Sunday night, May 15. Quest’s fifth floor is humming with foodie chatter. A flash of black passes by. The hum becomes a buzz. Wasim Akram, 49, has just walked into Yauatcha with wife Shaniera, 34, for their annual date with t2. We are caught and bowled by Shaniera’s opening delivery. “I follow t2 on Twitter all year round,” Shaniera smiles her gorgeous smile. After an hour-long adda, we came away with one couple mantra: they who laugh together, stay together.
Thanks Shaniera! We were dying to meet Aiyla (their little daughter) too, you should have so got her!
Wasim: She goes to bed at eight, yaar! Gori bachchi hai.
Shaniera: That’s the gori part of it. (ROFL)
She is adorable!
Wasim: Thank you! She is 17 months old. She is recognising every one of us, trying different things. She’s got a great personality. And she’s just an incredible little soul.
Shaniera: Very energetic.
What from her parents has she imbibed?
Wasim: I think the best bit is mine. (LOL)
Shaniera: Best bit? What best bit?
Wasim: I mean she is nice and bubbly.
(Shaniera goes LOL)
Shaniera: I think she resembles her father.
Wasim: She resembles her brothers (Tahmoor and Akbar) as well.
Shaniera: And she definitely has your (to Wasim) attitude. When she enters a room, it is like, ‘Everybody, I am here!’ That’s Aiyla, but she does have this beautiful little heart.... She loves flowers.
Wasim: Whenever I walk into the room, she just goes like this (throws his arms open)… like ‘I want to come to you!’ That’s an unbelievable feeling!
Shaniera: And she runs so fast to him! I can spend three weeks with her and she’ll drop me like a hot coal and go straight to her father.
Wasim: It’s tough staying away from her, the boys and Shaniera. I have to do my job, but it is tough. I want to cut down on work but I want my kids to have a good life and for that I have to work.
Shaniera: But we FaceTime every day and she points to the TV when you ask her where is daddy… that’s cute!
Wasim, you recently tweeted: ‘My little princess just discovered who her dad is. Maybe a future fast bowler in the making ? InshAllah’. Is there a story behind it?
Shaniera: I have to share this. She was sitting at breakfast and suddenly this jam jar just flew across the room. We all looked at Wasim! (ROFL) There was Aiyla sitting there and her nanny said, ‘She is a left-arm bowler!’ Oh! It would have been a wicket. (ROFL)
Wasim: Her nanny is from Philippines. So, she has picked up Filipino, the Australian English, Urdu and then Punjabi. She watches a show that is Russian!
Shaniera, you have also picked up Urdu. What are your favourite Urdu words?
Wasim: Bhookh lagi hai! Neend aa rahi hai! Bahut bhookh lagi hai!
Shaniera: I can understand 70 per cent of Urdu. Hindi is a little bit faster.
Wasim: At 30, it’s tough to learn a new language, but she has done a great job.
Can we have a sample of a Hindi conversation between the Akrams?
Wasim: Kya plan? Main theek hoon. Abhi kya?
Shaniera: Abhi khana. Mujhe bhookh lagi hai! (Everyone goes ROFL)
Wasim: Aapko hamesha bhookh hi laagi rehti hai!
Shaniera: Aapko khoobsurat… (LOL)
Wasim: Aap mere se bhi zyayda khoobsurat hain!
Shaniera: Am I talking Hindi or Urdu?
Wasim: They are similar.
[Crispy Aromatic Duck, Stir-fried Tenderloin, Wrapped Chicken Pak Choi with Szechuan Sauce, Scallop Shui Mai, Crispy Prawn Cheung Fun... arrive at the table and talk veers towards ‘Bhookh’!]
Your first memorable dinner together would be at?
Shaniera: I think Stokehouse (Melbourne, Australia). What was that restaurant we had gone where there was a pond? I remember I was grabbing his arm because I was scared that I would fall and I was like, ‘Ooohhh… it’s quite bigger than I thought!’ (LOL)
Wasim: This was in Crown Melbourne. There are quite a few restaurants there... but there was this one Japanese restaurant where I took her while we were dating...
Shaniera: … when I finally accepted! (LOL)
Wasim: I love my food. Wherever I go, I do my homework, what are the best places to go and eat. It doesn’t have to be expensive, as long as the food is good.
What have your food discoveries in India been?
Wasim: Indian food is very different from Pakistan. Ours is a very meat-oriented country. In India, it is much more varied. Bangal ka khana is different. South is different. North is different. I enjoy every kind of food. Before coming to India, I had no concept of idli, dosa. Pakistan mein pataa hi nahin kisiko kya hota hai! I love dosas now for breakfast.
Shaniera: I absolutely love Indian food when I am in India. In Australia and England, where I have been before, it’s really yummy food, but when you actually come to India, it’s quite delicate and you can actually taste all the real flavours of home cooking.
Wasim: I took her to the famous Bukhara restaurant (ITC Maurya, Delhi), and she slept the whole day next day! It was so heavy! Dal Makhni… (ROFL)
Shaniera: And he challenged me to eat that whole naan!.... First time ever in our relationship, we slept for 12 hours! (ROFL) Dal Makhni… I asked what is in this?!
Wasim:I said butter! She was like ‘Realllyyy!” (Australian accent)
Shaniera: No wonder it tastes so good! It’s got butter in it. You know it (the surprises) don’t stop. I feel like I am still dating Wasim and it’s still in those early stages. He can still tell me, ‘Try this!’ and I still haven’t had that before.
What’s your go-to dish?
Shaniera: Japanese.
Wasim: It’s healthy and light, but obviously I love desi food. I love the food in Calcutta. I love how they cook the fish here with mustard. Then the fish shorbewali? Jhol kehte hain usko?
t2: Yes!
Wasim: I am a fish-eater. I love it!
Shaniera: I love the fish too. It’s the way people serve you fish here. That smile which seems to say we are sure you are going to love it.
Shaniera, you also love pani puri?
It’s my favourite. Me and Yusuf Pathan’s son (Ayaan) had a competition. His son won! I like it with thoda mirchi.
Do you love cooking, Shaniera?
Shaniera: When my family is there I like to cook.
Wasim: Yes! Goulash! I have named it goulash. Sab kuch daal do. Aadhey ghantey baad aoo toh taiyyar hoti hai!
Shaniera: Stop it! Just because something is not cooked for 10 hours doesn’t mean it’s not good! My mum is a fantastic cook and she grabs every green vegetable you can imagine, puts organic chicken and cooks them in a pot and it turns out amazing. Touch of love!
What about you Wasim? Do you cook?
Wasim: I want to learn. When she is cooking, I sit with her.
Shaniera: He does. The kids hang around. I sing something Italian. In Australia, he has seen the men really get involved in the kitchen.
Wasim: Her father used to make incredible barbecue. Breakfast in the morning… fried eggs with lamb chops….
What of Shaniera’s cooking do you love, Wasim?
Shaniera: I know what they don’t love, my pizzas!
Wasim: Because aattey se pizza bana rahi thi!
Shaniera: No taste! (LOL)
Wasim: It’s made of maida. Bechari ko nahin pataa! Hum bake kar rahein hain, pizza ban hi nahin raha! (LOL)
Shaniera: It was not the right flour. We had the best time though. It was so funny! (LOL)
Wasim: We were like, ‘This is awesome!’ and then ‘Ewwwww (makes a face)!’ (Everyone goes ROFL)
Shaniera: For my 15-year-old (Akbar), his flavour of the month is MacNCheese. He doesn’t like desi food all the time and then he’s like ‘Mum can you make me something gori?!’
Wasim: Tahmoor loves every kind of food. He is back home from the US (where he is studying) for a holiday and he hadn’t had desi food for four months. There was nihari, keema, aloo gosht and biryani.
Shaniera: We have nihari once every couple of weeks.
Wasim: That also without roti or naan. Shaniera hardly eats carbs. We have organic desi roast chicken. She doesn’t take rice or roti. Just lots of salad.
Shaniera: Sauteed or steamed sabzi.
Wasim: I like the way she makes the roast and the meatballs.
Shaniera: I think he likes anything I cook.
What about Aiyla?
Wasim: Aiyla loves khichri, but not with a spoon! And Shaniera is learning to make a bite (with her hand). So, by the time it reaches Aiyla’s mouth, ek chawal reh gaya tha (in Shaniera’s hand)!
Shaniera: She is such a desi girl.
Wasim: Kebabs, dal....
Shaniera: Dal-chawal is her favourite.
Wasim: She had nihari the other day.
Shaniera: Without the mirchi.
Wasim: I must say ITC is like home. They cook whatever we want. If we want khichri for Aiyla, they’ll cook it for her with broccoli and asparagus.
Calcutta has to be your favourite city in India, right?
Wasim: I love this city. I love the boys in the team. I just feel like I am home in Calcutta. I really do.
Shaniera: Most! And the wives (in KKR) are best friends. As soon as the boys are off to training, we’ll text each other: ‘So, what are we doing?’ We do have a WhatsApp group. Even some of the girls this year are like, ‘I don’t believe how good it is! I don’t want to leave Calcutta!’ The crowd at the games is sensational. My favourite things are the buildings in the city.
I felt what it was to be like Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt that day when we were at Apollo Hospitals with Aiyla! There were about 2,000 people.
So, Shaniera, you are loving this life?
Shaniera: Home is where the heart is. So, whenever I am with him and grow with him, I am happy.
Wasim: Yeah, my 50th (June 3) is coming up next month.
Shaniera: And, how damn good does he look for 50! Oh my god, my husband is so attractive! Even a couple of cricketers I was speaking to, they are all recognising that he is turning 50 and they are all coming up to me and asking me: ‘How does he do it?’
So, what is the secret, Wasim?
Shaniera: I said me! (ROFL) No, I am just joking! I think healthy lifestyle.
Wasim: I think it is the lifestyle and I learn a lot from her as well, eating early, sleeping early, waking up early, running every morning, gym. I am really enjoying it.
Shaniera: We’ve also realised to let little things go and just laugh. Be happy and don’t worry too much.
Wasim: It seems like a lifetime with Shaniera. Found the right person at the right time. We are a very close-knit family. Now, baby Aiyla. The boys have grown up. One is 18 (Tahmoor) and one is 15 (Akbar).
Shaniera: Learning, experience… there are ups, downs, happiness, joy… that’s what marriage is and that’s the beauty of marriage. I have got three beautiful kids.
Wasim: I have four! (LOL)
Shaniera: Can you put in that I said that?
Wasim: I say it all the time!
But it’s good to be a kid and smiling!
Shaniera: I have no reason not to smile.
Wasim: She is a positive person, a happy person. She is not one of those wives who will say, ‘husband is a headache!’ (LOL). Just before the husband comes home, they’d wrap a dupatta around their heads and say, ‘I have a headache!’
Shaniera: I am a little younger and anyone who is (married to someone older), there will be a massive plus-side. He might find something interesting or I might find something interesting. He might teach me something that I have never known before. He guides me in so many things and so many directions. He is my go-to stop shop. If I need advice, he is the best man to go to. I have got all that wrapped up in a husband. That’s awesome. He is such a pleasant person to be around.
He thinks before he does things. He is very intelligent. I don’t think a lot of people see that. They only see the sportsman side. The things he does behind commentating and behind cricket never ceases to amaze me. He is always challenging himself. He has gone into a whole new era. He is about to turn 50. He is embracing it and he is not scared at all. He is going at a 100mph and it is great!
So, no midlife crisis?
Shaniera: Absolutely not! In case, he had it, I missed it.
Wasim: I am very happy in life.
Shaniera, what would you like to see Wasim do differently now?
Wasim: Learn to paint! Just kidding. (LOL)
Shaniera: I think I want to see him give himself a lot more time. He is always putting me and his family first. I am going to make sure that he does things for himself. He loves golf. I am going to push him a little bit more to take that time. And, family holidays. When you grow up, you remember the best times are the family holidays.
So, what’s up for the big 50th birthday?
Shaniera: It’s a secret!!
Wasim and Shaniera recommend:
Wasim: In Karachi, you have to go to Kolachi. It is Karachi ka purana naam. They have 2,000 people a night and then there are huge queues. You have to taste this dish called Sajji Chicken... Chicken cooked in a firepit with only salt. It comes out crunchy. Then they have lamb kebabs. Unbelievable food. Three young boys have opened that restaurant. It’s about three-four years old. You get coupons.
Shaniera: The first thing you need to do when you land in Australia is find an Australian family and do barbecue!
KNIGHTSWAP
The answer to KnightSwap dated May 20 is: Piyush Chawla and Brad Hogg.
The first email popped up at 4.11am on Friday and the count crossed 450 by Saturday afternoon. The two lucky winners who won two tickets each for the May 22 KKR vs Sunrisers Hyderabad match are:
- Nitesh Patodi, Howrah
- Lissy Kuriakose, B Shamsul Huda Road
Here are the answers for KnightQuiz5 dated May 20
1. Which pacer has replaced the injured John Hastings in the KKR squad? Ans: Shaun Tait
2. Name the hotel that has been home to the Knights from IPL 1 till now? Ans: ITC Sonar, Calcutta
3. Name the Zimbabwean who played for KKR. Ans: Tatenda Taibu
4. Name any two Knights for whom the KKR match versus Gujarat Lions in Kanpur was a “home game” since they play first-class cricket for UP. Ans: Piyush Chawla/ Ankit Rajpoot/ Kuldeep Yadav
Winners who received two tickets each for the May 22 KKR vs Sunrisers Hyderabad match are:
- Kavita Agarwal, New Alipore
- Aritra Guha, Bose Pukur Road
Share your Eden experience with us at t2@abp.in
