The window cleaner

A Rhapsody

" Oh my dearest daughter. A better option would be to choose from the ones already available. I believe the good lord had sent them forth already." Said Jumaira as she smiled like someone who was guilty.

" Mother. You know how busy and occupied I have been at the facility . There was hardly any time to accept any courtship. I had to work hard to safeguard my job at the facility. I did it for myself and I did it for all of us. It's still the same at the Sheikhs mansion I hadly ever go out , and well the few times I have been out . The young men don't come to me anymore . probably because they think I'm the mother of Mahir. Please I would need time to find a suitor." Said Ramlah as she smiled to mask her uneasiness.

" Oh Jumaira .your angel is really funny. She says she would find a suitor. Is this India.? Hahaha. My Dear angel . All you need to do come out more often and in a week . You would a trailer loads of suitors lining up at your gate." Said Batuta who found the notion of his daughter searching for a suitor to be rather funny than serious. Deep down in Ramlahs mind, she was as serious as it got.

" My daughter daughter to go searching for a suitor. Oh what affliction has fallen on my family again. My dearest. I take fault for all this. I should found time to talk you through adulthood and courtship. But I'm afraid I was too busy with struggling with the hardships of the war that I forget about my own daughter." Said Jumaira as she turned emotional till her eyes were teary.

" Oh mama. Please don't blame yourself about anything. It's not really a big issue. Like i said all I need is time and things would fall in place." Said Ramlah still masking her irritation.

" No problem then. If you don't have suitors we would assist you in getting one " said Batuta and grinned in guilt.

" Wait . What . Dad are you Serious. Whats the sudden interest in me getting married. Is there something you two aren't telling me?." Said Ramlah as she Readjusted her body to on the seat to convey her seriousness. The smile was no longer pronounced and she had looked from her dad to her mom in search for the answer to the question she had just thrown at them.

" You see my dear we are family. We look out for each other. It's really not a bad thing if your mother or myself . Search for a spouse for you." Said Batuta and grinned wildly.

" I appreciate your care and concern but I don't think anyone should become a Matchmaker on my behalf.I can handle such things on my on terms and periods." Said Ramlah as she looked at her parents in surprise.

" Well my dear. It's just that there has been a particular admirer and he has made his intentions very clear that he wants your hands in marriage since you are still single. He is a perfect gentleman and he is from an elite family. Oh Ramlah we won't want you to cajoled into marrying against your will , that's why both myself and your mother want you to marry the man of your choice before others would use their corrupted influence to snatch your hands in marriage. We have seen it done severally and we don't want it to happen to you. " Said Batuta with a sober tone as the smile on his face has vanished.

" Who is this suitor you talk of Dad." Said Ramlah in shock rather than curiosity.

" He hasn't made himself physically available yet. But he has sent soldiers on two occasions to bring gifts for us and convey his messages to us. I know he is someone of high reputation in the community. The fact that he is rich ,amazes me a lot. But I fear that he may be as old my father when he died and you deserve a young man not some rich randy millionaire." Said Batuta with an air of enthusiasm.

" Well no one can forcefully take my hands in marriage. There are rules and regulations on human rights for crying out loud." Said Ramlah as she felt slightly irritated.

" There are rules no doubts but these rules are made by the rich and favor only the rich. It's better to run off fights we can't win." Said Jumaira with a warning smile at Ramlah.

" Then don't entertain his gifts in this house. I expect you two to turn them down." Said Ramlah in a humble tone that still oozed of her irritation.

" My dear. That would have been worse. Turning their gifts may be treated as treason or sabotage. it's just better we take him by surprise. He must know for sure that a beautiful girl of your nature must have suitors in arrears. However I won't mind you getting married to a rich man. That's just the truth of the matter." Said Jumaira and smiled.

" Well mom. I understand all what you and Dad have said and I will let you people know when I have made a decision." Said Ramlah as she leaned on the sofa to rest her back.

" That reminds me my dear. We made some croissant. It's your favorite . Let me bring some for you." Said Jumaira as she tried to ease the tensed room.

" Sure. I will love to have those. I Haven't had them in a while ." Said Ramlah as her oval face regained it's Smile.

"Unbelievable . You use to love rice croissant so much that it's almost impossible for me to believe that you could now go a day without it. You never really learned how to perfectly make it." Said Jumaira and waved her head slowly as she spoke.

" Yes the other day I tried making some Croissant to take to my friend Doctor Siin. But they turned out badly and I had to discard them. What a shame indeed." Said Ramlah and burst into soft gigles.

" Oh Ramlah. We have told you on several occasions that we would like to go and greet this Doctor Siin you talk about. We still owe him a verbal gratitude. Even though he acknowledged our letter. " Said Batuta with a serious face.

" I know that you two long to see him. It's just that his schedule is very tight and most times he isn't on sit to welcome people.but I promise that on a good day we will all go and pay him courtesy visit" Said Ramlah with an assuring smile on her face.

" We need to . He has done so much for the family without ever knowing us before. He is a great human. Tell me my dear is he married.?" Said Jumaira and flashed a smile.

" He is not married. Mother." Said Ramlah and sighed deeply without smilling.

" A young man like Doctor Siin would make a perfect life partner for you my dear. He has proven that he cares about you and your family. I will really like it if you two got married someday." Said Jumaira and stole a glance at Ramlah who smiled lightly.

" Mom. Things are not done that way . It may be that Doctor Siin already has someone special in his life and does not want to compromise his relationship with her.Not all wishes come to past and this is the reality of life." Said Ramlah with a faint smile.

" Well if you must search for a suitor as you have earlier stated, then I guess your radar should pick up Doctor Siin.I wish you two would really just find yourselves worthy and tie the knot." Said Batuta who was untiring in playing with the little infant in his hands.

" Ramlah why are you quiet. Oh my god. My baby girl is shy. So you actually love him don't you." Said Jumaira who had brought a tray of Croissant and milk shake for her daughter.

" Mom .He is a good man. All ladies like a good man." Said Ramlah and bowed her smiley face to the ground.

" You get shy only when you truly like something. Well my dear. Time waits for no one . Give it a try and know if to wait or move on your life. Some men are like Lizards, so peaceful in nature yet so mute. There is no harm in expressing your feelings to a man you love. Especially a selfless man like Doctor Siin who has offered you everything on a platter of Gold.

" What. A lizard you said. That's just a funny comparison." Said Ramlah as she giggled softy and picked a croissant."

" The lizard in the discussion is just a comparison. Well you know, my command of the figure of speech is not so good.even though I once bagged an award in English language when i was in junior secondary. " Said Jumaira as she laughed and bit a croissant.

" Mom your English is just perfect. I find it difficult to belly that you really did not go to college. And then you told me that you didn't even finish senior secondary." Said Ramlah who was trying all means possible to change the topic of the discuss.