Knowing that a full-proof plan was needed, for, of course, we were going to be bombarded with questions about the why and stuff. The best strategy needed to be adapted to get past the barriers our supermoms created, and after dropping clever hints for months and crafting the perfect reasons, we decided to present our cases to our mothers. We almost jumped in joy when we heard the oh-so-awaited “yes” uttered by our mothers! We had wanted this for a long time, but somehow everything was rushed. The previous week, I told the girls that they could come whenever they want, and suddenly, Wednesday arrived, with me hurrying to go meet them.

It was decided to meet in town first, for a trip to the beauty salon (yes, it would seem in the past months our feminine side had been awakened). A quick remake of “The Grudge” (with Nus in the main role) later, we finally made way for Nus’s place where what would be the craziest day of our life would soon begin! Lying on the sofa bed which since 2007 has been witnessing our girly meetings, with Nus’ feet somewhere where they shouldn’t have been, we started playing our favourite Top 5 game, which somehow switched from Top 5 to Top Worst and vice versa, as per the whims of the ‘not-so-womanly woman of the house’.

The Nus

But doing the same things over and over again do tend to be tiring, no matter how fun they are. Five cards later, we were under the blankets, talking about god-knows-what, until we fell on my “cute perfumed diary” as Sayuka so perfectly described in 2002. No need to say that what was written in it was mostly embarrassing for Sayuka and G. We really were dying of laughter as we went through the pages… 2002 was the year Sayuka, G. and I met, though I doubt we’ll ever remember how Sayuka and I met really. However, if there’s something we’re not likely to forget, it’s how we practically hated each other. And the not-so-perfected sarcastic tone of Sayuka’s note just reminded us of that time, upon which, we laughed even more.

The Revelation

After taking a break for some calorie intake, we continued till the very last page, reading out the very limited intellectual abilities of us kids when we were 12 years old. G couldn’t stay for the night, so she went home at about 3, promising to comeback the day after.

Huge Calorie Intake

With just the two of us alone now, Nus and I decided to continue talking, jumping, as was our habit, from one subject to the next, till we were called for dinner. After which, back upstairs, tucked under the blanket again, we decided to watch an old Olsen Twins movie. Movie time was also cuddling time, as I soon learned; for as soon as Nus didn’t want to continue watching the screen, she snuggled teasingly against me, which earned her a good deal of “Leave Me alone” and slaps. But soon, we grew tired of the movie, and stopped watching altogether, going back to discussing matters that were worrying us. It was the time for a truly open-hearted conversation, with our feelings and emotions laid bare.

“Hey, let’s get on the bed, okay? We’ll fall asleep here, if that continues,” said Nus, some hour later, eyelids drooping and voice all sleepy. It was true; the demons of sleep were sneaking on us. So we grudgingly went to make the bed and sunk underneath the 4 layers of thick blanket. We were expecting to fall asleep as soon as our heads hit the pillows, but the night was far from over.

From the serious topics on the sofa bed, we indulged in the silliest conversation ever, unable to laugh for everyone was asleep already! We stifled laughter and giggles as each of us added to the silliness of the conversation, so much that the 4 supposedly heavy blankets were flung off us as easily as a simple cover would! A blanket war later, we were left feeling as hot as in summer, suffocating under the blankets. It was time for a change of scenery: off went two of the heaviest blankets. Once again under the covers, we resumed the conversation. It was time for Nussie to feel all affectionate and clingy, sinking low in the bed and snuggling close to me. As I flung off her arms and pushed her unmoving body away, Nus protested in the most innocent manner: “But there’s no room! Don’t push me!” Needless to say there was still half of the bed left on her side, but the little missy’s love was overwhelming and she couldn’t keep her hands to herself, despite my harsh words and kicks and punches! So I gave up, and let her do as she pleased (it was easier to let her do that; for fighting her off made her more clingy -.-)

We soon came to a realization: Nus and I were through and through closet perverts xD. We couldn’t help it! I witnessed a quick parody of “Spiderman” starring Nus, and learned that her legs were in fact a sack of potatoes! So the laughter doubled and the antics intensified, so much that we didn’t see the time pass. A glance at the clock, or more exactly Nus’s phone, told us it was almost 3 in the morning! We decided to have some rest, for we didn’t want to be Zombies and miss the fun the next day!

I remember waking up to my mom opening the door to my room. As per her usual routine, she went to feed the fish and at the same time, stole the empty cookies box which still is lying on my kitchen shelf. My last thought before I fell in deep slumber again was “I can’t believe she’s not banging doors today”, which is part of her daily routine as well. I woke up again to the really loud vibrations of my cellphone. It was G. sending me an sms, telling us that she would be coming at 11.30 a.m. instead of the 10.00 a.m we had agreed to. So far, so good, for I wasn’t sure we would have been ready at 10. I showed Sayuka the message and I think we both fell asleep again, to wake up to the deafening alarm clock of my cellphone. Maybe it was time to wake up after all, but… sleep was the only thing on my mind…

Sayuka, being the most reasonable one, got out of bed immediately. I watched her as she went to and from the connected living room in search of her stuff, not that I could actually see her very clearly. I was without my glasses, very sleepy and half of my face was covered with the blanket. I think she talked to me, but I can’t really remember. It was only when she went to the other room that I decided to get out of sweet heaven as well.

I heard Nus getting out of bed and going to brush her teeth. By that time, I was on her arm chair, watching her goldfish doing their morning gym, feeling very sleepy. I came out from my trance-like state by an apparition in pink! “Shall we get breakfast,” Nus asked. Nodding, I followed her downstairs where Nus presented to me the possible combinations for breakfast. Too tired to bother about my usual preferences, I took a cereal bar, some strawberries and a cup of hot tea, and we went to the table to eat.

We wondered what was on TV as we switched it on. There was a silly cartoon on, and we, or I should say, Nus decided to watch it. So engrossed was she in the show that she started to emulate the characters’ gestures, all the while telling me: “I would never go so far to save you, me, you know?” as a comment on the day’s episode theme. I only nodded and laughed, commenting on how silly the cartoon was! Breakfast done, we cleaned up and went back upstairs. The events that followed are a blur for me. I’m sure we just talked of things, but I can’t really remember what! All I remember is us deciding to shower for it was soon time for G. to come!

Who came at 11.27 a.m. instead of 11.30 a.m. I’m just glad we managed to take a shower before she came, for our pink pajamas weren’t really that welcoming. Sitting in my armchair, G. really looked like a psychologist taken out of her consultation room, as I did when I sat in it the day before. I think it’s the armchair… Anyway, we got the crazy idea to create a mini-movie with me as patient and G. as psychologist. Sayuka was the cameraman, or rather should I say, camerawoman. Though none of us were actors or interested in acting, we do have that hobby of writing mini-scenarios which we would act out. *goes to the times when we were mythology crazy and wrote the domestic disputes of Zeus and Hera*

As the one holding the camera, I couldn’t possibly laugh, much as I would have loved to. Nus was so much in her role of a stingy and frustrated young woman whose husband left her, that she yelled, without mercy, at poor G. who couldn’t keep up with her pace. I tried hard to stifle giggles, concentrating on immortalizing the moment a new actress was born. Finally the mini-movie was done, and I dissolved in uncontrollable laughter at last! Lying again of the sofa-bed, we tried to think of something to do. We had planned so many things, but at that time, they weren’t really that appealing. Until G. voiced out that she wanted to play Barbie.

So off we climbed down the stairs, to what Nus’s Mom had termed: the messy room. Perched on a chair, rummaging through the toy cupboard, Nus gave us item after item, till we no longer could hold anything. While teasing us, Nus’s Mom came to our rescue, with a basket and a plastic bag, that were soon stuffed with toys. Some 15 minutes or so later, we were all ready, and satisfied and giddy with excitement, we returned to Nus’s room for the construction of Dull Town!

Supermom to the Rescue

Sitting on the large carpet, we all started setting up everything, from the bedroom to the garden to the supermarket. We managed to find a use to every single accessories we brought with us and no need to say that we were really innovative for the things that we didn’t have; my cushion cover was turned into the velvet green lawn of the garden, my autumn and mountain themes puzzles became the sceneries and my mom’s tissue box was the small house in the small meadow (la petite maison dans la petite prairie). After shooting some commercials for Sparkling Comestics, we decided to create another mini-movie with the dolls as actors.

Sparkling Cosmetics, “Parce que je le vaux bien”

Starring were, Madeleine Medusa, the famous top model of Sparkling Cosmetics, her lover, Jean Ken, an internationally renowned gymnast and their daughter, Whity Medusa. There also were the peeping tom neighbor, Vosin Voyeur and his gossiper wife, Vosine Voyeur along with the not-so-famous journalist, Jacqueline Fouine, who was looking for the scoop of her life. Oh, I almost forgot Lolita McLust, the AV actress who was on the run from her fans and came for refuge in Dull Town.

A web of stories was spun, as Jean Ken met Lolita McLust and ended up in bed with her and Vosin Voyeur who saw them told his wife who in turn told Jacqueline Fouine. It was really a pity that G. missed the very gory ending we created. Several songs were chosen to suit the scenes we had written and we really are proud that we managed to bring together Beethoven, Dvorzak, Vanessa Mae, Bond, Anna Tsuchiya, Nobuo Uematsu, Alex Chu and Britney Spears. Sayuka and I are really the best team ever, for we do not even have to go into lengthy explanations to know what exactly the other wants, that is really going to be the thing I’d miss the most when I go away in September.
So true… I’ll sure miss it too… I have never met till now someone who could understand what I want without I needing to explain. These two days at Nus’s place has reawakened our complicity, something that I’ll miss when she goes in September. We rediscovered ourselves through the fun, building a closer bond and making the best memories to last us a lifetime. For me, this sleep-over would always remain the best time of my life, one that I would cherish for life.

As it is for me…

This particular moment brings out the most contradictory feelings, for a daughter’s wedding is the time when happiness hand in hand with sorrow sees the bride off to her new home. Which is why weddings are usually celebrated with lots of celebrations because it usually means a new stage of life for the couple, and here in Mauritius, it’s certainly no different. Being quite influenced by both the western and eastern culture, our weddings tend to have a touch of both.

In my family, we have tried to keep most of the rituals, if not all, that one has to go through when getting married, especially for the bride. From what I have experienced, the parents and the relatives all manage to turn the already-not-so-simple wedding into a long one, but one which prepares the bride both mentally… and physically.

Mehndi Ceremony

Mehndi literally means henna and it the day when the bride along with her female relatives and friends get their hands adorned by henna. This is supposed to be an event in itself, for the redness of the henna represents the prosperity that the bride would bring to her new home.

“It is also believed that its aroma cancels the powerful pungent smells of onions and other condiments such as turmeric, garlic and ginger. And hence, when the bride prepares herself to assume her domestic responsibilities, she is not only beautifully bedecked and bejewelled, but also armed for the new chores awaiting her in her new life” – http://www.hinduism.co.za

It is quite difficult to gather all the girls of the family and find enough people to apply the henna, or even impossible. This could take all day and it tends to be not so practical, which is why the Mehndi ceremony has turned into something where the bride shows off the redness of her henna. However to keep this tradition of application of the henna, each married woman applies a touch of henna to the bride’s hand.This is usually carried out Saturday night, when everyone’s free, but it is mostly attended by women. The guys are usually turned into waiters who serve drinks and food to the guests.

Relatives of the groom’s side also attend the ceremony. They usually come at a given time, to bring the clothes and accessories fir the bride for the actual wedding. They also bring lots of sweets and fruits which are considered to be gifts for the bride’s family, an outfit for the bride’s and her mother to wear during the Mehndi ceremony. The first rule of a wedding is that no one should come or leave empty-handed. Therefore, the groom’s relatives are also given gifts (sweets and fruits again), a shirt and accessories for the groom, and an outfit for the groom’s mother.

After this ceremony is over, i.e. after the groom’s relatives have left and everyone can relax again, there usually is singing and dancing. It’s an event which should be celebrated with lots of joy and happiness, so music is definitely a must. However, after this, the bride is forbidden to step out of her home until the time for the wedding arrives.

Walima

Sunday morning at last. There’s lots of preparations to take care of, especially the food for the lunchtime, which is actually the walima. In a Muslim marriage, the most important things are the religious ceremony and the food given out to relatives and friends. These two are compulsory where as the others are just traditions and rituals handed from generations to generations.

On this occasion, lots of people are invited, usually more that 1000. The food served is the biryani, a rice-based meal. The usual ingredients are spices (cardamom, cinnamon, garlic, cloves, etc), ghee, curdled milk, potatoes and the most important, beef. Since there are some people who do not eat beef, or are vegetarians, vegetarian biryani is cooked, on a very small scale. Served with the biryani are pickles (mango, apple, olive and other local fruits which are mixed with oil, salt, chillies and god knows what) and cucumber/carrot salad, which I don’t usually like.

Haldi Ceremony

While most people are occupied with preparation of the food, close female relatives are invited for the Haldi ceremony. Haldi literally means turmeric, and it is the vent in which turmeric is applied on the girls body. The reason this ceremony is held is for the beautification and purification of the bride. Tumeric has lots of cleansing properties, so basically, it’s a personal spa-session for the bride.

During this ceremony, another ritual is carried out, called the kunwar pat. While the application of turmeric is to beautify the appearance, the kunwar pat is more of a psychological preparation. This ritual signifies the end of maidenhood for the bride. For this ritual, kheer, a rice pudding cooked in milk and sugar has to be prepared by a married woman. This has to be eaten by the bride, along with single women in the family (The number of girls accompanying the bride has to be an odd number), who represent the untouched maidenhood of the bride.

What the hell are we doing here?

The kheer is served on banana leaf, and the person who serves it has to take each banana leaf with the kheer on it and rotate it over the girl’s head 7 times. She then asks the bride “Kunwar pat uttarna?” to which the bride should reply “Han”, yes. She is actually asking the bride if her maidenhood is now gone.

Then, all the married women present each have to give their blessings to the bride. A plate is filled with rice and a golden bangle is placed on it. The golden bangle, according to my father, is the sign of a married woman. The plate is kept on the bride’s knees for practical reasons. Each woman takes a coin and rotates it over the bride’s head 7 times. This is then kept in the plate full of rice. Then, taking some rice grains in her hands, she touches it with the bride’s feet, knees, shoulders and head, before throwing in the aanchal, the veil over the hands of the mother. A widow is not allowed to take part in the kunwar pat, for it is believed she will cast her destiny onto the bride.

Do I put it here?

Then comes the fun part. The bride, along with the single women starts eating the kheer. The kheer eating is a version of the tossing away of the bouquet. It’s a race, in which the winner is said to be the next girl to get married.

The Haldi is actually an ancient ritual and is no longer practiced by most people. Usually, the rice throwing is incorporated in the Mehndi ceremony or not carried out at all.

Nikah

The religious ceremony carried out for the wedding is called the Nikah, which is a contract binding the bride and the groom. It is traditionally carried out by the bride’s family. When the bride has already put on her white gown, her father along with two witnesses go to her. She is asked whether she wants to marry the groom. The girl has complete freedom to answer. She has to be willing to take part in the marriage, else everything is cancelled. She has to say it three times that she agrees to take this person as her husband.

Also, the amount of the Mohr, the dower, is decided. This is compulsory, and has to be agreed by both the groom ‘s and the bride’s side. The bride has the right to ask for money or any valuable object, for example, jewellery. However, there are limits to be considered, for example, the financial situation of the groom. This money is for the sole use of the bride and she can do whatever she wants with it.

Afterwards, all the men of the bride’s and groom’s family gather in the mosque, where the Nikah will take place. Women do not go to the mosque; the bride is represented by her father.The bridegroom is asked three times if he wants to take this woman as his bride. Then, the father of the bride will answer in place of his daughter to the same question, and the witnesses will act as… well, witnesses. However, for the Nikah to be valid, both the girl’s and boy’s family has to consent to this wedding.

Afterwards, the Qazi or Imam, the priest, will deliver his Khutba, a sermon, in which he recites Qu’ran verses stating the obligations towards the woman. The Qazi will explain the rights and obligations of the husband and wife, and will declare them as husband and wife. The bridegroom also has to drink half of a glass of water with sugar.

Wedding Reception

A stage is usually set up, where the bride and her bridesmaid sit, waiting for the Nikah to be over and for the groom to come. All family and relatives usually attend this reception. Everyone is given aniseed mixed with small sweets or praline. It is considered to be auspicious to sweetened one’s mouth, which is why sweets are used on a very large scale on weddings.

When the Nikah is over, a close male relative (usually the brother or cousin) brings the glass of sweetened water and make the bride drink. This may be considered as an indirect kiss, finalizing the Nikah. The bride has to drink all of it.

There one ritual that I just learned about and that’s the application of sandalwood paste on the girl’s head. The sandal wood is crushed and mixed with attar, a perfume. A white opaque veil is lifted before the couple, then the groom applies the paste on the girl’s head. Nobody is allowed to see this, which is why it has to be hidden. It is originally an Indian custom and is a version of the Hindu’s ritual of applying sindoor to a girl’s head.

Then comes the cake cutting, the cake eating, the family photos, etc.

When it’s time to leave, the bride takes with her lots of cakes, halwa and a set of wine glasses filled with sugar. Sweetness is considered to be lucky after all.

Hmmm, yummy cakes!

Chauthari or Chauthi

Techinically, this means fourth, meaning, four days after the wedding. Again, due to impractical reasons, the Chauthari is held one day after the wedding. This is the first time the girl’s family is receiving the couple as a married one and it has to be perfect.

Some relative of the groom’s family accompany the couple on this day. They are served with cocktails, the main course and dessert. The food served is kheer and dholl puri, rice and curry, accompanied with salad and/or pickles.

Do you think we’ll get one?

Then the guest are left to themselves while the married couple go to talk to everyone, etc. There usually is a lot of fun during the Chauthari with lots of games and all. In my family, we usually play with baby powder, and in the end, everyone turns white.

However, the atmosphere turns quite gloomy when the time arrives for the couple to leave. They greet each and everyone of the girl’s family and no need to say that there are some tears that come to the eyes. The Rukhsati, the time to say goodbye sure is the saddest part of a wedding, when it’s time to say goodbye to the bride.

My brother-in-law bathed in coconut water, baby powder and egg, gifted with coconuts because he won the musical chairs

Coincha

No there’s not yet another ceremony. This is actually a ritual carried out during the wedding. Sunday morning, before the Haldi, the bride’s mother take a white handkerchief and fills it with rice. Then, she goes to each and everyone of the family and asks them for money. This money supposedly acts as a protection for the girl, and she has to carry it with her all the time throughout the wedding. It also acts as a blessing from all the family members.
On Sunday, when she reaches her husbands house, the bride gives this to her mother-in-law who takes most of the money and adds aniseed to the rice. She keeps the money so that when the next day, when she goes to her mother’s, she doesn’t take all the blessings with her.

The next day, when the bride goes for the Chauthari, she gives her mother the Coincha. Her mother, takes out some of the rice and aniseed, to prevent her daughter to take all the prosperity from her home and adds more money, which the bride takes to her new home and which she keeps for herself.

This marks the end of a Mauritian Muslim Wedding, which I believe in itself is a beauty.

… Chinese Checkers Craze.

Sure enough, Chinese Checkers have been my latest obsession, with me trying to get everyone to play with me. It all started, once upon a boring evening, when I was… bored (obviously) and accidentally, discovered the joys of skype games. If you ask me why I chose skype games instead of the millions of online games available and, I’ll simply say it’s more fun to play with friends than to play alone, which is why I’m not a great fan of “those” games and would rather sit at a table and play scrabble with my dad. He’d cheat, of course (I inherited my poker face from him), but among all that fighting and whinings, there’s a little happiness hidden, only waiting for you to discover it.

At first, I was going to stick to MSN games, but C. was getting the famous blue screen, and MSN didn’t allow 3 players, I couldn’t play with Sayuka and Parwez at the same time. So Skype it was. We tried nearly everything, until we fell on Chinese Checkers. It was one of the games that could be played with 3 persons, and although we didn’t know what it was exactly, we decided to try it out. There’s nothing more fun that a game you’re just learning to play.

Parwez and I tried playing it a few times after Sayuka left, and this is where the real craze began. I was already lost in the world of Chinese Checkers, with the strategies, moves and combos. I was already used to classic checkers, and I realised, it was more or less the same, the only difference is you don’t lose your pieces, which made it even cooler.

I have been playing with T. almost every night now, and I think I’ve contaminated him with the C.C. virus. I’m not really sure though why Parwez and Sayuka are immune to it. Maybe I’ll have to get that antidote because I’m so addicted….

I was really surprised when I received this letter today. Well, to be more precise, it was addressed to my parents rather than to me. But since the envelope bore my name, I had the honour of opening it myself; a luxury I’m not used to, since all my letters get opened by my parents.. The reason being, our letters are not delivered at home but at my father’s shop.

At first, I thought it was my TOEFL results, which I was not expecting of course, since I had to pay to receive the scores, which I have not managed to do yet. I have already received the results online, which weren’t as bad as I was expecting since during the test, I was practically dozing off and the times I was not in dreamland, I was in dreamland with the guy sitting next to me. And to finish it off, my bladder was killing me… Enough of the deadly experience of the TOEFL exams and back to the… deadly… letter.

It seems I was nominated to attend the Global Young Leaders Conference. From what I have read (I had no idea this existed before and Google had to fill me in), the Congressional Youth Leadership Council, which is in charge of this conference, I quote,

seeks to identify students with demonstrated leadership potential and a history of academic achievement who will contribute to the strength and character of the Global Young Leaders Conference – outstanding individuals representing a variety of backgrounds and possessing a broad range of interests and goals. CYLC also hopes to attract the most mature and independent individuals possible within this age group.

Somehow, I’m wondering how come I even qualified for this. *confused* Though I might be very proud of my academic achievements, my leadership skills are… non-existent? We usually hear people saying that there are two categories of persons: the ones born to lead and the ones meant to follow. It would seem I fall in a third category; I find myself unable to lead anyone, in any circumstances I may be in and I somehow refuse to follow other people, because it simply makes me feel empty inside. I believe what I believe it, not what somebody believes in… I’m wondering if any of this makes any sense…

Back again to the GYLC… You should check out their site, it would certainly be more informative than my post mixed with all my ramblings, whinings and streams of consciousness. My first reaction to the letter was to laugh. I really found it funny (or it might have been hysteria) because I thought this was a stupid joke somebody was playing on me. The second reaction was “OMG, Mom I think you should take a look at this.” My mind kept wandering and wandering to the letter, which was now safely in my Mom’s bag. I can’t be trusted with anything; I have this habit of losing things because I’m so absent-minded.

When I came home (the excitement was already gone by now), I rushed to my PC to find out abou this council and well, my excitement was “literally” crushed. It would seemed the tuition fees are too expensive for me, considering that I have to save for university. I am going to complete that Geography course, even if it’s the last thing I do. So for now, it’s no GYLC, or ever actually. Which makes me quite regret the fact that I can’t attend it. But there are times you have to give up your chances to get other chances. At least, I can say, the letter made my day, for some minutes