Khan el Khalili (A Tragic Love Story)

                   Khan el Khalili (A Tragic Love Story)

Fatima was nine years old when she saw a boy working in the fields of her father. A young boy not even wearing shoes trying to water the crops in the field  and  playing with the water. Fatima always waited to see that little boy. One day she hid behind the rocks near her house where she could see the field and also see the young boy that she had started to admire and fall in love. One day she woke up early in the morning sleepless all night thinking of asking the boy what was his name went out of her house ran to the ditch of the rocks and hid there as the back end of the rocks were a path from which the boy would always come and meet her father. After waiting for some time the boy came and the girl with great confidence and a deep breath went up to the boy and said

Fatima: My name is Fatima what is your name boy?

The boy in a very scared manner confused to see the situation where suddenly a young girl from nowhere has appeared and asking my name.

Boy: My! Name is... Ali.

Fatima after listening to the answer runs away smiling.

Ali confused and stunned stands there watching a young girl running away, but at that moment says

Ali: when will we meet again Fatima?

Fatima: very soon.

This was the first time when Fatima and Ali met each other.

Fatima and Ali became good friends after that event; they met each other early in the mornings before Ali started to work.

Ali was an orphan boy who lost his parents in the flood one year ago and Fatima's father was helping Ali to earn and provide for his younger sister.

Many years passed away Ali stopped working at the fields and opened a shop in the city and became a blacksmith, Fatima rarely met Ali as he was always busy on his job.

One day as Fatima was sitting in her room she heard a knock on the door.

Fatima: who is there?

Ali: Its me Ali.

Fatima is very happy to hear that stands up and opens the door and sees Ali she is surprised to see him in her house and standing on the steps of her room,

Fatima: How, Why are you here?

Ali: Will You marry me Fatima?

Fatima surprised and stood there in silence and said

Fatima: I can’t without the permission of my parents.

Ali: I have asked the permission of your parents i am here to ask you whether you like me enough to marry me.

Fatima: I would love to, i have prayed for this day to come and God has made my wishes come true.

Fatima and Ali got married and started to live in the city where Ali and his younger sister used to live.

Fatima who came from a very wealthy family was not used to working in the house and cleaning and cooking, had to work very hard to make ends meet but the love for her husband was the driver which made her work and learn every little details.

Ali's younger sister Lana had a heart disease and could not work and stress as it made her sick.

Fatima held the house straight keeping the income and kept the house running smoothly.

After couple of months Lana fell ill and as a heart condition she needed medical attention, Ali needed money for all the medical expenses so he took money from a unknown group of the city to pay the bills.

Ali: What should not have been done is done.

Fatima: Ali what about the money how will we pay it back?

Ali: We will see.

The operation went well with the doctors report saying to the family that Lana still suffers from a major heart problem so she cannot take stress or any type of trauma can affect her severely.

Six month pregnant Fatima had to work, she started to sew clothes for the women of her neighborhood, but as she was not in a stage to work she made a lot of mistakes in making the clothes so the women of the neighborhood thought Fatima was not be trusted and she is wasting our time and destroying our clothes

.

Fatima: I wanted to help out in the house but my mind is not helping me out.

Ali: Don't worry rest i will take care of everything.

One night at 3 am there was a knock on the door, suddenly the knock turned into shouting and screaming, Fatima woke up to see what was all the noise as she was going towards the door she heard Ali's scream so she rushed to see what had happened and found Ali lying on the floor bleeding.

Fatima: What has happened who did this to you tell me Ali.. Ali.. Ali.. Ali.. Speak my Love, Oh how i dreamt to see you smile and never imagined to see you cry please God help me, shouting Loudly Someone help pleaseeeeeee, Lana Lana wake up wake up.....

Ali: Listen to me Fatima you have to run away leave everything behind go to a place where no one knows you because we cannot pay these people back run and take Lana with you.

Fatima: But how can i leave you here and run away leaving a place that we made for ourselves and for our family for our children.

Ali: Go now..............

Fatima runs into her house leaving her bleeding husband who is almost dead shouts Lana, Lana and says in a hurry to take some clothes and runs and takes all the money which she was saving to give back to the people who they have borrowed money from.

Lana: What has happened tell me sister i am worried, clothes but way.

Fatima: Listen to me we don't have time grab some clothes and all your medicines we are leaving this place, we will never be able to come back to this place so stay strong i will tell you everything now hurry.

Fatima and Lana grab only the necessary things and from the back door of her house leave her home not looking back to her dead husband and all the things that had happened. This late at night running and crying while Lana is asking tell me sister, please tell me. Angrily responding with a cry in her eyes just walk and keep quiet. While on the road a caravan was passing so Fatima hurried there with Lana on her side asked the man sitting in the front of the buggy.

Fatima: Sir can you help us woman to cross this city as we were here for work but the owner refuse to pay us so we don't have money to go back.

Man: This late at night two beautiful women helpless.wee.

Fatima: Help us please its very late and our family must be worried for us.

Man: Alright but you have to pay me 2 silver coins as we reach the other city.

Fatima: Alright sir i will.

Man: Stops the horse and helps these women in the carriage.

The Man (owner of the carriage and a small business man Fin dealing in selling cloth) had three people working for him

Michael and Dina were the main sales worker and little Joe was the handy man who was the chef the handy man who did everything. The road was long and it took the entire remaining night to get to the other city of Luxor. Fin while riding the carriage understood that the two beautiful women were trying to run away from someone and are hiding something. Fin was a honest man but when he saw Fatima he started to feel something for her. Fatima and Lana met everyone in the carriage but did not tell anything about what has happened to anyone there. Fatima in secret and in a very silent way told everything to Lana.

Fatima: Lana the thing that happened was not your fault and Ali knew what he was doing don't cry or show any emotion here because if you do we will get in more trouble. Ali was murdered by the people who we borrowed money from so we have to run away from everything, this is the time for us to stay strong and find a place to hide and live our lives somewhere else.

Lana: But how can thhhhhhis,what,brother,fault cry strong.

Fatima: hold yourself and keep it in for now.

Lana: Death.

Lana Keeps quiet with no emotion and not responding to Fatima when she is talking to her. The carriage stops suddenly and everyone sitting in the carriage know that they have reached Luxor.

Fin comes to the back of the carriage and enters the carriage and starts talking.

Fin: I am not interesting in your past what you did or what are you two women to anyone else i know one thing that is you came for help to me and i said yes, now if you want to go and travel in an unknown city go now but if  you want to work for me i will not be able to pay you much but i will provide food and shelter for you two

.

Fatima: I don't know what to say.

Lana: Alright we agree now we will work for you Fin, My name is Lana and this is my sister Fatima.

Fin nods his head and says Dina tell these women what to do and meet me at the location.

Michael come with me and little Joe take the carriage and park it and feed the horses. Dina starts to tell Fatima and Lana what to do and how they do business. Dina takes out three types of cloth and tells the women to help her when asked to bring the type of cloth out when she asks and see how i sell cloth to the people and try to learn the art. Dina Fatima and Lana go out of the carriage while carefully holding the merchandise with themselves to the allotted place where Michael and Fin are waiting for them. The market is in a large ground with no one in sight and Fin sitting on a large box with a big metal handle near his feet(moneybox)

So early in the morning five people set their setup and sit and wait for the people to come. Within an hour the place is crowded and the merchandise is being sold in a rush and it is hectic while the women work hard and try to focus on what is happening and how Dina and Michael are selling the cloth and they are helping out as much as they can, With no break the sun starts to fall and the crowded place of the market starts to become uncrowned and the night begins and the market is empty, Everyone is exhausted and tired not eaten anything the entire day and no break, Fin whistles and from far they see little Joe bringing the carriage to them and every one carries the box inside and the remaining cloth inside and the tent and ropes inside the carriage. While Fatima six month Pregnant tired to the extent of unconsciousness enters the carriage sees food fit for ten people gets a boost of energy, Lana helps Fatima up the carriage. Fin enters the carriage the last and in a very tiring voice says

Fin; Joe bring the food and water and give the little pillows to Fatima and Lana.

Joe: Yes Boss

Everyone eat food which was probably fit for ten people and these five people eat every last piece of meat and bread. Fin full of energy starts to tell their stories of their journeys and their travel of their carriage to every city of the country, Laughing and enjoying while the carriage is moving and it stops

Michael jumps out saying i am first only 30 mints. Fatima and Lana are confused so Dina tells them that this is a place where we bath and change clothes before sleeping and freshen up, yesterday we were late to the market so we were not able to freshen up but go straight to the market and start work.

So all the ladies after Michael and Fin freshen up go to take the bath in the process Dina knows that Fatima is pregnant.

Dina: Are you stupid Fatima? You cannot withstand this pressure job in this situation you should stop.

Fatima: No i have to work hard whatever the situation i am in and i will work hard me and Lana both.

Dina: You are stupid i don't know what has happened to you but i will tell Fin. Fin is a good person he will understand.

Lana: Dina please don't tell Fin please.

Dina: Alright but in one condition, if Fatima gets ill or anything she will stop working and rest.

Fatima: I agree to your condition.

Fin from the first gimps knew she was pregnant but respected the honor of Fatima. For three days they worked hard in the market Fatima's health started to get worse but she stayed strong.

Michael and Dina were supposed to go home when this visit to the market had ended so the carriage turned to their home town , so when they get to the city, Dina and Michael say their goodbyes to Fin and little Joe, Fatima and Lana. Fatima and Lana thought they would have to leave and find a place to live but as soon as they left Fin came and said.

Fin: Fatima i know you are Pregnant we all have been travelling for 3 months so i could have not stopped them but you both are my responsibility and you both will come to my house and live with me.

Fatima: Confused i am sorry but i cannot do that please give us some money so that we can live in someplace and call us when you people will be leaving again and we both will come.

As soon as she said that Fatima faints and Fin and Lana Took her to the hospital. At the hospital Fatima was unconscious for 4 hours and the doctors said if u had not brought her in time she had lost the baby.

Fin talked with Lana and made her agree that you both live with him so Lana talked to Fatima and both went with Fin to live with him at his house. Fin had a massive house but lived alone only little Joe lived with him. Lana asked Joe why do you live with Fin, Joe replied

Joe: I was an orphan living on the streets a couple of years ago Fin found me stealing food from his carriage, he saw me and didn't say anything to me i was so hungry that i saw Fin was looking at me still a stole food and ran away and again with the hunger overpowering me came back to the carriage on the next day and saw a plate full of meat and beard was on the side of the carriage while Fin was sitting there eating food, and Fin said to me if you are hungry i will give you food but never steal again. From that day i have worked and lived with Fin.

Lana: I never thought of Fin to be that kind of a guy.

Fatima and Lana lived with Fin for a month as their trip was after a month. In that month Fin didn't even once disturbed the women not even talked to them only talked when the women talked to him, Lana and Fatima cooked and cleaned the house every day, even though never once Fin said to clean and make food.

A month passed away and the time came for the trip to start. Fin one day before left the house early in the morning and took the carriage with him and little Joe went with him and came home late.

Fatima was worried for Fin and as he came back to the house Fatima angrily talked to Fin

Fatima: Where were you both you didn't eat anything.

Fin: We were out to buy the cloth to sell and we were saving money little by little to buy this kind of material and now we are able to buy this material which is expensive but only can be found in our city.

Lana: Alright we were worried for you both.

Joe: With this material of cloth we are broke but when we sell this cloth we would become rich.

The day came to leave so Dina and Michael came and every one left. The first city was two days away. So in route they bought supplies and went on their way. Fatima got sick when they got to the city of Edfu. Where the market would be for 2 weeks So Fin thought to keep Fatima in his friend’s house who was a owner of a hotel. Fatima resisted and disapproved of the situation but she was no condition to fight but Lana devoted to Fatima and said she would work for Fatima. Two weeks were hard as Fatima had no one to talk to or had to cook for herself and had to take care for herself in the morning and when Lana came she was so tired that she would sleep as soon as she came but the time passed and the health of Fatima improved. The next city for travel was Luxor which Fatima and Lana were already much informed so Fin asked Lana to sell the cloth while Fatima help her out

Lana sold her share in only two days in the market and the third day both Lana and Fatima helped Dina and Michael out. Fin didn’t tell Fatima the next city that they were going was the same where she had escaped from. As soon as the city of Cairo came Fatima and Lana were sleeping but the temperature was to hot so everyone woke up and Fatima saw outside the carriage and figured out it was the same place where his husband was murdered and where she lost all the joys and happiness. Fatima yelled

Fatima: Fin you could have told me where we were going. how could you have done this to me. stop the carriage stopppppppp it hereee.

Lana: Fatima listen sister.

Fatima: stop right now or i will jump off.

Fin: Joe stop the carriage.

Dina: But listen to Fin Fatima.

Michael: You are in no condition to go.

Fatima: Shut up you people deceived us and manipulated us.

Joe: How dare you say that.

Fin: Alright you can go the carriage has stopped, here you have some money for all the work you people have done.

Fatima angrily takes the money and drags Lana out of the carriage and starts yelling at Fin but that moment Lana Stops and Fatima is trying to pull Lana but she is unable to so she looks back and sees Lana crying like a baby and her face is full with tears.

Fatima: Lana why are you crying.

Lana: When my brother was murdered you didn't tell me anything and told me to stay strong, i was ill from a very early age and my brother took care of me and suddenly i was stripped of my only reason to live but living with these people and working hard i have found out the world is cruel place but still there are good people too here who are here to help in our life, what if Fin lied that does not me you had to act like that to him.

Fatima: Started crying I am sorry Lana my mind was playing tricks on me so i over reacted.

Lana: How will we find them now.

Fatima: Don't worry we will go to famous Bazaar of Khan el Khalili and i will apologize and will beg Fin to take us back.

Lana and Fatima Walk down the street from the same streets which they used to walk with Ali, but this time all alone in a path of forgiveness to someone who helped them when there was no one for them. As they enter the Bazaar a tall man come to Fatima and ask her are you Fatima? Fatima misunderstood and thinks she is someone who was friends with Ali and says yes. The man says that i knew Ali he gave me something to give to you when you meet her but you were nowhere to be found its a coincidence that i found you here of all places please when you get  free from this place come and meet me outside the bazaar near the cafe. Fatima happily agree to the unknown man. After a little discovering the Bazaar they see Fin standing, so Fatima goes to Fin and says i want to talk to you.

Fatima; I am sorry Fin i overreacted and said such mean things to you i was only thinking about myself please forgive me i know you were the only person who helped me without anything and didn't ask me anything about my past and kept me in your home and all, please say something.

Fin: Tell me everything what happened to you.

Fatima tells him everything what had happened and why she and Lana ran away from this place.

Fin: I never thought that you suffered this much. It’s alright nothing happened i have forgetting everything you can come and help us out.

Fatima i will be back as i just have to meet one of my husband’s friend.

Fatima leaves the Bazaar in a thought of what his husband has left for her but she was deceived and the same person took her to the people who killed Ali(kidnapped her) and they have some other plans for Fatima. Fin and company wait for Fatima after their work end but Fatima is nowhere to be found so Lana gets suspicious and tells Fin that maybe something bad has happened and we should do something about it.

Fin: I think the man that you people met was one of the people who you borrowed money from, Don't worries today everything that has happened will end I promise you Lana.

Lana: I am scared please help us Fin.

Fin: Today all your pain and sorrows will end.

Fin knows what to do now so he goes directly to the group who is involved in the process of loaning money to the people of the city. An underground gang which are involved in all the dirty work of the city Fin goes to an abandoned warehouse where it was said that the following gang operates. Fin goes to the place and in a calm manner starts saying that i am here to clear the debt of Ali, Every one standing there stop what they are doing and stare at Fin. Hahahaha(laughter) by one big bald guy standing at the back walks slowly where Fin is standing and forwards his hand to shake and says my name is Henry nice to meet you come with me stranger.

Henry: So you are here to clear Ali's debt? Do you even know how much that dead piece of meat owned us.

Fin: I don't know the details but i will pay you the amount just let Fatima go first,

Henry: AH! that beautiful girl is the cause of all the trouble from the start, to tell you the truth stranger.

Fin: Let her go, i am here and i will pay you.

Henry: Shut up you are here to clear the debt which Ali already owned to us now give us everything that you have..... guyssssss come inside.

Fin: What about Fatima.

Henry: Hahaha Fatima will live with me from now you don't have to worry about her now give me my money 2000 gold coins.

Fin: 2000 gold coins! what that much money are you serious that much money i can buy 100 horses.

Henry: That was the amount which Ali borrowed from us now pay up.

Fin: Alright i was here to pay Ali's debt whatever you do with Fatima i don't care, but i will pay you Ali's debt send your people with me so i can bring the money.

Henry: You look like a business man. Good, good go you have 1 hour come back with the money we have seen your face we will find you if you try to run, now go.

Fin leaves the place and after 1 hour comes back with 2000 gold coin with him and calls out Henry.

Fin: Here is your money but first i want to ask you a question before i give you the money. Why did you kill Ali?

Henry: You a respectable person stranger so I will tell you the truth, Ali owned us only 200 silver coins which on the day when he was killed by me payed me but the reason i killed him was because I wanted Fatima all for myself but he and I got into a fight so i murdered him but that stupid woman run away before my men can bring her to me. Now I have her all for myself give the money up if you want to leave this place with your life.

Fin: Here you go take the money.

As soon as Henry takes the money all the Royal Street Guard come rushing inside and apprehend the gang in the process of smuggling and blackmail and rescues Fatima and dozen other woman which were kept there by Henry without their own will.

Royal Guard: Fin you were brave and royal to come to us for help now these group of people will get their punishment that they deserved. It was very difficult to arrange that amount of money but still it worked out in the end. Henry i arrest you in the murder of Ali and the kidnapping and blackmailing of innocent people.

Fin: Let’s go Fatima.

Fatima: I am glad and very happy to see you here thank you very much for your help.

Lana: I am happy to see you alright sister i told everything to Fin and he was there for us now everything that made us leave is over.

Fatima: Still it’s not over yet we cannot live in this city we will move and start our lives somewhere else.

Fin: Listen Fatima i know you have suffered so much but I will take care of you and will not let anything bad happen to you so Will you marry me and come live with me.

Fatima: I can’t, it is very difficult for me i have Lana.

Lana: I have lost one brother i don't want to lose another now please sister.

Fatima: But Lana! I am sorry for everything that has happened to you Fin and because of us girls you have suffered so much so from this day i will work every single second of my life to help you and make you happy and try to never make you sad, for i have lost a piece of my heart but your kindness your behavior has made that part heal again so accept me for as I am Yes I will marry you.

Fatima named his son Ali, after two months got married to Fin. Fatima started to live her life with his son his little brother Joe his sister Lana and his husband Fin.