Maryam indeed knew more about this Lady than most people. This was because, at school she was almost always in her company; helping her, and when the verdant Lady was in her low states, she'd usually sit with Maryam, and talk to her about many things, including her past! She had said, Maryam radiated positiveness, and so she felt calm to discuss such things with her.

The Lady Principal gently nodded, "Frieda...you can call me Lady Frieda..." Maryam lowered her gaze in embarrassment. The Lady Principal had always given her permission to call her by her maiden name, since they first met. Yet Maryam felt it was too inappropriate, and would usually out of habit, still refer to her as Lady Principal. "In shaa Allah, he's fine somewhere by now, thinking of you too..." Maryam comforted.

After saying adieu to the Lady Principal, Maryam hurried to the cross junction, where she had earlier left Aasiyah. From there, they'd cross to the southeastern land region upon a Chinese canoe with lit China lanterns. It was one of the fun and exciting things about visiting the Chinese market, and most of the girls found it romantic, and loved to be on it with their special someone.

Even as she approached Aasiyah, she suddenly stopped in agitation." Subhānallah!"، she exclaimed, " I left the standing brooms and mop Mother had requested to purchase, back at Madam Chu's!" Maryam was human after all, and people were prone to forget even little things. Even the word for man 'Insan' was even derived from 'nasiya' - 'to forget'. She quickly handed over her wicker basket to Aasiyah, as she rushed back in the direction of Madam Chu, saying, " Wait here for me at Old man Wang's canoe standpost. There's still time. In shaa Allah, I'll be right back!" Aasiyah didn't even have time to respond before Maryam disappeared from sight, like an elegant carp on a swift river.

Aasiyah went and stood quietly by the canoe standpost.
"Good evening, old man Wang!"، she greeted aloud, seeing the decrepit old man, looking shrewd in a straw hat and a smoking pipe, on his canoe filled with glowing Chinese lanterns. For a meagre fare, people would board his canoe to cross to the three out of the four South district landforms: the Chinese market landform, the Al Maghribi estate landform, and the Mt. Shirah landform, the fourth being the southern honey fields.

Sometimes, he'd even travel upstream and row people across any part of the River Kawthar in East district, even though bridges were available throughout, some people loved the idyllic experience.

Since the Al Maghribi estate was close-by, their family - especially the youths, usually made use of his services, and they had become closely acquainted with the man.

" Háojiú bújián! Nì qù nà 'er?"، the old man responded warmly, though with a weird solemn expression on his face. Aasiyah smiled amiably, and kept quiet after that...
*******************

Somewhere in the alleyways of the Chinese market, where some shops were closing for the day, a young boy strolled about. His dark long-sleeved and round-neck shirt, had its sleeves folded to his elbows. He wore a leathery trousers that matched with a one-hand leather bag slung over his neck, dangling to his side. With neat black hair, and a pair of green eyes beneath thick elegant eyebrows, and a youthful look, he was quite the strapping young man.

This was Arkaan, looking smart and dashing as he moved through the market, searching for a way through to unite with the Maghribi brothers he had gotten separated from, and got lost.

Sometime before this, the four youths who had left the Masjid-ur-Rahmân, made their way toward a humble cottage to the southeast of Mt. Shirah's land region under the behest of Ismail. He said they were going on a ziyarah, a visit to an old sick man, who was the well-known local physician in the South district, Dr. Dawûd. He was renowned on that region for his treatment of the sick, and waiving of debts of the poor sick. He recently fell ill, and was confined to his bed. Ismail who had long since known him through his father, Hajj Ya'qûb, decided to pay him a visit on their way home, and the others tagged along.

The visit was short, yet rewarding. The old man was glad, and appreciative of the kind gesture made by the four youths. During their discussion, Ismail happened to mention the challenge of Eastern Waterfall, and how Inâbah was at the cusp of its revival. The old man was elated, as he had been one who was fond of the halaqah and its scholar before. He mentioned about his young boy; Rafik, who had admired the halaqah and the brothers within since he was young, and how he'd yearned to join.

Due to certain circumstances, the boy had stayed to look after the old man in his ventures, as a Physician's apprentice. Now that the old man was incapacitated, and had his wife to look after him, Rafik was free to join them as a brother of the halaqah 'Inâbah'. At the moment, Rafik was not around. So the group had to leave; it was best to make visits to the sick short, so as to allow them enough time to rest, Ismail explained as they left. They then decided to take the route of the Chinese market, so they could travel across the stream via old man Wang's canoe.

Whilst in the market, Arkaan excused himself for a moment as he ran in search of a place to purchase the leather bag. This was specially to contain Hilya's diary. He didn't want them to use their money to purchase it for him, as he did feel more indebted to them; hence his excuse, to avoid their involvement.

As he walked, he made a comparison between the culture from where he had been before, at his grandfather's, and the South district; even though, it was the Chinese market he had once been a notorious social menace in, a lot of things had changed, in eight years time - even the structuring of the whole market. Arkaan even feared, he might get lost within.

The women and children were running in glee. People sold foods that seemed to come from diverse cultures, even among Muslims.

Many of the older people sat in small groups that were distinct, each immersed in their own bantering. Back at his grandfather's, everyone seemed to stay indoors, mostly minding their own business. Things weren't as lively...

He could see the respect displayed by the young for the elderly. And even the affection and respect to the young, especially those who looked more religious. He sighed; this was Tâ Hâ's South district as he remembered it. It was a unified community; a place where one would not feel left out like a stranger and alone. Yet, the neighborhood he stayed in before, was a quiet one on the Mt. Shirah land region. It went a long way to show the different classes even within the South district. Thus, this was one facet of it.

Arkaan could see as people would occasionally call out in sincere prayers and well wishes to others, as they bade farewell.

Qur'an recitations could even be heard in some Muslim shops. The Non-muslims also seemed to blend exceptionally well with their Muslim counterparts. He would sometimes hear some Chinese, Arabic, and other eastern-based languages, as people passed by. The dressing was decent, and the typical Muslim jilbâb seemed to dominate, even among the Non-muslims.

Grown men with thick dense beards and eye-catching Hajj hats, carrying masbâhah(prayer beads), walked about in dignified airs, as their lips were moving in constant glorification.

There were also the poor, and the beggars, asking for alms. Arkaan heard constant admonitions and reminders passed to and fro. In total, everyone was involved in everyone else's life! It was a whole culture, and diverse in the market of South district.

Even though the sun was setting, and shops were closing for the night, the market was as vibrant as ever, as some people were still engaged in some selling, buying, and even bargaining.

After searching a while, Arkaan came across a shop selling leather bags. The African attendant sold it to him for an agreeable price, after intense bargaining; " even though it is just a simple bag, it is made of pure leather!"، the dark-skinned man repeatedly appraised before Arkaan, before agreeing on a final price.
Arkaan had no choice but to buy it, as what the man said was indeed true, and he already developed a liking to the simplicity of the bag. He quickly and gently placed Hilya's diary within, which he had been holding all day. Even the Maghribi brothers had earlier asked him about it when they saw him holding it; apparently Zak was oblivious to it as well.

After this, he tried to retrace his steps to where he had earlier left the Maghribi brothers, but to no avail. The Chinese market of the South district as he knew it, had indeed changed a lot to the extent of him getting lost! The market, even though not vast, was still like a puzzling maze.
"One would have to spend at least, a week here to fully grasp the paths and alley ways. For me, let's say one more day!" Arkaan murmured, as he walked directly east of the market.

Earlier, the brothers mentioned the old man Wang's canoe to him. He had a general bearing of that place.

Even as he made his way eastward, an old man with a long and scruffy peppered beard bumped into him. He was wearing a long frail old robe which brought up thoughts to Arkaan 'beggar or swindler!' He wore a woven cap, and looked like an eccentric. For a moment, the man scuffled his face as if in annoyance, then fully noticing Arkaan's youthful appearance and smart dressing, he smiled.

"Young lord, it seems you're new in these areas"، the man said in a sincere tone," You must not be lost, right?" He asked wizenly.

"I..."، before Arkaan could talk further, the wizened old man continued," Look, I'll direct you to whichever way you wish to go, okay. Just so you trust me, my name is Old man Khidr, but you can just call me Khidr if you like. Hahaha... " the old man slapped his thigh dramatically as his hysterical laughter vibrated in Arkaan's heart, and caused involuntary fear. He slumped his arm around Arkaan's shoulder, pulling him along as he walked.

"How does giving your name make me trust you?!!" Arkaan thought in confused shock. The man's weird way of thinking seemed to have confounded his intelligence, as if he had suddenly been struck to insanity by Heaven's thunderbolt in his effort to comprehend that 'simple logic'.

No matter how you looked at it, if this man were one bit dangerous, considering his scrawny appearance, and Arkaan's past rough experience as a kid, he could make go safely without a single hair on his head being harmed. Even if the man wanted to pickpocket him or con him, Arkaan was already an expert in knowledge on that...and practice too. The man would need to be transcendent to be able to really dupe him, Arkaan thought' As long as it's for free, why not?'

"I'm just looking for old man Wang's canoe post"، Arkaan said as he tugged along, cautiously" Can you take me there..."

The man laughed hysterically as tears seemed to flow from his eyes from excessive laughing, " Old man Wang's canoe post! Young lord, I know of all the places beneath the rising of the sun, and its setting in the vast blue skies!"
:-!

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Alhamdulillah, please stay tuned for the next chapter, in shaa Allah, for new revelations would come, also new people who are relevant to the story would appear in shaa Allah.

Finally, on when would be the next update; school is reopening next week Monday in shaa Allah, and I'm moving to my third year as a medical student, so things might go a bit slow now. Maybe in two weeks or less, I'll update a new chapter. The longest wait would be at most a month's time, in shaa Allah.

This story is on a long journey, and I don't plan on stopping, so I hope you'll join the adventure till the end, in shaa Allah.

Lastly, shukran to all the support shown, in the form of votes, comments, adding to reading lists, and every other thing! Jazakumullahul khayran😊