Ravi the Unknown Prince (22 page)

Before I arrived at the ranch house I saw Condor in the distance and he rode on to meet me.

I told him that I was spending the night here and going out on patrol with the night watch-men, and he offered to stay with me.

That night we went out together on night patrol with six other men for an hour and then we all sat together and ate fish with roasted root vegetables.

When we returned to the ranch house I sat in one hammock listening to Condor playing a tune on his wind instrument.

I woke up next morning in the hammock when Red Eagle and another man named Coyote came to see me.

While Condor prepared our breakfast I chatted with coyote. He was looking for ranch work and I gave him a few tasks to do and if he was successful I would take him on permanently as a ranger.

Throughout that day I was restless and kept thinking what news would Alam brought back or if any at all.

Times were hard when I was growing up but I was happy and all this inheritance I received would not bring back that happiness, if I lost my entire family.

That night Red Eagle joined me and Condor on our patrols with six other men for an hour and then the three of us went back to the ranch house to rest.

Early next morning Red Eagle woke me and said big bird is coming in to land [they called the light air craft big bird].

Alam came out and told me to drive to the base where I kept the Desert Queen and that he would be waiting for me, he had got some good news, and then he took off again.

I told the two rangers that I was wanted some-where else, and to lock up when they left.

That hour long drive seemed like two days journey. When I finally arrived Alam told me that his wives got the twins and that they were safe with Naz one of his two wives.

They left a note in the children’s cot bed telling Muna not to inform the police or any one and that they were going to contact the children’s father, we made it look like a kidnap.

“Muna was trying to contact you,” he said, “She rang the palace and Sultana rang me and I told her that you were at the ranch with the vets.

They do not know what is going on and we should keep it that way,” he remarked.”

“I want to see my twins,” I said.

I got nervously into the plane and strapped in as Alam took off in ten minutes we were on the main-land.

When we arrived we got into his Jeep and he drove me to Naz’s house where he kept my children.

I was in tears when I saw them in their pyjamas running towards me and they both held on tightly around my neck and Mahir was saying “daddy where were you all this time,” and Razia was saying, “I miss you, daddy.”

The children were traumatised and I hugged them close to me and kissed them until they settled down.

I did not want to ask questions about who did what but I was happy to see my twins and let their mother contact me.

Alam rang Muna and told her that I was back from the ranch and was with him. She asked to speak with me.

I took my time before I went to the telephone and I asked her what it was that she wanted.

She was crying and saying that the twins were gone. ”Gone where?” I asked.

“Someone took them in the night and left a note in Mahir’s bed that they were going to contact you for money and only when you paid them would we see the twins again. I am so scared I want to come home Hasan.”

There was a long silence before I spoke again and I told her to lock all the doors and windows and let nanny stop a taxi on the road and leave quietly and when they get to Georgetown go to the Lotus hotel and wait there for Alam.

“I must go back home and wait for these people to contact me.”

She was still crying and I told her to leave as soon as possible. I had to play along with this whole scenario.

Once the children were settled and had eaten their breakfast Naz and Alam told me that I should spend more time with Muna.

“She would be devastated and need you to be there for her to get over losing her babies, and not knowing who took them.”

We all went for lunch at Alam’s restaurant and then back to Naz’s house. About four o’clock Alam left to pick Muna and nanny from the city.

While he was gone I asked Naz how they got into my house and she told me that Alam had a set of spare keys when they were rebuilding the house.

And they got in through the back door and she and Tara took one child each and came out.

Alam had hired a car and when they got in with the children, he drove off. The twins woke up when they were on the plane and they were asking for mama, daddy and nanny Bena.

We told them that we were going on an adventure and they were going to see their daddy. Mahir said, “I miss my daddy,” Razia was quiet as she held on tightly to me.

I sat watching my children playing together with some toys Naz gave them, and then she left the room to make coffee and when she return she handed me my house keys.

I thought that on my next visit to the West Coast I would change all the locks on my doors.

If Alam was a crook he could have taken me for every dollar I got to get my beautiful twins back.

But he was a good and honest man and I decided to give him the money he fell short of; as a gift to start his flying school.

When Muna and Bena arrived they were both crying, then they saw the twins and Muna ran to hold them but they both ran away from her and came to me and were saying, “No mama.”

“I must be a bad mother my children running away from me.” she remarked through tears.

Naz told her that they were little and they miss their daddy and right now they needed both of you.

In the evening Alam flew us home and he told Muna and nanny that they should not mention any of this to the staff at the palace.

I gave Alam the money to start his training school for pilots and thanked him for bringing back my family to me.

I decided to spend more time with Muna and the twins and I gave my job to Condor and Red Eagle and increased their wages.

I would fly in once every month to check if there was any on-going problem at the ranch.

I began to teach Muna how to row a canoe across the lake, and ride a horse I gave her as a gift. She named the brown and white mare Venus.

As time went by she was smiling once more and was beginning to put her past experiences behind her.

THE END

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Copyright © Rookmin Cassim, 2014

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