Summer holidays were the time of the year Lyba waited for the whole year! Two months of complete freedom from studies, full of late night movie ventures, Gossip Girl re-runs, friend reunions, girl's day out, picnics by the sea, lounging lazily on the hallway sofa hogging the television watching Waqar Zaka's cringe worthy dare show. Ahhhhhh sweet, sweet life.
But her beautiful dream state was broken when her baba asked her to bring the Islamic calendar and check the dates for the year's Ramzan.
"2nd June pehla roza hoga.." It was her who was saying it, but her voice sounded dull to her own ears.
First holiday is first of Ramzan??! Insert teary eyed emoji.
Why Allah miyaan?! Why??!
Don't get her wrong, Lyba was very much in love with her religion and Ramzan was her favorite month of the Islamic year. But the thought of it coming in her holidays...... Didn't get her all that excited.
It was a very unethical, un-Musalman thing to say/think.. But in Ramzan everyone was forced to be on their best behavior donning the perfect Muslim mode. Her parents closed the television and there was no listening to music, watching movies, dramas, singing, reading novels or anything. Ramzan was all about remembering Allah, reciting lots and lots of Quran, praying more than just five times a day and doing lots and lotssss of zikr. If you wanted to hum you were aloud to hum Naats only.
She didn't really disagree this was how Ramzan, the holy month that comes once a year, should be graced and celebrated however holidays were about being the craziest most irresponsible Muslim ever! No one even prayed on time during the Summer break while now she has to live with all these rules because Ramzan...
'Allah tala maaf kar den mujhe!' Lyba sniffed clutching the calendar close to her heart.
"Haye.. Itni jaldi saal guzar gaya.. Pata bhi nhi chala.." Her mother sighed probably thinking of all the preparations to be done. Her father began nodding as he sipped his morning 'chaye'.
"Haan.. Jo jo shopping hai abhi se karlo.. Ramzan mein phir main nhi leke jaoun gaa.. Mere paas time nhi hoga.." He said arching his neck.
*Scoff, "Abhi kon sa time hota hai aap ke pass? Zindagi main kabhi aap ke pass biwi ke liye time nhi hua.. Baqi dunya ka har kaam karne kaa time hai!" Her mother retorted.
"Haan toh! Taraweeh parhne jaye ga na.. Tumko kaa hai.. Abhi se jaa ke kar lo shaaping, saari. Jo bhi lene dene kaa saman hai.. Humari betiyan bhi sab Humesha Ramzan se pehle Shaaping kar len hain.. Acha thori hota hai Ibaadat ke mahine main shaaping waaping.." Her grandma piped in, making sure to take her son's side quickly while her father was still recovering from his hiccups.
The hiccups that came quite artfully(conveniently) at the point where an argument was about to start.
"Haye Lybaa, Abu ko pani laa ke de! Shakal kyaa dekh rhi? Kon yaad kiyaa mere bete ko! Jaldi pani pilaao!"
Insert her mother's typical eye roll as she passed her father a glass of cold water, knowing very well who missed him, every single time he hiccupped. Not his college girlfriend no.
"Lamiya mujhe bhi pani de do.." Lyba muttered lowly asking her sister.
"Tum ne pilaya tha kal mujhe? Khud se lo ab main nhi de rhi!" was Lamiya's swift response as she shoved her cereal down her throat her hand sitting idle two inches from the water bottle. Lyba grit her teeth.
...
Everything was just as normal as everyday it was at breakfast. Except no one could feel the sinking feeling Lyba felt in her heart.
Or maybe everyone had a sinking feeling except each feeling differed from the other.
...
YOU ARE READING
Lemons and Sherbet ✔️
Romance~ A sweet and sour Ramzan short story of Lyba's family and a glimpse into their topsy turvy life.~ Laughs, smiles, some tears shed. Trust me you are not ready for what's inside this book.
