Aladdin held his mother's hand as she led him toward Nura's house.
"And how is the little prince?"asked Nura, as she handed him an apple.
"Very well, thank you."he answered as he took it.
"Why don't you go with Abbas, and he'll take you to the garden, to play."she suggested to him.
Aladdin took Abbas's hand, and he led him outside. Then she turned to Ruwa.
"It's been about four years, almost. And where is your husband?"she asked her, her arms crossed.
"He'll come back."she said.
Nura sighed.
"I have the feeling that he won't. Ever."
"Yes he will. I know it."
"You've said that a thousand times, Ruwa. If I were you, I would simply try to find another husband."
"I couldn't do that!"she exclaimed.
In her heart, she truly believed that Cassim would still come back.
"I think he simply…took advantage of your good feelings for him, Ruwa. He's not coming back, I know it. After all these years, what for? And you simply cannot keep living like this. On the streets, with a small boy. And you are so ill! Perhaps we might still be able to find someone to marry you. A good man who will give your Aladdin everything he needs."
"No, he has his father. And I know he will come back."
"They might still accept you in the Royal Harem. I know you're not exactly…young, but, perhaps if I send someone speak to the Valide, perhaps she will intercede for you."
"I couldn't go into the Sultan's Royal Harem! What will become of my boy."
"Oh, my! If you would only let me help you! Take this money, and perhaps these small handkerchiefs I have embroidered. They might be of some use to you. I know the stitches on them aren't so fine as if you'd embroidered them yourself, but they might bring you some money."she said.
"But they were your work, not mine."
"I don't need them. I only embroider them because I have nothing else to do. They will be much more use to you. I'm sure there is someone who will pay quite a good sum for them. My grandmother always said I was very good at any kind of handiworks."
Ruwa hated to take anything from her friend. She knew she only wanted to help, but she had done so much for her. And there was absolutely no way she could ever half repay her for everything.
"You have done so much for me, Nura."
"If I could do more, I would personally go find that man and demand him to give you an explanation, at least."
"No."
Ruwa's eyes filled with tears.
"What if he was murdered!"
"Murdered? No, I don't think so. From what I think that is highly unlikely. I think, perhaps, he ran off with some other woman. There are men like that. I once overheard that in the marketplace. Abbas has told me about them. They just like to use one, and when they get tired, they move on to someone else. They have no hearts. They simply find it amusing."Nura said, darkly.
"How can you believe such things?"
"They are true. I mean, has he come back? And he was going to be back in only a few months? Why didn't he take you with him?"
"He said he didn't want me and Aladdin in danger, and that he would come back and give us everything we deserve."explained Ruwa.
"Then, perhaps, he thought what you deserved was this?"
"I have nothing, Nura. Nothing. Just how will I feed my boy? Everything, I must steal. Everything."
"Why don't you stay here?"
"Oh, no. We have taken so much from you already. I don't want to cause you more problems."
"You wouldn't be a problem."said Nura. "You embroider much better than I do, and the seamstress I have is a complete disaster. Now I know why they sold her so cheap in the marketplace! Why don't you take her place? You could live here, with your boy, and you would both have everything you need. She can go back to the marketplace. I want my money back, anyway. She wasn't worth it."
"I couldn't take that girl's place."
"Then she can do something in the kitchen. I do hope that she is much more talented at cooking than she is at sewing. There. Now, you can't say no! How am I supposed to attend all those social occasions, and in the Sultan's presence, if my dresses aren't stitched just right! How bad I will look! And everyone will laugh so much at me! You can't refuse me this one favor I ask of you! Will you? Besides, you must think what is best for your boy."
Ruwa smiled. She knew that Nura was only offering her this to help her.
"Very well. You are right. I must only think of what is best for my little Aladdin."
"That's settled then."said Ruwa, happily. "You start…right now! Abbas!"
"Yes, my lady?"
"You must tell Uzma that she is being descended to the kitchen, and now Ruwa will occupy her place. Prepare everything for her and her boy, Aladdin."
"Yes, my lady."said Abbas.
"There, now with that settled, you have at least one less thing to worry about."
Despite the fact that her health was not very good, Ruwa proved her skill with fine needlework. Even Abbas seemed impressed with her.
"What able hands."he said. "However, I believe my lady is becoming increasingly worried about your health, Ruwa. You do look quite thin."
"Oh, don't worry about me, Abbas. I feel very well."
He simply nodded, with a worried look on his face.
"I simply hope you do recover soon. We will never find such a seamstress to stitch my lady's dresses. And she is so particular about it. We had to go through five girls, before Uzma. And not to count Uzma herself, and the ones before. And that was just for one dress! But since you took her place, not one dress has been send back!"
"Oh, I simply want to repay a bit of what she has done for me."
"My lady is one of Allah's most generous creatures."he simply said.
"Yes, she is."
"Although, perhaps, it would have been for your own good, if she were not, and she had not helped you marry that man."
"He made me very happy."
Abbas simply shrugged.
"If he could ever have made any one happy."
However, Abbas was right. Ruwa was very thin and pale, and it was obvious that she was clearly not in good health. Although, Abbas send for every herb from the apocotherary to help her, it was obvious that she could not be helped.
"I must apologize, Ruwa."he said. "I always did despise you before. I would consider you somewhat lower than my lady, Nura. I see now that I was wrong. If only there was something I could do to make it up to you."
"You have been very kind to me, Abbas."she said. "There is nothing to forgive."
"I shall go get my lady. She will want to see you, I believe."he said, with tears in his eyes.
He got up, and walked out of the room.
"Ruwa, if only there was something I could do! If only…oh, I would be quite willing to give up my life for yours! If that were only possible, I would not hesitate, not one second!"she said, as she held Ruwa's burning hands.
"You have done so much for me already. I know that when I am gone, you will take good care of Aladdin for me."
Nura's eyes filled with tears.
"No, you won't go. You are the only true friend I ever had!"
Ruwa gestured toward a small box that she had brought with her.
"Open it."she said.
Abbas walked to the shelf, picked it up, and opened it, revealing a dagger.
"Why, it is…lovely, indeed."said Nura, taking it. "Why, I'm sure someone would have been willing to pay a fortune if they had seen it. I never knew you had such a thing."
"It isn't mine."
"Oh?"
"It belongs to Aladdin."
"Oh, I see. It's very lovely."
"It belonged to Cassim."
Nura's hands tightened at the very mention of the name.
"You must promise me that you will give it to him, and speak respectfully of his father."
Nura looked at her friend, and nodded.
"Yes. If it will help you, I will do it."
"My lady, the boy is outside, wishing to see his mother."said Abbas quietly.
"Oh, my. Should Abbas bring him in?"
"I want to see him once more."
Nura gestured to Abbas to let Aladdin in.