Part 54: Imraan makes a proposal

My family's visit was so good. I went out of my way to prepare for them but ofcorse my mother and Dadi came with a wagon worth of prepared meals to stock my freezer and fridge.

"now my wife won't cook for me for months!", Imraan said when he saw the loot.

"I'm surprised she cooks at all!", Sabera chimed in.

"Oh, we'll see what kind of a housewife you make!", I shot back at her

"I will be a kept women", Sabera sighed, pretending to study her manicure..." Besides, Dadi said she'll come once a week to cook for me!"

"Ja-Ja, tharu maathu!", Dadi retorted, eyeballing Sabera with disapproval.

My mother just shook her head at us as she helped me tidy up after lunch.

I made tea for us and then the four of us sat down for panchaat as my father went of with Imraan to inspect something in the garden.

I could see why my mother was so concerned about my Dad, he really looked tired and drained out. My mamagee had scheduled him for an ECG and a check up with a physician. My father was playing delay tactics.

As we sat and chatted about this and that, various members of the family and the latest in Muslim fashion, my father and Imraan came back in...both of them had a strange look on their faces.

We all looked at them waiting for them to speak...my father sat down and cleared his throat ... Then he stirred the cup of tea my mother had poured for him. The tension was thick.

I couldn't begin to imagine what was so serious but I had a small clue from the way Imraan kept glancing at Sabera.

Finally my father spoke.

"Imraan has made a proposal of sorts...", he said gravely.

What! My mother, Sabera and Dadi looked at him so confused.

I giggled at my fathers choice of words.

Imraan had mentioned to me that his friend Luqmaan had been asking about Sabera recently, ever since he saw her a few months ago when he bumped into us the weekend of Nasreen's baby shower.

Sabera too, had confided in me that he had invited her on Facebook as a friend.

My father explained to the three that Imraan had asked if it is okay for Luqmaan and his dad to come up to Port Shepstone to see Sabera.

Since Luqmaans mum had past away not to long ago and his brother lived in Johannesburg, Imraan and I would accompany them.

Even though Sabera had seemed chilled about the Facebook invite, I wasn't sure how she would react to the proposal. However, one look at her face said it all...she was red red red like a tomato...not from anger though! My sister was blushing!!!!!

I smiled across at Imraan as Sabera nodded her head at my father, telling him its okay for Luqmaan to come home.

My father smiled as my mother hugged her, trying to hide the tears in her eyes.
We all kind of had a feeling that " this was it" for Sabera. It was a bitter sweet moment.