Read Online Boy vs. Girl by Na'ima B. Robert - Free Book Online Page A

with.
    Farhana sighed. “I know, Faraz, I know. She’s told me so often enough. But this is somethingI would be doing for me, between me and Allah. I would hope that she would understand that…”
    â€œ
Insha Allah
,” replied Faraz, still doubtful.
    They both fell silent. When Faraz had finished wiping the table down, he got his copy of the
Qur’an
in English and began to read the meaning of
Surat-ul-Baqarah
, the Verse of the Cow. Farhana joined him as soon as she was finished and, being the faster reader, waited patiently for him to finish reading the page before turning it over.
    On the other side of the kitchen curtains, the sky began to brighten slowly. Daylight found brother and sister sitting at the kitchen table, reading, their heads almost touching, a translation of the
Qur’an
lying between them.
    * * *
    Somehow, both Faraz and Farhana made it through that first day. Having had little sleep and with bellies that began to rumble and throats that began to ache as the day wore on, they managed to fast for the whole day.
    At Farhana’s school, Shazia and many of the other girls were fasting too, so the experiencewas communal. At lunchtime, they found the classroom that the school had assigned for prayers for the Muslim students and prayed there together, united by the unexpected bond of hunger and sacrifice.
    But in spite of the hunger, the mood was buoyant, and the girls laughed and chatted, talking about what they would eat for
iftar
, for
sehri
the next day, their plans for Eid. Farhana told Shazia about Faraz’s protein shake, at which Shazia laughed out loud.
    â€œHe’s changed so much, he has!” Shazia still remembered him, her best mate’s twin brother, all scrawny and timid, unable to say two words without stammering.
    He wasn’t like that any more.
    Farhana and Shazia had been best friends since nursery school. They lived in the same neighbourhood; their parents attended the same mosque and were good friends. Shazia’s dad, the local
imam
, was highly respected in the neighbourhood and his family was considered a ‘good family’. Farhana’s parents were proud to count them as their friends.
    â€œYou know what, Shaz?” Farhana said softlyduring a lull in the conversation. “I don’t know what it is, but I feel different this Ramzan. Like I’m on the edge of something major, something life-changing… I haven’t felt like that before, not about Ramzan.”
    â€œWell, you know what it’s like - we’ve been fasting since primary school, haven’t we? It’s just a part of life now.”
    â€œBut that’s just what I mean, Shazia, it doesn’t feel like other years. I’ve been talking a lot to my auntie you see…”
    â€œYou mean the one who used to live in London? The one who covers up and everything?”
    â€œYeah, that’s right, my Auntie Naj. She’s given me a lot to think about, y’ see.”
    â€œYeah? Like what?”
    â€œWell, I’ve been praying all my five prayers for a little while now as you know, trying to learn a bit more. And, of course, I’m going to try and fast properly, not that rubbish we did last year…”
    Shazia giggled guiltily, remembering their secret trips to the fish ‘n’ chips shop during school break time, hiding in the alley so that the Muslim guys from the curry shop across the road wouldn’t see them and tell her dad.
    Farhana took a deep breath and continued. “And another thing: I’m thinking of wearing the
hijab
. Just trying it, you know, for Ramzan. I reckon I might as well give it a go.”
    Shazia stared at her friend, a look of horror on her face.
    â€œWhat are you going to do a thing like that for?” she gasped.
    â€œShazia!”
    â€œI’m serious! Just how do you think Miss Farhana Ahmed, the queen of the Bollywood Massive, head of Class H and and all-round hottie is