THE VISIT TO OLD MAN HAWM; SAYEE'S LOVER {2}

"Who is Kumajal?" Carmella asked Sayee. "He was my lover," Sayee replied. "The only man who taught me the true meaning of love." Carmella was intrigued. "Tell me more," she said. "How did you meet?" Sayee took a deep breath. "I met him in a small village," she said. "He was unlike anyone I had ever met before. He was kind, gentle, and loving. He made me feel safe and cherished. I fell in love with him instantly." Sayee was told by his father not to travel beyond the river, but he ignored his father's advice and went anyway. He was curious about what lay on the other side. He should have listened to his father. Hetul's eyes widened in confusion as he inquired, "What do you mean?" He had no idea what the other person was talking about. "I do not understand what you are talking about," he said, shaking his head. That night, I ventured beyond the river and was discovered by soldiers of King Caesar's kingdom. They took me into their camp, and I was grateful for their kindness. However, I did not realize that they were up to no good. 

Carmella tilted her head and inquired, "Are you up to no good?" Sayee looked puzzled. "What do you mean?" he asked. "I do not understand what you are talking about," he said, shaking his head. I lacked the foresight to make the right decision," Sayee confessed to Hetul and Carmella. "I was captured by soldiers and taken to their camp. They attempted to execute me, but I escaped. They apprehended me and promised to spare my life in exchange for revealing the location of my village. In my desperation, I agreed. They escorted me to my village, where I showed them everything they desired. The following day, they returned me to their camp. They honored their promise and did not kill me, but they pillaged my village. Overwhelmed with sadness and anger, I was at a loss for what to do.

"So what did you do?" Carmella asked Sayee. "Did you fight back?" Sayee nodded. "Yes, I fought back," he said. "I fought for my life and for the lives of my people." Kumajal rescued me from a soldier who attempted to kill me," Sayee replied. "But he was fatally stabbed in the chest and died in my arms." Carmella asked, "What transpired afterward?" I was captured in a raid by soldiers under the command of your father, King Caesar. He kept me as a slave, but I escaped. I was a prisoner for many years and suffered greatly during that time. I was beaten and starved, and forced to perform hard labor. I was fortunate to survive. "I am amazed," Hetul said, his eyes wide with astonishment. "I find it incredible that you were able to accomplish this. You must have worked very hard to complete this task."

Sayee replied, "Indeed, I expended great effort to please the king, and he found favor in my eyes. However, I did not marry him." "Why not?" asked Hetul. "Because I was already in love with Kumajal," Carmella replied. "I could not be unfaithful to him, even for the king." "What transpired?" Hetul inquired. "Well," Sayee replied, "I resolved to serve the King for twenty years at most, and then I discovered I was with child by Kumajal. I absconded from the Kingdom to give birth to my child, and then I had to go into hiding. It was a very dangerous time for me and my child." Carmella asked where the child was. "I must find him before the ice breaks." Just then, the ice crackled, indicating that it was breaking. Carmella felt a pang of fear, realizing that she might not have much time left.

We must quickly retrieve the leaf before it floats away! Hetul waded closer to the waterfall and declared, "The leaf appears to be just out of reach, but I believe I can retrieve it." Hetul extended his hand and grasped the leaf, then squeezed it into the bowl. The water in the bowl turned purple as Hetul added the leaf. He swirled the liquid around and then applied it to Carmella's injured leg. As soon as the purple liquid touched her skin, her leg was healed. Carmella exclaimed, "That was awesome!" She jumped up and down in the forest, overjoyed that her leg had finally healed. Now, let us seek out the old man Hawm, Hetul said. He is the one who informed me of a special herb that can heal your leg. He is knowledgeable about herbs and their healing properties. Having lived in this forest for many years, I believe he may be able to help you.

Immediately Hetul healed Carmella's leg, she jumped on his back and gave him a kiss on his cheek. He became shy and Sayee turned away trying to tease them a bit. 'Come on let's go' Carmella said. Sayee stood up and so did Hetul, and so the three of them or should I say the Dynamic Trio journeyed to see the Old Man Hawm.

'So how was this herb mixture able to heal my leg?' Carmella asked. 'Yah, Old Man Hawm taught me all these things when I was just 11 years old' Hetul replied. 'I hope he can also teach me some things about the woods,, I would really love to learn' Carmella said. For a 14 year old, she was busty and very heavy at the back.

Hetul was stunned by her beauty each time he set eyes on her. 'What?' Carmella asked staring back at Hetul. For a young man, he too was handsome. 'Nothing, I just admire something about you that I have never seen in any other woman or any of my sisters' Hetul replied. 'Well, that's because you have never been as close as you are to them as you are to me' Carmella said.

Sayee listened to the two chatter all the time long that they all were on the journey. The journey was long, yes but the memories made were more that millions.