My phone buzzed at 9pm. New group chat: FAMILY DINNER PLANNING. 14 people. I know none of them. Wrong number, clearly. I went to tap Leave. Then Grandma texted: "I am bringing my famous biryani Sunday. Everyone say what you are bringing." The replies rolled in. Kebabs. Salad. "The good plates." Then Uncle Tariq tagged me: "And what is this new number bringing?" The whole chat went quiet, waiting for my answer.

I said nothing. Maybe they'd forget me. They did not forget me. Auntie Shazia: "The quiet one can bring drinks." Uncle Tariq: "Agreed. Drinks." Grandma: "Not the fizzy ones. They upset your father." MY father? I typed nothing. They assigned me drinks anyway. There was a checklist now. My number had a checkmark next to it.