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The Three Hugs

Jamila looks at the vibrant scene from the rooftop. Streets are lit with fairy lights playing patterns. People flocking the streets, roofs, balconies looking at the sky with hopeful eyes.
Kids engage in mirthful banter, sometimes in play and sometimes running off to Ammi asking when will the moon be sighted.
The June evening lingers longer as thousands of people wait for the pious moon to break their fast of Ramadan and greet their friends, relatives and even passer-bys a happy 'Eid Mubarak'.
Jamila and her friends have made out all sorts of cloud shapes in the sky fabricating stories out of them, but the moon is yet nowhere to be seen.

They stroll off to another corner of the roof to see a puppeteer crossing the street when joyous sounds of "Taqabbal Allahu Minna Wa Minkum" 'May Allah accept from you and me' "chaand Raat Mubarak" erupt all around. People are laughing, hugging, celebrating, there is a happy conundrum overall.

Jamila looks at the sky to see a sliver of the moon playing peek-a-boo and rising high as if in answer to the prayers of the ramadeens to shower them with blessings and love. 
She runs off to her cousins to greet them with muanaaqah, greeting Eid with the three hugs. The most beautiful tradition of Eid for her. Father had taught her about the two ways, musafaha wherein they greet Eid by the shaking of hands and mu'anaqah wherein Eid is greeted by embracing the other person thrice. The part she loved absolutely. She greets everyone and walks with a bounce. Eyes full of glee thinking about all the Eidi she will receive from all elders after the Eid celebrations tomorrow.