Page 7

A thorn. She let out a small, horrified cry, stumbling as pain shot up her leg.

Kneeling down, she winced and pulled the thorn from her skin, her fingers trembling.

Blood welled up instantly. She bit her lip, fighting back tears, and reached for a piece of cloth she didn't care about.

With shaking hands, she wiped away the blood.

Then, she hides it under the sand, didn't wanted to give any reason to Oman to get angry at her.

When Oman came back, her eyes swiftly moved to him. Water was dripping from his hair. He looked more handsome and young to her.

Not acknowledging her presence, Oman went inside the tent.

His sight went to the food, which was untouched. With crockery, he made some sounds to indicate that food was ready. But she didn't come to eat as she was unable to move because of the unbearable pain in her feet.

For god's sake, I hate brats. He muttered.

Her attitude only made him more mad; it pinched his ego. He was not her servant to run around her and do everything for her. She was testing his patience. He was only tolerating her because of Fatima.

He finished eating in silence without asking her to eat. He packed everything and accumulated their belongings, loading it on camel.

When he was ready to go, he noticed her shadow walking toward him. But she was walking like a tortoise.

"I don't have all day" he warned. "The least you can do is walk faster"

From the corner of his eyes he saw her coming closer to camel; her head was bent low. As she was afraid to meet his eyes.

His anger always gets the better of him.

She was looking down at her feet when suddenly, with a swift motion, he placed her on the Camel, taking her by surprise that she didn't even get the chance to make a sound.

From the day she met him, he was getting scarier and bigger.

In just seconds, Oman was able to smell her fragrance. which he found really sweet, and she weighs like a kitten.

And they started their journey.

She looked hot and tired, but she didn't say anything. She was afraid to make him angry. Why had fate had to bring her close to a man who had turned her world upside down with one contemptuous stare, and he wasn't even interested in her.

Not wanting to sit behind Tara, he decided to walk while he was occupied by her thoughts. Still, they didn't dare to meet their eyes.

Although her little stunt in the morning was nothing. But unknowingly she distributed his state of mind. His anger flew away; now he only desired her hazel eyes on him.

He stole some glances at her face. while her sight was fixed ahead on the scenic views. She was more quiet than morning. Somehow he wasn't liking that, and it made his heart restless.

She sat there idly on camel, not caring about her husband.

Oman analysed the sun's position, finding it was past afternoon. He felt a little worried because she hadn't eaten anything from the morning.

He decided to take a break. They rested below a large dune's shadow to relax their aching backs.

He gave her something to eat, and she took it without saying anything. She was obedient and he liked this quality in her. He thought she would be hard to handle but she did what he told her to do. But what was unsettled for him was that she was so afraid of him.

He even noticed her trembling under his gaze few times before.

She hates me!

For some reason, he couldn't stand her loath.

He had forced his heart to stay away from her, but her aura was so captivating that an invisible force was pulling him to her.

When they got up and walked toward the camel, He noticed she was walking slowly and dragging her left foot every time she took a step.

His vision narrowed as he watched her feet closely.

"Hey, what happened to your feet?" She didn't say anything. Fear could be seen in her eyes. She was afraid he would yell at her again.

This girl looked afraid of him, which clearly wasn't his intention. He shouted at her because of his anger, and he was just trying to tell her what she did, wasn't appropriate.

But the look in her eyes-he didn't like it even a bit.

"A.... a thorn pricked... below my foot," her voice shivered a little.

He came infornt of her.

"Why didn't you tell me? Let me see," he said, sitting down in front of her and pulling her foot up, setting it on his knee.

"I am sorry. I didn't want you to get angry at me again," she murmured, looking up at him through her lashes.

Folding her foot to the side. He saw dry blood on it. It was terrible. He even saw some tears in her eyes. His stomach tightened, thinking she was in quiet pain.

"There shouldn't be any secrets between husband and wife," promise in his voice, he repeated what she told him in the morning.

Making her sit on sand, he drenched his scarf with water and cleaned the injury and the blood off her foot. He looked at her, but her eyes looked everywhere but at him.

To grab her attention, he massaged her small and soft foot. She closed her eyes, liking what he was doing to her foot, and but still didn't want to look at him. It always makes her heart beat fast.

Seeing that his idea didn't work, he squeezed her foot. She hissed at this and looked at him, questioning him with her eyes.

When his eyes met hers, they were filled with humour and maybe just a touch of admiration.

He smiled at her, making her heart warm with happiness. She had never seen him smile before. It was a rare sight to see.

"From now on, tell me everything. I won't get angry at you," he said.

"Okk" she mumbled, pulling her foot back from his grasp and pushing her against sand she stood up.

Hell, he didn't even know her exact age.

"Tara, how old are you?" He suddenly asked.

She looked up at sky then started counting on her fingers. Then again she rolled her eyes up, thinking deeply. After a while, she said.

"I don't know." She lowered her head, feeling really stupid.

"Then what were you counting on those fingers for?" he pointed toward her hand, a little annoyed.

"I was trying," she pouted in anger.

"Whatever, you are just stupid," he said, standing up.

"I am not," she whispered slowly, knowing she didn't want him to hear.

By the time he picked her up in his arms, bridal style.

Amusingly, he teased her. "Yes, you are stupid monkey," he said, and placed her on the camel.

Her anger was showing on her face.

"First, you decide whether I am a monkey or stupid?" she asked him.

"Both," he smirked. pulled the strings of a camel.

And you are a Djinn. She looked away in anger. She didn't dare say it to his face, clearly knowing his anger hung on a thin thread.

They reached a city. More beautiful and big. She looked around, examining the people of different races.

Beautiful women with beautiful dresses on their bodies. Tara wondered what if Oman liked these kinds of women.

Their height is really tall and their features more appealing to the eyes, but on the other hand, she wasn't even close. Her height was small. She wasn't beautiful like those arabian beauties. Her hair were the only thing she liked on her body.

Oman thought of buying some necessary items and some fruits for Tara.

"Stay here. I'll go get something to eat," he said, leaving her and her camel alone on the side of a street.

She looked around, eyeing the beautiful ladies who passed by, and again started comparing herself to them.

She watched beautiful shawls and cloth from India, copper pottery, spices and herbs, books. Many things she had noticed for the first time.

Oman got some bread and fruit to eat. On his way back, he bumped up against a soldier, who looked at him closely as his scarf got removed during their crash.

"Sorry brother," he said, changing his voice a little, and immediately covered his face.

There was no doubt that the soldier had recognised him. After some time, he could feel a shadow following behind him. He went into the streets and created a maze. But still, I found the same soldier chasing himself.

He thought of wasting his time and confusing him. He took long strides and went into the crowd. He took his chance and hid.

The soldier looked everywhere but couldn't find Omar. He vanished in front of his eyes. Soon he told his fellow soldiers about Oman, and they started to look for him.

"Let's go" pulling her by wrist forcely Oman said.

Hurridily, he dragged her behind him. They walked in narrow streets. not understanding anything that Tara asked him.

"Where are we going and where is our camel? We can't leave him alone," Tara said, pulling on his hand.

His one look was enough to indicate she should shut up. She didn't ask anything after that.

He has to get out of this city quickly.

How could he be so stupid? This city was in the middle of an Iranian trade route, and mostly troops wander around here. He shouldn't have thought of coming here in the first place.

He wasn't worried about himself. He was the commander of the great army of his country.

He had lived without water for three straight days.

But now we weren't alone. His little wife was with him.

For her, this situation was new. He can't let anything happen to her.

The next few days are going to be hard for her, but he will make sure to make them easier for her to some extent.

He looked at Tara. Her face looked worried, and she was having difficulty walking. He stopped and looked around a bit. He bent down in front of her.

"Hop on my back," she wasn't sure because she never rode on anyone's back.

His back was broad. She could easily cling to it. After all, he called her a monkey.