A Sea Of Brown

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 5

'Ahmad just told me you were back' Maama said sitting on the edge of my bed.
'He told me you were doing laundry' i answered meekly. 'Oh dear, I didn't think Maama will come up to my room' I thought.
'How was your day?'
'Just the usual' I replied. 'I went to see Aisha before coming home'. I kept avoiding her gaze and moving around tidying up the mess I made in the morning.
'So have you thought about it?'
'Wow Maama', I thought, 'going straight to the point'
'I have', I said, standing still and facing her.
'Sorry if I sound pressing dear, it's just that your father has been asking and he wants to give them a reply'
'It's ok Maama', not wanting to make her feel bad, 'Tell Abbu I've agreed to meet him'. Maama smiled so wide that she made me smile too. She got up and came closer.
'That's great Safiyya', putting her hand on my shoulder, 'you have no idea how glad I am to hear this. I'll go tell your father right away'.
'Maama, can I ask you something?'
'Anything dear'
'I was just wanted to know who it's going to be, the person I'll be meeting I mean'
'Oh, I was wondering when you were going to ask me that. Truth is your father doesn't want me to telling you anything about him. He said he doesn't want you being biased before meeting him'.
'Come on Maama, Abbu can't be serious' I complained.

Maama laughed. 'I told him I didn't see his point but he is insisting. You could ask him yourself maybe he'll tell you' she teased.

Maama was being the middle man because she knew how extremely awkward it was for Abbu to talk about personal things such as this with us. At least things felt normal with Maama again, we were past the awkwardness. She knew how to go about things with such coolness I always wondered how she did it.

Sitting at the breakfast table in the morning, with just me and Maama in the kitchen, and listening to Abbu's footsteps approaching the kitchen, I realized I had somehow managed to avoid him through out last night and he did not ask for me.

'Morning Abbu', I greeted him
'Ah morning', looking round the kitchen and finally resting his eyes on me, 'leaving early today?'
'Yes, there are some things I need to do', it was natural for him to ask of course, he always left for work before I did so we met mostly during the evenings and weekends.
He sat too at the table.
'Good thing I caught you then', he continued, 'your mother told me what you said last night, and I was relieved to hear your decision'
'Here it comes', I thought, smiling but not looking up. I have always been free with my parents but when it comes to things like these...
'He'll be coming here tonight' Abbu added.
My head snapped up at that point and I just stared at Abbu.
'Is it too soon?' Looking at me then at Maama.
'I just didn't think it would be today', I spoke up. I have to say something really, this whole lack of boldness thing wasn't getting me anywhere. 'I was only told yesterday'
'I'm sorry Safiyya but he asked if he could come today and I thought what's the use putting it off if it will happen eventually, besides its nothing serious, it's just a meeting'
I looked up at Maama hoping she would say something but she didn't. When the two of them teamed up against you there was little or no hope for you at all.
'Honestly though I need to be informed about this more', I complained, 'it's my future at least I should be more involved in it'
'We're sorry dear, we get carried away sometimes'
I tried hard to give him my 'really?!' Look, but then I just smiled at Abbu, he lets me have my way most of the time really that it's so hard for me to go against him.
'I'll try to be home early' was all I said.

At work, a lady came in who caught my attention. She was very pretty and wasn't much older than I was. She came in with a man who was apparently her husband. The two of them looked completely in love (judging from what I saw), he wouldn't let go of her hands when they came in.

I approached them and asked her if she wanted any assistance and I took her round, with the husband towing behind of course. I told her about what I did and she could describe what she wanted to me if she didn't find something she liked, she was all too eager. I took her to my station but told her males were not allowed in. The look her husband gave her before leaving I can not describe, I wouldn't do it justice no matter what words I used but I was sure this man loved her intensely even if he spoke no words of it.

As we went through the description and measurements I got her talking. From the conversation I gathered she was newly wed and extremely happy.

'I wanted something like that' I kept thinking to myself through out the day, I couldn't get their image out of my head. If only I was assured of having something like it then I honestly won't mind this marriage thing one bit.

I got home early as I had promised. Everything was just as usual, no one said anything. After changing I went to the kitchen to look for something to munch and Sum followed me.

'So are you having butterflies or dragons?' Sum said
'Shut up'
'Seriously, how do you feel? Nervous?'
'No, he should be the one being nervous, I'm not the one doing the impressing'
'Is that what you're telling yourself?'
'You know what?' I continued, 'someday it's going to be you and I promise you I'm going to laugh just as hard'
'This only happens to those who decide not to go to University, not people like us who plan on going to one' Sum joked. She has thought everything through, she knows no one would pester her about getting married while she studied. We continued at each other until Maama came in looking excited.
'Safiyya go cover up, he is here', the cup in my hand almost slipped. Sum did a mini drum roll on the kitchen surface. All at once I became super nervous.

As I came out of my room and headed to the sitting room my knees felt like jelly. 'Stay cool. Stay cool' I kept saying under my breath.

I walked into the sitting room looking at my feet as I put one in front of another. I was aware someone was looking at me and he got up from the couch as I walked in. I took in a deep breath, prayed hard and looked up. Standing across the room from me were those brown eyes looking at me steadily. Ali!