Who Are You?
Deek found himself immersed in a vivid vision of wandering through the arid expanses of the Al-Hajarah desert in his native Iraq. The harsh landscape—a tapestry of stony plains, deep ravines, and scattered ridges—whispered legends of an ancient, half-buried ziggurat once ruled by the kingdom of Ur. Rumor had it that the relic, known as Šar-Ḫadīdu, concealed a vast treasure of silver drachmas. Parched and desperate after depleting his last drop of water, Deek’s determination to seize this fortune drove him onward.
Passing a cluster of nomadic shepherds who offered both water and bread, he remained wary; he suspected they might be more interested in unlocking his secret quest than sharing in his hardship. As he pressed forward, he ducked behind a large rock to avoid a passing group of mysterious figures driving run-down vehicles and brandishing rifles.
Near a dilapidated watchtower, he encountered a woman immersed in prayer. Her face was partially concealed by her abaya, yet her serene, focused presence was unmistakable. When she completed her recitation, she spoke his name: “Deek Saghir, son of my sons.” Surprised yet respectful, he replied with a hesitant greeting. With calm authority, she introduced herself as Rabiah Al-Adawiyyah—a renowned 8th-century poet and ascetic noted for her devout spirituality.
Though Deek recalled familial tales of her being an ancestral figure, local lore had dismissed those claims. Confused by her probing question, “Who are you?”, he asserted his singular purpose: to amass wealth, believing that this ambition defined him. In response, Rabiah’s disappointed tone cut through the arid air as she intoned, “If that is all you are, then you are nothing.” With that, she turned away, her gentle recitations of sacred verses echoing across the desert, leaving him shaken and questioning his identity.
Overwhelmed by both the relentless heat and his internal turmoil, Deek’s legs finally gave way, and he collapsed onto the scorching sand, her words reverberating in his mind.
Clear Mind
When consciousness returned, Deek discovered himself lying in a modest bed adorned with a geometric quilt, bathed in the warm light of early morning. Disoriented, he wondered if the encounter with Rabiah had been real or merely a powerful dream. As fragments of last night’s brutal events emerged—a kidnapping, a savage beating, and his dramatic rescue by Zaid Karim—he noted that his wounded torso and bandaged nose were evidence of his ordeal. Despite the discomfort, a surprising clarity had settled over him, as if his mind had transformed into a calculating mechanism, immune to the emotional storms that had once threatened to overwhelm him.
The room around him was a blend of simplicity and eclectic charm. Whitewashed brick walls were accented with shelves displaying woven baskets, ancient tools, and artifacts reminiscent of a Native American museum. Two suitcases lay quietly in a corner, hinting that someone had already taken steps to secure his belongings. Driven by an unyielding thirst, he rose to investigate a peculiar sink operated solely by a foot pedal, marveling at the uniqueness of every detail in his surroundings.
The Namer’s House
Exploring further, Deek discovered that the house was nearly empty, aside from another bedroom styled in understated fashion. The living room, furnished modestly in natural oak, featured shelves lined with glass containers filled with herbs, spices, and mysterious colored liquids. In the small kitchen, an antique oven and stove sat among clusters of unlit votive candles. On a simple table in the corner rested his phone and a handwritten note explaining that he was welcome in the Namer’s sanctuary. The message informed him that healing remedies had been administered and that he could use the available provisions while remaining discreet about the previous night’s events. A moment later, in a symbolic act of closure, he crumpled the note, set it aflame, and allowed it to burn away.
Wealth for Wealth’s Sake
With the physical wounds beginning to mend, Deek’s thoughts turned to his digital treasures. A quick glance at his cryptocurrency account revealed that the long-awaited altcoin rally was in full swing, and his portfolio had surged to astonishing heights. This market, as volatile as it was cyclical, reminded him that success depended equally on patience and strategic foresight. What had once been a desperate bid for financial security was now an exercise in refining the art of investment.
He recalled a friend’s musings about the diminishing thrill of accumulating accolades after the first taste of success—except in his case, each strategic move in the crypto market was a step toward perfecting his craft. Even as Rabiah’s earlier admonition echoed in the recesses of his mind, he resolved to channel his renewed clarity into sound, calculated decisions that transcended mere wealth accumulation.
Urban Wasteland Oasis
Curiosity led him to open the front door, which swung open onto an unexpectedly lush garden amid the desolation of crumbling homes and barren lots. The small front yard was a burst of life, blossoming with vibrant flowers and aromatic herbs under the busy work of bees and fluttering butterflies—a stark contrast to the dilapidated neighborhood beyond.
A short stroll to a back exit revealed an even more expansive backyard that resembled a terrestrial paradise. Fruit trees, verdant rows of vegetables, and bird feeders filled the vast space enclosed by a simple wooden fence. As birds flitted eagerly among the branches, four friendly cats ambled over, seeking warmth and affection. Deek welcomed them, feeding them from a small bag of cat food, and in that simple communion, he sensed the nurturing touch of the mysterious caretaker. It now seemed clear that the Namer was not only a healer but also a respected, if enigmatic, guardian in this impoverished enclave.
Money Management
Determined to protect and build upon the wealth he had amassed, Deek turned his attention to rebalancing his digital assets. He began by updating account settings to shift funds from joint to personal management, then executed strategic trades to move portions of his crypto assets into more liquid bank accounts. Utilizing a suite of digital wallets, he prudently diversified his holdings—each wallet safeguarded by carefully recorded secret phrases stored in encrypted formats.
He liquidated nearly worthless speculative tokens and reallocated his funds into blue-chip cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana, among others. In a bold move balancing prudence with innovation, he dedicated a portion of his wealth to promising mid-cap tokens in the artificial intelligence sector. Even his attempts to contact specialized asset management firms underscored his disciplined approach, though some offices remained unreachable on a leisurely Saturday.
After meticulously organizing his digital finances, hunger drew him back inside. A simple meal prepared with sardines and tomatoes sustained him until fatigue overtook him, and he drifted back into a restful sleep.
Shake the Earth
Elsewhere, Zaid wrestled with the weight of recent violence. Though he recognized a necessary confrontation with the formidable Bandar Tzan’ani, prudence demanded a measured approach. The previous day’s events—swiftly ending the lives of dangerous men—had left Zaid haunted by the enormity of his actions, even if he had deemed them tactically essential. The brutal outcome, taken without warning or negotiation, burdened him with a sorrow that resonated like a trembling aftershock through his soul.
Aware of Bandar’s habitual Saturday night rituals, Zaid planned to meet him in a public setting. This encounter would serve to reinforce that Deek Saghir must not be further endangered and subtly shift blame toward himself should conflict escalate. In accepting responsibility, Zaid sought to deflect future retribution from his vulnerable friend.
Saturday Night at the Movies
That Saturday evening, Bandar Tzan’ani claimed his customary spot at a bustling movie theater. Meticulously reserving his seat—along with surrounding spaces to ensure privacy—he immersed himself in the ritual of cinema. Amid a bucket of popcorn, a soda, and a box of confections, he temporarily escaped the burdens of his daily life. Movies, particularly action-packed westerns reminiscent of a bygone era, offered him a rare taste of unencumbered joy.
But as the previews began and the theater darkened, the familiar solace shattered. A lean man with a scarred face and a brimmed hat silently settled beside Bandar and, in a disconcertingly casual tone, revealed himself while pressing the barrel of a firearm against Bandar’s side. The unexpected confrontation left the audience, and the man himself, poised on the brink of an unfolding conflict.
[Part 9 will be published next week, inshaAllah]
Embracing Faith, One Insight at a Time!
The teachings of the Quran have always guided my path. With a deep passion for Islamic knowledge, I strive to blend the wisdom of tradition with the relevance of today, making the timeless messages of Islam accessible and meaningful for everyone.
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