Safeena

lost is found

As Safeena stepped in, Veera noticed her toes.
" What happened to your toes?!" She exclaimed in worry.
" They cut it."
" Cut it?! Who?!"
" My grandfather."
" What? Why?"
" It's a long story. Actually I am a princess."
" A princess?"
She was shocked.
" No don't. I am no longer a princess now. So it doesn't matter."
" Why? "
" He just disowned me."
" Oh dear , what happened exactly?"
Safeena began to tell her the whole story and she was listening to it keenly. She slowly started trusting them .
" Oh god! You all have been through a lot."
She nodded.
" I should say , you are really very brave. " Veera said.
" Thank you "
" Do you want something to eat? I can prepare it for you."
" No thanks, I am waiting for them to come back. Why aren't they back yet?"
She went towards the door.
" Wait, don't open it. They will knock."
" I am feeling restless!"
" Don't worry they will be back soon."
" Why is everything so closed? Even the windows?"
" I live alone that's why."
" But you shouldn't -"
" It's alright. I like it this way."
" Okay. Do you wear this type of clothing everyday?"
" Yes why?"
" Nothing it just looks so difficult for walking."
" It's actually very comfortable."
" If you say so. And that jewellery?"
" That too, you would see all the villagers wear this type of jewellery."
" Ohh. It looks so good on you."
" Thank you."
" And your hairs , they are so beautiful." Veera had thick long black hairs decorated with flowers.
Veera smiled.

After some time there was a knock on the door.
Veera walked towards the door and slightly opened it.Safeena rushed towards behind her to look if they have arrived.
" Yes?"
" I need some water maiden, would you please help me?" There was a tall man standing outside. Safeena went inside saddened.
" Alright wait here."
She went inside , brought a glass of water and handed it to the man. He took the water from her hands. She immediately removed her hands from their contact.
" Can I come inside?"
" Why? "
" I need a little rest, I have been wandering around the forest since last night."
" No , sorry. You can find another home on this way."
" But you seem to be very hospitable."
" But no-- sorry."
" My lady, please?" He kept on insisting.
" No - sorry --"
" Why are you sorry?! Get the hell away from here. " Safeena barged in with her high note.
" I wasn't talking to you ." The man said.
" But I am talking to you. Get lost from here. And don't even dare to come back! If I see you again, you won't go back alive , I promise you that."
" Lady you got me wrong-"
" Do you want to fight? Because I will."
The man then ran away and Veera immediately closed the door.
" That's why I keep everything closed. People take advantage of me living alone."
" But you shouldn't listen, make them go away."
" I wish I could be brave like you."
" You are. You live alone here, in a village that has been hidden behind a huge and dangerous forest. You are so brave."
She smiled and said,
" Thank you."

" They aren't back , enough, I am going out."
" Safeena, wait don't go! Come back."
" Why is Alfez not coming back ?!"
" Wait wait, please what if you go and they come?"
Safeena thought for a while.
" Yes, they could come back anytime now, please wait."
" Alright."
As time passed,
The sky was getting darker and darker.
" Why it's so dark all of a sudden?!"
" It looks like it could rain."
" Not now ! Not now !" Safeena yelled.
It started raining badly all of a sudden.
" Oh my god! No! Why now!"
" Safeena --"

After a while, Safeena saw Alfez coming running towards the door all drenched in rain.
" Alfez? Where is Aseem? " She looked for him everywhere.
" Alfez? Are you okay? Come in!"
Veera was standing at the door. Alfez looked at her and safeena noticed.
" Veera? He can come in right? Please?"
" It's okay, He isn't home?" Alfez said and immediately asked about Aseem.
" No!"
" I have searching for so long, I thought he would have been home, that's why I came back to check. But it seems no , I will go back."
" Safeena, please get him in, he will fall sick." Veera said.
" Alfez, let me go , I will look for him, I can't stay here helpless. Please it's killing me. Please let me go. I promise I will stay safe but please let me go."
" Safeena calm down, I will find him. If he comes here before I do, then give me a signal anything, loud noise , anything. Alright?! Please? I am leaving."
" No please, it's raining badly, come in , get dried and then leave after the rain stops. Please? " Veera requested Alfez.
" Alfez , get in , I will go."
" Safeena , it's dangerous to go out now. You won't even notice if someone is standing in front of you how could to look for him? Please wait for sometime, it will clear up soon. "
Safeena and Alfez both of them hesitated for a while
" Please safeena it's pitch dark." Veera said. Alfez stepped in with safeena.
" I am worried about him. He must be somewhere out in the forest. I don't know what danger awaits him there. I still can't stay Veera."
" Safeena , she is right. I don't want you to get lost in there. " Alfez said.
Veera offered a dry cloth for him.
" Thank you." Alfez said.
Veera was about to leave when Alfez said,
" And not only for that, thank you for letting us in."
" It's alright. Afterall it's your house. You can do whatever you want."
" No we can't. You have been living here since a long time. You kept our house as a home all these years. It's yours too."
She smiled and went towards the cooking place.

Safeena waited at the doorstep looking outside.
" Safeena? Do you need something to eat?"
" No."
" You have been standing here since a long time, please rest."
" It's okay."
" Do you need anything else?"
" I need Aseem."
" Safeena I can understand you, please --"
" Why he is not coming?! I believed. What happened? Why is he not coming back? I-- I " Tears started rolling down her eyes. Veera immediately hugged her. Alfez was looking at them.
" Safeena, I am going back there. Don't worry. "
" It's clearing up." Veera said.
" Thank God." Alfez said.
" I am leaving."
" Alfez I am coming."
" Safeena --"
" Please Alfez, please! I promise I will stay with you but please let me come. please."
" Alright, alright. Veera I need one more favour from you."
" Yes go ahead."
" Would you please send us a signal if Aseem comes here first?"
" Sure. But how should I recognise him?"
" Oh right. Just ask him about his brother ' s name or about Safeena. "
" Alright. Please be safe." She said to them.
" Yes."
Safeena started running towards the forest.
" Safeena slow"

As she was about to enter the forest when she heard the horse tappings.
She stood right there waiting for something to emerge out the woods.
She hoped , she prayed for it to be him. Alfez was standing behind her and Veera was watching it through her door.

As she waited with her life in her hands, there he emerged on his horse smiling looking at her. Aseem jumped from his horse and ran towards her. She immediately seeing him, ran towards him and jumped on him.
" Aseem! Aseem! "
" Yes it's me "
She wrapped her legs around his waist and hugged him tightly. Alfez watched it happily and let them have their moment.
" Where were you?! I was so worried. I was waiting for so long."
" I am so sorry, I got lost and then it started raining--"
" It's okay . You are back that's more than enough."
" Are you crying?"
" No I am very happy."
Aseem laughed. She refused to get down from him.
" I should carry you like this now?"
" Yes you should."
He went towards Alfez with her on him. They both smiled towards each other.
They walked towards the house.
" Veera, this is Aseem. "
" Hello, please come in." Alfez smiled after hearing it.
Safeena was on him like a Koala bear.
" We are inside princess."
" So? You can sit there. With me."
" Alright as you say princess."

Veera called Alfez in the kitchen.
" Listen, I have prepared this , is this okay? I mean I can make more but I had only this much stuff in the house. So it's okay right? If you don't like this then I will get some more vegetables from the market and make it for you right away!"
" Veera, calm down, it's okay. We don't mind anything. Whatever you have prepared is more than enough. And you shouldn't have done this alone. "
" It's alright. "
" Thank you." Alfez was about to leave when she stopped him.
" Ah , listen, --"
" Yes?"
She hesitated.
" What happened?"
" You all are going to live here?"
" Yes , we have to."
She looked tensed.
" Why? "
" Please let me stay for a few days, I will look for another place, but till then please don't --"
" Hey hey! Veera, nobody is going to throw you out. You are going to stay here. This is your home as much it is ours. So don't hesitate okay?"
" Thank you so much." She smiled.
" Don't say thank you. It's okay. "

Looking at them, Aseem whispered into Safeena's ears.
" Did Alfez got married behind my back?!"
" No, she is Veera, She stays here. She helped us a lot today."
" Ohh "