!

TWO weeks!!!!

OMW...i have soo much to do, better start making a list!

My ringing phone got me out of my mild panic attack...it was Muhammad, Nasreen's husband...

" as salaaau alikum Kala", came the cheerful voice.

" what Kala! I'm still young!", I laughed back...

" well you are a Kala to a masha'Allah baby boy..." Muhammad said

Waaaaat! Nasreen had her baby! OMW!!!

Nasreen and Muhammad had told everyone that they wished for a private birth experience and will call only after baby was born and they felt ready to share ...

" Nasreen gave birth yesterday afternoon, he is healthy and she's well, she says I can tell you to come visit"

" Yay! We'll be there after lunch, can't wait!"

I'm so thrilled...time for new beginnings...

Part 40: Home Sweet Home

It took forever to get out of the grid locked CBD at peak hour.

There were two accidents on the freeway on the way home and something major ws going on too...a helicopter was hovering over traffic and kept zoning in on my car it seemed...it kept the boys very entertained but was freaking me out.

On the way home I managed to get the full story out of Yusuf and Yusair, as scary as today was, I already knew that this would be a family tale we would tell for many years to come...

The boys told me they really wanted to go to the park but because mummy didn't want to take them they decided to take a bus like nazley and reyaan do.

Nazley and Reyaan are the children of a lady Shireen befriended at the park named Layla.

From the snippets I heard from MiL, she lived in Sydenham and came to the park in our area because the one near her wasn't safe. She was a 'coloured Muslim' so ofcorse MiL didn't approve of her.

"where did you get money for the bus fare?", I asked them.

"Dadi!", replied one in a sing song voice.

"she gave us R100!", said the other

"yah buses are expensive coz they so big."

The boys told me they that they were on the bus the 'whole day' and Yusuf needed to pee and the money man was asking them where they were jumping off and they kept saying park and he said no park...

"we got scared", Yusair told me

"so when we saw Mr price, we jumped off...coz mummy always takes us to Mr price", Yusuf said.

These two have no idea what kind of trouble they going to be in...ah the innocence's of youth...

When I finally pulled into our driveway, it was  close to 7pm, I was physically and mentally exhausted!

All the lights in the house were on, Imraan's car was already in the driveway, the police cars were still there, so was my mamagee's...

I knew I was in more trouble than either of the boys...i didn't think I had the energy left to deal with any of this now...

As soon as I parked the boys shot out off the car, running towards the house...shireen and Bilal where already outside waiting for them...even from inside the car, I could hear Shireens relief, I shook my head as she chided her two rascals...i slumped against the seat and closed my eyes'...

It wasn't even a second when my car door was flung open. I smelt him before I even saw him...i braced myself for his anger...

"baby I'm so glad you okay! I was so worried!", Imraan said.

Imraan's words almost broke my heart...i felt him gently tug my arm, I got out of the car and collapsed against my husband.

i hadn't even realized I was crying until Imraan wiped away my tears. He held me tight against him for a minute and then without a word he scooped me up and carried me into the house.

As soon as he set me down, my MiL started up, "Fatima! How could you do this, you know how worried we were! We thought something happen to you, you just went, no phone nothing...gandi jeewi...no answer we had for Imraan when he came home!

Becharo Imraan was so worried we couldn't find you and the twins! Imraan had to pay for that helicopter to come check on you! Waste of money!"...


What! Paid for a helicopter!

But before I could even ask, Imraan scooped me up again.

 " Fatima doesn't need to hear this, you'll should thank her for bring those two home safely...and I'd like to give an earful to the idiot who left two five year olds unattended that long!", Imraan said it calmly but sternly then he carried me all the way to the room.

He laid me on the bed as my mamagee knocked at the door...

"Fatima bethi! What you doing to an old man like me!"
Seeing him made me think of my parents! Oh-No! I hope nobody told them...i looked at Imraan but he seemed to read my mind..." I didn't phone your parents. I didn't want to worry them unnecessarily coz they so far, so I called uncle Doc instead.", Imraan said

..oh my husband is a rock star!

I relaxed against my pillows..." Go ahead Dr, give her few injection's or something for this little stunt of hers!", Imraan said...

" I'm just going to check your vitals and the babies heart beats", my mamagee laughed at the look of terror on my face...i HATE needles!!!!!

Imraan disappeared into the bathroom after my uncle confirmed that all seemed fine.

Once my uncle left, Imraan sent me in for a warm bath and had my favourite PJs out for me, I felt human again after that.

I was about to ask him about the helicopter again but a knock on the door stopped me short...

Imraan let Sumaya in with a tray of tea and a sandwich and biscuits.

I was suddenly famished!!!

i hadn't eaten since lunch!

i smiled at her gratefully as I ate and she quietly whispered that she was so glad I was okay and she left.

Once I was done, Imraan tucked me into bed like a small child and he held me close, I tried to talk but he ssshed me, "Tomorrow....now you sleep..."

 I couldn't argue...

I was okay, I was loved, I had an amazing husband, I was beyond tired...i was snoring before I even closed my eyes!

Part 39: Rescue Mission

I grabbed my handbag and gestured for Tumi to follow me out.

 " Sumaya I'm going to check!", I called out over my shoulder.

I got into the car and I was about to open the passenger side for Tumi but she got into the backseat.

As I drove to the bus stop at the end of the road, she explained to me that the other maids had seen the boys getting onto a bus earlier that was headed for town.

OMW!!!!...i couldn't imagine what would make two five year olds that have never been on public transport ever, take a bus alone!

When we got the bus stop I got out and spoke to the ladies that sell sweets there, they both confirmed what Tumi had heard.

 I didn't know what to do! I tried calling Imraan but his phone kept going to voicemail and anyway what help would he be, he was 45mins away!

Suddenly I saw the bus and taxi operator numbers stuck on the bus stop shelter, I called it!

I had to speak to three different people and explain to them I needed the route of a bus that stopped at this stop around 1:30, nobody seemed to understand me even though I tried to give a description of the bus etc...

Finally, seeing my faustration, Tumi motioned for me to give her the phone...

In a torrent of fast paced IsiZulu I didn't understand she managed to get us put through to the bus driver of the said bus.

 He too remembered the boys very well but unfortunately they had just hopped of at his last stop...outside mr price in town!!!!, Tumi explained to me.


I didn't stop to think, I just ran back to my car and made a u-turn headed towards the freeway that would take me into the CBD...as I approached the on ramp i thought I better call Imraan stained...as I searched for my phone with one hand, I suddenly remembered that I had left it with Tumi when I took off...oh-0...too late now, I couldn't go back!

Luckily I was heading into town so I didn't have much traffic, but once I got there, west street was a circus at this hour! It took me ages to get to the corner where the huge Mr price is located and even longer to find parking...i don't know,what I was thinking! They may not even be here!

But I had a hunch...

I finally found parking and ran into the store, I headed straight for security, I tried to explain to him as best as I could, luckily he seemed to understand me and directed me to the manager.

The manager too knew what I was all frantic about, despite it being minutes away from closing time, he too made a few quiet phone calls and then directed me to the 3rd floor....swiping his employee card to give me access to a 'staff only' area and lift.

In the lift I suddenly felt very scared, I had calmed down by then and suddenly realized that I was on a wild goose chase, nobody knew were I was, if Imraan was home yet, he must be frantic...and here I was in an unknown building, in an area unseen by public, going I don't know where...

When the lift open I found myself in a busy office area with tons of people frantically finishing up their busy day...phones were ringing all over, people rushing here and their...i didn't know who to stop and ask...

"Fatiiii MAAmeeeeee"

The shouting of my name made me turn, just in time as first one boy and then the other ran to me, wrapping themselves around me...

.OMW, I found them!

A man about my age was walking towards me, thankfully he was smiling.

"As salaam mu alukum", he greeted me...I'm  Zaid.

"wasalaam", I replied

" so you here for my two friends, I thought Il have to take them home with me!" he said as he ruffled their hair.

Zaid explained to me that the staff on the shop floor found the boys earlier in the afternoon when they came in asking for the staff to call their mother, they told staff that their mum always shops at this store and they want their mum to fetch them, they didn't know their phone number or address so somebody decided to call him from accounts to see if he could get their parents via the company data base. He had been told to report it to the police by the close of business if he didn't find the parents.

Zaid tried looking for their surname on the system, but none of the names and addresses that came up matched the area that the twins said they lived in.

 He finally posted to Ask Nani Ma , in hope that somebody would have better details while he tried to keep them entertained and extract more information.

He hesitated to call the police because he felt that they may not be able to locate the parents any better than he could and feared that the children would be placed in custody till the parents were found, he had no faith in the local police.

I was so relieved to find these two monkeys, I just took all his details down for Shireen and Bilaal to contact him and thank him properly. I thanked him profusely.

As I was leaving he called after us "Yusuf, you forgetting your milkshake!", as one boy turned and ran to get it I stood amazed that he had learned to tell them apart in just a few hours yet I couldn't!

When I got the boys strapped into the back seat and headed back into the traffic to leave I suddenly realized I should have asked Zain to lend me his phone to call Imraan...to late now! Hopefully we would be home soon!

Part 38: Kidnapped!

Today I got home from work and once again there was nowhere for me to park!

The yard was jam-packed with cars. Bilal was home and so were his in laws it seemed...but that's not what had me worried...the two police vans parked haphazardly across the front yard is what me hurry inside!

What on earth was going on!

Imraan was in PMB today to sort out some stuff at the new office premises.

I rushed inside to find shireen hysterical!
Bilal was ranting and raving...
my MiL and Shireen's mother were crying...
Shiraans Dadi was sitting the couch reading Izaa jaa in some kind of a trance...

It didn't take much to figure out that the twins were the cause of all this, but where were they?

Its only when I heard Bilal shouting at the men in blue that , ' he was sure they were kidnapped because of the business', that when I really started panicking!

Kidnapped!

 The twins!

OMW!

 Yah Allah...i thought I was going to faint...why hadn't anybody phoned me!

Shireen was getting hysterical, she kept repeating "I should have taken them to the park...they wanted to go so badly! Then none of this would have happen"

I rushed to Shireen offering her a tight hug, saying every comforting thing I could think off.
"Don't worry, they won't harm them...just pay the ransom, whatever they ask for...if you don't have enough Imraan and I can try and help, anything just ask...i'll start a yaseen khatam right now..."

I held my poor SiL tightly as she wept copiously in my arms...over her shoulder I saw Sumaya beckon me into the kitchen.

I left shireen to continue the interview with the police and went to see what Sumaya had to say...i knew she would have the details that I can't ask anybody in the other room for...

I was right...

Sumaya immediately began by telling me that this little drama may not be a kidnapping...Shireen was looking for the two about 2 hours ago and after searching the entire house and yard she found no sign of them she started panicking...it all escalated into an alleged kidnapping once the police got here, there was no evidence...just assumption and drama...

Isn't that like the main theme of this house?

Still! Two little boys were missing...kidnapped or not, where were they?

before I could get my thoughts straight, Tumi came hurrying through the kitchen door shouting frantically...

"Madaam!!!madaam!!!", she called.

Seeing us she immediately asked for Shireen, we pointed towards the lounge, following her as she flew through the door way...

"Madam...Madaam!!!!", "Baas???", she tried to get Shireens attention, then Bilal's, they waved her off, my MiL shooed her away...

She came back towards us, Sumaya quickly asked her what was up.

" the other maids, some that sit on the road waiting for the children after school...they said they see the twins gebala the bus", Tumi said.


What!!!!!
The bus!....

No freaking way!!!!

I jumped to action.


(....to be continued...)

Part 37: The house hunt

On Saturday, the estate agent phoned Imraan to say she had a few promising houses lined up that fit our requirements. We decided to make a Sunday of it and took a drive up yesterday to view these 'promosing' listings...
I hardly slept on the drive to PMB, I was so excited, talking to Imraan and building castles in the air...

We had a list of the houses and when we met the estate agent she was very sure of herself...she even told me that I would just fall in love with one of the top three, she's sure of it!

As we followed her from burger street to loop street, from center street to the Suburbs of Northdale, Edendale  and Raisethop...one by one, our spirits began to sink.

Every house we saw was far from the ones we had been dreaming off...non even seemed suitable...

Too old, too modern, too run down, too small, too big, no garden, too much of a garden, no privacy, too secluded...

None were what Imraan and I were expecting and we started questioning our expectations. By the time we were half way through the list, we were tired.

We didn't want an ancient house, we didn't want something too new and modern...we wanted a garden for the children but not an orchard and yard that will be difficult to maintain.

We wanted space but not so huge that the children's room would have its own GPS co-ordinate's.

We had thought that we would see a couple of houses and one would just feel like home!

There were a few on the list that didn't tick every single block but seemed workable, but the full disclosure clause that Imraan insisted on ment that we were told the background of each home, something that Imraan and I are both very fussy about...

The reasons for sale on one home was a divorce, neither partners wanted to keep the house, to many bad memories...
Another was a bank-repo.
One house was the scene of terrifying hold up that left the family too shattered to even continue living there ...

We didn't want to start our family on the crumbled dreams of another.

So the two houses that made it to our 'maybe' list had normal backgrounds of familys that inevitably had out grown the home...one was older than we liked but we could compromise, the other was humongous but that's not such a bad thing...

By the 8th house we were ready to call it a day...this was the last one we wanted to see...the estate agent herself wasn't to hopeful but Imraan and I had energy for one more...

This one was in Mountain Rise, as we turned into a leafy surban cal-de-sac the street name caught my eye, 'Paradise', I almost laughed...

We were told that this house wasn't vacant yet, the owners were still here till the sale because they were relocating overseas and only after they were sure of a  sale.

The estate agent stopped outside a beautiful beigh and blue home...I felt sure the one we would be seeing would be next door or across the road. Nobody would sell this beautiful place!

When she walked to the intercom, I held my breath and looked at Imraan. I could see it in his eyes too...if this was the house, this was it!
We got out excitedly...at the door we were met by an elderly couple, upon seeing us they smiled warmly.

"As Salaamu Alikum, aww aww..." the man welcomed us.

Stepping inside, I immediately felt at home.
The furniture wasn't my style, but the home had a warm inviting feeling, the place was well maintained and I could easily imagine living here. It was spacious but not so big that it felt cold...everything felt, well...homely.

"Welcome to Chateau le Fatima.", the man continued with a laugh.

"My wife's name is Fatima, she choose this home for us 35 years ago.", he continued

"My wife is Fatima too!", Imraan said laughing.

The older Fatima smiled at me, "Come Il show you around"

She led me from room to room, while she showed me the house she shared some of her memories of raising her family.

Two of her sons now lived in Canada and wanted their parents to join them, her daughter lived in Australia.

They were ready for a new experience she explained, they didn't want to miss out on their grandchildren .

When I rejoined Imraan and the Uncle, I could see that Imraan felt the same way as me...

The Ahmed's led us to their spacious country kitchen, seeing it just sealed the deal for me.

Ofcorse they insisted we have tea with them, our agent knew she had made this sale and politely told us she needed to leave, she would call tomorrow.

We spent another half an hour with the Ahmed's, touring the garden and outdoor braai area one of their sons had added in while still living with them a few years ago.

When we finally left for Durban, we had made up our mind...this was the home we would buy and start our family in. We hoped for many happy year's raising our children here, Insha'Allah.

Part 36: Kiss Me!

I woke up with the most aweful pain in my chest! I couldn't breath, it was so tight. It hurt to take air in, to move, to talk...i started panicking. I thought I was having a heart attack.

I ran into the bathroom to get Imraan's attention. When he saw me double over in pain he almost had a heart attack himself!

He dropped his shaver into the basin and hurried for his phone as I tried to explain to him my symptoms. He poured me a glass of water as he frantically tried to reach my uncle.

I started crying as the pain got worse, it was in my chest but I could only think that something is wrong with my babies.

Imraan gave up on mamagee after my maamee said his still in the shower and wanted to take a message. Imraan tried the Gyni, while he threw on some clothes. The Gyni wasn't in yet, he didn't even wait to explain to the receptionist, he just cut the call and grabbed his keys.

"Lets go baby, Il take you into emergency.", he said.

I didn't even try to protest, the pain was excruciating!

I slipped on an abayaa as Imraan helped me out.

"mummy I'm taking Fatima to the hospital!", he shouted as we went passed the kitchen and hurried towards the door.

I could hear my MiLs frantic, what-why-how, but Imraan didn't slow down, he was practically carrying me.

We just got to the end of the road when my mamagee returned Imraan's call, his wife had already explained to him the symptoms Imraan had described.

"get her gaviscon...", was what my Mamagee said first.

What! He thinks I have heartburn? Is he crazy! My babies are in danger! I could be dying and my uncle wants me to drink antacid! I know what's heartburn, Imraan is a cronic sufferer, this is NOT heartburn!!!!!!!

Imraan pulled off on the side of the road, obviously believing my uncle, he opened the cubby and grabbed some sachets, he tore one and gave me, I didn't know whatelse to do, so I took it and the two more he offered me.
In my head I wanted to scream and smack my husband! I also wanted to find out if my uncle bought his medical degree from 'ok bazaar'.

As I sat there, furious at them, I suddenly realized I was breathing normally again...the pain was fading away...

To late though...Imraan was already pressing the intercom outside my uncles house...

As we walked in, I caught sight of us in their entrance mirror, I burst out laughing...
Imraan was wearing yesterdays gym pants upside down and my purple oversized sleepshirt with glitter writing saying "kiss me". 
His beard was usually so neatly kept, today one cheek was shaved the other had shaving cream!

Omw! I couldn't stop laughing...Imraan looked at me with concern again.

" I take it you feeling better now...heartburn in pregnancy is something else I have been told!", my mamagee said walking in.

My cousin Ibrahim was on his way out, when he saw Imraan he did a double take!

He grabbed Imraan around the neck and said "Nice outfit man!", then he planted a big fat kiss on Imraan's cheek!

" WHAT THE......!!!!!!", Imraan shouted, shoving him away.

"just doing what your shirt says, dude!", Ibrahim laughed all the way to his car!

Imraan turned, looked in the mirror and muttered, 'ill be in the car', he walked out red as a tomatoe!

I thanked my uncle and promised to visit under more appropriate circumstances.

Then I went back to the car and also followed the instructions on my husband shirt...luckily Imraan was over the embarrassment now that he had a jacket on and was laughing as he wiped his face with his gym towel...

"feeling better?", he asked me, as we drove home.

I can't believe how bad the heartburn was...mamagee said something about the babies pushing the acid from my stomach up...

Shew! What a start to a Friday!

Part 35: Espresso for charity...

I still can't believe how happy this Fahmeeda was to see me yesterday!

 Who would have thought...

A few years ago, when I was still in school, Sabera and I volunteered for a fundraising tea garden for cancer...I asked to be a cashier, unfortunately on the day of the event they were short on waitresses' and asked me to be one!

Well, a group of highty thighty ladies had sat in my section, all the teachers were whispering about one lady who was Dr Mansoors 4th wife.

The group gave me a long order of specific teas and coffees and baked goods, thankfully, somebody more experienced put together the tray for me...their order totaled close to R500!

Half way through their tea they called me back to order one more Espresso, this time their was nobody to make it and I couldn't wait around forever so I had to make it myself, the only thing I knew about espresso was that it was served in a cute miniature mug so I made coffee just like I make for my father, extra milk, extra sugar...and served it in the small mini mug.

My word, what a fit this lady threw! She wanted a refund! So I took out my wallet and have her R14...she stared at it dumbstruck and then asked what's that for?
By now, almost everybody was watching us...without thinking I replied:, " this tea garden is for charity and charity doesn't give refunds, since you don't like your coffee and I made it, I'm returning your money"

I couldn't believe I had said that, but then I was glad I had...

Luckily, she just stood up gathered her stuff and left...it was only after she walked away that everybody realized the bill hadn't even been paid yet.

I still remember the look on the other ladies faces when they figured out they going to be paying for her share too.

I never expected to ever see her again...but there she was yesterday...as elegant and cool as ever, acting like we were long lost best friends.

I had been a bit nervous, I didn't know what to say or what she was going to say...

" I'm so sorry I have to rush off right now, Fatima please get my number from your MiL or I will get yours, we should meet for coffee or something... I could really use a girl like you on some of my projects.", She said warmly.

Once again, she had just gathered her things and left.

Soon as the door had closed behind her, my MiL and her Posey pounced on me,

"How do you know Fahmz?"

"Where do you know her from"

"why you never told me you know her all this time?"

I didn't know what to say or who to answer...i also didn't know if she was kidding me...coffee? With me? Why on earth!

I just shrugged, "she use to live in Sheppy before, small town and all that".

"Port Shepstone!", and then round two of the rapid fire questions began....

" was she married before?"

" I heard this is her 4th husband"

" what!"

" who was she married to before?"


While they dissected and speculated about her life I made a run for my bedroom.

when i told Imraan this silly story, he was so amused!

He said he had heard about the tuition program she runs for underprivileged children in a school in Shangweni.

"I think you made her into a good Samaritan that day...", Imraan said.

Yah right, as if I'm that influential. Maybe she had mistook me for somebody else...

Part 34: Lunch for the needy or the greedy?

Today when I got home from work there was nowhere for me to park, I had to park on the pavement outside!

 We have a carport that accommodates 6 cars plus a double garage!!

None of the cars parked in the bays were any I recognized except Sumaya's. At first I thought maybe something horrible had happened, then I remembered MiL was hosting her ladies committee meeting today...

I walked in to what sounded like the Victoria Street market...i almost walked back out! The kids at school make less noise than these 10 women.

Every month my MiLs community outreach group meets to plan their roster, this month its my MiLs turns to host the meeting...she has been stressing over the menu for weeks and had Sumaya and Shireen on a hop yesterday cooking and baking up a storm.

"Everything must be to the T, I don't want any ladies saying our lunch was like this and like that and last month was better!", I heard her drill my SiLs last night.

Sumaya was quiet annoyed that she had to make such variety for the tea table, just because last month the Drs wife had a 7-11 spread...7 lunch dishes and 11 tea things! My MiL, was not to be outdone...she was having a bakers dozen plus one spread...im not even kidding!

I just find it so ironical that a committee that meets to plan a lunch roster for the local school and clinic, places so much emphasis on the lunch they going to eat.

Every month my MiL tells us all the details of this get together...what she ate, what was made, who wore what, who said what...she returns home with weeks worth of gossip and tons of leftovers!

MiLs outreach group prepares lunch for underprivileged children at the local school, despite the nationwide government feeding scheme that has come into effect, the group still continues with their private one. So honourable, right?

 Each lady takes two days a month to make and deliver lunch to the school and two days a month to make and deliver sandwiches and tea to people waiting in the queues outside the local clinic, between them, this group ensures that fresh food is served everyday.

They meet monthly to plan the menu so that the same thing isn't served twice at the school or every week at the clinic.

My MiLs turn is the first two Tuesday's of the month for the school and the second two Tuesday's for the clinic...its no big deal for her, she only provides the ingredients, its Tumi and Thembi that get all the real sawaab.

But the meeting is a different story...my MiL had to be the hostess with the mostest today...
By the time I got home, all the organizing was done it seemed...the topic was now much more serious and engaging...gossip.

Who, what, where, how, when, why...nobody in the community was spared from slander and speculation I think!

The amount of dirty laundry being aired was frightening...if my FiL knew that the 5kg queen prawns in Kashmiri sauce was for this, he would have donated his money to another charity  I am sure.

I tried to sneak past to my room but MiL saw me and I had to do the parade, you know...kiss kiss, "no,no I'm Alhumdulliah, hehe, nice to meet you"

At least two ladies thought they knew me from somewhere so my whole family history had to come out...lucky for me, one lady was missing, so I only had to do the dance 8 times.

Finally, I had been right around the room, I was about to turn and make an excuse to leave when my MiLs 'arch enemy' returned from the loo...

I had heard so much kooch kooch about this lady from my MiL, she was the 3rd wife to some rich business man and she was very fancy and 'upper class', when it was her turn to host the meeting, they all looked forward to finally seeing her house, much to everybody's disappointment she took them out to lunch
! My MiL was quiet pissed off back then.

"Fahmeeda, have you met my daughter in law Fatima, Imraan's wife...she is a teacher!"

 I turned around and gasped...here was somebody I never thought I'd have to see ever again.


"YOU!!!!" we both said together...


My MiLs face suddenly changed to a look of fear...

"Come here!", Fahmz opened her arms wide...i never forgave myself for not taking your number!"

Say whaaaaaaat...

40 000 page views 100+ email follows...

Today, this blog reached a milestone...this morning when I saw the stats I told my husband, there is close to 40 thousand hits...now I logged on to update post and I see that we passed the 40 000 mark!

wow...just wow!

I'm so very glad that Fatima's panchaat keeps you all coming back for more. I would love to hear from you, your thoughts too...so don't feel shy to comment!

a very wow'd,
Ree

Part 33:Money Talks

Today after lunch I received a text from Imraan,
"slmz, in a rush, told mummy we moving, call you soon as I can. Love you"

OMW!!! He told his mother!!! What did she say!

I waited the rest of the day anxiously for Imraan to call, but by home time he still hadn't. I was too afraid to go home, I didn't know what to expect...

I tried calling him but his phone went straight to voicemail! since Imraan had accepted the promotion he is very busy. He tries to get alot done in business hours so he doesn't have to stay late or work over the weekends.

I tried to kill time hoping to get hold of him but I finally gave up and decided to brave going home, I couldn't afford to
 get stuck in traffic too. Plus it was my turn in the kitchen.

Once i got home, I was actually afraid to go inside...i tried to enter ever so quietly...

"Fatima Barbie, is that you....", my MiL asked.

Damn it, she had heard me...
But wait a minute she didn't sound mad! She sounded happy...

I went to the kitchen, still skeptical..,

"oh, there you are, I was getting so worried...you want some to eat? Something to drink?"

What was going on here? Did I read Imraan's message wrong? Maybe he said he was GOING to tell her...

"Imraan told me the good news, I'm so excited for you'll...Masha'Allah! Alhumdulliah..." my MiL said, blowing my theory out of the window.

OMW, She's so upset she had a nervous breakdown! I need to get her to a doctor...I'm panicking here.

"I am going to miss you so much, you know how I love you, like you my own daughter...but this is Imraan's rozi, he has to go, areh, shukaar Martizburg is not agaah agaah." my MiL carried on

I didn't know what to say or think...i was just looking at her dumbfounded.

"Go, go freshen up, I'm making a special supper to congratulate you'll.", my MiL hurried me out.

I came to our room in a daze.
Maybe she's acting nice, maybe she is going to poison us..or me tonight...


After our huge supper where MiL announced Imraan's promotion and our relocation to the family, I finally got a chance alone with Imraan to ask him how he broke the news to his mother because I am so surprised how well she took it.

"oh, I just told her how much I'll be earning...", Imraan winked at me.

OMW

"Not the whole amount ofcorse, that I only told you. I just gave her a figure about 30% less" Imraan continued.

Nevermind...im speechless...!!!

The shock and surprise on my face may take even longer to fade than the expression on Shireen's face when MiL congratulated us on the promotion and relocating.

But I feel so much better now and I'm so excited.

 Imraan and I talked about what we each want in the house we will buy, I hope the estate agent finds our dream home...we have less than a month to move!!

Part 32: Ready to pop

Nasreen's baby shower on Saturday was a-maaaaaaaaz-Ing!

Sabera, Dilnaas and I worked so hard to get everything ready on time, but it was worth it when we saw the look on Nasreen's face. She was really surprised!

Ofcorse, Nasreen being Nasreen, had to get us back...she faked going into labour by spilling a cup of water around her and then shouting in fear "I think my waters just broke!!!!"...omw!, I can't tell you how scared I got!

 The food was Devine! The baked goodies were even better, everything matched the theme.

Sabera tied a washing line to hang up messages and advice for Nas...she had printed, pre-cut cards snapped like booties and rompers and hats that we could write on and then hang up on the line, I choose a blue hat and wrote, "all the best, anything you need I'm just a call away."

Many people like me, keept it short and sweet, with advice like, get enough rest, sleep when baby sleeps etc...

But the old aunties...oh the old aunties...they choose the large romper cards and filled them both sides! Essays' of advice filled with old wives tales and myths...

Most of them made me laugh...
"make sure there is no knotted packets when you go into labour, otherwise the cord will get knotted."

"drink jerro water everyday for easy labour..."

"give baby nutmeg for gas.."

Each card had numerous points like these, true or not, certainly unconventional for a baby shower!

Dilnaas served all the snacks on serviettes folded as diapers with little diaper pins, too cute...
I say "Dilnaas served" as if she was literally serving...my SiL doesn't do menial task...she hired people to cater and serve, Thank you very much.

Dilnaas will always be dilnaas!

Sabera insisted we had to drink out of baby bottles!

Nasreen was thrilled with her baby shower and enjoyed all the fun and games.
We sent her home with lots of gifts and a "Ready to Pop" gift basket filled with microwave popcorn, a feel good novel, sweet scented bubble bath, cereal that makes a popping sound in milk and its blue with pink marshmallows, and a roll of bubble wrap for her to pop when she's tired of waiting.

It was such a lovely day...

After it was over Dilnaas, Sabera and I looked at all the mess with wide eyes...we had no energy to clean up...

"I'm pregnant...", I began...excusing my self automatically...

"I don't do work...", Dilnaas said...

"I got it sorted...", Sabera said with a wink...

Before we could ask what or were, in walked Imraan and Ahmed with bin bags and brooms...

I was so shocked...

 Imraan shrugged...

"Saabera said we can't have any left overs until we help her clean up!"

Oh, I had to hand it to my sister! She thought of everything...


Dilnaad and I leaned back against couch and sighed...we got comfy sipping tea as we watched our husbands earn their leftovers!

the perfect end, to a perfect day...

Part 31: You want my husband? Take his mother too!

I spoke to Sumaya today and I couldn't help myself but ask her what made her agree to letting Muhammad marry for the second time...
She said at first she was so upset and hurt she couldn't think straight, once she had calmed down she realized who Neelofah was. She called Muhammad and told him to meet her to talk.

Muhammad explained that he just felt sorry for Neelofah and how tough her life had been and by talking to her again, he somehow got caught up in her issues and he felt like he could make her life better. He wasn't in any relationship with her and only wanted to offer her marriage in hopes of gaining sawaab for marrying a widow.

When Sumaya asked him how he intended for this to work out, he said Neelofahs needs were simple, she just wanted a little flat and a small stipend every month.

Sumaya said that while taking to him she suddenly had a crazy idea...she felt sure of it at the time that she didn't even stop to think, she told her husband that she will give him permission to marry Neelofah on one condition...


Sumaya's condition was simple, she would move out into a flat, maintain the same allowance she has now and Neelofah must move into the main house...if Neelofah or him don't like the idea, then he can't marry her.

Sumaya knew Neelofah would never agree to that, unlike Muhammad Bhai, she could see that Neelofah was just looking for a soft target and playing on Muhammad's sympathy. His soft nature had made him the prime candidate.

When Muhammad phoned Neelofah with the conditions of their Nikkah, she went from sweet to sour in less than half a second...that's when the penny dropped for Muhammad Bhai. Sumaya said it was almost as if he woke up from a deep sleep.


Last night at supper, Muhammad wasn't announcing his Nikkah, he was announcing his pride at his wife's willing sacrifice and making a public apology to her for his error in judgment...ofcorse, MiL hadn't given him a chance to complete his announcement ...


Thank Allah Sumaya wasn't like most people who rush to demand a divorce in such circumstances...she used wit and tact to diffuse the situation...

However, I couldn't help but tease her...she would have saved herself alot of tears and pain if she just went straight to MiL...

She giggled with glee...

ah, atleast that drama is over...i have Nasreen's baby shower this weekend, I can't wait!

Sabera and Dilnaas are coming down this evening, we hosting it at dilnaas's family flat in Musgrave...

things are so much better between Dilnaas and I after I decided to treat her with the same understanding I expect, its influenced the way I relate to her and as our interactions changed it has impacted on her relationship with my mum and sister too...amazing!

Part 30: She can move in...

Nobody knew what to do after MiLs little performance. So we all just ate quickly and got up.

I sorted out the leftovers and went to room. Before I could even ask Imraan anything, he started explaining it to me.

'Neelofah', the girl Muhammad Bhai wanted to take as a second wife was an old school friend of his, once upon a time, Neelofahs mother and MiL were really good friends too.

When Muhammad and Neelofah were growing up, their mothers use to tease them about marrying each other. In high school, Neelofah got involved with the wrong crowd and her bad behavior was soon the talk of the town, naturally that made her all wrong for Muhammad Bhai and the teasing stopped.

Towards the end of their matric year Neelofah suddenly did another 360 again and went into full hijaab, she gave up her wayward ways and suddenly her mother was insistent on some kind of formalized relationship between Muhammad and Neelofah.

My MiL was hesitant but didn't want to offend her friend, finally, through the grapevine of mutual friends Muhammad and my MiL heard rumors that Neelofa was pregnant and her mother was already  announcing her engagement to Muhammad.

Naturally, my MiL was furious...she cut contact with Neelofahs mother and in the end Neelofah went back to her Non-Muslim boyfriend, after he reverted to Islam they married, news of their rocky marriage kept the gossip mongers busy for years.

Recently, Neelofah aperently pulled another 360, after the sudden death of her husband. she returned with two children to live with her mother and asked Muhammad for a job as a cashier.

In a violent fight that had made news headlines locally, Neelofah's 'husband' had been killed.

She had the good sense not to attend the company function after Eid but when my MiL had seen her name on the guest lust, she was livid that she even had a job in the store. Muhammad Bhai had just brushed it of saying he was doing her brother a favour.

all this left me to wonder why would Neelofah want to marry Muhammad and why would Muhammad want to marry Neelofah...

But right now, I'm stressing about how MiL is going to take the news that Imraan and I are moving out... I don't want any tumblers of water to come flying at me!

Imraan is not stressing, he got time for jokes!

imraan says, he'll suggest that Muhammad Bhai can give Neelofah our room!


MiL is just going to love this...

Part 29: Over my dead body...

This morning before Imraan went to work, I asked him why he had placed his office key in that envelope the other night...i had completely forgotten about that.

"oh you know how in movies the husband buys a house or car and gives the wife the key as a surprise...well I wanted to do something like that, except I wouldn't buy a house without you, I want us to choose it together...so I put my office key instead.", Imraan shrugged as if it now seemed so lame to him

I had to laugh...Imraan can be so whacki sometimes...

"there was a real estate leaflet in there too...have a look and see what you like, we can talk about it tonight, Il call the agent and ask her to line up a few places for us to see based on our preferences...we can drive up next weekend or something.", Imraan said.

"speak to mummy and daddy first.", I told him...i was still very nervous about that.

"don't worry about that...i know what I'm up against, remember...i lived on Rez for four years."

With a smile,he was gone for the day...

All my prep for Nasreen's baby shower was done, so after I showered and got dressed, I wondered what to do for the day...

There was a quiet knock on my room door, "Fatima are you here", Sumaya whispered.

I opened the door to,find Sumaya looking deathly ill...Sumaya, are you okay! Omw, you look sick.

On closer inspection she looked like she was horribly upset and had been crying all night!
Her eyes were filling with tears right now...
I pulled her into the room and closed the door, I offered her a seat on the kist at the foot of my bed, i poured her a glass of water and I took Tariq from her arms,I sat on the desk chair and waited as she tried to compose herself...after an eternity she spoke...

"Muhammad wants to take a second wife..." she whispered in tears.

I never saw anybody look so shattered before, she was falling to pieces and my heart just broke for her, I didn't understand and I didn't want to ask...it was obvious that her life was falling apart at this moment...i rolled my chair closer to her and placed my hand on her knee.

Seeing his mother upset, upset Tariq and he too started to cry, I tried to bounce him and soothe him but he wanted his mother. Sumaya just clutched him against her and cried, I didn't know what to do...

"I'm so sorry...so sorry to dump this on you...i had to tell somebody...you pregnant, I shouldn't have brought my problems to you...im sorry", she struggled to speak.

Sumaya was devastated, she obviously never saw this coming, quiet frankly, I can't imagine it from Muhammad Bhai either!

" don't be silly Sumaya, I just wish I knew what to say or do to make you feel better, I feel so helpless", I told her honestly.

" can you keep Tariq for a few hours for me please...i need to clear my head." she asked

" yes, yes ofcorse!, no problem" I said.

"thank you", she looked so sad, so broken...

I watched her as she explained to her one year old son that he must stay with Fati-mamee and play nicely and if he is a good boy then Fati mamee will let him play with the Ipad.

"No, no, no, no", Tariq insisted, he only said a few words, No seemed to be his favorite.

Sumaya left shortly after...3 hours later, she wasn't back, my MiL was looking for her, it was her turn to cook.

 I had my hands full trying to keep Tariq out of harm and making sure he did not cry for his mum, I also didn't know what to feed him, he had had Nido almost 2 hours ago because I knew were that was kept in the pantry, Sumaya hadn't left any instruction for me. I decided to wait a little longer, I'm sure she would be back soon.

Another 2hours passed and my MiL was getting very cross.

"where did she say she's going!", MiL demanded from me for the 50th time.

I honestly didn't know, I hadn't asked her, I thought she wanted a break for a hour or two...i was getting worried too now.

I asked Tariq what he wanted to eat and he said chick rice, I remembered seeing him eat chicken and rice sort of smashed together, last night. So I took out the left overs and warmed them and fed him.

I didn't know how to bath him so I went to the ironing room and found some clothes of his, in my room I just washed his hands and face, changed his nappy again and freshened him up with powder and dressed him.

 I tried calling Sumaya again but her phone was still off...i was so worried, I didn't know what to do...
should I phone Muhammad?
Or Imraan?
And tell him the whole story?
Maybe Sumaya will fetch Talha one time and come home then...

I dug out a story book from my school supplies and read for Tariq  when I was done, he crawled to the middle of my bed, pulled my throw over himself and fell asleep...he looked so cute and sweet...but an active one year old that wanted his mother was no easy task. I was exhausted!

My phone rang and I dove for it and answered without checking the caller identity, I didn't want it to wake Tariq.

It was Imraan..." Hi love, can you check where Sumaya is, Talha's school phoned, they can't reach Sumaya or Muhammed and nobody has picked up Talha yet...im the emergency person but I'm in the middle of a meeting right now, it would take me over an hour to get there with traffic...", Imraan said in a hurry

" baby she's not here, I'm trying her all day, she left in the morning she was very upset about erm...a fight she had with Muhammad and she is still not back.", I said

" what! That doesn't sound like Sumaya, you sure?", Imraan asked in disbelief

"yes, she left Tariq with me", I said

"okay, okay...can you manage to go fetch Talha? Il come home soon as this thing wraps up...im sure she's just stuck in traffic some where, her battery must have died.", Imraan said reasonably.

" okay, sure..."

I went looking for Tariq's car seat but then I realized it was probably in Sumaya's car!, luckily Tariq was up from his nap, so I got Tumi to come with me and hold him in the back seat...no the safest option, but better than nothing.

Talha seemed okay when I fetched him, he wanted to know where his mother was but he wasn't overly concerned, he told me excitedly about his day.

Sumayas car wasn't back when we got home, I took the boys in and sent Talha to change and wash up...now what do I feed him?

By 4pm Sumaya still wasn't back, both boys were over the novelty of being with me, they just wanted their mum.

 Tariq especially was getting very crabby now. I was so worried.

They cheered up abit once Imraan came home, but he soon got distracted by my livid MiL, she wanted Sumaya home, now and now!

She was demanding to know what was going on...poor Imraan, he didn't know,himself.

Finally Sumaya texted me...full of apologies she asked if Imraan had fetched Talha and if the boys were okay, she said,she would be home with Muhammad soon.

Sumaya and Muhammad came in one after the other shortly before supper, I hoped they managed to sort things out...the boys ran to her and she was trying to field off MiLs questions while seeing to them, I just backed off.

She didn't need to answer to me too.

At supper, Muhammad Bhai cleared his throat, nervously he asked for everybody's attention...
I glanced at Sumaya, she was looking down into her plate.

Muhammad Bhai cleared his throat again and said, " last night I asked Sumayas permission to take a second wife, she is a widow who lost her husband recently, she has two small children, we use to school together..."

The table was died silent...not even a breath could be heard...i felt cold...

"Sumaya was very upset, understandably, but today she gave me permission to make Nikkah to Neelofa..." Muhammad Bhai continued

I don't know what happen next...or how...one minute Muhammad bhai was talking, the next he was splattering and drenched in water,as the sound of breaking glass filled the dinning room...

MiLs chair scraped against the floor as she stood up...









"OVER MY DEAD BODY YOU WILL MARRY THAT GIRL!!!!!!!!!,she shouted!

Part 28: High Rollers

When Imraan got home from work yesterday, he had an envelope for me...
It was oddly heavy and had a lumpy, jingle to it...i was so puzzled.

I emptied it on to the bed...Imraan picked up a white folded document and handed it to me, "read this first.", he said.

There was also catalogue of sum sort and what looked like his office keys...i was so confused.

I unfolded the document to find that it was a copy of the contract. I'm not one for legal mumbo jumbo...i don't think I ever read the ''T's&C's" of anything before I sign or click accept...Imraan always reminds me about this, but as I always say... "I didn't marry a lawyer for nothing! ;)"

So a contract about law, for a lawyer, written by a firm of lawyers...yah, this was right up my alley, a light bedtime read...

I looked at my husband as if he was crazy...did he really think I was going to waste my grey matter on this!

He had a cheek to laugh at me...

"Okay okay, just skim it and see what jumps out at you", he said..."please TiMwaaahhh..."

How could I refuse when he asks so nicely...besides, I want to get this out of the way so I can see what the rest of the contents of this funny envelope is about!

I skimmed through each of the 50 pages but I just saw rows and rows of black and white, tons of jargon and nothing else...i looked at him defeated.

Imraan took the contract, flipped some pages and handed it back to me...i tried again, again nothing jumped out! This was worse than finding Nemo!

My husband sighed...he opened his brief case, dug out a highlighter and highlighted a few lines here and there.

I glanced threw  and finally saw the common word...oh-0...does this,mean what I think!

I looked up at him, "did you sign already?" I asked, terrified that he would say yes...

He shook his head, "Nope, I couldn't sign without talking to you first...this is going to change our life..."

I silently made Shukaar that I'm blessed with this husband who values me and a marriage based on mutual understanding and respect.

"This will change our lives too", Imraan said, highlighting another spot on a different page...

I glanced down at numerical value way to high to be a salary, I looked at Imraan...per annum?

He burst out laughing...

"Only somebody on a teachers pay would say that! No dear, that's the salary."

Waaaaaaat!

"But Imraan! Its to far, a 45minute commute one way, your long hours, then driving back...i won't see you, you won't see our babies...it won't be worth it! There is no price tag worth the torture love."

"commute?oh I don't plan on traveling to and from Pietermaritzburg everyday...i was thinking about relocating there..."

"Relocating!!!!!"

 Omw, I thought there was a thunderstorm coming...i didn't know that I would be the one caught without an umbrella....MiL is not going to like this idea at all.

Imraan was still talking, " things are kind of crowded around here and once our two come it would be even more so...we need our own place eventually, so why not now? Between us we have enough saved to make a down payment, so if you don't have a problem with relocating to PMB, I think we should say bismillah, and go for it..."

"Imraan of course I don't have a problem, this is huge for you and your career...i just don't know how your family would take it..." I tried to choose my words carefully.

"don't worry about my family, I'll deal with that love, I just want to know if it is something you would consider." Imraan said

He had no idea what he was in for, I thought...after seeing how Shireens 'thought' of moving a stones throw away was handled, I could only imagine how MiL would react to Imraan wanting to move to another town!

" I am more than okay with it love, I wanted to talk to you about leaving work when the babies come anyway, I just want to stay home and look after them for a few years you know...so this would just be little earlier than that...", I explained.

I honestly had no problem moving, I always liked PMB, my Gori Foi lived there, I had really good memories of childhood holidays there.

"oh so you want to be a kept women now, do you...", Imraan joked, pulling me close for a hug.

I sighed and relaxed in my husbands loving embrace...this was comfort, love, happiness...home could be anywhere- i would move to the moon...so long as we were together and happy, I thought.

"well...on that salary, you can afford to keep four wives!", I joked.

"just this one, is all I need"...came the heart melting reply.

Part 27: Chance of Thundershowers...

Saleem and Saleema's wedding was lovely. It was unusual and I really enjoyed it.

Imraan and I landed quiet late yesterday evening and while I have the good fortune of having this week off from work, Imraan had to go in this morning to finalise his promotion.

Everything was ready they said, just for him to sign on the dotted line.

I planned on spending the week sorting out everything for Nasreen's baby shower.
Whatever guilt my MiL had been feeling regarding Dadi's departure seemed to have vanished while we were away, she was back to her normal self, much to my disappointment.

I was in my room making favours for the shower when MiL came looking for me.
"Fatima Barbie, are you busy?", she asked at the door

What was that? A trick question? If I said yes it would mean I didn't want to help her, if I said no it would mean I'm sitting in my room to avoid work...you can't win either way.
"No, no mummy, just sorting out some gifts for Nasreen's baby shower.", I replied.

"oh, come come, I need help making berji pura, Sumaya and Shireen are already busy in the kitchen", MiL said.
Berji pura? That's hardly a four (wo)man job! I thought as I followed her to the kitchen.

When I got there I realized something else was going on...all the leftover savories from Ramadaan were out, being baked and fried.
"its stock take at the dukaan, we have to send something, dono koonia koonia will eat...kayni kayni, booka lorko pheet ma jaai apreh wasta sawaab", my MiL said answering my unasked question.

I washed my hands and started cleaning the berji, picking the root of each leaf painstakingly...

Shireen was talking about this and that, making my MiL laugh...Sumaya worked quietly, trying to get done before her son got up from his nap, no doubt.

"I was telling Mummy I want to have another baby now..." Shireen said...

That got my attention, okay!

"oh yah...", MiL replied.
"Yah, I think I'm ready the twins will be six soon...my mother says I need to lose weight before I can think of having a baby, she wants me to go on that vegetable diet she is on...", shireen said off-handedly, as she dipped the pie she was eating into some chille sauce.

"oh yah! Hows that going for her? I forgot to ask her.", my MiL asked.

"I don't know, I don't see any difference, it won't work for me, I eat vegetables...thats for people that don't eat vegetables...my built is in my genes. Its not like i over eat or anything."

Sumaya caught my eye and passed me a look as Shireen sampled one of the samoosas she was ment to be setting on throw away platters.

I hid my smile as I wondered what exactly did 'eat vegetable's' mean to Shireen.

I clearly remember her refusing to try the creamy spinach and butternut side dish I once made, or the steamed carrots, peas and corn I make to go with chicken roast saying its to plain for her.

Just the other day she pissed Sumaya off because she told the twins they lucky she doesn't feed them 'mini trees' when Talha was eating steamed broccoli.

I suppose Shireen counted the sweet corn in her fresh cream pasta, the soft soft aloos from the curry and the oil soaked gajaar beans atchar she ate at every meal, as her portion of vegetables covered.

Shireens new topic took me away from my silly thoughts...

"there's so much space in the back, Bilal could build an apartment for us...", she said as she looked out over the backyard.

My MiL turned so fast, causing the spoon in her hand to splatter oil everywhere!

"jaja! What's this apartment business now...", she said more sternly than I have ever heard her speak to shireen before.

Shireen herself, seemed taken aback...she wasn't use to MiL disagreeing with her.

"No, I just mean it will get abit crowded here after a while, at least we have land to build.", Shireen explained.

" Your Masagee will never allow all alag alag! What crowded, there is still two spare rooms!", my MiL almost shouted.

"what people will think, that my own sisters daughter couldn't live with muhabbaat!", My MiL was fuming, "Everybody will talk!!"

I finished mixing my batter and quietly left it by MiL for frying as I attempted to make a quick exit. I could see Sumaya wanting to do the same...

My MiL continued, furiously"its that Layla putting all these ideas in your head!..., I knew there will be trouble once you made friends with her!"

" how she said, that day you brought her for lunch...'oh, I can't believe 4 families live together in this house!'...what four families, we all one family! All western thinking todays children got!"

Shireen looked like she wanted to cry, I excused myself saying I wanted to freshen up as Imraan will be home any minute now.

As Magrib azaan went, Sumaya too ran for cover...looks like cloudy skies are in todays forecast, with a chance of thunder showers.

Announcement 6: Chapter 3

While Fatima and Imraan head of for a fancy pancy wedding, we have to sit tight and wait...

On Monday, Fatima will be back home, with a new set of drama and panchaat for Chapter 3.

Think relocating...second wives...tumblers  of water flying across the table...

Hold on to your seaT!.... things are about to get wild...Chapter 3, starts Monday!

Till then...
Have a great weekend,
Ree

Destination Mini Series: Part 3-Real Malawi

When I saw Saleemas home that first day, I wondered if she would be content with the little granny flat Saleem built for them behind his family home.

Yesterday, after visiting the real locations of Malawi, I felt grateful just for having running water, leave alone a warm shower in the morning. It was difficult and amazing at the same time, to see how people live.

The abject poverty is heart breaking, the genuine kindness and happiness...heart warming!

How is it that, people with so little have so much to give, of that which truly counts.
I met little children, so thin and under nourished that their built didn't match their age...

In school you learn about rickets and Kwashiorkor, but they just terms...here, you see the reality of it.

Imraan immediately took pics to email back to his office in the hope of getting a water well sponsorships, even though it is a non-muslin firm, they do alot  of charity work.

Imraan himself, made a modest donation towards food distribution and we even talked about sending the money for our babies aqeeqahs to be made and distributed here by the Ulema organization, Insha'Allah.

I was exhausted after our day out, I felt wrung out too but it was this leg of the trip that truly made me feel like I had seen Malawi.

Today we were invited to Saleemas home for Jumuah Lunch, they made a delicious memon akni...it was the first time I ate goat meat.
You would think goat meat would have put me off but shukaar I'm having an 'easy  pregnancy' so far, I can't believe I'm already into the second trimester.

Tomorrow is Saleem and Saleema's Wedding, tonight they putting Mendhi for the bride...i can't wait to see what a Memon wedding in Malawi is like.

Imraan and I are leaving on Sunday and should be home late Sunday night. Imraan needs to get back to the office. Mean while the two newly weds will fly to Mauritius and then Cape town for their 2 week honeymoon before coming home to begin their life as husband and wife!

as much as I am enjoying this trip I'm really feeling the heat and I'm tired...im ready to head back to South African soil!

Destination Mini Series: Part 2-Girls having fun

Blantyre was hardly a change from this city, just a few more shops and restaurants. It was quiet a drive there and back.

Saleema had invited me for what was  Masti raat...so while Imraan was off with Saleem and his cousins, I was meeting Saleemas friends and family.

These girls were to funny. They had ladies hired to do waxing and threading and massages, I had to tell them I'm pregnant because they were insisting I get a massage and I had read its not good while pregnant...myth or fact, I don't care...im not going to take a chance.

One of Saleemas schools friends read out a letter that Saleema had allegedly wrote describing what she wanted her future husband to look like and be like!there must have been some truth to it because Saleema seemed so embarrassed.

Saleemas SiL and sister played a game, they had each asked Saleem and Saleema 10 questions before the party, they read out the answers to compare what each had said.
Two of her friends did a skit of how Saleem and Saleem would act on their first night together, it was hilarious.
"Acting Saleem: erm so how you?
Acting Saleema: who me?, I'm okay...how you?
Saleem: I'm okay...erm, can I hold your hand....
Saleema: ( looking around nervously) errr no...maybe we should start slow...
Saleem: yah you right...let me hold your finger."

Omw! The way they did it, they had us in stitches!

Then one of Saleemas cousins took over with a stand up comedy routine called "Saleem doesn't know what his in for", she made jokes about Saleema that had Saleema begging her to stop!

My favorite was her joke about Saleema in the future...she said, " so one day saleemas going to tell Saleem that he is having a daughter...and ofcorse his gona get so excited,but when he calms down, he'll ask her how she knows its going to be a girl, what if its a boy...and Saleema will say, don't be stupid, ofcorse its a girl...the test showed two pink lines not two blue ones!"

I enjoyed my evening so much...it was such an awesome laid back party, many of her friends were staying the night, she begged me to stay but I insisted that she needs this time with her Malawi friends, she and I will have more than enough time in Durban soon enough.

The driver dropped off those of us staying at the hotel, I was amazed that it was close to 1 am...Imraan had just returned too, he too, seemed surprised to see me getting back so late! He also looked like he had a great time, he went on an on about his fish and prawn braai.

This trip was really lovely. Today we visiting Mongochi and will spend a night at a cottage on Lake Malawi. I am going armed with enough mosquito spray and a double sleeping net. I already know I'm not attending the traditional bon fire...i don't want to get bitten.

Tomorrow we going to visit a locality were there is a Madrassa for natives run by a local Islamic organization that dose huge charity operations in Malawi.

Oki, I'm beat...
Yawn...can't.keep.my.eyes.open.any.longer...time for a nap!

Destination Mini Series: Part1- Touchdown Malawi

Imraan and I landed shortly after midday yesterday in Lilongwe, Malawi. Saleema had a driver waiting for us thankfully.

It was almost a 45 minute drive from the airport to the hotel and there wasn't much to see except countryside and dust.

I gazed out of the window for awhile as Imraan made conversation with the driver, I found myself absent mindedly playing with the bracelet on my left wrist.

I lifted it up and studied it in the bright sunshine as the land cruiser swerved one way , then another to avoid potholes and other obstacles. Shew, I should tell him I'm pregnant!!

The bracelet was Imraan's gift to me for our anniversary, it was a specially crafted 24k charm bracelet that had two charms already and place for quite a few more.

The first charm was a little heart engraved with our names on each side, for our love and marriage, Imraan had explained.

The second was a number 1 with a little square diamond at the top, for our 1st anniversary, Imraan had said.

I had asked him if he planned on giving me a number each year now, but he laughed and said no, he wanted to give me different charms as the occasions presented themselves...like a little foot he had seen with a ruby or sapphire stone as the big toe for a baby boy or girl...and a mini graduation cap for when I complete my masters...i couldn't help but laugh...it was sweet and cute but it was going to end up costing a fortune!
I love it though...

I must have dozed off because Imraan woke me up saying we were at the hotel..i couldn't believe it! I didn't expect to find a hotel like this in Malawi...when Saleema said a 'nice' hotel I thought a decent kind if hut thing with running hot water, not modern 5 star accommodation...wow!
The room was stunning...the view, not so much!

We read zohar and freshened up, we had been invited to Saleemas home for lunch, I couldn't wait to finally meet her.

Once again, I was blown away...her home wasn't what I expected at all! It was modern, classy, tasteful...in stark contrast to the outside world.

As much as I was enjoying all the splendor and grandeur, I was starting to wonder if I would see the 'real' Malawi while here...the affluence of the Indian settlers was rather in your face.

Saleemas home was understandably busy...there were servants rushing to and fore and many people, I was hustled to a pink lounge while Imraan's was led away by a male servant. What seemed to be a Nanny was playing with a few children.

Finally a beautiful girl stepped into the lounge, I recognized her as Saleema from a picture Saleem had shown me, but the picture didn't do her justice. She was slim and very fair with beautiful hazel eyes...a Guji MiL would fall over herself for a DiL like this, except Saleema was not Surti, in the so called 'castings', she was Memon.

She smiled warmly as I rose from my seat and rushed forward to hug me in welcome. She was so friendly...

When she spoke, her voice was soft and low, her accent a cute mix of almost Indian but not quiet...like everything else, she too, was a contrast.

I soon met her mum, who looked as if she stepped out of India in a simple panjabi and orni drapped elegantly. This was a culture so different from ours, yet we are all descendents of the same country.

Lunch was delicious, and quiet a feast...i was lost in the chattery around me, a mixture of Memon, English and Chichewa. The workers served the meal.

After lunch we returned to the hotel, Saleema had a hectic week planned for us, with pre wedding functions and touring...

I was so glad that Imraan also seemed eager to see the real Malawi.

today we did some local sight seeing, there wasn't much to see...Lilongwe might be the capital city but it isn't much.

 I decided to catch up on some zzzzz's while Imraan went to catch up with Saleem, he and most of his family were staying at the same hotel, so there is enough South Africans around.

I am looking forward to a party Saleema invited me to tomorrow, some of her friends and family were getting together for some mischief making.

Tonight we had supper at a local Indian restaurant, the food was lovely and there was even a hookah lounge...i was amazed to see so many girls gathered around the pipes, puffing away...

Tomorrow, we have an early start, we visiting another city in Malawi called Blantyre.

This was turning into some trip...i was loving the culture shock!

Oh, but the reception here is so bad, some days a diary entry will have to be sacrificed...