Shirk in Disguise

Chapter 19

Another peek into the life of the twelve-year old girl. I assure you, there's a surprise in the chapter😉

It was a Saturday morning at about eleven a.m. and Azeema was on an old rickety bus after a tiresome morning of haggling in the market. She hated having to price commodities to the extreme but her grandma always gave her less than enough money and still expected her to get all the stuff on the shopping list. Failure to do so attracted the old woman's wrath.

Sitting by the window of the bus on her way home, Azeema sighed as they drove through the Sabon Gari market. They'd driven through the part of the market famous for its endless supply of books and other schooling materials for students. As they passed by the famous Zamani Bookshop, she shook her head as memories flooded her mind.

Ever since she had become old enough to follow her father around, she had always accompanied him on his various outings. As soon as she reached school-going age, she'd visited that very bookshop with her father countless times to do her school shopping at least a week before resumption. However, it was only two days to resumption and she had no hope of going back to school, let alone shopping for the necessities. She was afraid that her schooling might have to terminate at primary level, as she had written her certificate exams just few weeks before her father's death.

In her heart, Azeema knew that had her father been alive, that wouldn't be the case for he never toyed around with her education. 'What a pity,' she sighed as her grandmother's house came into view. She only saw a bleak future ahead of her; nevertheless, she still nursed a sliver of hope. Maybe things would get better. Maybe her life wasn't entirely doomed. Maybe...

The screeching of the bus's tires jerked her back to reality. She panicked as she realized that she'd missed her stop by a few blocks as she sat daydreaming. The thought of the heavy grocery bags she would have to drag all the way added to her agony as she slowly disembarked from the bus, wondering if the day could ever get worse.

Fortunately for her, the day didn't get worse...only better. As she dragged the week's grocery bags to her grandmother's house, she spotted a figure standing outside the gate. He seemed impatient and was just about to leave when she caught up with him. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, he handed over a letter and went on his way as if anxious to get rid of it.

Apprehension invaded Azeema's heart as she saw her name typed neatly on the corner of the envelope. Her fear notwithstanding, she tucked it carefully between the folds of her wrapper before she proceeded to drag the heavy shopping bags into the house.

It wasn't until she had finished cooking the afternoon meal and was getting ready to pray that she remembered the letter. However, she kept it aside, wanting to open it after praying, when her mind was at rest. With full concentration, Azeema prayed fervently to her lord, pleading with Him to ease her difficulties. Still on the prayer-mat, she brought out the letter and began reading.

The contents of the letter made her eyes pop out in surprise. She was given a chance to continue her schooling after all – an all-expense-paid scholarship donated by a Good Samaritan was nothing she had ever envisaged. Still finding it difficult to believe her good fortune, she checked the letter thoroughly to deduce the identity of her savior all to no avail. However, she had no doubts of the authenticity of the letter's contents for it contained clear instructions and money for her upkeep.

"Praise be to God!" she exclaimed. "So He hasn't forgotten His poor servant at all!" She then prostrated in gratitude and submission to her lord. The school was in another state but that was the least of her concerns; the package contained enough cash to cover her traveling expenses as well as some much-needed shopping, still leaving a substantial amount to spare.