Palmist-3. Return

Left alone, a feeling of alienation came over Sultana. It seemed to her that she had been betrayed, abandoned, handed over to an orphanage. Of course, all this was not so, but the feeling of resentment outweighed the girl’s overwhelming emotions, and sitting on the windowsill, she stared out the window. – What a beautiful girl. Is she also being treated for infertility? Sultana saw the Wine walking around the territory.

Vina skillfully hid her hair under a headscarf, but her bright eyes and deathly pale skin were so fresh and so beautiful that they made many men look around. Of course, Sultana did not recognize in this girl the culprit of her troubles. But something attracted her, and Sultana decided to meet this beautiful stranger. Hastily tying her handkerchief, the girl wanted to run out of the ward. – Where are you going? The voice sounded so strict that Sultana decided that she was under arrest.

– Take a walk in the garden. A radiant smile shone on the girl’s face.

– You are not allowed to leave your room now. The doctor has not examined you yet. Donna Sultana – wait for an invitation. Slamming the door, Sultana poured out a sea of curses at the staff.

– They only know how to smile at my husband. Donna Sultana! Donna Sultana! Sultana returned to the windowsill, quickly looking for a beautiful girl with her hair hidden under a scarf.

The return was sad. Amir did not know where to start. To whom to run for help. He wanted to settle this matter as soon as possible. —Where can I find her?” What this woman wants. After calling Igor, Amir found out that the “Oriental Fairy Tale” is still working. The manager said. – If the manager is Said, then the Fault is somewhere nearby. Guilt and Said are not separable.

Said, in turn, decided to talk directly with Vina. If Vina does not want to negotiate further, he will persuade Ajo to join his father’s business. And if his efforts fail, he decided to force Vina to run her late husband’s business. During this not a lot of time, the Guilt of being married to Adjo, Said managed to gather a whole army of people loyal to him and her. Acting on her behalf, people happily agreed to dirty work. The distraught Guntur, being in a Moscow psychiatric clinic, was looking forward to his liberation. Said made an effort, and the faithful dog in love could not leave the walls of this clinic alive, because Said saw him as a threat to his safety. Everything was ready for work, carjackings had already begun somewhere, and there was talk in Indonesia about opening a guesthouse that was out of work for a short period. – How is this possible? After all, the host is dead. Or not?

Once revived by Guilt, the business could not exist without the help of Said. Now this business has died down with the disappearance of Guilt. Said was unable to lead what Vina was able to resurrect. This fragile girl was able to become the head and lead away the volunteers.

– The body has not been found yet. Get ready for the opening. The workers just threw up their hands.

– “Who’s the boss now?”

– What is it to you? Work and that is it.

– “You’re wrong about that. Knowing Said, its better not to get involved in this case. Said and Arthur are one. His wife, yes, she is something else entirely. She’s a real queen.

– Then you had better be quiet. And don’t collect troubles on your head. If you know Said. Or get out of here.

– I will wait for news from the host. Many of the so-called “fans” of Guilt did not believe that she was alive. Someone thought she died in prison. Someone that she died while escaping. Only a few people were looking forward to her appearance.

Ajo was looking forward to Saeed’s appearance. Said did not take long to wait. Arriving one day, he went straight to the house of the Ajo family. – As-salam “alaikum.

– Alaikum assalam. Said’s shifty gaze searched for Guilt. And when he didn’t find it, he stopped questioningly at Adjo.

– Where is she?

– This is my wife. Why do you need it? Ajo’s hostile attitude forced Said to change tact.

– I am just worried about her emotional shock. You understand her past.

– The past is in the past. Just like my father and his business. You know. Adele is my wife. You are a Muslim. How can you come here and be interested in my wife’s emotional state?

– So you do not want to see me anymore. Ajo realized that he had driven himself into a dead end. Realizing that Said had invested too much Guilt in the escape, he was simply in debt to this criminalist.

– “I mean, you’ve done too much for my family. Thank you very much. My wife is the mother of my future children. Her emotional state needs peace. So I sent her to my relatives. Let him change the situation.

– That is how. Well, then. Seeing that Adjo did not even offer coffee, Said felt like an enemy of the family in this house. – Ajo, what do you plan to do in the future?

– What do you want to offer me?

– I want to invite you to a business dinner at a restaurant. Ajo, wanting to cut off Said finally, unexpectedly accepted the invitation.

Dinner was held in one of the best restaurants in Rabat. Said was literally trying to buy this guy. By choosing the best restaurant in the city. By ordering the best food. I tried to give money for a living. – Adjo. You are the son of my childhood best friend.

– “I know that. Said patiently waited for this guy to moderate his ardor.

– Your friendship with your father is very dear to me.

– By my late father.

– “I can’t help your father anymore. But I want to help you, your wife and your mother.

– At the moment I am in charge of your late father’s affairs.

– As far as I know, everything went to pieces after his death.

– Yes, but your current wife managed to resurrect everything.

– Why did she do all this?

– “She loved your father very much.

– This is not an excuse to sell live goods and weapons. Is there something else?

– Yes. Guilt choked her. She could not find a place for herself. She killed your father, and with him his business.

– That is, how did she kill him? Said, realizing that he is lighting a fire, and thereby ruining the family, tells Adjo about the real death of his father. Adjo, not believing Said’s words, gets up and leaves the table. Said was satisfied with his work, and patiently waited for the next meeting with Adjo. – Mom, tell me, did you know?

– About what?

– “About what she killed?”

– Who killed whom?

– My father is Adele.

– Who told you about it?

– What is the difference?

– I do not know who killed your father and how. I have been hiding from him all my life so he would not kill me.

– Mom, I am sorry. Bakhiti hugged her son. She decided to lie to protect her already worried son. – Said told me that.

– I know. Besides him, there is no one to bring discord into our family. In her heart, Bakhiti rejoiced at the truth that Said had revealed. She was waiting for further action from Said regarding Guilt.

– Mom, why did she do that?

– So she had no other choice. So there were good reasons for that. If you only knew how many lives, your father took.

– Maybe you are right. We need to figure it out. Adjo went to meet Saeed again. Said broke into a smile.

– I have been waiting! She killed your father trying to settle a score. Life is for life. Your father killed her sister, and she found out about it. Ajo sat in silence, his eyes downcast on the snow-white tablecloth.

– That is how. Maybe I would have done the same.

– You are not. You would not do that. You are different. Your father was too cruel.

– “You mean I have nothing in common with him?”

– That is not what I meant. You have a lot in common with him. But to achieve what he has achieved, you need to be able to do it. That is the Fault I could. She has achieved a lot in a short time. She is respected. Said tried to bring Adjo to the truth, to push him to the cause.

– She is not a Fault anymore.

– I know. So, I want to suggest that you run your father’s business in parallel with me. Ajo sat in confusion. He did not want to accept this offer, and at the same time, he just needed to keep Said by his side. His head was so overloaded that he just could not think. Business, Guilt, father’s murder.

– I will think about it. I will contact you in the next few days.

– That is nice. We will be friends. We are not strangers. Said broke into a smile. Adjo was looking at Said with his stern eagle gaze. And not blurring in an answering smile, he left the table dryly. Said was confident of victory, and was looking forward to the phone call.

Ajo inherited from his father severity, seriousness, determination, and courage. But he wasn’t cruel like Arthur. Gentleness and justice passed to him from his mother. This guy was so serious, outwardly he looked much older than his years. Tall, serious-looking, not a big beard, combined with his shock of hair. Ajo was an exact copy his father. One could even say that it is a clone of Arthur. The only thing that could distinguish them was their untidiness. Adjo, loved grooming. Clothes, appearance, cleanliness and order in the house, these elements for Adjo occupied not the last place in life. This guy was not pedantic, or narcissistic, the love of cleanliness and order were instilled in childhood and transferred into adulthood. The childhood of father and son was so different; Arthur grew up in cruelty and not so favorable conditions. Untidiness and lack of love for order passed to Arthur from his father. And if it wasn’t for the love of Guilt, Arthur would never have learned to look after himself.

Adjo’s appearance, unlike Vina’s, was so suitable for the Northwestern state of Africa. This guy looked like a local aborigine. Vina’s appearance as this guy’s wife suggested the opposite. After plastic surgery, the appearance of Guilt ceased to be combined with Islam. If not for the burqa, she would simply be considered a foreign tourist. Wearing a headscarf made this girl more beautiful than she really is. The color of her eyes combined with the color of her hair and made her much younger than her years. Due to this, the age difference did not distinguish this couple, but on the contrary, due to his severity, Adjo looked much older than his rejuvenated wife did.

Vina did not consider her husband a youngster. She saw young Arthur in him, and that was enough for her. Only sometimes, she remembered the constant flights and trips to the restaurant. Adjo worked as a tour guide, from time to time he brought his wife to work. Flights and trips to the restaurant were replaced by local excursions and local food. Thanks to these trips, Vina learned a lot about the life of Morocco, got acquainted with local attractions. The most attractive excursion in Morocco is the Sahara Desert. In Morocco, the Sahara Desert occupies most of the entire territory, as well as Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Mali, Morocco, Niger, Sudan, Tunisia and Chad. In ancient writings, the desert was called “great”. The most tourist period for exploring the Sahara desert is winter, as the temperature in this period it fluctuates around twenty degrees Celsius. The vegetation of the Sahara consists of bushes, grasses and trees in the highlands and oases located along the riverbeds. Rabat itself is located in the northwestern part of Africa, on the territory of the Kingdom of Morocco. On the northern and western sides, the waters of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic wash the state the ocean borders Algeria in the eastern part, and the Sahara Desert in the southern part. As for the city of Rabat, it is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and, together with the nearby city of Sale (separated by the Bu Regreg River), forms a prefecture called “Rabat-Sale”.

CHAPTER 3

After escaping from prison, Vina quickly and easily adapted to the local climate. No one ever talked about her past life in prison. It was too painful a topic for every member of a family of three. Once again, left alone with herself, Vina scrolled through the events of her past life, holding the phone in her hand without Internet access. – For, what do I need it for? I am a prisoner again. Having heard for when the door slammed in front of her, she realized that a neighbor had been placed in the ward opposite. “I wonder where she’s from.” Local? Or a foreigner? Through the half-open door, the girl saw an empty corridor, and through the door opposite, the rustling of a package was heard. – Great! It was not bad to have a girlfriend. After dreaming a little, Vina plunged into her loneliness.

Sultana was frantically searching for one of her many shawls. —Where is he?” What a shame. Had I forgotten him? A knock on the door distracted her attention from her nervous search for a handkerchief.

– Come into the treatment room. These words filled the girl with horror. Still afraid of falling into the hands of Arthur’s people, the girl went into the treatment room with fear. – Don’t be afraid. You are so tense. We will just take a blood test. You want a healthy baby.

– Yes, of course I do.

– No one will hurt you here. Sultana smiled silently through her teeth. The nurse did not like her, and the girl silently waited for her to leave the office. After the examination, Sultana went to the examination room. A series of offices significantly tired the girl. She wanted so much to call her husband and tell him everything. Realizing that Amir had not yet arrived in Bangkok, Sultana could barely hold back tears. – Why would I do that?

Three days later, Sultana went out into the garden for the first time. Walking along the alley, she did not notice the girl staring at her.

– That is her. It is definitely her. This is not a mistake. Vina looked at Sultana with wide-open eyes. – It cannot be. What should I do? Forgetting that she had undergone plastic surgery, Vina pulled a handkerchief over her face in fear. Sultana did not notice these strange actions, continued her slow walk along the alley.

– How beautiful it is here. I would like to walk around the city. The Khmer language was not clear to many who were on the territory of this institution. Therefore, no one paid much attention to the girl’s words. – When my husband arrives, I will definitely take him out for a walk. Let us arrange a week of holidays in Spain.

– My husband is coming! Vina thought with horror of Amir’s arrival. “Not that. What should I do? Said. In such difficult moments, the only shoulder in the life of Guilt was Said— – Although, what should I be afraid of. I will lock myself in the ward and not come out until he leaves. A woman in a burqa attracted sultana’s gaze.

– Interesting. Why does she wear this burqa all the time? Probably a strict husband. I would like to meet her. I would not be so lonely. Sultana purposefully strode to the Wine. Vina, seeing the approaching Sultan, nervously looked around trying to dodge.

– What does she want? She probably recognized me. And wrapping her arms around her stomach, she ran to the ward.

– What is wrong with you? Donna Adele, are you ill?

– No. My husband is calling me, and I have to answer.

– These strange laws. How is it possible? Run as fast as you can. The nurse was discussing the patient.

– Yes, you cannot envy these veiled women. I am going to check if she is okay. At this time, Sultana was walking to her room with light dancing movements. A medical worker came out of the Guilt ward. – I am sorry. And she quietly closed the door behind her. Sultana managed to see a beautiful girl and her long white hair.

– Excuse me, is there something serious?

– This is an official secret. We are not spreading.

– I am sorry. It is just that this girl is so weird.

– There is a little. She is not the weird one. And these are your laws. Sultana only grinned in response.

– Wow, such blonde hair. I wonder where she is from. It was much easier for Sultana to stay in this country, she knew Portuguese. All these years spent with Amir have taught her a lot. Sultan I decided to take the situation into my own hands, and turned on my ability to eavesdrop. She spent all her free time from treatment near the front door, trying to hear what was going on in the ward opposite. In just a couple of days, she just found out the name of this girl’s husband. This is all the information that Sultana was able to find out.

Vina was sitting in her room like a mouse in a hole, and was afraid to go out into the corridor once again. Early Friday morning, Sultana left her room with her phone in her hand, and stood in the doorway looking at the door closed opposite. To her surprise, the door opened, and the girl with her eyes lowered to the floor left the ward, and quickly walked down the snow-white corridor. – Well, well. It is not my destiny to have such a devout friend. Sultana bitterly walked slowly and beautifully in the same direction. To her surprise, they were in the same queue for examination. The wine came with a huge delay and Sultana had to wait.

– Donna Sultana, we apologize for the inconvenience caused.

– It is okay. I am not in a hurry. Sultana examined the Guilt from head to toe. She did not understand why she had an incomprehensible curiosity about this girl. Vina could not stand it and turned to face her. Their eyes we met. The bright green color of the eyes alerted the Sultan. Yet, behind that color, she could see something familiar. Only she couldn’t figure out what? Hearing the phrase: – “Donna Sultana, I’m sorry.” The blood boiled in the Wine, and with it awoke the hatred that had once fallen asleep, which she had always felt for this girl. The door to the office closed, and Sultana was left alone in the corridor. —Where did I see her?” Strange. Entering the office, Vina was trembling all over.

– What is wrong with you? Are you ill?

– No. Just a feeling of anxiety.

– What are you worried about? Did something happen to you? It is bad for you in your position to worry. This can harm the treatment.

– I know.

– What happened to you?

– Nothing. I just remembered an unpleasant episode.

– It is better to tell the doctor about it. Vina sighed heavily. – You are not so bad. There is a chance to fix everything. If there are secrets and not pleasant memories, then it is necessary to tell. This will help the treatment. Medical secrecy will remain here, between the doctor and the patient. Hearing the encouraging words, Vina left the office with relief. At the exit, the collision with the Sultan was repeated. This time, forgetting herself, Vina did not arbitrarily turn her head to the side, as she had done before. At that moment, Sultana shuddered, remembering their scene with Vina in “Oriental Fairy Tale”.

– It cannot be. It is not her. After going into the study, Sultana was trembling as well as Vina.

– Yes, what is it with you today. What is the matter with you?

– Nothing. I remembered an unpleasant episode.

– Wow. The same thing happened to Donna Adele.

– With Donna Adele?

– Yes. Adele. A patient who just got out.

– She is so beautiful.

– I am surprised myself. Such an appearance does not go well with the inhabitants of the Kingdom of Morocco.

– Morocco?

– Yes. Morocco. You ask so many questions.

– Yes. Sorry. It is just the neighbor across the street; she is silent all the time.

– Yes. I noticed. She is a little weird, and downtrodden. Fortunately, Sultana’s ultrasound doctor turned out to be talkative, and she managed to get at least some information about her neighbor.

– Adele, Morocco, Wine. How to combine it? Not happening. I just made a mistake. But she ran away. And where? In Morocco? Sultana could not stand it and called Amir. “Is that really her?”

– I do not even know what to say to you. I am flying to you. She is so close to you. Try to hold out for these two days.

The guilt continued to sit like a mouse in its hole. But she wanted so much to get closer to the Sultan. Find out what she is. What she feels. How she managed to escape from Arthur’s clutches. Unable to stand it. The girl went for a walk in the corridor. Hearing the door slam Sultan quickly threw on a handkerchief gracefully went out into the corridor. —What’s the matter with them?” One is chasing the other.

– I told you, they are both weird.

– Instead of keeping quiet, they run along the corridor.

Meanwhile, Said suspected a strange disappearance of Guilt. She did not get in touch. No one saw her, and no one knew where she was. Not daring to ask Adjo where his wife was, knowing the response, Said personally started looking for her. —Where is she?” Sid’s people threw up their hands.

– She disappeared suddenly. And no one has seen her for ten days.

– It is certainly not a deadline, but there is something wrong. It is necessary to follow every step of Ajo.

– We are already doing this. But he is as pure as a drop of water.

– This proves once again that something is wrong here. He cannot be clean. Said was waiting for the promised call. But the call never came. – He is testing my patience. We will act through his mother. On one of the inconspicuous sunny days of Morocco, Bakhiti was abducted.

When he got home, Ajo did not find his mother at home. He understood everything at once. But from such a sharp stab in the back, he simply did not know what to do. Where to run? Whom should I call? Realizing that it was Said’s handiwork, he dialed first. – Said. Where are you? The meeting took place in one of the old ferries.

– I have been waiting. I am waiting for you. And you know you need to be careful. Ajo was silent in response. – Silence is consent. Isn’t it? Ajo came quickly. He behaved boldly and confidently. “You’re a brave boy. If you continue to behave the same way, then your business will go uphill.

– “My business is much better than yours.

– Big words. Be quiet.

– Where is she?

– She is fine. I will not hurt her. I need you.

– I came.

– You came alone.

– Yes.

– I see. Where is your wife?

– My wife, this is my personal. It does not belong to you anymore.

– I recognize Arthur. Glad to see you.

– What do you want?

– “I need you to take over your father’s business. This case should not die with him. Moreover, there are already people willing to help. Without thinking twice, Adjo delivered a solemn speech for Said’s ears.

– I agree. Bakhiti, being in one of the cabins, heard everything that was happening through the wall.

– “Oh, no, not that. Said. Bakhiti screamed with all her might.

– Mom. Let her go.

– “She’s alone in the cabin. She just hears what is going on here. She does not like it. Now you are going to pick her up and you are going home. I will get in touch with you. Ajo nodded in agreement.

– Said. Bakhiti was screaming. She tried to say something, but Adjo stopped her. Forbidding divulging his secret. Said made it clear that he would find her.

– Mom, don’t you dare do that.

– He needs her. Give this barren girl to her habitat. We have so many girls in town, better than her.

– Mom, don’t you dare say that. This is my woman.

– “That’s right, a woman. A stranger. With a criminal past behind his back. Why do you need it? Adjo himself did not know how this Guilt had hooked him. Perhaps just by his adventurism, and at the same time defenselessness. Love of adventure. The fact that she once knew his father. This woman was defenseless, and at the same time criminal. That was what was making Ajo’s head spin. To all of the above, Vina was slender and beautiful. Her shape and the expression of her eyes made the interlocutor look into those eyes. And those who once knew her will always remember this look.

– Mom, this woman really has a painful past behind her back. We need to help her through this critical period. Adele loves me. And I’m hers. And we’re going to have a baby. Seeing that her son was mad with love, Bakhiti decided not to argue. Arriving at the meeting with Said, the woman shouted in a firm tone:

– I know where she is. I will help you if you leave my son alone. In response, she heard hysterical laughter.

– “And if you don’t tell me, then what?” Bakhiti wanted to step back, but there was nowhere to retreat.

– You need her. Take it. Leave my son alone.

– Maybe you are right. Without her, your son will not be able to do what I need. I need her voluntary participation. Her passivity will ruin this case.

– “My son will never do what you’re trying to persuade him to do.