Chapter-6

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Dayyan-

I should have brought a dozen more lighter clothes! Dayyan thought agitated as he and his mother entered the small town of Mystelwood on the slightly battered old-fashioned car of Mayor Rosaline.Whatever his boss said about the climate here being 'slightly' different than in Flakes made no freaking sense to him.He was literally sweating like a pig even though he was wearing the comfiest white shirt he owned.Ya Allah!How do people live here!!He internally 'wailed'.

His mother,on the other hand,was humming cheerfully and even the driver was showing off his yellow teeth every now and then which made Dayyan nauseous.

"Mom,aren't you feeling hot?"Dayyan finally let out as another bead of sweat trickled down his forehead.

"Why no Dayy.Moreover,I already find the weather of this town beautiful." With that his mother zoned out again to watch the scenery outside the car window.

Yeah,I was right,mom completely lost it!
How am I supposed to tell people "Mystelwood has a climate to fall in love with" if I myself couldn't stand it!

After another hour of boiling in the heat,the car finally stopped infront of a small rest-house.Dayyan practically jumped out of the car and into the fresh air.Now,that he was out of that suffocating hole of a car,Dayyan felt better.He took a deep breath,inhaling the moist air of Mystelwood,when a light breeze carressed his face.Slowly,he took in the surrounding...and his heart skipped a beat.The place was breathtaking.Mashallah.

Dayyan was still in a state of awe as the driver led him and his mother inside the rest-house.He looked at his mother to see her mirroring his expression of daze.Even the heat started to subside.Maybe it was the suffocating car that made me feel restless,he thought.

The rest-house was small yet well- kept.Charming portraits of the town adorned the walls around the wooden staicase.The place totally screamed "cosy".Alhamdulillah,for everything,Dayyan whispered.

"Hello sir,hello ma'am.Welcome to Mystelwood.I am Thomas,the caretaker of this place.Come,I'll lead you to your rooms." Thomas,the caretaker of the rest-house spoke with a friendly smile.

He was an old man,maybe in his late sixties and Dayyan and his mother immediately fell at ease because of his hospitality.

Despite the size of the house,the two bedrooms were quite big.Both the rooms had a window,that overlooked the town of Mystelwood and a beautiful beach which Dayyan immediately was attracted to.

"I will leave you to freshen up and set the table for you.Sir,ma'am,if there's anything you need,just ring the bell over there.I'll be here in a blink.One more thing though,I know the journey has been tiring so I want to suggest you take a small walk in the beach after you have freshened up.That really helps." With that Thomas exited the room.

"I think I'll take a nap after showering and eating something." His mother said.

Dayyan,on the other hand,was dying to go to the beach."Mom,I think I'll go down to the beach.Also, try to find if there is a masjid around here."

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Two hours later,Dayyan was out on the street of Mystelwood with his bagpack hanging from his shoulder,ready to explore the wonderful town.He passed several houses,all wooden but of varying sizes which alined one part of the streets while the other part was occupied with small shops-icecream parlors,steak houses and other types of cullinary booths.So,Mystelwoodians love food,huh?Dayyan thought chuckling.He didnot really mind that,being a food lover himself.

The place did not have really few people unlike other small towns and the locals were mostly white and had dark brown hair,but their eyes were of different shades.Dayyan was always fascinated with coloured eyes as his pupils were pure black.

He went to a grocery store to ask the shop-keeper if this place had any masjid.

"Excuse me?Hi,I am Dayyan.I am kinda new here and was wondering if this place have any masjid.Is there any?" Dayyan asked the bald shopkeeper with hopeful eyes.

Dayyan sweared he saw the man's eyes popping out of his sockets when he introduced himself.

"You are Dayyan Malik?The travel writer?People,it's Dayyan Malik here!"
And with that the crazy shopkeeper started yelling at all the customers around,waving his hand frantically.

It took nearly ten seconds for a huge crowd to gather around Dayyan.Some were looking at him with eyes brimming with hope,others with a calculating look.Nevertheless,they all seemed excited.

"Oh my god,you're finally here.I--"
"Mayor Rosaline didn't even--"
"Is that true,will tourists really come--"
"Mystelwood will be fam--"

"Oh shut up,people!Let the guy breathe for a sec!You all are going to scare him away." When Dayyan thought his head was going to explode,out of nowhwere a voice spoke and saved his life.

"Hi,I'm Harry.Harry Castellan." His savior said,drawing out his hand.Dayyan shook his hand gratefully.

"Well,I'm Dayyan,as you all know." By now the whole street was filled with people.

"Ah,don't worry.These people are overly excited seeing you.We all are.Afterall, we know why you are here and we are so grateful.So,welcome to Mystelwood,the most beautiful place on earth." The Harry guy said all too dramatically and Dayyan immediately felt they would be good friends.

"Oh,and to answer your question,this place do have a masjid." Harry said proudly. "It's round the left corner ahead."

They talked for a while after the crowd cleared.Harry seemed friendly and Dayyan found out he was a muslim too,a convert and that he has a twin brother,who is exactly like him apart from the looks.

Dayyan said his goodbyes and thanks to Harry,saying he was off to explore the beach and was about to leave when Harry stopped him.

"Wait!Since,you are new here let me tell you where to get the best view of the beach from.There is these huge perpendicular rocks at the farthest corner of the beach,that's the place.No one really goes there and I recently found that spot." Harry said with a weird smile on his face.

Dayyan just shrugged off and walked in the direction Harry pointed,with his DSLR ready to take some amazing pictures.

Harry-

''Henry,guess what?I won the bet.You owe me so much now that I even forgot the amount!It will be hilarious seeing Aara's face today.Oh,I am dying to see her reaction.Come to the beach right now.Yes,of course I'll be in our hiding place,you idiot!" With that Harry hung up his phone as he made his way to their hiding place behind a dense bush at the farthest corner of the beach.All along,a devilish smile playing along his lips.

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Salam lovelies...thnx for reading again.Harry Castellan,huh? We'll soon find out who he is.

One imp thing.The characters are muslim but their faith will grow along the story as they'll help one another to know islam better.No one is perfect,but they'll try to be.

Please vote and comment,its getting lonely here without the beautiful words from my readers..!!

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