"Mahira, where are you? Dinner is ready, come to the table", my mom calls for me cutting me out of my train of thoughts. I look at the clock and it reads that it's already 9 p.m. I have been lost regardless of time. "I'm coming".
I go trailing to the table smiling lazily. "Come, sit down and eat your food", Papa says pointing at the chair beside him.
"I'm not hungry, I don't feel like eating"
"You'll have to eat regardless, you don't have to diet so hard"'. Like seriously! I gained 5 kgs really and she still thinks I'm dieting? I couldn't keep control of my food lust the whole nine months in lockdown.
"I ate fish and chips there so I'm pretty full, mom".
"Not a chance, that was your evening snacks" She wouldn't listen to me anyways, would she? Arguing will just be tiring and futile moreover I'll get hungry by 3a.m. So I might as well eat.
"Either feed me or I'll not have food, I'm too tired", I say lazily eying my dad.
"Alright, sit. Since I'll feed, I get to choose whatever toppings I want " Yeah I know that already. I sit there anyways. Dad piles my rice with vegetables ,and unknown fishes leaving that beautiful chicken breast behind cooked thoroughly and nicely , the smell just rushes through my nostrils calling me to it. It's delirious.
" I at least get to have that chicken"
"Okay, I was going to give that to you anyways, you carnivore", dad says grinning. My dad feeds me big morsels of food and I eat it gladly, it tastes so good. What would I do in a lifetime without food?
"So what did you guys do today?", mom asks from across the table.
"We went to Shaw's Steak in Mirpur ate food... and... well returned home...", I stutter losing track of my words. Stupid of me! If I tell her about the stain on my tank top that would cost me another scolding and I do not wish to hear that after having a nice time today.
"And...", mom looks at me curiously.
"That's it, it was just a long drive and food that's it. I asked them to come home with me for a sleepover but they said they couldn't make it. Kashmira had classes and Lilly went to grandma's house, that's it".
Papa feeds me the last morsel and I eat, that's when it hits me. I have ten assignments that I didn't turn in yet and today is the last day of submission and if I don't submit by today, there would be a complaint phone call on my mom's phone and then I'm doomed to hear more taunts for a whole month. I need to complete it.
"What's wrong? Why are you smiling?," Mommy asks me scrutinizing her pure form of focus on me. Me? Well because I have ten assignments that I did not do always pretending like I would complete it tomorrow but I never did and Guess What? Today is the last day and I have to get things done before you slap me across the face. Thats why I am smiling. I am really weird Like who smiles when you're tensed?
"Who, me? Oh no! I just recalled a joke", i say trying to shrug the topic off.
"What joke?"