Ishrat's POV

"Ammi Ammi"

I jerked up on hearing my 5 years old daughter, Ruhi, impatiently calling me out and shake me up vigorously from my sleep.

"Kya hua Ruhi? Tum theek toh ho. Lagi kya tumhe? Koi bura sapna dekh liya kya?" I worriedly asked holding her cheeks in my palms.

"Ammi...Mai theek hoon" she said cutely holding my cheeks in her palms just like I did. That brought a smile on my face.

"Phir kya hua beta? Itni raat gaye kyun uthe aap?" I enquired taking her into my lap.

"Offo Ammi. Raat kahan hai? Ab toh subah hogayi na" she hit her forehead dramatically.

I checked the clock on my phone panicking if I had missed my Fajr* alarm of 5:30 am.

(*The name of the Namaz that is offered at dawn)

The clock said 5:02 am.

"Ruhi abhi toh Fajr ki Adhan* bhi nahi hui hai." I said.

(*The call for prayer given from the Masjid before every prayer)

"Haan par subah toh hogayi hai na. Aap hi ne toh kaha tha ke 12 o' clock se time AM hojata hai. Aur AM ka matlab hota hai day" she reminded me.

"Ji haan. Baat toh aapki sahi hai. Par aap ye bataiye ke aap aaj itni subah subah kaise uth gayin? Warna toh roz Ammi aapko jaga jagake thak jaati hain" I asked.

"Woh maiiii....haan mai aapko Eid Mubarak wish karne keliye jaldi uthgayi" Ruhi said batting her eyelids. It was quite obvious that my little natkhat had some hidden motive.

"Achhaaaa? Aap mujhe Eid Mubarak wish karna chahti thi. Theek hai phir wish kijiye" I acted all innocent.

"Eid Mubarak Ammi" she said holding my palms between her little ones.

"Eid Mubarak beta" I replied hugging her tightly.

Coming out of the embrace I said "Ab wish kar liya na. Chalo ab thodi der so jaate hain" I said knowingly that she would now come up with her hidden agenda.

"Nahiiii....Sona nahi hai" she screamed.

"Par kyun? Abhi toh aapne kaha tha ke aap wish karne keliye uthi ho. Ab wish karliya toh so jaate hain na" I played along.

"Par aap ne toh kaha tha ke Eid wale din aap mujhe meri nayi princess dress pehnaogi" she blurted out.

I chuckled "Oh toh isliye subah subah uth gayi aap hai na?"

She squinted her eyes and pouted cutely like she always does on being caught. I could not resist but press her cheeks and kiss her sloppily for her cuteness.

She rubbed the wetness left behind by the kiss on her cheek with the back of her palm. I don't know if it's because I am her mother that I find every move of hers cute or she really is an epitome of cuteness.

"Ammi nayi dress" she reminded me as if I would forget.

"Itni jaldi pehna doongi toh aap dress gandi kardoge na beta. Phir aap Masjid kaise chalogi gande kapdon me?" I tried to explain.

"Gandi ho jayegi toh mai woh doosri dress pehen loongi jo Simmi Bua mere liye le aayi thi" she had a back up plan too.

I now knew I had to give up. Don't I always give up in front of her? It is amazing how she makes others agree to her demands. Probably got this trait from her father!!!

"Hmmm...Toh aap nahi maan ne wali. Hai na? Chalo phir aapko dress pehna dete hain" I carried her in my arms and got up from the bed.

"Arey Ammi aap bhool gayi kya? Woh dress pehenne se pehle mujhe special wali nahayi nahayi karni hai na" she said.

"Special wali nahayi? Woh kya hoti hai?" I asked purposely.

"Woh jo aapne mujhe pichle Eid pe karwayi thi. Jisme pehle Wuzu* karte hain aur phir kuch kuch karke nahate hain. COOL jaisa kuch naam hai us special bath ka" she explained.

(*Ablution done before every prayer)

"Hehehe...Ghusl kehte hain use" I taught her.

"Haan wahi. Aapne kaha tha ke nahake hum cool feel karte hain toh cool se mai Ghusl yaad rakhun. Mujhe sirf Cool yaad raha" she bit her tongue.

"Koi baat nahi. Ab se yaad rakh lena. Toh chalo aapko ghusl karate hain" I took her to the bathroom and gave her Ghusl*. We could hear the Adhan from the Masjid by then. I made Wuzu and we offered Fajr Namaz together.

(*Normal shower with some extra steps, done on special occassions)

"Zara dekhein toh meri princess kaisi lag rahi hai?" I turned her around after having dressed her up in a beautiful white & pink princess gown completed with a tiara.

She lifted her gown like a princess and swirled around chirpily. I gathered her in my arms & pecked on her cheek.

She wiped it with her palm yet again.

"Ab mai baahar jaaun?" She was excited to show her new dress to her friends in the neighbourhood.

"Abhi itni jaldi koi nahi tayyar hua hoga. Sab bachhe so rahe honge. Thodi der ruk jaao phir mai Humera aunty ko call karke keh doongi woh Sohail ko bheje aapko apne sath neeche le jaane keliye" I said.

As if on cue, the landline rang. I checked the caller ID and accepted the call.

"Assalamu Alaikum Humera! Eid Mubarak" I said.

"Walaikum Assalam Ishrat. Tumhe bhi Eid bahut bahut Mubarak ho" came the reply.

"Shukriya. Batao subah subah kaise yaad kiya?" I enquired.

"Kya bataun yaar? Ye Sohail ne 4 baje se naak me dum kar rakha hai. Naye kapde pehenne ki itni chull hai na isko ke mujhe sone tak nahi diya. Ab woh tayyar hoke baitha hai aur rat lagaye hue hai ke Ruhi ko lekar neeche jaana hai. Maine kaha Ruhi kahan uthi hogi abhi" Humera narrated.

"Mere yahan bhi bilkul yahi haal hai. Madam 5 baje se jaagi hui hain aur poori tarah tayyar hain. Mujhe toh lagta hai ke society ke sare bachhon ne hi milkar plan bana liya hoga ke subah subah uth jaana hai" I said.

"Dekho toh zara. Pata nahi kahan se soojhti hai inko badmaashi" she replied.

"Rehne do na. Eid ka din hai. Eid ka matlab hi toh hota hai Celebration. Ab bachhon keliye toh naye kapde pehenna aur khelna hi toh celebration hai na" I expressed.

Let Us Rejoice Indeed
For This Is The Day Of Eid

"Sahi kaha tumne. Toh theek hai phir mai Sohail ko bhejti hoon, tum Ruhi ko uske sath bhej dena" she said.

I agreed and in few moments Sohail was at my doorstep in his new sherwani. Ruhi held his hand and they ran towards the lift.

"Sambhal ke" I said out of habit as I saw them running.

I rushed to the balcony to make sure that the kids had reached down safely. What I saw there was a mesmerising sight. All the kids of the society had gathered together wearing their Eid outfits. By all kids I mean the kids of all religions. It was a custom in our society that every special occassion was celebrated by everyone. From this 10th floor it looked like a colour filled painting on display. I could hear their laughter faintly and see them exchanging sweets & toffees with each other.

Children Are Wearing New Clothes
Bright Colours Fill The Streets
Their Faces Full Of Laughter
Their Pockets Full Of Sweets

I spotted Ruhi and Sohail amidst the crowd and heaved a sigh of relief that they had reached safely. Just then a pair of hands sneaked from behind my waist stopping my breath in between the throat.

"Assalamu Alaikum Jaaneman" he wished placing a soft kiss on my shoulder.

"Walaikum Assalam. Subah hui nahi ke aapka romance shuru hogaya" I mocked.

"Ab kya karein? Biwi aisi mili hai ke apne handsome shouhar ko attention dene ke bajaye pata nahi kis buddhe ko taak rahi hai neeche" he sighed dramatically.

"Haan ji. Is society me bas aap akele gabru jawan ho, baki sab toh 60-70 saal ke buddhe hi hain na" I rolled my eyes.

"Compliment tha? Thank you very much" he smirked.

"Aap se toh kuch kehna hi bekar hai. Anyways pehle ye bataiye ke aap ne Namaz padhi ya nahi?" I asked sternly.

"Padhliya Madam. Abhi Masjid se hi wapas aa raha hoon" he informed.

"By the way, tum itni subah yahan kise dekh rahi ho? Aur meri pari kahan hai?" He asked.

"Aapki pari ko hi toh dekhne keliye khadi hoon yahan. Woh dekhiye wahan rahi, Sohail ke sath. Aaj waqayi me pari lag rahi hai hamari beti" I pointed out admiringly.

"Tum ne Ruhi ko is time pe neeche kyun bheja? Abhi poori tarah subah bhi nahi hui hai. Tumhe zara fikr nahi hai. Mai abhi jaa kar use le aata hoon" he was on his toes already when I held his upper arm and pulled him back.

"Maana ke aapko bahut fikr hai Ruhi ki par mai bhi befikr nahi hoon Rahman. Sohail hai uske sath aur phir society ke saare bachhe bhi neeche jama hue hain. Society se baahar toh woh nahi jaayenge aur phir Saleem bhaiyya hain na. Woh bachhon ka achhe se khayal rakhenge" I calmly explained.

"Jo bhi hai mai jaakar Ruhi ko laa raha hoon" he refused to budge.

"Ruhi ka mood kharab mat karo na please. Aaj Eid hai. Dekhiye kitni khush lag rahi hai sabke sath" I tried my best to convince him.

Let Us Rejoice Indeed
For This Is The Day Of Eid

"Hmmm" he agreed unwillingly. "Ruhi mujhe wish kiye bina hi chali gayi" he supported his chin with his palm while resting his elbow on the rails of the balcony.

"Aaj mai samajh gayi" I declared.

"Kya?" He was confused.

"Aap ko isse kya?" I dragged.

"Kya hua?" He was still confused.

"Rehne dijiye" I faked anger.

"Arey batao toh sahi baat kya hai" he pleaded.

"Aaj mai samajh gayi ke bas Ruhi hi maaine rakhti hai aapki zindagi me. Meri toh koi ehmiyat hai hi nahi" I whined.

"Tum duniya ki pehli maa hogi jo apni khud ki beti se jal rahi ho. But anyways ye toh batao ke ye HUGE discovery kis basis pe ki tum ne?" He mocked.

"Aur nahi toh kya? Itni der se biwi aapke saamne khadi hai, usko wish tak nahi kiya aur bas yahi afsos kiye jaa rahe ho ke beti ne aapko wish nahi kiya" I twisted my lips in fake anger.

"Nautanki! Ab mujhe pata chala ke Ruhi ye sari dramebaazi kahan se seekhti hai" he twisted my ear like he twists Ruhi's when she is up with some mischief.

"Mai Ruhi nahi hoon. Mera kaan chodiye" I got my ear out of his hold.

He pulled me by waist saying "Toh phir tum hi batao is shararat ki tumhe kya saza doon?" He winked naughtily.

"Shararat toh aapko soojh rahi hai Rahman. Ab chodiye mujhe bahut kaam hai" I wriggled in his hold.

"Uuunhoon. Eid manane ka haq agar Ruhi ko hai toh mujhe bhi hona chahye. Bina Eid manaye toh mai chodnewala hoon nahi" He said leaning closer.

I pushed him back with both my hands "Mr.Rahman! Aap bhool gaye hon toh yaad dila doon ye Dubai hai. Aur yahan is tarah ki PDA pe fine bhi lag sakti hai. Isiliye control" I warned him.

"Zarur tum jaisi hi koi Romance ki dushman hogi jisne ye rule banaya hoga" he blabbered and went in.

Laughing at his plight, I proceeded to the kitchen to make Sheer Khurma and Biriyani.

-----To be continued-----