Part 2-Savouries Saga

I rushed home after work to try and get things done as fast as I can, the time between Asr and Magrib is so short and I hate spending a second extra in the kitchen when its so precious for Ibadaat.

Luckily today my MiL had to prepare the main dish and my task was the savoury.

My big brother-in-law has to have mince samosas every single day to break his fast, if that isn't on the table I don't think the Muazzian would be able to call the Magrib azaan. Luckily his wife is efficient enough to bare this responsibility. 
My second brother-in-law only eats savouries in Ramadaan, no normal food...(can you believe it!...).
My husband may just be the only normal brother of the house...he eats almost anything, always normal food first and then later a savoury or two, usually after Tarawee. He even knows if he wants Badaam dood, sarbaat milkshake or cool drink. (lucky me)

I decided to pull out the savoury Chelsea buns I had and froze before Ramadaan for days like this when work and Ibadaat are fighting for my time. I shuffled through the labelled deep-freeze Tupperwares until I found my ready to heat and eat Chelsea buns...only thing, the container was suspiciously light! I took a peek in to find it already half empty, but we hadn't made these for iftaar yet! I'm so puzzled, could the maids be pinching savouries! Why would they, my MiL already gives then every single thing any neighbours or family members send.

While I contemplated what to do, my MiL walked in..."Oh you here Fatima... I thought I'll have to make the savoury too."
"just got held up a bit at work mummy"
"so what you going to make"
"savoury Chelsea buns and I'll see something else too..."
"oh yah. I took few out from there to give Ayesha, hope you don't mind...you know,her MiL doesn't make anything nice and with two boys she got no time! Just now she'll get paatri paatri and maandi so never-mind I pack jaraack jaraack for her, kaynee...Qasim too must see we make nice things not like them."
(that explains it then...time to find a plan b)

I set the buns to warm and put some kebabs my MiL had frozen to grill, that should be fine I thought as I set the table.

My MiL came in just as I was putting the finishing touches to the platter, "you made those kebabs Fatima, I was going to make them...you know Bilal is so fussy he won't eat the same thing twice in Ramadaan, becharo only eats all this too, I will have to make something else"

I just bit my tongue and carried the platter to the table, my Nanis words ringing loud in my head, "Barbie, meri yaad karjoor...sabir is your best friend in 'happy marriage life'"...saabir it is, for you Nani Ma.

After I prayed my Esha I saw a text from my mother and decided to call her, I fetched the cordless from the lounge and took it to my room to hear all my mothers stories...her voice has always been such a comfort for me.
"salaams mummy, how are you and papa?
gee I am well, Imraan is good too
gee his not back yet, hows Kala after that break in?she feeling better?
No. I can't hear any echo on the phone, must be something wrong with your line..."

As I listened to my mothers account of the break in on the same road as my Kala with all the dramatic effects that made me smile to myself, I realized I had left my cellphone in the lounge after calling my mother, I hmmmed and haaaaad appropriately as I made my way back to find my phone.

In the lounge my MiL was sitting, ear pressed against the receiver of the house phone, her hand cupped onto the mouthpiece!I starred in shock...

"...oh Fatima, sorry sorry, maaf my bethi I didn't know you were using the phone, salaams to you Mumtaz , I just picked up in the lounge to phone my sister, whole Ramadaan month went I never speak to her yet, nevermind but, take your time...I'll phone her sehri time, right salaams then"

...oh this was just sweet, excuse me while I scrape my jaw off the porcelain tiles...