At the mention of him, Tanim startled and stopped reading. He also realized that he was smiling like an idiot. True to her words, Aleena hadn't written anything else on that entry. Something told him that she specifically wrote those lines for him to read, to remind him what a pain he had been and hinting him to mind his own business if he ever ever got his hands on the diary. If things were different, not so serious, if his beloved sister wasn't missing, he probably would've stopped reading now. Or tried at least, because curiosity was killing him.

However intense his curiosity may be, the power of hunger was stronger. So he had to get up now, putting the diary down. It was nearly midnight, way past dinnertime. He went to the kitchen to see whatever he could find to eat in order to survive the night.

Tomorrow he would have to cook something. Cooking is such a hassle to him that he keeps putting it off. Normally when he cooks, he prepares something in a large amount - even though he is the only one to eat - so that he could eat that food for more than once. But there's also disadvantages: if he doesn't store the food properly, it goes bad. He hates to waste food since it is not right to do so. It's something he learned from his family: to never waste. When food becomes old, it doesn't taste as good as new. So Tanim tries to keep a balance on the amount of food he prepares. Normally he cooks every other day. Sometimes there's two or three days of gaps though, when he is too tired and can't be bothered. Then he would just eat in a restaurant or get a takeaway. But since money is tight, he can't do that very often. He just started his new job and he would have to keep an eye on the budget for a while before he could spend money in indulgences.

Tanim lives in two bedroom flat. He moved here 3 months ago. After being in the waiting list for more than 5 years, the council had finally found a suitable accommodation for him. Even though he doesn't need two bedrooms as he is single and lives on his own, he accepted this house. He wanted to move in here permanently. Given that he might need a bigger house after he gets married, he thought he might as well get a big house now. Having to find another house might too much hassle. He does want to get married and his family was looking for him. However, after Aleena went missing, all he could think about was finding her. Marriage has to wait for now.

There was some cold pasta in the fridge from yesterday. Tanim got the container out, put the pasta in a shallow plate and started the microwave. He set the timer for 1 minute and stood in front on the microwave so he could press stop when the timer comes to 1 second. He always tries to do that because after the timer hits zero, it beeps 3 times, as if to remind that there is food in the microwave. To avoid the annoying noise, he tries to stop it before it gets a chance. This time he pressed the 'Stop' button while there was two seconds remaining. 'What a miss!', he thought. Then he smiled at his own silliness.

Tanim brought the food to the small 4 chaired dining table that he got for his kitchen. The table is small not because there is no space - the kitchen is big enough for him - but because there is no people to use the table except himself. Other than his friends occasionally joining him for dinner, he normally eats alone.

He is planning to invite his parents over as they haven't seen his new flat yet. But they live far away, in Aberdeen, which is a city in a another country altogether even though it is still part of the United Kingdom. He also needs to make preparations before he invites them over, like tidying up the house and make it look a bit more decent than it is at the moment. 'Mum would have a fit if she looks at the state of my house right now', Tanim smiled as he thought to himself.

After saying Bismillah*, He quickly spooned himself a big amount of Pasta as he was really hungry. Doesn't matter how old the food was, it tasted delicious at the moment. After a few mouthfuls, his hunger died a bit and he got his phone out to check if he got any texts. There was one from Raihan, who was his colleague as well as a close friend. "U free this weekend?" The text said.

Tanim thought for a while what he should reply. He was free, but knowing Raihan, he was probably planning something adventurous. Tanim couldn't go anywhere now, he needed to work on Aleena's case, reading the diary and try to find some clue. But he didn't want to lie to his friend either. He never does.

"first tell me why do u want to know" He answered the question with another one.

Tanim finished eating as he waited for a reply. His phone beeped to let him know that there was a text when he was washing his plate. After putting the plate on the Drying rack, he dried his hands on the towel and checked his phone.

"I take it that u're free. well, i'm about to change your boring weekend into a awesome 1" Was Raihan's reply, as Tanim expected.

"I'll pass your kind offer." He playfully rejected him, but he knew it would take more than this.

"u would change ur mind after u hear my plan"

"Then don't tell me ur plan"

"come on! don't be so boring"

"Raihan, I'm not in the mood to travel"

"who asked u to travel?"

Tanim frowned. "aren't u???"

"no stupid, i have more creativity than u. i don't just make plans for travel"

"okay then enlighten me" Tanim wrote sarcastically.

"i thought u didn't want to know" Raihan was one to beat around the bush.

"fine than don't" 'If that's how you want to play' Tanim smiled.

"ur loss"

Tanim wanted torture his friend a bit more, but he knew how badly Raihan wanted to share his plan, and Tanim was getting curious as well. If he doesn't want to go anywhere, than what is it?

"if u r dying to tell me, just do it"

"the winter fair is starting this Friday and it is going to be on for a week. They are intruducing a new sports competition this year. U up for some game?" Raihan said without wasting any time.

Raihan was very enthusiastic when it comes to sports. "Hmm...sounds interesting. But when u say game, u mean tennis, right?" Tanim asked to make sure.

"yeah, what else"

"and u want to team up?

"yep"

"Done. will do In sha Allah**" 'It wouldn't hurt to take some break for one weekend' Tanim reasoned to himself.

"Told ya that u'd change ur mind!"

"it's still travelling though"

"if u call a 15 minute drive TRAVELLING, then u r a sloth."

Tanim chuckled. "Huh, I beat u in the race last year" They used to take part in the Annual Athletic competitions back in the University.

"yeah and only that one time. I beat u 3 times before"

"well currently I'm the winner so don't know what u're on about"

"we both know who's the pro"

Tanim rolled his eyes. "as if"

"okay mate, gotta go now. See u tomorrow In sha Allah"

"Okay Allah Hafiz***".

Raihan went Offline.

Tanim felt tired. He checked the time and got a shock as he saw it was 1:42 am. He has work at 9 am, also he would have to wake up for Fajr****, so he put the phone down and hurriedly got ready for bed.

=========================================

*Bismillah: In the name of the Allah

**In sha Allah: If Allah wills

***Allah Hafiz: May Allah protect you

****Fajr: The morning prayer.