The Gori Foi

Chapter 12 : The Gori Foi 

It was 2 weeks already that Gori Foi came to stay …my daadi was feeling much better but this lady won't go back  already ,I was so fed up

I had to move out of my room because the guest room didn't have nice lighting according to her  and she complained that bed gives her back ache 

She re-organized whole cupboard including my campus books, I was beyond mad

I couldn't find my clothes and I had set my books according to timetable she stacked them neatly to size ...
“I can't sleep in an untidy room” she justified herself when I complained to my mother

Ya! You have x-ray vision u can see in cupboard I  thought to myself

She kept tabs on the time I left the house to the time I came back

The other day my prac had run a bit later then usually so I was home late 
I overheard her telling my mother I have a boyfriend because was coming back later every day of the week

The other day I had to drop her off at the mall and she drove me bananas “so fast-fast you drive, I can feel my palpitation going high” she scolded me 

When we got home“Haroon check my pressure please your daughter was driving so fast-fast my heart is making tack-tack” she went running to my dad ,

 What fast? I was doing 40 k/h way below speed limit, gosh this women exaggerates everything..

She pulled the last strings when she started picking on my weight “see how fat you getting ,those jeans are looking tight  must be that take out you eating on campus” when I went to show off my new Eid outfit to Yumnah  

I couldn't deal with her any more

I went to my father moody “I wanted my room back and my place.I’m not 5 years old, I do text you when I'm finishing late ,I don't like all those side remarks when she compares me with Yumnah, daadi is better can't she just go home “

“She’s Midjiwan( visitor) we can't just tell her to leave just be patient” my dad tried to reason

“I'm going to stay by naani till she moves out” I stormed off. I had enough  

I packed my entire room up ...well all my campus stuff and clothes and few odds and ends


“Ahmed please come help me” I called for my brother as I was taking my stuff downstairs  

“Wow are you moving out when did I miss the wedding? “ Ahmed joked


It was only after Eid , that my mother to  was feed up of her as she had taken over the kitchen too .
My dad had polity asked when she was going back to Joburg  one day when I was over for supper 


“You can just tell me to leave “ she got up angrily and 2 hours later we heard her come downstairs with her bag Ahmed and I were playing x-box 


“Ahmed please drop me at the airport Haseen has booked me a ticket” she said rudely . .

Oh finally the witch had left I can move back home…

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a/n salaams all i would like to thank every single reader out there , i have 900 in less than a week, it means alot

post will be a bit slower now as im back on campus too , hope you enjoy reading and had a lovely eid 

stay tune for more Sara drama

An Eid day biryani kinda love

Adi :) 

The Month of Ramadan

Chapter 11: The Month of Ramadan 


Ramadan had started ...
I just loved Ramadan and the peace it brings like the whole world just calms down for a while.

 Just before Ramadan started Ahmed decided he will go on the samosa run as he scored a job at Unilever and was ready to settle down but only after Eid ...My mother was beyond trilled and had a few girls lined up for him to see.

After what happened to Amy I vowed that I didn't want to get married.

She was 19 at home, divorced and recovering from the lost of her baby and husband .
She had been married for less than 6 months.

That night after my dad rushed her to the hospital to do and DNC trying to save her life as she had internal bleeding ,Amy said she had slipped in the bathroom earlier that day and felt a pain in her stomach but thought nothing of it at that time  but I saw the blue marks on her wrist , she was tried to hide under her Abaya sleeves.... 

She was only 6 weeks pregnant and I feel bad for her , her husband phoned her later and told her not to come back as it was over he couldn't do this anymore ...she won't even speak to me about the whole thing I wish I could comfort her in some way .Her mother says she stays in the room whole day not talking to anyone ...

The rest of my holidays just slipped by, I spent most of my time trying to pray and connect to Allah. I prayed for all the women who were abused and decided to speak to my local MSA to raise awareness on women and child abuse ...

On a happier note I went for my annual Iftar with almost all my high school friends it felt nice to be back with the gang just like old times   ...

When went to caminettos towers on sparks road and ordered a huge iftaar - our eyes were bigger than our stomachs 

  I invited Ayesha,Asma ,and Tasleem from campus , Yumnah, Sumayah and Safiya who was now proposed to a guy who she described as  tall, had all 32 teeth, a  real head of hair,.had a regular bath, good sense of humor and she couldn't find any complaints  with him .

A few other close friends had joined 
Zarah who somehow got a video of my flaming cake had everyone in laughter ….
Great I already had the old nosey lady from next door poking her nose in my business now Gori Foi will come and nag my brains....


Tasmiya  she was the head girl and a brainiac in high school , defying all laws of our society  and was  becoming a doctor 

Lutifa was the crazy one in our group no wonder she was studying psychology but I loved her any way 

Zeenat to be honest scared me ...she was smart and witty she was studying law 

Zarah was the clown of the group always making jokes  she and Khatija where on campus with me and where study in commerce .

As we broke fast ,it was Zeenat that dropped the ball to let us know she had met someone and was getting married at the end the year 

Everyone had a good laugh about my kitchen dilemma as they all passed that cooking class with flying colours .




Campus was starting in a few days and in 2 weeks was eid I couldn't be more excited.


It was after taraweeh at home and we were having dessert when my mother announced my Gori Foi was coming to stay ..she was a widow and stayed in joburg all her children were married, my daadi had fallen ill and staying close by to us ,she want coming to stay for a while to help her since daadis lived in a flat there was no place for Foi to stay there 


Great I already had the old nosey lady from next door poking her nose in my business now Gori Foi will come and nag my brains 

Just a few Announcements

Just a few Announcements

This blog is not about me or my real life , no its not about you either or your fathers mothers uncles sisters daughter either ! Well you get the point it’s a “made up” story …it sounds real because the scenarios are typical related stories …

For those who email me asking what going to happen next !  I too have no idea….We all just have to wait and find out

Please take some time and answer the poll on the left hand side . This can help me decide if weather I should keep writing or not

You can also sign up to receive post via email by looking for the ‘ Follow By Email” on the right hand side

Having trouble , then just send “Add Me’ to to diaryofamuslimoncampus@gmail.com and we will do it just you!

This blog is unedited ,I try to my best to sort my spelling and grammar errors, those errors that are the just adds masala to the story ;)

Thank You for Reading this blog

A big bowl of chocolate ice cream and creamy doughnuts  kinda love ,

Adi 

The Not So Good HouseWife

Chapter 10: The Not So Good Housewife 

I went for those stupid cooking classes my mother booked for me and threaten my allowance if I don’t attend

I was in a class full of snobs, most of them had dropped out of school , to be  primed into good housewives , I was stuck with 14 and 15 year olds apparently my mother booked me for the most  basic course ...... I had just turned 19 so I stuck out like a sore thumb...
To make matters worse they all were better cooks than me.

After maybe 300 tries I finally got a roti round while the other girls had it within 2 tries and to top it off mine got burnt ...While the younger girls came out perfect
I had cuts all over my fingers from chopping veggies in perfect cubes, I'm sure Food lover market does all the veggies for you, or I could just pop into woolies and get them nobody going to know the different
Any curry I tried to make always had extra salt or masala.

The teacher was fed up with after I nearly burn the whole place when we were baking cakes mine came out black and hard as a cement brick  and all of a sudden blew up into flames . Sigh! I wanted to use that to throw at the nosey ladys yard , oh if only it went up in flames then.
The lady doing the cooking class phoned my mother and told her she will refund the next weeks money and never to send me back there.

My mother though I did it on purpose and I never heard the end of it.
I spend the next two weeks laying around waking up just before Zuhr, bathing and putting pj's on, catching up on movies and series ...
Or get Ahmed to help me gang up on Yumnah like old times but he was all grown up and went out with friends the whole time so Ibrahim was my new partner in crime ....
He helped me hide Yumnah socks all over the house , and leaving random one legs in her cupboard . and dye Ahmeds shirts pink ...

Ramadhaan was about to start and our house went into a busy hub of samosas making. Everyday all the ladies will come and full they different samosas together, in our dining room and in the kitchen was pie making ... The  house was full of chatter as the ladies got on with their task 
Of course nobody asked me to help because they found out about my dilemma in the kitchen as that lady teaches every ones daughter's how to cook the best dishes I was the first to get kicked out....

Amina had came home for a while her parents were thrilled so I decided to have a sleep over like old times in our fuzzy matching pj's we stocked up on all the junk food we could find and watched a re- run of gossip girl ...
We had made up and things were getting better ....

We were in the middle of our Morton when Amina let out a piercing scream ...Yumnah came running in 
I tried not to panic as I tried to help Amina up onto a chair.
“Yumnah call Abba, Amina is bleeding....”

The Not so Drama Free Holiday

Chapter 9:The Not so Drama Free Holiday 

Shukr so far my results was good, not high school good but I had passed so far, I was just waiting for one more mark, then I could officially be on holiday for the next six weeks .

After that horrible morning I managed to stay drama free, well that was before  I decided to phone Amina to ask for maaf,  The 15 of Shaban was coming up and I didn't want to close my old books with having someone upset at me ..

I also wanted to talk to her about her husband Ahmed,  Taahir knew Ahmeds younger brother and his friend wanted to confirm a story, Thank Allah I never told anyone ,apparently his friend who wanted to go see a girl Sabira he was keen on proposing  , but things went downside after she said no, he then found out that Ahmed was involved  with her , little did this girl know while he was promising the world too her, he had a pregnant wife at home… He just wanted to confirm it was the same Ahmed … Poor Amina she was very naïve

I phoned her she answered in tears she had seen his phone messages a few days before, he then told her the story he wanted to marry Sabira but since they were not in the same “Cast” his parents been old fashion said no, he had tried to make it work with her but he couldn't, he had been with Sabira for years, they had studied together, that’s why they parents came to Durban too look for a girl and had a quiet wedding.

“Sara I don't what to do I’m only a few weeks pregnant, I haven't even told Ahmed yet “ she cried on the phone

I had to calm her down, “Come home for a while and speak to your parents then decide what to do” I told her

“ I miss you so much, it’s so lonely here , you right I need a break I will come down to Durban this weekend … I have to go Ahmed just walked in..“ she said cutting the call .

On the other hand                                                                                                                

I was super excited my brother Ahmed was coming home today. His plane was landing at 2 this afternoon , he had just finished his degree overseas and was coming home for a bit, hopefully mummy will be on his case now that his home.. And I can have some peace, oh how my dreams were shattered!

I went downstairs only to receive a page from my mother, thinking it a normal shopping list I picked scanned it.
What on earth she has enrolled me for cooking classes ?Does she want me to burn the house down? 
“Abba…”
Uhm catch up on sleep  I thought  ,I  went to get ready, maybe Ahmed would help me on this on ..,,

In true Indian style the whole family went to pick him up from the airport..
My mother’s was in tears you will think he was leaving us forever ….


“So thin u gone! Why you getting bags under your eyes? You need a haircut!” She rattled him
My Daadi was going on about how tall his is gone and it’s time to get him married 
Once I finally got to him I gave him biggest bear hug.
“I missed you! please don't leave me again with these people” I whispered
 “What happened now?” He asked, oh my brother just understands me
“Cooking classes “ 
“Sorry sis you on your own I have my own on to deal with they on my case to bring home a wife, don’t think I never heard those giggles back there..” 
We all got home Ahmed played with Yahya for a while and after the huge supper went up to his room. 
I was exhausted from all this drama and ready to fall into deep sleep.
Oh well here comes the next two weeks of hell, Is it too hard to ask for one week with no drama?


“Maa! ,why you know I'm useless in the kitchen can't Yumnah go for them” I complained

“No u not getting out of this, Yumnah finished this course while you where gallivanting on that campus “ she told me

I went off in search for my dad to complain but he seems to be on my mother’s side 

“In the here” he called

“Mummy sending me for cooking classes” I cried, I was his baby and  I normal get away with things

“Just go it's only a few weeks beside what else you got to do?” Abba said

After he greeted us my mother stated 

I giggled to myself at least I’m safe for a while

I was trying to keep my laughter in but Ahmed had heard me...

The first June Exam

Chapter 8: The first June Exam 

I was ready to pull my hair out...Exams where just so stressful; the university jammed all our modules on after the other. I didn't know what to study 1^st , which book to focus on, there were slides and tuts to go through it was just too much .In high school the teachers told us what to study with a detailed breakdown down.

I asked a lecturer what we must learn for Math his was like everything and gave us textbook page numbers that was almost 400 pages and economics was a whole textbook we only had 6 months of campus but it like 3 years of high school work slammed in half a year but in more detail.

That was just 2 modules, I still had to revise all those diagrams and programs for computers plus I still hadn’t open the book for two other modules, my brain was fried, every time I started studying I drifted of into another land where there was no exams or I start complaining to a friend on BBM , from there I end up in a ‘Snap war’ or on Facebook… 2 hours later, I’m too tired and promise to study harder tomorrow but then 2 levels of Candy Crush turns into 10 and your whole day is gone …

It was the morning of my 1st paper ... I was probably having the worst day .No I’m not been a drama queen

I first over slept, which meant I could not revise the last chapter I left ,I was up till 1 a.m trying to cram anything in my brain ...no amount of almonds was going to help me.

After having a cold shower- someone decided to have a pamper bath this morning.

  I went downstairs only to have hot milk spilled over me by Ibrahim , when I finally redress and was ready to go my mother started complaining I made a big mess by leaving all my papers in the dining room , well
To make matters worse my car wouldn't start the battery was giving trouble .

To make it even more unlucky my mother phoned auntie fathi to ask her if Taahir could give me a lift because my dad had left and Yumnah was not awake yet ,she need her car to do some shopping with Gori Kala later and had a cooking lesson in an hour …

She kindly agreed I wasn't too happy as I successfully avoided Taahir at all costs this week , now I had a 5 minute drive with the dude , I was ready to cry

I quietly jumped in the back seat checked I had everything and pulled out a sheet pretending to revise my work  

‘Sara..”  Taahir called as we where on our way to campus “I don't know what you over heard that day…”

I continued ignoring him how on earth was I going to explain this one to him .

“About what you heard that day…” he said

I looked up to reply and my stomach made the biggest roar, Oh! Crap with all this drama I forget to eat... Red in the face I picked up my head to find Taahir laughing ... and toss me a bag of chips.

“That was my after paper snack but looks you need it more”

Why does this drive feel more than 5 minutes ?

I quietly whispered “Is that story about Aminas husband really true?. ...”

The Study Break

Chapter 7 : The Study Break

It was study break week and before I decided to go dive into my books...I decided to visit two of my high school friends.

I was close to many girls in high school some of which I see on campus .But there was one girl I could always chat to beside Amina .

I was excited to spend the day with Sumayah who lived a few streets over and Safiyah who lived on the other end of town.We decided to hang out at Sumaya's house. 

It was a relaxing day we caught up on what's happening in each other’s life.

Sumayah is quite bubbly and always knew how to brighten your day with her chirpiness. At the moment Sumayah was studying teaching and like me had no interest in getting married.

Safiyah is also quite talkative but what I loved the most about her was her sense of fashion and her motherly nature she was always advising me not to do something..

“You know Sara you have to make round round rotis or otherwise you got to find a husband that likes geography so he can guess which continent you rolled out for him” she would scolded me school.

 I could always talk to safi about everything she always had the correct answers  ... 

Safiyah was on a samosa run and had a tale to tell about all the different guys that came to see her .

"This one he took of his toppe , and out came his hair piece falling right into my fathers plate ..

And this other guy was too busy munching on the samosas, then to worry about looking at me , I think if i said yes to him i would have to cook whole day...

"The best one ,was this guy he was cute ,decent height  ,had a degree but he opened his mouth i wanted to give him toothpaste and mouthwash as a present ..." Safiyah had us in stitches as she retold the tales

We spent the afternoon eating junk food and watching old Bollywood films, oh! and not forgetting the yummy spice chicken rice Sumayahs mummy made for lunch.

It was nice spending time away from the hustle of campus.
But as soon as I got home I decide to make a  study timetable and prepare for my upcoming exams. I had to pass or I could say goodbye to campus..

I started sorting my notes out across my carpet and then made my study timetable.

As always my mother chooses the perfect time to walk in

“Ya Allah what a big mess you made here please clean it up
And auntie faathis son is downstairs he said he needs  some notes, you know I don't understand all that studying talk  “ my mother rattled me

“You seem to spending lots of time with him “ she continued lecturing me  “Please don't go make haram haram with him ,already that Julie is making stories, your name will get bad “

“Maa I'm busy ,just tell him to write a note with  what he wants,  I will send it with Abba Maghrib time” I replied ,I was no mood to deal with people – oh well maybe with Taahir he started acting a bit weird recently 

‘Yea yea I'll tell him ,don't  over stress yourself okay?Just now you will go mad "My mother said walking out leaving my door wide open 

I hate when people don't close the door ,I woke up to close the door and thought  

-The real reason I didn't want to talk to him much is because he kept asking me weird random question and I really don't know what to tell him, I also kind of overheard him the other day talk to his friend ..I know it's bad to eavesdrop but I just walked in at the wrong time

I'm not ready to face the music yet …

The day off Campus

Chapter 6 :

The day off Campus

It was one of those rare days on campus which we had no test for the week and a short tut later that afternoon.

My new group of campus friends decided to go to Westwood for coffee at Fego and do some window shopping. De-stress after a tiring semester .Lectures end tomorrow and we were on study break for a week before exams. Shukr I made D.P for all my subjects and can right all my papers, I saw loads of people in the queue today trying to get an appeal to write the exams.

 As we ordered our coffee , I decided to try the red velvet coffee everyone was going on about , Ayesha turned her nose up ,she’s the health freak of the group always watching the calories , but I didn't mind as I wasn't going to be in a wedding dress anytime soon.

As we sip on our coffee and shared a bar-one piece of cake. I got to know the girls a better, we don't have time to bond on normal days ,we had back to back lectures, or rushing to finish our pracs or tuts before two .

There was Asma a shy petite girl. I had met her on the first day of campus we instantly started chatting about high school as we waited for our maths lecture to arrived , she is always dressed in the smartest outfits  and craziest sneakers – she is shy but randomly has a burst of craziness , she is the only child - I can't imagine been the only child ,  I have moments when I’m ready to strangle Yumnah but I’m sure if they weren't there while growing up I would have been bored out of my mind.

Ayesha was a funky hijabi so to say – she wore the latest cloaks and pretties scarves with awesome colored  pumps and had to have  her campus bag matching her pumps , she and her sister who is also on our campus traveled every day to campus from Stanger – what a long drive … today we found out that she was engage to be married in 2 years , her fiancée Yusuf  was also still studying and wanted to finish before they settled – my parents would never allow us to be engaged that long fathi was married 3 months after  Muhammad proposed .

Tasleem went to a white girls school , it was the first time she had Muslim friends , she was a bit different to us , I didn't like her at first but now I was warming up to her , she had a great sense of humor , and a total nerd , she was studying Maths and Stats on campus ..

As we finished up we started wandering into shops, we passed Taahir and his friends he gave me his normal nod and salaam I greeted back, it was Amsa that noticed and I went bright red…

Tasleem noticed my bright red cheeks “What did I miss? Why you blushing, Sara?” She asked

“Uhm nothing” I replied

“Sara has a boyfriend, Sara has a boyfriend “Asma started in a sing song voice

“Shut up they can hear you still” I said “Stop acting like we in kindergarten “

“Who is that?” Ayesha asked “I see him in lectures you always going red when he greats you”

“His the neighbors son , I think his name is Taahir, I don’t know him that well , and I do not go red… “I defended myself . Changing the topic I said “Anyway is almost half 1 lets go back to campus a pray Zuhr and get ready for our tut you know how Dr G doesn’t like us been late , that guy has it in for me always calling me out in class Ms Kajee what the answer whenever I fall into a daydream … “ 

We headed back to campus all lost in our own thought for some reason , i couldn't get what Taahir asked me the other day of my mind ...

The Investigator

Chapter 5 : The Investigator 

The weeks just went by 
I felt like a robot on auto mode
Wake up
Campus
Home
Sleep
Study
Repeat

Of course all the necessary in between salaah , bathing ,eating..

It was close to June which meant holidays and Ahmed coming home I was beyond excited but 1st I had to get through exams.

I’m glad all this wedding drama stopped for a while in my house. 

Well a few girls from my matric year got married including Amina who still hasn't spoken to me - my parents got a last minute phone call with lame excuse that Aminas brother lost the invite on way to drop it off, yeah right I'm sure the imaginary dog in Auntie fathis yard ate it.

She's happily married - oh well from her instagram pics of her latest supper she makes with #happyhubby hashtags I guess she is.

I got the full load down from my mother who went on about how 'fancy fancy' the wedding was and how many empty seats there was..and that they should have invited the whole family and how 'haram haram' it was because apparently it was mixed wedding and Amina was wearing a see-through lace sleeve wedding dress. 

Other than that I don't think my mother will trust another auntie again about letting people come home to see her daughters without the usually background check - stand back CIA and FBI you have nothing on the the aunties on forest avenue - they record every moment and later bring it up to try and catch you for something you did in 2006 . 
For example the old nosey lady next door knows my campus timetable better than me. I’m sure if I'm late on a certain day she probably phones the whole town to let them know. . Or how auntie Julie told whole town when Taahir(finally learnt auntie fathis sons name) came to drop off notes the other day because I was not feeling well to go to campus - that lady is out to get me. Some people should just worry about they own daughters.

But I think your mother had best diary of your mistakes for example yesterday Yumnah never clear table and maa got upset with her. I got a scolding for staining her Tupperware container few months back ,
And poor fathi got scolding for not using the maze paste on Yahya for nappy rash.

“You girls think your’ll to big, grew up yourself , one day when you get married you will remember this your daughter will give you same problem” my mother rattled us - I'm sure this line was used on my mother, granny and great granny 

I think they give you a book in secret on how to scold your kids 

So back to the point ... you remember Zubir , well he was the boy that came to see Yumnah my poor mother nearly faint we all know about his nightlife clubs and girls. But that not the icing on the cake his mother thought she came for a 2 in one deal for other son…

Yumnah threw a fit while my mother went into angry mode meaning you had to walk on tippy toes around the house ... I decide to pack a weekend bag and go visit my granny.

I love staying by my naani we sip on a cup of tea while she tells me tales about back in her day and all her words of wisdom…

The family

Chapter 4:The family

It was one of those weekends where I was forced to get dressed. Meaning throwing on an abaya over my old ratty pjs and black scarf if needed something from the supermarket or lazing around watching series in my kaftans that had curry stains wasn't going to cut the deal.

My mother came barging into my room in a panic after Fajr as I was just about to sleep. I swear when I’m trying to sleep they decide it’s time to have a carnival downstairs but when they asleep I try to act like a ninja.

I closed my eyes pretending I was asleep hidden under my covers, the only reason why she come barging in my room was because she needs a favor or wants to show me some lame thing on her phone that can wait till I’m fully awake, otherwise she would scream from downstairs if I left a teaspoon or glass on the counter ,or needs me to switch a light of few meters away for my dad - the whole neighborhood probably hears , they must be thing I’m the laziest person because we all know how a mother can add masala to a story you probably  think I left a whole dinner set out .

She started screaming “Get up clean this mess in your room, put away all your money and jewelry. Bongi is coming to vacuum, wait till she’s done, make sure she don’t open the cupboards, then come downstairs, I need help”

What Bongi on a Saturday? , what on earth is going on?

My mother continued  “ Muhammad and Fatima are going to be here so come downstairs in that outfit that abaya with the design on it and that green scarf with flowers , you know after zohr people are coming to see Yumnah”

Oh! way to be vague mummy abaya with a design, I’m sure that’s every cloak in my cupboard , green scarf that’s like 10 different scarves in my drawer, I thought to myself - what don’t judge I’m a scarf addict I can’t part with any.

“I know you listening stop pretending you sleeping “my mother said pulling my covers

I gave a sleepily nod and closed my eyes to go dream about cupcakes and doughnuts ….

A few minutes later I felt something cold on my feet, I was ready to kill that person then I heard the cutest giggle ever I knew it was my little brother Ibrahim, his 6 years old.

“Mummy said I must wake you up” he said giving me the cutest puppy dog eyes it’s hard to be angry at it him..

I got up to tackle him and went running after him … where did that scamp run of too?

“Oh you finally up” said Yumnah.

Gosh!  She’s 11 months younger than me but acts like an old granny..

I love my family but at times they drive me bananas …

There is Fatima – my big sister she has two kids Yusra and Yahya  oh and Muhammad her husband  you already know the story , it was one of those normal my kalas husband's aunt's grandson is looking to get married and they came home blah blah you get the story..

Then comes Ahmed his 22 studying overseas Engineering, his still too young too get married his my mummies butchu – I never get to study overseas , wait till you married then you can go travel the world with your husband my naani will say , girls must stay at home.

And the black sheep – me and there’s my sister other Yumnah she and I are 11 months apart ,we were in same class in school because of all the apartheid rules back then . Ahmed and I use to gang up on her when we were smaller always dying her Barbie dolls hair different colours.- Oh the fun days ..

Last is the laatlammetjie of the family Ibrahim he came just before fathi got married.

Any that is my crazy family.

Bongi cleaned my room and I was now sitting quietly eating marshmallows and melted chocolate while our whole house was in madness trying to neaten up, fry and bake every savory that was stocked in the freezer. Yahya was screaming in the background. I was in bliss tuning it out when my mother walked in and saw me Oh!no here we go …

“What you doing here why you not helping in the kitchen “my mother started.

“Keep her out of here “Yumnah screamed “she’s no help, only makes a bigger mess”

Ya!Allah why you wearing that scarf? My mother complained and walked into the kitchen “Fatima, sort your son out make him stop I can feel a headache starting” –

“With all that screaming you do that must be causes that headache” I mutter

“I heard that, I will sort you out later I got no time now, Yumnah! Why you are not dressed? , go now the Akoonjees are on the way go get ready leave this I will get it ready” my mother panicked and stared rumbling to herself how she has to do everything herself …

And the doorbell rang …

AY! Go to your room Sara don’t come out I don't want them to get confused with the sisters  my mother told me as she placed her best dinner set on the table.

What was the point of making me get dressed if I’m not going to be around...? I really don't understand mothers

As I made my way up the stairs I peeked out of the window to see who it was...

OMW! Yumnah is going to have a fit when she realises who came for proposal. Thank Allah this one is not for me...What a waste of savories!

The big drama

Chapter 3: The Big Drama

I had been so caught up with campus I totally forgot about the drama with Amina.I just finished praying my Salaah when I could hear my mother slam the house phone down.

Oho! I hope it wasn't my foi. Last time she slammed the phone it was because foi had taken her butter chicken recipe and gave it out to everyone – You never mess with an auntie and her recipes unless you have a death wish. My mother was fuming, I could see the smoke coming out of her ears just like when Gora Papa bites into a chilli - he really can't eat hot food but likes to act tough. I was disrupted by my mother barging in my room.

Oh no! I hope it's not that auntie Julie phoning to say her ugly big nosed daughter  who thinks she is God's gift to earth, saw me with some guy on campus. I was just finishing up our presentation.
I don't like her, she is the type of girl who puts enough make up on her face the hardware store can borrow it for cement and she always in the cafeteria sitting on that Zubirs lap.

Yet she has a check to tell her mother she saw me with a boy last week in the library - I was only talking to him because we were paired up for a class practical and we had to present together.

Her mother always adds masla to a story before giving it out so my mother was angry because by the time it came to her she was ready to pull me out of campus and marry me off.  Apparently I was kissing a guy Non- Muslim and it was very… - I’m shy to even describe the rest of that story.
I had to explain to her what real happen .Lucky I knew the guy it was Auntie Fathis’ son so my mother phoned to confirm we were just working on a project.

“Sara!” My mother screamed “stopped day dreaming and answer me!”

“Huh” I never even heard her

“What happened ma? I finish tell you I was doing a project with auntie Fathis son, not that again.” I said

“What you thinking about auntie Fathis son for?  You want to marry him?” She scolded

I blushed.” No maa don't start that we agreed no marriage talk till I'm 25!
Anyway what you came here for? I need to start studying I have a test tomorrow.”

“You only have this studying thing in your head .25 that's like an old lady, I had 3 kids by 25. Anyway did you know Amina is getting married?” she rattled me

“Uh… Oh! Yeah she told me…”  I hesitate

I never got around to telling my family that Amy and I had a fight .I was so caught up, I did try phoning her and sent her a million texts but got no reply so I gave up. I thought she will get over our fight that what normal happens after a few days.

“Oh well auntie fathi just phoned said she got her wedding invite to the wedding was saying how fancy fancy it was.  Imagine how embarrassed I was that I didn't know nor did I get an invite and to think your father delivered her! How dare they not invite us I should phone right away” she rattled off

“Maa wait!” I said softly”Amy and I had a fight she phoned me to tell me and we got into an argument maybe that's why, I got caught up with campus I forgot to tell you“

“You know, all you think about is school nothing else ! That studying not going to get you anywhere.  How are you going to cook for your husband, Why you can't be more like your sisters.
I can't even show my friends anything of yours. At least I can show Yayhas baby photos to everyone and Yumnahs cooking but you can't even peel an aloo nicely. I don't know what to do with you. How I'm I going to face people at Taleem next week?” she took off with me 

I started packing a bag with my books

My mother noticed and started screaming at me “Where you think you going?  Huh now you have your license you think you too big. Your father is always taking your part for everything!” 

I can't take it anymore! I walked out slamming the front door jumping in my car and headed to the library on campus. 

I hate how my mother compares me to my sister’s. She can't see me for me so what if I can't peel a potato?  The super market sells chips, wedges readymade .I will just buy it like that should I need it.

I found my usual table at the library and stated studying a few minutes later a noticed a chair been pulled up next to me. It was auntie Fathis son.

I really need to learn his name. I looked up he gave me a half smile and said “mother? “

 I nodded and replied “your father?”  He nodded and opened his book across me and I got lost in my books forgetting about all the drama. 

x

The first Month

Chapter Two: The 1st Month

I woke up to a buzzing sound. Who could be waking me up so early on a Saturday? Everyone knows I don’t wake up before 12 on weekends especially since I was studying most of the night.

I realised it’s my phone I try to find it on my bedside table sitting up putting my glasses on checking that caller ID it was Amina .
I sleepy answered only to be greeted with sequels, she sounded too chirpy for 8 am in the morning.
She started rattling off too fast for me .I groaned, I could feel a headache starting.

“Hold up I can’t make out a word you saying” I told her.

Her reply got me surprised and shocked for a moment.

“You there Sara” Amy asked
“Yeah I’m here, did I hear correctly? You really getting married?” I replied

Amy started going on about the plans for her wedding and the guy and how dreamy he was.

I drifted off thinking that makes it 20 girls from our matric class. I never expected Amina will be in the first thirty we promised we won’t be one of those girls. We wanted to be independent, young woman. I remember the promise we made to each other. Well I guess promises are broken.

“Sara Sara ..” I looked at my phone, I forgot Amy was on the phone lost in my thoughts.

“Yes” I replied

“Are you even listening to me?  I’m leaving campus Ahmed parents set the date, we getting married next month so we can settle down in Houghton.” Amy said excitedly

She’s leaving campus? Gosh!  How great is this guy? Married in a month? - I can’t believe it

“He is going to start working for some big accounting firm” she continued “I don’t need to work his mother said he will be earning enough for his father to retire and I will get my own spending. I’m going to be a Houghton house wife can you believe it? “

“Are you crazy? Leaving campus? Getting married in a month? I thought you were enjoying pharmacy…
What happened? “I asked

“You know I don’t know what’s your problem, you must be jealous. I got a nice proposal unlike you. My mother said you would react this way .Can’t you just pretend to be happy.”
I only came to campus for your sake you kept saying you were going to be lonely but you have a big group of friends and I had no one . The workload was too much I was barely passing” she said angrily

“Look Amy I’m not jealous I have been busy you know my timetable is hectic and I start test next week. We do hang out. I just think you rushing everything so it’s going to be hard it’s not school nothing is going to be spoon fed to you. You can’t run away from it and use marriage as an answer you only know the guy for a week you can’t possibly give up everything for one guy “I said calmly

“I knew this was going to happen everything has to be about you , you had to go study that course so people will tell you don’t know anything I hated campus I couldn't stand it.
If you can’t be happy and let me have the limelight for once then I’m done “she said cutting the call

I tried phoning back a few times but she never answered

I gave up. Well it looks like I won’t be able to fall back to sleep after that , I woke up and went to the kitchen to eat, lost in thought about Amy and campus.

It’s has been a month and I was enjoying it .Sure the work was hectic and I had loads to learn for next week but I was adjusting well to campus I even made a few new friends other than that and there where a few weddings taking place in the Easter weekend – nothing exciting happened .

My heart was sore I never expected Amy to be angry with me. I really think it was her mother that whispered things in her ear. Her mother never liked me.

I ate my breakfast and headed to the study to hit the books. I really hope I do well.