Ya Amar (My Moon)

Nine

There is always a contented feeling in the heart whenever you do something good. It makes you happy and makes your heart light from worries. There were mixed feelings which I could not explain. Mahira pulled her car to halt beside a red BMW. I unlocked my seat belt then opened the door to step out. The night was chillier than the day. The air that breezed past me was fast and a little bit heavy. My black scarf flapped in the wind to my back, dancing to the wind. Mahira got down and locked the car.

Aunt Sabr's home in London was a white duplex. It hoisted great in the sky illuminated by white luminous lights. The trees in the manicured lawn danced to the wind, its leaves ruffling and whispering into the night. I let out a breath which was a white steam in the freezing air.

"Mama will not stop texting me and calling me throughout the day to get you here for dinner" Mahira said as we both walked to the house through the concreted foot path. I chuckled.

"Aunt Sabr will not give up. I know that" I replied as we stepped into the corridor.

The door opened and Aunt Sabr dashed out of it with a scream past her daughter towards me.

"Noorie" she called out crashing me into a hug that almost made me fall. "I have missed you" she squealed.

Mahira stood behind us looking at her mother as she nodded her head at her mother's behaviour.

"I missed you too, Aunt" I said hugging her back. We giggled as we separated.

"Ya Allah, you are looking fresh and prettier. What has my nephew done to you?" she twirled me around. I smiled, my face getting hot.

"We should go inside, mama" Mahira said. "It is freezing cold"

"That's true" Aunt Sabr ushered us inside.

Inside, the house was warm. The aroma of food immersed in the air. Aunt Sabr's house was just colourful and vibrant like her. She had used bright colours which blended together reminding me of her house in Nigeria. It was also bright and colourful. Her house gave out who she was, welcoming, comfy and bright.

"Mama, what did you make?" Mahira asked after hanging her coat.

"Delicacies" Aunt Sabr singsong as she strode into the living room. I followed her.

"Noor beti how was your day with Mahira?" she asked turning around to look at me.

"Wonderful Aunt, London is beautiful. There were so many places to see" I gushed.

"Of course sweetheart, it is. How much I missed it?" she sighed. "I am sure she had not taken you to every place but don't worry" she pulled me into the living room. "I will take you out" she sat down pulling me beside her to seat. Mahira huffed giving her mother a defeated look.

"Mama" she flopped into a sofa opposite us. "I feel as if I am no longer your daughter" she joked.

Aunt Sabr laughed at her daughter's words. There was a Pakistani movie playing on the television.

"Susanne called. She thought you were home to remind you of the charity event. How was it?"

"It was nice mama. Noorie donated and sponsored an orphan" Mahira looked at me.

"May Allah bless you and reward you abundantly?" she kissed my forehead with a proud smile. "How is Susanne? She is pregnant with her third child" she turned back to her daughter.

"She is heavy. She should deliver soon"

"May Allah grant her safe delivery?"

"Amen" Mahira and I answered.

"Surprise!" two familiar voices shouted.

At the end of the staircase, Hooriyah and Zafreen stood leaning on one another, their hands on their waists with a smile.

"Hoor! Zafreen!!" Mahira and I screamed getting up. We ran towards both sisters crashing them into a hug.

"What a surprise!" I squealed when we pulled apart.

"When did you arrive?" Mahira asked as we guided both girls to the living room.

"They surprised me also. I just saw them at the door smiling like they had won a jackpot" Aunt Sabr answered.

"We thought we should surprise you. We knew you will be shocked" Zafreen spoke. "Too bad baba is not at home" she spouted. "Oh, mama" Zafreen stood up to sit on the armrest. "I have missed you so much" she hugged her mother kissing her cheek.

What Zafreen did reminded me of my mother. Her memories, everything about her, they came flashing back. There was a sharp ache in my heart, an empty hole no one could fill up. That hole belonged to her. I kept praying day and night, everytime, that Allah grants her Jannah and save her from the punishments of the grave. My mother was a wonderful woman. She had always wanted to see me get married and when I did, she was not there.

"Bhabi" Hooriyah called. I noticed everyone had stopped talking and had their attention on me. They looked at me with worry.

"Is anything wrong Noor?" Mahira asked. "You were lost"

"No, nothing at all" I answered.

"Then we should eat. I am so famished and I have missed mama's cooking" Hooriyah said getting up.

We all walked to the dining room where the aroma of different delicacies filled the air. The dining room was set. We took our seat, talking and laughing. As we ate, we talked about random things. They made me laugh. Aunt Sabr and her children made me forget my pain for once. They loved me and it touched my heart so much. I was family to them. Hooriyah kept telling us funny things about school. It was an amazing night. Spending few hours with them, I realised how much I missed them especially Aunt Sabr.

For a moment, I wanted to confide in Aunt Sabr. I wanted to tell her how much it hurts to not have my husband spend time with me. I wanted to hear her advice. I needed someone else who can be a mother figure to me but I could not bring myself to find one.

"Noor before you leave, I have something to show you" Aunt Sabr said after we washed the plates and cleaned the dining room and kitchen.

"Really what is it?" I asked as I followed her.

Aunt Sabr led me up the staircase towards a hallway. The first door on her right, she opened it and walked inside. My lips parted at what I was looking at. It was her working studio and it was larger and wider than the one she used in Nigeria.

"This is where I work at home" she walked into the room pulling me along with her.

I stopped and looked at the racks of clothes that lined the walls. They were of different colour combo and designs.

"I have a fashion week by next month in New York In Sha Allah" she said taking a white chiffon material with red embroidery on its border off one of the racks.

"That's good" I said trailing my hand on a beige and blood red dress. "Congrats" I smiled.

"I made this for you" she said showing me the white material. "It is a sari"

"Awww, Aunt" I clapped my hands together pleased. I have seen actresses wear sari in Indian movies. Saris are beautiful and sexy. I loved the way they showed the stomach and waist. "Thanks" I collected it with a smile.

"Let's try it on" she said pushing me into a room.

The sari fitted tightly to my hips moulding my frame to show the curve of my hips. The chiffon drape was clear as a glass revealing my flat toned stomach. I turned around to see the back. There was nothing except a tiny strap holding the top together at the back, one tug at it, and the top is off. The top was very short almost like a bra with a dip plunge that exposed the swell of my busts and it pushed my busts up. The border of the white sari was embroidered into a design that looked like red roses with a touch of green. Aunt Sabr had let the drape out which was so graceful.

"It's sexy" I muttered turning around to see its sides.

Aunt Sabr smiled at me through the mirror as I adjusted the draped to make it stay. She moved closer then pinned the drape to the spaghetti strap and the tiny strap at the back.

"And gorgeous" I turned fully to the mirror placing a hand on my waist.

"Amir will love it" she screeched clapping her hands. I felt my cheeks get warm at her words. What will be his reaction? "I am sure he will be speechless" she grinned pulling my coarse full hair to the back to hold it together with my ribbon on her wrist. My hair made a puff at the back. That was one of the perks of having a full hair. "Perfect" she clapped stepping away from me to look at me. "Just wear it this way and I promise you habibti, Amir will be doomed" she winked.

"Aunt" I called the heat on my cheeks getting hotter as a laugh left my lips.

"It is getting late Noor" she glanced at her wrist watch. "You should leave. Mahira will drop you home" she pushed me towards the changing room.