No one responded initially, many wondering if Shirin had sent it to the group accidentally.

  Hello? Shirin typed. Why don’t we have Eid breakfast in the park? We can read a faatiha for Ruki. Joyce has decided to go back home as well.

  OK, IM IN! Mrs Hassim responded, and slowly the others did too.

  Everyone volunteered to make all the things Ruki would have liked: onion-eggs, French toast, Eid milk and an array of savouries, including some samoosas from the filling-and-folding Friday.

  Rabia and Zaina made gulaab jamuns, rolling the sweet dough in the glow of the evening light before Eid day. ‘Taper the ends like this,’ Rabia said. They worked into the early morning, watching the jamuns puff up in the oil and float to the surface. Zaina loved bathing them in syrup and then rolling them in coconut.

  She slept undisturbed that night, a luxury she hadn’t felt in a while.

  A fresh, rosy scent filled their flat as Zaina and Rabia awoke on Eid morning. They could tell it was going to be a different Eid. A hopeful one. Even though Zaina knew that later in the day she would have to endure her cousin’s condescending glances or her aunt’s questions about when she was getting married, she felt stronger. The day would be bearable.

  The building was filled with the familiar sounds of Eid morning, with neighbours exchanging sweetmeats and ‘Eid mubarak’s. Shirin and Ismail wandered out of their flat to shake hands with the others. They marvelled at Laila’s crispy bright-orange jelebi and Aunty Shaida’s daughters’ matching yellow Eid outfits.

  Zaina couldn’t help but think of Thandi or Sibo and Hlengi, and that they were probably washing the dishes from Eid breakfast. She thought of Billy, who was packing for her internship in Japan which would start next week. Zaina’s heart ached a little. Saying goodbye to Joyce would not be easy either. Mostly, she thought of Precious, who’d left a few days ago, without tears. She wished she’d had more time to understand her or just to talk with her.

  Aunty Julie and Mrs Hassim had been in the park from early in the morning, setting up chairs and laying down blankets. The women started arriving, and the men joined in when they returned from the Eid prayer. Solly’s eyes were still red, and Dilshad made sure he ate some samoosas and drank some tea. Mrs Hassim said a beautiful prayer for Ruki.

  The maids joined them after the prayer and they shared in the bittersweet breakfast. Laila’s and Aunty Shaida’s kids ran freely around the trees.

  Shirin bit into a butter-pastry pie. She couldn’t believe she’d denied herself those for so long. Ismail smiled at her and held her hand.

  Joyce cleared her throat and, with an effort, stood up from the ground. ‘Ladies, I need to say something,’ she announced, and the women turned to face her. ‘I really love you all so much. This has been my home. You are like my children. But it’s time. I just can’t stay here; it’s too painful. It’s time, God knows, it’s time for me to move on. I need to return to my home.’ Tears began to cloud her eyes. She cleared her throat. ‘But I will come back and visit, and you can call me any time.’

  A sad murmur rippled across the gathering. Many came forward to hug her. Kadija and Thandi assured Joyce that they would make sure all the maids followed the rules.

  ‘Vi, come now, talk to me,’ Joyce urged Violet, who’d planted herself next to a tree far away from where the women were sitting.

  As Violet came over, Joyce noticed that she was crying. ‘Hau, Violet, what is going on?’

  ‘Don’t leave!’ Violet sobbed like a devastated child.

  ‘Ah, come here,’ Joyce said. She hugged Violet tightly, promising her that she would visit and call often. She gave her a scarf she knew Violet had always admired and pacified her for a while.

  As Sibo and Hlengi helped the women clear up, Zaina accompanied Joyce into the building to get her bags. ‘Aunty Joyce, thank you for that day in the car park,’ she said. ‘I’m so grateful you were there for me.’

  ‘My girl, I am a mother who saw a daughter in need,’ Joyce said simply.

  Zaina hugged her tightly. ‘Please give me your number so I can call you,’ she said, quickly typing the name ‘Joyce’ into her cellphone and looking up expectantly at the maid.

  Joyce thought for a moment, then said to Zaina, ‘Give me your phone.’

  Slowly and carefully, she deleted the word ‘Joyce’ and typed in ‘Nonkululeko’.

  GLOSSARY

  abaya – a cloak worn by Muslim women, usually black

  abba – father

  agarbathi – incense stick

  Arreh! – expression of surprise, resolve or intention

  Asr azaan – call to afternoon prayer

  As-salamu alaikum – Peace be upon you; Arabic greeting

  azaan – call to prayer

  barakah – abundance

  bheti – daughter

  burqa – long covering worn by women to cover the hair, chest and arms

  Chal … mera Haathi – Come … my Elephant

  chalo – come

  deen – religion

  degh – large metal pot in which to cook (usually) biryani, often on a fire outdoors

  dhania – coriander

  duaa – verbal prayer to Allah

  Eid – celebration; Eid-ul-Fitr falls after Ramadaan, and Eid-ul-Adha comes after the Hajj

  Eid mubarak – happy Eid

  Esha – the night prayer

  faatiha – opening prayer

  Fajr – early-morning prayer

  halaal – pure; Islamically permissible

  Hamba! – Go!

  haraam – impure; Islamically forbidden

  hongrah – someone who eats greedily

  huffaaz – men who’ve memorised the Qur’aan and may lead the prayer

  iftaar – time of breaking fast, just after sunset when the Maghrib azaan is called

  Inshallah – if Allah wills it

  istinja – cleaning yourself with water after going to the toilet

  izzat – honour

  jaan – love; my life

  jaat – true nature; characteristics of a certain caste

  jamaat khana – a section of a mosque

  Jannat – Paradise

  jee, Ma – yes, Mom

  jeera – cumin

  Jazakallah – thanks be to Allah

  Jumeraat – Thursday night; night before Jumma (Friday)

  Jumma – Friday; also refers to congregational prayer after midday

  Kaaba – black cube in the centre of the largest mosque in Makkah; the direction in which Muslims face when praying

  kajal – eyeliner

  kajoor – dates

  kassam – I swear

  khatham – prayer gathering

  kuncha – elaborately wrapped and decorated wedding gift

  kurtha – long-sleeved tunic worn by men that extends past the knees

  kurthi – long-sleeved tunic worn by women that extends past the knees

  lehenga – full ankle-length skirt worn by Indian women, with a matching blouse

  maaf – forgive me

  maderchod – swearword similar to ‘motherfucker’

  madressah – Islamic classes

  Maghrib azaan – call to post-sunset prayer

  Maghrib salaah – evening prayer

  mahram – approved male travelling companion (husband or father)

  Mashallah – Praise to Allah; can also mean ‘healthy-looking’, implying chubbiness

  Masi – Aunt; term of respect when addressing an older woman

  mawa – rich milk powder

  mehndi – henna

  mehr – dowry

  Memon – a caste

  methi bhaji – fungreek leaves

  Miabhai – a caste

  moulana – learned scholar of Islam

  Muharram – first month of the Islamic calendar

  musallah – prayer mat

  musjid – mosque

  naath – song of praise

  nafs – innate desires

  napaak – dirty

  nazar – casting away the evil eye

  ngikubonile – I saw you

  ngiyabonga – thank you

  nikkah – marriage ceremony

  niqaab – covering worn by women to cover the whole face except the eyes

  noor – inner light

  paak – clean; pure

  paan – betel leaf

  Patchi – brand of luxury Lebanese chocolates

  phudina – mint

  Punjabi suit – Indian garment with a long embroidered tunic, fitted pants and matching scarf

  pur – thin samoosa pastry

  rakaat – one unit of prayer

  Ramadaan – month of fasting; ninth month of the Islamic calendar

  sabr – a beautiful patience

  sajdah – prostration in prayer

  salaah – prayer

  sehri – daily pre-dawn meal before the fast begins

  Shahada – testification to Allah

  Shaitaan – Satan

  sharara – formal garment consisting of a flared skirt, tapered matching blouse and scarf

  shukr – gratitude

  souk – market

  Subhanallah – praise be to Allah

  Surti – a caste

  tasbeeh – rosary

  Umrah – pilgrimage to Makkah and Madina; a smaller pilgrimage than the Hajj

  vagaar – fried mix of onion, mustard seeds, cumin and curry leaves

  Walaikum salaam – And upon you be peace; in reply to ‘As-salamu alaikum’

  walima – marriage banquet

  wudhu – ablution before prayer

  zam zam water – sacred water from a spring in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, which is said to ease ailments

  zikr – remembrance of Allah

  Zohr – prayer after midday; Zohr prayed on Friday in congregation is called Jumma

  RECIPES

  Ruki’s creamy kheer

  Chicken curry

  Chana magaj

  Zaina’s chicken jalfrezi

  Haleem

  Bhajias

  Shirin’s onion-egg

  Mango lassi

  Chicken-and-mushroom mini quiches

  Samoosas

  Millionaires’ chevro

  Date crunchies

  Chicken akni and Raitho

  Billy’s flying saucers

  Chicken and methi lagan

  Rabia’s hot chocolate

  Kadija’s mutton kalya

  Burfee

  Aunty Julie’s chicken-and-corn soup

  Cappuccino Romany Creams dessert

  Ramadaan power smoothie

  Rabia and Zaina’s gulaab jamuns

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  Words can’t express how thankful I am to Allah SWT for blessing me with a mother who taught me bravery, compassion and independence, a husband who loves me in a way that makes me feel free, a son who makes me appreciate the little things, and close friends who encourage my quirkiness.

  This book wouldn’t have been possible without the guidance of Professor Debby Bonnin, who supervised my Master’s thesis, on which this work of fiction is based. Thank you for your wisdom, wit and unwavering support.

  To Catriona Ross and Tracey Hawthorne, thank you for loving this story and these characters into life. Tracey, your insight and ability to visualise characters is a superpower!

  Finally, to my reader, thank you for picking up this book, having an open mind and going on this journey with me. Do forgive me for any shortcomings.

  Did you enjoy this ebook? Please rate or review it online or get in touch with us at queries@penguinrandomhouse.co.za.

 

 

  Quraisha Dawood, Stirring the Pot

 

 

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