Lies

Munir was discussing his plans with Khalid when the girl entered the room. They stopped at her sight following her with their eyes, as she occasionally stumbles on the excess fabric of the dress she had on. Tottering her way to a round table where the two were seated her eyes taking in the full view of the room she had walked in. Exact replica of the one she had stepped out from; the same high vaulted ceiling, blue hand made tiles covering the walls, with black marble floor. Only difference was that it was bigger; a small wooden table in the center and endless shelves of books lined along the walls, in one corner an old dusty arm chair with a small wooden stool to its side. The room had three more doors apart from the one she had emerged from, coming to a halt beside an empty chair she releases the brown cloth from her hands.

Khalid tries to restrain his laugh but his silent chuckles betray him "please sit down, I can see that you ..." Munir offers gesturing to an empty seat across from them, before Khalid jumps in "Please let the girl catch her breath". Her huge brown sunken eyes drop to the ground ashamed for her actions as she takes the seat. Khalid offers her a cup of water,which she reluctantly gulps down every single drop. "Now we can talk, first of all what are you wearing?" Khalid inquires his arched brows collapsing into a furrow and a smile stretching across his hard features "Leila gave it to me she says its outgrown her" mina glumly stated. "It doesn't suite you,can't you see?" A not so amused munir complimented"what happened to the ones I recommended?" Mina looked at the oversized dress then back to the person questioning her.

Mina wasn't about to give away her newly found friend who had thought the clothes offered to her were 'inappropriate' as she had put it .so she went on and took the blame "I am truly sorry master I didn't mean to, punish me as you wish it's all my fault". The girl was suddenly in tears,amid sobs she continuously apologized for her actions. "Oh don't cry it's okay, I won't punish you just stop crying" Munir reasoned clearly surprised by the reaction. Munir dealt with many slaves through his work. Every time he saw the fear and frailty in their eyes his heart ached.

Their emotional and at times mental instabilities, made him hate the people responsible. It was a marvel how they would invent artistic lies and punishments for these poor people. With the law at the forefront it was hard to stop it. This girl was one of the victims of a culture he so despised. Which came from the long gone conquers who brought many vices to the kingdom. He felt sorry for this girl who like every other slave child lost her innocence to the cruelty of the world. Most of them eventually end up dead either murdered or committed suicide for hate of living. It was these precise reasons that he started the rebellion, to fight for these helpless people. Eventually she stopped crying but the apologetic expressions never left her face." We have called you here to help you not punish you" Khalid added warmly passing her another cup of water. When she appeared calm enough they continued their conversation.

"Please can you tell us where you are from?"

"How did you get in that basket?"

"Who do you belong to?"

"Why did you come to mahdiya?"

Munir questions continuously he wanted to help only if Mina cooperates otherwise all will be useless. His questions hung in the air for a while, Mina weighed her options ;she didn't know whether to trust this new master after all he was but a stranger to her. But unless she gives them something the questions won't stop and who knows the lengths they were willing to go to get answers.Moreover, she was really scared of how their starless eyes bore into her with curiosity.

"My town has many people, there is a big well where I used to play with other slave children while fetching water for my mistress ..."

"What was the name of the town?" Munir interrupted

"I don't know" but in her mind the name flashes brightly in bold letters 'Haldin'.

"Is there anything else in that town like a wazir?" He continues to ask all the while reading her uncomfortable expressions. "I don't know" of course there was a wazir in her town her response was not all a lie as she had only heard people complain about him taking more taxes than required but had no pleasure in making his acquaintance.

"This mistress what was her name?" Munir's patience was wearing thin with the dead ends he was hitting with every question.

"Um..."

"Go on tell us"he encourages her hopefully.

"I... think it's mistress" Munir shook his head disappointed with the answers he gave up. Meanwhile, a quiet Khalid realizes his impatience and chips in "this mistress you talk of did she live with anyone else in the house?"

"I don't know, please believe me she always locked me in a room and I would only be allowed to run errands." Mina pleads with the only true statement she could give.

That didn't deter his course "When you were playing didn't you hear anything from the other children?"

"Sorry but all were like me no one knew anything."

"These children can you tell me their names?" she hesitated for a while before answering "Ali" the name of a drunk man she once helped treat after a fight in the tavern and" Anissa" the only other name she knew that wasn't linked to her. Khalid looks at her thoughtfully then leaned to Munir do we trust her? She is clearly a liar and not a very good one it seems" Khalid whispers to him. "We must have faith, besides we need her to cooperate." Munir talks back in a hushed tone his eyes studying the girl in front of them like a cat in the rain she sat there fiddling with her hands.

Khalid sighs "We appreciate that you have trusted us with the information little ghost; now here is how things are, as you can tell you are sick..."

"No I feel better now I can stand and walk I am not sick" Mina protests.

"I am the physician here I say if you are sick or not besides with that strength you can't work effectively" Munir states impatiently. "Sorry master"Mina apologized, "You are very stupid little ghost haven't you seen your self in a mirror lately ! A ghost indeed Khalid declares.

"Sorry little master."

"Little master" He huffs then continues "don't call us your masters am Khalid and this is Munir." "So...rrry kh...alid" Mina apologizes again but Khalid ignores her and goes on like she hadn't said a word.

"Anyway the king will summon you to court anytime soon. So we want you to lock your arrogance away, you must insist that you recover first before being handed over to the slave traders. Is that clear?" Mina was so confused at the time but in fear of angering them she just nodded politely. She thought them to be crazy, was she really ignorant? If so how was she to lock it away? These people claim that she is sick although she has never felt better, now that she was far away from mama Samira. Why did Khalid call her a ghost? Her stretched skin, bony nature and goggling eyes never bothered her. She liked the way she was, even Mama Samira never seemed to mind it at all;in fact she thought it suited her.

"Well child since you feel better; how about Khalid shows you around my quarters after you have changed into something comfortable that is." Munir suggested having noticed the girl's amazement. "Thank you" Mina's face lit up with excitement. She could not wait to discover more of the magnificent place. "But sir I have to check up on my patients, I did promise to when I came back." Khalid complains, "surely you can make a compromise for our guest". Munir stands from the table and takes his leave, dramatically his emerald caftan trails behind its silver edges shinning against the black marble.

He barely took two steps when the largest door in the room bursts open. Two guards barged in "Munir sir," they cross their hands and beat their chests banging their metal vests in what seemed to be a salute." The child is to be presented to Malik's court, she is to be judged for her crimes." The words came through as a command more than a statement. One of them got hold of Mina, "Take her" Munir disinterestedly dismisses them. The two marched out carrying the girl with them Munir following behind. Mina went without posing any struggle. All the while Khalid tugged along eager to see what would happen to her.