Page 9

In the cool of the morning, the eternal voices of women chatting in groups woke Tara from her sleep. The sun was peeping inside the tent, making her blink several times to adjust to the light.

Taking in her surroundings, she saw Oman sleeping at a safe distance from her.

Delightfully, Oman snored in deep slumber. He wasn't looking scary in his sleep.

Curiously, she crawled up to him and sat near his side. Despite his square jaw, his rugged beard, and his unemotional face, there was no sign of anger on his handsome face.

With the support of her hand, she hovered over his face. Her fingertips traced his eyes and his nose and stopped at his lips, those plump round pillows on his face were a site of admiration. His lips were the only part of his body that were so soft and cute.

She giggled a little. Then she placed a hand on her mouth to stop her giggle.

She pushed her fingertip between his lips, making them part a little. She again giggled when her fingertip touched his teeth.

Oman was awake and aware of her touching. He took her finger in, opened his mouth a little more, and bit on her finger. She screamed, pulling her finger back, but Oman grabbed her wrist, making her freeze.

"Admiring your husband?" He asked. His voice low and a bit raspy, as if he had just woken up.

"No, I was checking why you were making weird sounds," she said without any hesitation. Her face looked amused while she hid her smirk.

Her hand was massaging her abused finger, where he bit her.

"You mean snoring," he said, squeezing his eyes.

"Yes, like a donkey." Did she really say he was like a donkey?

"Shut up. Everybody does that in their sleep. Even you snore in your sleep."

He was offended at being called a donkey. He was a handsome hunk, and women always desperately wanted his attention.

Of course she doesn't snore, but he had no other better reply to her remark.

Tara pushed his buttons further.

"You always call me monkey. Why can't I call you a donkey?" She smiled at him, showing her white teeth.

"If you again say that word, I am going to kiss you hard." Her smile dropped at that.

Oman thought his plan worked but was a little disappointed that Tara didn't want him to kiss her.

With the speed of light, she pecked his lips.

He got paralysed and was still lying on his back, not able to understand anything. Did she really dare to kiss him, or was he just imagining her doing that? Was she not afraid of him anymore?

"What was that?" His throat bobbed up and down.

He pulled himself up; his face was so serious that she thought he didn't like her kissing him.

"We are supposed to kiss, and yesterday you accepted it for yourself that we are husband and wife," she held her head high, making her point clear, showing her right on him.

Did she eat something wrong?

"It wasn't a kiss. It was just a peck, and don't mention it in front of those people out there," he said in strict tones.

He was enjoying their talk. She was opening up with him, which was a good beginning.

"I don't understand why you don't like showing that I am your wife," she said huskily, looking around so no one could hear her.

If he doesn't want her as a wife, she won't be a burden on him.

His heart clenched looking at her sad face.

"No tara. Don't you ever think like that? I lied to them so that you wouldn't suffer with me in the deserted night, and now they will kick my butt for lying to them," he said with a serious tone.

But Tara found humour in it, and not controlling herself, she laughed out loud in his face.

"They will kick your butt it's so funny," she laughed and tilted her head, trying to look at his butt, imagining the same situation where the old man kicked his butt really hard.

"Hey, where are you looking? You little monkey!" he yelled, grabbing her by the wrist and pulling her into his embrace.

She wriggled a little.

"No, first tell me what other things husband and wife are supposed to do." He asked while taking a hair strand and curling it around his finger. Her hair was so long and beautiful.

It was the first time he desired someone that much but couldn't have. She was like a forbidden fruit. His sister strictly told him not to lay his hands on Tara. He sighed at the thought.

But he also felt she was too little to understand the meaning of physical pleasure. He can't force her into it.

After thinking for a while, she said

"Like holding hands, kissing each other, hugging," she said looking into his eyes and then giggled. He was eagerly listening to her.

She continued.

"There was one more thing Fatima told me," she said, rolling her eyes and thinking about the past when Fatima told her what a husband and wife's relationship is all about.

"What is it?" He was eager to know.

"Yes, taking care of each other," His face softened. He analysed her face. His heart warmed at her innocence.

"Then take care of me," he said.

He banded his arms around her waist, pulling her into him. He placed his nose on the length of her neck and placed a few soft kisses on her shoulder.

She felt a little ticklish.

"Tara, you are making me crazy" he said.

She wondered how she made him crazy.

Then he sniffed her hair loudly, like a hungry dog taking the smell into his system.

She pushed him away with her fists, trying to get out of his hold.

"What?" feeling annoyed

"Don't sniff my hair. I need to wash them first," she said. She wanted to smell good for him.

"Of course not; they smell good and you washed them yesterday," he clearly noticed that her hair was wet when she took bath in Lake.

"Daria told me last night that she would provide me l special herbs to wash my hair. After that, they will look so shiny and smooth," she said, touching her hair and showing him they looked rough now.

He chuckled.

"Ok," he decided to let her go.

They walked out of the tent together. This tribe was small. He saw a string of camels with stuffed pendulous sacks hung on their backs, in charge of wild-eyed deserters.

An idea entered his head. He can buy a camel from the old man; after all, he was the leader of this tribe.

"Tara, I need to meet someone. Don't wander around; stay close to Daria," he warned her.

She nodded continuously, a hand in the air.

Tara noticed Daria talking to another woman. She ran to her and tugged on her dress to whisper something in her ear.

Oman walked away after becoming concerned that she was not alone.

He walked toward the biggest tent. The blazing sun was on top of his head. He saw an old man sitting in front of his tent in shades.

He walked up to him and greeted him. Old man motioned his hand toward oman to sit.

He had a book opened up in front of him. It was really hard to believe that a nomadic man like him knew how to read.

Oman sat down.

"Thank you for giving us a tent last night. I need to request one more thing" old man nodded to assure him to continue.

"I need a camel to restart my journey to the east. If you will provide me a camel, I'll pay you double," Oman said with a hard voice.

This man never bent down in front of anyone.

"It's not about money, young man. Most of our camels are in the city for trade. They are not returning until the fourth night. He said so, shaking his head.

He continued.

"You can live here with us till then," he suggested.

Oman nodded with a slight smile on his face. He took the wise man's hand in his and kissed the back of his hand in respect.

They talked about many things, and Oman was surprised because this old man, Jahanshah, had life experiences to tell.

After two hours, they were returning to their tent. But Tara wasn't there.

He went to Daria. She was cutting vegetables and was alone.

"Daria, Tara was with you. Where is she?"

"She was here a while ago," she said, her face confused as she looked around.

He clenched his jaw in pure anger.

"I'll find her," he said and walked away. Daria noticed the way he gritted his teeth.

He couldn't believe he had told her not to go anywhere without his permission, but she still dared to disobey him.

This girl was making him mad, and this time he will definitely make her understand.