2. Birthday suprise

I rushed out...

I saw my grandmother with a strange young lady as I opened the door. She is carrying two large bags on her shoulders and her face is covered by a veil.

MaMi Caroline: Surprise!! Shouts my grandmother happily.

I can't believe my eyes. It's really her in person... She hasn't forgotten her glasses or her cane, she still walks with them.

_Grandmother!!

I bend down to take her in my arms. She greets me with her cane rather by placing them on my right then left shoulder.

MaMi Caroline:Happy birthday son!!

That's nice.

We look at each other...

MaMi Caroline:Aren't you inviting us inside son??

_Come in, please.

MaMi Caroline: It's not too early.

She rushes inside, dragging the young lady with her.

_Come here, please.

I place the chairs towards the dining table rather than on my sofas.

I couldn't see myself letting this young foreigner sit on my luxurious sofas with her weird and too dirty clothes.

MaMi Caroline: No!! We are going to sit on the soft sofas. Our buttocks have been very traumatized by the uncomfortable chairs of the vehicles coming here.

_Grandmother!!

I shout in disapproval.

MaMi Caroline: What?

_She can't sit on these very luxurious sofas with her weird clothes.

I whisper.

MaMi Caroline: What do you mean, weird clothes??

_The ones she wears. And besides, who is she? And what is she doing in my house??

MaMi Caroline: She's your birthday surprise from me, darling.

She whispers.

_What??

I scream out loud.

MaMi Caroline: Easy son, she doesn't even know about it so don't spoil this surprise for me.

_Grandmother, But what is this story again??

She just smiles...

Grandma, please tell me I'm dreaming. You're not going to ask me to stay with her.

MaMi Caroline: You won't need it.

_ Fortunately!!

I sigh in exasperation.

MaMi Caroline: She will live with you forever.

She whispers, smiling.

_What??

MaMi Caroline: I said gently son, don't spoil this surprise for me, naughty boy.

She pinches my cheek.

I am such a busy man.I have my working hours and manage my space as I please.I don't like living with anyone and don't want to share my house with anyone.

Sharing my home with this person means a lot of changes in my life.

I'm going to have to change my schedule and my times when I go out and such.

No!No!!It’s just impossible..

I have fired several women from homes because of these same reasons so why would I make a difference with this person!!

I can't change my lifestyle because of her. Or even dream of sharing this house with her.

Fuck!! Impossible.

I don't want a housewife in my house, grandmother. I already know how to cook. I can do the cleaning myself.

MaMi Caroline:Who told you she was here to clean??

_SO??

MaMi Caroline: What!!

_What is she doing here in this case??

MaMi Caroline: Patience son and you will find out.

_My patience has limits, grandmother.

MaMi Caroline: Mine too but first, sit down for a moment.

I sit down not too happy...

I look at the girl, I can't see her face. She is sitting with her hands crossed on her knees.

When I look at her she looks like a beggar. Does she need a large sum of money that my grandmother hesitates to ask me for??

It's not possible, I'm annoyed here...

_SO??

MaMi Caroline: Calm down, son. We're waiting.

_Who, What??

MaMi Caroline:Who??That’s it.

_Hum!!

MaMi Caroline:Hmmm!!

_Okay!!

MaMi Caroline:Cool!!

A few minutes later, she whispers in the girl's ear. She gets up and makes the table. I can't believe, she brought everything she needed from the village.

Lord!! I'm living a nightmare!!

She brings out the traditional dishes in one of the bags and serves them on her plastic plates.

Name of a dog!!

I'm going to vomit if I eat in there...

MaMi Caroline: You see, she prepared all your favorite dishes for you, my boy.

_Pardon!!

MaMi Caroline: Stop, I know you're going to eat it with great appetite.

She whispers with a smile...

_ I'm not going to consume anything from this strange woman, understood!!

MaMi Caroline: You'd better get used to her quickly. After this moment, you will be inseparable my boy.

_What??

MaMi Caroline: I love you when you're angry, my boy.

_Grandma..., finish the jokes and tell me absolutely everything. What is this woman doing at my house??

MaMi Caroline: Come with me into the kitchen.

I follow her.

MaMi Caroline: (Whispers) Ahmed, this girl needs help.

_ That, I guessed.

MaMi Caroline:(Bamm!!) This slap is because you don't let me finish..

_Ouch!!

I catch my joy and smile at him.

_Go ahead, I'll listen to you...

MaMi Caroline:She is having problems at the moment Ahmed and I would like you to protect her.

_ By hosting him in my house??

MaMi Caroline: That will be insufficient.

_Yes? Insufficient how grandmother..., How do you expect me to protect her by hosting her in my chalet. It's already hard for me to accept this person in my living room... I don't plan to let her including sleeping in one of my rooms. If she needs money, I can give it to her. Then she can rent a hotel room.

MaMi Caroline: She doesn't know the city.

_ I'll see what to do...satisfied?

MaMi Caroline: Ahmed, I don't want her to go and live in a five-star hotel or whatever? I want her to live here with you, in this house.

_Impossible grandmother!!

MaMi Caroline: I wasn't asking for your opinion, I'm demanding it from you now. I want a beautiful girl and I want you to marry this person.

Crack!!!

My heart breaks waiting for this sentence.

_What!!

MaMi Caroline: Yes, so she will be safe as your wife and you will be able to watch over her.

_No!!No!!No!!Grandma, there is no way I'm marrying this village girl and what's more, how do her problems concern me?

MaMi Caroline: Ahmed, this girl needs you. She didn't go to school enough like you and I did. And destiny is putting significant wealth in her hands that she doesn't will not be able to manage it as it should.

_Plus she is illiterate??

MaMi Caroline:Calm down and listen to me son...Ahhhh!!I made a promise to his grandfather that you will accept the marriage proposal.You should marry him so that the hectares of land that will be given to him in inheritance from his grandfather is safe.

The marriage contract will be for three years only and when she reaches the age of majority, you can divorce her and give her back her land while keeping your share of the cake on that.

_No, no!

MaMi Caroline: Son, it's just a formality to save this girl's wealth from her uncles who want to take it from her by claiming that she is too young to ride on such wealth. But their father says they are joking men, he does not intend to leave this wealth to the father of this young girl nor to his two other sons but to her. This is her chance Ahmed!!

_But three years is too long, no grandmother. I should be married by now and have children.

MaMi Caroline: You never had the marriage plan Ahmed, stop confusing me and do it for me. Besides, if you really need to start a family like you say, you can do it with She.

_Hum!!

MaMi Caroline: Yeah!! She is still innocent, pure of mind and she will never stick a child on your back who is not yours like Vanessa and two other of your mistresses did.

_Grandmother!!

MaMi Caroline: (Smile) It’s the truth.

_How old is she?

MaMi Caroline: (Smiles)Does that mean you agree to marry her, Ahmed??

_No!!

She shuts up and gets nervous.

_Grandma her age, come on.

MaMi Caroline: If I tell you, would you want to marry her??

Silence.

MaMi Caroline: She is 18 years old.

Crack!!

My heart splits in two...

Grandma, I'm 30 years old and this girl can't become my wife.

MaMi Caroline: My darling, in love, age has no value. It's what you will feel for this person that will really count.

_I don't want to feel anything for her, Grandmother. Nothing at all. She's still too young. Feeling something for her will be like feeling something for Julie. I refuse this arranged marriage immediately.

An icy silence envelops the kitchen.

...

MaMi Caroline: Well, if that is your final decision, I will leave.

She breaks the silence.

_Grandma, please!!

I run after her...

MaMi Caroline: [Anà, beyaké á djal wa.Djokeu biambé bê seu]

Hanna, stop everything. We're going back to the village. She said in a foreign language that I barely understand.

Because she doesn't understand English language too, ironic!!

_Grandma, please don't act in anger.

MaMi Caroline: Don't look for me Ahmed..., I'm going home, never again, I mean never...., I don't want to see you again until I die.

She says serious.

I was afraid of this reaction that I didn't think too much about and I said

_Okay!! Ok!! it's okay grandma, it's okay...I accept!...I accept.Calm down.

**