Huma had grown up in India but moved to Qatar after getting married. She did feel isolated initally having grown up surrounded by cousins but made the best of it by embracing a small but tight-knit circle of friends. She and her husband had lived in various apartments but finally found a large sprawling flat with a beautiful view of the Gulf. Its calm waters soothed her as she looked out while cooking or reading.
One day she received a phonecall from her cousin Rukhsana who had also left India and moved to the U.S. upon marrying- like many of her generation. Rukhsana's children were all grown up now. Every so often, she would call Huma to see how she was doing. Huma noticed the phonecalls were getting scarcer as Rukhsana became busier. Huma had just brewed herself some tea and set it down on a wooden table she had got during her last visit to Kashmir. She was curious as to why her Baji had called her.
Rukhsana informed Huma that one of her daughters was going to Dubai for a week and would be spending a couple of days in Qatar. Rukhsana waited for Huma's exclamations of joy to subside and then told her in halting, verbose sentences that the holidaying couple would not be staying at Huma's house and probably wouldn't have time to even sup with them but would be stopping by, regardless, for 'tea'. It was just that there was so much sight-seeing to do in Qatar, they wouldn't have that much time to spend visiting. Rukhsana also wanted to know if there was anything that Huma wanted from the land of the free and the home of the brave? Huma responded in the negative saying that practically anything that could be purchased in the U.S. was now available in Qatar.
Rukhsana pressed further. "How about Cadbury's chocolate?" she asked, her voice sounding a little strained. " You always loved that back in our childhood. They even have Fruit and Nut here now."
Huma had been looking for an opportunity to end the conversation but Rukhsana was the one who had mentioned the past. "Yes, our childhood, "she said. "I'm glad you brought it up."
One day she received a phonecall from her cousin Rukhsana who had also left India and moved to the U.S. upon marrying- like many of her generation. Rukhsana's children were all grown up now. Every so often, she would call Huma to see how she was doing. Huma noticed the phonecalls were getting scarcer as Rukhsana became busier. Huma had just brewed herself some tea and set it down on a wooden table she had got during her last visit to Kashmir. She was curious as to why her Baji had called her.
Rukhsana informed Huma that one of her daughters was going to Dubai for a week and would be spending a couple of days in Qatar. Rukhsana waited for Huma's exclamations of joy to subside and then told her in halting, verbose sentences that the holidaying couple would not be staying at Huma's house and probably wouldn't have time to even sup with them but would be stopping by, regardless, for 'tea'. It was just that there was so much sight-seeing to do in Qatar, they wouldn't have that much time to spend visiting. Rukhsana also wanted to know if there was anything that Huma wanted from the land of the free and the home of the brave? Huma responded in the negative saying that practically anything that could be purchased in the U.S. was now available in Qatar.
Rukhsana pressed further. "How about Cadbury's chocolate?" she asked, her voice sounding a little strained. " You always loved that back in our childhood. They even have Fruit and Nut here now."
Huma had been looking for an opportunity to end the conversation but Rukhsana was the one who had mentioned the past. "Yes, our childhood, "she said. "I'm glad you brought it up."
1 comment:
Wow, Shereen! This gave me goosebumps! It brought backs sights, smells, tastes, visions of days gone by. Even though I have never been to Hyderabad, I could visualize and feel those moments of yesteryear, those idyllic moments that are now only precious memories...this is so beautiful, it brings to mind that song:
" Woh kaaghaz ki kishti,
Woh Baarish kaa paani..."
A masterpiece!
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