4: The Whirly Beast
Rooh Farah*
"Where's the money for my pots that you broke? Where's it?"
She pull my head while fisting my hair i managed to wash yesterday after a long time.
I cried in unbearable pain "I'll pay... I'll pay you please... Forgive me".
I begged and she pushed me away while i fall and hit my forehead on a stone. I yelped and took my fingers to the place only to meet a red liquid.
"I gave you 3 days, you must get money wherever it is even if you have to sell your body like you did before, just buy me new pots!"
My first stepmom barely finished when the second one threw a bunch of clothes at me.
"I need them clean before we return from Dass village market in the evening". She pointed at her two small pots and a big one. "I need them full".
I just keep nodding to her command like a lizard. Else she might burst the other side of my forehead.
I packed the clothes and tie them in a bigger wrapper then carry them in a hand and a pot in the other as i set to the well. the beast hasn't been caught yet, but it hasn't showed itself since last week when it attacked me and Faris shot arrows at it. So i keep chanting all the du'as i know for protection, because that's all i can do.
Emptiness is usual for the well now, so as soon as i reach there i set to my work. I began washing the clothes and in no time I've finished washing them and set to draw more water to rinse them.
Then i saw it in front of me.
Dripping.
Red liquid.
Blood!.
It's the end of me yet again. I'm sure i couldn't run away from it this time because it's so close. I froze, staring into death's eyes a step away from me.
"Rooh Farah!"
And he has come to save me yet again, maybe he couldn't this time. Death was faster than him.
"Could you help us with some water? My friend is injured" Faris spoke again. Hitting me back to reality.
It's not a beast in front of me, it's a human.
A human covered in blood.
"Sh.. sure!" I put my trembling hands on the rope but struggled to even hold it tight. Realising that Faris walked forward and took it from me.
"Allow me" he said and began drawing the water which was not hard for him.
"Pr... Namir sit, let me wash the blood off you" he said to his friend.
I stepped back and watch as water pour down the muscular man's body revealing his warrior's attire. His eyes were closed but Faris was being careful, too careful maybe.
"Is that his blood?" I dared to say.
"No, he Killed the whirly Beast"
"What?!!" My eyes bulge starring at the mysterious guy while he's now also staring back at me and his gaze is something i can't explain. Piercing but a mixture of cold and warm at the same time.
If he could kill a beast that soldiers were chasing for weeks, he must be dangerous than it. So i put my sight away from him.
"You're really injured My pri.. Namir"
Faris said worried making me look at his friend again and he has a big scratch at the side of his face that could leave a scar if not treated properly. There's a cut on his arm and another scratch on his chest.
"It doesn't hurt that much" the friend he called Namir finally spoke. and his voice justify his figure, it's deep. Really deep and husky.
"It might get infected if not treated soon enough" I don't know what is getting my mouth to speak.
He stared at me for seconds before he said to Faris. "Let's head back to the city, I'll get it treated when we reach there."
"But you heard what she said, beside it's a full day trip no Matter how fast we are. You should please get it treated here".
"But i can't trust anyone with my body"
he say in almost a whisper as he stood up and walk away from the washed blood.
Is he some higher noble or just a richer man's son? Because the way he talk, walk, look and his posture is just graceful, And his aura is too strong.
"I trust Rooh, she's a physician" Faris blurt out of the blue.
"What?! No I'm a resident, I'm still learning" i shook my hands in front of me. There's no way I'm treating a noble, not even when I'm not in my right state of mind.
He was silent, so i thought it's a cue for me to leave. I excused myself and when I'm about to leave, he spoke.
"Since Faris trust you, I'll also trust you. Treat my injury FARAH".
I turned around and his eyes were on me. I have no clue as to why he chose the later name which many seemed to ignore, and it feels strangely weird to be called Farah like i didn't possess the name.
"I'll help you with the water so you can treat him fast" Faris handed me his bow and quiver of arrows and began filling my pots, even though i keep begging him to stop because what if someone saw him? It will be the end of me.
I really feel like crying now.
"Please Master let me". I beg him the umpteenth time trying to collect back my pots.
"Isn't my bow heavy for you? And i have many arrows there. If you're not feeling it you're definitely strong for an ordinary person" he smiled his rare smile.
And when i turned my gaze, an injured warrior followed behind with a hem of cleaned laundry, I'm sure the moment we're inside the town.
I'm done for.
But even when we start meeting people none said anything, I'm not sure if it's because of Faris because this isn't the first time they're seeing him help me and i get in trouble everytime in his presence. But today is different, maybe it's because of Namir.
I store the water and hang up the laundry at home before we head to my grandma's house because i don't have any appliance.
I explained the situation to her and got her sanitized stitching tools ready. She ordered for Namir's shirt to be removed, Faris tore it off him on spot, and i wonder how one could attack a beast without an armour.
"Let me see" she dipped a cotton inside a herb and proceed to disinfect his wound when he immediately pulled back.
"Farah will treat my wound"
It wasn't a request or suggestion, it's a command!.
I never thought that old woman could be tamed but she struggled to get up without arguing.
"Sit down" he ordered.
I slowly lowered my height in front of him, and picked the wet cotton with trembling hands. We were close, too close that i could witness the rising and falling of his chest due to his breathing and his beating heart. The most important thing is his smell, I've never perceived it on someone before, It's like a mixture of sandalwood and mint, It's making me intoxicated.
I dab the wool carefully on his wound but he didn't wince.
Maybe I'm not doing it properly. So i started covering all over the scratch on his block of a chest. I took a pain reducing pill and handed it to him.
"Take this Master, it'll numb the pain" my voice was also shaking.
"I don't need it, just carry on" i then proceed to stitching but my hands were still shaking.
"Hurry up" he ordered again.
I muttered a 'bismillah' and prick his skin with the needle, still no reaction. So he really doesn't need a pain reducer!.
I tried my best to concentrate and after a while, his injuries were covered in white clothes.
"Shifakallah (may Allah heal you)" i said after I'm done and it's the first time i saw him react. His face brightened up a bit.
"You can speak Arabic?"
I shook my head slowly "No, only that"
And a hint of disappointment is evident on his face.
"We should eat Namir" suggested Faris after they're out of the house and I've come to escort them.
"No, let's return to the capital, i don't like the food here".
"Okay " Faris agreed because he never argue with the prince, to him his word is law. He smiled at me yet again "thanks Rooh, we really appreciate your help..."
"Are you hungry?" He asked out of the blue "you must be, you haven't eaten since yesterday" he answered himself.
"You haven't either my p... Ohh! Forgive me Namir".
"Farah can you cook?" He called my name ever so casually making my stomach churn.
I'm sure this master doesn't know anything about me, else pronouncing my name like that will feel like a sin.
"Yes, but... I'm in no position to cook for you, I'm sorry" my voice was slower, it's disappointing. Others will give all they have to attend to a noble but i don't have anything to give.
"We'll pay, in silver" says Faris.
My eyes bulge in shock, few cowries will make me do any labour known to man but not even a silver coin will allow me to cook for a noble.
"Please?" He's sure it's a non rejectable deal, unfortunately not for me.
"I'll help you choose a good eatery then, i offered.
"No, Faris trusted you, so I'll only trust you....."
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Mrs Imran 💕