The world at my dining table

 

Comfortably sitting cross-legged on a chair with an empty plate before me, I reached for my mother's fully-filled water bottle and gently poured a miniscule amount into my cup: a deviation from any normal, usual circumstances, when I would lazily saunter to the kitchen before ambling back to my favourite spot at the dining table. With my father sitting to my right, we were in the midst of an electrifying, vibrant conversation. One which I was extremely reluctant on halting.

 

From the moment we picked up our utensils,
right till no speck of food was left on our plates, and a good few minutes beyond that, I found myself indulging in a discussion that gave me lessons and insights I probably can never find in a book. From effective governance to World Cup qualifiers and then to divinely inspired leaders, our exchange of ideas grew and expanded, much like a spider web - starting at a central point before branching out and interweaving into a sanctuary. I felt as though I was opening a treasure chest in which the world's precious gems laid untouched, or walking through the thick Cambodian jungles only to stumble upon the hidden City of Temples. All while still staying rooted to my chair.

 

I was and have always been amazed at the extent of my father's knowledge. Despite his very humble backgrounds, he has almost never failed to answer any of my inquisitive questions and seems to know the ropes of the real world well. More importantly, he is able to convey them in a way that an innocent, protected nymph like me can fathom.

 

This is why no matter the pile of work that I have to get done, and naturally worrying over them, I almost always set aside time for mealtimes. In an age where family dinners are reduced to merely eating and drinking in silence as the only form of communication that takes place involved the mobile device, I still place an intrinsic value in mealtime interactions. And I hope to always remember and hold onto this principle.

 

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Towards the end of the conversation, my dad and I were talking about religion (which in our case, is Islam). His conclusion was that zikr or the remembrance of God removes the blemishes of and cleanses the heart :)

Photo: Beautiful sky greeting me as I walked through the school gates.