How Love Happens - Chapter 10

 

"I've been thinking that I should start working," Nasreena mentioned as she stirred the pot on the stove in their Vavathi kitchen. "I feel like I'm just here on vacation."

It was Friday, and all the women of the house were busy preparing lunch before the men returned from prayer. The feast they were preparing included chicken biriyani, salad, papadum, and breadfruit bondi-bai for dessert – the traditional Maldivian sweet dish made with coconut milk and condensed milk.

Haifa had spent the last few days feeling absolutely marvelous about her progress. After the visit to her Kaafa house, she immediately reported to Aish. They had talked endlessly throughout the day. Haifa had even forgotten to text or call Aseel for the first time. She did feel bad and called him the very next day. However, not even his grumpy mood had been able to dampen her joyous celebration.

Now, her mother thinking about finding a job was a hindrance that she had to address immediately. Haifa didn't want anything to hold her back when the time came for them to leave.

"Mamma, it's not necessary. I've already started working, so please don't worry about money," Haifa said quickly "You've worked your whole life; let me take care of the financial aspect for you now." She looked at her mother expectantly, pausing her task of washing the dishes for a bit.

Nasreena didn't immediately respond. For the past few days, Haifa had been walking on eggshells around her mother, trying to make up for the hurt she had caused and the recent outburst. She had been exceptionally kind and sweet to her mother on every occasion.

The problem was that the misery cloud that had hung over Haifa since she had arrived on the island seemed to have transferred to her mother. Nasreena, who had been so happy and enjoying herself since coming to Vavathi, reconnecting with family and friends, now appeared gloomy and miserable.

Haifa was acutely aware that she was the cause of her mother's sadness, and she desperately wanted to make it up to her. However, no matter how hard she tried, Nasreena didn't seem to respond positively. Haifa knew that her plan required her mother to be somewhat miserable to convince her to leave Vavathi, but it weighed heavily on her conscience to witness her mother's unhappiness.

She felt torn, constantly reminding herself of the reasons behind her actions, even as she grappled with the conflicting emotions of guilt and purpose.

Rugiyya thankfully broke the silence, “How about you join us in making some products at Mamma's place?” She was tending to the salad, chopping the vegetables, and preparing the dressing. “I think they are preparing a shipment for next week, we are going today to help out.”

Saira nodded enthusiastically, “Yes, many women around the island come to work when they prepare big amounts, we usually go on every weekend.”

Haifa looked at her mother and then at the other two women earnestly. Frankly, she had no interest in the work they did, but she understood that the distraction was exactly what she needed for her mother. In preparation for the next phase of their plan, Nasreena needed to be more emotionally resilient.

Haifa and Aish had both decided that the next argument should take at least a week to brew, and her mother had to be ready. Nasreena was perceptive, and any misstep could arouse her suspicions. The plan also required her mother to remain unsuspecting, so Haifa had to tread lightly.

“I guess I can help out, be part of the group,” Nasreena sighed, “But that doesn’t mean I am giving up finding a job.”

After the prayer, once the men came home, they had their meal. Haifa went back to her room, and Afa was right behind her. “I am not usually allowed into the working area, but if I go with you they might let me in,” Afa said as she sat on her chair.

Haifa checked her phone to find a message on Instagram from Zishan. An involuntary smile crept on her face as she opened it. They had been sending a few messages back and forth, sometimes a simple "good morning" or a funny meme.

Every time she heard the small ding of the notification or opened his messages, she felt a familiar rush of emotions: her heart skipped a beat, a small smile graced her lips, and a wave of happiness washed over her.

It was not cheating; she was just friends with him. He was a friendly man. He was friendly to everyone. She knew that. Haifa had a boyfriend, and she loved him. She had always focused on getting back to Aseel. Her friendship with Zishan was harmless.

Opening the latest message from Zishan, Haifa furrowed her brow. Instead of a simple meme, this time he had sent her a link.

“They want me to sit and watch TV or just stay around the house. Play with other kids,” Afa continued.

Haifa opened the link and read the article he had sent her. Turquoise Tourism Company, one of the most famous in the country, was hosting a video competition in their region. The competition was part of a co-promotional marketing campaign aimed at showcasing personally shot photos/videos by locals.

Participants were required to submit their videos online, and the winner would receive a prize of 100k. Moreover, the top ten videos would be featured on their official YouTube channel and promoted across their social media and online platforms, including international travel and trade fairs.

Wow, Haifa thought, that’s a lot of money.

She carefully read through the criteria and the instructions. Haifa was very interested; it was a momentous opportunity, and winning it would give her the right exposure. As she contemplated the various perspectives and ideas she could explore for the competition, Afa interrupted her thoughts.

“I am ten, why can’t I be with the others? I can help,” Afa complained.

Haifa’s thoughts were on the competition. She really liked the idea of trying out her skills and exploring different aspects for the competition.

“Afa, why do you want to be around older women when you can play with girls your age?” she asked, irritated.

“Because I want to feel like one of you. Girls my age are boring,” Afa said with a pout.

"Have you talked to your mother about this?" she asked, attempting to redirect the conversation.

“She doesn’t want to listen to me. She is afraid,” Afa replied with a shrug.

"What do you mean?" Haifa inquired, tilting her head.

“I am a little clumsy. Many times I've dropped plates or maybe burned myself with hot water,” Afa explained, biting her lip in embarrassment.

“But you still want to be in the kitchen?” amused, Haifa asked.

Afa nodded eagerly. “You don’t understand. I love being in the kitchen. Some things are too big or heavy for me, but I love working and I love being with my dhonthi and mamma. It makes me feel like I'm important,” Afa confessed.

As Haifa gazed at Afa's hopeful face, a sudden realization struck her. This little girl had been neglected by her family, and all she wanted was to be a part of it. Somehow, somewhere along the way, everyone had pushed her into the background, making her feel less important. The quiet girl who observed everything and listened to everyone had become invisible, living like a ghost in her own house.

A wave of guilt washed over Haifa as she looked at Afa, as if truly seeing her for the first time. She saw the lonely girl, hungry for love, and craving a sense of belonging. Haifa felt a lump form in her throat, making it hard to speak. Why was this affecting her so deeply?

"If you take me with you, mamma can't say no," Afa whispered, her voice filled with hope. "Please, take me with you."

Haifa felt a tingling sensation behind her eyelids, threatening tears. She quickly looked away and replied, "Okay."

In an instant, Afa's small hands wrapped around her, and the little girl's face lit up with happiness. "Thank you so much!"

Haifa awkwardly patted her head. She had never had a sibling and had no experience with children. But in that moment, she felt like an older sister, responsible for this miniature version. She felt a protectiveness she never knew she was capable of.

She mustered a smile in return, gently detaching herself from Afa. Haifa had no intention of forming attachments to anyone; she wasn't here to stay. The last thing she wanted was a younger sister to anchor her to this place.

***

Shortly after 3 PM, they set off for Kaafa's house on her mother’s side. Haifa recalled the route from the welcome party on her first night.

In about ten minutes, they reached their destination. As they entered the house, Haifa couldn't help but notice its striking resemblance to their own home. In the living room, they were greeted by Uncle Ismail, Aunt Naseema's husband, and Shifa’s husband, who quickly directed them to the kitchen area.

Entering the kitchen, Haifa was left speechless. She hadn't been there since her return, and the transformation in the past fourteen years was astonishing. Unlike her own home, where the kitchen and dining area were separate, here they were combined into one spacious area.

The kitchen was equipped with large stoves and massive pots reminiscent of a professional kitchen. Approximately a dozen women were actively engaged in various kitchen tasks. They donned plastic gloves as they peeled and chopped breadfruits, sweet potatoes, and yams. Another group focused on stripping leaves from moringa branches stacked in large baskets.

There were those busy kneading dough, while another team was dedicated to frying and steaming. In a quieter corner, a smaller group huddled together, working on plastic packaging and labeling. This wasn't just a casual meal preparation; it was a full-scale operation in progress.

"Today, they are focusing on sweet items. They usually set aside fish dishes and spicy products for separate days," Saira explained to Haifa. "Which task would you like to start with?" she inquired.

Haifa was uncertain how to respond. "Let's work on packaging," eagerly suggested a very excited Afa.

"All right," Haifa agreed. She observed her mother and Rugiyya as they began chopping, while Saira moved to the stove. Haifa picked up a pair of gloves from the table, donned them, and took a seat beside the women, emulating their actions.

By the time the women had completed their tasks for the day, the sun had dipped below the horizon.

"Do you work here every day?" Haifa inquired as they neatly stored the packaged items in boxes.

Saira shook her head. "Not every day, just when the workload is particularly heavy. Usually, Aunt Naseema hires these women to handle the tasks. But if I have some free time, I try to pitch in."

Haifa, still amazed by the scale of the operation, confessed, "Honestly, I didn't expect it to be this big. It wasn't like this the last time I was here. And Mamma never mentioned it had grown to this extent."

Saira nodded in understanding. "Yes, Aunt Naseema wanted to expand, especially since there's a strong demand for their products. They did some renovations a few years back. Aunt Naseema also wanted to provide employment opportunities for the local women.” She said.

“Many of them are homemakers with children to care for. They can't commit to regular full-time work, so this setup allows them to come in whenever they can and earn by the hour."

"That's very thoughtful of her," Haifa remarked, realizing that she didn't know much about her extended family, but they seemed to be genuinely good-hearted people.

"Yes, Aunt Naseema has always been very considerate," Saira replied with a smile. "She's not just family-oriented; she cares about the community as well. It's nice to see how her efforts have made a difference here."

Haifa couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt. She had judged her family unfairly, assuming the worst without really knowing them. 

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