Chapter 4: Moments of Laughter and Reflection
It was a bright morning, the sun spilling golden light across Aliza's room, where she rummaged through her closet, frantically searching for her favorite peach-colored dress. The air was filled with the anticipation of her college farewell party, and Aliza's heart raced with excitement.
"Mom... Mom... Mom! Have you seen my peach-colored dress? I can't find it!" Aliza called out, her voice echoing through the house.
Moments later, her mother, Muneerah Usman, stepped into the room, a knowing smile on her lips. "Aliza! When will you finally grow up and learn to take care of your own things?"
Before Aliza could respond, the door swung open, and in walked Aaliya, her younger sister, adorned in the very dress Aliza had been searching for. Aliza's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Look how good this dress looks on me!" Aaliya exclaimed, spinning around with a mischievous glint in her brown eyes. "I'm thinking of sending it to the tailor to get it fitted!"
Aliza's jaw dropped as the realization sank in. "You mean...! How shameless you are! You put on my suit without asking me, and now you're thinking of stealing it for the farewell party?"
Aaliya burst into laughter, delighting in Aliza's surprise.
"On the one hand, you're bothering your sister and laughing at her," Muneerah interjected, a hint of authority in her voice. "Aaliya, let's get your sister's dress back quickly. She's late for college."
Aaliya pouted, her expression comically exaggerated. "But I feel great in it! Please, just let me wear it!"
Muneerah shook her head. "Enough, both of you! End the quarrel and come have breakfast. You both need to go to college. It's getting late. And Aaliya… return your sister's dress. That's enough."
With a huff, Aaliya reluctantly headed to the washroom to change back into her own clothes, and Aliza couldn't help but chuckle at her sister's antics. This was the beauty of their relationship; the love and friendship they shared often led to playful fights, but they always found their way back to each other.
After a quick breakfast together, the girls dashed into the car with their driver, eager to make it to the college farewell party on time.
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A Few Months Later
As the month of Ramadan approached, the air in Lahore shifted, carrying with it a sense of tranquility and reflection. One evening, Aliza, Muneerah, and Aaliya stood on the roof of their home, gazing at the crescent moon marking the beginning of the holy month. Aliza's heart swelled with gratitude as she took in the view, but Aaliya seemed preoccupied with her phone.
"Aaliya!" Muneerah scolded, her tone laced with frustration. "What are you doing?"
"It's time to pray, and you're busy on your mobile," Aliza added, her voice firm.
Aaliya nodded, sheepishly glancing up. "I just… I mean, I'm congratulating my friends and cousins on the sighting of the moon for Ramadan."
Muneerah sighed, "Stop it and join us for prayer."
"Okay, just two minutes," Aaliya replied, distractedly typing on her phone.
Aliza turned her gaze to the western sky, spotting the glowing crescent moon. "Look, Mother! That moon is beautiful. Happy Ramadan to you both! Let's pray together."
Hearing Aliza's words, Muneerah and Aaliya followed her lead, raising their hands in prayer, a moment of unity that filled their hearts with peace.
After prayer, the family retreated indoors. Muneerah went to the kitchen to instruct the cook to prepare sehri on time. "You two, pray and wake up on time!" she called out as she left the room. "I'll see you in the morning."
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Early Morning: Sehri
At 3:15 AM, the alarm blared, pulling Muneerah from her slumber. As she stirred, she noticed Aliza waking up too. However, Aaliya had rolled over and turned off her alarm, sinking back into sleep.
"Come on, Aliza," Muneerah said gently, holding her daughter's hand. "Let's not disturb her too much. You have to remember, Aaliya was born after your father's martyrdom. She didn't have as much time with him as you did."
Aliza nodded in agreement. "Okay, Mother. I won't scold her too much."
With that resolution, Aliza entered Aaliya's room, where she found her sister still blissfully asleep. Frustration bubbled within her as she grabbed a water bottle from the bedside table and tipped it over, splashing water onto Aaliya's face.
"Wake up, you shameless girl! Sehri time is running out!" Aliza exclaimed.
Aaliya jolted awake, her eyes wide. "Yes… yes! What happened?"
"Get up! You're going to miss sehri!" Aliza urged, her voice filled with urgency.
"Wait… what?" Aaliya mumbled, still groggy.
Aliza, now on a roll, continued, "Time isn't just running out; it's almost over! Get up—there are only 20 minutes left!"
"Oh, no!" Aaliya exclaimed, suddenly wide awake.
"Come on, be quick! I'm going!" Aliza called, already heading out of the room.
"Wait for me!" Aaliya shot back, throwing off her covers and jumping out of bed.
Aliza rolled her eyes, smirking. "No, I can't! Time is too short now!"
Aaliya rushed into the dining hall, where Muneerah and Aliza were already seated, enjoying their breakfast. They shared a laugh as Aaliya hurriedly joined them, the morning sun streaming in through the windows.
After breakfast, the family offered Fajr prayers together. Muneerah recited the Holy Quran afterward, while Aliza and Aaliya fell asleep, content and at peace.
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Later That Day
By 2 PM, Muneerah returned home from the university, bringing fruits and other goodies for iftar. She placed them in the kitchen and instructed the cook to prepare everything on time. After a quick shower, she laid down to rest.
A couple of hours later, she was stirred from her nap by the sound of commotion in the kitchen. Curiosity piqued, she stepped out to investigate, only to find Aaliya bustling about, creating chaos in her wake.
"Aaliya! What a mess you've made! What are you doing?" Muneerah exclaimed, exasperated.
Aliza joined in, witnessing Aaliya's spontaneous cooking endeavor. "Aaliya! What have you done? You look hilarious!" she laughed, unable to contain her amusement.
Muneerah couldn't help but smile at the absurdity of the situation. "Yes, you cooked, and we'll eat what's left! Now get out of the kitchen and fix your outfit!"
With her head held high, Aaliya left the kitchen in a disheveled state, heading to her room to change. The family then gathered at the dining table for iftar, sharing laughter and stories about the day.
As they broke their fast, Aliza looked at Aaliya, teasing her again. "So, Aaliya, how's that new recipe coming along?"
Aaliya shot her a glare but remained silent, a playful smile creeping onto her face. The camaraderie between the sisters shone brightly, reminding them both of the love and joy they brought into each other's lives.
The call to Maghrib prayer rang out, and together they went to pray, embracing the beauty of their shared moments, knowing that life, with its ups and downs, was best experienced together.
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