A Sea Of Brown

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 10

Of course, as it could be imagined, the news spread like wild fire and got to my whole family. By the next afternoon aunts were calling me to congratulate and tease me while cousins were calling to scream their heads off over the phone.

Quite a significant chunk of our family lived here so no matter how bad I wanted the wedding to be a small affair I wouldn't have my way. I made up my mind to let them have there way since it's going to be there only opportunity bearing in mind that Sum will definitely preside over hers.

A few days later our house was full. I don't know if maama planned it or they planned it (I have a feeling it's the former) but every female relative I had in London was present. It was like an unplanned party. It took me by surprise but I didn't object, who didn't love being around family and I haven't seen a lot of them in a really long while.

'Maama just admit it, you planned this', I said
'I didn't plan anything, they wanted to come and they probably planned to be here together', I could see it on her face even though she was try to hide it, she was having a good time.
'Aunt Fawz is not here, have you heard from her?'
'I heard Minoo speaking to her on the phone. She said she was on her way' I was relieved to here that.

Aunt Fawzia is one of my favorite people on earth. She is amazing. I've always looked up to her ever since I was little. She was the youngest from my father's family and before she got married she was always around. At the time I was little and A.Fawz was the image of perfection to me. A.Fawz is also the most cheerful person I know, most beautiful and the easiest person to communicate with. I just love her.

Some moments later I was out in the back chasing my nieces and nephews to rescue my phone from them when I heard the voices from the house getting louder and I heard her voice.

I snatched my phone and ran in immediately.

'Where is she?' I heard her ask
'A.Fawz!' I screamed
'Safiyya!' She screamed too pulling me into a bear hug
'I haven't seen you in ages, you promised to come see me' she complained
'I've been meaning to, i really have'
'Mhm, so what happened?'
'Work happened' I pouted
'Oh... Yes, that'

She lives in Manchester with her husband and they currently have two children, Sajda and Ayman.

'Where are Ayman and Sajda?'
'They have vanished since we came in, I think they ran up to Sum'
'A.Fawz!' Sum appeared right then, with Ayman on her back with his hands slung round her neck while she carried Sajda.
'Sum!' She hugged her too and they started talking. I was getting impatient, I wanted to pry A.Fawz away from the crowd because we haven't spoken in ages and I wanted her attention for my self.

I just grabbed her arm and started pulling her away.
'You'll talk to Sum later' I turned around and stuck out my tongue at Sum. Thats what being around A.Fawzia does to me, before she got married and I was little we would goof around like she was same age as me, most of the fun moments in my memory have her in it.

She kept laughing and willingly followed me to the swing.

'So... Our bride to be...' She wriggled her browse.
'I still can't believe it' turning to face her
'I knew it was coming. Your dear Maama has been on about it for a while'
'You knew?'
'No, I only heard after you accepted. She has been talking about wanting you to get married soon. I didn't know it was going to be Ali' she nudged my shoulder
'I didn't see it coming either'
'Are you sure?' Raising one brow at me, teasingly.
'Wallah it came from nowhere. It's their doing... Abbu, uncle Kabeer...'
'Well that's not what I heard'
'What do you mean? Has something been going round that I don't know of?'
'So you don't know?' She asked looking surprised
'What don't I know? You know me A.Fawzia, nobody tells me anything and I don't ask'
'Well... Apparently Ali wouldn't let his parents rest until they asked for your hand on his behalf'