Part 4-Two twins and Masaala steak

I got home to chaos in the kitchen, it was Sumaya's turn for savoury and Shireen's turn for main dish.

Sumaya had spring rolls out that she was crumbing and frying and 1 dozen mince samoosas ready to fry for her husband, I smiled to myself when I saw them. Her baby was parked in his pram in one corner, I went to tickle and coo at him, he is just too cute!

Shireen was frantically trying to put her chicken tarkaree together, she was loudly complaining to Sumaya that there is just no barkaat in time now days, "I don't know if these aloos will even get done, lucky Bilal won't eat curry, you know how he likes soft soft aloo only"
A loud yell sent her scurrying from the kitchen, she just knew her sons were up to no good.

I quickly got out my marinade ingredients onto the furthest counter top when MiL dearest walked in..."Sumaya leave all this and go see Talha, he was fighting with the twins! You only making one savoury? Bilal can't eat one type only, poor man is rozdaar too you know. Leave it, leave it...too late now, we'll just make do...
Let me check this tarkaree, bechari shireen, she got her hands full with those 'two twins' of hers, areh areh"

I could have sworn I saw Sumaya roll her eyes and wink at me as she left the kitchen...did she? Must be my imagination!

"Fatima what you doing with all that khatbhat there, don't you want to go read Quraan before iftaar..." (guess with nobody else left in the kitchen, it was my turn now...)
"Gee mummy, I just want to marinate some steak for Imraan then Il go"
"oh I already gave masaalah to that steak, you have to masaalah steak early, then its hawaat...Imraan likes my crushed chille masaala from small too"
Nasreens voice shouted 'say something, say something' in my head.
But my MiL had already moved on to complaining about Sumaya , "so much teel Sumaya frys in, well all will get jara jara...not enough her rung is all wrong now she wants to get jari too...lucky her two didn't get her complexion"
I just mumbled thank you and walked out. (Score: MiL-2, Me-Nil)

After iftaar I could barely keep my eyes open...I was just beyond tired. Imraan came into the room and saw me laying down, "You oki TiMwah?" he asked touching my forehead lightly.
"Gee baby, just so so sleepy."
"You must take it easy..why don't you sleep early, leave those steaks out for me, I won't wake you up later"
I smiled sleepily in thanks , only after he left for tarawee I dragged myself to retrieve the old ice cream container of steak from the fridge, (guess you can't put that much arad in real tupperware) and then I realised I forgot to tell him its not BBQ...ohh 0!

Part 3- Seeing Good, Doing Good

As I drove to work this morning I was still thinking of last nights incident and mentally kicking myself.

I had just let it slide, there just wasn't much I could say while my mother was on the other end of the line saying, "kaynee kaynee, these things happen, Kayroon...atleast now I can ask you to remember me in all your special duas."

My MiL slithered back to her room as I finished up my call with my mother. 

In my room I berated myself for not calling her out on it, but wouldn't it be my word against hers? I decided not to mention it to Imraan.

My cousin Nasreen would be very angry with me if she hears this, she warned me of these moments and made me promise not to be a doormat...oh well, pick your battles I think.

Now, in the car this morning I'm daydreaming about what I should have, could have, would have said to put my MiL in her place...I always hate how all the best lines come to me way too late!

Peeeeep, peeeeeeeeeeep, peep peep peeep!!!!!!!

I was jump started out of my fantasy by the impatient driver behind me, guess he was tired of reading prices for fishy things. I glanced in my rear-view and immediately pressed my hazards...when I was little I use to call it the 'tick tock' button, now since I started driving, I think of it as the 'sorry and thank you' button.

I changed gear ready to move off only to realize that the car in front of me was the one holding us up...it was swamped with beggars trying to get to the window...OMW! This was a bit much, even for Crescent street!
As they passed by me I saw the joy on their face and realized they each were clenching an assortment of chocolates at their chest...rolo and aero slabs, bars of tv bar, bar one and lunch bar...Yoh! This car must have tons to share!
As the driver ahead turned right I saw that she was a Muslim lady...Wow, what a lovely thing to do.

During my lunch break today I read Yaseen and then I decided to log on to Facebook  after ages. My news feed is full of Gaza related post and pics that just break my heart...many of my friends are actively following the plight and campaigning against the oppression. I put my phone away and read another Yaseen for the men, women and children of Gaza. May Allah (SWT) ease their plight, Ameen. Why do I only notice how bad it is during Ramadaan, they live this everyday, all year through. 
I saw a lady on BBM advertising for Palestinian scarves, the proceeds' go to Al-Imdaad to aid disaster relief, I need to order a few from her later.

This Ramadaan I just don't feel like myself, I'm restless...tired...achy...i think I am getting the flu. At least it is not my turn for iftaar, just need to fry grill some masaala some steak for Imraan, think he wants to braai them after Taraweeh, he says he loves the BBQ sauce marinade I make.