Lovingly Yours

Feast

Mohammed Hamdan

I stop by a supermarket to grab a few things mom had asked me to pick up for a family get together.

I have to do preparations for a party that's supposed to celebrate me. The irony.

And it's not like I can say no to my mother, so no use fighting that.

The list is long, the things too many and its takes me some time before I wheel the cart full of foodstuffs to the cashier. As the salesperson bills my things up, I have a chance to check up my whatsapp, there are messages on our group mostly of updates about the inpatients in the hospital.

I read through those, click my phone shut, pay for the things and haul those into a cart before wheeling them to my car. It is a little difficult to place everything into my car's boot and onto the backseat too.

Just how much stuff does mom need exactly? No use thinking about that either.

I reach home just in time for Asr prayer.

"Bismillahir rahman ir Raheem," I recite before unlocking the door of my home,

"Assalamualikum ammi, I got the things you asked for."

"Walikumassalam my dear son, thank you so much. Now I can start cooking for everyone." My beautiful mother, Shaheda begum enters the living room, hugs me while I kiss her forehead.

"Where is baba?" I ask while getting the groceries inside.

"You know he's busy at the company. Yaseen has also been so busy these days. I miss them both during the day. We are not having enough meals together as a family. I'll make sure I change that, I am going to bind them to the dining chairs by ropes and feed them by myself, they'll have no other option but to eat then."

That might sound concerning to many people, violation of human rights, free will etcetera etcetera but my mom is the most beautiful, harmless, sweet and caring Indian woman so these threats are just her way of showing love. I'll be happy to be bound to a chair and hand fed by my mother any day.

"Mamma are you sure you needed 7 kgs of rice and so many vegetables and meat and spices for today? Don't you think you're going slightly overboard?" I wash my hands and grab an orange from the fruit basket.

"Oh hush, you don't know anything Hamdani, all your Aunt's and uncles and cousins are going to be there. That's actually just a backup I asked you to bring. I shopped for things a few days ago, the stuff you brought is if I will need some more in case of emergency. Your cousins are growing up, they'll all eat big portions and i want to make sure there's sufficient food for everyone. " She says going through the bags I kept in the living room.

I feed her orange slices while she arranges everything according to her convenience.

"How was your orientation program? Are the seniors good? Did they ask you weird questions? Did they ask you to do anything weird? Tell me if anything like that happens, I'll have a good talk with them and their parents." She actually sounds serious, I chuckle at her. She's so adorable.

"My lovely Maa, so many questions all together, which one will I answer? They are really good people. I like them. They seems very supportive, no weird questions so don't worry. I'm your grown up son, no body can mess with me so easily Maa." I reassure her.

"You are still my little son, no matter how much you grow up, now stop being lazy, go pray and help mama with this feast."

"Your wish is my command, my lady. Give me 10 minutes, I'll be right back." I kiss her cheek and run away before she has a chance to smack my head.

The walk to the mosque is short and I arrive just in time for prayer. Alhamdullilah I reached on time.

Bismillahir rahman ir Raheem

The house of Allah has the same effect on me everytime i visit, a sense of peace floods my whole self, all of any problems leave my mind space and everything feels right in the world.

"Assalamualikum" i greet my brothers in Islam who greet me 'walikumassalam ' back, smiling.

I stand behind the imam and raise my hands signaling the start of prayer.

Allahu akbar

Everything fades away as soon as the imam starts reciting and we all listen to him praise the almighty Allah, we all follow him and bend belt low in ruku and praise Him, then go into full prostration and leave all worries in the hand of who controls the whole universe.

It's so liberating to just follow His will, the knower of all and who controls everything.

Just like that Asr prayer comes to an end as we greet the angels residing on our right shoulder followed by our left shoulders.

Poeple then segregate and start praying four units of the optional prayer, which is also very important, they shouldn't be neglected. It is reported in the hadith,

Allah will build a house in Heaven for whoever is diligent in observing 12 Sunnah Rak'at (as follows): 4 Rak'at before and 2 after the Zhuhr (Midday) Prayer, 2 after the Maghrib (Sunset Prayer), 2 after the 'Isha (Evening) Prayer and 2 before the Fajr (Dawn) Prayer." (Hadith sahih narrated by at-Tirmidhi.

I leave the mosque after prayer and reach home in time to see my father and brother helping out mother dearest with her preparations.

My elder brother Yaseen bhai and dad are seated at the dining table peeling potatoes and onions while my mother orders them around, going from pot to pot stirring occasionally.

This sight has my heart and I thank Allah everyday for it. Alhamdullilah for this beautiful family. I'll never take them for granted and I'm sure everyone agrees with this statement.

"Assalamualikum dad, bhai, how was your day?"

"Walikumassalam beta, the day went as usual, lots of meetings, coffee, clients and correcting any mistakes done by your brother." Father replies glaring at my brother.

"Abbu, it wasn't my mistake, my secretary just doesn't hear things well, I'm thinking of hiring another one. She makes mistakes and I have to bear the brunt of those." Yaseen bhai advocates for himself.

Mama chuckles and orders them to keep working, and looks at me.

The lady boss has spoken and we are all her slaves awaiting command.

A few hours, help from my loud aunts and lots of scolding from mama later, the crazy feast finally gets served on tables set in the front garden by me and yaseen bhai.

My mother went overboard as usual with the decorations and the food but we wouldn't want it any other way.

All this while all our relatives have filled the garden, children are running around chasing each other and being chased by thier mothers, the men are seated discussing politics, controversies and just news in general. A typical Indian gathering.

As soon as the last dish is placed, everyone then shuffles towards the dinner table and seat themselves before reciting Bismillah and starts eating.

There's the general clutter of dishes, amazing smell of the dishes in the air followed by loud conversations everyone is having with each other.

"MashaAllah, TabarkAllah, the dishes are wonderful. "

"So tasty aunty, please teach my mother how to make these kebabs too."

"The rice is also so flavorful, how is it not mushy? I can never make rice like this." Speaks another aunty serving herself some more of the Afghani pulao my mother made.

Mom is seated infront of me and she is visibly beaming with the mumerous well deserved compliments. She is a true wizard in the kitchen. And it shows.

My mom and dad are seating next to each other, father doesn't have to serve himself because mom will place everything he'll need in his plate.

When I look at them being each others pillars of support, loving and respecting each other, I pray to God to let me have what they have in my life.

Ya Allah, I ask you to bless my family with love, health, happiness and me with a partner who is perfect for me in every way. Ameen ya Rab.