Mina finished cutting the vegetables and brought them over to her mother's side. She helped her mother pour them into a big pot of boiling chicken. She took a whiff of the pleasant aroma rising from the stove. It smelled like home. Seldom did the family eat so luxuriously, but today was a special occasion. Mina hugged her mother's shoulders and planted a big kiss on her cheek. Her mother used her free hand to pat Mina's head and asked her to set the table. Smiling, Mina walked to the shabby table and began to prepare it for her family of four.
Once seated, the family laughed and joked around. Everyone was smiling and laughing with one another. Mina's sister had gotten accepted to a local college on scholarship. The tuition was not much, but given the family's circumstances a scholarship was necessary. The family had gathered to celebrate her sister's accomplishment, but Mina's sister had insisted that the dinner was to thank Mina for all her help and hard work.
