NORTON

Relocating

CHAPTER 5

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Two days later, Suvika and her two older sons, Asad and Asim, woke Kim and Aayan up at 6am. Kim had not seen her mother-in-law since Pumla was three years old. Between then and now, Mrs. Norton's eldest son, Asad, and his wife, Purity, had picked Pumla up three times for a day visit with the other Nortons but none had tried to make contact with her. Asad and Purity were a good Muslim couple who had accepted Kim and welcomed her in the family from day one. Asad respected Kim but also failed to stand his ground when his mother was present.

Aayan's mother brought chocolate cake for the birthday girl and a teddy bear for the new born. Kim wondered what had happened to warm Suvika's heart to the point of buying gifts. Kim showered quickly then rushed through preparing refreshments for her visitors. Suvika seemed less hostile but still kept the conversation mostly relatable to her children only. Kim served sandwiches and coffee then sat at the kitchen table and watched them bond with Pumla. Two hours later, there was another knock at the door and Kim's mother and sister burst in with happy birthday joy. Pumla rushed for her maternal grandmother and aunt who had brought a vanilla cake with snacks and a wrapped present. Kim was happy to see her family but she limited her excitement to a smile. The Duluxes didn't go past the tiny kitchen since the Nortons were occupying the small living/sitting/dining/TV room. Asad briefly walked to the kitchen to formally welcome Mrs. Dulux and ask how she was doing and Kim caught what she thought was a disapproving facial expression from her mother-in-law.

Baby Zam woke up and Kim went to collect her from the children's room. When she returned, her mother and sister were excited to see the baby. Kim looked in the direction of the Nortons and wondered where she should take the baby first. Mrs. Norton senior sat expectant and her mother was baby talking already. "Ooh my darling granddaughter is up!" Before Kim could decide where to go first, Winnie strode to her and snatched the baby out of her hands. Mrs. Dulux moved in and planted a soft kiss on Zam's forehead and continued to baby-talk. Suvika's sitting position didn't change and Kim felt threatened. She thought about Aayan slapping her for not acting right and realised this, he might find worthy of a punishment. She then gently took the baby back from Winnie and took her to Aayan's mother. And throughout the time the two families sat together, they didn't acknowledge each other much. The Nortons left just before 12pm and The Duluxes stayed till 3pm. Aayan spent most of his time reading his Quran in his bedroom and didn't come out till Kim joined him to sleep. And unlike Kim expected, Aayan didn't get offended by her mother and sister reaching for Zam before his mother had seen her first. Aayan's mother held on to Zam for a little over twenty minutes after which Zam cried for her feeding and nappy change. Kim was sure Aayan's mother was welcoming of the new born and so she felt even more confident that Aayan would be warmer to her in no time.

When Norton was having his breakfast the following day, Kim sat across him and told him she had news to share. Aayan sat up, waiting for Kim to talk. Kim explained how Winnie had gone ahead and registered Pumla for her first grade at school. Aayan stopped chewing then continued then stopped again like he was working very hard to make sense of the information. Kim had an idea of what could have been her husband's problem but she kept her silence. Aayan had discouraged her from even thinking about getting a qualification in beauty therapy, saying it would be useless for her since she was going to be a true Muslim wife. Kim wanted Pumla to at least have the level of education she also got and matriculate in twelve years. There was no way of knowing if she would marry a traditional man like him or not so Kim wanted her eldest daughter to keep her options open. What she didn't expect to hear was that Pumla's destiny had been decided without her knowledge.

One of the 'rich' families at mosque had taken a liking to Pumla and had approached Aayan with a proposal he felt was perfect for his daughter. Kim had never even seen the ten-year-old boy from the rich family at mosque and she was not in favour of the arranged marriage. Pumla had just turned six and Kim still saw her as a baby and yet, she was already promised to someone and his family when she came of age. Working hard to stay neutral and focused, she respectfully brought the education conversation back. Aayan promised to get in touch with the Mina family and get their opinion on having an educated daughter-in-law. Kim spent most of her day fighting tears for many reasons. The possibility of her daughter never getting a formal education would cut deep. Aayan had not attempted to bond with Zam but even that seemed light compared to the possible refusal of Pumla's learning. She looked out of the window and wished she could take a stroll to the park with her babies but Aayan had locked them in again and it would be impossible to leave when he's back from work after 4pm. Zam was quieter than usual and Kim appreciated the silence. Pumla had become domesticated like her mother so while Kim was wallowing in her sorrow; Pumla tidied her room and washed dishes. She found her drawing and colouring books and worked on them in her bedroom while also looking in on the sleeping baby. When five hours went by and Zam had not woken up screaming, Kim went to investigate and found Pumla feeding her baby formula while rocking her back and forth in her arms. Kim was so proud of Pumla, she prepared a plate of snacks her mother and sister left the previous day. She also cut a slice from both her birthday cakes and served her. She then watched her daughter enjoy her plate and tore at the thought of having her stay at home in preparation to be a wife. Kim started planning how she would keep her daughter occupied and decided that if the worst happened, then she would continue teaching her everything she learned at primary and high school. She would teach her how to sew, cook and bake then teach her how to do people's hair, using Zam as her practice model. All this she would have to do after breaking the sad news to her that she would not be going to school after all.