“Not again, Myra!” ammi moaned as my phone dropped to the floor with a crash.

I don’t believe that it’s my fault anyway. December weather dries your palms to such an extent that you are forced to apply an unaffordable amount of soothing hand cream. Then your phone slips, and not just the phone, almost everything, from pens to tumblers and even my pet kitten. Do not worry, she is safe, since ammi caught her.

However, her picture on my wallpaper shattered into numerous fine pieces behind my fractured screen protector. I could not bear looking at it, so I rushed to abbu.

“Masha Allah! Again?” he rolled his eyes and before even examining it thoroughly, he opened his toolbox, took out something and used it to rip off the screen protector.

The next day was my history exam and I had to learn the dates. I had delayed doing so, just like the professional procrastinator I am. So I sat about to cram up the years and the dates in the few hours left.

Days passed, and despite ammi’s constant reminders for me to get a new screen protector, I just kept using my phone the way it was. It seemed too much for me to spend another 500 rupees from my pocket money, especially after I had spent and wasted them just a couple of weeks ago in buying the phone’s screen protector that I had shattered. Anyway, vacation started and the football matches in our colony began.

For three consecutive days, we played. Then came Zara’s team match, and I had to cheer for them as much as I could. After all, she is my best friend.

Out she went, right as the match opened, securing the first goal in the first minute. I, who was constantly filming her, jumped to touch the horizon in excitement. As I ascended higher, my phone descended lower, falling off my lap and touching the floor beneath.

Instantly, Zara’s first goal was forgotten as the people around came rushing towards me. They had to. One minute I was in the sky, the next minute on the floor.

Excellent! My phone screen had finally broken its alliance with me.

The next day, I mustered the courage to approach ammi. Silently, I presented my dear device to her.

“Masha Allah! You saved 500 rupees to spend thousands. Impressive!” came the sarcastic response.

“Ammi, what should I do?” I whispered.

“Take this to your abbu, get a good scolding from him and learn a lesson: a stitch in time saves nine.”

That day, I learned something. Procrastination takes you nowhere. All the tragic happenings that day had a serious effect on my phone’s health. There was this financial effect on me, with no pocket money for the next couple of months. Then the emotional effect as abbu set strict timings for me to use the phone.

But guess what? Something unexpected happened the next week. Despite all the chaos, my phone became the only witness and recorder of Zara’s outstanding goal during the match. It showed me that sometimes, even in the middle of imperfections, chaos and calamity there can be remarkable surprises, serving as a reminder that valuable moments are not only captured behind a perfect lens, but can be found in the most unexpected circumstances.

Published in Dawn, Young World, February 24th, 2024