NOOR

Chapter 1

10th March, 2022

A/N: for those of you who are new to this book, WELCOME! And for those I have trapped from the web of Infinity, nice to meet ya! Scroll down to read the ending that you didn't get in Chapter 24!

Happy reading! :)

“O soul that are at rest! Return to your Lord, well-pleased (with him), well-pleasing (Him), So enter among My servants, And enter into My garden.” (Quran, 89:27-30)

Chapter 1
The Familiar Stranger

"That was crazy! Like in to the sane, INSANE! Wooo!" Samah yelled.

"Agreed," Hamish nodded, but boy oh boy, what stands out even more is how great you smell bruv!" Hamish said in shock as the boys took a break from the game.

"Wow that's two words I never thought I would hear in one sentence," Yazdan admitted.

"No seriously, we have been playing our backs off for two hours straight and you are suspiciously smelling alright. What perfume is that?" Hamish said taking another deep breath, "Took me right back to grade 2!"

"You say it like we have been running marathons in the Olympics," Yazdan said downplaying the praise just for Hamish to probe more.

"Oh don't you dare do babyflot dirty like that!" Zach said offended that Yazdan didn't consider it a real sport.

"Brother, it's called foosball," Yazdan explained calmly for the bazillionth time.

"Yeah, go tell Mr Lucien Rosengart that," Zach scoffed.

"Is he alive?" Yazdan asked gracing his friend with an eye roll.

"Nope," Zach replied simply.

"Then, how do I–" Yazdan began.

"Exactly."

So, this is what boys talk about when the wifi is down...?

"Anyhoo, to answer your question, that's just the beautiful stench of my sweat," Yazdan answered Hamish, trying to bring back the topic.

"Did you know–" Sam began enthusiastically.

"Oh here we go–" they all chimed in unison.

"–that sweat is just bacteria farting?" Sam concluded, happy to spread his wisdom.

"Thank you Sam. That was of utmost beneficience," Zach replied, "Hams, that's his mom's duo. I know that cos I gifted it to her and apparently this guy here is a klepto."

"And you know this how?" Yazdan asked offended, "When I stole your heart away?"

"Nope. When you kept stealing my chocolate," Zach replied monotonously, "Oii Sammy, where are you lost, my boy?" He called Samah who was deeply lost in thought.

"I was thinking about how certain smells just transports us back in time," Samah answered.

" Ha ha. I'll tell ya, mate," Zach took his opportunity to flaunt right as it came, "Lemme just summon my inner Hami. Okay, so it's actually because the thingy that percieves our sense of smell in the brain is physically connected to the little hippopotamus in our brain which is responsible for keeping memories. So next time you are at a bakery and the smell transports you back to your grandma's when you were 8, remember me and my lil hippo."