THE YOUNG SLAVE FATIMA

THE ARRIVAL

After a long journey that seems to last for like forever, Kadamir, Kashmir, Fatima and the five free slaves finally arrives at Istanbul,the capital of the largest Islamic Empire at that time. So many people gathers together to welcome the brothers whom were apparently famous, because their father is currently one of the most wealthiest men in the city. This seems to amuse Fatima and the free slaves,making them feel at home and happy.

    Some of the people welcoming Kadamir and his brother were holding drums and other musical instruments,dancing and praising them in excitement. Kashmir was riding on a horse,while Kadamir and the others were riding on camels; there were six other camels with lots of goods on them. The celebration ended after the brothers and their companions arrives at a gigantic and well decorated castle guarded by soldiers wielding all sorts of weapons.

After a servant escorted Kadamir and the others inside the castle surrounded by walls made of solid earth and rocks. They found their father in one of the courtyards smiling widely,apparently glad to see his sons back home safe and sound.

    Kashmir and Kadamir rushed towards their beloved father,and embraced him gently and happily,while Fatima and the free slaves stood there feeling excited as well. At that moment, Kashmir thought about introducing Fatima and the others to his father.

    "father,may i introduce our new friends?" Kashmir asked,softly.

    "go on,my son!." His father said,with a gesture.

    "this is fatima,barau,mudi,lama,kabir and mubi." Kashmir said,with a grin.

    Fatima and the free slaves lowered their head as the head of the family looks at them briefly wondering where his sons has found them,because they seems to be foreigners.

    "welcome to Istanbul everyone!" Kashmir's father said,happily.

Kashmir's father whispered in his eldest son's ears demanding to know how he and his brother had met fatima and the rest.But Kadamir claims it's a long story and that they'll tell him later.

    Kashmir calls out for his sisters to come and take fatima to the guest chamber where she could take her bath and rest for the time being.While Kadamir escorted the free slaves to one of the chambers before he figures out a suitable job for all of them.

    Kashmir's younger sisters, Zainab, Bilqis,and Rukaiyat shows up and escorted Fatima to the most beautiful and elegant guest room she has ever seen. Fatima glance around the room,well decorated with expensive furnitures, while Zainab and her sisters kept staring at her happily.

    Bilqis provides hot water in the bath tube for Fatima,while Zainab provides the most elegant dress in the country for their guest,and Rukaiyat prepares the most delicious meal ever cooked.

"if you're ready come downstairs to meet our mother!." Bilqis said,happily.

    "thanks so much!." Fatima said,in excitement.

    "you're welcome,dear. the maids are available if you need anything." Zainab said,tenderly.

    "okay,but you didn't tell me your names." Fatima said,curiously.

    "oh where are our manners? iam rukaiyat,this is zainab and bilqis." Rukaiyat said,happily.

    "and iam fatima,it's nice meeting you!" Fatima said,feeling glad.

    The sisters nods shortly before they exits the guest chamber.Fatima spuns around just before a woman dressed in elegant clothes walks smiling at her.

    After realizing whom it was Fatima immediately bow a bit greeting her traditionally. The woman walks to her happily and embraces her gently.

    "what's your name young lady?." The Woman asked,softly,as she takes fatima's hands.

    "my name's fatima!." Fatima said,with a smile on her face.

    "i'm surprise you can speak our tongue!." The Woman said,sounding surprised and impressed as well.

"my father taught me when i was ten,in fact it's the main language we speak in our hamlet,beside our native tongue!." Fatima said,seriously.

    "i'm kashmir's mother,you're welcome to Istanbul." Kashmir's Mother said,tenderly.

    "thank you!." Fatima said,happily.

    Kashmir's Mother smile widely before leaving the guest chamber. Fatima stood there apparently impressed by the way kashmir's family are very kind to her.

    That Evening, Kadamir and his best friends Kurai and Ohan went for a flying visit to the great palace of Sultan Mustafa the ruler of Ottoman Empire, who is also Kadamir's father in-law due to the fact,he was bethroned to the love of his life Princess Laila,the most beautiful lady in the realm.

    After reaching the gates of the palace made of pure gold,the guards immediately opens the gates for Kadamir and his friends. Kadamir spotted Laila in the garden dressed in a royal dress with a scarf covering her adorable pretty face.

Princess Laila instinctively spuns around,caught the love of her  life and her prince charming staring at her with a lovely smile on his face. She immediately hurried into the palace, Kadamir and his friends follows suit and found sultan Mustafa sitting on his throne comfortable,while his subjects were standing still.

    The Sultan was very happy to see Kadamir and his friends in the palace. He quickly gets up to welcome them shortly after they greeted him traditionally. He dismissed his subjects with a gesture of his hand,before leading his in-law and his friends out of the throne room,to his chamber.

    The Royal Servant served Kadamir and his friends with water,roasted peacocks,fruits and pancakes after they sat down on the sofas with the sultan.

    "the last time i asked laila about you she told me you'll soon be back,i just wonder how she knew that." Sultan Mustafa said,with a grin.

    "that's lovers' instincts,your grace!." Ohan said,in a serious tone.

The Sultan and the others broke out of a laughter that lasted for a while. The Sultan just wonders how much Kadamir and Laila love each other,because he believes the kind of love the two share was meant to last for all eternity,and that kind of love happens once in a lifetime.

    Ohan and Kurai swung a look at Kadamir reminding him why he came to the palace,it's not just about seeing laila,but about seeking permission to marry her,even though he was betrothed to her since their childhood,because their fathers have been friends since childhood.

    "i'll send for laila right away." The Sultan said,ready to take a leave.

    "i came to talk to you about princess laila,your grace." Kadamir said,feeling nervous.

    "iam all ears son!." The Sultan said,softly,studying his expression.

    "i... want to marry princess laila, iam... ready now,your grace!." Kadamir said,nervously.

    "you're like a son to me and your father is the only living best friend i got. laila is yours!." The Sultan said,in a sincere tone.

After a couple of days, Fatima was given an opportunity by Kashmir's parents to go back to school after discovering her innate ability to read and write,and to learn what she don't know.

    Fatima was taking to Ummir Abdallah Islamic School by Kashmir's mother. The school was named after kashmir's father who built it years ago.

    Kashmir has fallen in love with Fatima ever since he met her,but his pride couldn't allow him to tell her how he feels about her,so he decided to keep it a secret for the time being until the time is favourable for him. A part of him urges him to just confront her and tell her how he feels about her as long as he could,while the other part of him warns him to handle the situation sagaciously,to avoid unexpected heartbreak,because love can be catastrophic sometime.

    Kashmir sighed nervously while he sat comfortably on a sofa in his own chamber. He thought about showing fatima that he loves her first,rather than just telling her which might turn into something he didn't plan.

After some days later,Barau and the other free slaves began a business of their own at one of the most influential markets in the country,thanks to Kadamir, Kurai and Kabir. Some of them even get married to Turkish women so they could make a family of their own,while Kadamir married Princess Laila and it was quite such a remarkable  and unforgettable wedding ceremony in the whole of Ottoman Empire,because many noble and royal families had come to the ceremony. Some even mistake the remarkable ceremony with coronation of a new Sultan.

  Throughout the ceremony Kashmir and Fatima has been together, both dressed in royal clothes like a king and a queen. Kashmir could see in Fatima's beautiful eyes that she's in love with him too,but waiting for him to make the move first,while he believes the time has come and he's not willing to hesitate again.