Adar 

A blissful silence surrounded him, hidden by the gracious shade of a mango tree, dark shadows falling over his seated figure. He continued writing, watching the ink seep into the paper like water in sand.

His cursive letters etched the horrors of liberation, fallen soldiers, hurricanes, and the dangers that the independence leaders sang in hopes of disguising the evil in bright blossoms of different colors. 

Adar sighed, placing his pencil down. Leaning his head against the smooth trunk of the tree, his mind began to drift away towards a realm of fantasy, a world of peace. A modestly covered woman infiltrated his thoughts, consuming his mind with her curious brown eyes. For some reason, he could not stop thinking about the shy girl who stumbled before him in the bazaar, mumbling her apologies at every chance. 

He smiled. 

Suddenly, his peace was disturbed by the loud chatter of students, gossiping as they walked into the building before him. Adar's eyes fluttered open, huffing in distaste as the girls giggled after some of the older boys. In return, the young men offered each one a grin, hoping to find a suitable future wife if need be. Most of the boys liked to keep their options open. 

Adar could not have been more disgusted than he was then. Their predatory and hungry gazes reminded him of animals, the very comparison Allah had used many times before. Allah warned the believers away from sinful behavior, but at the same time offered mercy to those who could not resist the temptation.

However, their sins were only forgiven if they felt the weights of guilt bearing down on their shoulders and the poison of shame running through their veins as they atoned for their sins. 

Sadly, many in his country refused to acknowledge their shame, choosing to take advantage of Allah's forgiveness and committing the same crime over and over again as if it were nothing but a speck of dust. Those greedy boys only wanted women for their own vicious desires, no care of the consequences. 

From the corner of his eyes, he saw the ones who lowered their gazes and the young girls who ignored the attention. A feeling of pride bloomed within his chest, knowing that there was still hope for the ummah (community). There were still a handful of boys and girls who did not lose sight of Allah and His commandments. There were still blessings that showered upon the youth without Adar's knowledge.

"Can you believe that girl from the bazaar yesterday?" whispered a female student as she passed Adar.

Her friend grinned. "I know! She was socializing instead of grieving with her family. What type of a granddaughter is that?"

Adar gripped his pen tightly, trying his best to control the tendrils of anger.

"She is such a nuisance. City girls have no business in villages unless they want something."

"I agree. Maybe we should pry out her secrets after class and force the truth out. That girl is suspicious," she said, eyes glancing around and searching for Rabiya.

This time, Adar could not resist. Standing, he towered over the girls from behind, clearing his throat to gain their attention. Shocked, the girls turned, stuttering at the sight of a teacher's assistant. Adar gazed down with a deep frown, enjoying the terrified look in their eyes at his authority.

"Would you girls care to explain this recent gossip?" he questioned slowly with a hint of a threat in his voice. "Or should I take this to the Headmaster?"

"No!" they yelled.

Adar crossed his arms over his chest. "I would suggest that you two keep out of trouble and away from the new student. Any signs of irresponsible behavior from you or any of your classmates shall be reported," he said, leaning closer. "Spread that as a rumor instead."

They quickly nodded before scurrying off. 

He sighed, finally they took the threat seriously. Adar spent his free time from university at the local high school, where his old teachers and the Headmaster worked. All found him a favorable and intellectual student, personally keeping Adar under their shadows and treating him as a prized pupil. He understood bullying more than the next kid because he remembered the harsh remarks for being the best student. 

Rabiya had too much on her plate to deal with that. 

"Was that threat specifically catered for me?" asked a sweet voice. 

Adar turned with a smile. "Well, I can't have students running around and spreading lies about you. What type of teacher assistant would that make me?"

Instead of responding, Rabiya shyly looked away from him, hiding her face behind her school books. A soft blush coated her cheeks in a pinkish tone, expressing her introverted nature in the presence of a man. He found her peculiar because her shyness did not dictate her actions if need be, yet she managed to be gentle in all aspects. 

"I-I should get to class," she mumbled, daring a glance up at him. 

Adar said nothing as she offered one small smile and walked towards the small building. He had no idea that her family planned to send her to such a poor school, where renovations were only legends and books were made of scraps. Villages were not known for having the richest schools, but nonetheless, many students craved an education and pushed through all the financial obstacles just to make a difference in the world. 

As he stared at her retreating figure, he wondered what difference she would make. The white hijab matched with the green uniform, being one of the few that even wore a hijab to school. Many girls didn't see the beauty in modesty, but Rabiya did. She wore hers like a crown, a queen in disguise. 

A hand clamped on his shoulder, breaking Adar's fascination. "Yes?" he asked the intruder.

"You seem smitten, dear friend," laughed Miraj, walking to stand beside him. "May I ask who the lovely lady is?"

"No."

His mischievous friend's grin only widened. "There is no shame in falling in love, Adar."

"I beg to differ. I am a man of honor."

Miraj rolled his eyes, huffing in disbelief. Adar always criticized those who could not keep their desires under the blanket or concealed, but he was finding it harder to deny the thin line of attraction between Rabiya and him. From her dark almond-shaped eyes to her blinding smile, every single part of her was beautiful.

She was radiant, and Adar had to be cautious or else he would fall into the feminine trap. Although her beauty triumphed all others, she fell out of bounds, far from his reach, a world apart from Adar. Rabiya deserved respect like every other woman that he knew.

And Adar would not attempt to take her dignity away from her. 

"Is there something of importance that you need?" he asked Miraj, hoping to change the subject. 

"Ah, yes. There is," said Miraj, voice becoming low so only Adar could her the following words. "I heard some whispers as I did my morning run of supplies."

This intrigued him. "Oh?" he questioned, eyebrows furrowing in confusion. 

"There is word about an attack."

Adar's body tensed, dread piling in an ocean of fear inside him, churning painfully. "On who?" he carefully asked. 

"I am afraid I do not have the answer to that. The villagers have been secretly meeting since last week. My prediction is that the attack is to help the war efforts or it is on another villager," whispered Miraj. 

"Rabiya's family," concluded Adar in shock. 

Miraj nodded, face darkening at the thought. "Her grandfather and uncle have too much property value. It will be impossible to halt the wrath of so many."

"Do they know?"

"No."

"Miraj!" hissed Adar, grabbing his shoulders. "We have to tell them. We have to stop the masterminds behind this."

"How can we?" asked Miraj, regret lacing his words. "We have no idea who these people are, we cannot trust anyone in the village, and we may be completely wrong. There is nothing to be done."

Hands falling to his sides, Adar allowed the brutal truth to sink in. Unless he had proof of a conspiracy against another villager, then authorities would do nothing. Majority of the country distracted themselves in the war efforts, pushing the walls of liberation and carrying independence on their backs.

No one would bat an eye towards village drama.

* * * * 

Throughout the school day, Adar kept his eyes on the ground, fighting the series of temptations that shaytan (Satan) whispered in his ears like hushed whispers. His eyes begged to gaze at Rabiya once again and lose himself in her comforting aura, but his mind warned against it. Instead, Adar had busied himself through grading papers for teachers, filing paperwork, and lifting the new school supply shipment. 

Through it all, Rabiya lingered in the back of his mind, burning his thoughts with her stunning smile and sparkling eyes. Clearing his mind only resulted in an image of her again, sometimes more forceful than the last. Adar exhaled deeply, realizing that the new girl in the village was slowly crawling her way into his heart. 

He scoffed, never in a million years.

Students ran out of the building as Adar leaned against the wall, bidding a farewell to the younger boys that admired his intellect. He smiled at each passing face, searching for one in particular, yet she never appeared. 

Where is she?

A weight of defeat rested on his chest, the heaviness dragging him down as disappointment filled the empty cavities of his heart. He slipped his hands into the pockets of his dirtied jeans, turning to make the long journey home. There was no sign of her. 

"Adar?"

Instantly, his body reacted towards the velvet voice that spoke his name in a breathless whisper. When he rotated to face her, he noticed the shyness seeping through her again, cheeks blushing at his gaze. She bit the bottom of her lip, nerves bundling inside her, but Adar could not help but find her more adorable than before.

"You took an awful long time to walk out," he commented, smiling. "Did a teacher need you?"

"N-No," she stuttered, casting her eyes to the ground again and shifting on her feet. "I wanted to avoid the student rush."

A sense of fear ran through his veins, Miraj's word echoing in his head. "Did those girls say something to you?" he asked, eyes widening at the thought of cruel students and their sneering lips. 

She shook her head. 

Her reluctance to speak about school worried him. Perhaps there was more to the twisted tale of school than he gave students credit for.

Their cruelty had no limits, no boundaries, no margin to match their depraved intentions. Although Rabiya kept her guard up, the slash of pain and discomfort swirled within her irises. Adar's chest wretchedly squeezed, knocking the oxygen from his lungs, and pulling him under the hood of worry. 

"Hey," he whispered, carefully examining the expressionless mask she wore. "If they ever say anything to you, tell me. You never have to go through anything in this life alone."

Instead of the warming smile he was used to, she furrowed her eyebrows, narrowing at his kindness. "Why do you keep insisting on saving me?" she asked, fury seeping from her lips in a rushed breath. "I am not in need of a savior or a hero. Please, just leave me alone."

She turned away, uniform flaring behind her as she quickened her pace.

Her words stabbed Adar, chest bleeding from severe wounds, and heart falling in shock. He ran after her, not wanting to lose the girl he could barely stop thinking about. Adar had no idea how or why Rabiya intrigued him, but he could not deny the force that beckoned her to him, the yearning of love, or the urge to be by her side for whatever the reason.

He could not watch her slip between his fingers. 

"Rabiya!" he yelled. "Please, wait!"

She paused, breathing heavily, hijab wrinkled from her aggression. "What?" she asked, voice defeated and weary.

"You're right," he softly said. "I swear by Allah that I'm no hero. In fact, I am the the exact opposite. It was wrong of me to impede my way into your life, and I apologize."

Rabiya stayed silent. 

"Would you like to walk home together?"

Slowly turning, she sighed. "Why do you insist on walking me home all the time?" she inquired, the previous fury leaving in huffs. 

"Well," Adar smiled, "I enjoy your company."

Her eyes widened, lips parting. "W-What?"

He chuckled deeply, leading the way. "Come on. I know a shortcut," he winked. 

Rushing after Adar, the two walked through a hidden path in a mesh of green. A narrow pathway led through the maze of viridescent leaves, moss-like grass covering the base of the tree, crawling to the topmost layer. The harsh seasons stripped the bark from tall saplings, exposing the shades of beige and brown, vibrant flowers blossoming in its wake. Fruits perched proudly on twigs of strength and fertility, succulent juices seeping from the jaws of small woodland creatures.

Adar gazed at Rabiya's awed expression, illuminated by the streaks of dappled light, and marking the soft crevices of her cheeks with Allah's radiant sun. To him, she expelled a noor (light) brighter than the stars of a galaxy. The jungle folded between them, brushing against their feet with the humidity lingering in the air, yet the dampness that coated their skins in a slippery sheen did nothing to eliminate the beauty beside him. 

* * * * 

Arriving at their destination, the haunting cries of children fell upon Adar's ears, their agonizing wails shaking the village with bursting sentiment. Immediately, Rabiya tensed at the sound, face hardening at the sight of her uncle's wife, her widowed aunt. 

"Ammu (Mom), s-stop," cried the daughter.

"It's your fault I'm in this mess! I wouldn't need to go through all this pain if I did not have you or your brother!" she screamed.

A taller man, who seemed around Adar's age, gathered the young girl in his arms, cradling her to his chest as the little boy gripped his legs. The man's hazel eyes glared down at his aunt, arms protectively holding onto the shaking girl. 

"Calm down," he commanded, voice authoritative in nature. "There is no need to overreact."

"Do not touch them!"

The man, who oddly resembled Rabiya, lost his patience. "You cannot keep blaming your children for your mistakes! They are a part of this family and are our uncle's kids. Watch your tone," he seethed, rubbing soothing circles on the young girl's back.

Rabiya was as frozen as glaciers in northern countries, lips pursued and brown eyes glazing in fear. Somehow, Adar realized that the internal conflicts within their household was more complicated than he thought, and the major indicator rested on the widow.

Adar walked closer to Rabiya, lowering his voice to stay hidden. "I have to take my leave here," he whispered, snapping her out of her hypnotic daze. "Be careful, Rabiya."

She nodded.

There was something off about that screaming woman. Maybe it was the crazed look in her eyes. Maybe it was the erratic movement of her limbs. Or maybe it was the cold expression she gave her children, but Adar suspected a snake withering on Abdul Jalil's estate.

He sensed dishonesty.

----

I took my hardest AP exam, so I'm basically dead and drained. Literally lived and breathed all the biological information.

I still wanted to update this book though. Updates should be regular now.

Anyway, what do you think of Adar's interactions with Rabiya? If you didn't know I added graphics to the prologue chapter, just some aesthetics.

Don't forget to vote, comment, and follow! Ramadan Mubarak!