Free Boy vs. Girl by Na'ima B. Robert Page B

abrupt halt when she stepped into the kitchen. Farhana’s mum breathed in sharply and quickly turned away to sweep the leftovers into the bin. Auntie Sajda sighed and ran a cloth over the counter in front of her, a frown etched between her eyebrows. Naneeji turned and managed a watery smile in Farhana’s direction while her great aunt Razia glared at no one in particular.
    It was clear that she had interrupted something and, by the sounds of it, it was something serious to do with Auntie Najma.
    What could she have done now?
    * * *
    That night, both Faraz and Farhana prayed
tarawih
.
    Faraz stood in the first row behind the
imam
, next to his dad, his body bowing and prostrating with a sea of others. This time, he was more aware of the meanings behind the beautiful words that flowed from the
imam’s
mouth. He had read the English translation that morning and appreciated the meanings of each verse of the
Qur’an
. They spoke to him and he responded to the words as never before.
    He mentally swept away thoughts of school, of home, of every detail that could distract him from his prayer.
    And when he knelt with his face to the green carpet of the mosque, he prayed his own private prayers, fervently, passionately, asking for forgiveness, asking for everything his heart desired,asking for strength and guidance.
    When he and Dad came back to Naneeji’s house to pick up Ummerji and Farhana, he felt he had been washed clean, fresh and sparkling.
    So this is what gives those mosque boys that glow
, he thought to himself with a smile.
    It felt good.
    * * *
    Farhana also prayed
tarawih
, with Auntie Najma, by lamplight in her aunt’s room. The room smelt of perfume and books and the streets outside were still.
    Auntie Najma’s gravelly voice lost its edge when she recited
Qur’an
. Her recitation was slow and deliberate, powerful and moving, coaxing tears from Farhana’s eyes. She and her aunt raised their hands, their feet and shoulders pressed together. They were so close, Farhana could feel her aunt’s body shudder when she recited certain verses, verses that brought her to tears and interrupted her recitation.
    Farhana shut out the world and lost herself in the prayer. She wanted to pray as if she wasstanding before Allah, as if she could see Him, knowing that He could see her.
    In that prayer, she asked for forgiveness for all past wrongs, for every slip-up, for every oversight, every sin. She poured her heart out and let repentance in. And she emerged from the
salah
cleansed, ready to move forward.
    When they sat next to each other on the way home in the car, the twins did not need words. They both knew, almost instinctively, that that night was a turning point.

Chapter 10
Hijab
    The first thing Farhana noticed when she stepped out of the house on the way to school the next morning was how warm her ears felt. She had left Faraz behind as he was running late. She wanted to get to school early this morning.
    The white cotton was snug, not too tight, but close enough to frame her face and keep her hair from escaping.
    She had tried many different styles and had settled on wearing the scarf low over her brow, rather than high up near her hairline as other girls did. It suited the shape of her face more and, strangely enough, emphasised her high cheekbones and the slight dimple in her chin.
    You are so vain, Farhana
, she told herself, and felt a stab of guilt. This was not a beauty accessory, like one of her many different hats or her fuchsiapashmina. This was worship. And that was just what she had tried to tell Ummerji when she had come down to breakfast in her scarf. Dad and Faraz were still upstairs getting dressed.
    As soon as Ummerji had caught sight of her, she had taken a deep breath. “Farhana,” she had said, “why are you dressed like that?”
    Farhana was so taken aback by the irony of her mother’s question that she almost laughed.
    â€œLike what, Ummerji?”