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Assalamualaikum!

Here's another day in the life of Junaina Ali. Everything right in this is from Allah and all errors are my own :)

***

#4 The Lively Breakfast

That night I slept pretty late. After I had gotten the password to the WiFi, I spent a lot of time catching up with my friends and with Samir. I wanted to call Dad but I was a little miffed that he wanted to send me away. And as for Mom, we don't share the best relationship on the planet.

Safwan, the little bugger showed up when I was skyping Samir. The glee on his face almost made me throw my iPad away. But then I missed the idiot and his pranks. I was his tyrannical elder sister and he was my annoying little brother.

The next morning I was woken up by Ayesha Di. She had thrown both the windows and the doors to the balcony open, letting the sunlight in. It would have been pretty hot if not for the air conditioner which she had been so kind to turn off. Thankfully, she left the fan running.

Groaning, I managed to lift my head from the assortment of fluffy pillows and cushions surrounding me.

"Why on earth are you torturing me like Samar so early in the morning?" I asked.

She was actually giggling at my misery.

"Get out of bed Sleeping Beauty, we have to go to a lot of places today. And I guess I'm just jealous that Nani only let's you sleep in," she said smirking.

I groaned again. Going places in Salimabad usually meant visiting relatives. God knows I could use some gossip in my life, not.

"I'm not ready for Salimabad's old gossips yet," I mumbled from my nest of pillows and comforter.

Ayesha Di pulled the covers away from me. That effectively cut off any means of sleep for me. I cannot sleep without being covered up to my head.

"Relax. I wouldn't come with you if we were going visiting. As if I need all those people pestering me about marriage and whatnot. I swear, they are all darlings but they do get crazy sometimes." She remarked.

There was a bitterness in her tone. I couldn't quite place it. By nature, Ayesha Di is the kind of person who obliged old people with their random talks and gushed over children even when they are being annoying. I've never even seen her frown because of people being rude to her.

I decided to change the topic.

"So where are we going then?"

I got out of bed, stretched and then pulled my waist length crazily messed up hair into a bun. Perks of having wavy hair, you don't get to wake up like the girls in shampoo ads.

"Well we have to visit Marwa to get you your admission. And then we have to get your books and uniform and everything else required."

Her words reminded me that school starts in June over here. Double punishment indeed. I was supposed to have three months vacation after nine months of gruelling time at school. Dang it!

But then school also means a chance to meet new people and make new friends. And since Marwa is also co-educational it will give me a chance to see if desi boys match up to the standards of their NRI counterparts. Junaina the inner nerd will also not be deprived of work.

"Alright I'll be out in half an hour," I relented.

"Great. I'll be in my room when you're ready to go. We've all had breakfast already, so you go have yours and then come and call me."

They had breakfast?! Not that I wasn't used to eating alone, but it couldn't be that late in the morning. But the clock proved me otherwise. It was already 10:15 AM. The breakfast time in Ashiana was at 8:30 AM and no later or earlier. It was stupid of me to forget. I kind of wanted to be down there and enjoy breakfast as a family.

Meal times, I enjoyed here in Salimabad than in Dubai. If Mom was not traveling then she'd be gone at the crack of dawn. It is as if the hospital just won't run without her. Also the crazy Dubai traffic. That's the reason Safwan and I are usually out of the house before Dad and Samir. The former runs the family business in Dubai. So he goes and comes at his own schedule, though his employees are supposed to be super punctual. Samir was completing the practical period of his ACA at our own company. He had flexible coaching classes and exam schedules as well.

None of us would be home for lunch. And dinner was the same. Mom the one being present the least of all the family members. Mostly it was just Safwan and me. That's probably why we got on each others nerves alot. We saw each far too much.

But then I know that next to Samir, he values me the most.

I took a quick bath without washing my hair. After my usual morning ritiual, I got out of the bathroom and dug into my bags for clothes. I still haven't gotten around to setting my wardrobe yet. It could wait until our return from today's outing.

My travel makeup case was already on the shelf by the mirror. After dressing quickly in a peach maxi skirt and white shirt with a golden belt at my waist, I applied my makeup. Just some mascara and eyeliner and lip gloss. I left my hair loose.

Once I was satisfied with my appearance I went down the back staircase, straight to the kitchen. The ayahs were already busy cleaning and preparing for lunch. Zari Chachi was also there. On spotting me she gave a bright smile and beckoned me to sit on a stool by the island.

The kitchen was by far the most modern looking room in Ashiana. Although all the cabinets were wood and the decor had a rustic style to it, everything was contrasted by the shiny appliances lining the counter and the huge silver double door fridge. I couldn't wait to experiment here.

With all the busy bodies in the kitchen even I felt like dashing about and working. It was unusual for me. If anything I hated helping Mom back home. Didn't even have to lift my finger in service truth be told. We had maids to take care of everything.

Here though, I could see Zari Chachi being just as involved as the ayahs, helping them while giving them instructions at the same time. And she looked like she was enjoying it too.

My Mom hated cooking.

I didn't though. I've tried my hand at baking before, and I couldn't wait to serve some of the treats to my family here.

"Assalamualaikum beta. I hope you slept well," Chachi said.

I smiled and returned the greeting.

"Wa alaikumasalaam Chachi. Yep, in fact I had a hard time getting out of the bed."

She laughed as did some of the ayahs. I didn't mind though.

"I have the same problem every morning too, but then the thought of bowing down in prayer and feeling at bliss makes up for it," she said.

My smile faltered a bit. I couldn't fathom how they could feel so much from what looked like another form of exercise to me. I've never prayed, even after I got the talk from Dad after I hit puberty. Samir tried to get me into it once. I followed all his instructions to the dot, but I couldn't feel what he experienced.

After that one time, I felt dejected and jealous and inferior. So I just gave up, because I've never had to feel weak like that before.

Chachi didn't comment on my silence, instead she asked me what I'd like for breakfast. I just told her to serve me what all of them had before.

She placed a plate of steaming roti and sabzi before me and a mug of hot tea. And in a little plate she gave me a piece of barfi.

"Something extra for you." She said smiling.

I was really content after that breakfast. Although I couldn't grasp Urdu when they spoke so rapidly, I enjoyed hearing their conversation. I laughed when they laughed. The merry atmosphere in the room lifted my spirits up.

The more the merrier.

That saying was a hundred percent true.

And the way Zari Chachi treated the maids was quite inspiring. You can only be truly great if you don't discriminate. And the lesser you hold yourself above your fellow humans, the more humble you are.

I left the kitchen with a full stomach and a refreshed mind.

I was ready to take on the world after that wonderful experience.

***

So, I guess I've updated faster than I intended to. I'm enjoying where this story is going. So, I'm taking more time out for writing ;)

You guys get to see a little more of Juni's personality and back story. There is a reason she's the way she is, and it has a lot more to it than the tidbit revealed here.

Just stay on to find out more! ;)

Love,

Ann
***

Glossary

Assalamualaikum: Peace be upon you. It is the Islamic form of greeting a person when you meet them

Wa alaikumasalaam: And peace be upon you too. This is the response to the above greeting.

Ayah: A maidservant, children's nurse or lady's maid.