Straightening Ali (20 page)

“
Do you feel better now?” she asked, when Ali’s crying had subsided. He made some whimpering noises, still hugging her tightly. “My nightdress is wet,” she said pretending to complain. “Come on, get off me.”

“
I’m sorry, I know you said things would be different when I got married, but I just didn’t know what to do,” Ali said, trying to apologize for intruding on Haseena.

“
You have nothing to be sorry for. You’re my best friend, and I’m here for you whatever happens,” she said hugging him again. “So what happened? Did you sleep with her?”

“
No, we shared the same bed, that’s all,” Ali told her. “I’m such a horrible person. I ruined her wedding night.”

“
Oh Ali, you’re not a horrible person. The situation is just horrible. You can still leave. It’s still not too late,” Haseena advised her friend, hoping that this time he might actually listen.

“
I can’t, Haseena. She’s in love with me. I can’t leave her,” Ali said.

“
She’s not the one for you, Ali. You’ve not consummated the marriage. So it’s still not too late,” Haseena said.

“
I can’t, Haseena. I just can’t,” Ali said.

“
Where does your family think you are?” Haseena asked, knowing that she wasn’t getting anywhere.

“
I’ve told them that I’ve gone to the cash point to get some money,” Ali replied.

“
Well you can’t stay here for too long. I don’t want to get into trouble with your family,” Haseena said.

“
I know, I’m sorry,” said Ali.

“
I’m just worried what they might say if they found out you’ve come around to mine. It’ll just appear strange to them,” Haseena said.

“
I’ve told her that I’d sleep with her tonight,” Ali said, telling Haseena what was on his mind. “I don’t know how I’m going to get out of it. It’s too soon. I wanted to get to know her first, but she wouldn’t have it.”

“
I don’t know what to tell you, Ali. You’re married now and you’re going to have to deal with the consequences yourself. I don’t know how to help you anymore. The only choice you have is to leave. If you don’t, you’ll have to go through with it tonight,” Haseena said, aware that there was no easy solution for him.

“
I know,” Ali murmured. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be burdening you with all of my problems. You’re right. I don’t have any other options. I’ll just have to do it with her tonight.”

“
It’s your decision, Ali, but remember you still have a choice,” Haseena said sadly. “You’d better get going, or your family might start looking for you. I know you like my company better than your wife’s, but you’re a married man now.”

“
You’re right,” Ali said. “Thanks for listening to me. I’m sorry for being such a pain.”

“
You’re no trouble at all,” Haseena said, giving him a kiss, “I’ll see you soon.” She waited on the step and waved goodbye to him as he got in his car and drove away.

When Ali got back home, the smell of fried eggs and freshly cooked parathas was hanging in the air, and everyone seemed to have finished eating their breakfast. Sajda was sitting on the sofa in the lounge with his grandmother and seemed to be chatting with her quite pleasantly. She looked up, her face lighting up when she realized that it was Ali who’d entered the room. Ali smiled back at her. He felt awkward standing there, wondering whether to sit next to her or to go to his bedroom.

Luckily, his mother came in from the kitchen to interrupt the awkwardness of the situation. “I was getting worried that something had happened to you,” she said sounding concerned. “I thought you said that you were going to the cash point up the road.”

“
It was out of money, so I had to go to the bank in town,” Ali lied.

“
I could have given you money. Not to worry though,” his mother said. “We need to leave soon for your in-laws. Do you need to eat before we go?”

“
I’m not hungry. I’m ready to leave whenever you are,” Ali said.

At that moment, Yunus walked into the room. “You’re back then,” he said hugging Ali warmly. “You should have asked me. I would have given you some money.” Ali almost reacted at the false display of generosity, but then noticed that Sajda was watching.

“
It was too early. I didn’t want to disturb you,” Ali said politely.

Yunus leaned up close to him. “You shagged her last night, didn’t you?” he whispered.

Ali did not respond, shocked that Yunus would mention such a thing while his wife sat only meters away.

“
Well, you don’t have to tell me. I know you shagged her. You’re a fucking man now. Respect,” he said patting Ali on his back.

“
It’s none of your business. Leave me alone,” Ali whispered angrily.

“
Zainub, why haven’t you taught your children Urdu? All I hear them speak is English,” Ali’s grandmother said crossly in Urdu. “Do they know nothing about their own language and culture?”

Realizing that this was going to be the start of a long debate, Ali saw an opportunity to escape and took it. “Ammi, let me know when you want to leave. I’ll be in my bedroom,” he said giving a guilty glance in the direction of his wife before racing up the stairs.

“
We’re ready,” he heard his mother yell after him, but it was over two hours later before anyone was actually ready to leave. Ali had meanwhile taken the time to fill a small suitcase with his clothes for his stay with his in-laws. The suitcase still held remnants from his trip to New York.

Stuck in with his passport were the stubs of his flight ticket. It had been Ali’s second trip abroad, the first being to Pakistan. New York was a short getaway just before Steve left for Strasbourg. Ali had already moved back home by that point and had lied to his mother about where he was going. A week’s work experience is how Ali had described it to his mother.

Ali ripped the ticket stub into small pieces and hid it in his pocket wondering why he’d forgotten to destroy the evidence of his trip. He zipped up his suitcase, leaving his passport in the side pocket, and carried it to the car, placing it carefully alongside Sajda’s case.

“
Now that you’re married, the seat next to you is for your wife. My place is in the back,” Ali’s mother said, making the announcement about her change in status, as she got in the back seat of his car with his grandmother.

“
Thank you, Ammi,” Sajda said smiling happily at her elevated status and sat in the front passenger seat as if she were being given a special place of honor.

The rest of the family, Yasmin, Yunus and Aneesa all came out to wave them off as Ali started the engine and headed along the now familiar route to Nottingham.

“
I shall buy you a new car. You need a bigger car now that you’re married. A family car would be more suitable, especially as you’re going to have children,” Ali’s mother said, breaking the silence half an hour into the journey.

“
I like my car. I don’t want to change it,” Ali said, upset at his mothers plan for him to start a family.

“
It’s an additional wedding present to you both,” Ali’s mother said. “You must allow me to buy it for you.”

“
Can we discuss it some other time,” Ali said not wanting to get drawn into an argument in front of his wife.

“
Of course,” Ali’s mother said, sitting back in her seat smiling, knowing that she’d get her own way in the end especially now that she had Sajda as an ally.

The rest of the car journey passed in silence. At times, Ali thought of saying something just to end the silence, but he felt too traumatized to do so. It was as if he were disassociated from everything that was happening around him, like going through the motions, but no longer being actively involved.

The smell from his mother’s Arabian perfume smothered him, making him feel claustrophobic. He wound down the car window to get some fresh air. As he did so, his wife dropped something in his lap. It was a folded up piece of paper.

Taking one hand off the steering wheel, Ali picked up the paper and unfolded it. “My darling Ali, I can’t wait for tonight when you’ll finally make me a woman. Yours forever, love Sajda” was scrawled on the paper in black ink. Ali felt a sinking feeling at the pit of his stomach. “What am I going to do tonight?” he thought. Knowing that he needed to respond in some way, he turned to look at his wife and smiled, trying his best to hide his anxiety. She gave him a longing gaze in return.

Ali checked in the rear view mirror to see whether his mother or grandmother had noticed anything, but they were too busy whispering to each other secretly.

Sajda’s entire family was waiting outside to greet them when Ali drove into the driveway of her parents’ home. He parked the car on the drive and stepped out.

“
Welcome, my son,” his father-in-law cried excitedly, placing a garland around Ali’s neck and embracing him. He then sidled up to Ali’s mother and grandmother and did the same.

“
This is a very happy day for all of us, Zainub,” he said to Ali’s mother. “Our two families are now joined. We are so blessed.”

“
We are very blessed,” Ali’s mother agreed.

“
Welcome back, Sajda. We’ve all missed you so much,” Ali’s father-in-law said giving Sajda an embrace as if they’d been parted for several weeks rather than just one night.

She in return gave her father a timid smile before her mother pounced on her and gave her several kisses all over her face. As her mother turned her attention to Ali to greet him in the same manner, Sajda returned to stand submissively behind Ali.

“
Come into the house and let’s sweeten our mouths,” Ali’s mother-in-law said to everyone after she’d finished giving him several kisses, leaving his face sore.

They all followed her and sat down around the coffee table which had been neatly laid out with fresh samosas and drinks. Ali hadn’t eaten since the wedding day and feeling ravenous grabbed one of the samosas and ate it hungrily.

His grandmother meanwhile picked up several samosas and deliberately bit a chunk out of each one before returning them one after the other to the tray.

Several conversations had already started. Ali’s mother was in deep discussion with his father-in-law, while his mother-in-law was trying in vain to engage his grandmother in conversation. Sajda had disappeared to another room with her sisters, and he could hear their giggling from the next room. Ali felt invisible. It was as if he’d fulfilled his obligation and was no longer necessary.

“
I’m going to town to pick up a few things,” he said in his mother’s general direction.

“
I’ll tell Sajda that you want to take her to town. It won’t take her long to get ready,” his mother-in-law said, hearing but misunderstanding his intention.

“
No, don’t disturb her. She seems busy with her sisters. I just need to get a couple of things and have a look around the shops. She’ll probably get bored. I’ll take her out some other time,” Ali said, not wanting to take his wife along.

“
You’re such a thoughtful man,” his mother-in-law said. “I’ll be cooking a dinner for everyone at six. So get back by then.”

“
Don’t worry, I’ll be back in plenty of time,” Ali said. He gave a guilty look in his mother’s direction before hurrying out, knowing she would have wanted him to remain at his in-laws’ house. No doubt she would mention it later.

Ali got in his car and started the engine. He couldn’t remember the way to the city center, so he drove randomly but was lucky enough to come to a road sign directing him to the Broadmarsh Shopping Center. It wasn’t long before Ali was parking his car at the center’s multi-storey car park.

He explored the town center looking around the shops. It was a clone town, with identical shops to those in Birmingham. He wandered around aimlessly looking in the shop windows and going into the clothes shops, it helped clear his mind.

He caught his own reflection several times looking back at him from a shop window and couldn’t believe how unhappy and withdrawn he looked. How could anyone believe that he was actually happy? He wondered what the other shoppers made of his miserable façade, but they were oblivious to him. He was just another face in the crowd with problems.

Ali picked up a copy of a new Bollywood CD, and decided to post it to Steve when he got a chance. He paid by credit card, knowing that he was close to his limit, and worrying that the transaction would be refused. He breathed a sigh of relief when he was asked to sign the credit card receipt, and left the store smiling, clutching his purchase in his hands.

It was five o’clock and getting dark already. He knew he should go back. Very reluctantly, with a heavy feeling in his stomach, Ali made his way to the multi-level car park and located his car and sat in it for a few minutes without moving. Eventually, he paid the parking fee and left the car park driving slowly in the busy traffic back to his in-laws and his wife.