"Mother's love - like a river,
flows endlessly.
Its origin is as high as the sky.
It flows into the boundless ocean of Divine love."

A.A.I.M

____________________________________

In the earlier conversation with the Eastern Waterfall halaqah members, Arkaan had deliberately taken the discussion down that path to coerce them to make the challenge. In any setting, it was the weak who challenged the strong and not the other way around!

From what Arkaan could already tell, the Eastern Waterfall halaqah had never defeated 'Inâbah' in a competition before, and yet had come to mock at them. 'Talk of shamelessness'، Arkaan thought, as he stood on the balcony of the first floor, overlooking the courtyard of the masjid.
The brothers of Al Maghribi family had returned home, with the exception of Ismail, Zak, and Abdullah who were currently in a discussion with Ukashah about the events which just occurred; they seemed to be thinking of ways to proceed smoothly and also, not to let Arkaan be harmed by them secretly, when he was alone.

Earlier, the reason why Arkaan had the bravado to incense the students of the Eastern Waterfall halaqah was because he had long spotted the presence of Abdul Sattâr, Ismail, and Ishaq at the very bottom of the mountain from his position at the top. They seemed to have stopped to discuss something with an elderly man passer-by on a bicycle.

If push came to shove, since their group was inferior in number, and he was not much for strength against an opponent like Abdul Majid, he would have held-up with Abdul Majid, or fled a little upwards, depending on the situation. Either way, he had his own internal strengths and no one, he believed could match him in a race; he had needed that when he was young, to survive. That was plan B!

To Arkaan; what was so shameful about that?!! After all it'd be better to have people call you coward, than to be half-beaten to death. Those commentators would not call you brave in the end, neither will they bear the pain, but instead, as if your injuries were not enough, would end up chiding you severely as if they were the exalted senior generation of unmatched wisdom, you - a mere child who didn't simply know what was good for you!

Yet still, if a raucous were to occur, the elderly group down below would have been alerted, and they would have certainly interfered. In Arkaan's estimation, he could hold up for that much of time. Eventually, he didn't need to do any of that, and had only bask in the glory of the Al Maghribi family.

Even Luqmaan had realized the presence of the senior generation down below at one point in time. Thus; his courteous attitude consequently. The others in his group had also later seemed to have noticed them, and calmed down. They even greeted them on their way down as, Abdullah sent them off with "go study, and hifz some new aayat, earn Allah's blessings and mercy, so you don't lose miserably to us in a month's time, in shaa Allah." As he waved them, he sighed. The world was so full of young and immature people who needed his guidance to wise-up, he thought, and sighed again like someone of the senior generation, then he struck his chin up like the little scholar he was. Arkaan chuckled with a light laugh at Abdullah's attitude. He really didn't fear for Abdullah getting bullied by others due to his attitude; he rather feared for those who would cross paths with him, and be bullied by a youngster.

"I heard all that you did, young Arkaan..."، a voice sounded from behind. By now Arkaan had already gotten used to Abdul Sattâr's dignified voice and had only but turn respectively, and smile lightly," For the halaqah 'Inâbah', and those who once returned to it as home, that was really brave of you - to defend their honor..."

"Though I must ask, for a wise and reserved kid like you to suddenly act out of your personality ~ there must have been more to it than that...?"، Abdul Sattâr probed. Earlier, when he and the others left, they had gone to purchase food for them all to eat at rest.

"You're right...There was another reason why I did that..."، Arkaan smiled. Old man Abdul Sattâr was a good judge of character, though ~ he'd only read one-half of who Arkaan was. His life till now seemed to be of two parts; one, from when his father left till he was 'abducted' by his grandfather, and two - from the period with his aristocratic maternal family till now. His personality at present was that of the second period, and that was only what Abdul Sattâr had seen through, with his discerning eyes.

" My other reason was...to put pressure on Ukashah and Zak...moreover, to put pressure on myself! I know they both want the halaqah to return more than anyone else...that's why - I goaded the opposing group into challenging 'Inâbah'. It was all for that reason - and also, to give them back their words!"

"You're one amazing kid, boy! I never would have imagined this from a quiet boy like you. Hahaha..." Abdul Sattâr lightly laughed with admiration of Arkaan. He relished in the feel of it. He couldn't remember when last he had a good laugh like this after the halaqah had died down, and this, from a stranger!

Arkaan beamed with elation. Old man Abdul Sattâr really didn't know him. After all, they had just met, even though they'd seen each other before. He may be calm and composed, but only when he was in a strange and new environment. Though he was a citizen of Tâ Hâ, this was really his first encounter with the halaqat. After analyzing the situation, his open personality would naturally flow out...

"Besides, pressure is a form of motivation... Now, all that's left is to convince Ukashah and Zak!". Arkaan spoke confidently with a smile.
* * * * *

" No way!...all we're going to do is to lose face." Ukashah refused. Earlier, when he'd spoken in the confrontation, he never expected Arkaan to really force the challenge. It was said only to grind things to a standpoint and save everyone's honor. Who would have thought Arkaan would take it far and even accept the challenge, hook, line, and sinker with all conditions attached! He wasn't even a true member of 'Inâbah', and yet accepted the challenge on their behalf! Even Zak and he, who were the two sole remnants were excluded from the challenge. What sort of absurdity was that?!

Zak looked at Arkaan, and smiled wryly. With every passing moment, as Arkaan was unfolding his character, he couldn't help but admire him. At the moment, the only two remnant students of Inâbah, Zak and Ukashah were having a discussion with Arkaan on how to proceed.

"All I'm asking is that you should believe in me...Wait, whattabout Tawakkul, tawakkul - belief and trust in Allah! Hnn..."، Arkaan said pleadingly. Who would have known, convincing Ukashah would be such a herculean task. Seriously, the boy seemed like an unyielding boulder!

"اعْقِلْهَا وَتَوَكَّلْ"
"(Tie her and trust in Allah.)"
Seriously, what were you thinking?...". Ukashah scoffed, " Hah, even if you can in a month's time, achieve success, ~ one person alone cannot represent a halaqah! Where are we going to get the other two, let alone others to join the halaqah!" He wanted to know if Arkaan had really thought everything through...

"In a month's time school resumes, and thus the reason why they chose that duration, apart from having enough preparation time to face us. As for the ten days ruse..."، Zak explained calmly," It's probably to see, if we're truly serious about it. Since only you, Arkaan, accepted the challenge on behalf of Inâbah; they want to see if we're serious about it as well. They probably have been wishing such a confrontation in another Qur'an competition for sometime now, seeing that they never once did defeat us."

"If, by the time they come to deliver the details of the nature of the Qur'an competition, we receive it assuredly, without any excuse for inability to continue, they'd see it as our readiness to participate. Until then, things would be kept at low-key to the general public. For competitions like this...even the name 'Inâbah' would be enough to cause pandemonium, and attract a massive audience, not only from the two districts even!"

"Also, thus their reason for excluding Ukashah and I. They know that, without the five of us, even if we recruited new members within a month's time, they might as well have won! Zayn is no more in Tâ Hâ, though I do not know where he left to. Abdul Bâqi has long since relocated with his Al Aswadi family to the capital City An Nûn, due to his elder brother's promotion as a Royal Physician. Urwah too has gone to God-knows-where with his eccentricities."، Zak sighed in resignation," Why did you accept all their conditions? Even the nature of the Qur'an competition ~ at least, due to our weakened position, you should have secured that one for us, eh ~."

"Could we contact the other remaining members apart from you five...I mean, I'm sure your halaqah contained more than five people, right?"، Arkaan asked curiously.

" All others have left, some even joined other halaqat in other districts. If you're not lucky enough, say we actually go through with this thing, you might face some from the Eastern Waterfall, along with Haashim. You really can't underestimate that boy. I'll brief you on him later. Apart from that, I hardly even see any former members even in the South district where they used to stay. Perhaps, the nostalgia ~"، Zak smiled, a hint of sorrow in his tone.
Arkaan sat, thinking for a while." Leave it to me. In shaa Allah, within the next ten days, we'll begin at full pace!." Arkaan voiced his resolve, " If I cannot find recruits in the next ten days...then we'll call it off!"

"We'd still lose face for that!"، Ukashah harrumphed, staring with being fed-up at Arkaan. Then he sighed," You're even new here. Who do you know, apart from us?... You can't be that much of a social genius like Zak, right?!...If only he could use that to attract people to the halaqah, rather than having ladies swoon over him!" Arkaan laughed at Ukashah's remark.
Zak got up, his face in embarrassment, yet charming to the extreme, " It's time to go, we've already long finished asr." He didn't wait for any response as he headed for the exit.

It was true. Everything happened before the Dhuhr prayer. After which, they had a meal and rested for a while. After praying asr; Ishaq, Harun, and Musa had left immediately after. Ismail had a conclusive discussion with Zak and Ukashah in the presence of Abdullah. He then led Abdullah outside to wait on them, as Zak and Ukashah had this talk with Arkaan.
Even as they were chatting, the ruddy and golden-orange sun cast its ethereal light through the tinted glass, creating a beautiful picturesque scene that was etched in their hearts for all time.
As Arkaan got up to follow Zak, Ukashah called out,"So what if you don't succeed ~." He really was finding it hard to imagine the consequence...

"Wha, we can think of something... the whole halaqah caught flu or something..."، Arkaan said jokingly, as he rushed outside into the radiant golden sun. His green eyes had a tint of gold in it as he smiled widely at the day's achievement. At this point, he looked as dashing as ever, and the Al Maghribi brothers looked at him in admiration, and a bit of jealousy; even as the feeling came, it disappeared as their very looks weren't ordinary either, especially Zak who was transcended in looks.

" Lets go, Kān!"، Zak said as the four youths walked down the plateau to the mountain path amidst the sun's golden rays.
Even as they left, Ukashah sighed,"Obtuse...,you've already began a spark that's turning into flames. Now, how do you think we'd let it fade..." He was never this mirthful before, after the halaqah died down. He felt a great occurrence was coming that would shake the South district and beyond. Somehow, just somehow... if we can make it work...in shaa Allah.

"I'll get Arafât to join you guys. Once I convince his mother, my sister, even if he's a hundred times more resistant than he already is, he would certainly be brought over."، Abdul Sattâr, who was standing beside Ukashah looked outside at the golden sun as he sighed.

Ukashah smiled gratefully as he nodded his head. He'd know of Arâfat's temperament, and love for freedom and carefree life.
"About Arkaan..."، Ukashah said suddenly, remembering Abdul Sattâr's proposal for him to stay in the Uztaz's study room, or with he himself in the private quarters of the masjid for the caretaker. " I'll contact Lady Principal so he can stay with me at the flats down below in the South district... "

"The Lady from the West!..."، Abdul Sattâr said in shock as he remembered a Lady, complete in burqa, juniper in colour, and pure like a perfect heavenly sculpture none could taint. Even the authority she held as the proprietress of Iqra complex, the first high school in the whole of Tâ Hâ was respected by everyone, even the city council.

"With such a powerful backing, let alone the fellows from the Eastern Waterfall halaqah... no one with an ordinary background in the whole of Tâ Hâ would dare to harm him!"، Abdul Sattâr said with a glint of light shining in his eyes." ...And Allah is the Best of Protectors!"،he said, remembering the wrongness of the fanaticism in his tonation. Then he sought for forgiveness inwardly.

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