Another Anarkali Story

As soon as both of them were made to stand on the ground, a small crowd gathered around them. They were at the end of the market area. As it was too hot that day a very few people were out shopping. Miraz looked around worriedly. Meena looked as if she was going to faint. He looked at her.

"She is not feeling well. Please allow me to carry her in. She can't stand properly" Miraz begged. The eldest soldier watched Meena for a while and then nodded his head.

"Untie his hands" he ordered.

A soldier untied the ropes. He quickly rushed towards Meena before she could fall down. He caught her at the right moment. The crowd around them let out a gasp. He watched around and found most of them were staring at Meena.

"Meena, are you all right?" He asked.

But she didn't answer anything.

"Excuse me, May I have some water. She is dehydrated. We didn't eat for a long time" he begged. A kind of woman who was standing in the crowd nearby with a pot of water came forward.

"Make her sit on the ground, please" she requested him.

Miraz carefully placed her on the ground in the sitting position. The woman splashed some water on her face. She wetted the end of her pallu and rubbed it on her face. Meena opened her eyes.

"Miraz, water!" she whispered.

"Here, have some water, my child" the woman said and made her drink from the pot water. She drank and quenched her thirst. After she was done, she tried to stand up.

"Are you okay now?" he asked

"I am. I just don't feel good. I need to get under the fan fast. I can't bear the heat wave"

"Just hold on for a moment. They are going to take us into the palace. I am hoping it would be cooler"

The kind woman stared at the two talking in a different language. "You have a very loving husband" she said to Meena. Meena turned towards her and smiled. "Thanks for the water, kind lady" Meena thanked.

"Is your wife, okay now?" the eldest soldier asked.

"Yeah" Miraz answered. He picked her up in her arms.

"Then let's not waste time and go in. Don't know what threat you two bring to our land"

"Do we really look like we can cause damage to your kingdom?"

"No, but you two might know some black magic or something."

"Black magic, really? That's funny. We are from future and we need to get back home"

"Future?"

"Yes, isn't it obvious from our get-up?"

"They are lying, sir. Don't listen to them. Remember the last time we caught the spy from the Pindari kingdom? He also cooked up a massive story" A soldier explained.

"Hmm" the eldest soldier said. 

As they were both taken inside the palace. Meena looked at the beautiful architecture.

"These are beautiful!" she complimented.

"Do you know what they are talking about?" Miraz asked her

"No, I don't understand their language"

"They think we are spies or something. I don't have any clue about the law and order of this age. But if they keep believing that we are spies we might just be dead by the sundown"