4.2 Reef Blowing

In the morning he spread out on a jaunt heading up Irshad Magu with red hibiscus flowers blooming over the low boundary walls. He caught sight of the lamp girl squatting on heels in the lawn washing clothes in a wash basin. She was wrapped in a fosha – a tiny piece of cloth wrapped on hips while bathing in the shower gardens. It barely covered her haunches as she sat topless.

Muaz crossed the gate and reached her, dropped on a knee and said, “I missed you last night.” He noticed those two pieces of olive-green top and white skirt in the laundry basin.

“I did not go to your place,” she claimed.

“Why?”

“Grandma told me not to come.”

“How did your grandma know?”

“Your grandma. She lit the candle last night.”

“Ah! My grandma!”

“I have to tell you something, Muaz.”

“What?”

“I will tell you later,” said the girl who sat in the sun with bare shoulders and light-toned skin, compelling tits and hazel eyes.

“What’s all this about? Is this a story that’s never been told?”

“You heard me! Now I must go take shower.” She rose to her feet and picked the washing basin. She walked into the rear side and Muaz followed.

“What is your name?”

“Muna…” And before she could speak, someone appeared from the rear side of the house.

That was her mother who looked very much like her, “Is that your…”

“Mamma!” warned her daughter.

“Muaz!” her mother laughed, “I see that you two have met.”

“Mamma!” cried the girl.

“Alright, alright, I’m going. Call him for tea!” and she stepped inside the house.

Muna entered a well-side behind some trees and dropped the basin on the bath stone. She turned to face him with her hands behind rested on the rim of the well, a physical posture with short legs.

He leaned forward and kissed the girl. She gave in once again for indecision. She kissed him with love and affection. She kissed him one last time.

Beyond hidden border marks and fences, there were backyards of the neighbours, firewood kitchens and shower gardens, primitive and little privacy around but it never mattered.

Muaz sat for afternoon tea and his aunt stepped up with the teapot rendering those pale thin legs and her gown tucked on the midriff. He carefully touched the cup to his lips knowing it would be hot.

“Muna is your half-sister,” he scorched his lips at once, “Keep away from the girl!” his grandma came in.

“Ouch!” he cried.

“She is fathered by my son and he is your father too. They never married. She was born to island middle.”

“Grandma! What are you saying?”

“I cannot throw a grandchild. I keep her close to me though a father is not legally asserted. Your father is not happy with me for doing this.”

 “Is that the only one?”

“Behave!” cried his grandmother, “Have you seen her mother?”

“I think I did.”

“She was fourteen years old when she gave birth to this daughter. Now she is married and having kids to another man.”

“How old is she?”

“Twenty years old.”

“Why is she not in Bandiya?”

“Two little sisters are there,” said his aunt, “she did not get a chance to perform this time.”

He committed an incest. Muna was three years older than him. A first cousin to Nazima and a half-sister to him…obliviously. On an island, nothing is oblivious.

Muaz had two uncles and three aunts in Thora. This family split up with their differences and talked less. Particularly, his father, Harun, was the most disliked one, never dropped a hand of support. He was in Malé for the last three decades, married to a well-off lady and raising kids – more half siblings. Muaz’s mother did marry Harun but it lasted only a matter of months.

His grandmother visited frequently and stayed at Mesquite. One of the aunts once stayed at Mesquite on a trip to Malé. His mother, Lady Zebrin, offered her kids to board there to acquire an education. Muaz’s place in Malé called Mesquite kept several island folks for various reasons; employed guys, office going girls, servants and school-goers, even families. Even at present, nine resided. They always kept changing – new faces, some got married and others gone looking for better life.

Aunt Shamila thought it was a good idea and she sent her eldest son to Malé. Ilyaz was eleven years old at that time. Unfortunately, one day Muaz’s grandfather lost 10 rufiya from under his pillow – TEN RUFIYA. He blamed it on Ilyaz for stealing the money. And to this day, Ilyaz maintained his innocence. When his family learnt about this, they brought him back to Thora. Therefore, none of Donveli members sent any of their children to reside at a house in Malé.

Cousin Nazima who knew Muaz and Muna were having an affair knew beforehand that they were brother and sister. She also knew a sexual relationship between a brother and a sister was wrong, illegal and sinful. Nazima told her grandmother how she saw them having intimacy in bed.