We are in progress

Chapter 7

"Can you pass me the bowl of rice?"

Zuhair raises an eyebrow at me. "No?"

I roll my eyes. "Pass me the bowl of rice."

He chuckles and passes me the bowl, getting back to his food.

"So, how's university going, Zainab?" Mamu asks Zainab, sitting at the head-chair of the dinner table.

"Great. You can't imagine how exciting it's getting with the resear—"

"Shut up, nobody understands your research party's language," Zuhair interrupts her, pulling on a horrified face.

I scowl at him. "Hey, don't interrupt her."

"Not with your 'don't crush dreams with ignorance' lecture again." Zuhair rolls his eyes at me.

"But it does, you ass," I tell him before turning to Zainab. "Go on, Zainab."

"Language," Mamu says shooting me a look, before excusing himself as his cellphone rings.

"Go on with what?" Zainab asks me, taking a sip of her water.

"About what you were saying—your project, what you're working on."

"Which nobody car-" I shoot him a glare. "Fine; only I don't care about," Zuhair adds.

"Oh, it's alright, Ree. I already shared it with Mamu," Zainab informs me, ignoring Zuhair.

I swat the back of Zuhair's head. "What's your problem with the kid today?"

Irisha chuckles from opposite me, breaking a prawn. "Don't get them started, Aunt Ree."

I raise an eyebrow at her. "Why, what's up?"

"What's up? You're asking, what is up, Ree? Do you know what this little brat did to me?" Zuhair cries from beside me angrily, while pointing his thumb towards Zainab who is sitting opposite him.

"Talk about me again like that, and you'll see what I can do to you, Zuhair." Zainab retorts, slamming her fist and squinting her eyes at him.

"That's not the way to speak to your elders!"

"Well then maybe you should learn how to treat your youngers!"

"You're an idiot!"

"At least, I've got some dignity left and don't cry about a goddamned soda bottle!"

Huh?

"Guys," I call out to them for attention. They ignore me.

"How dare you, bring that up!" Zuhair shouts, "You're so ann—"

"Guys," I call out again, but to no avail.

Their bickering goes on for how long, I can't be sure—but it's enough to make me feel like my ears are about to fall off.

"Guys, shut up!" I yell losing my patience, rubbing my temple.

"HE STARTED IT!"

"SHE STARTED IT!"

I look between the two of them as they say the same thing in unison. Sighing, I ask them calmly. "What's going on?"

"Zuhairisbeingababyagain!"

"Zainabisathief!"

I shoot both of them a glare and stand up to remove all the plates away to avoid damage. "One at a time," I say , turning to Zainab. "Zainab, go."

She crosses her arms across her chest. "No, let him go first or else he'll start crying again."

Zuhair opens his mouth to say retort, but I interject. "Alright. Zuhair, tell me what's wrong."