You decide it's another blessed Friday, only to have your pet of seven years wage a war against your honor and dignity. So much for Ma's mutton kababs and the thought of sniffing Baba's new attar.

Spying on Omi through the mosque's window is not the brightest of all ideas I have ever come up with. My cover gets blown in a minute by a lady in a purple hijab, not that a clear windowpane is much of a cover. She smiles and mouths something incomprehensible, but I am too miserable to return the gesture.

I find Omi nestled on a green prayer mat beside Baba, his wickedly calm eyes following every movement of my friend, the Imam. My pet loves sneaking into the mosque every now and then, an ironic choice for a monster. The Imam, unaware of the little culprit present in the congregation, passionately continues to deliver his sermon from the raised platform. Omi's thoughtful nods do little to raise his suspicion.

That hypocrite!

I raise my fist and nearly punch the window, stopping myself just in time. Last Friday's sermon was on the importance of controlling anger. I love the Imam and his never-ending supply of cookies, and creating a scene during the Jum'ah prayer is not part of my plan.

Time is running out. I must get to my friend. The wise old Imam can help me with my plight; if anyone can talk Omi out of his rubbish plan, it is him. His nasty spell might work on Ma and Baba, but the Imam will not fall for it.

Omi stirs and looks out through the other window. And I happen to know where his wandering mind has settled.

I force out another hot puff of air. A wave of nausea hits me as I picture Omi heading out of the mosque in Baba's arms, all set to commit the unmentionable. I shake my head and chase the thought away, unwilling to throw up my precious breakfast. Keeping a mutton kabab safely tucked inside your stomach is not as easy as it sounds, especially when you overhear your big-mouthed pet and his big-headed friend hatching a big fat egg of a plot.

The Imam carries on his lecture. I let out a pitiful groan as my mind replays Omi's words from this morning.

That traitor, that meowing traitor!

Getting a new pet is the norm, but getting a new owner is high treason. And that's exactly what the evil treacherer is planning to do.

All the alarms in my head start ringing at once as the sermon ends. When the sermon ends, the prayer begins, and when a prayer begins, it inevitably ends. And the end of this Jum'ah prayer will be the beginning of my downfall. I am about to be stripped of half my ownership.

The last trace of decency leaves my soul as I bolt through the entrance of the mosque and launch myself toward the Imam. He grins and catches me midair. A soft laughter arises from the congregation.

"This is outrageous!" I growl in protest. "Omi is getting a new owner! Can you believe this? A new owner! You must tell him that it's a terrible idea... the terrible-est idea ever! A pet getting a new... disgusting! This is unheard of! This is... this is... this is a felony! A horrifying instance of disloyalty! And a crime against the nation! And... and... arachibutyrophobia... and hypersomnolence... and Doberman Pinscher... and... and all those big words that sound like they mean something bad!"

I stop to catch my breath for a moment before continuing. "I am not sharing my pet human with another cat."

The Imam meows back.

Another series of laughter. I turn around, fuming.

Omar, my Omi, giggles hard. Baba playfully shoves Omar's friend on the shoulder. "You still have time to think, Wasim. Are you sure you can deal with one of those?" He asks.

I ignore the Imam as he kisses my neck and sets me down on the floor. A sudden sense of confusion paralyzes me on the spot.

"Of course, I can," Wasim says in reply. "And seems like Omar's cat can use a wife."

The Imam bends down to stroke my head. "Seems like you are getting a new neighbor and ehem... a potential spouse," he says to me. "Now, little friend, won't you join us for the Jum'ah prayer?"

So, it's not my pet human who is getting a new owner? The lot chuckles once more as I let out a meow of relief, but I don't mind this time.

And I am definitely joining them for the Jum'ah prayer.