Longing For Paradise | ONC 2022 |

Chapter 14

Madness. Madness is what drives me.
The sun and stars are lanterns in the sky,
but hold no light by that which guides me to you.
Like the compass pointing north,
my direction is always you, my destination is always you.
My soul, my beautiful soul.
Don't think of what ifs.
Just run into my arms.

~Ghalbani bid Dhar

If the parcels strained Firdous, he didn't show.

They strolled under the evening sun, as the market once again bustled with people with full bellies and finished prayers. The vendors crowed their prices in a shouting match between each other as kids begged and cried and pulled on their parents' clothes for the sweets lined along the street. All in all, it was a cacaphonic mess and Noor enjoyed every moment of it.

To walk side by side with the one who had his heart, this was something Firdous didn't dream of. He had explored the markets on his own, he had visited each shop and haggled for lower prices because everyone else was doing it, but to walk along with Noor, to be in the same stride as her and have parcels to carry back home with her, what he felt he couldn't put into words.

"If we didn't have so much to carry, maybe we could've stopped for the groundnut cookies with honey fillings." Noor pouted at the row of cookies being put out in front.

"We still can," Firdous said, as he grabbed her hand after reshuffling the parcels onto one hand and directed her to the shop.

"Two cookies, please," he told the shopkeeper as he laid down the parcels on the ground.

"No, Firdous, let's just go home."

"It's out first outing together. Let's enjoy ourselves."

"We have to reach home before sundown."

"And we will," he smiled gently, "but first taste the cookie." He held the hot cookie to Noor's mouth, which opened after a few moments of hesitation. He gazed down at her as she softly chewed the cookie. Noor gazed back up at him, her eyes a reflection of the sweet honey pervading her mouth, the soft texture of the cookie melting against her teeth. A smile formed on her mouth which Firdous mirrored. Her eyes. Her eyes he could melt in.

"Firdous?" Firdous was pulled back into reality. This heavy and deep voice of a man was familiar.

A large man with clouded on top of Noor, as he went directly towards Firdous, ignoring her. Noor stood aside as the men exchanged bear hugs.

"Where have you been? It's been almost a week," he exclaimed. Firdous managed a laughter as he slapped the man's shoulder. He glanced over at Noor, his eyes full and questioning.

The man followed his gaze and smiled at Noor. He bowed his head slightly and greeted her.

"Had I known the moon was in paradise today, I would've avoided the marketplace," he said with a smirk, which earned him an elbow in his gut from Firdous. Noor pressed her lips together as she excused herself.

"No, wait, Noor. I'll come with you." Firdous held her hand, which Noor shook off.

"I believe you have much to catch up on with your friend," she nodded towards the man before she gather the parcels and started walking away. Firdous could only watch her retreating back.

Noor exhaled as she left. Her hand ached under the weight of the parcels but that was the last thing on her mind. She simply couldn't get rid of Firdous' friend's comment and had to fight the urge for a blush creeping onto her face at the time. Now she could freely blush. She bit her bottom lip. Her hands tingled.

"The marketplace is being raided again. Apparently there were a group of poets gathering in the insides of shops and the Emir ordered his men to look thoroughly."

Noor stopped in her tracks.

She couldn't have possibly heard that correctly.

She searched for the person who had uttered those words and asked them directly.

"Where did you hear this from?" she demanded.

"If you don't believe me, go and see for yourself." The man folded his arms with a scowl.

"No-" Noor exhaled. "Listen, do me a favour, could you?"

"No.  What's in it for me?"

"Carry these parcels for to my address. Tell them I'm still at Layla's house, you have to specifically say that. Do you understand?" The man continued to scowl. "They'll reward you handsomely. You won't have to worry about a thing. The house is on the posh side of town anyways so I doubt you'll have problem with that. So just follow my instructions."

After visibly calculating his gains and losses, he accepted the task from Noor, who hurriedly handed over the parcels and ran back in the opposite direction.

God, please keep him safe, she prayed. God, please.

Noor was late to the scene. She was met with a melee of people ran madly, a group of soldiers rampaging hot on their trail, overturning the stalls and carts, making a mess of the things shopkeepers didn't have the time to close away. Her eyes hunted for the familiar figure, anger brimming in her head.

Suddenly, she was enveloped by a pair of arms. Her shoulders immediately tensed as she fought out of them and turned around.

Their eyes met.

Noor could no longer see as her eyes filled with tears. His hands her still at her shoulders.

She didn't see his expression. She didn't see his tightening jaw and furious brows. She didn't see the man beside him cower in that breath.

With a sweep of the scene, he looked back at the man beside him and nodded.

The man nodded in return and marched upto the soldiers holding up his seal.

"Under command of Emir Akeem, stop what you're doing at once!" He commanded. The soldiers momentarily glanced at him with challenging eyes until it fell on his seal. The seal of Emir himself!

The soldiers stopped at once.

And so did Noor.