A Thing, Beyond Forever

30.

Kuwait

Kuwait has always been one of my favorite places to visit since birth.

After being born here and attending school till the first standard. My parents decided that I and Nashra should attend schooling and do our education in Hyderabad and I don't know for whatever reason we are again here in Kuwait to live forever. Or. Maybe for a specific time.

We landed in Kuwait. It was nearly dawn, time of Asr. My dad rented an apartment and it was new and decent looking. I and Nashra got in one room. Through the balcony, I could see the view of the city of Kuwait. Mesmerizing. As the sky was getting darker and the street lights shining on the roads. As instructed by dad, we took our  shower and made ourselves comfortable. Since I slept during the whole flight, there was no chance of me sleeping again. So, I and Nashra decided to go for a walk.

The last time I visited Kuwait was in 2009. Obviously, everything was changed. So we had to be careful with where we were going to come back home safe & sound. Unlike India, Kuwait is much safer because men here know how to mind their own business. Men in India aren't content with a girl dressed even in an abaya. It feels ridiculous.  You cover yourself to avoid their gaze. And they take full opportunity to see if your abaya has moved an inch or not and they'll stare at you until you die. Gosh.

 We walked a while and came back home. Mum and dad were sitting on the couch chit-chatting simply.

"Zukroof beta, make me chai (tea)", dad asked.

"Okay" I smiled at him. Only to my inner self that I knew I didn't know how to make tea. I knew the instructions. But I didn't know how to make in practical.

While I was pouring the milk in a utensil. Mum came in to have some water. I asked her and she explained what to do step by step.

I braced myself for this job. I did exactly as she said. While I was searching for sugar and tea powder. Some spoons fell making crinkly noise to which my mum announced from the room.

"Zukroof is working somewhere and there is no sound to be heard. I'll take that as a big fat lie!"

I rolled my eyes. I don't understand how things fall automatically when I am present anywhere. Trust me. I don't intend to throw anything on the ground. It just falls automatically. As if gravity attracts things more when I'm around. Be it my pens from the table. Be it the utensils in the kitchen. Be it glasses kept in a tray. Everything falls from my hand.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW.

My mum's constant instruction to me is, "Say bismillah before you do stuff this way you won't break anything!"

It does work. Like a magic spell said before performing magic.

When the tea was ready. Well, according to me, it looked it is ready. I poured it into two cups then kept it in a tray with some biscuits to go along and walked out of the kitchen.

The tray started trembling in my hands. I started whispering bismillah under my breath till I reached the room and kept it on the table.

Dad took his cup in his hand and analysed the colour of the tea.

"It looks good," He said.

I breathed relief.

Then he sipped. I was staring at his facial expressions. He pressed his lips.

To which mum asked, "How's it?"

"It's the best tea, I have ever had. I am savouring every sip!" He said.