Maryam and Arkaan had parted ways when he began finding his way among the linear-patterned settlements of Mt. Shirah landmass.

Arkaan smiled for the umpteenth time when he remembered what Maryam had said to his answer.

"Your answers are unlike any other, and amazing. Many are those who take the path of knowledge for reasons other than to please Allah. Though we cannot read the heart, I believe whatever you've said today, and I hope Allah helps you on your journey."

"I believe as long as you stay true to your words, you can achieve anything on your journey to your goals. I just hope, whatever help you need, know there are always people around to help. Wa lillahi junûdus-Samaawaati wal Ardi Wa kaanallahu 'Aleeman Hakiimaa."

"It means, -

And to Allah belong the forces of the heavens and the earth, and ever is Allah Knowing and Wise."١٣

Even as he continued walking, he noticed the sudden fall in the atmospheric temperature.

"Cold air..."Arkaan murmured as he felt the moisture in the humid atmosphere in his fingers. He raised his glistening greens towards the sky. Some rain clouds had gathered, and the sun was now hidden behind the darkening sky.

"A heavy downpour is approaching... "He had long noticed Tâ Hâ was in its wet monsoon. Unlike the mainland of Al Qalb-ul-Ard which was in the temperate zone, the island had a tropical climate.

He walked on, hoping to reach his destination before it became serious enough. He didn't want to get there with a cold. It'd be much bothersome.

Arkaan examined his surroundings on the Mt. Shirah landmass region as he walked.

Generally, the place was a quiet neighbourhood. The houses well arranged in a linear pattern, made of redbrick, glass and wood. It wasn't that extravagant as the very rich. But it didn't lack for elegant simplicity either. It was really the kind of neighbourhood he liked.

Although, it wouldn't usually be bustling like the Market region, it really was suitable for a residence afterall.

He picked up pace, even as loud thunder cackled in the sky. Some drizzle made their way to him, and he knew that things had just began.

Tip. Tap. Tip Tap-tap..

Even as he made a bend in the road at a junction, he noticed the familiarity on this side of the neighbourhood.

It brought back memories.

He could see himself running happily in the streets as a young child, his Little aunt chasing after him. He called her Little aunt because, even though she was his auntie, he said she wasn't as grown as his parents, and could still play with the neighbourhood children.

Then a time came, Little aunt stopped coming to visit them, Father had left afterall.

He was left all alone. For some reason, even the neighbourhood kids abandoned him, and stopped playing with him.

"That's the guy! I heard his father left him and his mother. He's now fatherless."A small group of boys gathered, had began to malign him when he walked by.

"My parents said to not play with him. They said he'd have no proper upbringing."

Another gestured to the others to come closer as he whispered something into their ears,"I heard he's an illegitimate son, and his parents had eloped. None of his family from either side had accepted the marriage."

"Hey, that means he's a ***"

Another group of housemaids were nearby, holding their laundry. When they saw Arkaan, they moved closer to the edges of the walls to gossip.

"His mother sits there like a cold log, immovable, unresponsive to anything.

"That's why the mistress of my house said, to prevent her children from ever getting near him."

The other girl giggled,"Why? Is he some sort of pest, or infectious disease or something. "

They laughed it off.

"Afterall, a boy with such a mother wouldn't grow up well. Who'd fend for him, and teach him good manners afterall?"

"Never mind, let's go. We can't be spending our precious time wasted on such a child."

Arkaan turned away, and continued walking, his face looking down dejectedly. Another group nearby spotted him. They were very close to him, but didn't bother to hide their words and open scorn.

"Hey, that guy. I've heard of him. He's that bas***"

Before the boy who was just talking, had the chance to complete what he was saying, Arkaan had already pounced on him, and the others.

What had he ever done to any of them? But now, if that was the case, he'd show them just how unruly he was.

Clawed fingers ran here and there, angry crying sounded into the air, petrified voices the maids ran away, seeking safety from the mad boy, leaving the unlucky boys who had fallen prey. Punches were thrown, kicks hit ribs, and though Arkaan was only one kid against the rest, his furiousness and adrenaline made him oblivious to the pain, and increased his ferocity.

At the end of the day, the parents of the boys came to salvage their children from getting more bruises, and stopped the fight.

Taking their children away, they didn't even bother to give one last look to the bloodied and pitiful boy. "I told you not to associate yourself with him!" One mum scolded her crying son.

"Eee..eee... We wer-were just standing there, and he came to fight with us. We didn't even do him anythin'." The boy said amidst sobs.

The furious mother turned to Arkaan, seeing his purpled eyelids, and swelling cheeks, there was no parent she could complain to to deal with him, she harrumphed angrily and took her child away.

Arkaan got up, and started limping towards his own home. He was even badly bruised and injured more than the boys whose mothers took them home.

As he limped towards his home, his heart was aching painfully. He was more emotionally hurt than physical. Yet, tears would not flow, and he didn't have to try.

From that moment, the children of the neighbourhood treated him even more than pest, and shut their doors and windows on him.

No one to care for him and his mother.

Arkaan sighed, as he remembered these memories, facepalming. He really was too childish then. He laughed softly, remembering his fierce entanglement with the other kids, but tears seemed to seep at the corner of his eyes as he looked at the familiar surrounding.

He continued walking. He made another bend, at the far end then.

Abdullah had already given him the general directions to the house before, and the brothers who saw him before he left too. Even Maryam had provided further details before they parted.

But now, as he made his way over, he had this pitting feeling in his stomach.

He made one last turn as he faced a line of conjoined houses on either side of the street, redbricked. The occasional streetlamps were at their regular positions in front of the houses.

He looked at the house at the far end, which stood alone.

"Hah.." An involuntary half-laugh made its way from his lips. There was sadness in his eyes, and a smile that wasn't a smile, but faint and filled with memories, and emotion.

Slowly he took steps over there. Slowly, the rain dropped down upon him.

"Father, where are you going?"

He smiled at Arkaan, tousled his angry hair."I'll be back, soon. Don't worry."

"Father, don't go."

"I've to son. In shaa Allah, we'll see each other again." He kissed Arkaan's forehead.

"Promise~"

The man smiled gently at his son."Uhumm"he held the boy's pinky finger. Arkaan smiled.

Even as he left, the light flashing through the door behind him, Arkaan heard the concealed sobs of his mother.

He stood there, at the gate entrance.

This was his house...

This was his home.

This was where his family had once lived. Memories were formed, happiness as well as sorrow of a Muslim family were what painted the walls and doors of the house.

Arkaan stood there, oblivious to all sounds as the rain beat him, soaking him wet.

By now most of the things he brought with him, would be drenched in the rain too. But he didn't care about any of that.

Mum...Dad...

One could not tell if the beady drops of water that fell off his eyes were of the rain, or his tears. It didn't matter much, for his heart was torn, as torn as the family that once lived there...

He suddenly felt the rain had stopped falling around him. It was raining everywhere else, but him.

He raised his gaze, to see a verdant green umbrella. A lady in green was standing by him, her umbrella canopied both of them from the downpour.

He turned his gaze towards his benefactor...

•••

A man stood in the shadows waiting patiently. His cloak covered him, and the dark ominous clouds seemed to swear not to let the Earth see the shine of the night's luminaries.

He watched calmly from the darkness under a tree's shade on the bank as a youth walked steadily upon the bridge from the other side. Anyone who watched the youth's gait, would see the refinery of those born of nobility.

He smiled. The boy hadn't changed. Even in exile, he still possesses that air of a Royal to himself.

After ascertaining no one was around, he walked out to meet the youth. The moon appeared at exactly the same time to highlight the extraordinary henna-dyed hair and beard. His beard particularly stood out, lush and fragrant, a deep shade of red. It accentuated the charisma with which he moved.

The youth smiled. He wasn't sure at first but it seems he was really the bait. Well! The fish has taken the bait!

"Krungg~ ~"

Before the man got too close to the youth however, spikes shot out from an arms gear sheathed upon the youth's arm. It was so quick that the man had a fraction of a second to dodge it but, - didn't...

As soon as the metallic spikes rang through the air toward him, the man revealed a blade he had kept hidden throughout this time in his cloak.

With a single wave of the blade, the spikes were sent flying in different directions off the bridge, the weapon held high in a slicing wave fashion.

A sharp glint passed through the youth's eyes in overt shock for a moment, and disappeared as soon as it came. That crest..

The light of the moon illuminated the length of the blade, revealing a series of encrusted jeweled lines.

The boy's eyes flickered for a moment before he relaxed visibly."So it's you."

"Ouch! I'm hurt. You don't sound too pleased to see me." The man feigned heartbreak.

"I should have known. You've been stalking me since the night of last week Friday."

"I'm amazed you noticed my presence since that long, dear nephew. It shows that you've been training to keep yourself alert and safe. I'm impressed."

"I've no choice, Âyah.." It came almost as a whisper."Since they died, I've had only Allah, and then myself to rely upon, to keep living."

The man decided not to beat about the bush,"I've got news from the capital. It concerns information about your father."

The youth's full attention was ignited by the word "Father". He approached the man with urgency even as he asked,"What about Abii?"

___________________________________

Meanings, Translations, And References

١. Qur'an 2:98

٢. Qur'an 27: 39-40

٣. Qur'an 17: 70

٤. Qur'an 2:213

٥. Qur'an 21: 107

٦. Qur'an 62: 2

٧. Hadith reported by Maalik;

Source: al-Muwaṭṭa' 1614

Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Ibn Abdul Barr

٨.*Say, [O Muhammad], "If you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful."(Qur'an 3:31)

٩. Qur'an 26: 88-89

١٠.Qur'an 42: 52-53

١١. Qur'an 68: 4

١٢. The hadith of Qataadah, upon him be Allah's pleasure was from;

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 746

Grade: Sahih (authentic) according Muslim

١٣. Qur'an 48: 4

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

In shaa Allah, I've started the translations and revision from the first chapters, so I'll continue that way till I catch up.

I really was in a hurry to update, thus this Crescent does not have its translations in full. I'll be leaving translations whilst I'm writing, that is, until I finish all the translations from the beginning.

From then on, in shaa Allah, I'll couple the two, writing and translating, together.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter. This is one of the crux chapters of the story. As to when the next Crescent would come out, in shaa Allah, ever sooner than you think.( I'm sure some of you saw the publishing I mistakenly did. Sorry for leaving such a cliffhanger. O:-) . But it was real! Next Crescent is 'Ikrâm opens the doors of hearts'.

May Allah bless you all for reading.

Salaamu alaykum wa rahmatullah wa barakaatuhu.

Till the next Crescent!