It's been a month since Ibrahim moved. The skies were clear last month, with minimal clouds. Sometimes it was partly cloudy. But this month, the sky was usually light gray with clouds. The sunlight peeks through the clouds, illuminating the city during the day. Now it is gloomy and darker in the mornings.

Ibrahim now knows his way around town – thanks to Hasan, Ishaaq, Sarah, and the others. He knows his way to the masjid, the shops, the café, and the park. He also found out that there was a bus station for buses that go to the city.

Unlike the city he spent most of his life in, the town was quiet and cool. Much colder than it could get in the city. The stars were clearly visible. And he could see the purplish pink hues of twilight – without mistaking it for city lights.

His house was made of wood-planked floors and indoor plants. From the outside, it looked like a cottage from a fairytale. Finally, the cardboard boxes filled with their things from the city have been unpacked and flattened. He knew his way around his house now – no longer walking into the kitchen with laundry.

But he still missed his house in the city – the city itself. It was bustling, noisy (perhaps it's a plus point he isn't awakened by the beeping of cars), and familiar. It was what he was used to growing up.

I'm happy in this new place. Alhamdulillah, the house is more accommodating and spacious. The people around us are welcoming and pleasant. Maryam is happy here, and Ummi and Abbi as well. Alhamdulillah.

Like peering into their minds, huh? He won't let us peer into his mind further, sadly. All I'll say is there's a particular mysterious yet cheerful niqabi sister who appeared at the back of his mind until he shook the memory off.

"Akhi, did you see the nail cutter?" Oh, Friday it was today. Ibrahim was re-organizing the books on their bookshelf since it looked like someone had raided it. Uh, more because his mom had told him to.

"Huh, the nail cutter?" he asked, putting a stack of books on the shelf. "It should be in Ummi and Abbi's room,"

Maryam nodded and continued her scavenger hunt for the nail cutter. That piece of metal always finds the best hiding spot before Friday.

She walks over to her parents' room and sees the organized room – a stark contrast to hers. It's not in the dressing table drawers, it's not in the cupboard, it's not on their bedside table. But something interesting is on the bedside table this time. A picture of her mother and her mother's best friend along with a 3-year-old Ishaaq and infant Maryam. Omg. Ishaaq looks so, so, so cute! It's alright to think this since this is just a 3-year-old baby we're talking about, right? Hehe.

Little Sarah looks so naughty too. They took this picture when she was making a funny face. Maryam smiled at the photo.

Still no nail cutter though.

Ibrahim walked over to their parents' room. "Did you find that piece of metal yet?"

Maryam shook her head. "It's nowhere to be found,"

"I found it in my desk's drawer." He said, handing his little sister the nail cutter. "I wonder who put it there,"

"Jazakallahu Khairan Katheeran, Akhi!"

"Of course, Wa Iyyaki."

Meanwhile, over at Sana's house – Sana is scowling at Ayyub who seems to have eaten the last bit of crème caramel. The one she helped Sarah bake. The scowling session was interrupted by a doorbell. Ayyub took this opportunity to run back to his room and escape his sister's scathing gaze.

"Go get the door!" Umm Ayyub called, from the living room.

Sana wrapped a shawl around her and covered her lower face. She opened the door.

"Ummi sent traditional sweets," Hasan greeted, holding out a tray of baklava and basbousa.

Sana grabs the tray gently so that the food doesn't spill – and so that their hands don't touch. "Jazakumullahu Khairan," she said.

"Wa Iyyaki," and she closed the door on him.

Sana set the sweets down on the table.

"Who was that, Sana?" her mother asked, joining her at the table.

"Auntie Fatima sent us sweets," she said, pointing at the sweets on the table. Umm Ayyub was delighted to see that. She was also a sweet tooth. And she loved gifts.

That's why she also loved giving gifts. She was now packing some of her marble cake for Ayyub to go deliver it to Hasan's house as a return gift for the sweets. Except, Ayyub wasn't at home... he was outside playing football with Hussein and Ishaaq by then. So... Sana ended up heading over to Hasan's house with her mother... since there was too much cake to carry on her own.

Hasan heard his mother talk to Umm Ayyub on the phone, thanking her for the sweets and how she was coming over to give them something she made herself. Does that mean Sana is coming over as well? He made sure his four cats were in Hussein's room, before descending the stairs to get the door.

Ding Dong!

It was a pretty normal exchange with Umm Ayyub greeting Hasan and asking him where his mother was and Sana looking around the house anxiously, awaiting a cat ambush. She relaxed a fraction when she concluded that there was indeed no cat in the house.

Hasan stood there, glad to see Sana's relieved expression (through her eyes). Sana and her mom set down the marble cake at the table as Umm Hasan came downstairs to greet them and chat.

Hussein complained as he walked downstairs, "Akhi, why are there four adult cats in my room?"

Hasan shrugged, not wanting to spill the reason in front of Sana and the mothers, "Why not?"

Hussein blinked at his brother – unimpressed and baffled by his response. He shook his head in 'I-should-have-known-better' and joined the table for cake.

After grooming her nails, Maryam informs her brother that she'll take a walk outside. Ibrahim said that he'd join her and so he did. They both left the house together. Their mother is proud of them since they are taking a walk and being productive. It was chilly outside, and the clouds were light gray above them.

"Akhi, I miss the city," Maryam admits, looking around the humble town she currently lives in. Ibrahim nodded and gave his sister a small sympathetic smile.

"I miss it more than you," he said – which was true. He was six years older than her and spent six years more in the city than her. "But Raffi is an amazing place as well,"

"Raffi's people are amazing too!" Maryam exclaimed. They were walking towards the park and following the direction of the wind.

"I learned something in school," Maryam started, taking her bottle of water wetting the tip of her finger, and lifting it to the wind. "The wind is blowing in that direction!" she pointed in front of her. Just then... a football came flying in her direction.

She was quick enough to duck her head and dodge the oncoming inflated sphere. "Your head is a football magnet!" Ibrahim called out – startled and concerned for his little sister.

"Everyone alright?" a running Ishaaq asked, stopping right before Ibrahim. Ibrahim nodded.

"Yeah, you guys should be careful..." Ibrahim advised. From nearby, a glaring Ayyub and a nervous Hussein walked up to join them. Maryam was... the odd one out!

"Hussein, say you're sorry!" Ishaaq nudged him. Maryam was going to make a gesture to say that it was alright – but then Hussein's soft voice caught her off-guard.

"Sorry, I hope you're alright," he mumbled, loud enough to be heard, however.

Maryam looked down, shyly – because of the attention, "It's alright, things happen," she reassured him. He looked a bit relieved, but worried, nonetheless.

"Good, now come let's continue the game," Ayyub interrupted the awkward silence. "I was winning."

"Ayyub we were practicing," Ishaaq retorted.

The boys continued bickering, and Maryam then turned to walk back home. Her elder brother would join her on her walk a few minutes later after talking to the boys. Just then she came across a briskly walking Sarah.

"Ishaaq! Ummi is calling you!" she called out – unaware that Ibrahim was there. He and Maryam were startled by Sarah's voice. Sarah was surprised by their presence. "Oh, Maryam, hey there," she greeted then exchanged Salams – hoping that downplays her yelling a few moments ago.

"Ukthi! Can I come over?" Maryam asked, eagerly. Sarah chuckled and nodded.

"Sure, come over." Sarah smiled.

"So, what did you call me for, Ukhti?" Ishaaq asked, running up to join Sarah – passing by Maryam who ever so slightly flinched before side-stepping to give him space.

"Ah, Ummi was telling you to go to Quran class," Sarah reminded him. "Don't forget,"

Ishaaq widened his eyes as he remembered that he had Quran class in a few minutes with Ayyub and Hussein as well. "Okay, we'll be there," he confirmed.

The masjid nearby also has Quran memorization classes which Ishaaq, Ayyub, and Hussein attend together. Hussein was far ahead of Ishaaq and Ayyub, but they were all making progress and learning the words of their Creator.

"There's a Quran class here too?" Ibrahim inquired, looking at Ishaaq.

"Yeah! Come with us!" Ishaaq said, urging Ibrahim to come join them for the Quran class. "You said you were a Hafidzh?"

"Yeah, Alhamdulillah," Ibrahim confirmed. Woah. He was a Hafidzh! Just like Sarah! "I still need to revise, though," he admitted.

"Yeah, my sister too is Hafidzah, and she keeps telling me how important it is to revise," Ishaaq agreed. Maryam was proud of Sarah.

"I'll be one soon!" Maryam announced. "I'm in Surah Hijr!"

"That's fourteen ajzaa (the Quran is divided into 30 Juz [a Juz is 20 pages long], ajzaa is the plural) away from the finish!" Sarah exclaimed. "Alright, I'll kidnap you Maryam, let's go,"

Maryam chuckled and walked away with Sarah after exchanging goodbyes with her elder brother.

Sarah and Maryam walked back to Sarah's house, and Ibrahim joined the boys to go to Quran class. Hasan tagged along as well.

Of course... Ibrahim and Sarah were more curious about each other. They were both Hafidzhs? That's cool. Sarah couldn't stop being embarrassed about how she yelled in front of Ibrahim. She was so embarrassed that she told Sana about it on call before sleeping.

"Stop overthinking it," Sana glared at her through the screen. "It's just one small incident, and you said he's a Hafidzh?"

"Yeah, like Hasan," Sarah replied, still troubled about how she yelled and practically ran in front of Ibrahim. She was supposed to be mysterious... not loud–

"Anyway, shut up and go sleep, it's like ten at night, an hour past your bedtime," Sana sighed. Her best friend loved sleeping early.

"Don't stay up too late, night owl!" Sarah warned, knowing her friend's bad sleeping habits.

"Whatever, Mom," Sana scoffed, ending the call.

Sarah sleeps peacefully, feeling better after talking to her best friend.

I'll end with a hadith on Hafidzhs:

"A crown of dignity will be placed on his head, and his parents will be clothed with two suits the value of which could not be estimated by all the people of this world. They will say: 'For what have we been clothed with this?' It will be said: 'For your son's learning of the Qur'an.' Then it will be said to him: 'Recite and ascend through the levels and chambers of Paradise.' And he will continue to ascend so long as he recites, whether at a fast or slow pace." – Ahmad 22950

The nail cutter scene is something that happens literally every Friday at my house xD. Seriously though... it always finds the best hiding spot before Friday!

Then... the part where Maryam wetted her finger to see the direction of the wind... I used to do this as a kid, licked my finger and then pointed it to the sky and felt which direction the wind was blowing. I don't remember where and how I knew to do this... but I remember being obsessed with the Beaufort scale and winds back then xD- I loved science (notice how it's in past tense).

That's all for now... do you feel the rain coming? ☔⛈️🌧️🌦️