Ayanna Khan is a teenage Muslim girl who loves to read books. She is greatly fond of creating virtual worlds to fantasize herself in her mind, since she believes that the world she lives in is mundane.
As she continues with her so called "mundane" l...
"Hey, have you seen the latest news trending on Instagram?", Shahid asked me chirpily.
I immediately frowned on hearing the word Instagram since my phone has been confiscated by my parents and I'll be only getting it back a week later.
"Shahid!! Did we not agree on not talking about anything regarding phones?", Leila scolded him.
Shahid and Leila are my best friends and we have been together since kindergarten. "I don't know what I will do without them", I thought to myself. These two feel more like family to me than my own family.
"Are you guys still coming with me to the library?", I asked the both of them.
"Obviously!", They both said together while Leila gave me an expression that showed she mentally facepalmed.
*****
"Finally I can now get some work done, but the two of you can't go a minute without bickering." I retorted at my friends.
Leila and Shahid had been arguing about some petty thing that went viral on the internet. Man, these two are always at each other's necks, that the thought of how they even become friends still bothers me!
"Yeah let's go in and get rid of those books sis!", Shahid encouraged me.
Shahid is a type of person that doesn't believe in fantasies and happily ever afters. He thinks that if you can't see anything in reality then it doesn't exist, so you can see he is not really into much about fantasies! I on the other hand can't even live a second without fantasizing regarding anything and Leila well... She is more of the inbetween.
"Are we even going to enter or just stand out here and stare at the walls?" Leila deadpanned.
I have been visiting the towns local library for the past 8 years and never have I felt anything strange but today feels different. As we entered the library a feeling of malevolence stirs within me. I feel as if something terrible is going to happen.
"Hello Mrs, Collins. How are you this fine afternoon?", I greeted her as usual.
"Hello children, I'm doing just fine.", She greeted back.
Mrs Collins has been working in the town's local library way before I even moved here. She is a really sweet and kind lady.
"Oh, Ayanna I see you have come for more books. The latest additions have just arrived, hold on let me get them for you from behind the counter.", She informed me.
As we stood by the counter for Mrs Collins, I scanned the shelves packed with books from one corner to the other of the library hoping that my eyes will lend on something interesting and fortunately it does. I spot something glowing on a shelf just to the right of the counter.
" What is that Mrs Collins?", I asked her curiously.
"Which one?", She asked as she came out of the counter with a stack full of books.
"That one over there on the top left of the shelf that looks like it's gonna fall out any minute!" I said while pointing towards the book.
"Oh, that old worn out book!", Mrs Collins replied with a sad look.
Leila immediately grasped the book and read it's title "The legend of Angels and Jinns". Hmm, I have read many books about all sorts of legends but this one sounds very different and the most absurd thing is that I sense an aura coming from it. How does it even have an aura, not that it's alive, but still how is it possible that something such as a book that is not living have such a strong aura? This is absolutely absurd!
I leave the book alone and get back to Mrs Collins about the stack of latest addition books that just arrived. Mrs Collins has always admired my fondness towards reading books hence she makes sure that I get to read all the interesting ones first and therefore keeps them aside for me for my next visit. I quickly return the ones I borrowed last month as I checked the time on my watch telling me that it's almost 4:00 pm and that I better leave as soon as possible or else I'll be scolded yet again by my mother. Argh, why do parents have to be that strict!
As Leila, Shahid and I get seated in the car to leave with a stack of 6 latest addition books for me to indulge myself in, the thought of the book that I spotted reappears in that over curious mind of mine and I rush back to the library to get it.
"Wow, what was that about? If you left something in you could have atleast told us before running off like a wild goose!" Shahid said concernedly. He likes to play the role of an overprotective friend.
"Sorry, I couldn't help myself with all the curiosity running wild in my brains!", I apologized and they both laughed back at me as if I just cracked a joke.
*****
I arrived home late yet again and to my dismay I had to brave myself for another scolding again. Why is it that I'm always scolded when I arrive late but my siblings aren't when they arrive late. That is so unfair!
I left the books on my study table and went downstairs for dinner. We all ate in silence. After we finished have dinner I helped my mother with the dishes and thereafter left to my room to retire for the night. As I was changing in to my PJs I remembered about the weird vibe that I was getting from that book. It was as if I share some kind of bond with it, but I let the thought pass by so that I could sleep peacefully or else I would waste the entire night thinking about it. With that I got into bed and effortlessly drifted off to a sweet slumber.
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Hi, guys!
There we go chapter 1 is complete. What do you think about the book Ayanna spotted and it's weird vibes? Do you think that the title of the book might have a connection to the dreams that Ayanna was having?Loads of curiosity!! Till next time folks!
Sam ❤️❤️
*****
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