The Nearest Heaven ✔️

Part 3 -You're Not Old!

Part 3 –You're Not Old!

"Have forgiveness, preach truth, and keep away from the ignorant ones."

~ Surah Al-Araf, verse 199.

"You're not old!" Fadiyah blushed and covered her mouth with her hand. Embarrassed, she turned around and began hurrying towards the stairs, but deep, husky laughter caused her to pause slightly in her step as she reached the first stair. "Aaban!" Faraaz said in a cheerful voice. "Quickly, go and call your friend here," Fadiyah heard him say. With that remark, she quickly and quietly sprinted down the stairs.

"FADIYAAAH!" Aaban yelled.

She stopped and looked up. He was a few stairs behind her. "Please don't go," he whispered. "My friend has never laughed like that before." His words and tone were completely soft, she suspected it was so that Faraaz did not hear him. She shook her head at him. "I'm sorry, big guy, but I just made a fool of myself," she apologised.

"What happened?" Jacob asked as he ran up to them. "Is Mister Faraaz alright?"

She nodded at him. But it was Aaban who was a traitor and told him what happened. "Fadiyah blurted out that Uncle Faraaz is not old. And he laughed so loudly!" Aaban chuckled as he retold the story.

Jacob's eyes widened. "What did he say?" he whispered, afraid for the answer.

"He wants to speak to her! But she doesn't want to go back up!" Aaban pouted.

Jacob turned and fixed a glare on her. "Miss Fadiyah," he said but she held up a hand.

"Fadiyah," she corrected him.

"Miss Fadiyah," he said and stressed upon the 'miss'. "I have worked here for a while, and I have never heard Mister Faraaz chuckle that loudly. If you do not go and just speak to him today, I will carry you up to obey his orders."

She was interrupted from replying when she heard Faraaz's smooth and deep baritone. "Jacob, is that you?" he asked. Jacob shot her a hesitant glance and then answered. "Yes, sir."

"Tell me, is Aaban and his friend still there?" Faraaz continued.

"Yes, sir," Jacob said, and any feeling of kindness Fadiyah had towards Jacob fell away when he betrayed her. Then, she realised that he didn't know her. He owed her no loyalty. With complete resignation, she angled her body upwards and slowly began her ascent of shame.

"Good, please escort Aaban's dear friend up," Faraaz said calmly.

It was no need, Fadiyah thought bashfully, yet still with deep dislike. She felt aggravated with herself. It was exasperating how she hadn't even considered her words, before thinking it.

When she reached the last stair, Aaban hooked his tiny, short arm and forcefully dragged her with him to the long, wide and white chaise that Faraaz rested on. Fadiyah hung her head the entire way, like a naughty school girl about to be handed detention by the principal.

"I haven't seen you before," Faraaz commented as soon as she stepped in front of him.

She nodded. "I'm visiting," she answered quietly. "I'm truly very sorry for my rude remark I made earlier," she apologised genuinely. "I really have a problem –I speak without thinking and without realising and it often lands me in trouble when I daydream. I am honestly very, very sorry about that rude remark."

Aaban laughed and Faraaz joined in with him. "It's okay," he said through his laughs. "Take a seat," he gestured behind her and found that Jacob had placed a comfortable little chair for her and then disappeared.