Part 6- Chicken Soup with a helping of Suspicion

The weekend passed in almost a blur, I spent most of it sick and in bed. This flu really got me messed up. Every time I thought I was feeling better and tried to get up, the nausea and vomiting would return. To top it all of, I was cranky and moody and bloated too, my period was also due.

My mother was very worried, I had to insist that she doesn't need to come from Port Shepstone to see me. Luckily my father was already sitting for Itiqaaf and she also needed to be home to prepare the supper basket for him so my brother could take it after Magrib.

Imraan was worse than my mother, he was insisting I go to the doctor, but really I hate tablets especially antibiotics so it would just be a waste. I wouldn't take them anyway. I'm very stubborn when I want to be.

To pacify everybody I called work and asked for 2 days off, I must have sounded very bad because the secretary didn't even try to guilt trip me...in a small school like ours, they can't afford to let the children catch anything. Germs spread like wildfire! That's probably why I got sick so fast, all the snotty noses and grubby fingers all day, but shame, I love my job. I hope they get somebody nice to sit with my kids.

My MiL has surprised me beyond measure, she and Sumaya have been up to my room so often to check in with me and take care of me. My MiL even brings me tea and soup in bed. Not 'cup-a-soup' too, real chicken invalid soup from Indian Delights!
 She has been forcing me to eat and drink a little every few hours, "You need the taarkit1 Fatima, thoo boor paatri che2"
My MiL has been so caring I'm actually suspicious, after the steak fiasco last week, I didn't expect this!
She's been in a bit of a panic mode this weekend too, cleaning every inch and square inch of the entire house, poor Tumi and Thembi must be finished! 

This week Imraan's Dadi will be coming to stay, she'll be here till after Eid. Its fun to watch my MiL turn into a stressed DiL for a little while, but I know from the last visit Dadi spent here, the minute Dadi around my MiLs big girl champals3 come back on and she tackles us with new energy. Okay,maybe I exaggerate a little...

I can't believe that we days away from Eid already, I still have a few Paras left to finish my Quraan Khataam. I also have so many recipes I want to try for Eid.

I'm a bit nervous and excited for this Eid, it is my first Eid married, so it's the first one Imraan and I will be spending together. 
My cousin Nasreen told me that on her first Eid married last year, all the old aunties kept touching her tummy asking when she's bringing one Baba and coming...Nasreen's very mischievous, she had gotten married just a month before Ramadaan so she kept telling them, "Oh, still 5 more months before my due date!"
I laughed myself silly when she described the look on their faces when they did the Math...it helped that she's a bit on the chubby side too, plus she had worn an Abayaa for Eid!
Neither less to say, her MiL didn't see the funny side to that story, she was fuming the next day after fielding off calls of 'concern' all morning...which was  like a double win for Nasreen, ofcorse.

This Eid falls exactly a month before my first wedding anniversary and when we got married, Imraan and I agreed to start talking about having a family once we pass the one year mark...

Looks like alot of 'first' on the horizon, waiting for me...

Glossary:

1. strenght
2. you very thin
3. sandals

Part 5-Coffee, Salt and all things right...

My Sehri alarm shook me awake...I must have fell asleep waiting for Imraan to come home from Tarawee so I could tell him about the steak.


Everybody was eating grumpily, the sound of slurping and spoons could only be heard when MiL broke the silence...
"Imraan my batchoo, how was the braai last night, the boys enjoyed the steak?"
"hmmm we where expecting BBQ though, what happened Fatima?"

Before I could reply, MiL spoke up,"oh you know how late Fatima gets home, I didn't want to trouble her so I did it for you, I don't know all these navoo navoo styles so I made my plain and simple one."

Oh the cheek! 
"I had enough time to make it after work but it was already done before I even got home"
OMW!!where did that come from, who said that...did a sehri gandi take over my brain!!

My MiLs thin eyebrows shot up like arrows pointing at the ceiling, her mouth formed a tight O!
I gulped and looked down, but not before I caught the humorous smirk that crossed Sumaya's lips...did I have an ally across the table?
No time to think about that, Imraan cleared his throat, I waited with my heart in my throat for him to speak, but he just went back to eating his cereal.

Thankfully one of the twins crying in bed shifted every bodies focus...shew...saved by the cry, for now, I guess!

After fajr I went back to bed, it was finally Saturday and I was exhausted.

I woke up two hours later with the most awful feeling of nausea...I barely made it to the bathroom before I vomited my barely digested sehri...one mouthful, then two, then three...I gagged for eternity.
Finally I looked into the mirror, swollen red eyes, leaky nose and a flushed face greeted me...yes, the dreaded flu was in the building!

Imraan was standing at the bathroom door, his eyes full of concern, then... he turned and left the room. I sat on the bed clenching my towel, I wanted to cry but I had no energy. I know he must be so angry at me.

When the bedroom door opened again, I didn't look up till I smelt coffee, "Take a sip, its black...you will feel better"

I smiled a weak smile of relief, I didn't want coffee but it meant my husband cared about me still. I took a small sip and spat it out immediately, in a coughing fit, I managed to rasp "Who made this Imraan!, it's terrible"
His face fell, I made it for you...I'm sorry!
(shew, I thought he'd say it was his mum)

I tried to laugh. "I think you put salt instead of sugar..." 
He started laughing too, "I was wondering why the sugar was with all the spices! lay down and relax, I will get you water"

"Imraan...about this morning..."
"don't worry, you know my mother means well,she likes to make life easy for her daughter-in-laws. Isn't that a Mufti Menk quote too?"

Trust a man to see the good...but hey, I'm just glad he isn't mad at me!

When Imraan came back he surprised me with what he said..."I know it must be hard sometimes all of you sharing the kitchen, I mean Ayesha and my mother use to fight all the time when it was only them, so I don't expect it to be easy with four of you in there now...you have never complained so far and I really appreciate that, tiMwah"

Oh, my man has all the right words...