After my divorce, the two girls and I lived like nomads, moving from place to place. First we stayed with Auntie Yah on the third floor of a shoplot. It was a twenty by twelve studio and had a twenty by ten balcony overlooking a hugh magnificent tree. Inas told me earnestly she saw fairies flitting from branch to branch in the mornings. On occasions, the girls had a hot bath on that balcony under the stars! Iman loved our studio room, she called it the penthouse. But soon after, the landlord increased the rent so we found a 2-bedroom apartment on a hill for the same price. We slept in one twin bed and watched tv on a 9" b/w tv, and Tok Yah and her son, Shahrul stayed in the other room.
All the while, the girls went to stay with a trusted family babysitter, Auntie Fauziah, after school. She lived a few houses away from, my mother, the girls' Tok Wan. If I was working late, Tok Wan would pick the girls up. It was a great arrangement for Auntie Fauziah was the best of babysisters. She had 6 daughters of her own who all grew up to be lovely girls, she was strict and spoke the loveliest English in the neighbourhood, after Tok Wan of course. The girls loved her.
Rudi and I were married in 2000. We continued to stay in the apartment on the fourth floor after Aunty Yah moved to Terengganu. Then I was in the family way, with Irani. Rudi did not like the prospect of me walking up the stairs and him having to carry Iman and Inas up 4 floors up after a long day's work if they were asleep so we looked for a new house. And finally 2 house moves later, we decided that getting a place of our own was the best solution.
So we did, but we had to wait another two years before we could move in. Then in 2006, we got the green light. It was daunting, moving so far away from Tok Wan and Auntie Fauziah, and all that seemed familiar. By then, Irani and Ilena had made us a family of six. After having Auntie Fauziah for 6 contented years, it was tough trying to trust another to care for the girls.
Finally, a friend suggested a maid. Not just any maid - Bik Een had just returned from Arab Saudi, and came highly recommended. Frankly, I was desperate. So we filled in all applications and waited patiently for Bik Een to arrive.
Have you watched the movie Nanny Mc Phee? We dedicate that movie to our Bik Een. In fact we took Bik to see that movie in the theatre.
To be continued...
