A Twist of Fate (Dhoombros included) under MAJOR editing

Doctor Aliyah

"No. No. No. Absolutely not!! I am not getting married to anyone Ammi! I am going to stay with only you!" I whine as my mom combs my hair.  

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Awww..meri jaan(my darling)...your so cute!!!"

" I am not cute!! Don't lie to me! I am a big girl now!" She kissed my cheek lovingly.

"Chup!(Be quiet!) You are still my little angel!" My mom then gave me my dinner and fed me with her hands.

                     17 years later............................

I wake up to my mother's yelling. "Aliyaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!! Are you coming or should I come up there?!?!?" Oh no. No. No. She is not coming up here. No freakin way. I will be in big trouble. If she sees the tears.. all hell will break loose.

I answer, "Ammi, I am coming in 10 minutes! Just don't come up here!!!" I yell in panic and wipe my face from all the wet tears that are either still running or have been dried.

She replies, " You better make that ten a five!!"

"Fine just don't come. I know what you'll do if you do." 

"oh really? What will I do?" she replies back playfully. I try to make up something on the spot.

"Ugh.... you will throw a full jug of freezing water on me in the winter on a snowy morning, and then I will get mad at you, then I will get sick and when you make my favorite soup, I will hug you and then you will get sick, and then I will take off work, and take care of you, and then you will scold me for taking an absence, but then when you see how much your daughter loves you and take care of you, you will say that you are proud of me and that soon I should marry, cuz I am already 25 and you need a son-in-law soon, and then i will give you an excuse that I love you and will never leave you, and then you will start crying of happiness that your daughter is your little Jaan(darling)." I continue to talk as I come into the kitchen, where my mom is softly  chuckling at my immature behavior. I smile at her, trying to get the dreadful images of the nightmare out of my mind.

It really is hard to be all happy and bright in front of her, but she needs to see this. She needs to see my smiling, me being happy or else she will fall into darkness. Again. So Aliyah, whatever you do, keep smiling in front of her. 

    When I put whipped cream all over  the waffles and dig in, only to have a huge whipped-cream mustache, which earned me a light smack on the arm from my mother. I just laugh.

After breakfast, I grabbed my bag, coat, kissed my mother's cheek, and ran out of the door to my office. Being an over achiever that only went to high school for 3 years, completed her college in 3 years and was now doing residency, has its perks! I have to see sick babies everyday with some life-threatening diseases and that just breaks my heart that these little angels are suffering so much, and they have only just come to this world. And today I was put in the ER as an emergency doctor.

     3 hours later........

I ask Meher if she wants to come and pray with me. She replies with a "Ya sure. Let e get my things and then we will drive to the Masjid in my car." Often during lunch time, we either read in the prayer room downstairs, or go to the Masjid nearby.

 "Ready?" 

"Ya sure. Lets go." With that I follow Meher to her SUV and get inside. SHe starts driving and its quiet.

Ring! Ring! RIng! 

My mother's phone. I answer it and greet her. 

"Assalamalaikum Ammi!" I said in a very squeaky voice.