Given name

On a quiet night in Taz's home.

Taz and her mother, Yasmine, sat beside each other on the bed.

Yasmine was a short white woman in her thirties. She had a slim figure and long brown hair. She wore her bed robes.

Yasmine grabbed Taz's shoulder and asked her softly, "Are you okay, Tanaz?"

Taz looked down at the floor and replied, "Yes, mother."

"Can you tell me what happened today?" Yasmine asked.

Taz looked at her mother and asked, "Mother, who is Ahmad?"

"..... Ahmad?" Yasmine replied.

"Yes, he called my father, little brother," Taz said.

"That Ahmad? He's in this city?" Yasmine replied.

"He had a son called Hajras," Taz said.

Yasmine looked away from Taz and sighed.

She looked back at Taz, faked a smile and said, "I'll tell you about it when you grow up."

"But why mother?" Taz asked.

"You will understand when the time comes," Yasmine rubbed Taz's shoulder and said, "Go to sleep, Tanaz; it is getting late."

Unsatisfied with Yasmine's answer, Taz stood up and said, "Yes, mother."

On the next day

Taz went back to the playground in the morning.

She walked around and searched and hoped to find Hajras.

"Where is he?!" Taz muttered to herself.

Her friends watched her from a distance.

Raghad looked at her brother Rashed and asked, "Should we ask her what she is doing?"

"No, the look on her face is frightening," Rashed replied.

"Let's leave her be for now," Fadi said.

She searched the playground but failed to find Hajras; Tanaz put her hands on her waist and sighed and pondered.

As she walked in circles, something caught her eye; in the distance, she spotted someone sitting at the bottom of the white temple stairs. She squinted her eyes to get a better look and recognized the person sitting.

"That must be him!" she muttered.

Taz ran to him and lifted the middle part of her green dress to let her legs move freely, and grabbed her headscarf in her hand.

She noticed Hajras was not his usual self as she approached him; he looked down at the ground with a lost look.

She walked to him slowly and said, "I have been looking for you."

Hajras raised his head and replied, "What do you want?"

"Aren't you curious about what happened yesterday?" Taz said.

Hajras sighed and said, "I've been thinking about it a lot."

"Did your parents tell you anything?" Taz asked.

"I asked them, but they said you will understand when you grow up," Hajras replied.

Taz sat next to Hajras and said, "My mother told me the same thing."

"Did your father tell you anything?" Hajras asked.

"I asked him on our way home, but…." Taz said.

"What?" Hajras replied.

"He smacked my head harder than usual," Taz replied.

Hajras sighed and said, "damn, why do our parents keep this secret from us?!"

"I don't know, but I want to find an answer," Taz said.

"Me as well," Hajras replied.

"Do you want to join me? I'm going to go ask around about it," Taz said.

"I'm with you. I hoped you would have the same thought as me," Hajras replied.

"You could have come to me and told me," Taz said.

"After what happened yesterday, I had my concerns," Hajras said.

"I'm sorry, but you started it," Taz replied.

"let's agree to forget our little incident," Hajras said.

Taz stood up, extended her hand and said, "let's shake our hands then."

Hajras stood up, shook Taz's Hand with a displeased look, and said, "What is the meaning behind this handshake?"

They let go of each other's hands.

Taz smiled and said, "It's something my father told me; shaking hands is a sign of trust."

"Interesting. Do you have any ideas on whom to ask about that secret?" Hajras asked.

"I thought you might know something about it," Taz replied.

Hajras sighed and said, "If I did, I wouldn't be asking you that question; Come, I know a place we can start from."

"I will follow you then," Taz said.

Hajras and Taz walked out of the playground and headed to the main road on the west side of the temple.

Taz's friends watched them from afar in Awe as they walked out, wondering how the two people who almost killed each other yesterday could come to terms quickly.

As they walked on the main road, Taz got curious and wondered what place Hajras thought would provide them with their needed answers.

After a short while.

They reached the river road that cuts the capital in its center.

It was layered with brick tiles. It had guard rails on the sides of the river and small white stone bridges that connected both sides, with one kilometer between every bridge.

They walked beside the river and headed north. The cold breeze blew gently on their faces and carried the smell of the river's salty water.

Taz looked at the river and said, "I rarely visit the river road."

Hajras looked at Taz and said, "My father only brings me here to learn about the market and trade."

Taz looked back at Hajras and asked, "Does he own shops on this street?"

"His wealth is built on trade and investments," Hajras said.

"What is an investment?" Taz asked.

"You don't know what investment means?" Hajras asked.

"Mmm, No," Taz said.

"In simple terms, you buy a product with a high chance of gaining profit from it," Hajras said.

"What is a product?" Taz asked.

Hajras got silent momentarily and thought this girl was dumber than she looked; talking to her about trade might not have been the best conversation choice.

"A… product is anything that can be bought or sold with money," Hajras said.

"Ohh," Taz said.

"Anyhow, we are here," Hajras said.

They reached Babilim's library.

It was a large Building colored white with a symbol of a green tree in The Center of its front. Apart from its large size, it had three floors to accommodate the high quantity of books it housed.

Hajras looked at Taz and said, "Follow my lead, and don't tell anyone what we are looking for."

Taz nodded and said, "Understood."

Hajras opened the wooden library door and entered.

The interior had grey stone walls and a wooden floor.

They saw a path in the middle, with books shelves lined with the walls and more shelves near them lined horizontally on both sides.

They strolled and looked to their left and right, but no one was seen.

In front of them, the path went both ways.

They saw a long wooden table with lamps hanging above it on the left.

They looked to the right and saw a wooden desk with a leather chair behind it and two wooden chairs in front of it; between them was a small wooden round table.

Hajras looked at Taz and said, "The library keeper must have left earlier."

"What should we do?" Taz asked.

"We wait and read some books to pass the time," Hajras said.

"I don't know what book I should read," Taz said.

"The shelves are categorized; read the steel plate on the top and decide which subject interests you," Hajras said.

Taz went around the library and read the steel plates on the shelves; she saw the first. Which was labeled Economy, but that didn't interest her.

She searched more and found the second steel plate. It was labeled History, but it didn't interest her either.

She looked more and found the third plate. It was labeled stories and poetry. It piqued her interest.

She searched the shelf and found a book titled, The warrior princess and the battle for love.

Taz took the book, went to the long wooden table, sat on the chair next to it, and started reading.

Hajras saw Taz occupied with reading the book she picked up.

He snuck around and went straight to the adult bookshelf.

He looked around hastily and saw a book. Titled the lusty maid volume II.

"There it is!!" He muttered.

He picked up the book, went to the desk with a smile, and started reading it.

Time passed.

As Hajras kept reading his book, unaware the library keeper had returned.

"It is always nice to see more kids take an interest in books," The library keeper said.

Hajras panicked, closed the book quickly, hid it under his right arm and said in a shaky voice, "A'saal! I didn't hear you coming in."

A'saal was the official library keeper for over a decade.

She had a rose-beige skin tone and brown eyes. She had short curly black hair and a black birthmark on her right cheek, just under her mouth. She was tall and had a slim figure.

She wore a long white dress made of cotton with the symbol of a golden tree on her left chest.

A'saal stared at Hajras, squinted her eyes and said, "Hajras."

"Yes?" Hajras replied.

"What are you reading?" A'saal said.

"A book," Hajras said.

"You know what I mean, Hajras," A'saal said.

"It is a perfectly normal children's book," Hajras said.

"Give it to me," A'saal said.

"But I haven't finished reading it," Hajras said.

"Give it to me before I beat you senseless!" A'saal said.

Hajras Handed the book to A'saal; he gave her the book on its backside and hoped she wouldn't flip it over and read the title.

A'saal took the book from him, and what Hajras feared the most had happened. She flipped the book and read the title. She gasped in shock and covered her mouth with her right hand.

She pinched Hajras's ear and scolded him harshly as Taz watched the situation from the long table and feared to help Hajras.

After the situation calmed down.

"I hope you didn't come all this way to read an erotic Book, Hajras," A'saal said.

Hajras rubbed his ear and said, "No, I came here to complete my teacher's history assignment."

"What is this assignment about?" A'saal asked.

"It is about my family's history," Hajras replied.

"Your teacher should've known better than to give you that assignment," A'saal said.

"Why is that?" Hajras asked.

"Your family name isn't a real one," A'saal said.

Taz looked at them discreetly and wondered what A'saal meant by what she said.

Hajras frowned and said, "What do you mean?"

A'saal sighed and said, "Your family name Al-Dakheel, is a name given by the king to the people who joined his kingdom as citizens."

"I...… was not expecting that answer," Hajras said.

A'saal smiled, rubbed Hajras's shoulder and said, "Don't be sad about it; the name is given to people the king deemed worthy of joining his kingdom."

Hajras smirked and said, "Thank you, A'saal. I will take my leave then."

Hajras called for Taz and told her it was time to go. Taz returned the book to its shelf and walked toward him.

"You haven't introduced me to your adorable friend," A'saal said.

A'saal waved at Taz and said, "Come here, little girl."

Taz approached A'saal carefully.

"What's your name?" A'saal said.

"My name is Tanaz," Taz replied.

A'saal smiled, leaned forward, patted Taz's head and said, "That is a beautiful name. My name is A'saal; nice to meet you, Tanaz."

"Nice to meet you too, A'saal," Taz said.

"Did you enjoy reading that book?" A'saal asked.

"Yes, I liked it," Taz replied.

"You can come to the library when it is open to read it more," A'saal said.

Taz smiled and said, "really?"

"Yes, the library is open for everyone," A'saal said.

"A'saal, we have to go," Hajras said.

A'saal looked at Hajras and said, "Okay, I won't keep you any longer." A'saal looked at Taz, smiled and said, "Take care now and be careful of this little pervert."

Taz chuckled and said, "I will."

As they walked out of the library onto the river road, Hajras looked at the sky and noticed that the sun had started setting.

Hajras turned to Taz and said, "It's getting late; we should get home before our parents suspect us."

Taz looked at Hajras and said, "Okay, where should we meet tomorrow?"

"At the temple, same time and place," Hajras said.

Taz extended her hand to Hajras.

He looked at her and said, "Do we have to shake hands every time?"

"Yes!" Taz replied happily.

They shook hands and went on their separate ways.

Taz reached her home after a while.

She went into the alleyway where her house was located.

She saw her father sitting on a small wooden chair outside the house. He was cooking on a steel pot above the campfire with a bottle of alcohol next to him.

Taz walked to her father and greeted him.

She stood next to him and asked, "What are you cooking, father?"

Radhi looked at her and said, "Real food, unlike your mother's cooking, " and laughed.

Taz smiled and said, "What is this real food, father?"

"Soup with rabbit meat seasoned with spices imported from Bharata", Radhi replied.

Taz smelled the aroma coming out of the pot. The pungent smell stimulated her nose and gave her a runny nose.

Taz wiped her nose and said, "Those spices give me a runny nose."

Radhi laughed and said, "That's a sign of good spices."

Taz sniffed and said, "Where did you get them?"

"I didn't get them myself. A friend brought them for me," Radhi replied.

"If they are as good as you say, it's better to get them more often," Taz said.

"They were expensive. I bought them because we are celebrating," Radhi said.

"What are we celebrating, father?" Taz asked.

"I got promoted at work," he looked at Taz and said, "That means more good toys for my little Tanaz."

Taz chuckled and said, "Father, I'm too old for toys now."

"Nonsense, you're still seven years old," Radhi replied.

"Father, I'm nine years old now," Taz said.

Radhi looked at Taz in confusion and said, "Really?"

Taz nodded.

"Kids grow up fast these days," Radhi said.

Yasmine walked out of the house's door and said, "Oh, there you are, Tanaz."

Taz looked at Yasmine and said, "Hello, mother."

Radhi looked at Yasmine and said, "Do you believe our little girl is nine years old now?"

Yasmine chuckled and said, "Yes, she's almost a grown woman."

"Well then, we will celebrate that too; the food is ready," Radhi said.

"The bowls are cleaned; let's eat," Yasmine said.

The family went inside and feasted. Taz was glad a long day of investigating her father's past had ended, and now she could finally rest.

The End