Sindbad looked up at him, trying to stare beyond his golden eyes. Who was that man?
" Everything in this world happens for a reason. You might curse at yourself, at the world, at God himself for the sorrow that had befallen you. But in the end, if you wait long enough, if you have patience and faith, and fight your way through, you will get your reward eventually. Had you not made the choice to fight for your friend, it would have stayed a sad and sorrowful memory of how he got injured and lost his money. But you…" he pointed at Sindbad's heart. " You changed it. It's the same here, Sindbad. Should you fall down after your parents' death and not move on, then you would never be able to see the light waiting for you at the end of this dark tunnel. God tests you, but you're the one who should give the answer."
Sindbad marveled at the man for a moment.
He would be lying if he didn't say he admired him.
He was kind, he was calm, he was wise… but something else caught Sindbad's attention. Something far beneath those golden eyes of the young man standing before him. Like a flame waiting to set everything around it ablaze.
Sindbad found he could do little besides staring in awe at him and nodding his head.
The man's smile broadened as he ruffled the kid's hair again, leaving it slightly messed up.
He stood and faced Sahar. " As I informed you, I would like to take Sindbad in my care."
Both children snapped their heads up in surprise and shock at those words.
Sahar closed her eyes and lowered her head at the man in a subdued way. " I could never stop you even if I wanted to."
" I want to hear what you want."
Sahar looked down at the child holding onto her dress in fear and gently smoothed his hair into place. She pursed her lips as she marshaled her own thoughts. " It doesn't matter what I want. We both know that under your care, this child will grow up into someone important. If it's for his future, then I would be happy to keep silent."
The man nodded his head in understanding.
" I don't want that!" Sindbad held onto the hem of her dress and looked up at her with watery eyes. " I don't want to go with him! I want to stay with you and Hindbad forever!"
Sahar hugged him tightly again as another tear escaped her eye. " I'm happy to hear that. I'm really, Sindbad. But your parents wouldn't approve of me keeping you all to myself. They would want you to grow into a great and strong man. And this man here would make sure you do. You would be way happier with him."
Sindbad glared back at the man who was standing there, waiting for him patiently, before his eyes trailed over to his friend.
Hindbad stood there, struggling to keep his tears from flowing. " Sindbad… will leave us…"
" It's not," The young man assured him. " He will come by whenever he has the chance too."
Sindbad looked back and forth between the man, Sahar, and his friend. It seemed that everyone but him had a say in his fate.
Sensing the child's hesitation, the young man addressed him this time. " Listen, Sindbad, your father was like a brother to me and he was there for me through thick and thin. I would like to pay him back. So please, give me the chance to."
He held out his hand to the child. Sindbad looked up at his face again, those golden eyes peering right through his mind and soul. Why was he so drawn to them?
Sindbad looked down, and, swallowing whatever argument he had prepared to stay back, nodded.
What's the point if Sahar thought it was best for him to go? It would only make her sadder if he refused.
He held the man's hand and looked at Hindbad as he approached him. " You're really… going…"
It was obvious Hindbad didn't want that. Heck, they had promised not an hour ago to always be together.
Sindbad gave him an apologetic look at that. " I promise I'll visit. I won't leave alone."
Hindbad sniffed. " Promise?"
" Promise!"
A few minutes later, Sindbad was hauled in the young man's arms, now hood back on his head, and they were walking away from the poor slums. Sindbad waved at Hindbad and his mother as they stood before their old house, bidding him farewell.
That was the last time ever he saw Hindbad…
He promised…
Twice…
And broke his promise…
Twice…
Sindbad, you liar.
His eyes snapped open as he heard that accusation and scrambled up on all four, looking around feverishly.
What had happened?
Where was he?
Why was he there?
And How was he there?
All those questions ran through his mind as he struggled to recognize his surroundings and dig his memory for the last bits he could remember.
What happened?
He was thrown into the sea.
He was drowning.
Now that he realized that, he moved on to the next question.
Where was he?
There was sand underneath him, but he was by no means in the desert. A few palm trees surrounded him. And as he looked over his shoulder, he could spot a mountain and a thick forest of different trees.
Before him, the blueness of the sea extended far and wide from all directions.
He was on an island.
Why and how was he on that island?
By all means, he should be at the bottom of the sea.
Did the currents drag him all the way there and throw him on shore?
But he didn't even have some kind of plank or float for that.
Maybe luck was still on his side after all.
Shaking his head, Sindbad tried to stand up to his feet and failed.
Getting a mouth full of sand, he realized how hungry and parched he was. His body felt both hollow and heavy at the same time.
He struggled to turn around so he was lying on his back and stared at the blue sky as the white clouds drifted by peacefully. And the sun was already at its highest point.
How long was he out?
A day?
Half a day?
If the starvation be was feeling was anything to go by, he would say a day at least.
Closed his eyes, Sindbad took in a deep breath. There was nothing to be done about the past. He needed to get moving. To search for food and drink.