Page 46 of First Comes Marriage
‘Sometimes I wonder …’ Uncle Jawad’s voice broke through Zafar’s thoughts and he turned to look at the older man before following his line of sight. He was looking at Reshma’s father sitting with his two sons. ‘Actually, more often than sometimes, I do wonder about Ahsan. I know he’s my brother but …’ Zafar faced Uncle Jawad, the older man’s eyes fixed on his younger brother. He shook his head before looking at his niece and daughter where they sat with their heads together, an indulgent smile emerging on his face. ‘At least Reshma doesn’t look too affected by his sudden arrival. How has she been?’
He took a sip of his tea and Zafar did the same with his drink, feeling his body temperature come down significantly as he debated how much to tell Reshma’s uncle about her initial reaction at seeing her father. He had no idea if Reshma wanted her uncle to know how she had broken down at the beach the day her father had arrived, so he’d have to fly by the seat of his pants on this one.
‘She’s been as good as can be really. Of course, she was shocked when he arrived, much like everyone else, and there’s been minimal contact between them as far as I know. In fact, since my little, erm … conversation with him, it’s been nothing but the odd hello or an acknowledging nod from him.’
Uncle Jawad shook his head. ‘My heart goes out to that girl. She’s never come out and said anything to me or Bills, but I know it must bother her. How Ahsan can do what he does, I have no idea. The thought of not having anything to do with Shoaib and Haniya, or even Reshma, makes my blood run cold. They’re everything to me.’
Zafar could see the anguish on the older man’s face at the thought of not being a part of his children’s lives. Even he couldn’t understand how Reshma’s father did what hedid. For all his faults, he couldn’t imagine his own father being that way either.
‘I still remember the day Ahsan first brought her round. I think she was seven or eight at the time. She was dressed in mismatched clothes and a rucksack half the size of her petite frame was on her back, telling me how involved a parent Ahsan was.’ He tsked and Zafar felt a churning in his gut at the thought of a small Reshma being neglected and forgotten about by her only parent. ‘He asked me to keep her at the garage while he went to work because he had forgotten that her summer holidays had started and there was no one to look after her.
‘For a week, he brought her and the poor thing spent the whole day in this little office we had there, drawing pictures or quietly playing by herself. She hardly made a sound. I could see that my brother’s particular brand of parenting was going to destroy her if he didn’t get any help or support and when I said as much to Bilqis, she was generous enough to suggest we offer to look after Reshma for the duration of her school holidays. Of course, it ended up being longer than that, but I wouldn’t change that decision for all the gold in the world. It was the best decision we’ve ever made and I love that girl just as much as I love Sho and Niya, as does my Bills.’ He pressed his index finger and thumb into the corners of his eyes and Zafar swallowed the golf ball lodged in his throat, taking a sip of juice to try to help it down.
‘For what it’s worth, Uncle Jawad, I think you and Auntie Bilqis are amazing. Not many people would do what you’ve done for your niece.’
He waved his hand in the air, brushing the comment away, as though it were nothing. ‘She’s a treasure, that girl, and I feel privileged that I get to be a part of herlife. Over the years, Ahsan would make promises about coming to see her or to take her out and she’d patiently wait by the front window for him, but he hardly ever delivered. Whenever he told her that he would take her back to stay with him, he’d follow it up with the latest excuse about why he couldn’t. I could always tell from Reshma’s expression that she was upset, but she never said a word. She just accepted whatever came her way from everyone. If someone gave her more attention than she was used to, she didn’t know what to do with it. She’d come and find me or Bilqis and burrow into our laps and become as small as she could.’ A tear rolled down his cheek and he wiped it away with a chuckle. ‘Even now when I think about the life she’s had, it can bring me to tears. That’s why Bills and I wanted nothing but the best for her future.’ He turned to face him, his eyes shining and a broad smile on his weathered face. ‘That’s why we introducedyouto her, son. I saw the similarities between the two of you and the way you both complemented each other. I knew you’d be perfect for each other. It pleases this old man very much to see that you both seem to be in a good place.’
Zafar swallowed a lump of a different kind this time.No pressure then, he thought wryly.
Before he could respond or their conversation could continue any further, he heard Daadi call out his name.
While he’d been listening to Uncle Jawad, the gathering on the floor had dispersed and he caught sight of his grandmother sitting with a few of her friends and Reshma’s aunts.
‘Jawad, you come over too. There’s something I want you boys to do.’
Boys?Him and Uncle Jawad?
What was his grandmother up to?
He saw Uncle Imtiaz already beside Auntie Ruqayyah and a few other couples were gathered too.
‘Right, husbands.’ Daadi clapped her hands and got everyone’s attention. ‘Haniya and I have decided to have an impromptu competition this evening, with Ruqayyah and Imtiaz’s blessings. Nomaan, Saleema, Haniya and I will be the judges.’
Zafar looked around him in confusion and caught Uncle Jawad’s eye. The older man shrugged and Zafar felt a sense of foreboding snake down his spine. He caught sight of Haniya, who grinned at him, and immediately he felt like he needed to be on high alert.
Daadi alone was a handful. As was Haniya. The two of them together? He didn’t even want to contemplate what mischief they could – and were about to – get up to.
Reshma was sitting next to Auntie Bilqis and she looked at him with … Was that guilt on her face?
‘These beautiful wives of yours have had their henna done and, upon my request, the henna artists have kindly written the names of their husbands on their hand. It’s hidden among the patterns but very much there, we’ve double-checked. Your job is to locate your name in the henna designs, much like you would have after your wedding if you carried out this custom. The first person to locate his name in his wife’s henna shall be declared the winner.’
Zafar remembered having to do this after his wedding. Everyone had gathered around him and Reshma and he’d had to look for his name among the intricate patterns drawn on her hands. It was awkward and embarrassing, he’d felt like a show monkey and he could gladly throttle his grandmother right now if he didn’t love her so much. But with the gathering around them as big as it was, he couldn’t refuse without creating a scene.
‘And don’t even think about cheating by asking your wife to help you. Those not taking part in the competition have their eyes on you and cheating will be dealt with most severely.’ Haniya made eye contact with him and her father in particular. She pointed two fingers at her eyes and then at her dad and at him. ‘Take your place opposite your wife and we’ll start in a minute.’
‘I’m pretty sure this child of mine has links with Lucifer,’ Uncle Jawad said under his breath as he sat opposite Auntie Bilqis and Zafar sat down opposite Reshma.
‘And I reckon they both answer to Mumtaz Saeed.’ They looked at each other in male solidarity.
When Zafar looked Reshma’s way, she looked both gorgeous and miserable and he bit the inside of his cheek to stop himself from laughing. ‘That bad, huh?’
‘You have no idea. I was ambushed. Some of the women thought it was a great idea, they wanted to see their husband under pressure, especially since the last time they did this ritual was many years ago. But I still remember us doing it like it was yesterday.’
Before Zafar could respond, Haniya was counting down with glee. ‘Three. Two. One … and go.’
Reshma presented her hands to Zafar and he started scanning the patterns on her right hand first. The paste was dry and flaky in parts but still damp in others, so he was careful not to smudge any of it.
He found flowers, butterflies, spirals and paisleys, and plenty of lines and zigzags which made finding his name extremely difficult. He tried to look for a Z, but it seemed as though there were red herrings interspersed in the patterns with the express purpose of throwing him off.
