Palmist

During the year of living here, Sultana had studied this area well and already knew from which bus stop and where the bus goes. Jumping into the first oncoming minibus, and all, trembling with fear, she sat down in the farthest corner, the door slammed shut, and the minibus drove off. Having reached the final stop, the girl got out of the gazelle with fear, and realizing that she was on the outskirts of the city, she breathed a sigh of relief. Now she had to get to her hometown and tell her father and the authorities everything. – How to do it? Go by bus or hitchhiking? Therefore, and so dangerous? Sultana understood the danger she was in, and if she were found, she would face the same fate as her fiance. She did not have a passport, so they will not put me on the bus. We will have to get there on our own. But Sultana was a woman, a Muslim woman, and hitchhiking was much scarier. Moreover, many men of the capital knew her by sight. Sultana went to the suburbs, she had money, and she rented a room from a single woman. A day later, she told her everything and asked for help. The woman believed her and with tears in her eyes promised to help.

Two guards, who discovered the loss, turned themselves in to their boss. – Look for yourself. Alive or dead. Better alive. I need her for the case. You are two of my best guards; I would not like to see you with a hole in your forehead. The guards came out of the office briskly. A whole search party was assigned to search for Sultana.

Arthur was a terrible man. His power was much greater than anyone suspected was. Not many people knew about it, and those who knew it were a few. His main official field of activity was cafes and restaurants. He himself did not like nightclubs, and therefore did not open them. Arthur liked to look after young girls and dancers, and later they found themselves in his slavery. It was his weakness. Only a few people knew about his slavery, the bulk of the workers believed that he was just a cruel restaurant owner who loves girls.

By nature, yes, Arthur was very cruel. This cruelty had developed in him over the years, even his harsh features on his face spoke about it. He had such an evil face that, looking at him, you could tell a lot about this man. Arthur was not tall, about one hundred and sixty-five centimeters. A solid build, his skin was dark, and flabby, despite the fact that he was not old. He was about fifty years old. His eyes and hair were black, the arrangement of the hair on his head was similar to a lion’s mane, and they were stiff and not pleasant to the touch. His habit of combing his hair back with his left hand has developed over the years and over time, he did it so mechanically that the hair took a certain pose. His gaze was aquiline, his eyes glittered maliciously, and nothing could escape his gaze. His rough skin on his face and sunken dimples indicated that he smoked too much, and he always smelled unpleasantly of cigarettes. Despite all his rudeness, Arthur was always clean-shaven, and always wore the same suit and never changed it for another.

Despite his hobby of looking after girls, Arthur did not like women, including Sultan. In his entire life, he has never been married, he has no children, and any woman has not yet conquered his heart. For him, women were a source of income, a living commodity, nothing more. And when he didn’t need the product, he just got rid of it without any regret. Its activities have been developed in several countries, including Russia. In addition, Arthur got rid not only of girls, this also applied to the male sex. As soon as he did not need a person, he saw him as a threat and the person disappeared without a trace. Everyone was afraid of him, and not everyone went to work for him. Those who went to work for him received good money and did not complain, they had no idea where they were. Many have already talked about his dark deeds, but no one opened his mouth more than necessary, everyone was afraid to disappear without a trace. Those who helped disappear without a trace disappeared after, so that there would be less talk. Arthur was afraid of unnecessary gossip, he considered it a threat, and thus covered his tracks.

These two guards knew their outcome, so they prayed to God for help to find this escaped dancer. Meanwhile, Sultana was having a nice breakfast in the company of a kind woman who sheltered her. Sultana always cooked the food herself. She was not accustomed to ready-made food, and did not like it. For breakfast, she always mostly cooked scrambled eggs with tomatoes; it was their favorite dish with her father. At breakfast, Sultana always remembered her father and ate slowly to prolong the pleasure. This lovely woman listened to Sultana’s stories about her childhood, about the death of her mother, and finally about how she fell into slavery. – It seems to me that your master is a dark man. This woman was not so young, perhaps she understood people.

– I think so too. He killed my fiance.

– So you had a fiance? I did not know about it, but I was. I had a truly devoted person. He died for me. God did not give us the happiness to be happy, but I found out that I was loved. Sultana told the woman about the guy who tried to save her.

– It is a sign that you can handle it. You will still be happy. You managed to escape. You are so young, so beautiful, and so smart. I feel that you will succeed. What city are you from?

– Poypet.

– Not very close. We need to think about how to transport you. My friends can take you to a nearby town and buy a bus ticket, but you are so young, I am afraid to let you go alone without documents.

– I have no other choice. At least I will see my father there, and I will be safe. The whole town knows me there. And here the whole town knows this killer. No one will believe me.

– I know. I know.

– When your friends can take me.

– Tomorrow. I will ask them, and they will take you tomorrow. Sultana’s eyes lit up with fire. She was already at home and did not think about the danger that lay in wait for her.

A great danger awaited the Sultan, but she did not suspect it. Arthur was beside himself with anger, he was tearing and throwing. He did not kill his guilty guards, in principle, so that they would look better. Everyone was looking for Sultan, everyone wanted to live, and finally everyone concluded that they should look for her in her hometown of Poipet.

– Go there and guard her house until she shows up. But when she shows up, grab her and bring her. Not really. I will personally go to her house. I will surprise her. And when the surprise is done, I will personally take her to Moscow, and I will send her father to hell. Arthur shouted these words and angrily walked around the room. His black shirt was sweating all over and gave off an unpleasant smell. His people listened to him and thought with regret about Sultana’s father. They understood that the father of a woman like her should have been a respected man, and did not deserve such a death. No one dared to contradict Arthur and everyone obeyed the decree stupidly and silently. Everything was ready for departure, Arthur and his men left for Poipet.

CHAPTER 3

Amir was having fun at the party and he really had fun. It turned out that his fiancee has an older sister, much more beautiful than his fiancee, more daring and open. The wedding was scheduled for next summer, as the bride is not yet of age. Amir could not understand the trick of his father, who arranged this engagement. He realized for sure that this was not his fiancee and was not going to marry her; he liked her sister much more, but nothing more. He imagined meeting his future wife in a completely different way and wanted to marry for love.

– Your mother and I were also introduced, and you see we are happy. Rashid was speaking. Amir saw his parents happy, but he would not want such a marriage. Now, he did not know what he wanted yet. Amir was a modern young man, but this did not prevent him from honoring and respecting the will of his parents.

On the day of departure, Amir still asked his father, “Why did you arrange all this?” – Dad, I am not marrying her.

– Who knows? I examined her feet; she will have a happy marriage.

– Yes, but not with me. Did you see me there? Have you examined my feet? Father, finally look at my lines of fate.

– I will definitely look at them, but next time. You see, I want to see you happy, and next to you, I want to see a good wife. Which will make you happy. Maybe you are right; maybe it is not your destiny.

– Then why did you arrange this engagement? She will wait a whole year and hope.

– “An engagement can always be broken off. If she is not your destiny, then her destiny will find her, do not worry.

– It is impossible to talk to you. It was the first time Amir had spoken to his father in such a tone. Rashid was understanding and did not say anything. At the airport, they said goodbye as usual, Amir hugged and kissed his father. His mother had changed since the day of his arrival, Amir could not understand this change, and thought it was something feminine. The plane arrived in Moscow, where his friend joyfully greeted him.

– You have finally arrived. I am already tired of hanging out here without you.

– And why didn’t you go to your home?

– Went for a couple of weeks. There is nothing to do there. Amir gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder. Tell me how you spent the summer.

– You will not believe it, but I am a betrothed groom now!

– How is that?

– And that is it. My dad was engaged. He found me an imperfectly summer bride and arranged a matchmaking.

– “Gee!

– And how? Are you happy?

– “Are you kidding me?” Although, the bride is pretty, and will be a great wife.

– So what are you getting lost for? Marry her.

– You see, I am not mentally ready. I do not know, maybe something will change in a year, and I will marry her. Lyosha laughed.

– I have the same thing, I would also get married, but I am not ready.

– We are still just young. We need to grow up! Lyosha continued to laugh.

– Here! Clever words. We need to go to a restaurant and look at oriental beauties.

– What restaurant?

– Opening soon! An Oriental fairy tale! There will be such a beauty performing there. I forgot her name. And, in my opinion, the Sultan. I saw an advertisement, there is such a girl.

– Yes, a woman with that name should be a Sultana, not a dancer. Amir thought about it.

– What are you thinking about?

– You know, Sultana. Such a name is just fascinating.

– So we’re going?

– Yes! Let us go! When is the opening?

– In September. Do you want me to show you a minute-long video of her dancing, though you cannot see her face?

– No. I want to see her live myself. Amir pronounced these words so sternly that Lyosha even froze.