Sunrise in a desert is absolutely staggering. As the sun made its way to the horizon, the golden sands of the desert shone with a captivating radiance. The wind traveled gently carrying and earthly scent. Anyone could get lost in the beauty and gracefulness of the sunrise but one would never had expected that the Fearless and Greatest warrior of Oman who rumors say he has no heart would be captured by the innocent charm of the sunrise. As our Great Hero rested on the lump of his camel, he plucked in the earthly scent that filled the air. He surprisingly found comfort in the desert though his kingdom was an oasis. He imagined how the kingdom would honor the arrival of their warriors. He let himself recall all the wars he had won for his people and was satisfied by his victory. Though he has accomplished so much and is well honored and respected, he still felt an emptiness as he took in a deep breath. Something was missing in his life and he was frustrated at the fact that could never figure out what it was.
" 'Amiri
*My Prince
......" A voice obstructed his soothing silence.
He looked to his side and it was Coman, his second in command in his army and a loyal warrior.
"Is everything alright My Prince" He asked.
"You seem lost." He added.
"Well Coman, the sunrise it makes it hard to know where the heavens stop and the earth begins." Aiman spoke like a story teller which caused Coman to wear a smile.
So many people have never seen this side of Aiman, all they see is a a warrior but not his soul which is like that of a poet. Coman had seen it at some intervals and is still marveled by it.
"Yes my Prince, It's a beauty." Coman smiled.
"I'm glad we are almost home." Coman added.
"In a hurry to meet your lady." Aiman said to Coman referring to Coman's wife and Coman smiled at the fact that his master was teasing him.
"Its been two months, my prince. Don't you also crave to return to the palace, to your family, to your mother." Coman inquired but Aiman had no craving to return home. He wished he could actually spend more time in the desert. Maybe he had no craving because he had no bride but marriage has been a topic he never seemed to consider.
Aiman looked back at his army and the slave of men they were bringing home as a symbol of their victory. He had a lot things to be answerable to, there was no time to search for a bride.
As the got closer to their Great Oasis Kingdom, the wind became unknown which was outlandish except it was....the DUNES. It's said to be a curse. Though Oman is a flourishing oasis in a desert and has been blessed with prosperity and beauty, once a month the Dunes come and it's truculence can wipe out more than a million inhabitants. Prayers are made during this periods which keeps the Dunes just at the entrance of the kingdom and the Omanis safe but it seemed like they was no way Aiman and his warriors could escape. Aiman could hear some of his warriors whining and he was ashamed at their cowardry. They was no way he was letting his army down.
"'Iinaha alinahayat tuqbal ruwhina allah
*It is the end, save us God
" Some warriors panicked and cried out performing prayers.
"My Prince, what shall we do?" Coman asked and he seemed calm.
"Is there a faster route to the kingdom?" Aiman asked.
"Yes but its the valley of the desert dancers and its full of thieves, con artist, seductresses and Hindu worshipers. Its no place for a royal or true muslim to be found, its a sin." Coman answered.
"Well its my duty to lead my army safely and before I am Royal, I am a warrior of Oman. I am an Omani and if they is a way I can serve my people even if it means breaking some laws, I would do it. So show us the way to this place you call the valley of the Desert Dancers.".....Coman agreed.
***
They had to make not much of an entrance so not to announce their arrival. As they moved through the valley, they noticed the high population of vendors. The vendors beholded at them with questioning gaze and Aiman couldn't blame them for their curiosity and he made sure the kept moving and didn't interact with the vendors or anyone else. Though the people who dwelled here were filthy, the land was still Oman and it was a blessed land so surely they were doing no wrong. Coman told him about other things he knew about this valley. Aiman couldn't deny the fact that they were a lot of beautiful women in this valley and just as Coman had told him. Coman had told him how the ladies distracted anyone that comes there and even innocent tourist and before they would be released from their charms, they had lost some of their belongings to this cruel people. As the got closer to leaving this unholy environment, Aiman eyes caught a crowd and it was filled with mostly men. He could see all their heads from the hump of his camel where he sat. They all gathered around a platform higher above the ground but not too high as Aiman could see it clearly. They were shouting but repeating the same words as if they were doing a chant. Aiman keen ears picked up their change and the word rang in his head.
" SHUELAT ALSAHRA' !!! "
"DESERT FLAME." His mouth muttered the translation subconsciously.
Suddenly a lady appeared on the platform dressed in a revealing red lehenga and blouse which was not nature of an Omani woman. Her hair dropped to the back of her calf and had a red tint on it which was very visible. She was ardorned in so many ornaments from her head which had a head piece fixed above her forehead head to a matching necklace around her neck and other necklaces and dangling long earrings to her waist and belly beads that moved as she swayed her hips to her hands which were full of bankles and then to her feets which had beaded anklets on which kept jingling. He couldn't see her face clearly but she was a beauty and her body was one to adore. He felt something drawing him to her but he was not a man that fantasied about women as they could kill for him and he could have as he wished but even if he had a lot of women to lay with, he seemed to respect them. This lady was one said to be unholy and forbidden for his kind but yet he wanted to get close to her. He couldn't just look away as his attention was on the Desert Flame.
***
They were welcomed with the sound drums and women singing softly and men performing the war dance. The warriors were excited into castle with Aiman at the front line with Coman by his side and they walked towards where the Royal family stood. Aiman took the blessings of elders and when he bent to take blessings from the Sultan, as he rose the Sultan smiled at him. The Sultan brought out his Khanjar which was a symbol of his pride and virility and gave it to Aiman and Aiman was shocked by his actions but it was rude and considered a sin not to accept the gift of a king so he took it. He saw his mother wear a wide grin and he knew they was more to it than happiness of his return and victory. His mother Latifah, unlike her name which means meekness and gentleness is a cunning and cruel lady and her smiles always have an interior motive. Rather than sharing happiness its creates confusion.
"Aiman, Just as your name, you are indeed a fearless warrior of Oman. I and the whole of Oman are proud of you." Kaleem the Sultan of Oman sang Aiman praises. Aiman turned to look at his father, Naqid Safar, the brother to Sultan Kaleem Safar. He father gave him a warm smile but Aiman didn't return it as it wasn't in his nature to smile.
***
As he took his bath in a pool of steamy water and his maidens attended to him and the sweet scent of frankincense which filled the room, his thoughts drifted back to her, the desert dancer. He realized that today was not the period for the Dunes to make an appearance, then why did it happen or was it predestined by Allah for him to go through that valley but why? He had no answer to his question but all this still seemed strange to him. Absolutely Outlandish.
