The Ramadan days of Maisha Anika are not going well at all. With only a few days left until this faster-than-flash month bids farewell, her dream to procure an outfit that would make her look like the Queen remains unattained as she realises she might not be from the upper-middle-class portion of society after all.
"I used to consider myself sufficiently posh, you know? But this Eid, I got to know that the new student budget-friendly range starts from 12000, and anything mildly beautiful costs an arm and a leg. Now I am suffering from a lack of Eid dresses and an identity crisis," she informed us while sniffling.
Things are not looking good for her male bestie, Sadman Sakib, either. His father had let him know in clear terms that he would kick him out if he didn't cut his hair into a respectable army cut before Chand Raat, which he had been growing out for the very purpose of Eid.
"Look, I don't have a problem if he is corrupt, takes bribes, or suffers from depression and lack of father's love. But damaging my reputation before my lifeless relatives, whom I only see once every two years, is where I draw the line. He must look like a decent, smart boy in front of my colleagues. I know he isn't any of the two, but he should at least look the part," said Sakib's father.
Sakib could comprehend little of what his father said because he was extremely sleep-deprived, having stayed awake till Seheri and waking up early in the morning for University classes.
"Look man, I can't express myself the whole day from dawn till iftar. Iftar to Seheri is my only respite as I can be myself in peace and do my favourite things. Don't come with your healthy advice about the necessity of sleep. I have no health to spare anyway because of traffic jams, pollution, high cost of living, and my dishevelled routine."
The writer had also planned to ask him about his Ramadan resolution of living healthy for a month, but seeing his frustration and knowing about his general lack of discipline, she thought better of it and left him to be.
On the other side of their residence, their security guard uncle, too, had a bad Ramadan. While making the most of the holy month in terms of religious sincerity, he had planned to gift a new dress to his wife as well this Eid, alongside his daughters and mother.
But seeing the emerging market trend in dress shopping and grocery shopping alike, this Eid too, he might not be able to sufficiently provide to his family anything that isn't mental pressure and pain of heart.
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