In the main hall Leonardo was staring at Hassan with a surprised look. "Leonardo! Today onwards, this will be your teacher, Sheikh Hassan. He came here, from very far away just for you so, why don't you introduce yourself?", Jennifer softly patted little head of Leonardo, who was still gazing upon Hassan. Whereas, Hassan was looking at the boy with interest.
Leonardo, stood in front of Hassan and presented his hand. "Hello! I am Leonardo Guryon. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance Shake Hassan!"
"Pfft! Hahaha! It's not shake! Its Sheikh!", Hassan chuckled while shaking hands with his new student. Jennifer and Amanda gave an awkward smile at the greeting of Leonardo. "Just call me Professor or if professor is not to your liking, then you may call me Sir for your convenience." Hassan added.
Leonardo nodded.
"I brought some gifts for our little Leonardo!", Hassan unzipped his bag. He took a dark-colored metallic cube and put it beside him and took out some packed shopping bags and handed them to Jennifer, "This is the pure black silk my wife bought especially for Miss Jennifer and Sister Amanda."
Jennifer opened the bag and touched it. "Indeed, it is pure silk.", Jennifer affirmed. "This is from my grand-father Sheikh Abu Al Qasim!", Hassan handed a small pouch to Jennifer.
"You mean to say grandpa Abu Al Qasim?", Jennifer asked with concern.
Hassan nodded, "Yes", and added, "He wanted to give it to you personally, but he got sick and bed-ridden for few years and passed away. My father didn't know your address at that time so he couldn't do anything. But luckily, few days ago, when we received a letter in which your name was mentioned. My father accepted your request right away and sent me here so that I could gladly give this to you."
Jennifer stared it for a moment and inquired, "What is it?" Hassan shook his head, "I don't know. Neither me or my father opened it because it belonged to you." A nostalgic feeling overwhelmed Jennifer after listening to Hassan.
"When I was young grand-father often talked about you."
Hassan turned to Leonardo next to him, "Leonardo! Why don't we go outside in the garden? I want to show you something really incredible!"
"…Okay", Leonardo lead Hassan in the garden. Whereas, two ladies were left behind. Jennifer opened the pouch and saw a letter. She got up from the couch and silently went in her room. Whereas, Amanda watched Jennifer leaving from behind; she wanted to ask her but stopped herself. She sat on the couch and rubbed her temples. "Pour me some tea!", she ordered to the maid nearby.
...….
In the garden, Hassan put the cube on the ground. There was a button on the top of the cube. Hassan pointed towards it and asked, "Leonardo! what do you think will happen if I press this button?" Leonardo shrugged his shoulders in not knowing the answer. Hassan thought for a moment and asked, "Okay then, tell me—have your ever seen a robotic sparrow?" Leonardo shook his head, "No, but there is no robotic sparrow in the world right now!"
Hassan grinned at Leonardo's quick response. "What if I show you one? Will you believe me?"
"But it's rather impossible one to exist!", replied Leonardo.
Hassan sneered, "Just wait and see!"
He pressed the button on the top of the cube. The cube vibrated for a moment and transformed into a sparrow. "Fly!", Hassan commanded. With that said, it began flying above the duo. Leonardo was stunned and cried in astonishment, "Wow! It's-it's really flying!"
He stared at Hassan with interest, "Professor, did you make it?"
'Professor! well I don't mind!', Hassan thought after hearing the boy. He affirmed with a nod. "Woah! you are a genius, professor!", Leonardo complimented. "Amazing!", and kept staring the sparrow above them. Hassan lifted his hand a bit and ordered, "Return!"
The sparrow immediately flew towards him and sat on his hand. "Would you like to play with it?", Hassan asked after realizing the curiosity in the eyes of the boy in front. "Can I?", Leonardo asked in excitement. "Command, new sub ownership!", Hassan commanded.
"Commencing process of new sub ownership!", a voice came out from the sparrow. "Please enter name of the new owner!"
Hassan put the sparrow on Leonardo's hand, "Say you name and look at its face, alright." Leonardo stated his name while looking straight at the face of sparrow.
"New owner Leonardo Guryon, has been accepted!"
"Go on, order it to fly!", Hassan instructed to Leonardo.
"Fly!", Leonardo ordered. The sparrow pushed its legs upward and began flying above Leonardo's head. Leonardo giggled in happiness while observing it. His interest intrigued at the moment; he turned to Hassan and asked, "Professor, how did you make this?"
"This isn't the only thing I made! There are other things too." Said Hassan as he looked around him. "Ah! That should work. Come on, Leonardo. Let's go to that tree I'll show you something more interesting!", said Hassan as they moved towards a nearby tree.
They stood before the tree. "Leonardo, you know that trees and plants are alive, right?"
"Yes! They are all alive."
Hassan smiled, "Then do you want to see how would they respond to us when we say something to them?"
"Yes", Leonardo nodded with curiosity.
Hassan took out a black colored glove from his bag. He wore it on his right hand and connected the glove with his cell phone. After few seconds, he handed the phone to Leonardo, "Now look at screen!"
Leonardo stared at the screen of the cell phone; he saw a dashboard of emotions which stated: sadness, happiness and despair. Hassan moved closer to the tree and began talking in his native language which Leonardo never heard before. The boy noticed that the more Hassan spoke the emotional graph of the tree altered. The happiness bar was increasing. It made Leonardo stunned in shock.
"Professor! The happiness bar is rising!", Leonardo cried in amazement. Hassan faced Leonardo, "Now, keep looking at the screen!"
Leonardo eyes were fixated on the screen. He frowned and murmured, "The happiness bar is decreasing and sadness and despair is increasing!" He looked at the man with interest. Hassan knew the meaning behind Leonardo's attentive gaze. He took off the glove, "Do you wish to try?"
"Umm—I'd love to! But the glove is so big. It won't fit my hand."
Hassan raised one eye brow, "Who said that it won't fit you? You didn't even try it yet!", and gave the glove to Leonardo.
Leonardo put it on, and the size of the glove began shrinking. It shrank until it fit the latter's hand. Leonardo's eyes opened wide in shock. He was dumbfounded at the moment. He never saw something like that in his life. He looked at Hassan with a blissful smile and complimented, "It's so cool!"
Hassan chuckled by the cute reaction of Leonardo and said, "Go on—put your hand on the tree say something good. But—you have to be truthful, okay." Leonardo agreed and moved closer to the tree.; he put his hand on the tree and said, "Tree you are so cool!" He noticed that the happiness bar raised by a point.
"Go on, keep talking!"
Leonardo continued talking to the tree; while talking, he kept looking at the screen, the happiness bar was rising significantly. Leonardo was feeling excited about the emotional change of the tree.
"Okay, now say something bad to him. Make it sad!", Hassan instructed. Leonardo shook his head, "I don't want to make it sad. You already did once!" Hassan gave a genuine smile at the latter's reply. He moved closer to Leonardo and patted his head in admiration, "Very good Leonardo! Very good!— your grand-mother told me that you like to build things like that, is it true?"
Leonardo nodded. Hassan sat on the ground, "Come sit in front!" Leonardo sat in front of Hassan. "Do you know why I build these gadgets?", Hassan asked.
Leonardo shook his head, "I don't."
"Because, I like to build something unique. Something which could help people. For example, if someone is handicapped and can't walk. I'd like to build a leg for that person so that he could also walk like us. If someone can't see, or speak, or hear. I'd would like to help guys like that. And helping people is the greatest service you can do to please the God Almighty! And when you do, God Almighty rewards you in a way that you can't even imagine. This is very reason I build these kinds of gadgets."
"So, Leonardo! Do wish to help the people?", asked Hassan. Leonardo was lost in thoughts for a moment. He knitted his brows together and shortly after his brows raised in sudden realization, "I have friend. She can't speak! I want build a tongue for her so that she can speak!"
Hassan slightly raised his brows after hearing Leonardo, "And where does this friend of yours live?"
"She lives in this house! Her name is Angela Evergarden. She is a mute." Leonardo replied with a passionate gaze. Hassan gazed at the sky, "Hmm—very well!"
"Professor, can I ask you something?", Leonardo asked after noticing the latter was gazing at the sky. Hassan retracked his gaze from sky to the boy in front, "Yes! Yes! Ask away, my dear!"
"Is it really possible to make something like that—because grandma told me that once someone is born like that you can't help them. Can I really help my friend?", Leonardo asked with uncertainty. Hassan noticed the intricate emotion in Leonardo's eyes, a burning passion to help someone. He wanted to confirm whether he can help someone dear to him with the power of science and technology.
Hassan grinned, "Leonardo, keep this in your mind—anything is possible! Nothing is impossible, unless you think it's impossible. If you think you can do it then you can, but if you think you can't—then you can never do it. Fear of failure will stop you from moving forward. So, never fear the failure—because failure teaches us where we made a mistake—and mistakes helps us to improve and become stronger than before. Get it!"
"Yes!", Leonardo nodded with a pleasant smile.