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.

Re-name, Y'ALL!

so like the introduction and credits explain...this story was never ment to be a story or even a blog...it was a little piece i wrote to amuse my sister.

she blogged it and once I saw it, I just kept going...i didn't think it would gain readership either...but it has.

I'm currently typing part 37 and I feel like this story needs its own identity...its to long to be a spin off or little play up...

I'm thinking of renaming....

1. What do you think?
2. What name do you suggest?

I'd like to keep the description and slogan the same but you welcome to remix that too...

either comment with your suggestions or email them in:)

*maybe* if its super awesome we can make it a competition with a voting and a prize for the name I go with eventually...

Il be thinking too...otherwise, we can just stick with the current name...no sweat!


Ree :)

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...

Part 18: Bruised egos and high, high heels.

We got back to such a lovely scene on Sunday evening.

 Everybody was crowded around the table having coffee, tea and dippers. The conversation was animated and punctuated with roars of laughter. It looked like the work function had went off perfectly.

 It only took me a moment to realize that MiL wasn't amongst the merry-makers. I wasn't the only one that noticed...

 "where's mummy?", asked Imraan, dragging up chairs for me and him.
 "oh come I tell you'll what happen!", said Dadi
 Oh-0 I thought...what now...

 Sumayas expression was unreadable...no help there.
 "she broke her leg!", said shireen quickly.
 "no she didn't, she fractured her ankle.", said Bilal.
 "I think she sprained it." , said my FiL.

" Wait wait wait! I want to,explain to them.",Dadi began, from the beginning ofcorse, as old people always do...

" Fatima and Imraan, lucky you bought me the healthy shoes...otherwise I too would have been like bechari kayroon Gori.
 Yesterday at the function Kayroon stood one place by the door  saying "welcome, come in come in" to all the noorkers and their families."
"Then when everything started she sat chupchapti down and was listening, anything she wanted to say or do she send message with twins for Sumaya and Shireen. Ma bee, I'm thinking why she don't going here and there, you know she don't sit quietly...but I never ask her anything."

" Then it was time for her award...the man was telling about the award and called Kayroon Gori to come up to the stage."

 "Kayroon Gori woke up slowly, smiling smiling ne hando at everybody."

Dadi explained that as MiL got to the top step, the MC asked everybody to put their hands together for her...Dadi says she don't know what exactly happen but one second MiL was standing, next thing she was a puddle of fabric on the floor...

 OMW!!!! How awful!

 "I think her egos more bruised than her ankle, but we must all be sensitive to her." my FiL said.

 I could only imagine! The overtime award was MiLs proudest moment at the annual function, she looked forward to it the most.
She told me before, that she just loved hearing the story every year.

When Imraan's parents were newly married, my FiL worked very hard to build his business,when it was finally off the ground and established,Imraan's father decided to have a function after Eid to celebrate with his business family.

 One night while planning the function he thought of including awards as he mentioned categories my MiL pip'd in that she needs and award for the time she's alone with the children while my FiL is working....

 That year, at the very first function, my FiL surprised my MiL by calling her on stage to give her a gift for putting up with his long hours and standing besides him through the toughest years, he presented her with a beautiful watch. He then,joked that he hopes she won't expect one every year...

 The following year Imraan was born, that year my FiL got very ill and was unable to be at work for an extend period of time, my FiLs friend stood in for him and really held the business together, he himself was newly married.
once my FiL recovered, he wondered how to thank,his friend for his generous help, it was my MiL again who said that the wife deserve the thanks more. At that years function, my FiL had my MiL present their friends wife with a watch for her patience...and thus, the award was born.

 Every year, a watch is presented to the spouse of the employee who has the most overtime hours, however it has to be a different employee every year, once you have received it, you can't receive it again.
every year, my MiL is called up to present the watch and the story behind it is told.

 After Dadi told us what happen, Imraan and I went to check in on MiL, as I had assumed, she was more beat up over the embarrassment than any physical injury.
as she told her version of the event, I spied the pair of extremely high, high heels near the cupboard, my word! What had she been thinking!

 On the dresser was the watch she had been gifted originally, I admired the classic design.

I know that both Sumaya and Shireen
had been recipients of the award previously. I knew it was unlikely that I ever would be, Imraan was not part of the family business...he actually worked very hard not to be!

 ...but that too, is a story on its own.