It was the first time that my American cousins were to visit us in the UK, and I remember being so excited. I hadn't seen them in years and the last time we met it was in Bangladesh where the entire family from both sides of the Atlantic visited 12 years earlier.
Then it dawned on me that we would have to host them...all nine of them. I was the youngest in my family - number three son, 22 years old and the last one left in the house with my parents. We had a normal 3-bedroom semi-detached house and it would mean that there would have to be a lot of blankets on the floor upstairs and downstairs to accommodate everyone at night.
I didn't want to give up my room, but after a few heated conversations, it was decided that I would stay overnight at my Khala's flat not far from us while my cousins were here. I hated sharing my room with anyone, so I jumped at the chance. My Khala (aunty) was an ordinary-looking, almost frumpy woman. She was thickset, around 5 feet and 1 inch tall. She always had a headscarf on, and it was draped in front of her chest to protect her modesty. She usually wore a shelwar kameez and sometimes it was a little tight around the waist and I could see some folds of fat gathering in her clothes at the back. She had strong big buttocks that almost matched her belly in size.
She was prone to talking lots and gossiping. Her husband died many years ago, leaving her alone and childless and she could talk for the country when in the presence of others. Now in her early fifties she was resigned to staying alone forever.
The day came when my cousins turned up and I was ecstatic to see them. We spent the day talking and catching up, eating lots and having a good laugh.
My Khala had also turned up to see them and after dinner I packed my overnight bag to go to hers. Khala was waiting for me at the doorway as I came down. I apologised to her for being such a nuisance and having to stay over and she said as she had an extra spare bedroom, and that it wasn't an issue at all.
I bid my cousins and parents farewell, and my Khala and I went on our way to her flat. It was only a short drive. I parked the car in front of her flat and followed her up the three flights of stairs.
We entered her flat. It was small and quaint, with decor that was of another era. She showed me the living room, kitchen and bathroom. I casually looked around. She finally showed me the bedroom I was to stay in. There was a small double bed pushed against the wall under the window.
"Thank you, Khala. I'll be gone in the morning. We're planning on going into London for sightseeing." I said as I put my bag down on the bed.
"Think of this as your home. You can stay as long as you want." She said. "I'm going to change. Do you need the bathroom?"
"No, thank you." I said. "I'm going to change, as well."
"After you do, could you come into the living room? I just need some help bringing some papers down from the top shelf."
"Ok, Khala, no problem." I replied.
She turned and walked out of the room, shutting the door as she left.
I changed into some loose cotton bottoms and a t-shirt. I was ready to crash out having had a busy day, so I headed to the living room to help Khala quickly so I could then get to bed.
I walked into the living room and sat down waiting for Khala to come. I could hear water being turned on and off in the bathroom. After a few minutes Khala walked into the room. She was wearing a mexi dress which is a one-piece baggy dress and her hair was out. I was taken aback a bit because I had never seen her without a headscarf.
Her hair was thick and wiry and fell over her shoulders.
"It's just up there", she said as she pointed to the top of a shelf high up on the wall behind me. "Take this chair and see if you can see a blue folder."
I took the dining chair that was next to me and put it near the wall and got up onto it. I looked around the shelf but could not see a blue folder.
"Khala, it's not here." I said looking through the many documents and files on the shelf.
"Are you sure? Let me have a look." Khala said. I jumped down and stood aside as she hitched up the mexi just below her knees and attempted to get onto the chair.
I looked at her legs, she had skinny ankles that turned into thick legs that were a little hairy. She was half-way up when she suddenly stumbled and gave out a shriek. I instinctively reached out and caught her as she fell back.
"Owwww! My leg!" She yelled. I helped her to the couch, and she sat down with a bump. "Ooof, that really hurts, I'm so clumsy," she said, as she breathed heavily.
"Just sit and don't move. Ummm...I'll get something cold to put on your leg!"
I quickly went to the kitchen and found a bag of frozen veg in the freezer. I came back to the living room and found Khala sat on the couch with the mexi dress above her knees as she inspected her right leg.
She quickly put her dress down when she caught me looking at her leg.
"This will help," I said. "Put this where it hurts."
I handed the bag over to her and she put it on her inner right thigh.
"Ufffff! It's so cold!" She cried and threw the bag aside.
"Khala, tell me where it hurts." I breathed hard into my hands and rubbed them to warm them up.
She leaned back and closed her eyes shut. "It's pain all over my right leg!"
I crouched down and touched her leg around the calf. She jumped back a bit.
"Khala, I'll massage it."
"Ok..." She said tentatively.
I started massaging her leg over the mexi dress, above her ankle working up to her knee.
"Is this working?" I asked.
"Not really. The pains a bit more high up..." She said slowly.
"Khala, do you have any cream? The massage will work better," I said.
