Beyond the Sand Dune

by Asen Djinah

  ‘Most of the dates available in Kaveripoompattinam come by land and are usually in a pitiful state by the time they arrive. Your dates are of top quality and that is why everyone wants to buy the entire load,’ the interpreter explained to Hayder.

  As the merchants vied with each other to be the one to do business with Hayder, one of them asked Hayder what goods he was looking to purchase here in Kaveripoompattinam. When Hayder mentioned wootz steel, he became excited. He pulled Hayder and the interpreter to one side.

  ‘My wife is from Kodumanam and is of the same caste as the people who produce the iron. If you sell me your dates, I will arrange for you to acquire this commodity at a price lower than from the merchants here. You will be buying straight from the producer and cutting out the middleman,’ he asked the interpreter to tell Hayder.

  ‘Kodumanam is an industrial city further inland where they produce large quantities of wootz steel. My brother-in-law works as a supervisor at the factory,’ he further elaborated.

  When the trader told him the discount he would be getting by buying directly from him rather from the steel traders here in the port, Hayder could hardly contain his excitement. He was getting wootz steel at a very good price compared to the current rate in Gerrha; he would be making a massive profit.

  ‘However, it will take two weeks for me to go to Kodumanam to get the iron and cart it back here,’ he informed Hayder.

  Hayder and Binian looked at each other in dismay. They could not afford to wait two weeks here.

  ‘Could we pick them up on our way back?’ Hayder asked.

  ‘We can but it will mean unloading all the silk yarns and rolls of fabric you plan to buy in Bengal in order to load the steel,’ Binian said.

  He explained that the heavy cakes of steel would have to be spread uniformly at the very bottom of the hold to ensure the dhow remained stable and sea-worthy.

  ‘Don’t worry. I will arrange for a gang of dockers to do this,’ the merchant reassured them after he learned of their dilemma.

  Having sealed the deal with the merchant, whose name was Shubendiram, Hayder was elated. Not only was his plan working out better than expected, but he had also found a reliable partner for future trades. Shubendiram must have felt the same, for he invited the two partners to stay at his home.

  ‘I hope that we can work together again in the future. You provide me with top quality dates and I will supply you with as much wootz steel as you want. Since we are now partners, I insist that you stay at my villa. It is further out from the port, away from the hubbub and the dust,’ he said.

  Later while they were having a meal at the villa, Shubendiram learned that Hayder also had frankincense and myrrh as well as precious stones for sale. He became excited and asked Hayder to sell him these commodities.

  ‘I was intending to sell these at the Port of Bengal, where I am hoping to get a good price,’ Hayder told him.

  Shubendiram was disappointed and remained quiet for a while. Then he suddenly broke into a wide smile.

  ‘Let me make a proposal. Show me the quality of your goods and I will tell you what price I am willing to pay. If you get a higher price in Bengal, you sell them there otherwise you sell them to me on your return journey.’

  ‘You are my new partner. To show my goodwill, I will sell these to you now if we agree on a price,’ Hayder told a delighted Shubendiram.

  The following day, after they had finalised the details of all their arrangements, Shubendiram immediately departed for Kodumanam with his wife and children, leaving his new partners in the care of his brother and the house servants. Binian and Hayder were happy to laze around and rest as the humid heat of the town was stifling. Like all trade centres, the city was overcrowded with street sellers, food stalls and beggars along every street. There was litter everywhere and the air was filled with dust.

  On the fourth day, after restocking their supplies and water, the dhow left for the final leg of their journey. As soon as they hit the open sea, Binian noticed dark clouds gathering in the sky ahead and by evening it had started to rain. The monsoon season had arrived and it would now rain continuously for days on end.

  ‘Shubendiram’s brother did warn us about this persistent rain for the next few weeks, but I have never seen so much rain in my entire life,’ Hayder remarked.

  With the depressing weather and not being used to getting soaked to the bones, he spent most of his time inside the cabin. With the constant rain, the days dragged on even more than before. And after what seemed an eternity, they finally reached the port of Bengal. Both Binian and Hayder were determined to complete their transactions as quickly as possible and make their way home.

  ‘The quicker we get away from this miserable weather, the better,’ Hayder told Binian.

  As soon as they docked, Binian asked one of the men to take the largest tusk and hang it on the port side on display. Very quickly the word spread around the harbour and merchants flocked to the dhow with their interpreters. Everyone wanted to buy the precious cargo. Ivory, known to be the most expensive organic material, was in great demand at every port. A single tusk could fetch around thirty aurei – roman gold coins. With so many merchants interested, Hayder was hoping to sell his entire consignment very quickly. Indeed by the end of the second day, the dhow’s hold was empty and the chest in Binian’s cabin was full of gold coins.

  The following day, Hayder and Binian took a group of men with them as they went ashore to visit the silk traders.

  ‘There is one particular street where all the silk and fabric traders are based,’ one of the interpreters had told them the previous day.

  They did not have to ask for directions as wooden planks had been laid out on the streets leading to the traders’ area, to enable buyers to avoid the thick sticky mud. Hayder and Binian were amazed at the colourful silk materials on display.

  ‘Let us concentrate on the yarn. We can look at materials and fabrics afterwards,’ Hayder told his partner.

  He had asked Rafiq’s sons for their requirements and had brought along samples of various shades and colours. After making a purchase, he asked the merchant to pack the goods tightly in waxed gunny sacks and personally supervised the operation. As soon as the bales were ready, Binian got his men to carry the waterproof sacks back to the dhow. By the time the men returned, Hayder had purchased another lot, ready for them to take to the boat. By late afternoon, they all returned back on board, once again soaked to the bones. It took Hayder two days to purchase all the different types of yarn he wanted.

  It was still raining when they woke up the following morning, but despite the grey and dull weather Hayder pushed on, motivated by the thought of starting the return journey home soon. Having completed the acquisition of the silk yarn, he turned his attention to fabrics, of which he had little knowledge. He found it difficult to select from the huge range of patterns and colours, as well as the different grades available.

  ‘I don’t think we should buy today. We should first get more information by going around and asking as many questions as possible. I want to learn about the various types and quality and the corresponding prices before committing myself. What do you think?’ he asked his partner.

  ‘I think it is a very good idea,’ Binian acknowledged.

  The two of them spent the day going around asking for advice and the traders obligingly explained the difference between the various types and quality of fabrics. When they returned to the boat in the evening, Hayder made a list of what he thought would be a good variety to purchase.

  ‘I have deliberately included a wide range of thickness and patterns and colours. When we sell them back in Gerrha, we will know which ones are in demand. Next time you will know exactly what to buy as I won’t be with you,’ he explained to Binian.

  The next day, Hayder and Binian went to make their purchases. It took them another two days to purchase all the fabrics on the list. At each shop, he again demanded that the goods be packed in waterproof sacks. It was still rai
ning by the time they completed all their transactions and trudged their way through the muddy streets back to the docks one last time. Binian gathered his men around to sound them out.

  ‘We have completed our business here. Do you want to stay for one more day and have some free time or do you want to leave this sodden place?’ Binian asked them.

  The crew unanimously decided to leave as quickly as possible. The constant rain was depressing and the sooner they sailed south, the quicker they would be out of the monsoon region. As soon as it was bright the next day, Binian pressed his men to restock their provisions for the return journey.

  As the dhow pulled away from the docks, Hayder stood on deck, feeling euphoric despite being soaked to the bones. The enterprise that he had planned for over a year had been a success beyond his wildest dreams. The previous night, while Binian was lying in his bunk, Hayder had painstakingly calculated the potential profit of the voyage. He could not believe that it was almost what he and Asif usually made in a whole year. He had even worked out Binian’s share of the profit, which was quite substantial. When he turned to Binian to tell him how much he would be making, his friend became upset.

  ‘Hayder, it is not good to joke about money matters. Especially between friends,’ he had said.

  Hayder had burst out laughing and told him that he was serious about his share.

  Now, as he stood on deck watching the dhow pulling away, more important than the profit was this tremendous sense of achievement of having been one of the few to have sailed all the way along the spice route to Bengal. He looked across the deck at Binian who was also standing at the railing, gazing at the receding docks. At that same instant, the young captain turned and their eyes met. The two partners smiled at each other, sharing the intimacy of their accomplishment. Hayder felt that with his success he was in an even better position to help his tribe, especially during this time of drought. Binian was having similar thoughts.

  ‘With another such trip, I will be able to clear my huge debt and marry sisters off.’

  Chapter 14

  As Hayder made his way towards the south of town, he could not help feeling nervous. He was more even apprehensive about this trip than his three-month long sea voyage to the Port of Bengal. Although he wished that Asif was with him, he realised that this was something he had to do on his own. As he left the last row of houses to reach the oasis at the edge of town, he saw the camp in the distance, in the same place as the last time he visited the waterhole. He still could not believe what had happened.

  ‘I am finally going to see the singing girl,’ he thought, his heart beating faster.

  When he returned from his voyage, Asif had been dying to tell him the news about the singing girl.

  ‘Uncle, why are you teasing me? I wish I had never told you about the girl,’ he reproached Asif.

  His uncle had to fully explain the sequence of events and the whole story about Jalal Al-Din’s visit to the Qufreid tribe before Hayder started to believe him.

  ‘I told Leila about the girl and after we left, your mother went to Hisham to seek advice. Seeing this as a double opportunity, Hisham decided to send your father to meet the girl’s father. If everything goes well, not only will you be united with the girl you like, but the two tribes can put their tumultuous past behind them.’

  Only then had Hayder started to believe. And when Asif told him that the girl’s family had agreed to a meeting between him and the girl, Hayder could not believe his luck and was left speechless.

  ‘When they met, both parties expressed the desire to put an end to the bitter feud and that a marriage between the tribes would seal an alliance of peace,’ his uncle explained

  ‘But there is to be no pressure from either set of parents. It will be up to you and Amel to decide whether you want to get married or not,’ he warned.

  Hayder finally learned that the singing girl’s name was Amel.

  ‘The name Amel fits the image I had in my head,’ he thought, as he repeated the name over and over in his mind.

  When Hayder saw the camp, his mouth went dry and he licked his lips nervously.

  ‘What if she is not interested in me? What if I feel disappointed when I see her in person?’ Hayder kept asking himself.

  Now that he was almost at the camp, Hayder’s apprehension grew. But there was no turning back.

  ‘This was the opportunity I have been dreaming of when I first heard her singing. I have to see her,’ he told himself.

  Suddenly he grew even more concerned; whenever he was nervous, he would talk incessantly and he was afraid that he might inadvertently say something that could offend his hosts or simply put the girl off with his chatter.

  ‘I should have asked Asif’s advice about what topics to include in the conversation,’ he thought.

  With Asif having sent word the day before, Hayder knew that Amel’s father would be expecting him. He decided to dismount and continue on foot so as to take in the surroundings. Immediately, a young boy ran up to him.

  ‘Are you Hayder bin Jalal Al-Din?’ he asked.

  ‘I am to take care of your camel,’ he said, when Hayder nodded.

  ‘Abdul-Basir’s tent is this one,’ he then pointed to one of the tents.

  Hayder looked around him and was relieved to see that no one was paying any particular attention to him. Everyone seemed to be involved in the usual camp activities. He walked to the tent and stood at the opening unsure of how to proceed when he saw a man sitting in the shadows, smoking his hookah.

  ‘This must be the girl’s father,’ he deduced.

  ‘Sabah alkhyr, Sayyidi – Good morning, Sir – I am Hayder bin Jalal Al-Din,’ Hayder said nervously.

  Abdul-Basir gestured with his hand, inviting him to come in and sit down as he drew one last puff from his pipe before putting it aside.

  ‘Ahlan – Welcome. I met your father, a very upright man. He speaks well of you. Sit down and let us have some refreshment first,’ the older man replied.

  ‘Nabila, please bring the tea,’ he called out.

  Hayder was disappointed that it was not Amel who would bring in the refreshments.

  Immediately, Nabila walked in with the tea tray and cakes, while Amel tried to peek through the hole she had made earlier in the partition screen. Since morning, both sisters had been on the lookout and as soon as they had seen the rider in the distance, they had started making preparations to welcome the guest. It was agreed that Nabila would serve him while Amel would wait for her father to call her out, once he was satisfied with the young man.

  ‘I apologise for taking a long time to respond to your invitation. I was away on a business trip for three months,’ Hayder said to break the silence.

  ‘Yes, I know. Your uncle Asif sent word that you were away,’ Abdul-Basir replied.

  ‘Good old Uncle Asif,’ Hayder thought, ‘if it were not for him, I would not be here.’

  Amel was listening to every word that was being said. She had not been looking forward to this visit. Ever since Jalal Al-Din’s visit, she had felt that the main preoccupation of the elders had been to end the feud and make peace. She could not help the feeling of being used as a pawn in the process. Although her father had assured her that any decision would be hers and at no point would anyone force her to do anything against her will, she was still angry that such a huge burden had been laid upon her shoulders.

  ‘Why should I be the one who has to decide whether to make peace with our rivals or continue with the feud?’ she thought.

  Amel peeked through the hole and saw a tall, well-groomed young man with a trimmed beard and sharp features. She also noticed that he was dressed in fine clothes like a town person and felt irritated with herself for finding the young man attractive. When he spoke, she could not help noticing his soft voice.

  ‘Well, even if he is young and good-looking, that does not change anything. I will only marry someone I love,’ she thought with renewed determination.

  As they sipped the
tea and nibbled their cakes, Abdul-Basir questioned Hayder about his life in Kuffrat, his business and asked him why he left his tribe to settle in town. Allegiance to one’s tribe was a matter of honour and it was not well looked upon when someone left their kin.

  ‘Thanks to the Almighty, I have a good income with the business and am in a better position to support my family. Although I miss life in the desert, I consider myself blessed to be in a position to help my people,’ Hayder answered the question honestly.

  Abdul-Basir seemed satisfied with the answer. He has taken a liking to this young man and thought that he would be a suitable match for Amel.

  ‘Let us hope Amel think so too,’ he prayed, knowing very well that his headstrong daughter only wanted to marry for love.

  ‘I need to ask for your forgiveness, Sayyidi,’ a nervous Hayder blurted out without thinking and interrupting Abdul-Basir’s thoughts.

  ‘I first heard your daughter singing during a visit to the carpet factory. Without knowing that she was from your tribe, I followed her to Rafiq’s villa, trying to find out who she was. I did so without your permission and did not intend to cause any dishonour to her or her family. Please accept my apology,’ he muttered.

  Behind the partition, Amel gasped. It was at this very moment that she fell utterly in love with the young man. Without another thought, she removed her veil, grabbed a fresh pot of tea and stepped forward to serve the two men. As she kneeled down to pour tea in Hayder’s cup, she looked up directly into his eyes and smiled. Taken aback by the sudden appearance, Hayder stared back completely stunned. It took him a few seconds to realise that it was the singing girl there right in front of him and he smiled back. The first thing he noticed was her dimples as she smiled.