Weak Heart

I had some reservations writing this post, since it doesn't go well with the mockery theme intended for this blog. I guess I couldn't resist indulging in an emotional explication us females are so effusively notorious for. I promise it won't be often.

I wrote previously about Opressive Cousin, and his detestful manner in asserting unjustfied authority over me by questioning my social fellowships. So it shouldn't be a surprise that I cringed when he extended an invitation to join him for Futoor, seeing that his parents are out of the country and he was dining alone. For the record, I said no. Unfortunately for me, he does not take no for an answer, and under much duress from his demanding language and family pressure at Grandmother's house, I consented reluctantly.

I was plotting the whole day on how I would stand him up, because I really didn't want to endure another sitting with him, especially on my own. Come Futoor time, and I found myself sitting at the dining table with Parents, still plotting, whilst enjoying a hot bowl of lentil soup. After only a few sips, he called me on my cell phone to 'alert' me that Athan had commenced:
Opressive Cousin: CD, yalla wainich
CD: Um, you know, I'm kinda tired and I totally forgot about our Futoor date.
Raging Oppressive Cousin: what? (practically screaming)
CD: I'm really tired, and I'm having Futoor now with Parents
Oppressive Cousin: fine, as you wish.

Click
Respite, relief, deliverance! Now I can go back to my soup. Lo and Behold a phonecall from Cousin's hysterical nanny gone beserk:
Hysterical Nanny: CD, Cousin too much shouting for me. I no tell you to come Futoor, now he angry for me. I call you but you no answer my telephone shino sawee ana. Now he shouting for me CD. (I hear screaming fits in the background, he then grabs the phone, yelling obscene profanities at Hysterical Nanny)
Opressive Cousin: CD, did Nanny call you today?
CD: um no
Raging Oppressive Cousin: (yelling at Hysterical Nanny) You were supposed to call her, why are you lying..
CD: wait, Cousin, she did call. But I did not see her missed call untill you called me.
Raging Oppressive Cousin: why?
CD: I was sleeping all day.
Tumbled Oppressive Cousin: humph! Ok.
Click

While I was savoring into my avocado salad, another annoying phonecall:
Trembling Hysterical Nanny: CD, I am too much sorry. You come now, we make too much food for you. Please you come now, I make cooking for you. Cousin is alone, you know. (Her voice is disturbingly shaky, and her pleading actually touches me)

I continued to ponderously nibble at my salad, replaying the whole scenario in my head. Oh what the hell, I left my salad, picked up my car keys and headed to the door.

At Oppressive Cousin's dining table, I wasn't received with any special decor or gusto. On the contrary, Opressive Cousin wolfed down his Machboos indifferently, and presumptiously asserted:
" you know, it would have been a lot more fun for me to be eating in front of my TV, but I just thought I'd invite you 3alashan awajib"

Ok, how can I respond to that without being cruel? No idea. I opted for silence. The guilt was beginning to eat me up. We eat together in awkward stillness. He monstrously gobbles all his food in melancholic fury. And I am so stricken with remorse I could hardly finish my plate. At the end of the meal, he gets up and drops this on my conscience:
"we are family, you are like my sister and this is your home too. Please feel welcome to visit anytime, I don't need to invite you. If you like, I'll be watching TV and eating dessert, you can join me. "
He goes off to the TV room.

OUCH!