Sorry, Poppy??
We’ve all got a dawat at Khaleda Auntie’s??
Amit
That’s tonight????
Raju, bring your Switch please.
Khaleda Auntie’s is always so boring.
Raju
on it
Mario Kart or Zelda?
Amit
Let’s create chaos .?.?.
Let’s play Carnival!
Raju
bet
Shirin
maybe tomorrow
?
Poppy
??
Right, sure.
Maybe tomorrow then.
16
The calendar above the desk in my bedroom confirms what the group chat has already told me: there is indeed a dawat tonight and it’s Salman’s weekend with them. The entry has a big cross through it.
Before the fight between our parents, we all attended these parties, but after battle lines were drawn, we never wanted to be in the same room together. In the beginning, both families were invited to each dawat but, over time, word must have gone around that we were feuding and that if one family was going to a dawat, the other would not.
I sigh as I slouch back down into my desk chair. I know I can hang out with my friends tomorrow, that it’s not a big deal, but the fact that I can’t see them today because of forces beyond my control irritates me. I have missed out on so many Saturdays with them, and have had to pretend that I’ve been OK with it. I just accepted that I wouldn’t have as many chances to see my friends, and it was fine when I saw them every day at college anyway, but now that we’re working it stings so much more.
But how do I bring that up with Ma without acting like a petulant child? At least I have my friends, while she lost hers altogether. She’s close to Shirin’s and Lipi’s parents but her relationship with them is nothing like the one she had with Salman’s parents.
PING!
My phone makes me jump. There’s a message from the groupchat. Shirin is asking what colour salwar kameez she should wear this evening, and Raju spits out made-up colours to annoy her. Even though I want to be helpful, I silence my phone and turn it face down. Isn’t that what their group chat with Salman should be for?
I can already imagine how much fun they’ll have tonight. Even though Khaleda Auntie’s parties are known for being an absolute bore, I know they’ll come up with something fun to do and will ultimately make a bunch of memories.
Memories I won’t be part of.
