Meeting Again

"Assalamu Alaikum." I take off my hood. He can't see my face, but I hope he can still recognize me.

The battered, ragged and exhausted man doesn't budge. I feel a bit of pity for him. Even though he almost sent me to Persia as a slave. Honestly, speaking to people who want to turn you into a slave shouldn't be too hard. I am now befriending my captor's family after all. Does it make a difference?

"Get up old man." The shehzade hits the rails for him to wake up, rather monotonous.

Kasim blinks and jerks his head. "Razia...? Is that you?" He tries to reach his hand out of the rails. I hesitantly hold it. "Uncle...you betrayed me."

He looks completely guilty but does not let go of my hand. It's calloused and has a long red mark, maybe by getting whipped. "I did it for both of us."

"How would it benefit me?"