Dandelions

Chapter 5

Mara's POV

A chill runs through me as my feet touch the lapping water of the river I land after my energy meter drops to zero. "Run princess RUN" her ringing voice on my ears fades away my long time thirst. How selfish I'm to leave her like that. How heartless I'm. At least I should have tried to give her some first aids. So, what if I'm caught in the hands of the enemies, haven't I taught the skills of a self-defense? Why did I do like this? Why did I follow her command? I cry, I cry just like how I cried throughout my run. 'The music of water as it slips through the stones is something mesmerizing princess' Habeeba's voice rings in my ears weighing my heart with sorrows.

I abort the water as I see the face I hate to see at the moment, my own face. A selfish young little fool who should never be forgiven. Oh Habeeba, my dear Habeeb, no matter how much you would have pleaded me, still I shouldn't have left you there, I shouldn't have. Such a cruel little monster I am.

You were with me throughout my hard times but I? what have I done?. I should have rather died than living like this? it kills, it kills when our own hearts stab us with words.

I go fragile when her thoughts invade me again. Are you living or are you..? Oh, Habeeba have you fallen in the hands of the enemies? Will they torture you? Or do you lie on the same spot motionless? If so would the wild animals harm you? Oh Habeeba, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for being the sole reason for your worst fate.

Everyone suffer I love suffers for something faced forced me to, a princess. Some men, whom I have never seen even on my night mares are waiting to suck my soul, to chop my head off. But why? What was my mistake? I didn't choose to born as a princess but it was the fate. I pay for someone else. Why don't people value lives? It takes ten lunar months for a human life to be formed and to reach the earth yet it takes some seconds to rip it off.

My life it has gone meaningless. No, it's not, it has to retain to give meaning for your efforts. I must survive to keep your words alive. And I will Habeeba, I will. God is enough.

I gather my palms to throw some water to my withered face. It washed away the sweat but not the traces. The setting sun I always admired through my window gives me goose bumps today. The sounds of crickets and some faraway birds disturb the serenity and my mind as well. I get back to my trembling feet gathering all the left over energy. I see around to see nothing other than sand hills and some wild bushes.

Climbing the sand hill for me is not easy. It hurts, my leg and my body. I struggle to keep the balance with my injured toe. And I see it, not so near and not too far, yes a boy, a boy driving some goats. 'HELP' I try to raise my voice, but I almost fail. Why? My voice has lost its courage to yell. 'Help' I cry again, not too loudly though. Seeing him disappearing shakes me. I run, no I limp gathering all my efforts. I widen my eyes to keep him in my sight. 'Hel..' something knocks me before I finish it off. My eyes gets blurred, my sense starts to fade, my body losses it balance and I fall to the ground as my eyes see a figure approaching me in the second before I close my eyes.

Asma's POV

Oh God what have I done? Why didn't I say them I'm not their princess? What stopped me from showing my own identity? Shouldn't I have run instead of getting into this carriage? My thoughts start to give me some kind of a headache as my body restlessly sits on the carriage.

'A slave girl can never become a princess merely because she is in her shoes and the dress Asma' a voice from the core of my heart starts to pull the strings of my heart. Princess! Which princess were they talking of? Was it the same I wanted to help? Could it be she who ran in the woods? Oh God! I wipe off my sweat drops from my fingers.

'The guards, they would have misinterpreted you as the princess, but think of them, they royal family? Won't they identify their royal blood? Do you think they will believe your stories, No, they won't rather they will chop off your head thinking you have harmed their own blood in greed of a royal dress and a pair of shoes, oh my poor little creature, count your seconds' the same monstrous voice echoes in my head giving me goose bumps.

"No, I won't let anything bother me or anyone touch me, I will face what comes on my way with courage' at last, I take a deep breath. "Yes I will"

My tummy starts to boil in hunger. I look at the tray that rests in front of me near the lantern. I see some kind of a roti, some fruits, , a jug with water and some pieces of meat. I would have not left even a piece for the hunger I have but not in this mood. I just grab a piece from the large roti and dip it on the honey to take a bite. It is super soft unlike ours. The taste is heavenly, yet, I couldn't rejoice. I just take two more bites and drink a sip of water and try to close my eyes hoping at least some sleep might bring me a temporary peace. No, but not with my confused mind.

"Mehrun, yes the only one who can save me". By now the message of our messed up plan would have reached her ears through the guards. Only if she comes to rescue me, we can plot a new plan" I think, with less hope though it is.

I slide away the drapes at least to have some clue about my journey. I don't see anything except darkness through the glasses. I continue to stare until I see some lights in a hill through the trees. I continue to look it until I figure it out. I start to see them clearly. A lightning strikes my eyes. A storm invades my heart. I start to tremble for it looks familiar the place I see on the hills. It drags me thirteen years back, the exact place I saw when we left our village, the place I promised I would get back one day, yes the castle of king Zanjabeel. The lanterns of it blink as though they welcome me back.

Destiny has brought me to the place I wanted to reach but the mode it has brought me is not as I wanted. I try to close my eyes to send away the fears. But what comes to my mind is the face of king Zanjabeel which I have imagined that he would look like and the face of my abu which I saw for the last time. I open my eyes and sigh exasperatedly consoling my mind to face whatever comes next with courage and wisdom no matter even it is death.