Lovingly Yours

Its on sale.

Asmara siddique

Ammi, for the hundredth time, our kitchen is overflowing with Tupperware boxes, we don't need any more, please," I push our shopping cart which is a transportation hazard at this point , courtesy of super duper weekend sale and my mother is still going strong.

I swear these sales are just scams, forcing homemakers to make exuberant and unnecessary purchases and somehow my mother reaches to every single one of them. Then she proceeds to stock up on all things, whether necessary or not is a matter up for debate, and who wins that debate? You'll only need one guess.

"Oh shush. You don't know anything, we need all these things at home, didn't you see the dinner set my sister had when we ate at her house on Friday?"

"Yes I did. It's the same dinner set she has in her home since 5 years." I reply checking out the cool glass jars.
Children eventually become their parents, and this point is proven by how things as simple as glassware look fascinating to me.

And she just ignores me, looking at another blender when we have a very good functioning one at home, no suprise at all.

Whenever mum goes shopping, one of us siblings or dad accompany her, today she dragged me out of my room telling me to have a life outside the hospital.

Well, cheers to me.

"I'll just check the men's section real quick, don't wander off okay mom?" I explain to my very occupied mother.

"Hmm, okay, come soon."

I notice how it's practically a children's playhouse here, some kids are dragging their parents to get them a toy and crying as soon as they are denied, some just discreetly put toys into shopping carts when left unsupervised, another group of athletic kids slip and slide on the floor, laughing loudly.

As I am checking out runner shoes for dad, I feel some one bump into me, it's a small boy who thankfully didn't fall, I crouch down to his height,

"Little kid, are you okay?"

"Yes aunty, sorry aunty." He says before running away.

Did he just call me aunty? Waah the respect but disrespect. I am just 24, how am I an aunty?

Having lazily checked out the men's section to find nothing worthy of buying, I start searching for my mother and find her talking to another woman.

"I was telling you about my daughter right? She working in a hospital now alhamdullilah. "

"Oh Asmara that's great MashaAllah, your mom was just telling me about your internship program," she says smiling at me.

"Assalamualikum aunty," I greet this stranger who I don't recognize, it's a typical desi thing, our parents will push us as bait infront of strangers who apparently know everything about us, have seen us when we were in diapers, have played with us when we were little kids, and they proceed to remind us exactly that.

And my mother will not even help me remember who this aunty who knows so much about me that it's definitely concerning, is.

"Looks like you don't remember me?" She asks before doing that shrill laughter which seems too fake to me, I know very well how this conversation will proceed.

"Oh yes Nargis, you know this daughter of mine, missed most of the family functions because she was too busy studying, didn't bother with getting to know people around her." My mom proceeds with an awkward laugh of her own.

"Its alright really, kids these days are too busy chasing goals, they will learn don't worry Aqeela." Now that I know her name, Nargis aunty smiles again,

"I'll introduce myself then, my name is Nargis begum, I was a former neighbor of your's back when you people lived in AL Mansoor building, you kids were all little and I've seen a fair share of your childhood before your family shifted."

"So Asmara,"

Don't say it. Don't say it. Don't. Say. It.

"What your specialty?"

And there we have it ladies and gentlemen, the infamous question all doctors, fresh graduates or not have to face all the time in their lives. Why do people not understand that I'm just a doctor, don't have a specialty yet. And this will be my 628th time answering the same question which is the boon of my existence, followed closely by another favourite question which will follow soon, I guarantee that.

"Alhamdullilah aunty, I am still in training, still deciding on a specialization."

"Oh you aren't a doctor still? But your mother said you are,"

"I'm a doctor under training, it's going to end soon then I'll start my specialization In sha Allah."

"Ohh okay, may Allah bless you child."

"Thank you aunty, may Allah bless us all Ameen."

"Now now, don't forget to treat me for free in the future okay?"

And that's the second most favourite thing, is it a brown thing? I don't know, but everyone who know just as little as my father's, mother's or my name expect me to just give free treatment to them.

"Lets hope no one gets sick In sha Allah." I reply, eyeing my mother, conveying her that my miserable self cannot carry on with this perfunctory awkward conversation any more.

"Jee Nargis, so I'll see you soon, you should come visit us sometime, I'll cook your favourite food for you." My mother starts with her compulsory parting statement.

"Oh definitely I will visit. And don't forget about that okay?"

"Yes yes, don't worry, I won't forget it, I'll call you okay?" My mother enthusiastically replies, which does little to tame the suspicion I feel, exactly what were these ladies talking about before I joined them?

Seems sus.

"Mumma, what was she saying?"

"Nothing bache, why do you ask?" (Kid)

" I don't know mum, it seems suspicious, you both were into some important discussion and then she reminded you about the talk before leaving. What is it?" I follow her as she keeps avoiding to look at me and we walk to the check out counter.

"It was nothing, don't worry, let's go home now, your papa must be waiting for us."

Sometimes I completely relate with my father's way of thinking and life, such thoughts become very important after experiencing the kind of bills my mum can rake in every shopping spree of hers. Somethings are never going to change, mom will keep shopping and dad will keep paying for it all.

No wonder Indian fathers get hypertension so early in their lives.
That reminds me I need to restock dad's medicines.

I take a quick detour to the pharmacy and then proceed to drive towards our home.