Sa'eed - The Warrior

Caught red handed

"Will this be enough?", asks Ali placing a long wicker basket in the palace garden.

Shehzada Sher Shah stands next to it comparing his height with the basket's. "It's perfect!"

"That's not it Shehzada, it also has a latch from within", says Ali opening the basket to reveal the latch. "There are not many true people around. Someone is bound to open the basket even if there are orders not to touch it. So I asked a blacksmith to fix a latch within on my way here".

"You are very thoughtful and reliable Ali. Saeed had told me that you will be better than 10 vaffas. By Allah! She was right. How many people saw you bring it into the palace?"

"Many. They all believe it contains custard apples especially being taken for you".

"Good"

They are in the garden that just began at the gates. Shehzada had been waiting for Ali behind a tree there.

"Is it time yet?", asks Shehzada.

"We will leave after another half an hour Shehzada. We don't want you staying in that basket for long, do we?"

Shehzada shakes his head. He sits down with his pocket Quran and recites it quietly while Ali keeps watch.

"Ali, I'll get in now. You know what to do", says Shehzada getting up after half an hour.

Ali nods. Shehzada steps inside the basket.

"Close it. I'll latch it from within", he says.

Once its done Ali heaves the basket on his shoulders like he had carried it before. Making sure there was no one around he steps out from behind the tree and takes the main way till the palace kitchens.

"There goes that Ethiopian", whispers one guard to the other.

"Shouldn't we stop him and check what's inside", asks the other.

"According to the orders of Wazir-e-aala, yes"

"Then stop him"

"You stop him"

"He is almost here! Do it! Wazir-e-aala will take our life of he finds out we disobeyed his orders"

"You have not seen him train. He can wring our necks as easily as a woman wrings clothes"

"Fine then! I'll do it myself you coward", he whispers. "You there, stop!"

Ali stops and turns around to give the guard a murderous look.

"I am sorry sir, we are just doing our duty", says the guard, his pompous nature inflating faster than a bursting balloon.

"What are you carrying, might we ask?" says the other guard giving a weak smile.

"It's something the Shehzada has ordered for himself! Keep your long noses out of other people's businesses", snarled Ali.

"If you don't mind. Can we... just... check?"

The look Ali gives him changes his mind.

"Of course! You can go ahead. What can the Shehzada order except custard apples?"

Without giving a second glance Ali moves ahead. Entering the kitchen he goes to the serving area where the dishes are arranged and decorators before being taken to the dining area. He places the basket just opposite to the working table by the wall.

"What is that?", asks a grumpy looking old woman.

"It belongs to the Shehzada", replies Ali.

"We still have the previous batch of custard apples left"