Manuscript of a Forgotten Tale

The harsh rays of the morning sun dazzled my vision as I felt my skin burn under its scorching heat. It had been three days since I had escaped the onslaught and found myself in this barren land. There was no food, no water and the fact that I had a bullet wound in my left leg added more to my misery. I had traveled as far as I could manage, first on foot then on my knees and finally wriggling on my belly but now I just lay on my back.....waiting.

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All I could do was think and my mind raced back to the events that had taken place in the following two weeks. Why? …..Why had I come here? Mehmood had told me that it could be dangerous but I have always been a stubborn soul. Only if I had listened to the many pleas of my well wishers I wouldn’t be lying helpless in this desert right now. Many thoughts raced through my mind as I tried to conjure up the many familiar faces that I might not get the chance to see again.

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I had thought about death many times, most of us do…though this wasn’t the way I had pictured myself die. I mean who would want to die all alone, surrounded by nothing but mounds and mounds of sand. No... I had to find someway to get out of this place. With all the strength left in me I started wriggling upwards. If only I could make it to the top of the sand dune. If only I could see something more than just SAND.

I don’t know how long it took me but finally I made it to the top. Here I was able to get a better view of my surroundings but all that I saw was more sand.

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With no strength left I lay there…minutes passed in silence. I was helpless and there was little chance to find another soul in such a place. I closed my eyes and tried blocking the image from my mind but the excruciating pain in my leg wouldn’t let me. Time passed …I lay still…and then I felt my lips move as if they had a will of their own. I was muttering something but I couldn’t make out what. I tried to focus and slowly the words cleared up. I was surprised as I heard myself reciting verses from the Holy Book. A smile passed my lips …it was so human of me. Here I was crying for help, wondering who would pull me out of this mess when He had been watching all along. I cursed myself for my shaken faith in His grace. I concentrated on reciting all that I could remember and I felt my self relax. He would find a way …all I needed was a bit of faith.

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The sun was still high but it wasn’t as strong as before. I could hear the strong wind blowing… the only music the desert had to offer. I tried shifting to one side but it was impossible to move. All I could do was just keep lying on my back and wait. Wait for what? I had no idea. I was tired and sleepy but sleep was no where near. I closed my eyes and lay listening. There was the breeze… swish, swish, swish. I felt it move and for a second I felt myself move with it. It felt like flying. It was so light, so serene and I was ready to die.

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And then I heard something, different from the breeze…the jingle of a bell.

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I laughed within me for I knew the tricks the desert plays. But then I heard it again and again. It was getting closer. I opened my eyes and stared into the abyss. There was nothing but the sound persisted. I watched, waited, prayed and then I saw a dark figure arise.

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I saw a face, then another...it was all a blur at first. All I could make out was someone was leaning over me. I could hear them talk …in a language alien to me. I tried to sit up but someone pulled me down.

God!!…where was I?

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I tried to sit up again but the invisible hands pushed me down once more. I didn’t have the strength to resist them. I shifted my focus on the dim light hanging above. Just then a sharp pang went through my entire body and with a loud shriek I let myself slip into the dark again.

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I lingered in the dark for long... afraid to go back, afraid of what I’d see. Let death take me now, life had nothing more to offer. My mind drifted deeper into my being and I felt the light slipping away. The end was near. And then it came again…the sharp jab of pain in my left side and I knew that life wasn’t done with me yet. Wearily, I opened my eyes to the world around me again.

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I was in a room lying on a ragged mattress. The only light came from a dim lamp placed to my right. I tilted my head sideways and saw that the single window was barred with planks of wood.

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I lay still… waiting for something to happen but it was quite. I was alone. I pulled myself together and tried to sit up. The pain came back but I pushed harder and was able to manage a sitting posture. Dragging myself backwards I rested my head against the wall. There were other mattresses alongside mine, there condition even worse. The room itself was quite shabby. The plaster hardly visible on the walls… bricks coming out here and there. A broken mirror placed to my left. I craned forward to have a look at myself and the image horrified me. My face was white like a corpse, my jaws sticking out. There were huge circles under my eyes. Something sharp had cut through my left cheek and there were other marks and bruises on my chin and neck.

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I pulled myself away from the hideous image but it stuck to my memory. Unconsciously my hands flew up to my face and then to my bandaged left leg. A soft moan parted my lips as I pressed my hand on the bandage. Just then I heard sounds from somewhere below me followed by light footsteps that ended outside the closed door. I held my breath, my heart drumming frantically...waiting for the worst.

I sat gazing at the two women that entered the room though I could sense the presence of others outside. A sudden shiver ran through my spine as they advanced towards me. They stopped mid center and exchanged concerned looks. The latter muttered something and then moved forward. Before I could make out anything from their gestures she placed a plate in front of me. It contained a small piece of bread and a glass of milk. My gaze shifted from her to the food and then to her again. If conditions had allowed I could have hugged her but I restrained myself from taking such liberty in this place. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I stared with disbelief at the food in front of me. I didn’t remember when I ate the last time...but it seemed like ages.

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Famished with hunger, I still had to be cautious… in the last few days I had learned that no one was to be trusted. I gazed curiously at the two women trying hard to read their facial expressions. Apparently they both were pretty calm but one could tell that the woman standing by the door didn’t like the idea of been too close to me. Hesitant or afraid, she stayed with one hand on the knob ready to run out if I showed any signs of violence. But this other woman sat close to me with her arms neatly folded in her lap offering me food and gazing at me with warm eyes and a loving smile.

“Eat.” She said.

I could have lunged at the food but I lowered my gaze to the floor. It was then that she shifted herself more closer and gently grazed my hair.

“Eat child, its okay…your safe.”

Her eyes sparkled with the same warmth, bearing proof to the honesty in her words and my heart let a sigh of relief. Reluctantly I picked the piece of bread with trembling hands and started nibbling it. Though it hurt to move my jaw but I could never imagine that bread could taste this delicious. I let the crumbs twirl in my mouth before I swallowed it. Next I took the glass of milk and gulped it down my throat in a single breath. The warm milk felt good and though it may not seem like a decent meal I somehow felt satisfied.

To be Continued....