Put the "Fun" in funeral ~~ Mahdavi

You would have thought we were celebrating Xaahira coming home. Instead, we were mourning her death in a manner only appropriate for a hedonistic lunatic such as herself.

Just as every year we celebrated the death of our ancestor Luja, Xaahira was now taking her place next to her in history. My aunt and uncle had obviously spared no expense for their eldest daughters send off, the table was stacked with cakes and treats of all sorts. A brass band was playing their upbeat tunes in her honor as the majority of the family had seemed to lose their selves to the fountain of champagne found in the center of the family estate. I examined the guests of the party and found that family from all around the districts had made their way for the occasion. I was certain that there were a few present actually celebrating the fact that the bitch was dead instead of mourning the family’s loss…if you could call it that.

Personally, I was never my cousin’s biggest fan, but even I had to admit that she had her moments. Xaahira was the one who had shown me around one when I first arrived. She took me shopping in order to help me fit in with the rest of the wealthy district. She even tried to bring me to a party or two, but parties were not really my style. This was not an environment that I particularly thrived in. More than anything, I stood in my corner and watched as the rest of my cousins, aunts and uncles laughed between tears and told tales of my deceased cousin.

Every now and then, I found my way worming through the crowd of people I was all somehow related to. Occasionally muttering words of agreement that it was indeed a pity that she died so young. If there was anything I truly believed in, it was that even the worst of people deserved some dignity in death. This was truly the way that Xaahira would have wanted to go out, in a party with her face plastered on what seemed every wall and corner. A large cardboard cut out of her in an emerald, green dress took its place at the top of the staircase, almost seemed like it was watching over all of us (or possibly judging us). Joined next to her was Ma’isah Mahdavi, Xaahira’s mother. She lightly tapped on her champagne flute causing the band to stop playing and everyone to fall silent.

”Hello and thank you all for joining us today. I know a lot of you had a long way to travel and your presence really does mean the world to myself and my family.” Ma’isah indicated to Xaahira’s father and siblings standing behind her overlooking the railings of the upper floor of the mansion. ” Xaahira was unfortunately unable to make it home to us in the manner we had hoped for, and it is impossible to put into words the emotions we are feeling. She was a vital part of the family, and her presence will be missed greatly amongst all of us. The last thing our dearly departed would have wanted was for us to sulk in her absence. Let us throw one more party in her honor, one more extravagant affaire to celebrate her life, because that is the only thing she would have asked for.”

With those words the band proceeded to play and Xaahira’s direct family descended down the stairs to join the rest of us in these festivities. What a load of bullshit, but I could not say that out loud. So instead, I grabbed a champagne flute and downed the drink in one go. I was never really a drinker, but I would have to become one for the night if I was going to survive this hell hole.

Just a little bit further away from the drinks stood another decorated table. One with flowers, Iris’s, just the same that covered her body in the arena. In the middle a bowl filled with little satin bags and a golden snake printed on the front. A bag I had seen a million times before in my life, the bag that Xaahira would sell her product in. Only the highest quality material for the drugs she moved. In front of the table was Tallie, one of my younger cousins from seven with a disgruntled look all over face as she seemed to stand watch over the bags. Everyone was aware that Tallie adored Xaahira like no other. Really, there was not another person, probably not even her own sister that loved her the way Tallie did.

When she had her back turned, talking to someone else, I picked one of them up and emptied the contents into my hand. Instead of being met with the crystal white snow that usually occupied the bags, a greyish dust had spilled into my hands. I slowly ran my fingers through the “product” as I came to realize what I was holding in my hand. My family had a lot of (what most would consider deranged) odd practices but handing out the cremated remains of a loved one as a party favor at a funeral was a new one.

”Tallie…” I hesitated to even ask ”…Are you trying to stop people from taking Xaahira home with them? Because that would be rude, if someone besides you wants to be haunted by the queen of hell herself then that is their right...”. At least I assumed that we all had a right to her remains. We share everything in this family, why not share the deceased.