I am currently not eating. I am fasting.

The time of the year where I 

join others to commemorate the 

revelation of the Quran has finally come. 

Ramadan is supposed to be a time of spiritual discipline–

increased charity, generosity, prayer, and study of the Quran.

With fasting from dawn to sunset

comes a need to break bad habits by instilling 

discipline, control, empathy, and forgiveness in the self–

a display of what it feels like to be hungry and thirsty to 

comprehend a need for compassion and curiosity, 

but with it also comes a grand, essential feast with your loved ones, 

comprised of dates with which we open our fast, 

biryani, Fruit Chaat, chicken spring rolls, chicken wings, 

Dahi Bhalla, Chicken Tikka Kebabs, Pakoras, vegetable samosas, 

and not to forget the refresher of our souls, 

Rooh Afza, 

the Screw Pine Essence,

often mixed with cold water or milk,

poured over vanilla ice cream or licked surreptitiously off a spoon

spreads not only the water balance in my body but ecstasy among us.

Ecstasy that is usually cluttered by temporary luxuries but is now a motif for restoration. 

A motif for reward.