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"Assalam 'alaikum wa rahmatullah"
"Assalam 'alaikum wa rahmatullah"
"Aye mere Rab, mere har kaam mein asaani farma. Tere siwa mera koi nahin. Kisi ka mohtaj na bana, mere Maula, beshak tu sab ke liye kaafi hai." Saying this, I swiped my hands over my face and fist-length beard and inhaled deeply, feeling the energy for today rushing in.
"Abba, yeh dekho aapki deewani aulad. Khud uth ke chaley gaye to kya hojata? Jab dekho jab, bus miss kardete." Talha, my eldest ranted on about let's see who. Oh, it's the naughty daughter who is sneakily peeking in.
"Aajao bete. Aapki ich tareef karre bhai."
"Allah, Abbu. Hum hamesha miss karte kya? Ab Ammi ittey bade bade andey thonsrey munh mein, toh late kaisa nahi hotey, aap bolo hamaku!" Afreen, my dearest defended herself, confidently crossing her arms and giving a death glare towards my only son.
"Jaldi chaba key khatam karliye toh yeh zillat nai sehna padhta!" Yelled my other daughter from the hallway, who received special treatment from my Begum for happily munching on the breakfast.
"Hao. Ab jis ke uppar guzarri usku ich takleef malum!" Counter yelled Afreen from my study, annoyed at why no one sided with her.
"Jaando betey, Talha. Ek baar chhod do. Ab nahi karti bolri na bacchi. Nai toh main chhod detaun." I consoled my fuming son, who kept on breathing heavily at the injustice he had to go through.
"Ab dekho tum, betey. Kaisa badla letaun malum hojata!" Threatening Afreen, he strode out of the room receiving a stuck out tongue in return from the troublemaker.
"Thank you, Abba! You're the best!" With a peck on my bearded cheek, she dashed out to catch up with an angry elder brother. My kids, I tell you!
"Tabassum, tumhare uppar gaye poore aulad'aan. Ek ka khaana khatam nai hota, ek ke nakhre khatam nai hotey." Shaking my head and grabbing the newspaper, I apprised my wife. Gasping loudly, she replied.
"To aap meku mota bolrain?!" She broke out in shock, ramming the curry on the table, and placing her hands on her hips while narrowing her pretty eyes.
"Nai, main bolraun ke mere bacche tumhare uppar gaye. Tumhare waise ich neyk aur samajhdaar hai." I held her hand cautiously, afraid of another outbreak, while Arooba danced her gaze between me and her mother, slurping her Maggi.
"Thairo, I'll finish this real quick and then you both can continue." Arooba gave us a small smile and hurriedly tried to finish her bowl, while my wife blushed like a newly wed. Well, she's got a dashing husband after all.
"Hato! Late hora aapku bhi office ku. Jaldi khaa ke jaao." With this, she shyly sauntered off to the kitchen leaving us chuckling all by ourselves. Arooba fist bumped me and hastily drank the soup, after having a panicky glance at her century old watch. With a peck on my cheek and informing me about her college timings for today, she skipped to her car after grabbing the dangling car keys.
