Family Dinner

By Zayd Mahmood (9th grade)

As I come home from school, I see my parents running around frantically cleaning stuff up. I  walk into the room and ask, “What’s happening?” even though I already know. Somehow, over the span of about 30 minutes, my mom has managed to invite 30 people over for dinner. The scent of spices fills the air as she prepares for a big family gathering. The entire house is turned upside down—furniture moved around, extra chairs brought in, and the kitchen transformed into a whirlwind of activity. It’s like an unspoken family ritual, where everyone knows their role, even if the event feels spontaneous. (Mine is to get all the paper goods and drinks for the feast)

By the time relatives arrive, the house is sparkling, and there’s a feast laid out on the dining table. There’s no such thing as a quiet Desi family dinner; it’s full of chatter, laughter, and endless (and I mean endless) plates of food. Dishes like biryani, kebabs, and naan cover every inch of the table, with everyone reaching over each other to grab their favorites. Kids run around, aunties gossip in the corner, and uncles discuss politics and cars. It’s a chaotic yet comforting scene, one that repeats itself time after time. Even though it’s loud and busy, it’s filled with warmth, tradition, and the sense of togetherness that makes these dinners so special.