Chapter 4
Tossing, turning and rolling that's all I did the entire night because one after another some frightening memories were coming back in my mind and then around two my impatient cousin Yahya, who was bringing his bride back home decided to not let me sleep, so before even boarding he called me and stayed on call for more than an hour 'just to make sure that the arrangements were enough' and his in-laws and wife gets the best welcome, this guy was totally whipped!
So like ususal after Fajar prayer, I went for my morning jog and after coming back home and changing into fresh clothes, I went inside kitchen to prepare breakfast on account of losing the bet last night, I was easily having two hours in my hand as my parents won't be up till ten in the morning and the max I need to prepare food is one hour and extra fifteen minutes. Telling Joe about the plan I started my magical talent, mind you I'm a good or else acceptable cook.
"Joe there is no mushrooms in the fridge and where is... is this halal?!" I impatiently turned showing him the packet of sausages which I needed to make my desired dish because till now only coffee and French toasts were done and I was still not finding complete ingredients to make frittata.
"Wali it's not in the fridge I told you, it's in the pantry! Let me help you, you are ruining my kitchen and obviously that's halal! I'm working for you for past..."
Time to zone out from his speech of "how he does the grocery shopping of Halal food even for himself". He was trying to get into the kitchen and I wanted to have my time alone, two stubborn and one command results a lot of noise.
"Thanks Joe, I appreciate your continuous efforts but no for next thiry minutes kitchen is entirely mine!" I said and went inside the pantry, sure of the idea that he must be rolling his eyes at me, poor guy, getting the needed ingredients I started making the frittata which would take twenty minutes the least, it's the only type of egg after hard boiled I prefer to eat. Because no compromise in food section! After placing frittata pan in the oven so the cheese can melt, I warmed up the cheese croissant and then sat up the table. French toasts, croissant, frittata, coffee...
"Joe is it enough or should we make sandwiches too?" I asked him as he was looking at table.
"I guess it's enough don't make it too greasy you all have long day ahead and to be honest I would die with shock if you would put up anymore mouth watering thing on this table! Are you really the I'll-take-coffee-only Wali, or someone else with his face?" He smirked at me.
"Ha ha ha! Oh my good you are so hilarious!" I rolled my eyes "I'll wake them up while you suit yourself, Joe!" I smiled at him taking of my apron and stepping out of the imaginary kitchen borderline.
"I already had my breakfast." He said with a smile.
"C'mon Joe! You are with us since like forever stop thinking you are not part of this family because you are as much as anyone of us, I'm not listening anything." I patted his shoulders and went upstairs to my parent's room, they like to call it guest room but we have another room for that formality.
Tapping twice I waited for them to open it up and after informing them I went downstairs to wait for them, sure of the idea that they'll take their time I decided to ring up Matt and ask for the work progress and in return got a long ten minute lecture of 'how I should stop thinking about work for once and look for other things in life', so it was better to change the topic and I went on reminding him about tomorrow's function and made him promise again to attend it with his family, my next call was Irtiza and after discussing and confirming about his plans and directing him to be there on time I ended up the call after ten minutes to find my parents walking down the stairs, surprisingly they weren't dressed up as they usually do every morning but they were looking quite fresh.
"You guys should have taken your time." I smiled at them getting up and dragging their chairs.
"Yeah but then this mouth-watering breakfast would have frozen up," my mother kissed on my cheeks and sat while my father winked at me.
"So what would you guys like to take first it's not much but anyways..." I sheepishly started serving them as Joe still wasn't here I called for him "Joe its getting cold c'mon join us and bring mango juice as well." My parents looked at me with a proud smile on their face, Joe was an important part of our life, not only he but his entire family has been serving my dad's side from a long time so he is not a worker or servant but a family member and had always been there for us but being modest he just keep his humble wards up and it's important to let him know that in no way he is different from us.
Breakfast was just like old happy days, giggling, remembering embarrassing moments and discussions, after that my parents and I went to get dressed up properly so we could kick off the day and after getting comfortably dressed up because remind you, if you are planning a function in a whole traditional way, man you need time and energy! So now we all were leaving the house,
"Okay so folks, firstly I'll be dropping you at Mr. Hasnain's place, yeah? Thank you for leaving me alone with the ladies like Murtaza, you both are ditching me at the last moment and I'm not a bit happy about it!" I looked at my dad who was smirking and at last minute bailed himself out from work and decided to go and meet his old friend, he knows how to leave me alone and work with the ladies, Murtaza who was the third and the last family member from my entire family who lives in New York like Yahya and I, had also decided to leave me alone with his wife and my mother, Because some surgery came up, Doctors and their endless ditching. "And I'll be dropping you at Muratza's place, do you ladies need ride till Yahya's place?" I looked at my mother who was also disappointed from my father.
"No Rumaisa said she has to pick some decorating materials so she will be driving," She shook her head "Will you be joining us after going to Hotel?"
"Nah, because I have to pick Murtaza's and Yahya's suit from the designer—"
"What about yours?" Dad asked.
"I got mine a week ago and then I have to pick the welcoming gift phupo said to." I said while entering the lift and my phone rang up, Murtaza.
"Asalam-O- Alikum." I said picking up the call "Yeah I'm leaving now, are you sure you can get Yahya's car decorated?"
"Obviously and thanks again Wali." He replied
"It's okay and yes please get to the airport before 1:00 tonight! their flight is landing around 12:40, okay? Yahya didn't let me sleep last night!" I rolled my eyes remembering about his call.
"He called you too? That man called me numerous times after third call I turned off my phone!" I can practically imagine Murtaza frowning and I started laughing.
"He knows how lazy you can be and your job is another reason we are always sure you'll be ruining up plans!" I chuckled getting in the car.
"I don't do it purposely though! Khair (anyways) gotta go Allah Hafiz."
"Khuda Hafiz." And the line goes off.
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Let me tell you, 'booking rooms in a hotel', 'getting your COUSINS' suits' and finally 'getting the welcoming and thank you gifts which your phupo said' sounds like just three little jobs which would just take couple of hours at the max BUT NO. IT'S. NOT. THAT. EASY. And it becomes much harder when people makes you feel that it's utterly your responsibility to arrange the event, the only break I got was when I stopped for Zuhr and Asr(noon and evening prayers). Remind me again, is Yahya my cousin or my long lost son? Because of him I went to hotels around New York to get the booking done because it was his friend's responsibility who forgot this little work! Secondly, I had never in my life argued over my clothes with the shopkeeper, today I experienced that as well! And now imagine a 31 year old man walking out a watch shop with 20 female watches, thanks to phupo!
And Yahya that impatient, pain in the butt even called me during his stopover.
Why didn't he just had a small gathering? This wastage of money! OR why he just didn't went to Virginia directly?
Around 6 in the evening, after whole six-hours of driving and making calls and gathering things from around the city, I finally returned to Yahya's place to meet the others. That place was beautifully decorated with artificial flowers to welcome the newlywed couple and this reminds me to call my cousin, Javeria, for the decoration work back home.
"You look exhausted!" Rumaisa (Murtaza's wife) chuckled while giving me a glass of water.
"Don't ask!" I shook my head.
"So all the things are done?" She asked sitting across me while making her two year old daughter eat something.
"Yeah just have to call Jia to ask if they had booked the suite in Kingsmill for the maharaja (prince)!" I replied shaking my head. "Murtaza isn't back yet? And where's maa?"
"Well Murtaza and Zulfiqar chachoo (uncle) just went out to get some groceries and some artificial flower swags to decorate the front door and Kulsoom chachi and Joe are preparing biryani for everyone." I nodded and tried Javeria's husband, after confirming and discussing about the plan, I rested myself on the couch and gradually dozed off.
Someone was hitting me and trying to open my eyes and then they poked it.
"Up Wi, up wi!" It was the little girl, Khadija, Murtaza's daughter, at first she had hated me, can't blame her, Khadijas never liked Wali, and now she only comes near me after her parents, basically where every kid of the family goes to everyone, she just grant me her company and even her own uncle and aunts haven't been granted such affection.
"Hello princess," I took her in my arms and kissed her cheeks, "Wi is up." I smiled and sat rubbing my eyes which was surely red by her waking methods.
"She bruised you." Murtaza chuckled from the other side. While Maa, dad and Rumaisa were continuously looking at the pair of us... and my mother's eyes was teary. I just smiled at them.
"Favorite girl can do that," I raised my hands in front of her so she could do our high-five "At least I have been given some liking." I smirked and he nodded laughing.
"I guess we all should leave so we could get to the airport on time." Dad spoke for the first time, getting everyone's attention.
"Yeah," I looked at my watch "Woah I slept for two hours, why didn't you guys woke me up for maghrib?" I looked at them.
"I tried but you were really in deep sleep." Murtaza said, liar.
"Well there were ways of waking me up; anyways I'll offer qaza..." I shook my head as there was no importance of arguing. They all nodded and got up.
The drive back home was in complete silence. My mood was not at its best, they need to understand that I got peace of my mind during sujood, when I recite His verses, when I make dua and none of them can offer me that peace, ever!
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A.O.A
It's just a filler update so can't promise if it came out good or not.
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