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 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.

Part 25: The Calm after the Storm

The days following Dadis departure saw a kind of hush falling over the household. My MiL was filled with a mixture of relief and shame I think. Her subdued personality was a welcome relief for me in a way.

After Saturday mornings damaal, I almost forgot about Imraam's news, but we finally got a chance to talk. He explained that the firm was opening a smaller branch in KZN and he was the top consideration to head the office and team.

His eyes sparkled with excitement as he told me that such an offer was a huge deal at any stage but to be considered this early in your career for such a responsibility was almost unheard off.

All the details were still abit sketchy, but they wanted to let him in on the plans early so he could be part of the planing process.

I am just so so proud of him, I know it would mean longer hours and even more dedication but this is the time for us to work and set up our lives.

I was thrilled for him, Alhumdulliah.

He told me the next few weeks were going to be really hectic and even though his leave had been approved for our trip to Malawi, he was really having second thoughts now.

But, eventually we decided to go. if he took this promotion and with the babies on the way, it might be our last chance for a holiday for a while yet.

I spent most of the week planing and organizing a baby shower for Nasreen. The only upside to my tardiness was that it was truly going to be a surprise shower, she wouldn't see this one coming at all!

Instead of formal invites, I got a digital invite made by Trendy Invites, I found them on facebook and they made the cutest invite to match my candy stripe theme. So I just BMM'd and emailed that out to all our cousins and Nasreen's friends and family. Luckily Sabera was helping me quiet abit and Dilnaas offered to sort out all the food stuff from her side, Dilnaas and Nasreen got along surprisingly well...i never would have thought.

So there's just a few things left to do before we fly out on Sunday. Our flight from King Shaka International was very early in the morning and we had a brief stop over at OR Tambo before boarding a flight to Malawi.

I am really looking forward to this trip, I can't wait to meet Saleema and see some of the places she had on an itinerary for us.

The weekend after we get back, we'll be hosting Nasreen's Baby shower at Dilnaas's Durban holiday flat (lol) , hope Nas stays pregnant till then.

Saturday is a very important day for Imraan and I, its going to be .... exactly one year since we married, Alhumdulliah! I can't wait!

Part 23: Car hooters and gate buzzers

On Friday night I didn't even hear Imraan come in, so when I woke up in the early hours of Saturday, I tried to wake him up to talk.

"its to early baby", he grumbled sleepily.
"imi! I waited all day and night tell me!"
"I'm getting promoted", he muttered into his pillow, he turned and was zonked out again before I could get anymore questions answered.

I smiled to myself...all that stress had been over nothing! At least it was good news, a promotion!Alhumdulliah, that's so awesome, I was so proud of my husband!!

I couldn't fall asleep again, I was too excited. I wanted to talk to Imraan but I knew I wouldn't get a word out of him in this passed out state, Imraan could sleep through anything!

I wondered if he would wake up when the babies cried at night...suppose if they were both crying, he won't have much of a choice, I guess.

I browsed through Facebook, read old feeds, looked at BBM statuses and pro pics, all in the hope of passing the time till fajr so I could chow Imraan's brains.

Finally, it was half an hour before fajr... I heard a loud car hooter, it was very persistent, over and over, it sounded like it was right outside our house!

What on earth was going on?

Last time there was such a racket was when the Memon girl from the corner house got married, but not at this hour!

Suddenly I could hear our intercom buzzer going off, over and over and over again...OMW! This was insane...somebody was trying to wake up the dead!

Imraan sat up in bed, rubbing his eyes, "what's the time? What's happening?"

We could hear the rest of the house come to life as everybody else woke up to the noise, it was scary and bafflingly. Like me, Imraan seemed unsure what to do.

He finally peeped from our room window, "looks like a hired car, GP plates", he said.
He put on his slippers, raked a hand through his hair wearily, "leme go see what's all the fuss".

"I'm coming with you!", I said, throwing on a kaftaan over my nightie.

The car hooter was still blaring, somebody, a women, was now standing by the driveway gate shouting for us to open up...
Imraan looked out again, "its my choti foi...", Imraan said in shock as he shot out of the room...

I looked out the window, the lights in other houses were coming on like fireworks in a night sky, people up and down the street were trying to see what all the ruckus was about.

Lucky me, I had front row seats!

Part 21: closed door meetings and favorite shirts

Today before Jumuah, Imraan called me, frantic...

The secretary had just informed him that the board wants to see him for a closed-door meeting after lunch. Imraan was really worried. Nobody else had been called in for such a meeting since the big guns had arrived so the office was hi-wired with even more speculation...

"make dua for me baby, Il call you soon as I know what's happening...", he said.

" stop stressing, its not going to do you any good, when you go home after Jumuah, go wear your favorite shirt, freshen up etc, then go back...be confident! You awesome, they calling you in to tell you that!", I tried to calm him.

He laughed nervously, "Il phone you later, love you."

"love you too..."

As we rang off, I thought about how hard Imraan had worked to get where he is...

When Imraan completed school, his family naturally expected him to follow Muhammed and Bilal into the business that my FiL worked so hard to build...nobody was happy to hear Imraan had other plans!

Instead of going into business, Imraan wanted to do Law, he didn't know what aspect but he wanted to study, not part time while at the business, but full time. A real college experience. everybody thought he was crazy.

Imraan applied to most of the universities and he got into almost all but his father refused to pay for his studies.

Imraan had very little savings but he was determined, so he looked for bursaries', he finally found one before the final cut-off dates for registration which narrowed his choices down and he settled on UKZN.

 Instead of staying at home, he decided to live on res even though campus was less than 20mins from home. Imraan use to go home every weekend for a night or two.

His father eventually realized that he was serious about this and started putting pressure on Imraan to study business law, Imraan was still determined to carve his own identity and future.

A holiday job as a legal aid is what made him choose conveyance eventually. He loved his current job and had been hoping to move up the ladder.

 It would be his worst nightmare to lose his job, it would be horrible for him.

While we could still live comfortably while he searched for another job in his field, I think the loss of his job would be a very heavy blow. I doubt imraan would be able to go into the family business either way...he just wasn't cut out for it and Bilal would have a field day over his fall.

at Jumuah, I made earnest dua for my dear husband, for us, for our success...in this world and the next...

"oh Allah, if something is good for us, bring it towards us..and if it is bad for us, take it away from us, and bless us with something better, that we may be happy with ..."

Part 20: Leftovers and loving Indian...

Last night we had an Indo-pak supper of butter chicken, lamb karai, beef nihari with rogni naan and aloo parathas.

i love indo-Pak cuisine but Dadi really did go abit overboard with the ordering!
"I thought they kanjoos", she explained.

My MiL was shocked to see the table full of take-away tubs and papper wrappers...she couldn't believe Dadi had ordered food, after years of insisting on 'Ghar nu kawaanu'.

There was so much aloo paratha left over I decided to take a few extra for some of the teachers at school, there was still too much so I wrapped a few in individual foils and decided to give it to some people on the way to work.

in a household as big as ours we have alot of leftovers and sometimes its too much for tumi and thembi even.

Naturally I gave some to the beggars at the robots. I also gave the guy trying to sell me sunglasses, he looked hungry. I was like spreading paratha love...

When I got to the parking lot of the building that houses our school the man that parks next to me drove up right behind me, I had noticed him in my rear-view for quiet awhile, his beat up vw caddy was hard to miss.

usually when he sees me he greets with a polite 'Good morning' as we ride the lift together in silence but today he had a question...

"what was that you gave out at the intersection back there?", he asked.
"erm, some left over food from supper. Potatoe breads...", I kind of explained.
" oh do you mean aa-looo paa-raaathaa? I love those!", he said.
"yes, that, we had so many left over, do you want some?", I offered him.
He took one with a happy smile and as I left the lift he called out, "thanks, I do love myself some Indian!"

Ofcorse, half the staff heard him and looked at me funny, "his talking about food.", I muttered to them as I went into the front doors that was the entrance to our school.


When I told Imraan the story, he roared with laughter and told me not to run away with my green eyed gora.


Recently, I have been paying more attention to Shireens two, I know I'm really in for an adventure. Nobody knows better than me that no two children are alike, not even siblings, I know all about nature vs nurture, but I'm still very nervous!
I can't even tell Shireen's boys apart even after all this time and I find them more than a handful.

I want to raise my children differently but I wonder how that would work . Imraan and I have alot to think about.

Right now, Imraan is still stressing about work, he has been given his biggest case yet, with alot of responsibility, he told me that he feels like his being tested...but why?

I don't know how to calm his nerves. We suppose to be finalizing our Malawi trip for Saleems wedding but Imraan's having second thoughts.

 With this stress at work and my being pregnant, he feels like we should cancel our plans.

Both my mamagee and the Gyni have cleared me for flying, it is early enough in my pregnancy and shukaar I have no complications for them to be concerned.

 *There is malaria tablets that are safe to take while pregnant too so neither doctor saw any reason why I shouldn't go.

But Imraan, being Imraan...can't help but worry!

Now his reasoning that if he has to be unemployed he'd rather be saving that money...
Sigh...i hope we get some clarity on all fronts, soon...

*once again the medical information in this post is not based on any truth or research, the Author just made it up for the sake of the storyline and continuity...always seek the advice of medical professionals.

Part 19: Personnel Files and Secret Recipes

There is something major happening at Imraans office this week, it seems. The big bosses from the main office in Johannesburg have flown in for a meeting.

There is alot of rumors and speculation and I can see that it has Imraan abit worried and stressed out. I know his worried that he could lose his job, but its a worse case scenario.

I found Imraan on the Garden swing after work, his brow in a deep frown.
"what's up, baby?." I asked him, as I sat next to him.
"I think they restructuring at the office...they asked for some personnel files from HR today..." Imraan replied.
"oh...okay...", I wasn't sure what to make of this.
"My file was also requested....", Imraan said, looking at me slowly , the worry was deep and unhidden  in his eyes...
"what if I get laid off..."

" O imi! Don't think like that! There are so many reason why they could be looking at personnel, you just thinking of the worse reason...the office is in a panic because its all hush hush, but you great at what you do love, you saved them a possible law suit for heavens sake! You meticulously, through, intelligent...you closed enough deals for the firm even though you only a junior. They would be crazy to let you go baby, real crazy." I told him honestly.

I'm no lawyer and even though I may be biased, its plainly obvious to anybody that Imraan's great for the firm. I can't imagine any restructuring, if that is what it is, to even affect him.

"I hope you right love...", he said, pulling me towards him. He brushed a kiss on my forehead."otherwise, Il have to admit defeat and join the family business...i have you and our babies to think of now."

I returned his kiss, "it won't come to that, you'll see...have faith."
"Come it's supper time, Dadi said she got supper under control today, she is following a new recipe, all the nawu nawu brides use this recipe and she needs no help..."

"what! You left my old granny to cook for everybody alone!", Imraan looked at me in mock horror.

I laughed, "not exactly, that's just what she wants mummy to think, Sumaya, Shireen and I are in on the secret..."

Imraan looked at me in confusion...

"You see, this special recipe...
Its called...
Call for take-out!"

Imraan burst out laughing! "Dadi ordered 'dukaan' food! Serious!!!!"

"Yups."

"Can't wait to see my mothers face!", he said laughing.

We walked back inside hand in hand, his father and brothers were just coming in from another day at the shop. I couldn't help but wonder if Imraan would be satisfied with that life, if it ever came to that...