Nomads

Chapter 1, Pt 5- Mahha

Alsaqr had taken a liking to Mahha. On the sixth evening of his arrival at Karawa, he sat with her, admiring her as she spoke about how her sister was finally cheerful and had made friends in the local children. She then jumped to the topic of her father, about how he would take them to the market every week and let them have their favorite sweets.

“Every evening, I sit by the sea on this shore, and my mind leaps from one thought to another.
Everyone has to go on a voyage someday. Some go for small voyages, some look for adventures; some go for so long voyages…” Mahha paused as she looked at the sea, dyed orange by the setting sun.

“That they never return.” Alsaqr said and a soft smile spread across his face as he realized of the deep connection that had built between him and Mahha.

Alsaqr wanted to ask her to come with him to the Arabia, where they could live together. But he knew that love and infatuation came easily. And these desires were not for his destiny or use. He had chosen to be a traveller.

No place, person or thing was permanent in this world, or, for him at least. A person who had found out the meaningless truths of life, would not want to live a life.

“Mahha”, he said, “It is full moon today, high tide. We shall set sail tomorrow morning.”

Mahha, who had been peacefully looking at the orange sea, felt her heart sink all of a sudden.

“Here”, Alsaqr said as he took out a small, shiny, golden, circular box with beautifully carved black calligraphy on its lid. She took the box from his hands and slowly caressed it as she admired its beauty.

“I got this from a shaman back in Arabia. You get to make one wish every midnight. But be careful of what you wish for. Every wish has a certain price; don’t ask for something too ambitious. Also, all the wishes are not fulfilled the way you want them to.” He said.

“Why are you giving this to me? It is too precious and sounds dangerous.” She said, a little shocked but also excited.

“Nothing is more precious than a suffering being”, He said, “You and your sister have no love or support here. I could have asked you to serve my family back in Arabia, but I respect you too much to see you as a mere servant.”
Mahha sighed and looked down with a heavy heart.

“Though your wishes are not really wishes. They are rather orders. You see, there is a Jinn contained in this. His name is...” Alsaqr bent towards Mahha to whisper in her ear, “Razzaq”.

He them returned to his normal posture, “you never say the name out loud”, he said.

“Call his name only the first time you open this box at midnight”, Alsaqr continued, “and he shall abide by your order thereafter. I would recommend you to ask him only for food, or building shelter. Even asking for a few coins of money is okay. But do never ask much. The jinns may be powerful beings, but everybody has to abide by laws of nature.”

“Why do you entrust me with such power?” Mahha asked, still trying to comprehend all that was happening.
“It’s because this is the most I can do to help you, and I believe that you wouldn’t want to harm your sister.” He said.

“Will we ever meet again?” Mahha asked.

“That, I do not know of.” Alsaqr said as he sighed with a heavy heart.
“You see, I may have chosen to be a traveller, but I still have to prove to my family back in Arabia that I'm worthy of it. That I can live and make money on my own.”

“But aren’t most of the Arabs travelling traders? From the Silk Road to the seas, they have covered vast parts of this world.” Mahha said.
“Sure they have, but I... I come from a noble family, they expect too much of me. I want to see unknown lands, the world is too big and life is too short.”
They both went silent. They climbed down the rock and started to walk. Alsaqr had done too much for Mahha, so much that a stranger wouldn’t dare to think about. She had never felt so loved since the death of her father, her heart was beating fast and emotions were starting to take over.
“Please stay”, she said in a low whimper, not looking at him.
Alsaqr had been fighting the sorrow of departure too, but he had learnt to let go of things; let go of things that he thought would be temporary in his life.

“I can’t.” He replied with a half hearted smile. Mahha nodded half heartedly.

“Open the box every midnight and ask what you wish for”, he said after a long pause of silence between them, “Remember to close the box before dawn. If you don’t, the Jinn will set itself free.”

“Alsaqr, would you have helped anyone else as much as me?” Mahha asked, looking for reassurance.
“Be it a child, woman, man or an old person. If I see suffering, I will try my best to help.” He answered
“Your generosity will kill you someday.” Mahha taunted, trying to hide her disbelief and discontent in his answer.

Alsaqr laughed, not unaware of the growing tension between them.
“Your name, what does it mean?” he asked.

“It is the poetic word for sea in the local language.” She said.

“Sure you are as beautiful as the sea.” He smiled. She didn’t respond.
“We set sail tomorrow, three hours after sunrise.” He said.

She placed the golden box on a small table in her little wooden hut.
“Rafique”, she said in a soft whisper as she wrapped her fingers around the lid. She took a deep breath and contemplated her words.

“I wish to have food for two meals tomorrow. Breakfast and dinner,” she said as she lifted the lid up in panic and excitement. Nothing happened.
She expected to a big unseen creature appear in front of her, or food to magically appear or at least some mystical smoke to rise from the box; but she saw or felt nothing.
She looked with disappointment in her heart, at her little sister sleeping peacefully on a rug across the small room.

She had managed to feed both of them and pay off their debts while working with Alsaqr, ‘What is to happen of us now? I asked him to stay but I cannot force him to do so. Who will support us now?” she thought with a heavy heart.