Assalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh! Treasured readers, hope you're all well this Yawmul Jum'ah.

I'm too:)

For those who read the previous chapter when it was first published, please read this too, as there are additions at the end.

The Hâ Mîm chapters have suddenly increased from eight, and is steadily going up, though I wanted to make it a short arc.

This is due to my wanting to limit chapter lengths to around 2000words, and still capture the whole arc.

So please enjoy!

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"There are no choices we take without risks, Zayn..

If a person keeps on searching for such a one.., he'll remain indecisive, always.."

-Hilya, to Zayn.

_______________________________

"Ustadh, why did you not just give him the ball, but rather talk with him?"

"He looked intelligent for a young kid. He has compassion for his young. He respects his elderly. And he seems to hold 'truthfulness' as his most prized value.

If he were to come under me, in shaa Allah I'll train him as best as I could. He has a bright future, should he step unto the path.."

...

During the weeks that followed, Zayn moved along with his Ustadh, trying to familiarize with the town and its people.

They also heard of the prestige of the Al Aswâdi clan. They were not rich. But they were wise and ascetic. All the people of Tâ Hâ respected them without an exception.

...

"Ustadh, what's going on?"Zayn asked over the commotion and takbeerât.

The Sheikh laughed heartily,"Bakh! Bakh! Bakh! Your young friend has topped his school again. His parents are being encouraged to let him write the final exams with his seniors. They hope he'd be recognized as a brilliant student, and recruited into one of the big Cities.

Perhaps Yâ Sîn, or Nûn would do.."

"But Ustadh, didn't you want to teach him?"

"If we're fated to be teacher and student, then it'll happen.."

...

"I heard the eldest son of Al Aswâdi applied for position of an official apothecary in the Royal court, but was denied the post."

"Indeed, the Capital city is playing foul again. He obviously passed all the tests and came out top! The results are as clear as daylight."

"What did they say was the reason for not picking him?"

"They said they can't trust a physician from a jinn infested town and island city."

"Such a pity.. His second younger brother has topped all in the final exams he took with the seniors and yet, the house feels like the people within are mourning..

His achievements have been shadowed by his elder brother's misfortune."

"But if they were ascetic, why would they care about worldly positions?!!"

"People say it was the dream of the eldest brother since he was young.. Now he's fallen into a state of depression.

Even among family, there can be difference. A saintly family doesn't necessarily mean everybody is a saint!"

"I heard the saddest in the house now is rather the second younger brother. His parents failed to celebrate him.."

"But why would they, when his brother has just undergone a major setback!"

"Shouldn't the elder brother be more understanding though.."

"It's not always easy to do so. I heard he even became depressed."

"You're right though. It's either one or the other. They can't celebrate one, and mourn the other simultaneously. Only one is possible, if not it'll raise bad feelings by the other. They chose the elder. They chose to mourn.

People say the younger has been silent since then. He's now living under his elder brother's shadow.

Tsk.tsk For his shine to be engulfed by gloom like that. Imagine what this would do to the child!"

"Tsk.tsk. It's all their fault! Madinatu Anwâr! King Dhul Qarnayn is so shameless!"

Zayn heard the sound of a glass breaking. These were the voices of men in the cottage they were staying.

"Ustadh.."

"How sad.. His elder brother would probably end up as his heart's demon. He'll want to get his shine back.

(Sighs)All the sons and daughters of Al Aswâdi are exceptional wherever they go.

For them to use such an absurd excuse.. The mainland cities seemed to be taking it too far.."

"Ustadh, is it true? ..About the jinns.."

"*sighs* Zayn, since we came here have you noticed anything strange?.."

Silence.

"The jinns live almost everywhere, but live away from humans. They don't cause trouble unless you make it easy for them to.

For example, there are about no scholars in this town except for me now. Most children here would probably grow up learning the deen from their elders. But only the scholar of Al Islâm can really train anyone on authentic Islâm.

With their lack of knowledge, people would venture into uncertain matters, and become spiritually bankrupt. Such are the easy targets for the jinn.

But that's not the only problem they'll face though.. The jinns are the primary fear because, ..most of Al Qalb-ul-Ard's southern cities are believed to have them in numbers, and also.. because they have so little taqwa.

One who fears Allah alone, would have no cause to fear any other illallah(except Allah).."

...

"Have you heard! The new man with the kid who's entered the town recently, is a scholar!"

"What?!"

"I never knew!"

"Indeed! All this time he's been lowkey. I heard he just recently opened up a halaqah, at the Masjidur-Rahmân.

He has the full support of councilman Ya'qûb and the Al Maghribi family!"

"Indeed! They manage South district's affairs, and represent us in the council. Once they've given him the go-ahead, he's already firmly established here."

"But who'd send their children. With something so new, people would be skeptical about it!"

"Indeed. But I heard recently people have been rushing to send in their kids. All it takes is listening for a single moment to one aayah recited by his kid, and all parents would go mad, wanting their children to be able to recite the same."

"I heard his recitation can open the doors of the heaven and let rain fall!"

"Subhânallah! Then he must be a saintly child!"

"There he is."

Zayn blushed in embarrassment, hearing the comments of the people. He felt uncomfortable and very unhappy. They even didn't feel shy talking about him in his presence.

He turned to his Ustadh who seemed to be busy reading. He heard the sound of flipping pages. He knew what was on his Ustadh's mind.

"Ustadh, how come I've not seen the Al Aswâdi boy yet? Didn't you go to his house the last time?"

"Indeed.. They've accepted for him to join me. But the little kid.. He has an obstacle in his heart.. An inner demon.."

"Ustadh, do you know what it is?"

"His elder brother failed his dream.. So his achievement was ignored. I'm afraid until he's proves himself to himself, he's not going to let it go.

He's picked it upon himself to achieve the dream his brother failed, to prove himself to the people and, ..himself.

It's going to be a long path but he seems ready to undergo the turbulence. (Sighs)Such strong willpower! If only it was directed toward the deen..

Everyone has their own paths..
In this state, he'll be unable to travel his own.. free from the influence of his inner demons..

Zayn, why don't you come with me?.."

...

Even as Zayn's voice sailed through the tree crowns, the whole place became silent, as if heaven had descended.

The birds, springs, trees, everything, were all silent except for the flowing streams..

It seemed one of the eternal Jannât had opened.

The boy who was nearby, heard the voice and, the recitation.

"Who?"

It was a single kalâm(word), but his heart was already stolen."Apart from this, I've no other path.. Until I can recite more than that, I shall not stop."

Zayn smiled, Ustadh was right. It was from then on he had a new companion in class. By that time, Ukashah had already been personally recruited by his Ustadh. They entered the halaqah at about the same time..

From that time, he had this aura of independence and competition about him. He was wilful and held obstinately to his own principles. But he excelled, even there.. in the halaqât.

Soon enough, he and Zayn became the two most exceptional students, even among the chosen crème dela crème.

When Ustadh asked him about his previous dream, he said he had not yet given up on that dream, but he'd defer his high school education for a time, to dedicate fully to this.

When the time came, he'd be entering high school together with Ukashah, his own age group.

Ustadh was happy. The boy would at least have enough time to reflect over himself and perhaps, make the breakthrough and free himself.

But all this while, he had yet to attain it. Rather than prove himself in pursuits of dunya, he was now using the deen.

To Abdul Bâqi, he must show that he's the best once the opportunity presents itself. So that the humiliation he'd been put through, his family, his community, he'd be able to shine so bright they can't even ignore.

The GQRC presented itself as that opportunity. If they won, his shine would last long enough.. It would eclipse the whole Al Qalb-ul-Ard.

...

He lives not for himself.
He lives to prove himself.
He lives to bring back an honour he feels was stolen.

Until he's the best, he'll not back down. And that's his heart's demon. At the moment, all the contestants here stand in his way.

Until he topples each and everyone of them, he'll not back down.

So would the day come, when I'm the last obstacle for him, ..to break free?..

What if, even we, ..even we are obstacles he must prove himself greater than??

•••

"Zayn.."Urwah called out when he saw Zayn getting up, his staff with him trying to navigate his path.

"Akhii Urwah, can you help me.. I think the melons have started taking their effect on me.. I've to head to the washroom."

"Now?!"Zak, Abdul Bâqi, and Ukashah all said at the same time. They looked at one another, the shock mirroring their faces.

"Mmh.. Yh"

"But it's almost time!"Zak said. It was unbelievable. Tâ Hâ was soon going to have their turn.

"It's okay."Urwah said calmly. His eyes seemed to see Zayn's subtle nervousness. But the boy also never lied so it might be part-truth what he said.

Even as Urwah and Zayn made their way, Abdul Bâqi called out after them cheerfully, almost laughing,

"Make sure not to miss this round! Especially you, Zayn!"

This was not a competition as a team. It was a competition within the team!!

Who was the best among them five??

Zayn gulped. Why he so negatively competitive?!

•••

"Nine stone pieces.."Inaayat held the hard sturdy diary, turning it over in his hand."It couldn't be.."

A cold glint crossed his eyes as he stared at the rocky piece embedded onto its front;

"لله"

"Everything belongs to Allah.."

At the moment, he sat within the apartment of his cottage. Everything was quiet around him. No one was around. It seemed he was the only person present in that entire cottage at the moment.

"Everyone must be at the tournament by now.. Zayn, Abdul, Ukashah, Urwah, Zak.. Forgive me.."He murmured sadly."Somehow.. Just somehow, this whole thing seems to be connected to Hilya.."

His eyes glistened with tears as he remembered her.. Even her smile would put sunshine to shame and lighten the burdens of everyone who came across her.

"Abii",She called. She smiled at him, a wooden bowl held in her hands,"I've got milk for you.."

"Hilya, you drink first."

"Abii, remember the man in the hadith who wouldn't drink and feed his family before feeding his parents?"Her smile was even radiant than before,

"I want to do what he did.."

"Why?"

"Then perhaps my Allah would love me more than He already does."

"It may be that she has something to do with the nine stone pieces..
At first, I wouldn't have wanted anything to do with it.. all this hullabaloo about a saint stone.."He laughed sadly.

"The Ismul Azam?.."He cried,"I'm only looking for my daughter..(sobs) I'm only looking for my Hilya.."

"We can take you to Hilya, Al Iskandarī.."A voice whispered into the room. Like the wind, it faded away gently.

Inaayat looked up, his tear-soaked face suddenly went rigid, and his eyes cold, silent anger undulated within in a plethora of emotions that battered his heart.

"Are you of the Dark Meadows or the Hidden Valley?"

"Does that matter?.."The voice eerily laughed at him,"Aren't you looking for Hilya.."

"I've never sought the help of any but Allah then.., I'll never seek the help of anyone but Allah now."

Why was he even minding them? In the past, there was none among them who dared approach him.. except her.. Junnah, the veiled jinni.

"You'll soon.. You'll soon.."The voice laughed at him,"..Once you learn the truth.."

The truth?.. Something about the final words made his heart to pause temporarily, and throb in fear. There was a gloomy premonition he felt since all this started.

The jinns actually made his heart to falter ..for the first time.

"Where's Hilya?!"

But no reply came back..

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