The Ayham's Ramadan

Chapter 03

CHAPTER 03: BUDDING BLUDGEONS

Suhoor had turned into an elaborate and decorated affair that night. It seemed like there was more activity in the kitchen, owing to the larger variety and more taste, something that activated the motivation to pray even more.

Ayna quickly wiped her hands with a hand towel and rushed out of the kitchen. Grabbing a seat across her sleepy husband, she passed him a paraantha, spread some chutney on it, and poured him a cup of tea, before leaning in her chair.

Fortunately, Abeer bhabhi, who sat beside her, had finished feeding herself and her kids, and they had dispersed to the kitchen to overdose on water. She poured Ayna her tea and initiated small talk, something Ayna was grateful for because it kept her awake. Once she was done with her meal, she tossed her plate in the sink, grabbed her chaadar from her room, and reached the prayer room on time.

What was the need to rush, you ask? A non-existent sleep cycle, which led to waking up late for suhoor. 

And the final flourish? 

Nabeel's alarm was DEAD. 

Of all the days when it should have let her sleep in peace, the phone had somehow switched itself off in the middle of the night. It was when Lubnah knocked on everyone's doors like the bagpiper she was, that they were shaken awake from their sleep.

Ayna was ashamed. It was the second fast, for God's sake.

The fajr jamaat had finished just a few minutes ago, and the sleepy ones waddled to their cocoons. Left were the early risers, namely Almaas and Ayna. The latter watched with intent as the former sweeped her palms across her face and finished her duas.

"Long dua today, is it?" Ayna asked, a tender smile rising in her lips.

Almaas broke away from the musings in her head and looked at Fahdah. "Ah yes, long dua it is. It's my parents' death anniversary today."

Ayna shot a worried glance at her, but Almaas dismissed it. She loosened the chaadar from her head and placed a hand on Ayna's shoulder. They both walked to the kitchen. Ayna grabbed a seat at the island table, while Almaas set up her bakery for the day. She crouched down, wiggled her hands in a cupboard and called out for Ayna.

"Could you please have a look for today's orders?" she requested. Ayna glanced at her phone on the island, then at Almaas.

"I don't know the password," she said.

"I don't keep a password," the other lady retorted. "It's for the best of me," she added.

Ayna reluctantly pulled the phone to herself, and as her elder SIL asked her to do, she navigated her way through the aesthetic website and learned how to check the orders. Almaas made her way to the fridge and grabbed the egg crate.

"What is it?" she inquired.

"All these are...cakes and brownies," Ayna scrunched her forehead in confusion.

"Click on each order, lady, and note the descriptions in this notepad," she laughed. Some time later, Ayna had actually understood all the workings of the home bakery, and now eagerly stared at the meringue Almaas was whipping.

"Wanna help?" she asked, beaming at her inquisitiveness. Ayna nodded, and she was handed the double-boiler and six bars of chocolate compounds. Being a quick learner, and a lucky one at that, most of the brownie batches were handled by her. Two hours later, the kitchen was spick and span, and the tired teacher-and-student duo sat at the island stools.

"Do you want to know how I lost my parents?" asked Almaas out of the blue. Ayna was startled, but nevertheless shook her head in agreement. Almaas pushed a stray hair out of the way and began her sad story.