chronicles of Amina

The Al-Fayed family

Chapter 8

As we entered the grand mansion, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the opulent decorations and warm atmosphere. Sheikh Al-Fayed welcomed us with a warm smile, his eyes twinkling with hospitality.

"Assalamu alaykum, please come in," he said, as he led us into the spacious living room. The room was filled with comfortable couches and chairs, and the walls were adorned with beautiful Islamic artwork.

Sheikh Al-Fayed began to introduce his family members to my parents. "This is my wife, Fatima," he said, gesturing to a stately woman wearing a elegant hijab and a modest yet stylish outfit. "And my children, Jasmine, Tariq, Sophia, and Omar."

As the elders began to converse, Sheikh Al-Fayed suggested, "Why don't the children go to the sitting room? We can finish our talk here." He gestured to a cozy room adjacent to the living room, filled with books, games, and comfortable couches.

Omar nodded and excused himself, disappearing into another room without a word. Jasmine, Tariq, Sophia, and I followed each other to the cozy room.

Sophia smiled and said, "Amina, I want to reintroduce you to my family. This is my brother Tariq, and my brother Omar is...well, he's around here somewhere." She rolled her eyes good-naturedly.

Tariq chuckled and said, "Hey, I'm right here! Don't worry about Omar, he's just being his usual quiet self." He winked at me, and I couldn't help but laugh.

As we chatted, Sophia shared her struggles in school, feeling like she didn't have many friends. I listened intently, relating to her experiences. Tariq jumped in, making a joke, and Sophia playfully hit him on the arm.

I laughed and said, "Actually, I think Tariq is right. You do have friends, Sophia. And I'd like to introduce you to some of my friends too. We can hang out together sometime."

Sophia's face brightened. "Really? That would be amazing! Thank you, Amina."

As we continued to chat, Tariq started telling jokes, making us laugh. Sophia and I discovered a shared love for literature and art. We spent the next hour discussing our favorite books and authors.

Jasmine returned, smiling after her call with her husband. "I'm so grateful for technology," she said. "It makes the distance feel smaller."

We said our goodbyes, and I felt grateful towards the Al-Fayed family for welcoming me into their home.

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