Even as the competition preceded with the round one on Qur'an; hifz and general knowledge - everything began in a fierce spark!

The eloquence and fluency with which the competitors answered their questions was exhilarating. There was no sign of even taking time to think before answering.

Zak was on fire; as an elder brother, and a former student of Sheikh Al Iskandarī, he couldn't dare to lose, especially to his younger sisters, no matter how learned they were; although the age gap between he and Maryam was in weeks!

Maryam alike, though calm like glass on the surface, was answering each and every question like flowing water, her every word with undeniable conviction and truth!

Aasiyah calmly watched from the sides. Her intelligent eyes seemed to say a lot on her perfect trust in her sister's understanding on the Dîn. Yet, she was also ready to assist if the need ever arose.

The only one who seemed calm on the surface, but had his heart thumping like an awakened volcano was Arkaan! Are they even human?!!

The craze with which the brother-sister duo were answering the questions, as if on a challenge to see who's superior! One was on ice, and the other was on fire! Zak was burning with the passion of a raging flaming fire, his answers did not take sawt into consideration, but accuracy and precision of the verses with their Tajweed rules; and yet, the voice of recitation was with a beauty, simply eloquent.

Maryam on the other hand answered with a calmness, and yet, an almost palpable and unyielding will, of the dominance of frost on the dead cold winter! Her eloquence, no less of the elocution of Zak.

It got to a time, everyone noticed the round was going to end in a draw, and so, Ismaîl shifted to general knowledge of the Qur'an. In this, once in a while, Maryam let Aasiyah also answer.

On the boys' side though, Arkaan remained kinda mute, as Zak dominated in answering all the questions; so people didn't know whether it was intentional on their side, or Arkaan just didn't know. In this state, Arkaan was feeling kind of depressed. He felt he had to make an appearance, - at least once.

He noticed how Zak was intentionally answering in such a way that it'd look like he was enough, so Arkaan didn't need to help. It seemed to be his plan, to stand-in for Arkaan till the end.

Maryam noticed it, and watched Arkaan sympathetically. Her brothers had not done well. Since they couldn't answer the questions, and wanted to save face, they put the guy as a sacrifice for their themselves. She scoffed inwardly. Aasiyah didn't seem to notice anything though.

Even the audience who had expected much from Arkaan were at a loss. Harun and Musa felt they had grievously wronged the guy as they sighed inwardly. Who would have known it'd go like this.

Well! At least we tried. I think Zak would do well to win for us, because - there's no way we're sweeping East wing! Go Za'aak!

It was there that a question came that Arkaan knew he wouldn't have known the answer at first, but after the intense research Hilya had indirectly coerced him to make on the Qur'an though -

Ismaîl asked, a charming smile on his charismatic demeanour,"In which Surah did Allah state, that the purpose of jinn and men on Earth, was to worship Him?"

Before Zak even realized the question was for the boys' side, Arkaan had already calmly answered," Adh-Dhâriyat, Chapter fifty-one of the Holy Qur'an, The Winds that scatter."

Arkaan's words carried the calmness of a sage who was so genuinely sure of his knowledge on a subject of study that no one would doubt him. Even he didn't know wherefrom he got such chilling confidence!

"The aayah number is fifty-six. Allah said:...
Wa maa khalaqtul jinna wal innsa illaa liya'buduun."

He had recited the verse in Arabic for all ears to hear.

A deep silence suspended the air, as eyes turned in Arkaan's direction.

At that moment, no one - only Arkaan would have known that, though his external demeanour was composed and chilled as frozen snow, his inner mentality was in the chaos of one who just suddenly became the center of attention.

Arkaan wasn't used to that, and to see so many eyes stare at him in such astonishment was heartshaking to him.

At a calculated distance from the group of youngsters, three women and a man stood. Among them was the aged Bibi Fatima, all hale and hearty even for her age. Hajj Ya'qûb was flanked on one side by his grandmother. On his other side were two of his wives; Lady Zulaykha, and Lady Maryam.

Some servants and househelps were also nearby, in different groups about the balcony, expectant of who'll take over one of their duties for a while.

They were all at a hearing distance from the gathering, and so could see and hear whatever was going on there, even though the youth wouldn't know or hear their speech.

At the moment, Hajj Ya'qûb's eyes were shining,"Maasha Allah, it seems the boy too has his strengths in knowledge of Dîn."

The old Lady slapped the back of his head playfully with the paper fan she was holding to fan herself,"Of course, he would know his Dîn! What is he, a dumbhead or what?!" Her voice carried humour to it.

"Looking at him, one could easily doubt his level of knowledge and look down upon him, especially how he started out agitatedly." Lady Maryam said, her voice calm with a smile even as she pretended not to have witnessed her husband being chided by his grandmother.

"I thought he was going to remain silent till the end of the quiz, seeing the way how things were going. And yet, he not only answered the question correctly, but provided meticulous details." Lady Zulaykha analyzed.

"Now he's garnered everyone's attention." Lady Maryam said in bright visage.

Indeed, all eyes were now on Arkaan who had remained silent till now. Even Tasnîma was with shock! This was because, Arkaan hadn't had serious religious studies since he was young. So at first, it was with no surprise when she saw Arkaan keeping mute throughout. Of course she was not aware of what happened with him since the time he disappeared.

But the thing that was amazing to her and everyone else was that - he not only mentioned the Surah's title; he added the Chapter number with its English translated meaning, the verse number and then recited the entire verse in Arabic too! Anyone could well see he knew what he was about, and well-grounded in knowledge on the subject!

Even Zak, Maryam, and Aasiyah were looking at him in shock! It wasn't that they didn't know the answer; only that, the details which he added, none of them would have been able to that extent, because - no one bothered to pay attention to those stuff!

At this point, everyone began to review Arkaan in a different light. Fatima Az-Zahra who was also curious about him, smiled.

Considering he was her brother's friend, he was quite well living upto expectations. So he's also learned in Islâm... She then gave a nod of approval only she understood.

But still, the boys have to lose, 'cos I'm not washing their stuff. She held her body, feeling a sudden chilly when she thought about it.

The boys had already started loudly cheering their team with Takbîr. Harûn particularly made a funny face at Fatima Az-Zahra, and the others laughed, enjoying the fun. At the beginning, she was the one most vehemently making fun of them. She rolled her eyes, as she scoffed at them.

The competition continued, and Arkaan didn't have to wait long to prove himself again.

"Which Surah in the Holy Qur'an is also known as As-Sab'al Mathâni?..." Ismaîl asked, an impressive smile on his face. He was quite the charmer when chairing an audience.

This question was for the boys' once again, and Arkaan couldn't but be amazed at how grace was shining on him suddenly, and continuously too!

He remembered the little girl whose every word seemed to flow like brilliant pearls from a stringed necklace.

He eloquently replied, almost mimicking Hilya, with a confident smile on his calm and innocent comely face,"Also called As-Sab'al Mathâni, The Seven Off-repeated verses, it is the opening chapter of the Holy Qur'an, Surah Al Fâtihah or Surah Al Hamd, The Chapter of Praise and Thanks!"

By this time his eyes were shining.

Zak had intentionally given him the chance to answer this time, seeing the eager expression on his face, he knew Arkaan had an answer.

After hearing Arkaan's reply, he was not disappointed.

By now, even Hayaa's tacit demeanour was replaced by one of pleasant surprise. The boy really had something to him, he was not just as simple as he seemed.

Ishaq, Harûn, and Mûsa were giving loud takbirs in their canorous voices.

Even though the tie had not yet been broken, the boys were making a big deal out of Arkaan's sudden emergence. This was because, people had began to underestimate Arkaan; this was especially clear from the expressions on the ladies' side during the early start of the quiz when Arkaan was quiet. Also, cheering goes a long way to boost one's confidence! No way were they going to sweep anywhere!

Even Maryam and Aasiyah couldn't help but be pleasantly surprised. They felt they had really underestimated Arkaan previously. Arkaan gave complete and whole answers, he added details no matter how little, to whatever answers he gave.

"Maasha Allah, Brother Arkaan." Ismaîl smiled, giving Arkaan a nod,"That's impressive. I hope your fellow comrade, and rivals can learn from you, in giving whole and concise answers." He then smiled, looking at the other contestants, as if challenging them.

From that moment, as the quiz resumed, it became more aggressive, and informative as the two groups vied making their answers a bit more comprehensive.

Zak knew that, even though Arkaan had given such amazing answers, his knowledge wasn't yet extensive to the level of his, so he took over.

It was not long before another event occurred, that put Arkaan in the limelights once again.

"What is the most auspicious verse in the Holy Qur'an, and the greatest?!" Ismaîl's resonant voice echoed in the audience ears, so even those watching from the distance afar could hear.

This was a question for the ladies' side. Maryam saw that, Aasiyah wanted to answer, and let her...

"The most auspicious verse of the Holy Qur'an, which is considered the greatest is, Al Aayatul Kursiyy; The verse of the Throne. It is the 255th verse of the Surah Al Baqarah!", Aasiyah said in a feathery voice.

Ismaîl nodded with a soft smile at his younger sister. He was about to move on, when Arkaan's calm and yet confident voice broke through the air into everyone's ears. It held them stiff, and took them to the bone...