It was time to load up the minivan for the annual Alibhai family reunion at Hawke’s Bay, a cozy beach just outside of Karachi, overlooking the clear waters of the Arabian Sea. This was a popular full-day retreat spot for locals and tourists alike, so one had to make sure that the beach huts were rented well in advance at a quiet location on the edge of the bay. Since this was the last weekend of the summer before schools resumed, Hawke’s Bay would be packed with families enjoying their final picnic by the sea.
Rahim Alibhai was given the critical (and most difficult) task this year of wrangling all of his 16 first cousins together into their assigned vans by the 7 am departure time from their home in the Sunshine Society neighbourhood at the west end of the city. It was Rahim’s parents’ year to organize and host the reunion, so for an eight-year-old, he felt a particular sense of pride and accomplishment in getting to boss around his cousins, especially the older ones whom he felt were always talking over him and making plans that they felt he was too young to be included in. No, this year would be different – he would have a say at last!
Rahim was the first one awake that morning. He wanted to make sure he had dibs on what would be a long line for the kids’ bathroom in their small but comfortable city flat. He woke up to the sound of azaan, or call to worship, from their neighbourhood mosque. His grandmother had taught him that morning prayers were the best way to start one’s day. So he put his hands together and secretly asked God to help him on his important mission that day: “Please Allah, let us have a safe and memorable trip. …And, if it’s not too much trouble, please let my cousins listen to me for just one day, that’s all I ask.”
Soon after, he was ready in his worn down Adventure Academy summer camp shirt and swim trunks, with a backpack containing the sunglasses handed down to him by his dad, a deck of UNO cards with some Draw-Four’s missing from the last reunion, and, of course, his sea shell collection, to which he wanted to add the perfect last piece before it went up on display in the glass case in their living room.
With a whistle around his neck and a notebook with the day’s itinerary, Rahim scribbled in an attendance list of all of his cousin’s names so as to not leave anyone behind. Now for the hard part, finding them amidst the chaos of grown-ups running around with pots of halwa puri for breakfast, coolers of mango lassi, and Rahim’s favourite, freshly made biryani for lunch. He was in a food daze already when his little sister Rehana came behind him and tugged on his shirt. “What is it, Rehana? I’m very busy this morning.”
Rehana was four years younger than Rahim, and her adorable chubby cheeks, wide eyes and innocent curiosity made her the most beloved of the kiddie clan; everyone wanted to play with her, and saying no to her for anything seemed out of the question since she was the baby of the family. Although Rahim at times envied the attention she received, he had grown accustomed to having to compromise as a part of his responsibility as her big brother.
“Bhaiyya, do you promise to build a biiiiig sandcastle with me today? I’ll be the princess, and you can be my loyal onion,” she said with a smile as she adjusted the crown on her head that Yasmin khala had brought her from London.
“It’s minion, not onion, Rehana, and alright,” Rahim said with a sigh. “If you can be my helper today, I will make sure we have the best sandcastle in all of Karachi,” he promised while loading her beach toys into the back of the van.
Rahim quickly realized that having Rehana by his side was an advantage, the cuteness advantage, he smirked. As he went around the parking lot downstairs calling out names, Rehana would repeat whatever he said, in response to which the cousins would come running to hug and kiss her. Rahim rolled his eyes and yelled, “Okay, Karima apa, you are the last one on my list. We can finally leave!” He looked down at the old Nokia phone his cousin had let him play with, checking the time. It was 6:59. “Yes, I knew I could do it. Dad will be so proud,” whispered Rahim to himself.
No sooner had they arrived and settled themselves inside their beach hut that the cousins started bringing out the bats and wickets for a game of cricket on the sand. Rahim had been practicing all summer for this and would finally be allowed to bat for the boys’ team, which lost every single year to the girls. He was confident that this would be the year to change their luck, and they would all call him a hero for winning the game.
But before he could line up at the imaginary field they drew out with sticks in the sand, Rehana grabbed his hand and started pulling him toward the opposite side of the hut. “It’s time to build my castle!” Oh no, Rahim was quickly regretting his promise to his baby sister. She would ruin his one opportunity to build his reputation among the older cousins. He was tired of being associated with the little kids, and playing with a toddler using a pail and shovel certainly wasn’t going to help.
As he tried to come up with possible excuses, Rahim’s mother gave him a stern look and reminded him that Allah is happy when we look after our siblings. “Yes, ami, I will be over here with Rehana if anyone is looking for me,” he said reluctantly while being dragged to an unoccupied location next to the water that his sister had already claimed with her crown.
One by one they started building the towers to the castle, even though Rahim was now sulking at the thought of missing the first inning of the cricket tournament. His sister was busy in her imagination, directing her figurine kingdom here and there to prepare for the feast she was hosting for the neighbouring villagers. “Raise the flags, lower the gates, bring me my pet dragon!” she commanded her brother. “Yes, your highness,” Rahim sighed.
It was already lunch time, and he was ready for a feast of his own. “The food’s ready! Everyone come inside to say Bismillah,” called out Rahim’s dad. All of the cousins stomped in, with Rahim trailing behind in his efforts to divert his little sister’s attention from her kingdom.
After they had eaten, Rahim had a full tummy and wanted nothing more than to lie down on the beach and take a nap when all of a sudden a loud horn could be heard across the Bay. “That means the tide is getting high, and we should all stay away from the water for a while to be safe,” explained Karima apa to a startled Rehana. So they all spent the next hour indoors playing board games while the grown-ups exchanged childhood stories. It was odd to think of his parents as having once been little bachas, thought Rahim.
When the sirens stopped and they finally returned outside to the beach, Rehana gasped, “Where is my castle? I can’t find it anywhere!”
“I’m sorry, Rehana, it floated away on the waves,” tried Rahim to explain while watching his sister burst into tears. At this sight, all of the cousins gathered around to comfort her and bring her other toys and treats as a sign of comfort for her loss. Seeing that she had plenty of support, Rahim went to the edge of the water to look for the new batch of sea shells that the tide had brought in. He wasn’t sure which one he was trying to find for his special collection yet, but he knew that he would be able to tell as soon as he laid his eyes on it.
“Bhaiyya, bhaiyya!” came Rehana up to him yelling with excitement. Here she goes again with her demands, he thought. “I have something for you for being the best onion in the whole world,” she proclaimed. And she opened up her tiny palm to reveal a shiny opal shell that changed colours against the striking sunlight.
“Where did you find this? It’s perfect!” beamed Rahim. “Oh, the wave left it as a thank you present on the sand where he took my castle to play with,” said Rehana in a matter-of-fact way, before running back to her cousins. “Thank you!” yelled Rahim behind her. Shukranlillah indeed, he smiled, in expression of gratitude for his sister, although he didn’t think it was cool enough just yet to admit that out loud.
He wrote today’s date and his sister’s name on the back of the shell, and put it away safely in his pocket as he went to join his cousins on the cricket field.
The End.
