Lunch at Sajid’s
Sajid’s wife Rubeena has not been very well the last month. She has been to the hospital a couple of times for tests and treatment. These medical trips were also accompanied by medical expenses and Sajid incurred a number of them while we were still in South Africa.
To finance these costs he borrowed money from a moneylender (at 10% per MONTH interest). When I found out, I “rebrokered” his finances by giving him the money to repay his high interest debt. This lead to a prompt invite to have lunch at his house. So, on Sunday I was promptly picked up and taken to his house for the lunch.
This is not the first time I had lunch at his house, but the first time at his new house (the one with the 2 rooms).
So I arrived and found a tiny table (for 1) neatly decorated in the living / dining / tv / kitchen room. (The other room is the bedroom - for him, his wife and their 3 children).
I was treated to a royal feast that could probably have fed the whole neighbourhood. While eating, the tv was also turned on and I was given a selection of 2 English channels.
As usual a lunch invite means that I eat while Sajid and his family watch / talk to me. This remains slightly uncomfortable, but it is pointless to fight the “system”.
While there, the power went off 2 or 3 times, which meant the fan stopped working. It wasn’t a major issue, because it is still winter and only 30 degrees in the day. But Sajid was clearly worried about my comfort and every time the fan ceased to provide relief, he jumped up, grabbed a tray and started waving it around to keep me cool. (Although with this sight literally under my nose, it was hard to keep my cool!)
While eating lunch, I also played around with my camera to capture the family.
Here are some of my snaps:
Sima (in green), Sajid and Sania:
Sajid’s daughters - Sania (left) & Sima (right):
Sajid’s son & nephew - Shoaib (Sajid’s son - left) & Salman (Sajid’s nephew - right):
Watching some tv:
Rubeena is doing better now. She must still go for some tests this week, but hopefully it will confirm that she is on her way to a full recovery.
Namaste
Theo Scheffler
January 26th, 2009 at 10:30 am
You are a good man Mr Scheffler!
February 2nd, 2009 at 4:28 pm
Incredible India, What a weird and wonderful world. Hoop jy kon die ete darem geniet so tussen die wapperende skinkborde en TV programme! Mooibly.