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 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!

Flash Back Mini Series- Part 3: Happiness and Sadness

I had filled in two fields on that form...1. Bride's representative, 2. Contact number...

The following weekend, Imraan's family drove up to meet me.
 I was so glad that at least I kinda knew Sumaya. She was quiet and 6 months pregnant, but at least she was a familiar face, oh and Talha, who was so excited to be visiting Fatima ma'am at home. I think he was shocked teachers even had a home, he must have thought we live in school, lol.

I never had an engagement party, shortly after my proposal, Nani took ill...she had too move in with my Kala amidst wedding preps for Nasreen, things were hectic. 

One weekend while we were in Durban, Imraan, his mother and father, sister and SiLs came to my Kala's house, we set a date for less than a month after Ramadaan. They put a gold chain and that same ring on for me. 
My Kala then whipped out some Mithia she had left from Nasreen's kunchaas, and just like that Imraan and I were engaged.

Even though we chatted before our conversations now were different...less vague and light hearted, it was deeper, more honest and a bit shyer. He wasn't as bold as he had first appeared. He said he was relieved I was not as aloof as I had appeared.

We decided to limit our contact to one chat every evening and supervised visits every second weekend...we didn't want to get so familiar that we lose the true muhabaa and magic of marriage, this was our halfway point and it pleased our parents.

With Nani so sick and Nasreen's wedding on the horizon, my own wedding prep was getting left behind.

Imraan and I decided on a Nikkah for a Friday after Asr in Port Shepstone, no reception, a walima in Durban on Sunday.
My parents ended up having a huge lunch after Jumuah at the Marburg Hall for everybody. It wasn't fancy, I wore an abayaa and scarf like everybody else.

My friends from campus took over my wedding plans, they scheduled and made bookings for me, planned shopping trips etc, it was a huge relief.

Nani was in and out of hospital and getting weaker, Nasreen's wedding became the first family function that Nani wasn't directly involved in.

After Nasreens wedding, Nani took a turn for the worse. Nas cut her honeymoon short and came back home early.
About five days before Ramadaan, Nani woke up suddenly in the middle of the night, I sat up next to her...she had barely spoken recently, "Nani you okay?" I asked her? 
I quickly switched on the light.
"kaa che garjaal?" I pointed to the bedside clock, its half past 3 Nani.
Nani started getting out of bed, i rushed to help her...her breathing was laboured and wheezy...she felt so small and frail in my arms, its hard to believe that she once use to carry me around on her hip.

"must make wudu, must make wudu, fajr ke suru, fajr ke suru" 
I didn't know what else to do so I helped her into the bathroom and helped her make wudu, after she was done I wiped her face, hands and feet while she sat on the chair. She slowly tied her downy, still muttering about fajr time, her eyes seemed dazed-like she was far away, I wondered if she even realized I was there.

I quickly opened her musalah and faced it towards qiblaah, I was trying to turn her chair when she said, put me on the floor Fatima, I want to make sajdaa on the ground.

As soon as she began salaah, I rushed to my mothers room, in tears I told my mother Nani was reading fajr now, before time...
"Don't worry, don't worry, let her...come i'll make us some tea..."

I checked on Nani she was sitting on her musalaah still making dua. Soon Kala and everybody else woke up for fajr and mummy told them Nani had woken early to read, one by one they went into see her while she made dua.
 When I finished pray my fajr I realized Nani had been in sajdaa for very long now, when I went near I couldn't hear her wheezy breath anymore...I ran to the door shouting "mummy, mummy!!!!!"...then everything went black!

I awoke to my mothers voice," its okay Fatima, its okay..." 
Tears filled my mothers eyes and spilt over, running down her face...
It wasn't a dream then, I knew...I squeezed my eyes closed.
"She's gone batchoo, she's gone...she lived long and she had such a beautiful death, it was all she ever wanted baby, you have to be strong", my mother said to me.
I kept shaking my head, She didn't understand.
"I was right there mummy, right there...on the other musalaah...she never even made a sound."

My mother looked at my Mamajee,
 When did he get here? 
He will make Nani better, I know he will!
"I think she needs something, doc..."
My mamajee nodded,"Already on it Mumtaz".
I felt a pinch and once again everything was black.

I woke up two hours later feeling stronger , I had a dream of Nani, surrounded by a beautiful garden. I knew then, that she was in Jannah. 
I showered and changed, I wore my most beautiful abayaa. No doubt many ladies thought I had lost it, I looked like a rainbow in the sea of black.
I read and made Dua for Nani, I refused to talk to anybody while the Janaza was in the house. Lots of people whispered about me, no doubt thinking I had had a nervous breakdown.
"shame...so close to her wedding too."


Imraans SiLs and mother came, I acknowledged them with a nod.
After the funeral I phoned Imraan, in a quiet corner I broke down and told him it all...he quietly listened and made Dua, after that, I felt a bit whole again.

That Ramadaan was a blur. A few weeks after Eid was  my wedding day...Thank goodness for lutfi and Kat...I wouldn't have got anything done if it wasn't for them!

Part 13-The end of the beginning...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

Glossary:

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