1st july 1962.
'alif!'
'Ba!'
'Ta!'
'Tha!'
I stood aside my desk quietly singing of my Arabic letters. It was my first day in madrassa( school of Islamic studies) and I was so nervous.
I stammered through my recital , sweating profusely trying to get my letters straight. ' jeem! ', 'ha!','haa?'
I immediately knew I botched it and I was scared of being scolded .
'No, Aeshe. Its kha, say it right at the throat, kha! Kha! Nice and easy'
He pointed towards the board while repetitively saying kha.
'Say it. Kha!'
I repeated after him, 'kha'.
Maalim was nodding along with each repeat seeming satisfied with my pronunciation. I was glad that I could see my best friend up ahead sneaking smiles at me from time to time encouraging me until I finished.
Out Maalim tapped the black board twice to get our attention.
' students, after Aeshe's recital we will recite our dua'a and then class is dismissed. Okay?'
'Yes maalim!!' The whole classed roared enthusiastically.
After taking my seat, we recited surah Al fatiha and the day was declared officially over.
We all scrambled to the door eager to get out of the stuffy room as quickly as we can. I held onto my best friend Asha's hand as we walked out of the door.
Asha was my best friend for as long as I remembered. We were as close as real siblings can get to be always doing things together. Our mothers were good friends also which automatically made us more closer than we could ever be.
My sisters were quite jealous of our relationship because I never seem to get along with them. We just played together occasionally when they stop gossiping about boys.
I never seem to understand their infatuation with boys whereas I couldn't even stand them.
We skipped out way home stopping now and then to pick up flowers here and there. Taking the familiar route home across a small path, we always came across old man Hatibu sitting outside his porch wishing us a good evening.
This was our cue for parting ways as the old man's house was our final parting point. 'Kwaheri!! I will see you tomorrow school!' I said.
' kwaheri pia. I will see you tomorrow too', she replied.
Waving goodbye I watched her retreating figure walking towards her home. I simply turned and walked the other way home.
...................
AU: just to make myself clear. THIS IS MY FIRST STORY. I will not tolerate insults..capiche
Constructive criticisms are widely welcomed. I have tried my level best here, please just give a like and leave a comment.
Words:
1) maalim: Arabic word for teacher.
2) alif, ba, ta, tha : these are Arabic letters and are easy to pronounce. Seriously no jokes.
3) kwaheri: Swahili word for goodbye.
4) pia: also
5) Al fatiha: its a surah in the Holy Qur'an, its known as the opening. It was revealed in Makkah to the holy prophet Muhammed(p.b.u.h).
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