The Day My Auntie Insulted Me

I know you’re all dying to know who is this ‘someone’ and that you hate me for keeping you in suspense. Well the wait is over. Let me introduce you to Khadeja Sana. She’s Muslim, young, pretty, a smart dresser who covers her hair. She even has a blog, just like me: becomingsana.blogspot.com.au

No, no, don’t worry, I didn’t fall in love again, on the contrary. I’m talking about my 18-year old ex’s aunt. Fond of me at the beginning, she ended up sending me the worse message ever via Facebook. (Apparently I can make good first impressions but that doesn’t last.) My crime? As I said in my previous post, I took off my relationship status of Facebook. Judge for yourself. For non-Farsi speakers, begharat means someone without pride. Warning. This message contains strong language and sexual references from the outset and throughout. (Thank you MTV)

I think this little work of art says more about its author than anything I could add. I’m sorry I didn’t reply sooner auntie San. You see, I tried to call you. Looks like you blocked my number. I guess things are easier when one is hidden behind a screen. I have to say I’m a bit disappointed by your little essay. You could have made it more personal. You could have attacked me on my many flaws. Insulting someone is so common. You could have written that to anybody. Now I don’t feel special anymore. I have to admit that the immigrant part is funny though. I didn’t realize you were an Aboriginal Australian. Aren’t you the daughter of Afghan refugees? That would explain the spelling mistakes in your message. Little tip from a French immigrant: ‘epidemy of begharat’ doesn’t mean anything. I think you meant epitome, right? And one last thing, you mentioned the phone your niece gave me. You should check the Holy Quran 2.264. It’s about reminding people of your good deeds… you’re not supposed to do it.

Reactions

People around me were really shocked by the kind of language used. ‘How is your relationship her business?’ ‘Is she crazy?’ ‘The last paragraph… WT*?!’ ‘I’m sure you won’t come close to an Afghan again.’ (Coming from an Afghan) My mother’s reaction was more balanced: ‘Aren’t you shocked?’ ‘I’m happy they didn’t kill you. […] You know these people are a bit backward.’ ‘But she’s veiled. How can she talk like that?’ ‘You still don’t know that people may seem good from the outside but aren’t always inside?’ Dear Khala Sana, I have to thank you. Your scatological letter, (I’m sure Freud would have a lot to say about that too), helped me to  take my decision. I was still hesitating about my relationship with your niece. You gave me an answer. So merci (tashakor in French)! But the real disappointment in all of this, was my ex’s reaction. To be continued…

The Day My Life Turned Into a Bollywood Movie (7)

Episodio 7 – An Unexpected Email

The conversation between Señora Sandoval and her son-in-law hasn’t been a success. Alejandro didn’t get straight answers from her but only pieces. Plus it ended up badly when she forbid her daughter to see him again.

So why didn’t she hire him after all?

First piece of answer: She told Alejandro that when she came back from Mexico, she heard that Maria and im had a fight on New Year’s Eve. He replied that every couple has fights.

Second piece of answer: She was not the only one to decide. He replied that she is the founder and head of the firm.

Third piece of answer: When she suggested him for a position, Carlos, Victoria Sandoval’s right-hand man told her that he didn’t know what he was doing. He replied that he was never trained by her team. Do you know why? Because before she left the country, she didn’t tell them that he was about to be hired. The lawyers at the firm thought he was just interning.

After this call, Alejandro wasn’t expecting anything from the firm anymore. But that was not the end yet. The day after, Victoria tried to convince her daughter to stop seeing Alejandro. She insisted, got angry and she even threatened her, using Maria’s worst memories. 

But it was counterproductive. It pushed Maria even more into her fiancé’s arms.

Few days later, the young Mexican received a totally unexpected email: from Carlos. First surprise, he told him that he wasn’t aware of what Victoria and Alejandro agreed on. The second was that he was willing to meet him at the office to see what they can do.

‘Really? Now she wants to give me a job after the whole ‘Over my dead body’ thing?’

Alejandro replied, explaining the whole situation, how Mrs. Sandoval offered him a job, how he was supposed to be trained and how after a few months, nothing happened. He also reminded them that he went to the best law school in Mexico and that he could speak three languages in case they forgot. The young man sent the email to Carlos, Victoria and Maria.

‘Did you read my email?’

‘I did! My mother said that you embarrassed her in front of her staff.’

‘Excuse me?’

‘I know, right? Carlos told her that mixing personal with professional could affect the company.’

Despite this episode, Maria stood by Alejandro, she even told him that he was right and that she wasn’t surprised by her mother’s behaviour. 

Months went by. Good moments, bad ones. Passion, drama. Love, hate. Regular dating, with a baby dating. Wedding plans, visa situation in the way.

Victoria was still in the background, telling her daughter, every now and then, that they weren’t meant for each other. She who ‘fell in love’ with him the first time she met him. She who was pressuring them to get engaged few weeks after their first encounter. Is she the reason why the couple ended their relationship few months later? Was it because of Maria’s traumatic first marriage? Because of Alejandro’s difficult situation and the fact that he might go back to Mexico? Because he wasn’t romantic enough? Maybe for all of these reasons. Maybe they just weren’t right for each other.

Alejandro didn’t know but this is what happened. After more than seven months of relation, they split up. As hard as it was for him to cope with it, there was something preventing him to try again, something or to be more precised someone. 

Continuará…