Part 15: Who's the real Ho Maa here...All that glitters is not gold!

Things have been a little tense around here because MiL expected Dadi to leave on Eid day, but Dadi didn't! Instead she extended her stay indefinitely by saying that since Shaabir (her eldest son) hadn't come on Eid day, she had nobody to go with and she doesn't want to trouble anybody to drive her "here and there", so she will just stay here till a more convenient opportunity to leave comes up.

Ofcorse, my FiL told her there was no rush and she is most welcome to stay for as long as she likes, hadn't he offered her years ago to claim the second guest bedroom as hers and move in permanently. Dadi really glowed after that.

Quiet frankly I don't think anybody besides MiL and Shireen were bothered by Dadis presence. She fits into the household seamlessly. I for one enjoy having her around, she is very witty and her cooking and baking has fulfilled all my cravings!

I know Sumaya likes her too because she has enough patience with Talha.
So the only people that mind having Dadi are MiL and Shireen. Shireens reason was obvious, Dadi didn't like Shireen at all and made no secret of that. Dadi also disapproved of MiLs fondness over Shireen which was clearly different from her quick annoyance and hasty judgments of both Sumaya and I.

MiLs reasons for wanting Dadi to leave is less obvious and more typical. Dadi was fond of ruffling MiLs feathers and complained loudly and often. "Kayroon Gori, you got two-two maids and you still can't keep the house clean!, look at all the dust!"

So, while my FiL went out of his way to make Dadi feel welcome in the home, MiL tripped all over herself with subtle hints hidden behind false kindness.
"oh, Ma...its no trouble for us to drop you off, you know that...the boys won't mind at all! Even Fatima drives, she can drop you off too..."

Imraan's water glass came down fast, landing with a thud against the table, " Fatima is NOT  driving around unnecessarily, and dropping Dadi off is completely unnecessary. Dadi is in no hurry to go anywhere and besides, we won't be here this weekend, so Dadi can help you with Abbas work function.", Imraan said, sterner than was necessary.

Every year after Eid, my FiL holds a huge function for all the workers at the store. Every employee and their immediate family was invited, from the senior management (Muhammad and Bilal) right down to the cashiers and cleaners. It was the most looked forward to day in the company calendar and it was consider a perk of the job. I hadn't attended the previous ones and I was going to miss this years one too. 

A huge tent was erected in the back yard to hold over 400 people. The function was fully catered and help was outsourced for every aspect, however, if you overheard my MiL speak of the function, you would never know...she acted as if she was single handedly, physically doing every job instead of merely co-coordinating and overseeing as others performed the task.

"This year I'm making almost 60 roast chickens and oven vegetables.", she told one of her sisters over the phone. (really, are you cooking them in your extra width defy oven then?)
"every year we make same same things nahando, but this year, I changed it completely!", she told her SiL (it was the catering company that insisted that the menu needs a change, it had been the same for almost 25 years!)
"we serving mutton karai , hatchi waat! One whole sheep we'll cut!, I'm telling you, I'm so busy with all this.", she told her cousin from danahausser. (not to busy to phone you and tell you how busy I am, though)
"I have to serve vegetable biryani, madragee lorko kayne kaisaaki.", she told Shireens mother when she came over to visit (imagine, if vegetarians ONLY ate veg biryani!)

The function was such a big deal to my MiL as bosses wife that every year she had an outfit made, like it was the Oscars. This years teal and sea green printed fabric dress had a glittery netting and long flowing selves...so unsuitable for a 'busy' hostess. The dress leaked glitter all over the tiles every time MiL moved. When she tried it on for us, Talha loudly whispered to me that, "Dadi looks like the witch from that story you taught me in school, Fatima ma'am."
MiL acted like she didn't hear him and proceeded to show me all the bling she'll wear to match the dress...it was all abit much and over the top...but I didn't say so...

Tumi who was walking past with a jug of water, got so distracted by the dress she nearly trip and spill it...the string of insults hurled out of my MiLs mouth sent poor Tumi scurrying to the kitchen. 
Ah, all that glitters is not gold!

"How can Dadi come! She doesn't have anything nice to wear!", my MiL snapped at Imraan's suggestion.
"I brought a nice dress, my friend Shahedaah the dressmaker sewed for me from that chalaaktu challaktu fabric Fatima gave wedding time.", Dadi said hopefully.

For some reason, I suddenly felt very sorry for Dadi.
"you can't wear that old thing!", my MiL said adamantly, insulting both Dadi and I in one careless statement.
Dadi suddenly looked very small and sad, I wanted to go over and hug her.

"That's enough Kayroonisa!", my FiL sounded very angry (rare for him), "the staff don't need you to show them how fancy you are!, Ma can wear whatever she likes."

That out to put an end to the nasty
...oh so I thought...