The diary game. A Busy Sunday Hosting Guests at Home. 29-03-2026

It was Sunday today, and I was at home. I had to stay there, helping the cook with arranging different things as a few guests were arriving at our place. For that reason, I got up very early in the morning to be ready and have plenty of time to do different chores. Early in the morning, I helped my mother with some kitchen work like cleaning and arranging different things such as bread, etc., which we needed to buy from the market.

After some time, the cook arrived at our place, and we started arranging everything for the cooking activity. Here in Kashmir, we hire cooks for special functions as they are experts in preparing traditional cuisine like Wazwan. It is considered best and most appropriate to have them cook Wazwan, as no matter how much we try ourselves, we cannot match their expertise. These cooks become professionals only after working as part of a team for a long time.

It was quite a tiring day for me. I had to arrange things from the start, bringing all the required items to the cook and helping him in whatever way I could. I also had to pound the meat to prepare the typical meatballs called rista and gushtaba, which are an important part of Wazwan. Meanwhile, I accidentally cut my finger with a sharp knife while cutting onions. Until then, I was excited about meeting the guests, but that incident affected my mood.

Later in the day, around 2 PM, after we had lunch, the guests arrived. It was time to welcome them and show them the arrangements we had made throughout the day. The guests who came were my sister-in-law’s brother, her sister-in-law, and her mother. As is customary here, we first served them kehwa, which is more like a welcoming tea in Kashmir. After that, I went to the government fair price shop to buy rice.

By the time I returned, it was already evening. After serving the food we had prepared, I finally got some time to sit with the guests. Although it was my holiday, instead of spending it outside with friends, I spent it at home, which felt equally meaningful. It was only in the evening that I got enough time to properly interact with them, as earlier I was busy with work.

They left late in the evening before dinner. Even after insisting a lot, they did not agree to stay. After they left, it was time to wrap things up. I had to store all the utensils used throughout the day in the storeroom behind our house in the orchard.

Later, after having dinner, I finally got some time to rest, as I was completely exhausted. I could not even read a single page of the history book that I usually enjoy before sleeping. Instead, I spent some time on social media and then went to bed around 11:30 PM.