Dear Reader,

I hope you have been enjoying the story, even though the updates are short. The next few chapters, although they may take me longer to post, should be longer and very interesting.

-LunarLitLover

Recap: Yasmine has been living with Ali al Din for a while during which time she was recovering from her injuries. She has made friends with the neighbors Admin and Ayska.

Preview (for next time): Admin and Ayska are planning a party and must help Yasmine get ready

PART TWO

Chapter 9: Yasmine (Fatima)

Worry and Work

I arose from my heap of fabric early. The sun was just arising as well. It broke over the brown-orange city and gave me energy. Standing, I stretched. I did not wince. My ribs no longer hurt. Nor did any other parts of my body. I was completely and totally healed.

I glanced over at Ali who lay in the opposite corner. His back was turned to me, so I had no way of knowing if he was conscious or still slumbering. Walking over to him, I bent down over him and checked his face. Sleeping peacefully. I pushed the dark lock from his forehead and smiled. He was sleeping quite late for someone as full of life as Ali. Well, he would have to rise soon enough for morning prayer.

Before lifting the worn curtain to Ali's entryway, I draped myself in the long black abaya that is to be worn in public. With that, I slipped out of the room.

Upon entering the street, I merged with the morning crowd, consisting of mostly vendor and early mosque goers. I followed the vendors to the food market part of town.

On my walk there, I took time to appreciate all the delights of Riyadh. The way the pounding of my feet into the dusty street blended in with all the others enthralled me. All of the shouting of prices was another aspect of the market I loved.

I never was around this type of environment at the palace.

The liveliness and activity of the real Riyadh was music to my soul. It was where I belonged.

Bargaining, despite my upbringing, was an art I had picked up quickly and now excelled at. It was no trouble for me to buy a fruit breakfast at a severely reduced rate. Ali was awful at bargaining; it was something he never did. He stole instead, and although I fully understood the reasoning behind such an act, I would never engage in such an act myself.

Upon returning home, Ali was awake and alert, waiting for me to return.

"Ah, Fatima, thank you so much for breakfast," Ali said as I entered the room. "But you really shouldn't have. I could have gotten it…"

"Sure you could have," I teased while setting the fruit out and taking off my abaya. "You were sleeping as heavily as goat's milk sits on the stomach."

"Hmm." He grunted, knowing this was true but not wishing to admit it.

"Plus," I continued as he bit into a mango, "You steal for food. I, on the other hand, have funds to buy it. My new jobs at the silk stall may not pay me much, but it does cover the cost of food."

"So you have been paid for the first time?" he inquired as I tasted a sliver of melon.

"Yes, yesterday. Not much, but enough."

"Well, if it's not much, maybe you shouldn't work there…"

"Ali, what do you have against my working?" I asked, feeling a bit frustrated. This wasn't the first time he'd objected to my new job.

"Nothing. Nothing at all. You said you love working. I understand that it gives you a sense of purpose and fulfillment. Just the market is a dangerous place. Especially for women, because they don't usually work there."

"It's a crowded place," I argued. "People will certainly see if anything like that happens. And you're right, I love working there, as much for the atmosphere of the market as for the sense of fulfillment. Did you know that just in this last week I saved the owner the price of an entire roll of Chinese silk just by driving hard bargains? It just fits with me to work there."

"I guess you're right. You do fit well with it," Ali admitted. "I just worry…I-I mean…uh…with your injuries and all."

"Ali, we both know that my injuries have long since healed. Which reminds me of another thing I want to speak to you about."

"What's that?" he inquired.

"Well, now that I'm healed, it is no longer necessary for me to be a burden to you and your home. I now have means of income and am capable of living on my own. After all, I have been here for nearly five moons and I feel that staying longer is unfair to you. I should leave."

Ali looked crushed. "Is that really what you want?"

I hesitated. "I'm not trying to be offensive, Ali. I am beyond grateful to you for taking me in and have enjoyed my time here more than I can say. Despite its roughness, I have grown to love this place. But even if I leave, we will remain friends. Nothing will change that."

"Fatima, I need you to understand that you are no burden to me. None whatsoever. I, too, enjoy your company. Only leave if that's what you want."

I was a bit surprised. "You don't want me to leave?"

"That's not what I said…I…well…only if you want…it's up to you…Actually, no. No. I don't want you to leave."

An elation of joy rose up inside me. I could stay! I was thrilled with the prospect more than expected. However, I thought of a way to make this blessing even sweeter.

"Ali," I responded. "I'll stay on one condition."

"Anything."

My heart jumped.

"Well, you must begin to work."

His face did not move.

"Oh," I said, feeling rejected. "Well, I understand that it's something you don't want to do and that's acceptable for me-"

"No, no. Fatima, I'll do it. Just name the place."

I smiled. "Thank you, Ali. It makes me feel better to know you're taken care of. I think you could do well as a man of repair. You're good with your hands would be great at fixing things. Or you could be an assistant to the herbalist. Your medical knowledge would serve you well."

"I'll look into both."

I grinned genuinely from ear to ear.

"I guess working is a good thing," Ali stated. "I have never really done it officially for money because it never entered my mind. I honestly never considered it. But seeing that you enjoy it so, I don't see how it could be anything less than great."

His gaze fell on me. He looked me directly in the eyes. I stared back. His eyes were so bold, so powerful. He seemed to have the same notion about mine. We looked into the eyes of each other and it was as if we saw inside of each other. In that moment, it was clear we connected.

I broke the gaze and looked down.

Silence.

Ali ended it by saying, "I'll begin working as soon as possible."

Looking up again, I grinned. "Then I'll stay."