Chase of Wisdom. Шахзода Жамшедовна Абдуллоева

that as sisters, they would share a special bond and be pillars of support for each other.

      On the 24th of May, 2007, Charlotte celebrated her fourth birthday. Her flash drive materialized (a phenomenon visible only to her parents), and along with it, the familiar purple notebook and white pen, ready to record the summary of the past year:

      "Greetings, our dearest girl! We celebrate the triumphant completion of your fourth year, Charlotte! You have conducted yourself admirably this year, avoiding both past and potential pitfalls. This demonstrates a commendable ability to learn from your experiences. Keep up the excellent work! This year has presented you with a series of events so rich in life lessons that it would be remiss not to add them to your ever-growing treasury of wisdom. Let us delve into the wisdom gleaned from the years 2006 and 2007.

      The first lesson underscores the importance of never comparing loved ones, friends, family members – indeed, anyone – to another, especially when such comparisons lead to diminished self-worth, resentment, or a sense of superiority. Every individual is uniquely and incomparably remarkable.

      The second lesson reminds us that we have the capacity to learn not only from our own missteps but also from observing the experiences of others. Eloisa Gonzales's conduct serves as a prime example. By embracing this ability, we can make our journeys through life significantly smoother.

      Finally, it is crucial to recognize that excessive control over others only breeds a desire to flee from the clutches of such manipulation. Once again, moderation is key. It applies to every aspect of life. Happy Birthday, our dearest Charlotte! Until next year!"

      Charlotte's fourth year had been an enlightening one. The Sambrano family, bathed in contentment, embraced the beautiful tapestry of their lives, eagerly anticipating the many pleasant surprises that lay ahead.

      CHAPTER V

      The summer of 2007 brought a joyous occasion to the Sambrano household: the arrival of their grandparents from the city of Lemari, in the state of Lafem. Their visit was planned to last until the spring of 2008. Upon hearing this news, Charlotte was beside herself with glee! She had only spoken to her grandparents over the phone, and they had never met in person. This encounter was destined to be a truly special one.

      On a bright summer morning, the entire Sambrano family set off to the airport to greet their beloved grandparents. Charlotte's grandfathers were named Meliton Castro and Sofron Moroco, while her grandmothers were Alicia Castro and Florentina Moroco. Charlotte adored them all dearly. As soon as their eyes met, the grandparents embraced their children and grandchildren, overflowing with affection for this long-awaited reunion.

      Once they arrived home, the grandparents showered their children and grandchildren with an assortment of remarkable gifts: Manuel received a talking scarf, Artemia was presented with levitating boots. Charlotte was gifted a magical book capable of transporting her to any galaxy she desired. Little Sarah received a miniature super-tree that could produce any kind of pure, natural fruit in a single second. Everyone expressed their heartfelt gratitude for these extraordinary presents.

      Summer unfolded like a perfect symphony for the entire family. Autumn arrived, ushering in a season of unpredictable yet idyllic weather. One moment, rain would cascade down, transforming the landscape into a scene of golden leaves and shimmering streets reflecting the downpour. The next, the rain would cease, replaced by a gentle sun that illuminated the fresh, pure air cleansed by the downpour. This enchanting weather prevailed throughout the autumn in the city of Loyalty.

      One autumn evening, a thought struck Charlotte: since her flash drive was programmed to receive new lessons every year, why not discuss the matter with her grandparents? They had lived such full and rich lives; surely they could share at least one crucial life lesson, she mused. She approached her grandfather, Meliton Castro, first, saying:

      – Grandpa, Grandpa, you've lived so long in this world. What, in your opinion, is something that we should change about our society? What should people pay particular attention to?

      – Well, to be honest, there's one thing that's been weighing on my mind for a long time. In our town, there are funerals happening very often. And it's not because a lot of people are dying, no. It's just that there are too many days of mourning for one person. For example, when someone dies, their relatives provide food for the guests for 100 days straight. And the guests come to read prayers in honor of the deceased. That was the first side of the situation. Secondly, when greeting each guest, the deceased's relatives have to shout and scream, supposedly to show how sad they are about the death of their relative. If you shout at the top of your lungs and scream loudly, then you really love your deceased relative. But if your heart aches and you don't have the strength to stand and shout near the guests, then you didn't love your loved one very much who recently passed away. This is how funerals are discussed among the women in our town. And the last thing I want to describe is that after a person passes away, you need to be dressed in black for two years. You cannot wear any colorful clothing or jewelry. Otherwise, it's seen as disrespect to the deceased. Now, I want to say this: Who invented these rules in the first place? No religious texts say you need to provide food for guests for 100 days after a funeral. Religious texts only say that our prayers in honor of the deceased will help this person on Judgment Day. And that's it. I don't know with what intention the other rules, which are of no benefit to anyone, were invented at all. So, if you want to pray in honor of the deceased, then pray at home. It's enough that only Allah knows about your prayer. This is considered the best help for a person who has passed away. Of course, funerals, wakes, and everything that needs to be done for the body of the deceased are fine. This can take a maximum of three days. But why do we need the other 97 days? In my opinion, that's too much. Moving on. What we said about the relatives' screams. If, at the entrance of each guest, the relatives don't scream very loudly and don't fall down, then the women immediately start discussing it for several years. Apparently, they didn't love their relative very much, since they didn't grieve from the heart. What does "didn't grieve from the heart" mean? Is this how we determine a person's emotional state – through dramatic screaming? If a person is truly suffering, they won't have the strength to scream like that, first of all. Secondly, why are people discussing this? Even religious texts say that you shouldn't cry too much or too loudly after a person dies. We are only hurting the deceased's soul by doing this. We should cry quietly and without any hysteria. Lastly, let's talk about clothing. They invented some kind of creepy uniform to wear for two years straight. If you see a person in such clothing, you can get scared. This clothing looks like a long black bag that starts to scare those around you from a distance. And the most ridiculous part is this: people use this to show how much they loved the deceased. Where's the logic here, tell me, Charlotte? Is it really necessary to show and prove to strangers how much we care about our relatives? Do people have nothing else to think about? They should all look at themselves. Live your own life! And then you won't have time to look at someone else's mourning attire.

      – Wow, thank you so much for this extensive and important information, Grandpa! I didn't know that such things were happening in the town of Lemari. I hope that there will be more people in our society who think exactly like you. And then they will all together make the right decision to conduct funerals in a cultured and correct way.

      – I sincerely hope so, too, my granddaughter. It's very valuable that you understand me, Charlotte.

      – Of course, I understand you, you're telling the truth, Grandpa! – said Charlotte, and joyfully ran to her grandmother – Alicia Castro:

      – Grandma, dearest, I just spoke with Grandpa Meliton, and now I'd like to ask you something. In your opinion, what needs to change in our society?"

      – Ah, that's a wonderful question, my granddaughter. I have a very important opinion on this matter. Let me begin from afar. We all know that there is only one Allah, whom we must worship. We all love him and trust him. If our faith is strong, Allah will always protect us from all the bad things that could happen in this world. So, if everything is in the power of Allah Almighty, what are these superstitious people afraid of, who think about useless rules of superstition at every step? For example, people say: "Don't sweep after the sun sets. You might never get rich." What can the broom do? It's just a household item, that's all! Or there are sayings like: "You can't wash clothes on Saturday, it's