Sayonee (Re-writing)

O n e

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Laila
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I woke up to the sound of my phone vibrating somewhere beneath my pillow.

For one hopeful second, I considered ignoring it and going back to sleep.

"Laila."

Ammi's voice drifted through the room, followed by the curtains being pulled open.

Morning light flooded my face.

I groaned dramatically and dragged the duvet over my head. "Please tell me university was cancelled overnight."

"It wasn't." Her tone remained entirely unimpressed. "Get up before you make yourself late again."

I peeked out from beneath the blanket just enough to glare at her. "You enjoy ruining my life."

Ammi walked toward my wardrobe without bothering to respond. "If your life can be ruined by an eight a.m. lecture, then perhaps it deserves to be."

I heard hangers shifting as she searched for clothes while I lay there contemplating whether adulthood was truly necessary.

Unfortunately, responsibility won.

It usually did in this house.

By the time I stepped out of the bathroom twenty minutes later, my eyes still felt heavy from staying up late finishing an assignment. I tied my hair into a loose knot and paused briefly in front of the mirror.

Some mornings, I looked exactly like my mother.

Same dark eyes.
Same tired expression.
Same inability to rest even when exhausted.

The thought made me smile faintly.

Downstairs, the smell of parathas and chai filled the dining room. Danish was already seated at the table, scrolling through something on his phone while Ammi placed another cup beside him.

"Look who finally decided to join society," he said as I pulled out the chair across from him.

"I would appreciate kindness during such a difficult time in my life."

"You mean waking up before noon?"

I ignored him and reached for the tea instead.

"Seriously though," Danish continued, tearing a piece of paratha casually, "you should start learning how to wake up early. No family is going to tolerate this after marriage."

I nearly choked on my chai.

Ammi shot him a warning look. "Let her eat in peace."

"What?" he said innocently. "I'm just preparing her for reality."

"Worry about yourself first," I muttered. "You eat like someone raised in the wilderness."

Danish looked offended. "Ammi, are you hearing this disrespect?"

"Mamma's boy," I said under my breath.