The Orphan Child

Ch 1

The soothing sound of Zhikr being read was music to the young boys ears as he snuggled deeper into his duvets. He knew what time it was and wished for the minutes to tick by slowly.

A gentle hand stroked his face and then ruffled his curly over grown hair.

"Harris. It's time for school." A voice just as gentle whispered into his ears.

"Grammaa.." Harris moaned pulling the duvets over his head. His voice muffled by the duvet.

A boy who loved to learn should have jumped up at the mention of school yet Harris remained still in his bed. He loved learning yet hated School.

"Come dear boy. Let us spend these limited moments together. Only Allah knows how long I have left in this world."

At this Harris crawled out his duvet and wrapped both his arms around his grand mother without opening his eyes clinging onto his sleepy state.

"Grandma. Why do you say stuff like that? You know I don't like it." Harris moaned. He hated even the thought of a moment without his grandma. A smile crept up his face at the smell of the familiar oil his grandma always wore. He had hated the smell at first but now had grown to like it because it was his grandmas smell. Jasmine oil.

Everything about his grandma was gold to Harris.

"Get dressed dear. I have already put the eggs to boil and they should be done now." Harris's Grandmother knew it was his favourite breakfast and never failed to deliver every morning.

She made a move to get up. Her body was frail and weak and no matter how much Harris tried to look after her, easing her from any sort of movements, her body never regained its strength that it once had been blessed with.

It was the circle of life and anyone who could see knew that the grandmothers days were numbered now. In fact a few gossipers had gotten together late night and discussed this very issue already and had agreed it was a matter of weeks because of the amount of effort she has put up for an orphaned child.

Her weakened body caused her difficulty as she struggled to get up and it didn't help that Harris clung to her not letting her go. "Harris let go now." Although most of the time she felt like scolding him she knew better to treat the orphan with kindness

After all she was a follower of Muhammad (SAW).

"Don't move grandma. I'm comfortable." Harris's voice trailed off sleepily. Grandmother shook her head unable to contain her smile.

"Silly boy. Time won't stand still for us and besides, your Uncle will be here soon. You know he doesn't like it when you get late." Grandmother warned.

At the mention of Uncle Yousef, Harris made a strangled sound. Another person he disliked of the endless list he had mentally kept hidden inside his mind.

"I can go school by myself. Why does he always have to take me. I'm a big boy now." Harris sat up rubbing his sleepy eyes suddenly feeling awake. He looked around the little room blinking when the sunlight caught his eyes.

At the release of his arms Grandmother used this chance to get up grabbing her walking stick from behind and leaning upon it.

"You know what happened last time you went on your own." Grandmother reminds him as she leaves the house to attend the eggs boiling outside on the fire.

Harris got changed and attempted to fasten his tie. He hated his ridiculous uniform and could never manage to make his tie look decent enough like the other kids at school.

There were times were he 'accidentally' lost or ruined his tie which resulted in him being punished and soon he learnt the hard way to wear his tie no matter how much he detested it.

He walks out into the open air and finds that his grandmother had already peeled the eggs.

She looks up and smiles at him.

"Ma shaa Allah. You look very handsome." She hands him his eggs.

"Grandma. I told you not to peel the eggs for me anymore your hands are already going bad." He complains taking a bite out of his egg.

"And how many times have I told you to say Bismillah before you eat." Grandmother scolds the boy with his mouth now full of egg. She shakes her head at his unregretful behaviour as he mumbles Bismillah between mouthfuls. "And as for my hand they are not bad. They are just old." Grand mother simply says. She knew Harris was referring to the wrinkles around her hand. He was still young and had yet to learn about a lot of things.

From behind, a large man with heavy boots strideded around the house to where the old lady and the child sat discussing homework.

"Assalamu Alaykum." A deep firm voice announced.

"Wa Alaykum Assalam son." Said the grandmother to her son. "Would you too like some eggs?"

"No mum. I have already ate Alhamdulillah." And then he turned his gaze to the boy. "Are you ready?"

"Yes let me just get my bag." Harris swivelled around reluctantly disappearing into the house and then coming out with his bag in hand.

"Lets go." Uncle Yousef snaps checking his watch. He was a busy man and he couldn't afford to be late for work because of a duty he had been forced to take upon himself.

Harris trailed behind checking if all his contents were in his bag until he noticed something missing.

"Um Uncle Yousef?..."

He knew his uncle was an impatient man and had it been a piece of homework he had left behind he would never have asked to go back to retrieve it.

"I forgot something." Harris informs. The look on his uncles face read that he was not happy. He clicked his tongue in annoyance.

"Hurry." Uncle Yousef snaps the one word which sends Harris dashing back to his home passing his grandma who was still sat at front with a questioning look.

He quickly enter his home and flips over his pillow to find his most treasured object still safely where he had left it last night. A photo of his mum and dad. Without wasting time he runs out shoving the photo into his bag and shouts Assalamu Alaykum to his grandmother on his way out.

At school most of the children were huddled in groups discussing the latest news about their weekend. A girl spoke about her brothers engagement while the others listened intently. Another boy spoke of a match that he had been to with his father. Harris who had experienced nothing new in his weekend walked past all of them residing to his usual spot under the tree where he felt the most comfortable.

He pulled open his bag and realised he had actually forgotten his planner at home. He wondered how many teachers he could con and get away with this time. He plucked out his photo and rested his eyes on the most beloved human beings in his life. They may not be in this world but they were alive in his heart and although he had no memories of them he loved them dearly since they held the title of his parents.

The bell for school rang and Harris followed everyone inside not wanting to be late like last time.

.......

Thank you to my readers which are currently four at the moment. Lol. I appreciate your votes and comments Jazakallahu khair ❤

I really enjoyed writing this chapter and I hope you enjoy reading.
While writing I felt a strange sort of longing to have a grandmother like Harris's. Wierd I know especially since I made her up. Haha I don't know, I just have a real soft spot for old people I guess...they are just adorbs. Mashallah.

I miss my own grandparents quite a lot so my advise to anyone that are stilled blessed with their grandparents is take care of them and make the most of the time with them before it's too late. And for those like me..well we still have this wonderful thing called dua we can do ;)

Alhamdulillah ❤