The Orphan Child

Chapter 11

The market was a common place of trade. It was always bustling with activity and kids often hung around playing ball games behind the stalls. It was a merry sight to see everyone so happy-though the sun too was playing games of its own peaking out from the ominous clouds at random.

Thanks to the sharia. Everyone was doing not so bad in terms of finance. Zakat was mandatory upon every wealthy and so the needy were aided and grateful and ready to work as hard as they could for their employers. The stalls were mainly foods stalls and Islamic books and items and mainly girly accessories. Nothing caught the eyes of Harris more than the variety of fruits and vegetables displayed for everyone to feast their eyes on.

Harris in particular had his eyes set on a big giant green fruit. He eyed them as if it was gifts from Jannah itself. Zahra who walked besides him found such a reaction very musing and she found herself more than once giggle in delight.

"Have you ever tried Watermelon?" Zahra pointed to the big green one that was cut in half revealing its delicious juicy pink colour.

Harris shook his head after not recalling.

Umm Zahra smiled at Harris and reached over for a slice of watermelon handing in a few coins.

"Here." And at once he devoured it immediately finding the taste very much suiting his taste buds.

Umm Zahra had grown fond of Harris and loved how he would appreciate the littlest of what life had in store for him. She stroked his head with growing admiration and continued on walking.

She had discovered not too long ago that his only living relative had past away leaving him in this cruel big world to fend for himself. She had insisted that Harris was to stay with her until an alternative solution was made. It had only been a day but Umm Zahra knew allowing Harris to live in their home would only complicate matters later on.

Abu Zahra was doing everything in his power to get the leaders and chiefs to arrange a meeting regarding the Child's shelter and wellbeing. In fact he had left them by the market area not so long ago to speak directly to them.

Harris had not shown any signs of tears ever since he had met Zahra. The two had got along just fine but it was only a matter of time before they both would grow up to adulthood and Harris would no longer be able to dwell in their home so freely.

It was a harsh reality for the boy but he was an understanding boy although yet still young and unable to see the reality of his true circumstance. It was one thing to be alone but to have your own family and blood reject you?!

How cruel his Uncle was.

They past the field where a lot of the boys huddled together playing in teams. Harris could only watch from afar as he watched them play and jump in joy.

"Would you like an ice cream?" Umm Zahra spoke.

"Yess!" It was Zahra that responded as she bounced on her toes.

"Have you ever had ice cream before?" Zahra asked beginning an annoying habit of asking him of everything they saw that day.

"Of course I have." Harris exclaimed. "Just not very much." He added quietly remembering the last time he had tasted ice cream. He recalled dropping his whole cone on the ground and then his grandmother had to buy another.

His heart ached at the mere thought of his loving grandmother. It was only now that it occurred to him that he should have appreciated that small gesture very very much.

.........

Abu Zahra entered upon a halaqah lead by the Imam of the masjid. Abu Bakr. Ten small children sat blinking up at their Ustaad as they listened intently to the story being told.