The neighbourhood mothers and fathers decided to host a picnic at the park. The weather was perfect, according to them: windy, cool, and refreshing. The genius parents behind today's outing were Umm Ayyub, Umm Ishaaq, Umm Hasan and the new addition to the team, Umm Ibrahim.

Umm Ayyub and Umm Ishaaq have been friends for a long time, ever since they moved to the town. Umm Hasan too was there from the beginning, so these three mothers are the closest friends. Umm Ibrahim is joining the group fine since she is Umm Ishaaq's best friend! The more the merrier, they say.

Talking about the different age groups here, I'm reminded of this beautiful Ayah in Surat-ur Rum:

"Allâh is He Who created you in (a state of) weakness, then gave you strength after weakness, then after strength gave (you) weakness and grey hair. He creates what He wills. And it is He Who is the All-Knowing, the All-Powerful (i.e. Able to do all things)."

This Ayah describes the circle of life – as a baby, then youth, then old age. If you look closely, we have the babies – Ismail, Sana's little brother, and his friend; the youth – Sana, Maryam, Sarah, Ishaaq, Ibrahim, Hasan, Ayyub and another; the old age – their mothers and fathers. To be fair, their mothers and fathers are fairly young, but just to show the different friend groups here. Subhan Allah.

Every family was going to bring a different kind of food item to the picnic. Sarah's family was assigned sandwiches and cookies. Sarah stayed up after Fajr to revise Quran. When she was done, she went downstairs to bake those cookies that everyone loves.

Ishaaq came flying down the stairs, "Ukthi! Are you making cookies already?" he asked, oddly appearing with messy hair and sleepy eyes.

"Did you just wake up?" Sarah asked, scanning her little brother's face.

Ishaaq stole some chocolate chips and stuffed them in his mouth. "Yeah," he replied with his mouthful.

"Go wash your face, Ishaaq!" Umm Ishaaq instructed as she saw Ishaaq from the stairs.

"Assalamu Alaikum, Ummi," he greeted, trying to get away from his mom's scoldings.

"Wa Alaikum Assalam, son, now go brush!" she ordered. She relaxed with a sigh, "Your sister will be done with the cookies by afternoon, In Sha Allah,"

"Yep, go fix your hair, it's unlike you to leave it messy like that," Sarah commented, holding back a chuckle.

"I thought you said messy hair was the new cool," he joked, lowering his head to show his new hairstyle.

"Yeah, but not on you, it looks good on your father," his mother added. Ishaaq's jaw dropped. Sarah and her mother laughed at Ishaaq's shocked expression.

Father went out early to get groceries for the sandwiches and dinner later. He was back in time for Umm Ishaaq to get her signature sandwiches ready.

Sana's family was assigned to arrange coffee and tea. Sana got coffee powder and sugar for her sweet tooth best friend. Abu Ayyub got a portable gas cooker and kettle. Umm Ayyub got tea and milk for those who like it, like Umm Ishaaq. Like mother like daughter, both sweet tooths.

"Ukhti, you got the sugar?" Ayyub asked, delivering the question from his mother.

"Of course, both our friends are sweet tooths," she sighed. Ayyub chuckled and ran to deliver the news to his mother.

"Sana, have you seen the house keys?" Abu Ayyub asked. Little did he know he was holding it in his hand.

Sana pretended to look around, "I think I found it, Abbi," she took the house keys from his hands to give them back to him. Abu Ayyub chuckled.

"I didn't see that there," he admitted. "It's going to be cold outside, so remember to get your sweaters, okay?" he announced, remembering the chilly winds blowing outside.

"Yes, Abbi," Sana and Ayyub replied.

Jade Park was in the middle of the town. When you enter the road by car, you will first see Sarah's modern yet simple villa, and then you will see Maryam's cosy cottage. Then two houses later you will see Hasan's villa, and two houses later you will see Sana's villa.

The park was a few minutes away from everyone's houses, so when snack time arrived, they could all reach there on time.

The sky was partly cloudy, and the trees were swaying with the wind in silence. You could only hear the leaves rustling, and occasional, distant car honks, from the main road outside town that led to the city.

Maryam was making pasta in the kitchen with her mother, while Ibrahim and his father brought out the mat and the foldable chairs from their newly organized storeroom.

"Alhamdulillah, at least now everything has its own designated spot," Abu Ibrahim sighed, relieved.

Ibrahim helped his father bring out the foldable chairs. "Alhamdulillah, I'm also getting used to the washing machine being in another room, instead of the kitchen," Ibrahim chuckled, remembering how a few days ago he was heading to the kitchen with the laundry, only to remember the washing machine was in the room opposite to the kitchen.

"Alhamdulillah indeed, yes, it was a bit difficult to get accustomed to, but Alhamdulillah," Abu Ibrahim agreed.

"I still have some things to get accustomed to, I still get lost in the house sometimes," Ibrahim chuckled.

"I can agree with you on that, my son," Abu Ibrahim chuckled along with him.

"I can hear you two laughing instead of working!" Maryam stepped in, with her hands on her waist and a raised eyebrow.

"We're coming, dear, now that you're here why don't you grab the straw mat from there," her father pointed at the straw mat behind the folded chairs.

"Okay, let's get them all in the living room soon! Ummi is calling us!" Maryam suggested. Rather, commanded.

She was the most excited of them all to head to the park. She loved nature and in this weather. Cool, calm, and refreshing? This was peak time to explore nature.

"We're not leaving until in another hour though, Maryam," Ibrahim reminded. Maryam crossed her arms.

"I know, but it's good to be ready beforehand!" she retorted. "Thinking forward, like mom says!" she quoted her mother.

Abu Ibrahim grabbed two of the folded chairs, "Ibrahim, you get the other two, and Maryam don't forget to bring the mat," he reminded.

Maryam carried the mat and followed her father and brother to the living room, "I'm coming!" she called after them.

Hasan's family was assigned fruit juices and croissants. Hasan took his little brother out to get the fruit juice from the grocery store and returned soon after.

"Akhi! Did you get apple juice?" Hasan's little sister asked eagerly as she opened the door to let her elder brothers in.

"Yes, we couldn't forget since you made sure to tell us repeatedly every hour of every day to get it," Hussein replied, looking at his little sister, annoyed. She was smiling excitedly, trying to peek into the contents of the shopping bag.

Hasan showed the apple juice bottle in the bag he was carrying. "You'll have it later, after snacks, okay Hania?" he instructed.

"Okay!" she jumped up and down excited at the thought of having apple juice. "When are we going?" she asked, unable to wait any longer.

"After praying 'Asr, princess," her father answered. "Put those juices in the fridge, boys!" Abu Hasan instructed.

Hasan and Hussein head to the kitchen to put the juices in the fridge.

"I smell something delicious, like, straight out of a bakery," Hussein commented, closing his eyes and sniffing the air.

His mother chuckled, "Come taste it then," she called him over.

"Don't forget me, Ummi," Hasan smiled and came over. Umm Hasan tore one croissant into half and gave one piece to each of her sons. They tried it and savoured the delicious taste. Their mother is truly the best baker they know.

The neighbourhood masjid calls everyone to the 'Asr prayer by sounding the Adhan. After Salah, the families took the things they packed to the park.

Ibrahim and Sarah's family walked together, the men at the front and the women chatting away at the back.

"I love your dress, Maryam, Allahumma Barik!" Sarah complimented. Maryam always chose the cutest outfits.

"I chose it!" Maryam replied proudly. "Alhamdulillah!"

The mothers were chatting away like schoolgirls, remembering their school days and how beautiful times were when they were young. Ibrahim set down one of the foldable chairs because Ishaaq offered to carry the second one. The chair tumbled over backwards and fell on the road. Both of them turned back to pick up the chair. While standing up, Ibrahim's gaze locked on Sarah's for a split second, and then he noticed his little sister being all chatty with her. He turned back in front to continue the walk to the park.

She looked as mysterious as always.

They are the first to reach the park. A few moments later, Sana and Hasan's family arrive too. The men and the women gather at different spots in the park, close enough to easily deliver items to and from, but far enough for each other's privacy.

"Sana, this is Maryam," Sarah officially introduced her mother's best friend's daughter... [does that make Maryam her cousin?] Maryam tried to learn about Sana as much as she could before she heard her voice.

"Nice to meet you, Maryam, I'm Sana," she flashed a welcoming smile at her. "Welcome to the unfortunate squad of people surrounded by Sarah,"

Sarah shook her head, holding back a laugh. "What is that supposed to mean, Sana!"

"I think she means that I'm in trouble now that we're friends," Maryam concluded. Sana nodded in approval.

"What kind of trouble?" Sarah asked cluelessly. What could the two be referring to?

Sana and Maryam looked at each other, "You, you're the trouble," Sana chuckled, pointing at Sarah.

"What did I do?" Sarah asked, defensive.

"Nothing," Sana replied, grinning.

Maryam was laughing at both. "I think we can all agree that Ukhti Sarah and Ukhti Sana are both cool though,"

"Yes, we can agree on that," Sana nodded in approval.

"Wait, Sana, were you smiling just now?" Sarah asked, shocked. She examined her friend's smiling eyes. Once she heard that she straightened her face.

"Of course, I can smile," Sana raised a brow at her. "I need to be happy to smile, you know?"

Maryam enjoyed the back and forth between Sarah and Sana – two ninjas making expressions behind their niqabs and the only way to find out what expressions they were making was to read their eyes.

"Ukhti, when can I see your face?" Maryam asked Sana, searching Sana's eyes for any hint of the expression she was making.

"When you come to my house," Sana answered. "Come next weekend with Sarah, she considers my house her second home,"

"Hey, of course, I will visit you if you live that close to me," Sarah defended.

Sana grinned. "I know, and I'm not complaining," she mumbled. Sarah's eyes widened as her ears picked up what her best friend said.

"Aww, I'm touched, Sana," Sarah melted and jumped over to hug Sana. Sana crinkled her nose at her overly affectionate friend.

"Yeah, yeah, back off now." She sighed.

Maryam and Sana get on more amicable terms. Maryam is glad to be surrounded by two cool elder sisters who are best friends. She listened to Sana complain about Sarah while Sarah praised Sana.

The fathers and sonswere having a football match a bit farther away. It was the four fathers vs.the five sons. Ismail, Sana's youngest brother, was the referee. Hania waswatching the game and calling out any moves she thought were a 'pelanty'. Sarahand Sana could see Abu Ayyub kick the ball at high speed. The football wasflying towards the back of Maryam's head.