This colder-than-normal winter, Cairenes are going about their business bundled up in warmer winter clothes, trudging as usual in congested traffic. Streets are packed with pedestrians, vehicles, carts, and donkey-led carriages. Together they all maneuver their ways amidst the blocked streets. And the streets bustle with activity as street vendors call out their products noisily to passersby. Life seems to move in a chaotic but uneventful fashion.

At face value, things seem to be calm, and they are. Standoffs, clashes, and other risky business are on hold. They have become few and far between. And social media is on hold, too. In essence, though, this is an unnatural lull, for Egyptians are awaiting events and anniversaries in keen anticipation.

On January 25, 2012, a whole year will have elapsed since the start of the Egyptian Revolution, and Egyptians are more disappointed than not. Nothing tangible has materialized; to them their world is pretty much the same if not worse than when Mubarak was in power. Egyptians had expected a swift and sweeping recovery, with visible and concrete improvements; this has not been the case.

The Egyptian Revolution had called for "Bread, Freedom, and Social Justice." As far as "bread" is concerned, it has become more expensive, though bread here really means the ability to feed oneself. Social justice is slow for sure -- raising minimum pay to a decent level has yet to be finalized. Freedom seems to be the only goal achieved -- Mubarak has been ousted. And freedom is immensely important, but …

Egyptians are agonizing not only over the state of their personal affairs and what seems to them an exorbitantly high cost of living, but also over the clashes and massacres that resulted in maimed, injured, and killed protestors. These clashes were so bizarre and so un-Egyptian, that the Egyptians themselves can hardly believe what they saw.

"How could this footage be of Egypt?" they say disbelievingly. Indeed, January 25 may turn out to be a bittersweet celebration after all -- joyous and somber simultaneously.

What will happen on January 25, 2012? Will the event be celebratory and festive? Or will it be vengeful and retaliatory? How can we guarantee safety and nonviolence?

In all cases, the general public is worried and rightly so. While many Egyptians plan to attend the million-man demonstration on January 25 in celebration, others are considering it a start of a new revolution since the first hasn't accomplished its set goals. Many others intend to avoid the downtown core or scheduling major events for that whole week. Obviously, congregating in huge numbers, even if the participants are in a festive mood, can lead to disasters.

Secondly, on January 23, the newly elected Egyptian parliament will meet for the first time. Even that is worrisome. A free democratic election it was; still, a predominantly Islamic assembly is not something to take lightly.

In the meantime, Mubarak's trial is speeding along. Prosecutors are calling for the death penalty for the deposed president, his children, the former interior minister, and six of the latter's assistants. After a slow start, the trial is proceeding swiftly, and it looks as though the intention is to announce sentences before the anniversary, which would make things even worse on January 25.

Although a just and fair trial is what all Egyptians want, sentencing day will be a precarious one. The pro-Mubaraks will denounce a harsh sentence. And the anti-Mubaraks will cry foul if it is a lenient one. It is a no-win situation. And in the meantime, the conspiracy theorists have already come up with their own outcomes. Their view is that, yes, a harsh sentence will be delivered -- to drug people into believing they have won -- then the appeal will take forever with a more lenient end result.

In all cases, the sentencings will most definitely create a tumultuous reaction in Egypt. No sentence will satisfy Egypt as a whole. And since Egyptians have decided that taking the law in their hands is an apt way of dealing with matters, they will go to the streets yet again.

Egyptians vehemently talk politics these days. Even the educated and the more aware are threatening to act if sentencing is not fair. "If the sentences do not match the crimes -- the deaths of hundreds of youths -- we will take control," a superficially docile lady exclaims.

"Retribution will happen," shouts another determined Egyptian. In addition, families of those slain have vowed to go to Torra Prison themselves to avenge their children's deaths. Though these excerpts are mere chatter, they do reflect the sentiments in Cairo today.

The lull Egyptians are enjoying is temporary. It is not a true reflection of the state of things. It is actually the calm before the storm.

I hope Egypt weathers this current impending storm and comes through the other end safe and sound.

Capilano University communications professor Dr. Azza Sedky is spending the winter in Cairo. She frequently blogs about Egypt.