…she had made his favourite dish the night before, lamb koftas, only slightly burnt this time, and maybe with just a bit too much garlic.
Shona’s cooking had not greatly improved, although Parvez was always uncomplaining and even complimentary at her efforts in the kitchen. As a result she had begun to think that her cooking was now quite acceptable, and for a special treat she gave him a couple of the less burnt koftas on the side of his fried eggs, with plenty of the juices from the pan to moisten his toast.
“Mmm, smells great Goldie,” said Parvez insincerely, looking sorrowfully down at his quite acceptable sunny-side ups ruined by the addition of burnt meatballs and black charcoal bits swimming in oily juice….

(Bitter Sweets © Roopa Farooki 2007,
first published 2007 by Pan Macmillan)