THE RISING SUN

CHAPTER SEVEN

She could not figure out what was going on, but she kept gazing at the youths moving into the room. With the trail on her head, she moved further and further.

"What could be going on there?" she asked herself.

"Ah! Zainab, how have you been?"

"I've been fine, my dear."

" Wow! I'm happy to see you!"

"So am I, my friend."

Hanifa was Zainab's friend, even though they were not visiting each other.

"I can see you're not aware of the seminar", Hanifa said.

"Honestly! So, what's it all about?" Zainab asked.

Hanifa explained everything to her. It was as if that was an important tool for her future. She became keenly interested in the seminar.

"Oh! What should I do now? I have no writing material, and..."

She could not finish her last statement because an idea flashed into her mind immediately. She felt it would be better to go into the room with her bread so that after the seminar, attendees would buy them.

"Oh! Don't worry about writing material. I've got two pens on me, so I can give you one, and I can also get you some sheets of paper."

"Oh my dear! Thank you, Hanifa!"

"It's my pleasure!"

So, they quickly moved into the room in order to get the front seats, but unfortunately, some other attendees had already occupied the front seats. Thus, they decided to find seats in the media position.

A few minutes later, a young woman came in with her entourage. They were walking so elegantly behind the usher, who directed them to where they would sit. A few minutes later, when the room was settled, the compere invited her to the lectern. So she elegantly walked to the lectern with a sense of smile. Upon thanking the compere, she took over the moment.

"The wonderful youths, distinguished ladies and gentlemen. I am indeed honoured to be called upon to address this wonderful audience."

When she introduced herself, and revealed her place of origin, everyone was really amazed. Everyone, except the coordinators of the event, thought she was a foreigner. She began orientating the young ones seated before her by giving them a brief story about herself. It was as if her life experience was similar to that of everyone in the room. The audience was not only moved by her story, but was also astonished by the fact that such a story is very rare if not strange in a Muslim country.

"If a girl could train herself in school by such a small scale trading, why can't I do the same? After all, she was also affected by the same religious fate, yet she scaled through. It does mean that if I fail, I would have no excuse. Yes, I have chosen my education, let marriage come after", Zainab kept talking to herself as the woman was busy touching souls.

"When you stand out from the crowd, you become outstanding. And, when you leave the dark cave, you'll be like a rising sun", the woman said.

Immediately, everyone stood up cheerfully and clapped her because her speech was wonderful. The room was filled with joyful noise. So, she gave her last words, which were: Thank you! Then she left the stage to her seat.

After the brief seminar, everyone was really inspired, but it was as if Zainab was the most inspired youth in the room. So, Zainab tapped her friend, Hanifa, and informed her that she wanted to go home. She could not stay there any longer, because she was filled with challenges in her mind.

"I must be like a rising sun, inshallah", Zainab said to herself.

So, Hanifa and, Zainab parted ways for their various homes. Even though she could not sell her loaves of bread as she planned, she still went home happy.