Safa’s Evening: A Picture of Innocent Happiness

Hello everyone, I hope everyone is doing well. I am also doing very well. I am Sahariar Kabir Joy aka @papamogambo.

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The golden light of the afternoon plays upon the leaves of the trees. Beneath our jujube tree, Safa, my 1.7-year-old niece, came running. Her tiny feet are covered in dust, and her eyes are bright with light. She speaks in fragments—"Uncle, boru! Khai!"—though not clearly, but seeing her radiant smile fills the heart. We all started picking jujubes together. She reaches out her small hands to pick the fruit, sometimes falls, then gets up and laughs again. We eat the fresh jujube pulp—the sweet juice trickles down, leaving a trace of a smile on our faces. Safa jumps with joy whenever she sees us; her laughter seems to brighten the afternoon. Time flies by in these games.

Reaching the pondside, a new joy begins. Safa stands by the water’s edge, picking up small stones and throwing them in. At the "plop!" sound, she screams with laughter. We run with her, sing songs, and blend our voices with the chirping of birds. As the sun sets, the air grows cool. Safa gets tired and climbs into my arms, but excitement still lingers in her eyes.

As evening falls, she rushes into the room. The sound of the Azan spreads through the air. Safa doesn't know how to pray, yet seeing others, she sits on the prayer mat. Raising her tiny hands, she gestures as if saying the Takbir, a look of gravity on her face. We watch in fascination—it is like a portrait of innate faith. After the prayer, she comes to me and says, "Allah!" This innocent love of hers, this spirituality hidden amidst play, teaches us the true beauty of life. Every afternoon, such moments strengthen our bond, filling it with Safa’s laughter. This little happiness is, after all, life’s greatest wealth.

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