17

The market is vibrant and bustling as usual. The Colourful awnings and canopies erected to shield goods meticulously arranged to entice buyers stretched as far as the eye can see. The air is filled with the clatter of wooden poles and the rustling of fabrics. Heaps of ripe fruits and vegetables spill from woven baskets. I am tempted to grab one of those fruits and take a bite.

The aromas of freshly baked bread, spices, and herbs intertwine, creating an intoxicating blend that permeates the air of the market.

A broad smile made its way to my lips as I saw a bunch of children dart between stalls, wide-eyed and curious, while adults engaged in animated conversation with one another. Buyers haggle and negotiate prices, drawing on their skill to strike a favourable deal and rip off one another.

I wonder why I find the market surprisingly interesting today. Maybe because in a couple of days, I won't be seeing it again as I would belong to another man's land. Ugh! This is so frustrating. This wasn't one of the plans I had for myself, but it's fine. Not like I would stay there forever. In a matter of thirty days, or less, I am back to where I belong.

Reaching one of the stalls, I knocked on the table, "Hello, Sam."

A round large bald head poked out of the window. "Ah! You are here. I thought you wouldn't come today as planned."

"And leave my coins with you? You wish, old man."

He flashed me a toothy smile that would have been alluring if not for the few missing front teeth, "Always reliable."

"Here," I gave him the painting and waited for my reward. "Did the person order another painting?"

He went back inside his stall —a stall that was full of weird stuff I had never seen and never wished to see in my life— to search for my coins. "Yes. A bird." He replied absentmindedly as he emptied a bag of more anomalous stuff.

"The person wants another painting of a bird?" I asked.

"Well, yes and no. He wants you to recreate a painting. Here you go," He handed over a bag of coins and a paper roll. "The money and the painting he left behind. You can count it."

Keeping the bag of coins aside, I untied the paper to take a look at the bird that was roughly sketched and coloured. "I would have loved to do this one, but I can't. My hands are tied."

"Why?"

"I have something going on."

Raising one of his bushy brows just like someone I know, he asked, "Why? Are you getting married?" When he didn't get any reply he gasped, "Blimey! Who is the unlucky man?"

I glared at him, "I think I am the unlucky one here!"

Sam clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth, "I hope he makes it through."

"What about me? The man is awful!"

"Well, does that not make it even?" When I opened my mouth to protest, he began laughing before a blinding smile that sent wrinkles to the corners of his eyes adorned his face. "I was just joking, young lady. You will make an amazing wife and probably mother too."

I frowned at him. "No motherhood involved. And I am not looking forward to that. I would be back before you know it."

Letting out a loud sigh, he said, "Please, go easy on the poor soul. Don't send him to an early grave."

I grinned at him, "That sounds like fun."

He shook his head, "I would be praying for him. So, what are you going to do with all your money? As I always tell you, the work of a woman is not to—"

"Go after money. I have heard that for the hundredth time, Sam."

"Yes, I am sure you have. Unless you are doing it to assist your husband." Hope shone in his eyes.

"I would rather shove all these coins down my throat and die with it than give a penny to that mannerless man."

Sam's eyes widened a little bit, "I am sure you don't mean that."

"Ha! You wish. He doesn't need assistance with anything, especially money."

"Wives are to be loyal and supportive—"

"And men are to be what?" I couldn't help but roll my eyes at him again. "Women this. Women that. Give us a break. In my humble opinion, women have equal rights to men. Whatever men can do, women should be allowed to do. We were all made the same way but with different body parts. You men always go on about how we should bow to them, why? Had we been given the same opportunity, I can proudly tell you that reverse would have been the case!" I took a deep breath to calm myself.

"My child, this is how the society has been since man was made,"

"That's not true, Sam! You men started it. There is a dirty trick behind this ideology."

He looked at me in pity as if I had suddenly gone crazy, "If you hate men this much, why are you getting married? It is obviously not love, right?"

"Love my foot. I am doing it for a reason."

Nodding in understanding, "I hope it works out for you."

"Thanks. Please, while I am away, try and change this mentality of yours. Women could do a whole lot for our society."

"I hope you wake up to reality still intact." He deadpanned.

"I hope so for you too, Sam." Bringing out five silver coins from payment, I handed it over to him, and added, "Here is your share, from a woman." His eyes darted between the coins and me, "I can take this back if you don't want it." When I began taking back my coins, he grabbed my hand, causing me to smile.

"I could use this, my son is sick."

"I am sorry to hear that, Sam."

"It's fine. Just a minor sickness." He smiled at me, but it didn't reach his eyes.

Giving him an extra eight coins from the bag, I said, "Call a physician to take a look at him."

"You don't have to do this. You probably need the money more than I do." He slid the extra coins back to me.

"Come on, Sam. I have known you for many years now, this is the little I can do to help. Please, don't reject it." He looked conflicted. I am sure the wheels are spinning in his head. "What is so hard in accepting help? Is it because I am a girl and you are a man?"

"Don't pull that card on me, Gwen."

"I am not pulling any card on you. Okay, let us do it this way. Accept the little help as a thank you."

"Thank you for what?"

"For everything, I guess."

"I should be the one giving you—"

"What is stopping you from giving me the money?" I interrupted him, not liking what he was about to say,

"What I meant was, I should be the one thanking you,"

"Then you should be doing it properly…."

After much bickering and persuasion, Sam decided to collect the coins for the sake of his sick son, but not because he needed it. Yes, that was the reason we arrived at. I am sure it must have hurt his pride, but anyway, I am glad he took it.

On my way back to the palace, I followed my usual lonely track road in the forest side because it was shorter compared to the other busy side. In less than thirty minutes I should be at the palace to join them for dinner as that was the instruction given by my uncle and his lovely wife.

Whistling to myself, I turned back to see a group of four men following me. Maybe they are hunters? But they usually don't come on market days, and not many people use this path. People hardly use it because of rumours about wild animals settling in this area, but I have never come across any since I started using this forest-like path.

Throwing a subtle look at them, I increased my pace, and they did the same, making it clear to me that they were following me. Securing my coins around my waist I began sprinting through the forest, but not running in a straight line, making it difficult for them to get hold of me.

Better luck next time you snails!

My movement was going so well, but not until I decided to look back and check the distance between me and the men. l felt a sharp pain that had me screaming, "Argh!" before falling to the ground because I couldn't move even if I wanted to so badly.

I looked at the source of the pain, and my heart sank. My right leg was held captive by an iron trap. Of course, it had to be one of these hunters' traps!

Drat! I might as well turn into a rat! That rhymed!

Why did it have to be today of all days? Am I really this unlucky?

First, I land myself with a man I never want to be close to and then my leg is about to be damaged when my marriage ceremony is in fourteen days? If the pain of the trap had not done enough, then the laughter of the men sure did as they gathered around staring at me like a mouse caught in a trap.

When their laughter subsided, one of them said, "Look who we have here. Do you know how long I have waited for this day?"

How am I supposed to know how long you have waited when I did not even know you were waiting? I was tempted to say, but looking at my condition, it is better to keep that reply to myself.

"She looks delicious!" One of them said as their eyes roamed all over my body.

Oh, my dearest fate, is this all you could do for me?