رحلة الحب

''The Troubled One.''

Asma would be running with her bare feet across the harsh desert, her footprints being planted into the sand. Thankfully the windy desert would push around the sand, getting rid of her prints. She'd be out of breath, tears streaming down her face, as she'd gasp for breath from the continuous running. Eventually Asma would see a dune with rocks and flowers on it's summit, this would give her the confidence to scale it. She has been seeking shelter in the desert for days.

She'd pull herself up, a beautiful view of the sunset taking her in almost instantly. But another thing caught her eye whilst looking towards the redness in the sky.. There was fires lit across the center of the sandy ground.. and a stream of water not that far from them! She had assumed this was a peaceful civilization as she'd notice near the fires were tents. Asma would give a scream of relief, now sliding down the sand and running towards the tents. A man working on readjusting the tents would turn his head, only to see a woman running towards him, holding up her dress as if she was going to trip at any moment.

As Asma got closer and closer, she'd realize that these didn't look like ordinary people.. They worse harsh outfits and looked threatening... ''Salam dear sister.. what is a woman like you doing here?'' The man spoke out towards Asma, she'd grit her teeth, unsure what to do, with fear piling on top of her.  ''I-I ran away from home..'' Asma stated hesitantly. The man noticed the expensive looking adornments that Asma wore on her modest dress. ''You're more than welcome to stay here..'' The Man said softly, only further growing suspicion Asma had when it came to this group.

''No.. I'm fine.. I'm lost, I want to just.. get somewhere safe.. Can you me somewhere? A village, a city? In the levant? In the Peninsula, it doesn't matter to me!'' Asma cried out, the pain was clear in her voice. The Man nodded lifting his hands, signaling her to calm down. ''I understand.. I know a caravan we have not far from here.. They ship to the Peninsula.. Mekkah and Medinah.. We can sneak you onto it..'' The man got closer to her while keeping his hands up, trying to get her to hear his voice clearer. Asma would slowly form a smile on her face as she heard this ''Yes! Please! That'd be amazing-'' 

The Man stopped her joyful celebration short ''But.. you give us something in return.. I won't hassle you for money.. but those are some fine jewelries, and adornments you have there.. Don't get why you ran away from home if you came from stuff like that..'' Asma looked at her jewelry and adornments, not even thinking twice before taking them all off and handing it to the man. The man looked please with her decision now signaling her with his hand, ordering her to follow him. 

The man would grip the saddles on his horse, whistling for another horse from the stables to come towards Asma. He now hopped on top of his horse as Asma did the same, the two had ridden through the Sahara with a few others following them as an escort. They reached a tall dune of sand as he now pointed at what seemed to be a military checkpoint. ''That Caravan right there..'' He pointed towards it. Asma would be confused at the sight ''Those are Umayyad Soldiers..?'' Asma questioned why the caravan is lead by soldiers. The Man now responded to Asmas suspicion ''Yea, they do shipments to Medinah and Mekkah, don't worry.. Just don't reveal yourself to them.. They'll uh.. They'll arrest you for trespassing.. even if you're lost..'' He said in a nervous tone as if he was trying to think of an excuse.. Asma nodded, believing the man as she now got off the horse, the men waved as them and the horses rode off. 

She now slid down the sand, running towards the caravan as she'd now slide below it before any Umayyad soldiers can catch her. She'd grip the handles below the caravan as she'd hug onto it, lifting herself up and laying on closed space in the bottom of the ride. Asma now let out a sigh of relief, as she now got herself into the most comfortable position that she could find.. She wanted to start a new life after all the hardships she had faced.. She longed for this..

As the sun fully set, the Umayyad Soldiers packed their tents and began setting out, the caravan Asma was hiding in, began riding further into the distant Sahara.. Was it truly going to Medinah and Mekkah?