Chapter 10

The Revelation

Tamina really loved working at the hospital, treating patients and making them smile brought her peace. Most of her patients were foreigners so she had to keep learning English, but her main purpose for learning English was something else. Col. Barnes and Tamina keep meeting at the hospital almost every week when he brought his injured men after a mock drill or during military practices. During those weeks which col. Barnes failed to visit, Tamina felt empty and disappointed. She missed him and her disappointments later turned into frustration. Col. Barnes had slowly invaded all her senses as her likeness for him grew. She was too naive enough to understand that it was love but instead, she thought it was a sense of friendship and respect for the young legate. Tamina was confused as it was her first time. Col. Barnes occupied all her thoughts and dreams. She was going nuts as she even started to see his faces in all those soldiers who appeared in front of her in military uniforms.

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Col. Barnes was busy with the investigation regarding illegal weapon sale by captain Eugene and the past week has been so hectic for him. He was waiting for news from Dr. Amir and professor Lee. The only time he felt at ease during the past week was when he thought about a pair of alluring eyes. He couldn’t erase the memory of her eyes from his head and kept wondering what the rest of her face would look like. He tried to imagine her face, but the more he thought about it, he grew curious and the curiosity was killing him from inside. Tamina kept haunting him in his thoughts during the day and in his dreams during the nights. Col. Barnes was a man who had only know war and bloodshed in his entire lifetime, but the feelings that he harbours for her was new to him. Whatever was happening to him right now was a first. Col. Barnes was mature enough to understand that it was love, but he doubted if it was the same for her too. Thoughts of her had swept past his bones, filled his existence and stole his peace. He felt restless, to see her again, even after each goodbyes.

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Two weeks later, Tamina was at the market place as usual, buying medicines for her father. Col. Barnes also happened to be there at the same time. A smile appeared on each other’s faces as they met at the narrow road leading to the market place. Col. Barnes knew Tamina was smiling as her eyes crinkled at the ends even though her face was covered with a niqab.

‘ We meet again, after two weeks, I guess. ‘ Col. Barnes said smiling.

‘ Yes, it’s been two weeks. Where have you been.? ‘ Tamina asked curiously.

‘ Been busy with some work, had some errands to run at the capital and so on. ‘ Col. Barnes said, acting tired.

‘You are here to buy medicines? Is your father still ill?’ Col. Barnes asked concerned, looking at the multiple bags in her hands.

‘ Oh.. Mmm.. Yeah. He has pain on his legs and knees. Arthritis, I think. Also, here to buy some groceries too. Why are you here? There are people who could run errands for you, but still you came here. ’ Tamina said trying to change the subject.

‘ I am here to do some personal shopping and it’s not anything work related. I think you arrived too late. It’s almost seven and the curfew will begin in six minutes. ‘ Col. Barnes said looking at his wrist watch.

Tamina's eyes bulged hearing that as she had forgotten about the curfew talking to the Colonel.

‘ I gotta go. See you again at the hospital. Good night. ‘ Tamina said and swiftly turned around and practically ran back to her house.

Col. Barnes knew that she couldn’t make it within six minutes and will probably end up getting caught by his men on duty. Col. Barnes rushed towards the direction she had ran and after jogging a bit, he found her silhouette in the dark, looking around nervously and walking forward, clutching the bags to her chest.

‘ Tamina, wait’. Col. Barnes called from behind and she turned back, relieved hearing him.

‘ Why are you here?. ‘ She asked confused.

‘ Let me walk you home. It’s not safe during this hours to walk alone, you know. ‘ Col. Barnes said still panting.

Tamina slowly nodded her head and col. Barnes took two bags from her hands and nodded her to walk. They walked together, silently, shoulder to shoulder in the cold night with the moon shining brightly above their heads, lighting their paths. After a few minutes of walking, Tamina stopped in front of a gate of a house with a small courtyard.

‘ This is your house.? ‘ Col. Barnes asked and she nodded her head.

‘ Go in then. It’s cold. Don’t come too late at the market place and try to come back before the curfew begins. Ok? ‘ Col. Barnes said concerned.

‘ Ok. Good night. See you at the hospital. ‘ Tamina said and suddenly the noise of the front door opening was heard.

‘ I have to go. ‘ Tamina said and ran inside the house, opening the gate in a swift motion.

Col. Barnes stood there, looking at the two bags in his hands, wondering what to do with it. She had totally forgot about it and rushed inside as soon as she heard the door opening. Tamina reached the front door as soon as Aisha was about to get out of the house. Seeing Tamina, Aisha heaved a sigh of relief.

‘Where were you?. ‘ Aisha asked in a trembling voice.

She was worried for Tamina as she hadn’t came home even after the curfew had begun. Tamina understood her mother’s feeling. She already had lost Tariq, so obviously she was very much concerned about her daughter’s safety.

‘ I am fine, mother and I am here. Everything is fine. ‘ She said in a calming voice, removing her niqab.

Aisha didn’t say anything further.

‘ Bring the groceries to the kitchen. ‘ Aisha instructed her daughter and walked straight to the kitchen.

That’s when Tamina remembered about the bags that col. Barnes took from her hand. She sneaked back to the courtyard, closing the front door silently and then walked towards the gate.

Col. Barnes was still contemplating whether to stay there with the bags or leave with them. He was about to put the bags at the gate and suddenly the gate opened and Tamina stepped out from the courtyard.

‘ Oh colonel, you still here? I thought you left. I am sorry, I completely forgot about the bags. I was startled when mother opened the door and I have to run before she finds out that I came home with a stranger, that too a foreigner. I am really sorry that I made you wait here. ‘ Tamina whispered in one breath and saw col. Barnes staring at her in a different way.

It seems like his jaws were frozen and he forgot to blink. That’s when she realised that her face and head were exposed as she had left her niqab at the house.

Tamina felt conscious about his gaze as it was the first time ever a foreigner had seen her face. Col. Barnes felt bad for making her uncomfortable and suddenly looked away.

‘ Here is the bags. ‘ He handed it over to her and moved a step back quickly.

‘ Thank you and sorry. ‘ Tamina said smiling.

Col. Barnes felt a shiver run down his spine. He felt the fear of falling in love. He knew he had fallen completely for this woman in front of him. The moonlight highlighted her facial features, her high nose and cheekbones cast a shadow on the rest of her face and her lips were pinkish red due to the cold. Her curly hair was the color of the night sky and a few curls decorated her hairline. She was gorgeous, a beauty which cannot be described in mere words. Col. Barnes gulped down involuntarily. Her beauty has surpassed all his imaginations and he was happy about that. He engraved her face in his heart to remember even when she is wearing a niqab.

‘ Good night, Tamina. ‘ Col. Barnes said those words very slowly as he was trapped in a dream.

‘ Good night, colonel. See you again, at the hospital. ‘

Tamina said smiling, her eyes crinkling at the ends.

Col. Barnes stood there watching her leave with the two bags of groceries in her hands. He took a step back from her because he was afraid that she might hear his ragged breath and unsteady heartbeats if he stood too close to her. Taking a sniff of cold air, he looked once again at the house and then walked back to the legation office.

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Dr. Amir and Professor Lee spent the last week digging information about the blacksmith from one of professor Lee’s student's grandfather and set out to find him the following week. His name was Kaidan. According to the informer, he was the most skilled smith in the whole village and was young, in his late twenties. Both the men walked deep into the village in search for kaidan's smithy earning glares and stares from the natives. Dr. Amir felt awkward at their glances and smiled wide at them to lighten their moods but professor Lee kept a poker face which was indeed scarier than the native's glare.

‘ Will you at least relax? You looks like you are here to kidnap their daughters. ‘ Dr. Amir complained on their way.

‘ I am relaxed, doctor. This is my normal relaxed face. ‘ Professor Lee said still keeping his expression intact.

‘ Don’t your facial muscles work, professor? ‘ Dr. Amir said turning to his friend and making faces at him. Professor Lee frowned at his friend.

‘ Stop it, doctor. You look like a clown. I am sure they keep looking at you because of your strange behavior. ‘ Professor Lee said embarrassed at Dr. Amir.

‘ At least give them a smile, to lighten the mood. They look scared. ‘ Dr. Amir said looking at the pale faces of the natives seeing two foreigners.

Professor Lee didn’t mind his friend as his whole focus was on finding Kaidan’s house. After walking a little bit longer, he stopped in front of a gate and looked around.

‘ We are here. ‘ Professor Lee said glancing ahead the gate.

‘ Ha! At last. The house of the legendary blacksmith of Belgarath, who makes replicas of guns. ‘ Dr. Amir whispered the last part.

They both entered into the courtyard and found that the house was accompanied by a small lane that goes deeper into the smithy.

‘ I smell coal, molten iron and salt in the air. ‘ Professor Lee said sniffing.

‘ What are you, a snake? All I smell is air, which is a little bit… mmm… how to put it?... Unfresh? ‘ Dr. Amir said looking at his friend.

‘ Let’s get this done, doctor. Col. Barnes is waiting for us. ‘ Professor Lee said looking at his friend.

‘ What if we solve this case and arrest captain Eugene? The first legates who ended the miseries of the Belgarathians! We will be praised. ‘ Dr. Amir said imagining the scenery in his head.

‘ And then what? We are not doing this to get praised. This is for our country, to stop people stealing our wealth and protect the name of our nation. That’s all, doc. Keep your head straight. ‘ Professor Lee said.

‘ Ahhh!!! I know Einstein. But, getting praised is a bonus and it feels good to fight against injustice. ‘ Dr. Amir said smiling at his friend.

‘ Let’s go inside. Don’t make any mistakes. This is our only chance to get Owais and Captain Eugene. ‘ Professor Lee said and Dr. Amir nodded gravely. Both the legates took a deep breath and walked inside the smithy, praying their mission to be a successful one.

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The next evening, the three legates were waiting at the legation for Kaidan to show up to collect his payment. Dr. Amir and professor Lee had approached him for making the replica of a pistol secretly and offered him huge amount of money as the price and asked him to collect the money at the legation next day. During their conversation, Kaidan had disclosed him making weapons for Owais and as customers, he even showed them his own wardrobe of replicas which he had secretly stashed from Owais. Kaidan was the evidence of Captain Eugene and Owais illegal transactions and the legates wanted him to confess that. They waited for him for more than three hours but, Kaidan didn’t show up.

‘ What happened? Why is he not coming? Does Owais knew that we had approached him? ‘ Col. Barnes asked looking tensed.

‘ Then that man is in danger’. Professor Lee said.

‘ No, no, I can’t let that happen. Last time, because of me, two people were beaten to pulp and yet Owais had escaped unscathed. This time, I don’t want anything happening to that man, because of me. ‘ Col. Barnes panicked and grabbed his coat to look out for Kaidan.

‘ Colonel, if we go out looking for Kaidan now, Owais will definitely know that we are involved. What if he had only speculations about our involvement? If we get involved now, his doubts will be cleared and the chance of that guy’s survival will be less. We can’t go today. Wait till tomorrow. ‘ Professor Lee reasoned out.

‘ He is right, colonel. Still, we are not sure if he got caught by Owais or didn’t make it here due to any personal reasons. So lets wait a day. ‘Dr. Amir agreed with his friend.

‘ What if something bad happens to him?’.Col. Barnes asked, feeling guilty.

‘ I don’t think Owais will hurt him even if Kaidan get caught because there is still investigation about the last case of you getting shot going on. He is not that foolish enough to make another mess when one is still going on. ‘ Professor Lee said and col. Barnes calmed down a bit.

‘ Just one more day and we will act, colonel.How about we go on a small trip to clear our minds? ‘ Dr. Amir said looking at the other two.

‘ To where? ‘. Professor Lee asked thinking it was right.

‘ To the market place. ‘ Dr. Amir said

‘ Sounds great. I have never been to the market place ever since I came here. ‘ Professor Lee said.

‘ Wow, it’s your first trip to the market place then? I promise you, my friend, I will make it quiet memorable. ‘ Dr. Amir said and looked at col. Barnes who was deep in thoughts.

‘ Ohh. Come on, colonel. This trip will help to clear your mind. I promise, I will make it so special for you guys.’ Dr. Amir said enthusiastically and dragged the young legate outside the legation followed by professor Lee.

‘ I have a surprise. Wait here'. Dr. Amir said and then disappeared somewhere.

After a few minutes, he came back riding a moped and stopped besides the other two who looked confused.

‘ What are you waiting for? Hop on’. Dr. Amir said smiling.

Both the other looked at each other and heaved a sigh of disappointment.

‘ Doctor, are we going on this thing? You should be kidding. All three of us on this? I was feeling much better earlier’. Col. Barnes asked unbelievably.

‘ Trust me, I have seen about five natives riding on this at the market place even without wearing a helmet. All three of us can fit in it, perfectly. ‘ Dr. Amir explained.

‘ I totally regret agreeing to go with you. I should have just walked to the market place. ‘ Professor Lee said contemplating whether to get into the bike or not.

‘Congratulations professor, your very first trip is already ruined.’ Col. Barnes commented.

‘ Come on, Trust me lads. This trip will cheer you up. I promise. ‘ Dr. Amir said convincing the other two.

With sour expressions, professor Lee sat at the middle and col. Barnes at the very back of the seat. Dr. Amir started riding the moped with a hum. The journey was through an unpaved, bumpy road and Dr. Amir never failed to ride it through each and every gutter on the way. After going through fifteen minutes of torture, the trio reached the market place.

‘Ahhh!! I think my balls are flattened professor’. Col. Barnes said getting off the bike.

‘ Same here, colonel. Good that I already had kids before this ride. ‘ Professor Lee said.

‘ You have kids? I didn’t know. ‘.Dr. Amir said cheerfully parking the bike.

He went straight to the pharmacy to get something while colonel Barnes and Professor Lee stood near the bike, waiting for the doctor while enjoying the view. While waiting for Dr. Amir, colonel Barnes and professor Lee took strolls around the market place buying random stuffs. It was almost sunset when they started their journey back from the market place. The Belgarathian sky was bathed in all its golden glory getting ready to turn red.

‘ Let’s go boys. Everything is done. ‘ Dr. Amir appeared from the crowd carrying six bags , three in each hand.

The other two legates were out of words and looked at each other in frustration.

‘What? Do you expect me to ride this bike while carrying these bags in my hands?'. Dr. Amir asked unbothered.

Without any words they occupied their seats, with two bags between each of them. The moped appeared like a small truck, tightly packed with goods. The people at the market place were staring at them and some were laughing too. Both professor Lee and col. Barnes had bags hanging at each side of their arms. The exit was narrow, so Dr. Amir was driving slowly and carefully not to hit anything on the way. As they went on, they became aware of the eyes staring at them and out of embarrassment, both col. Barnes and professor Lee tried to hide their heads in the available space. Suddenly, col. Barnes spotted a familiar figure amidst the crowd staring at him with amber eyes that crinkled at the end. He recognised them and involuntarily waved at its owner.

Tamina laughed out loud at col. Barnes as the bags hanging on his wrist slapped his face as he waved at her. She waved back enthusiastically. Col. Barnes kept looking at her as long as she disappeared from his view and the smile on his face was obvious, telling the whole world that he was in love. Seeing col. Barnes made Tamina's heart flutter and she felt overwhelmed by an unknown emotion. She stared at him till he vanished from her view and felt herself longing for him to stay. At that moment Tamina knew, it was not friendship and respect for the legate that she had, but it was love blooming at the bottom of her heart.

‘ Is it someone you know? ‘. Professor Lee asked detecting aggressive movement on his back as colonel Barne's elbow kept hitting his ribs as he kept waving at someone.

‘ Mmm.. Yes, ‘. Col. Barnes was startled at the sudden question.

Professor Lee was about to ask another one when the golden sky above his stole all his attention. He was mesmerised at the beautiful view and was left speechless.

‘ It’s

. Reminds me of my home town.’ Professor Lee said, a lot of emotions in his words.

‘ Yes, it is. ‘ Col. Barnes agreed with a smile. Both the legates became silent as they were lost in their own thoughts, completely forgetting about their worries. A small smile appeared on Dr. Amir's lips.

‘ Told you that this trip was going to be a memorable one. ‘ Dr. Amir whispered to himself as a cold breeze carried his words away.