Chapter 30: The Heir, the Promise, and the Return
In the previous chapter, you read that Ali and Junaid faced a desert storm.
Now, both of them were in a tunnel seeking shelter from the storm. Suddenly, they heard someone screaming.
Now read on...
Junaid (startled) — "Ali, whose voice could that be?"
Ali (seriously) — "I have to go outside the tunnel and see!"
Junaid (trying to stop him) — "Don't say such things, Ali. You know how dangerous the storm is outside!"
Ali (firmly) — "I think someone is calling for help out there. We must help anyone who's in trouble."
Junaid (worried) — "That's true, but you could get hurt too. The storm is very dangerous!"
Ali (after thinking for a moment, lowering his eyes) — "I know there's danger, but if someone is stuck out there like we were... how can I just sit and do nothing?"
Junaid (nodding slowly) — "I knew you wouldn't listen to me. Go, but please be careful."
Ali — "Alright!"
Ali then removes the sheet covering the tunnel's opening, and sand begins to blow into their faces. He steps out of the tunnel.
"The moment Ali stepped outside, his eyes began to burn from the dust. Sand whirled all around, as if the desert had draped itself in a cloak of rage.
Each breath felt like swallowing fire, and the howling wind sounded like a wounded beast." The sound of the wind roared like a hungry lion.
Junaid (shouting) — "Ali, quickly check if someone's out there!"
Ali looks to his right but sees nothing. As he turns left, he sees a man lying unconscious.
Ali rushes to the unconscious man, lifts him into his arms, and quickly returns to the tunnel. Within moments, he's back inside.
Junaid (surprised) — "Who is this man?"
Ali — "I don't know. He was lying unconscious outside. I think he passed out because of the storm."
Junaid — "Let me cover this part of the tunnel again with the sheets so the storm winds don't get inside."
Junaid then re-covers the entrance of the tunnel with the sheets.
Junaid — "Now we need to wake this unconscious man."
Ali — "Do you have some water?"
Junaid — "Yes, I filled a small bottle from the pond outside. Let me get it from my bag."
Ali — "Hurry up!"
Junaid quickly pulls the water bottle from his bag and hands it to Ali.
Ali opens it, pours a bit into his palm, and sprinkles it over the unconscious man's eyes.
Slowly, the man starts to regain consciousness.
Unconscious Man (weakly) — "Where am I... and how did I get here?"
Ali — "Don't worry, you're safe now. You were unconscious because of the storm, and I brought you here into the tunnel."
The Man — "Who are you both?"
Junaid (pointing to Ali) — "This is Ali — you were saved because of him. And I'm Junaid."
Ali — "Who are you? And what are you doing here in this desert?"
The Man — "My name is Hussain. Six years ago, I came to this desert with my father, but a dangerous man who lives here made me his slave. I just managed to escape from there."
Junaid (shocked) — "What did you say? A dangerous man?"
Ali — "I think this is the same man that Uncle Sheikh Hamza and the mysterious elder warned us about."
Hussain (shocked) — "What did you say... Sheikh Hamza?"
Junaid — "How do you know him? Tell the truth!"
Hussain (softly) — "Sheikh Hamza... is my father. I told you, right? I came to this desert with him six years ago, but we got separated."
Ali (suspiciously) — "Are you lying? If you are, there will be consequences."
Hussain (with tears in his eyes) — "No, I'm not lying. I can prove it. Look..."
Junaid — "What? You can prove it? Then go ahead!"
Hussain pulls a photo out of his pocket, showing a picture of Sheikh Hamza. He holds it out toward Ali and Junaid.
"Seeing the photo, their eyes widened with shock, as if a forgotten face had suddenly knocked on an old door of their hearts."
Ali (in disbelief) — "Junaid... he's telling the truth!"
Hussain — "Now do you believe me?"
Ali hugs Hussain and says — "Hussain, you turned out to be our elder brother!
We'll definitely take you to meet your father, Sheikh Hamza!"
Junaid also hugs him and says — "Forgive us, we doubted you."
Hussain (smiling) — "No worries, if I were in your place, I would've done the same!"
Then he says — "Ali, you are the last heir of the special sword Al-Amaanah — I know that too."
Junaid (shocked) — "What? You too...!"
Hussain — "You too...? What do you mean?"
Ali — "I'll explain... We've heard from several people by now that I'm the last heir of the Azamgarh Sultanate.
But when we ask how they know, no one gives a clear answer. That's why Junaid reacted like that."
Hussain — "I see... Is it true that my father took you to meet an old sage?"
Ali — "Yes, he did. But just when that old man was about to reveal the secret, your father, Sheikh Hamza, arrived with a message that Ameer Taahir would set out on the journey for the special sword Al-Amaanah in a week.
So, we left to get the map from Ameer Taahir's hideout."
Hussain — "Now I understand. There's no need to say anything more.
Your goal is to cross the desert and retrieve the map from Ameer Taahir's hideout."
Junaid — "You got it exactly right!"
Ali slowly lifts the curtain of the tunnel. As he peeks outside, he sees a clear sky, as if the clouds had surrendered.
The sand was calm now, but traces of the storm's fury remained everywhere.
Ali — "The storm has passed. We should leave now and continue our journey!"
Junaid — "Good, at least one trouble is over!"
Now Ali, Junaid, and Hussain step out of the tunnel. They see that evening has fallen.
Hussain — "Ali, it's evening now. We should stay here for the night. Traveling in the desert at night is very dangerous."
Ali — "You're right, Hussain. We'll continue our journey tomorrow morning."
Hussain — "Besides, this is the best place to stay in the entire desert. There's a water source here.
You won't find a place like this anywhere else in this desert."
Junaid — "Seems like you know this desert inside out!"
Hussain (laughing) — "I've been stuck here for six years, I must know something at least!"
Ali (smiling) — "Well, now understand that you're not stuck anymore!"
The peaceful desert suddenly trembled. Just as the three of them sighed in relief, the sound of heavy footsteps running across the sand began to echo — fast, heavy, and heading in a determined direction.
The silence of the wind had now turned into a warning of a new danger.
Hussain (shouting) — "Ali! Junaid! Hide quickly!"
Ali — "But why?"
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Who is rushing toward Ali, Junaid, and Hussain?
Is this the sign of a new danger for them?
To find out, read the next chapter…
Chapter 31…
To Be Continued…