Tale In The Red Sand

Chapter Six

Following the morning prayer, Hibaaq spent time sitting quietly in the dinning room, a pen nestled between her fingers and a notebook in front of her; hoping to get as much planning done before her grandmother rose for breakfast.

The annual welfare event slowly creeped up on her, and before she knew it there were only a mere four weeks left. Hibaaq let out a small and strained noise of pure anxiety from the depths of her throat at the realisation. She wasn't cut out for this work, not like the original organiser and founder of the event.

Not like her mother.

Hibaaq had always admired her mother's altruism and the passion to bring about change where there was injustice, hence why, and with much enthusiasm, she took up the torch. Though, as incredibly rewarding it was, Hibaaq couldn't contain the apprehension of putting together and hosting such a big event. Besides the little time, her stomach angrily flipped just from the responsibility. The desire to make it bigger and better than the last itched at her brain. It wasn't that she had no ideas to spare, the problem was that she simply had too many to choose from. Hibaaq wanted the people to enjoy it as they did every year, seldom switching the themes, but always ending it with a huge and thankful feast enough for the entire city to eat.

Lost in a whirlwind of elaborate abstractions, Hibaaq didn't react to the sound of one of the chairs screeching backwards, and the yawning man that went to occupy it. She momentarily looked up, satisfied with the notes in her notebook before an alarmed gasp escaped her parted lips.

"Is scaring people a hobby of yours?" She asked jestingly, discreetly composing herself from any previous shock. She properly adjusted the hijab on her head, covering any disobedient strays of hair.

"I think I might take it up as a hobby. What were you working on if you don't mind me asking?" Ercole questioned curiously to what she was so intently focused on for the past few moments he had been silently existing in the same space as her. Although he was seated a couple of chairs down along the stretching table, as always, Hibaaq's cheeks kindled at his attentive glance overs.

"I was planning for the charity event in some weeks."  She gladly replied. However stressful it was, there was no deny in the gratifying joy that came with preparing for the event and then getting to see all the pleasant smiles of the citizens who came to attend. The feeling not only gratified Hibaaq, it made her feel wholly purposeful. Hibaaq was in University to become an adult nurse, and though she enjoyed the profession, there was no doubt in the books that it was extremely tiring, therefore getting away from the excessive study and exhaustion by doing something that actually mattered was greatly appreciated.

"That's amazing. Very decent of you." Ercole nodded, though he was astounded to say the least. She was quite the philanthropist, he noted.

Hibaaq tilted her head to the side and gave a little shrug. "As Muslims it's our duty, no?"

"It is indeed." Ercole swiftly answered, beginning to snicker at a joke only he obviously knew.

Hibaaq watched him inquisitively from her tilted position, her covered head rested on her palm, eyes carefully tracing the sharp shadow under his jaw, and the strong lines of muscle on his neck, bobbing upwards as he continued to quietly chuckle to himself. "What are you laughing about?" She asked unconsciously, taken by the perfect curve of his nose and lips and the smooth gap between them. Such an odd feature to admire, but it looked so effortlessly charming on him. She was instantly taken back to the night before, where she found herself admiring the very same feature, and thinking just the same.

Ercole opted to shaking his head. He wouldn't cause her discomfort by his silent affections, and by telling her she was far too adorable not to helplessly laugh at. "What are some of the ideas you've come up with?"  He asked instead, attempting to sneak a peak in the leather bound book, sooner she slapped a hand down and tutted disapprovingly.