Story taken from Muslimah Network on facebook. - part 6

Its 3am now and I can’t sleep. I keep thinking about the incident in the supermarket car park, I roll over and feel the empty cold pillow next to me, Hassan still hasn't  returned home, he must be having a good time with his friends. I try to brush the negative thought from my mind and wait for the call of adhan, besides today will be wonderful, my cousin Sara will be coming from Bradford. 

I was very close to her when we lived together back home, especially our college days. She was always getting into trouble, but would always stand up for me if I was bullied “Mehreen, let me see to these idiots” she would say. "No, aapi leave them” I would reply and she would hug me saying I was too soft.

My thoughts linger to my mama and aba and I whimper slightly. 

The kitchen smells of wonderful food that we are preparing, I make fresh samosas and mithai, my mother in law likes my cooking and tells her friends about this all the time, I prepare some tea for her and myself and we stand talking about how much rice to cook. Henna my sister in law walks into the kitchen “Mum I’m going out, I should be back later” “But henna, you know we have guest coming later, you are not going” says my mother in law. "Listen mum, Sara is not my cousin, so it’s not important okay” She looks at me with her arms folded, I turn away and open the hot tap to wash the dishes. “Listen henna, that’s enough I said no, or I will tell your aba”. “Aba, huh what’s he going to do? Um not much sitting in that wheelchair” she says “Uff, what am I going to do with you?”

My mother in law walks towards the store to get the rice, the hot water is still running and I forget. “Henna, please stay it would be nice, besides you haven’t met Sara she’s really nice” She grabs my hand and places it under the hot running water, “Listen, don’t tell me what to do, I know you are trying to get all friendly with my mum, but it won’t work with me, Alright!” she shouts close to my ear. My hand is so hot I scream and my younger brother in law walks inside the kitchen and sees what is happening. “Henna, what are you doing you mad cow” says Amir, he looks at me and henna leaves the kitchen. 

My mother in law walks back in the kitchen with the rice in a bowl, “Mehreen, you haven’t washed the dishes yet?” I look at my hand and open the cold tap “Ji mama, I will do that now” I reply.