The entire family sat in the living room. My mother and I went to the kitchen to make beverages for the visitor.
Aunt Amal appears to be the rigorous sort; she appears to be the type who follows the norms and the culture." I asked My Mother
She behaves this way because she was raised in a strict family. Her mother was so severe that everyone in the area feared her. She is not as rigorous as her mother, but she adheres to some of her mother's old regulations.
We've all taken our seats after the drinks have been served. My father and Uncle Asad are discussing work, while Mama and Aunt Amal are reminiscing about their early years.
Samia is peering between me and the man we were just staring at. He's right in front of us. With his left leg on his right leg and both hands folded on his chest, he stared at me and Samia with an expression I couldn't put into words.
Hello, my name is Samia, and here is my sister Safia. "Can you tell me your name?" Samia inquired, unable to bear the silence between us.
He didn't respond to her query at all. He appears to be dissatisfied with his surroundings. Is he disappointed to be here? Perhaps his parents forced him. Uncle, are you ignoring me?" Samia whispered under her breath, but he could still hear her.
My sister caught my shocked expression as I turned to face her. What is she saying, Uncle? She must be crazy somehow if she can call him Uncle with such a straight face.
Didn't you realize? If we talk about our familial ties, he is our uncle. Samia said to the guy who had just become my uncle, "I heard Mama and Papa talking about it last night.
How, though? If Aunt Amal is our aunt, doesn't that make him our brother? Although he is older than us, does that make him our uncle? I asked Sam.
What is happening to her now has me puzzled. Sam, please quit teasing me and answer immediately. I got up from my chair and sat close to her. I spoke softly in her ear, "We need to go in and chat.
We need to check on the kitchen and will be back shortly. Sam, I said, "Follow me."
I was dying inside, wondering what the heck was going on as we made our way to the kitchen. Here, I'm totally confused and in urgent need of clarification.
I pretended to be doing something when we were inside because the kitchen was right next to the living room. I was worried that the guests would overhear us conversing.
Samia intentionally dragged the answer, and she did it to tease me. Sam, now is not the time to be playing around. Can you please share with me what you have learned from our parents? I demanded her
Okay, here it is. She started telling me a lengthy tale. She informed me that the Stranger Uncle's parents are not Aunt Amal and Uncle Asad. She is his older sister. Aunt Amal is married to Uncle Asad. He is the youngest of the 10 siblings, while Aunt Amal is the eldest. Since his mother and My grandmother are distant cousins, he is my mother's brother, and his mother is my mama's aunt. a little bit complicated, yes?
In essence, if we consider seniority, he is our unrelated blood uncle. Confusing, indeed.
On the dining room table, we are eating. Aunt Amal began to speak.
She questioned while placing a spoonful of rice on her palate, "How old are you, Safia?
Aunt, I turn 22 this year," I said, setting my glass down. I'm enjoying my favorite mango juice right now.
Aunt Amal grinned as she looked at Uncle Stranger and remarked, "You are at the perfect age to be married.
He didn't say anything. if my papa and Uncle Stranger didn't speak, and they only discussed business. I would have concluded he was deaf and mute if it weren't for that.
Aunt, I'm still at school. No need to rush marriage, I remarked, stating the obvious: I still have two more years of education left. I want to pursue a career in graphic design, which I am studying, and thus I need to meet a man who will support my ambitions for the future.
I am a double major student; I am studying graphic design at the university and English literature online at the university. I took this double major because I am in love with both writing and designing books. My biggest dream is to publish my own book, which I designed too.
I was happy that she stopped there and didn't ask any further questions. I gave my meal my full attention. Yes, I love food more than anything else—even more than my degree. I'm consuming rice, which is a well-known meal in my home country. When we cook this rice, we add so many spices that the rice smells delicious. We have chicken or beef with it
After we finished eating, the elders sat on one side while me, my sister, and Uncle Stranger sat on the other side, Do I need to stop calling him that? Until I learn his name, I will stick by my decision. They requested that we converse and become acquainted. Thank Allah, Samia is with us; otherwise, we would have chosen to ignore one another, and the time might have passed without us having a conversation. He appears to be a quiet person. Let's avoid discussing me. Due to that accident from years ago, I find it difficult to converse with people of the opposite gender. Having a conversation and making physical contact with Papa took some time after the accident.
So how old are you, Uncle?" Samia said she was still playing around. Stop it! "I whispered to her again. You know he won't answer, so why bother asking Sam? Shhhh, let me just ask him. I can't hold things in my belly; I feel uncomfortable," Sam said, taking my hand away from where I was poking her.
I am 35 this year," the stranger uncle said, surprising us with his thick, gruff voice
What? I screamed out load without intending it. Even the older people heard, which made them look towards us.
It's nothing; we're just conversing." Sam reassured them, "
Is this really shocking? As he turned to face me from the elders," the odd uncle said,
Or else "Sam answered before me. You are 13 years older than my sister; that is not the only shocking news. The most unexpected news is that you are an uncle to her, even though not by blood," she added.