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Sadmir

Sadmir POV

"Good Bye momma, I have to get to work." I close the door behind me and set out for the market like I do every day, but something feels off, no, not something but me. I feel strange, and there is this throbbing feeling at the base of my spine that has been bugging me since I awoke. I tried stretching and rubbing it, but it is persistent.

I continue walking down the road to get to the market where our family shop is located. Today is my turn to run the shop, and if I don't hurry, I will be late. I quicken my pace until I arrive at the market, and I can slow down now seeing my family's shop just ahead. A few people litter the streets getting their shops ready for opening, and I feel sick at the thought of not being on time like them. I usually am prompt about these things, but last night I tossed in turned having strange dreams throughout the night as if something was coming. I feel it now as I make my way down the street, something is coming for me, but I don't know what.

I get to my family's shop and unlock the windows and doors to let the sunrise in so that I may better see.

"Sadmir you are late!"

My youngest sister Fatima jumps out at me from a stack of books scaring the life out of me. I growl to let her know I am not pleased but quickly put a smile on my face before I make her feel too bad.

"Please stop doing that. What are you doing here anyway?"

"Momma says I am to help you today."

I roll my eyes and say nothing more. I know my mother very well, and I know she knows I don't need the help. She just wanted my sister out of the house. She tends to talk a lot, and I am the only one in the house that will humor her. She stands there waiting for my judgment, and when I nod my head, she jumps up and down, clapping her hands squealing from excitement. I have already regretted my choice to let her stay, but what can I do? I have been a people pleaser all my life.

We busy ourselves with setting up the shop getting everything out so that customers can see all that we have to offer. Our shop primarily sells things people will need in their everyday life, which means income comes in pretty nicely, and my family was able to become free slaves. We work for ourselves, but we are still slaves to the Vipers and Vipin himself. My life is not easy, but it is mine, and that is all I can ask for.

Hours and customers later, the sun is at its highest in the sky, and the throbbing at the base of my spine gets stronger, and I have to step outside the shop to get some fresh air. I look around the market and all the people shopping in it, and I can't help but feel a sense of belonging. I may not have much of a life, but the life I do have is mine. I may never find someone to share it with like my parents have, but that's okay. I will find a way to be happy.

The throbbing at the base of my spine gets bigger and starts moving up my back, causing me to feel alarmed. I don't know what this feeling is. It does not hurt, but it is hard to ignore, and I have never felt anything like it. Just as I am about to go back inside and have a seat, I see a flicker of the most beautiful yellow color I have ever seen. I turn my head in its direction, and the color is coming from women. She is lovely with dark raven hair and green eyes. She is a few shops down looking at this or that, and I take the opportunity to stare. A man whispers in her ear, and she moves away from the stall, continuing their walk down the market. At least two heads taller than me, the man is tall and looks to maybe be her husband. My heart dips at the thought because I want this woman.

I have no idea who she is or what her name even is, but I know I want her. I walk out into the market a little more, trying to keep my eyes on her, and as if she can feel me watching, she turns her head and looks right at me. Our eyes lock, and I can't seem to move. She smiles at me, and before I can return the gesture, the tall man escorting her whispers in her ear again, and she starts moving towards me. My heart starts to race, and I find myself taking a few steps back until I trip over something on the ground and fall back and hit my head.

I wake up in a tangle of sheets clutching my head. It was just a dream. It was just a dream, I repeat to myself over and over. My head is pounding as if I did fall and hit it. Thankfully the pain does not stay for long. I get out of bed, and I immediately feel the throbbing at the base of my spine. A chill runs through my body at the realization. I am a rational person, and I know I have two choices, I can either freakout and fight this or continue my day and see where it takes me. I choose the latter, wondering if I could ever meet a woman as beautiful as the one in my dream.

I quickly get dressed for the day and go into the kitchen to have some breakfast. My mother is at the stove frying eggs when I walk in.

"Good morning momma."

"Sadmir, good morning. Did you sleep well?"

My stomach turns sour at the thought of my dreams, and I look away from my mother.

"I only ask because I was hearing strange noises coming from your room."

"I am fine mother nothing to worry about."

The throbbing at the base of my spine is so persistent it makes me feel as if I am lying to her. I quickly eat my food and stand and walk to the door. I call out my goodbye to mother, and I set off for the shop. As I close the door, I realized I just did the same thing in my dream. I shake my head and force my feet to move; regardless of what is going on, that shop needs to be open.

I get to the shop, and my sister scares me half to death, just like in my dream, and my body takes on an eerie chill. I don't know what's happening, but I will see the girl in yellow if my vision is correct. I shake my head to rid myself of the thoughts of the girl because I need to focus on the shop. I've been helping customers all morning, and when the last of them walk out, the throbbing at the base of my spine grows stronger. I notice the sun is high in the sky, so I do what I did in my dream, and I walk outside.

I watch people walk through the market, and when the throbbing at the base of my spine starts moving up, I turn to look at the flicker of yellow that has caught my eye. It's the woman in yellow from my dream. I start to feel lightheaded as I realize in a few moments she will notice me and start walking my way, and when she does, I back peddle and trip over something on the floor and smack my head against the ground, and darkness swallows me whole.

My consciousness comes back slowly, and I hear hushed voices around me. I recognize one female voice as my sister Fatima but the other two, another woman and a man, do not sound familiar. I blink open my eyes and try to sit up. At first, I have a hard time doing both, but then my vision and head clear, and I can sit upright. Looking around, I realize I am in the back corner of the shop, a few feet away from where I fell. A hand lands on my shoulder, and I swiftly turn around to see three people all staring at me. My sister and the tall man and yellow women from my dream are all here.

My world starts to tilt again, and the man reaches out to steady me. I wish I can push him away, but I am in no condition to refuse help as I try to figure out what is going on.

"Sadmir." My sister starts.

"Are you alright? You fell pretty hard and have been out for fifteen minutes now."

I rub the back of my head and feel something wet, and when I look at my hand, blood is upon it. I must have hit my head hard enough to not only knock me out but to draw blood as well. I look to my sister, the only person in the room I know, for answers.

"Fatima what happen?"

I try my best to stand on my own, but the man next to me helps me anyway. I look back to my sister for answers, and her face is blank, her eyes never leaving the man by my side. I shake my head in annoyance at my sister and clap my hands in front of her face to draw her attention back to me.

"Fatima! What happened?" My voice is sharp, and she shrinks back from me instantly, making me feel guilty about my tone.

"I'm sorry." I start again.

"I'm just confused please help me figure this out?"

"I don't know what happen Sadmir, One minute you were fine and the next you tripped over nothing and was on the floor. These people saw the whole thing and were kind enough to help me get you back in the store and out of the sun." Fatima finally explains.

"Sadmir." I hear my name whispered on the yellow woman's lips, and the throbbing in my back increases tenfold. I slowly turn to her, and I am taken back when I find her eyes hard on me. My head throbs, my back throbs, and now another part of me throbs as well.

"Who are you?" I whisper, and her eyes soften, and a smile appears on her face.

"You look at me as though you know who I am." She replies, and my face heats up from her gaze.

"I don't know who you are…." I confess. There is no point in lying if I want to get to the bottom of this.

"I do know your face however."

"My name is Amita, I have come to Manipura for you Sadmir." She says to me, and again my body sways without my consent, and the tall man at my back is there to steady me. I turn my head to look at him and raise my brow in question.

"I am Adbay, I too came here looking for you. There is much we need to discuss but not here so out in the open."

"Brother take them to our home I will work the shop today."

Fatima suggests, and I don't know if I want to hug her or strangle her.

"Mother should already be on her way to the fish market, so the house should be empty."

"Sadmir, Please take us home so that we may explain things." She whispers, and I can't help but lean towards her. Her face is a beautiful cocoa brown with bright green eyes that stand out even more due to her raven black hair. She is my dream in real life, and my eyes flicker to her lips and stay there as I watch them tremble. Without thinking, I take a step toward her, and I swipe my thumb along her lower lip and cup her cheek in my hand. She tilts her head into my hand and kisses my palm setting my who body on fire.

Whatever effect she has on me seems I have the same effect on her. I don't know this woman, and yet I want her more than I have wanted anyone in my life. It's like her yellow color calls to the deepest parts of me, and those parts wish to answer her call. I nod my head and turn towards the Adbay, not knowing if they are together and if I have overstepped. Amita could be Adbay's wife for all I know, and I just reacted, but she kissed me, so maybe they are not together. Adbay nods his head at me, and I take that as an understanding of some kind.

I thank my sister and turn towards the front door with Amita and Adbay at my back. I feel stronger now, and I can only assume it is because of the women. It's a different kind of power, a personal power, and I have never felt more strength and courage in my system. I walk with my head held high as Adbay and Amita flank me as we make our way home.