Everyone has a trial they must face from Allah..

It's not always the same,

And it's not necessarily equal.
The hardest trials, are reserved for the strongest warriors, -

Those nearest to Allah...

A.A.I.M.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Arkaan's POV

Moving swiftly through the forest, we draw closer to the place which was our destination.

I look up at the scorching sun. No sign of clouds.

In the chaos filling my mind, one question pops up for the umpteenth time,

What caused the bees to surround the valley?

It was possible, but unnatural.

Noon was a good enough time for their movements, yet aggression on their side does not happen without a cause.

Somebody caused it, probably when they entered.

The story was incomplete...

•••

We had resumed our halaqatul Qur'an sometime after Dhuhr salah, when a boy barged into the masjid amidst overt alarm.

It was clear in his eyes that something of great dread had occurred.

It didn't take many words for us to understand from him, the predicament Arafat and the boys had fallen into, - stuck in a valley of bees on Mt. Shirah.

They had gone hunting for honey when things went terribly wrong for them. Arafat and the little boys..

I'm sure you'd be thinking same as me right.

What were they doing around Mt. Shirah when they were to be in the masjid of Mt. Shirah at that time, learning Qur'an.

I shook my head in disbelief.

Instead of coming to the gathering, they chose to loiter about, and within the masjid premises too!

"The bees seemed to have been riled up at that moment too.."The boy said.

If there was anything I knew, - the worst bees were the Mt. Shirah bees; ...yep and no, - not the ones of the Honey Fields' landmass, and still, - not those across the west river Kawthar tributary.

They were the ones right on the Mt. Shirah mountain ranges!!!

When I chose to go into the West forest, of course I knew what I was facing. But this situation was different. The boys were in a valley surrounded by bees, with no way out!

Yet, - there was something strange about the whole thing..

"You said the bees surrounded the whole valley the moment they entered.."

The boy nodded, turning to face me.

For no apparent reason. I questioned internally. That was strange. Nothing to rile them up, and they suddenly became aggressive?

Something was missing in the whole story..

"They had just suddenly became agitated.."He continued, turning away from me.

"How?"I asked confused.

At this the boy turned to me, his amber eyes seemed to bore into my soul.

That moment I felt I somehow knew him, but couldn't remember.

..The colour of their eyes were different but the feeling they gave, was one and the same...

Blackhooded boy!

"I don't know"He shrugged, avoiding my eyes.

Clearly a lie..

"How did you know they were from our halaqah?"Ukashah asked. Surely, a question he'd ask. He was already clearly pissed off with the Spaniard.

"They were in the white thobe apparel of South district halaqah.."

That set it all.

"Leave them be."Was all the tacit guy said. Apparently, they needed to be taught a lesson. He sat down adamantly as if the grave predicament the boys were in, had nothing to do with him at all.

However, the halaqah did not continue.

"Ukashah.."Zak sighed.

•••

I arrive outside the Chinese market, the outskirts of the forests surrounding the Mt. Shirah mountain range.

Normally, the mountain we approached the masjid from was east. The western other three mountains had most of the forest to them, ..and the bees.

West district and its forest were across the stream, yet, - both were considered as one forest.

"Let's go."

I espied the informant boy who had been waiting for me.

Ukashah and the rest were already at the scene. Probably outside the periphery, where the agitated bees were swarming and moving in circles, the boys trapped in their valley.

Together, we began moving towards the site as fast as we could, the atmosphere between us somewhat calm.

The boy looked ahead coldly, as we moved. Clearly avoiding my sight, or probably didn't want to start any conversation.
I was still stuck in thought about him, and the strange story.

I looked at him furtively, to reassert my assumptions when he first intruded in our gathering.

He had that sought of wild look to him, resembling the boy from the Saturday when we cleaned the masjid.

However, he also felt a bit different.

Although, their eyes had the same feeling to it, his eyes were the gold of amber this time. It clearly wasn't artificial, and one could not simply just change their eye colour.

So even with the same overt fairness and the black hood he wore, I had to convince myself they were not the same.

"Have we met before?"The question came out suddenly. Perhaps this would make for conversation, and clear my doubts.

"No."He responded curtly, without so much as giving a glance towards me.

"Okay.., you must have a twin?"I say in jest, suddenly feeling stupid. If they were identical twins, eye colour would have been same..

But two people can't just look so amazingly similar like this right?

He looked at me as if I were foolish. Without an answer, he picked up pace, leaving me behind.

...

We arrived by Zak, Ukashah, and Haru. Rafik and Abdullah had stayed behind.

We had given them the excuse of looking after the masjid in our absence, to avoid more trouble.

I stood at the forest line at one of the four mountaintops, which made up the Mt. Shirah range.

The valley was below, in and around the mountains were forest trees. Below in the valley, I could catch some glimpse of the boys, hurdled together in one part within. They weren't moving.

Probably too scared to do so, but that's good..

"I'm going inside.."I say, wrapping a white shawl around my head and face, covering my neck too, in entirety.

"We weren't gonna stop you" Ukashah says humourlessly. Apparently he was equally pissed with me for supporting Zak.

"You know what to do."I nod in Zak's direction. He nods back.

"I can go in with you, ya know."Haru says, a grin up his face which seems to tell he sees this predicament as fun.

"Not to burst your bubble, but I think your combat skills are not going to work here. They're bees.."Blackhood chuckles.

"I believe one person is enough. Green eyes, you go."He adds commandingly. I suddenly wonder why he's still here with us.

I decide not to mind, since no one else seemed to do. Also, going alone would minimize chances of detection..

As I head downwards, I feel their eyes watch me even as I disappear, swallowed up by the forest trees.

Within, I hear the humming of bees and see their swarms. This is even worst than what we saw from the outside.

I'm left befuddled as I try to think what to do next.

I do the most foolish thing I could ever think of, - as a plan. It's a gamble, and the likelihood of it backfiring is even higher.

I'm openly forsaking my life here.

The opened can, filled with all sweet things I could find; maple syrup and sugary water, was laid down on the forest floor, sprinkling some around.

As I moved along that periphery in the forest, I left a trail of the sweet substance, the closest I could come near them.

After deciding it was enough, I went a distance enough from the bait, concealing myself the best I could in the thicket. I left mothballs around that particular area, for extra measure.

It was lethal to me as well, but I had masked my face with the keffiyeh. I wasn't also going to stay there for long.

Just wait~

One. Two..

It didn't take long..

The bait was working!
I sighed happily, as I saw the bees rushing madly to the ambrosia.

I quickly made my way deeper into the valley, leaving mothballs in my wake.

I could soon see the boys, and as I entered into the clearing where they were, I sighed in relief. Now the problem, was us getting out safely.

"Arkaan!"Arafat exclaimed happily as I unfolded the shawl, as if meeting a long lost friend.

Ah~ How quickly people change when faced with calamity.

"There's another way out."I say, now was not the time for pleasantries. If this mountain range was how Ukashah and Zak had explained, then we could take a roundabout outside.

There was a cavern in one of the mountains, and - some tunnels..

According to Ukashah and Zak, deep within the labyrinth, one led straight to the masjid. I just had to follow the map they drew.

As to why such a thing existed, they themselves seemed clueless.

They just said it appeared eight years ago.. About the very time I was under Ustadh Inaayat..

Thinking about the bees, this time was also good for escape..

Especially while they were distracted..

I explain the plan to them. They listen attentively like I were their leader, even Arafat seemed to consent.

I just hope they'll still be this complying once we leave, and not cause any more trouble.

...

We made our way safely around the mountain.

It was so safe, that I began to feel uneasy. Only a few bees were encountered...

My premonition proved true, once we reached the very mouth of the cave.

The bees had mostly gathered there. Almost as if they had been waiting for us..

"We can't take this path again."I mouth to the boys.

"We've to go back."Perhaps and wait in the valley for dusk to come.

"...by then the bees would return to their hives.. in shaa Allah..We could even leave by a normal route then.."I added hopefully while explaining to them my thoughts.

We had to leave this place fast! and ..quietly. Attracting that swarm was death for us.

I had never seen a host of bees swarm as great as this before. This whole side of the mountain seemed wrapped by them!

Even before we had the chance to initiate our escape,

"Wait right there, you bunch of societal menaces!"

Khidr?? I froze for the moment, looking up ahead to see the old man leading a group of youth, a considerable number probably from the crowd earlier in the market, ..in our direction.

It seemed like Qiyaamah was right at my doorstep, and boyy I wasn't going to experience it alone.

On one side were the bees.. On the other, a mob led by an angry old man. Which was worse...?

Ah~ What a gathering!
Friends and nemeses, all ready to die together in one and the same place. Similar deaths.. same cause*sighs* Surely nothing to be happy about :'(

But actually this was not how I imagined leaving this world..

There was always the thought of dying with a smile on my face.., grandchildren and probably, - great-grandchildren surrounding me, reciting the kalimah and making many-a-dua for my soul..

Not this way. I sigh internally again,

At least, - not with the one who'd be the major contributor to my demise..

"South district halaqah!"He shouted, not even trying to pay attention as I signal to him the bees, clearly behind me.

The creatures were already agitated, for an unknown reason too!

"Yeah, we're."Arafat says proudly. I'm not sure if he's just being foolish, or he doesn't just notice our predicament at the moment.
I keep most of my attention to the dark wrap on the mountain as the confrontation is about to begin.

"Years ago, Hâ Mîm towns, you failed to bring honour and glory to Tâ Hâ and the South!"

How was that past event that much of a big deal to him? I'm suddenly getting infuriated.

The old man is risking all our lives on his own grudges from the past.

"La Mierda! I think you got the wrong group."Arafat says suddenly, probably cursing in Spanish"I've never been to Hâ Mîm before. And so have these little kids here. I'm not so sure about este pobre chico here, though.."He looks at me.

"Whatever complaints you have is therefore, and I declare ..not with us.."It seems he's starting to grasp the situation now. It's not a matter of fame but defame..

Ah~ the betrayer.. One minute he's part of the halaqah, another, ..he has nothing to do with us. The ways of the world..

"If I were you, I'd keep quiet where I'm. Let the elderly speak.!"He says coldly, and I suddenly wonder whether the group with him are merely market people or ..his own personal men.

How did this seemingly poor man, get so many followers?? A question for another day I guess..

Their faces all carried the look of arrogance, and the vileness from Khidr, was equally radiated on them.

The feeling that the latter assumption was true, was suddenly getting my scalp tingling.

"What's with all this talk? At the end, there's really nothing you can do to us."I challenged. My facial expression hardens, my voice equally grows cold, ..or even more. It is in this time that I know my defiance would be viciously radiating.

He looks taken aback and suddenly doesn't seem so sure of himself.

There's really nothing he can do after all.

"You probably came here just to intimidate us, right?"I say. This is outright bullying. And it's simply something I can't stand.

"What can we do?"He says with a scoff, regaining his composure.

"Unlike you, we're obedient citizens, and justly patriotic. I believe we'll hand you over to the tribes to deal with.

After all, this forest, though of the South, falls under their protection.

You particularly.."He looks me straight in the eye,

"Your deed in the West has not gone unnoticed.. Only a matter of time and you'll be apprehended.

Why don't I just save them the trouble of coming over."He smiles in triumph.

It was then that I saw it.

"No, Arafat. Don't.. "

Too late. I feel my entire body breaking out in cold sweat.

_________________________________

Salaamu alaykum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh

Treasured readers!

I hope y'all doing well. Alhamdulillaah, I'm also fine :D

But somewhere in the world, our Muslim brothers and sisters are suffering :'(

Yeah, you got that right, - Sudan..

Try to get informed of what's happening, and help in anyway you can!

On social media..., we're going BlueForSudan💯

Yh, and least I forget, take time to check out Purpose For Existence by ZainubRms.

It's a really great book! And I enjoyed it!

Till next Crescent, which I hope is very soon, Fee amanillah:)