FIVE DAYS IN AGRABAH

"I wish I could fly out in the blue, over this town following you. I'd fly over rooftops, the great boulevards to try to find out who you really are." ( Roxette )

DAY ONE

The gates of Agrabah were wide open. Caravans had been arriving in the city for days. The city hadn't had a wink of sleep for travelers from all over the Seven Deserts were arriving, day and night, endlessly. There were long files of camels and horses on the check out posts in the main gates of Agrabah and a lot of noise, too. Travelers from every kingdom in the deserts were entering in the city, one after another. Some of them were merchants; some of them were carrying official credentials with them. Some Royal Caravans had been arriving as well. And some were only travelers that had come to the city to witness the big event.

The Princess of Agrabah, she who once had been the most wanted princess in the Seven Deserts; she who was the most beautiful woman of her time, was going to get married. The next day Princess Jasmine of Agrabah was going to marry Aladdin, a former street rat who had earned the heart of the princess and had become the greatest hero in the lands of Allah.

Agrabah hadn't celebrated a Royal Wedding in twenty years and it was a very special occasion and a big celebration for the people of Agrabah. The Sultan had prepared what was going to be the greatest party in the history of the city. Merchants had arrived to Agrabah in the previous weeks carrying fireworks. The royal gardeners had been planting and taking care of hundreds of flowers for months.

The city had been dressed up for the celebrations. There were royal banners everywhere and the Sultan had ordered to illuminate the entire city: every street, alley and square. It was going to be a big festival of light, sound and amazing spectacles, for a number of travel companies of artists had been arriving in the city as well. Agrabah had never been more shinning. Everyone was happy and excited. And as the days were going by and the big moment was coming closer, the festive atmosphere in the city became more contagious.

Merchants from every corner of the Sever Deserts offered their goods in the fair that had been improvised in one of the biggest squares of the city. There the people of Agrabah could find anything they wanted, from exotic fruits from China to the best textiles from Damascus. They could find the finest steels from the Magrib and the Al-Andalus or the most luxurious jewels from Baghdad. Just visiting the improvised marketplace was part of the celebrations, especially that day.

It was the day before the Royal Wedding of the Century and almost every person in Agrabah was visiting the marketplace, buying new clothes for the big day or special food to celebrate the royal wedding. Some of them even were looking for a nice gift to honor the royal couple in that special day.

That was what certain blue eyed girl was doing as she was walking slowly through the busy marketplace. There were so many people there that taking just one step was quite a challenge. But all the marvelous merchandise that could be found in the marketplace was well worth the effort.

Sadira had been invited to the Royal Wedding, for Aladdin and Jasmine were her two only friends. At first their relationship hadn't been that great, with that childish crush she had on Aladdin, but as time went by they had developed a very solid friendship. Sadira was very happy for her friends and even if she couldn't afford a big gift for them, she still was trying to find something nice among the things the merchants had brought from far away places. It was fascinating. She had been walking through the many aisles of the marketplace for hours and she was excited about all the things the merchants had there. Each of those stands was like an open treasure chest. Sadira felt she could stay in that marketplace for the entire day without getting bored or tired. It was simply fascinating.

It was the middle of the day and Sadira was getting hungry. After all, she had spent the entire morning walking through all those stands. So when the delicious aroma of food came to her nose, she turned around and she discovered an entire section of that improvised marketplace where they sold nothing but food. She took a deep breath and smiled.

"Time to eat!" She smiled happily. "Let's see..."

Sadira searched in her pocked and counted the coins she had there. Then she shrugged.

"I guess I can afford this... besides, if I go to the regular marketplace and buy something to cook, it'll end up in a disaster. It always does. I think it's best for me to get some REAL food for a change."

She went through the stands of food. Everything looked delicious and she couldn't decide what she'd like to eat. Finally she only picked up a random stand and went there to eat. She sat down under the shadow of an awning where some tables were set and she ate her delicious food, looking around and smiling at the festive atmosphere in that place.

B assel Al-Rahaal was one of the many merchants that had arrived in Agrabah for the wedding. He was from the city of Alexandria and he was on his way back to his city after a very productive business trip to Baghdad, the glory of the empire. But the chief of his caravan had been told by the chief of another caravan they had found in their way that the city of Agrabah was celebrating a royal wedding. It was always a good opportunity to make some serious business. The chief of the caravan had talked to the merchants and they all agreed it'd be good for them to stop by Agrabah for 2 or 3 days before continuing their journey. Not only they could rest, but also they could get some profit out of the royal wedding.

Bassel wasn't that happy about that decision. He had been away from his city and away from his family for several months already and all he wanted to do was go back to his home. When they had started the journey he'd heard about that wedding and he considered the idea of visiting Agrabah then. But the travel to Baghdad had been longer than expected and now he only wanted to go back to Alexandria. But he understood he didn't have much of a choice. If his caravan stopped in Agrabah, he'd had to stay. He knew it was always better to travel in a caravan. He was young, but he had a lot of experience when it came to travels across the desert. He had been traveling from one side of the lands of Allah to the other since he was a boy. He always accompanied his father on his travels. And now that his father was gone, he was the one who had to provide for his mother. He had an only brother who was already married and with two boys of his own. And Bassel loved them all. He didn't have a family of his own yet, but he always considered himself to be a family man.

When they finally arrived in Agrabah and when Bassel saw the beauty of the city, he decided to enjoy his stay. He was going to set up his stand in the marketplace and try to make some business, of course. But he also wanted to get to know the city.

"This is going to be good for our business, eh young Bassel?" One of the oldest merchants told him. "I'm sure your mother is going to be very happy when you go back to Alexandria carrying all the money you're making."

"Yes, this travel has been good." Bassel accepted. "But to tell you the truth I only want to go back to my family. I miss them so much."

"I can understand that, young one. But we're only staying in Agrabah for a couple of days. After that we'll be on our way back to Alexandria."

"Well... truth be told I heard about this wedding a while ago, when we were to leave Alexandria. I even considered the idea of coming here today. But then this opportunity to go to Baghdad came along and... well, here we are anyway."

"See? It's destiny!" The merchant laughed. "Go and set up your stand. But don't work too hard. You're young and the city is full of surprises. Have fun!"

Bassel had a rough time trying to find an inn to stay in during his stay in Agrabah. He finally went to a field where the Sultan had set up camp for the merchants. A big number of tents from the travelers and merchants filled up the place and at the end the chief of Bassel's caravan decided to camp there. Bassel set up his small tend, he secured his merchandise and then he took just a chest out of his goods and went to the marketplace, where he took a little stand next to the stands of his companions.

They had arrived the night before and Bassel didn't have the chance to visit the city yet. He thought he'd close his stand early and take a walk around Agrabah, but it was midday and he was getting very hungry. He asked one of his friends to take care of his stand for him while he went to buy something to eat. He went to the food section of the marketplace, where the most delicious aromas of food were really tempting.

Bassel picked up something to eat, eager to go back to his stand. He wanted to close his shop early, so the sooner he got back there, the sooner he'd be done for the day and he'd have the rest of the day to do what he wanted to do, which was basically visiting the city and have some rest.

When he was done eating his lunch, he turned around to leave. But it was then when he spotted a girl eating in a food stand nearby. His eyes went directly to her, even if that place was full of people, it was as if the rest of the world had suddenly disappeared. As if the scene had gotten mysteriously foggy, even in the middle of that hot day. Everything else was blurred but that girl. A blue eyed girl.

"Wow!" Bassel spoke quietly to himself.

Sadira didn't notice that handsome young man who was staring at her. People kept coming and going and she was lost in her thoughts, trying to figure out what she could possible get for Aladdin and Jasmine. It was not easy to pick up a wedding gift for a royal couple. She didn't have much money and she didn't even have a dress to wear in the wedding ceremony the next day.

And yet there she was, spending her money in a delicious meal. She smiled and she thought that it was the first good meal she had eaten in a long time. She had tried to cook, but she was hopeless with food. At the end she'd end up eating some fruits in the marketplace every day, not that kind of delicious food. The last good meal she had was the royal banquet where Aladdin and Jasmine announced their wedding, and it had been a couple of months ago.

She finished her meal and she stood up, ready to go back to her shopping. She needed a gift, she needed a dress. She needed shoes. She needed a lot of things. Sadira shook her head and sighed.

"Let's start with the gift... I'll worry about the dress later."

She started to walk, thinking about the time when she had been the heir of the ancient secrets of the Witches of the Sand and how -for a while- she was able to control magic. She never was good at it, though. But not long ago, after certain incident in which she had freed the Witches of the Sand and they had almost taken over the Seven Deserts, she had lost all the powers she once had. And not only that, she had also lost the place she called home, which was in fact the old palace of the witches.

She had a new start then. She was living in an old hovel not far from the marketplace. Jasmine had offered her a job in the palace several times, but she had rejected it every time. She didn't want to depend on her friends. She knew their intentions were good, and she appreciated it. But she wanted to prove to everybody that she could take care of herself. That she could make something of her life on her own.

"I wish I still had those witch powers. Just this once. I could magically appear a nice dress to wear tomorrow." She smiled to herself. "Oh well..."

Sadira was walking slowly across the stands in the marketplace, unaware of the man who was following her. Bassel couldn't take his eyes off her. He was fascinated by that girl. She was walking absentmindedly across the marketplace. It was obvious that her mind was somewhere else. She was lost in her thoughts and her eyes showed all kind of emotions as she went by. It was as if she was remembering a lot of different things: sad things, good things, rough things, funny things. But at the end there was a smile in her face. A smile that was so sincere and so sweet that Bassel couldn't help it but smile as well.

He noticed her clothes. It was obvious that she wasn't a rich lady. Her clothes were worn out but clean. She was wearing a very boyish outfit, which made her look even cuter, Bassel thought. But it was her eyes what fascinated him from the beginning. Those blue eyes.

Sadira stopped by a stand to examine some of the items that were for sale there, but she did that so unexpectedly that Bassel had to stop in a jolt. When he did that he accidentally stumbled with a nearby fruit stand. The noise made Sadira turn around and she could see the apples and the lemons rolling away. And then her eyes locked with the brown eyes of a young man who was trying to stop the run away lemons. He froze right where he was and he felt his face burning. He had been hoping for a good moment to go and introduce himself to that blue eyed girl, and definitely that was not a good moment.

He smiled a little shy smile and Sadira chuckled softly. She thought it was funny how that boy was picking up all those stray lemons. The expression in his face was funny. She turned away and continued on her way, while Bassel had to stay behind, helping clean the mess he had provoked.

"I'm sorry." He kept telling to the owner of the fruit stand, who happened to be a very noisy little guy. "Here... all your lemons and apples are fine..."

Bassel tried to follow Sadira with his eyes, but when he was finally done with the lemons, he walked around in circles, trying to find her in the crowd. It was useless. She was gone. She had vanished. She disappeared.

"Oh Allah!" Bassel sighed wistfully. "Where did she go? Why did I have to be so clumsy? I should've introduced myself to her... I should've..."

He stopped and shook his head.

"She must be around. I better go back to my stand. Maybe she'll pass by."

He went directly to his own stand, but he kept his eyes open, trying to find that blue eyed girl in the crowd. But he couldn't. He returned to his little stand and sat down and started to watch carefully the people that was coming and going.

Time was going by. He had made some good sales that evening but he couldn't take that blue eyed girl out of his mind. He had only seen her for some minutes but there was something about her that intrigued and fascinated him.

"You didn't even talk to her." He kept telling to himself. "You don't even know her name... you don't know who she is... then why I can't stop thinking about her?"

"Bassel!" His caravan friend called him. "Didn't you say you were going to close your shop early and go visit the city?"

"I did, sir." He replied. "But I think I'll stay here for a little longer."

"How come?"

"I've been doing very well today. I have to take advantage of my good luck."

"I will see you tonight in the camp then." The man replied. "Take care of yourself, son."

"I will, sir."

Bassel saw his friend pack up his goods and leave the market. But he couldn't leave now. Not when that girl could be still around.

"Maybe I should close my stand and go and try to find her..." He thought. "Maybe I—"

"Good evening!"

Bassel heard that sweet and clear voice behind him. He turned around and his eyes opened wide when he found himself face to face with the blue eyed girl.

"Uh... good evening." He could hear his own voice and it sounded shaky and very unlike him. "May I help you...?"

"Well, I'm looking for—" Sadira stopped short and then a wide ear-to-ear smile came to her face. "Hey! I KNOW you! You ARE lemon boy, aren't you?"

Bassel smiled a shy smile and nodded.

"I guess I am."

"Whatever happened to those lemons? What were they running from?"

"I don't know... you know how lemons are, always on the run."

"It must be a lemon thing." Sadira nodded amused.

Bassel smiled. It was obvious that Sadira wanted to make some conversation and he couldn't miss the chance to get to know her.

"I'm Bassel Al-Rahaal." He extended his hand to her. "I'm a merchant from Alexandria."

"Alexandria?" Sadira replied, shaking Bassel's hand friendly. "That's very far from here, isn't it?"

"Well yes, a little... a couple of weeks in the desert if you're traveling fast. Almost a month if you go slowly."

"I don't think I've been that far from Agrabah in my life." Sadira said thoughtfully. "In fact I don't think I've been afar from this city at all. Just some little trips to a nearby oasis occasionally... nothing really interesting. But you're a merchant; you must know the entire Seven Deserts."

"Yes, I've been around for a while." Bassel admitted. "This is my first time in Agrabah though."

Sadira smiled and she realized she and Bassel were still shaking hands.

"I'm Sadira, by the way." She spoke.

"Sadira." Bassel repeated her name very softly.

"And do you like it?"

"Oh..." Bassel blushed. "It's a beautiful name."

"No, I meant Agrabah." Sadira chuckled. "You said this is your first time here... do you like it?"

"Oh..." Bassel blushed even more. "Agrabah..." He cleared his throat. "Oh yes, it's a beautiful city."

"I think so too." Sadira smiled. "And... I'm glad you like my name too."

Bassel smiled slowly and Sadira turned around to look at the goods he was selling in his stand.

"I've been in the marketplace for hours and I haven't found what I'm looking for. I hope you can help me, Bassel."

"What is it you want?" He replied, happy to hear his name pronounced by that girl for the first time. "I hope I can help you out."

"That's the main problem... I don't even know what I'm looking for. I need a gift, a nice gift. One that's not very expensive either because you see, I don't have much money."

"Well, let's take a look at these goods and we'll see if there's something you like. What kind of gift do you have in mind?"

"I don't know... it's a wedding gift."

"Ah! I assume it's for the royal wedding tomorrow?"

"That's right."

"I've heard a lot of people are buying gifts for the royal couple. They are very loved by their people, it shows."

"Yes, they are amazing persons. They are my friends too."

Bassel looked at Sadira and raised an eyebrow. It was hard to believe that a girl like her could be friends with the Princess of Agrabah and her groom.

"I know what you must be thinking." Sadira giggled, not taking her eyes from the items she was examining. "It's hard to believe, I know. But Aladdin once was a street rat, just like me, you know?"

"Aladdin? You mean the man who's marrying the princess?"

"Yes, that's right. It's a long story. He was a poor boy who fell in love with the princess. He saved her life and he also saved the entire kingdom... several times. And now he's marrying Jasmine and he'll become Agrabah's next Sultan. Amazing, isn't it?"

"Yes, it almost sounds like one of those fantastic stories that the storytellers tell in the marketplaces at night."

"I know... but that's the way things are in Agrabah."

"It's very interesting."

"Hmmm..." Sadira was still going through Bassel's merchandise. "I don't know... what would you give to them?"

"Hard to say... I've never been close to royalty. I really have no idea."

"They have everything... I really don't know what I could get for them. Everyone is going to present them with expensive jewelry and all kind of treasures. As for me..." Sadira chuckled. "I don't even have a dress to wear tomorrow. Isn't that pathetic?"

"Well not really... I wouldn't know what to wear to a royal wedding either."

"No, I meant I do NOT have any clothes for tomorrow." Sadira laughed. "See this outfit? Well, you're looking at my entire wardrobe."

"But—"

"I'm a street mouse." Sadira shrugged. "But I keep thinking, if Aladdin could come this far... maybe some day..." Her voice trailed off.

Bassel couldn't keep his eyes off her. She was a fascinating woman. At first he was attracted by her because she was pretty, but now that they were talking, he felt something growing in his heart. Something he had never felt before. He had a sudden urge to protect that girl. To take care of her, even if he could tell that she was a woman who knew how to take care of herself. He was brought back to reality by Sadira's voice.

"It's getting so late and I do not know what to get them!"

"I—" Bassel stammered. "I'm coming back from Baghdad... and I have all kinds of goods stored in my tent not far from here, in the field where the Sultan set up a camp for the merchants."

"Yes?"

"Well, I have a lot of things there... and if you like... maybe we could go there and maybe you'd find something nice there?"

Sadira stared at Bassel and smiled mischievously. She wasn't sure what his intentions were but it was obvious, just by the look in his eyes, that he was a very naïve kind of man. Someone she could trust. And indeed, she already felt she trusted him. She was enjoying his company and she decided she could go there with him. Besides, his tent was in the middle of hundreds of other tents where several merchants and their families were staying for the celebrations.

"Alright." She replied. "I'll go with you."

"Good!" Bassel smiled and started to put his goods in a bag. "It's not far from here... I have good things there. I'm sure we'll find something nice for your friends."

Bassel led Sadira through the marketplace and the streets of the city to the field where the camp was set. They kept talking as they were walking. They didn't stop talking, not for a single second. They were talking about the city, about the weather, about the decorations the Sultan had ordered to put up for the wedding. It was a small talk, but they were feeling very comfortable with it.

Bassel's tent was a little one. It was in the middle of some bigger ones. There was a group of camels resting nearby and a big number of bonfires everywhere in the camp. Someone was playing an instrument not very far from there and a group of people were applauding. Sadira thought someone was dancing to that tone. There was a very happy and festive atmosphere in the camp and Sadira smiled, glad to be there with that new friend of hers.

They entered in Bassel's tent. It was little but very clean and ordered. There was an improvised bed in the middle of it and a lot of bags and boxes piled up around the tent in perfect order. Bassel lighted up some lamps and he went to open a big box.

"Here... some of the finest textiles of Baghdad. Maybe some clothes for them? I have carpets too."

"I don't know... they seem to be a little picky when it comes to clothing. As for the carpets... well, they have an actual magic flying carpet... it's hard to top that."

"A flying carpet?"

"Yes... they have a Genie too." Sadira replied as a matter of fact. "As I said, it's hard to find a good gift for a couple who has everything."

"I can tell." Bassel was impressed.

"I'd like something simple... but with meaning, you know?"

"I know... and you must be so bored here... with me showing you this kind of stuff."

"On no! Not at all! I love these kind of things... they are fantastic!"

"Let me show you everything then."

For hours they stayed in the tent, looking at every bag and every box Bassel had there. They were looking at all his merchandise, but most of all they were having a very nice conversation. Things were getting a little less awkward between them and the conversation was just flowing as if they had been long time friends.

Finally, Bassel left the tent and went to a group of his merchant friends who were sitting around a fire not far from his place. He got some coffee and some bread from them and he returned to his tent. The night was beautiful but the stars and the moon paled in comparison to Sadira who, in Bassel's eyes, was the most beautiful woman on Earth.

When Bassel returned to his tent, he found Sadira staring dreamily at a pink dress she had found in one of the boxes. He stopped short when he saw her like that and then he smiled softly.

"I'm sorry I haven't been of great help trying to find that wedding gift... but it seems to me you've found your dress for the ceremony, eh?"

"What? This?" Sadira replied quickly. "Oh no... I mean, it's a lovely dress... but I don't think I could afford it."

"Well, I think you really can."

Bassel went to Sadira and offered one of the cups of coffee he was carrying. She took it and thanked him with a smile.

"It's a lovely dress and I think it'd look great on you. Honestly!"

"It IS lovely. But—"

"I insist." Bassel said and he took the dress in his hands and hand it to Sadira. "This IS perfect for you."

"But Bassel... this must be so expensive... the fabric is so soft... and the design..."

"It is a nice dress... you should keep it, Sadira. You really should."

"I guess you're making business with the wrong person." Sadira half smiled and put the dress away from her. "Look... I really don't have that kind of money. I know I told you I'm friends with Aladdin and Jasmine but—I'm still a street mouse. And I understand you want to make a sale but..."

"Sadira, please!" He silenced her. "This isn't about money, really... I'll tell you what, YOU tell me how much you're willing to pay for a dress... and that's my price."

"Bassel... this is not what—"

"This is my last sale of the day, I'm sure." He smiled. "You know how it is tradition that a merchant cannot let go his first costumer of the day? Well, I have my own little tradition, I cannot let go my last costumer of the day."

"Oh, is that the way you do things in Alexandria?" Sadira smiled.

"Exactly."

"How convenient."

Bassel shook his head and looked into Sadira's blue eyes.

"Please... Sadira, I do not want anything from you in exchange for this dress. Just give me your price and it's yours."

Sadira stared deep into his eyes for a moment and she could see his sincerity there. There was something in those eyes... something she had never seen before. Something like... a spark.

"Bassel... I—"

He didn't say a thing. He just took the dress and he went to a corner of his tent, where he wrapped it carefully and put it in a bag. He turned around to Sadira and he put the bundle in her hands.

"Enjoy your dress, my lady."

Sadira looked at the wrapped dress she had in her hands and then she looked up at Bassel's face. For once she didn't know what to say. She felt her heart racing. There was something in Bassel's eyes... in the way he was smiling at her... in the way he was looking at her. She was moved by it... moved by him.

"Thank you." It was her only response.

"Thank YOU. It was great doing business with you. Now we REALLY need to find that wedding gift. But at least we've solved the dress problem."

"Bassel." Sadira spoke seriously. "Why are you doing this?"

"Doing what?"

"THIS... just... well, this."

"Just because..." He sat down by her side and shrugged. "I—I don't really know why I am doing this, to be honest."

"What do you mean?"

"I—I don't really know."

Sadira stood up and she looked down at him. He was staring at her in a way Sadira had never seen before. There was something in his eyes, something she had never seen in any other eyes. Something that made her melt but that also scared her. And she had the urge to run away, to escape from that place.

"It's getting late and I have to get up early tomorrow... the wedding ceremony is going to be early and—I really should go."

"Sadira, wait!" Bassel stood up. "What about the wedding gift?"

"Oh... I'll get something for them later on... I don't think they'd mind to get a belated wedding present anyway so..."

Sadira was about to leave the tent when she felt Bassel's hand grabbing her wrist to stop her.

"Please!" He begged. "Allow me to walk you home."

"But—"

"I know you can take care of yourself... but I was thinking that maybe you could show me a little of the city as we go or something." He smiled shyly.

Sadira stopped and faced him. For a moment they were silent. They were just staring deep into each other's eyes. Sadira had never been in such situation. She had never been treated like that by anyone. Usually men were rude to her. But this stranger was nice... he was gentle. He was sweet. She barely knew him and she knew she couldn't trust strangers, especially those who were just passing by the city.

But somehow all those thoughts were overruled by what she was feeling in her heart at that moment. Because she had never felt her heart beating like that before. It was something different, something new. Something unexpected. She didn't know what was going on. She didn't know what was happening. She didn't know what to expect, what to think, what to do. All she knew was that she trusted Bassel, that her heart trusted him. And that she wanted him to escort her home.

"All right." She replied softly, with a little smile in her lips. "You can walk me home."

Bassel smiled that sincere smile that Sadira had noticed from the very beginning. He bowed before her and held up the curtains that served as the door of his tent, for her to get out.

They walked all the way back to the marketplace slowly. They didn't seem to care about the time. Maybe it was late, maybe not. They didn't know and they didn't care. They were talking about a lot of different topics. Bassel found out that Sadira was a very funny girl. She knew how to make him laugh. As for her, she felt safe and protected being with that handsome stranger. She knew nothing about him and yet she trusted him. As they were going Sadira couldn't stop herself from sending some side looks to Bassel as he was talking.

"He is handsome." She was thinking. "He's got the most beautiful eyes I've seen... and his smile..."

They left the marketplace behind and they went into a small and dark alley. The sounds from the marketplace came from the distance, but there was a very quiet atmosphere in that place.

"Well... we're here... this is where I live." Sadira said, referring to an old and battered little house. "It's not much... but it's mine."

"It's yours?"

"Well, not really mine... I've been living here for a couple of months. It's owned by one of the merchants from the market. Sometimes I help him and his wife in their shop and they allow me to stay here... it's not exactly a luxurious house but I live well... I used to live in a bigger place before but... I had some problems with the former owners of that place... it was not pretty."

"What happened?"

"A lot of things happened." Sadira shrugged. "But anyway... I should go inside now... I need some rest."

"Yes... tomorrow is going to be the big day."

"It will."

Bassel nodded and smiled to her. She returned the smile and she shook his hand.

"Thank you for everything, Bassel."

"No... thank YOU for showing me your city." He said. "I hope... I can see you again?"

"Well, I'm not going anywhere... you can come and visit me whenever you want." Sadira stopped and blinked. "No wait... you're not going to stay here for long, are you?"

"No... just for 2 or 3 days."

"Maybe we can meet again before you leave?"

"I really hope so."

Bassel bowed before her and she smiled. For some reason she felt like a real lady then. She opened the door of her little hovel and she sent Bassel a last look and a beautiful smile. He smiled back and then Sadira closed the door behind her.

Bassel came back to his tent smiling and humming to himself. He didn't know what had happened that night, but it had been something special. Something magical. He didn't know what kind of feelings Sadira had woken up in him, but those new emotions were taking over him. And he was feeling in his heart something he had never felt before. Could it be love?

As for Sadira, she was even more confused than Bassel was. She entered in her hovel and opened the wrapped bundle she had with her. When she did that, she found not only the dress, but also a pair of very comfortable shoes and a beautiful necklace and matching earrings.

"Bassel!" She whispered. "But... why?"

She turned around and walked away from the dress. She went to look at the window but she couldn't find anyone in the empty street. She was alone and she wondered if that had been nothing but a dream. But the dress was there to convince her of what had happened that night.

"What's this?" She asked out loud. "Why...? Why this guy is giving me these things? Why did I accept to go with him to his tent? How come he and I--?"

She didn't finish her thought. She was feeling scared. She was feeling different. There was something happening inside of her heart but she didn't know what it was.

"No, that's impossible." She said. "Just because you met a nice guy and because he was kind to you and gave you a very nice gift it doesn't mean that—no, never mind."

But that night in her bed she couldn't sleep. Something had changed. The world seemed different that night. She didn't know what it was or what was happening. It fascinated and scared her at the same time. She just didn't know what to do or what to think. She had a very bad crush on Aladdin when she was younger and she had suffered a lot because of that. She had cried at night. Her heart had broken. She didn't want to go through something like that all over again.

Finally she decided not to think about that. Not to think about anything. The wedding was going to be the next day and she needed a good rest. She closed her eyes and tried to forget about everything. But mysteriously that night she dreamed of him, of Bassel.