NIGHTS: #ANBONUS

Part VI: Nowruz

Okay guys there's a Nowruz dictionary at the bottom

"Ready for Nowruz?" Zayn asked once they sat down to eat lunch in their TV room. It was one of the rare moments where they could just hangout at home and eat lunch while aimlessly watching tv like the newlyweds they are. There weren't many royal obligations for the duo and Laleh had already wrapped up her obligations at her foundation so they really had the whole week to themselves.

"Nowruz?" Laleh replied perplexed. It hadn't crossed her mind that Nawruz was coming up soon, much less whether or not she had plans.

"Yeah Persian new year," Zayn clarifies biting into his Gyoza dumplings.

"Yeah I know what it is, I just didn't know we were planning on celebrating it." She said, most of the time in D.C they'd have have a big family get together with her extended family comprised of dozens of Maryam's and Amir's and Ali's topped of with a plethora of food cooked by her Joon. It would be the first time she'd be taking the reigns and she just hoped she could execute the Sabzi polo ba mahi like her joon did.

"Why not? I mean you celebrate all the Malikbahri traditions wouldn't I do the same, who knows maybe even the Fourth of July, besides eating Persian food reminds me of the first day we met." Zayn laughed remembering being entranced by her grey eyes and sultry moves of her belly dancing. While Zayn reminisced on their first encounter Laleh was reminded her of the first week of their honeymoon spent in the dessert living like the Bedouin, which she found oddly refreshing to be isolated from the stresses of city life, she even oddly enjoyed the delicacy of camel stew .

"Sure I'd love to be able to carry on the tradition and practice Joons recipe book she gave me on our wedding day." All Laleh was thinking about was how much rose water, pistachios and saffron she'd need to feed the whole Al-Haydar family.

"Don't forget the cookies." He said as she settled closer to him intertwining their legs.

"We've become an old married couple." Laleh giggled looking down at there pajama clad legs at 7pm on a Friday.

"Your right, Chinese takeout, pajamas on at 7pm and watching boring reruns all on a Friday's night, pretty soon I'll stop bothering to shave." Zayn laughed laughed knowing how particular Laleh was on his facial hair grooming noting that he could only have a "Baba's beard" when he's 60, the real reason was she just didn't want anything obstructing her from adoring her husbands face.

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"Okay Seeb, Sabzeh , Serkeh, Samanoo, Somaq and Seer," Laleh remembered six of the seven S's of the Haft seen table layout. "I'm missing one!" Laleh had four pots cooking on the stove and still had the desserts to do, Jamilah was due any minute to help her along with her two cousins who had flown in to Malikbahr just to say they witnessed that she would do Joon justice.

"Senjed, the most important symbolizing love." Laleh read out loud struggling but persisting since Joon alternated between Farsi and English, excited when Laleh spoke a few words to her in Farsi at the wedding she'd been taught by Zayn. Satisfied with the table layout she ran back to the kitchen in fear she'd burn something only to see all the Hobbs off and Zayn snooping around at what was cooking.

"So this is a lot." Zayn said looking at all the pots and scattered food and spices. "Anyway it's time to take a break." Zayn said trying to lure her to rest since she'd spent last night analyzing the recipes and ingredients then the whole morning prepping and it was only 10 am.

"No I need to start prepping the desserts I have your whole brood of siblings coming and your parents and my cousins, it's a meal for 20!" Laleh stressed most people would spend their first time cooking for their husbands family with certain ease but she had a feast to cook for dozens to prepare.

"Okay then what should I do." Zayn asked picking up a knife and cutting board he looked oddly attractive in his fitting denim jeans and simple white crew neck shirt cutting vegetables. Zayn knew Laleh wasn't much of a domestic goddess and neither was he but they'd get through this Nowruz meal together.

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"No-Rooz Mobarak!" Taliana greeted over FaceTime. "I did say it right, I googled it." She boasted at her correct pronunciation.

"Look at you cooking yummy stuff, when all you used to feed me was pop tarts." Taliana complained whilst Laleh scooped the Nan-e Berenji dough onto cookie sheets

Laleh laughed rolling grape leaves for the Dolmeh barg and placing the Rashteh polo in the oven to stay warm whilst she finally napped.

"You can cook now, but all you used to make me was pop tarts." Taliana rolled her eyes recollecting there times together eating strawberry pop tarts and gummy bears.

"Yeah I get the point, anyways I got a little help from Zayn and my cousin Shiva is gonna bring more dessert because you know I don't know how much one cup is." Laleh said glancing over everything once more before looking at the time and seeing it was already 12pm meaning she had one hour to nap and get dressed. Not before Taliana had the chance to pester her about when she'd have a baby and when she'll send her more kaftans.

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"You've just about killed me with food." Zayn said sprawled out on the bed rubbing his still flat and toned stomach.

"Yeah you really don't know when to stop with the Kookoo Sabzi." Laleh laughed laying down too feeling sluggish from eating so much Dolmeh barg. Laleh closed her eyes content that everything went so well, even though she had already gained the approval of her in laws she still wanted to prove that she could achieve and exceed all the expectations of being Zayn's wife and a Crown Princess

"Its addictive and delicious, don't get me started on the nan-e Gerri and noghls." Zayn said gluttonous craving more. "You did amazing even Jamilah wanted the recipes because the kids loved it." Zayn pridefully boasted over his wife's accomplished Nowruz feast.

"Hayati?" Zayn looked over to her only to find her asleep with all her jewels and shoes on, not to mention she was faintly snoring which she did often but vehemently denies.

Dear Laleh,

I know how much you stressed over making your first Nowruz celebration perfect and you did. Keep the Kookoo Sabzi away from me because I don't know when to stop same with the nan-e Gerri and noghls, otherwise you'll have to roll me around the palace. I secretly imagined you one day cooking and sharing these traditions with our children insh'Allah, and I'll have the chance to be Haji Firouz with the tambourine.

Everything you do is perfect in my eyes.

Love, Zayn.

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Rashteh polo - chunks of lamb with rice and noodles
Dolmeh barg - grape leaves stuffed with rice and ground lamb
Shekar polo- sweet rice pilaf
Sabzi polo ba mahi - vivid green herb rice severed with fried fish onNYD
Kookoo Sabzi -herbed omelet

Haft seen/ seven S's
Seeb -Apple (health and beauty)
Sabzeh -green grass lentil sprouts (rebirth)
Serkeh-vinegar (age and patience)
Samanoo -sweet wheat pudding (affluence)
Senjed- (dried fruit from oleaster tree symbolic of love)
somaq -(sumac berries color of sunrise)
Seeke -coin
Seer -garlic (medical)
Haji firouz -Persian Santa clause
No-Rooz Mobarak -happy new year

Baklava
Nan-e Berenji rice cookies with cardamom
Nan-e nokhdochi chickpea cookies
Nan-e badami almond cookies
Nan-e Gerri walnut cookies
Noghls sugar coated almonds

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