Chapter 2 LIFE, LOVE AND WISDOM

Anarkali woke up to the warm rays of the sun peeking through the small window of her hut. She stretched her arms and yawned, feeling a sense of contentment wash over her. She had had a wonderful time at the wedding celebration the night before, and she was still basking in the glow of the joy and music that had filled the air.

As she sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed, Anarkali's eyes landed on the beautiful silver necklace that her mother had given her the night before. It was still lying on the small table beside her bed, sparkling in the morning light.

Anarkali smiled as she picked up the necklace and held it up to the light. She felt grateful for her parents and the love and support they had always given her. She felt grateful for the gift of music and dance that had been passed down to her through her family. And she felt grateful for the opportunity to share that gift with the rest of the village.

As she put the necklace back down on the table, Anarkali heard the sound of her mother moving around in the kitchen. She got out of bed and padded over to the kitchen, where she found her mother busy preparing breakfast.

"Good morning, Anarkali," Shazia said, smiling at her daughter. "Did you sleep well?"

Anarkali nodded, smiling back at her mother. "Yes, I did," she said. "I had a wonderful time last night. Thank you for the beautiful necklace, Mother. It's lovely."

Shazia smiled and handed Anarkali a cup of steaming hot tea. "You're welcome, dear," she said. "I'm glad you like it. Now, let's get ready to go to the market. We need to pick up some fresh vegetables and spices for the week."

Anarkali nodded, taking a sip of her tea. "That sounds like a great idea, Mother," she said. "I could use some new clothes, too. My old ones are getting a bit worn out."

Shazia nodded. "We'll make sure to stop by the fabric stall and pick up some new cloth," she said. "You can choose out some new fabrics and I'll help you sew them into new clothes."

Anarkali smiled, feeling happy and content. She loved spending time with her mother, and she always enjoyed their trips to the market.

As they finished their breakfast and began to get ready to head out, Junaid came into the kitchen, a big smile on his face.

"Good morning, everyone," he said, giving Anarkali and Shazia each a hug. "I trust you're both feeling well today?"

Anarkali and Shazia nodded, smiling at Junaid.

"We're feeling great, Father," Anarkali said. "We were just getting ready to head to the market."

Junaid nodded. "That sounds like a great idea," he said. "I'll come with you. We can stop by the music stall and pick up some new instruments for our next performance."

Anarkali's eyes lit up with excitement. "Really, Father?" she said. "Can we get some new drums?"

Junaid smiled. "We'll see, my dear," he said. "But I promise you, we'll find something wonderful."

As they finished getting ready and set off towards the market, Anarkali felt a sense of excitement and anticipation. She loved days like this, spent with her family and surrounded by the sights and sounds of the market.

As they walked, Shazia turned to Anarkali and said, "You know, dear, I've been thinking. Maybe it's time for you to start learning some new dances. You're getting older now, and it's time for you to start taking on more responsibilities."

Anarkali nodded, feeling a sense of determination. She was ready to learn and grow, and she was excited to see what the future held.

"I'd love to learn some new dances, Mother," she said. "What did you have in mind?"

Shazia smiled. "I was thinking that we could start with some of the more traditional dances," she said. "The ones that have been passed down through our family for generations."

Anarkali's eyes lit up with excitement. "That sounds amazing, Mother," she said. "I can't wait to get started."

As they approached the market, Anarkali could hear the sound of vendors calling out their wares and the smell of fresh bread and spices filled the air. She felt a sense of excitement and wonder, and she couldn't wait to see what the day had in store.

As Anarkali and her parents walked through the market, they came across a stall selling beautiful fabrics. Anarkali's eyes widened as she scanned the colorful array of fabrics on display.

"Mother, look!" Anarkali exclaimed, tugging on Shazia's arm. "This fabric is beautiful! Can we please get some?"

Shazia smiled and nodded. "Of course, dear. Let's take a look."

As they browsed through the fabrics, Junaid wandered off to look at some of the other stalls. Anarkali and Shazia chatted with the vendor, discussing the different types of fabrics and their prices.

After a while, Junaid returned, carrying a small package. "I found something interesting," he said, holding out the package. "Take a look."

Anarkali and Shazia exchanged curious glances, and then Anarkali took the package from Junaid. Inside, she found a small, intricately carved wooden flute.

"Wow, Father!" Anarkali exclaimed. "This is beautiful! Where did you find it?"

Junaid smiled. "I found it at a small stall over there," he said, nodding towards a nearby stall. "The vendor said it was made by a local craftsman. I thought you might like it."

Anarkali's eyes sparkled with delight. "I love it, Father!" she said, giving Junaid a hug. "Thank you so much!"

Shazia smiled, watching the exchange between Anarkali and Junaid. "I think we've found everything we need for now," she said. "Shall we head back home?"

Anarkali nodded, still clutching the wooden flute. "Yes, let's go home," she said. "I want to try out my new flute!"

As Anarkali and her parents were about to leave the market, Anarkali suddenly spotted her best friend Najma walking towards them. Najma's bright smile and sparkling eyes were infectious, and Anarkali couldn't help but grin from ear to ear.

"Najma!" Anarkali exclaimed, rushing over to her friend. "I'm so glad I ran into you! What are you doing here?"

Najma laughed and hugged Anarkali tightly. "I'm just picking up some spices for my mother," she said. "But I'm so glad I ran into you! I was just thinking about you and wondering what you were up to."

Anarkali's eyes sparkled with excitement. "I was just at the market with my parents," she said. "We were picking up some fabric and spices. But I'm so glad I ran into you! Do you want to hang out for a bit?"

Najma nodded enthusiastically. "Definitely!" she said. "But what about your parents? Won't they be worried about you?"

Anarkali turned to her parents, who were watching the exchange with amused smiles. "Mother, Father, can I please stay with Najma for a bit?" Anarkali asked. "We can catch up and have some fun. I promise I'll be home soon."

Shazia and Junaid exchanged a glance, and then Shazia nodded. "Okay, dear," she said. "But be sure to be home by lunchtime, okay?"

Anarkali nodded eagerly. "I will, Mother! Thank you!"

Junaid smiled and ruffled Anarkali's hair. "Have fun, darling," he said. "We'll see you at home."

As Anarkali's parents walked off, Najma turned to Anarkali with a mischievous grin. "So, what do you want to do first?" she asked.

Anarkali's eyes sparkled with excitement. "I don't know," she said. "What did you have in mind?"

Najma thought for a moment, tapping her chin with her finger. "I know!" she exclaimed. "Let's go get some sweets from that new stall that just opened up. I've been dying to try them!"

Anarkali's eyes widened with excitement. "Yes, let's do it!" she exclaimed.

The two friends set off towards the sweet stall, laughing and chattering as they went. As they walked, they talked about everything from their favorite foods to their latest crushes.

When they arrived at the sweet stall, Najma and Anarkali were greeted by the heavenly aroma of freshly baked sweets. They spent several minutes sampling different treats and debating which ones to buy.

Finally, they settled on a few bags of assorted sweets and continued on their way, munching happily as they walked.

As they strolled through the market, Najma and Anarkali came across all sorts of interesting stalls and vendors. They watched in awe as a group of skilled craftsmen demonstrated their wares, and they even stopped to admire a beautiful display of handmade jewelry.

After a while, Najma turned to Anarkali with a mischievous glint in her eye. "Hey, do you want to do something really fun?" she asked.

Anarkali's eyes sparkled with excitement. "What is it?" she asked.

Najma grinned. "Let's go watch the street performers!" she exclaimed. "I heard there's a really talented juggler who's performing today."

Anarkali's eyes widened with excitement. "Yes, let's go!" she exclaimed.

The two friends set off towards the area of the market where the street performers were gathered. As they walked, they could hear the sound of music and laughter growing louder.

When they arrived, they were greeted by a lively scene. There were jugglers, acrobats, and musicians all performing for the crowd. Najma and Anarkali watched in awe as a talented young acrobat performed a series of daring flips and somersaults.

As they watched, Najma turned to Anarkali with a grin. "This is so much fun!" she exclaimed.

Anarkali nodded enthusiastically. "I know, right?" she said. "I'm so glad we decided to stay and watch."

As Najma and Anarkali were walking through the market, they suddenly spotted a familiar figure standing by a nearby stall. It was Imam Hassan, the wise and kind leader of their local mosque.

Najma and Anarkali exchanged excited glances and hurried over to greet the Imam. "Assalamu alaikum, Imam Hassan!" they chimed in unison, bowing their heads in respect.

Imam Hassan smiled warmly and returned their greeting. "Wa alaikum assalam, my dear girls," he said. "It's so nice to see you both. How are you doing today?"

Najma and Anarkali took turns answering the Imam's question, telling him about their morning at the market and their plans for the rest of the day. Imam Hassan listened attentively, nodding his head and asking occasional questions.

As they chatted, Najma asked the Imam a question. "Imam Hassan, can I ask you something?" she said.

"Of course, my dear," Imam Hassan replied. "What's on your mind?"

Najma hesitated for a moment before speaking. "I was just wondering...what's the secret to a happy marriage?" she asked.

Imam Hassan smiled thoughtfully. "Ah, my dear Najma, that's a wonderful question," he said. "You know, I've been married to my wonderful wife for over 30 years now, and I can tell you that the secret to a happy marriage is not just one thing, but many things."

"First and foremost, it's about love and respect," Imam Hassan continued. "You must love and respect each other, not just as husband and wife, but as individuals. You must also communicate with each other, listen to each other's needs and desires, and work together as a team."

Imam Hassan paused for a moment, collecting his thoughts. "And of course, you must also have patience and understanding," he said. "Marriage is not always easy, and there will be times when you disagree and argue. But if you have patience and understanding, you can work through those difficult times and come out stronger on the other side."

Najma and Anarkali listened intently to Imam Hassan's words, nodding their heads in agreement.

Anarkali suddenly spoke up, asking the Imam a question that had been on her mind for a while. "Imam Hassan, what about love?" she asked.

Imam Hassan smiled thoughtfully. "Ah, my dear Anarkali, love is a beautiful thing," he said. "It's a feeling that can bring great joy and happiness, but it can also bring great pain and heartache. But that's what makes it so worth it, don't you think?"

Anarkali nodded thoughtfully, taking Imam Hassan's words to heart. As they continued to chat with Imam Hassan, Najma suddenly spoke up, asking the Imam another question. "Imam Hassan, how do you know when you've found the right person to marry?" she asked.

Imam Hassan smiled thoughtfully. "Ah, my dear Najma, that's a wonderful question," he said. "You know, I always say that the right person is someone who makes you feel like the best version of yourself. Someone who supports and encourages you, and who makes you feel loved and valued."

Imam Hassan paused for a moment, collecting his thoughts. "But it's not just about finding someone who makes you feel good," he said. "It's also about finding someone who shares your values and your vision for the future. Someone who is kind, compassionate, and honest. And someone who is willing to work with you to build a strong and healthy marriage."

As they continued to chat with Imam Hassan, the three of them discussed all sorts of topics, from marriage and love to family and friendship. Najma and Anarkali left the market feeling inspired and uplifted, grateful for the Imam's wisdom and guidance.