These are excerpts from Part 2 of The Trader
For all of Part 1 go to
https://www.thestorymint.com/serials/trader-joint-serial-suraya-dewing-nz-and-hemali-ajmera-india
Part 2 (excerpts)
Yasira and Azeus are separated. Yasira is heartbroken because her disapproving father does not want his daughter involved with the Persian Trader. Thinking he has failed to keep a meeting with her Yasira decides to set up a stall at Yasing market to sell her beautiful, embroidered silk cloths.
Azeus, the King’s personal bodyguard, is on his way north to quell an uprising in the north of Persia. Although he was meant to meet Yasira he has had to obey his King.
Chapter 11
By Suraya Dewing (NZ)
The dawn was wrapping itself around dark clouds when Shahida arrived at her stall carrying a large cane basket filled with intricately embroidered silks. She set out a small wooden table, laid a cloth over it then set out her neatly folded lengths of silk, all hand stitched and unique.
Gul Bibi, the stall holder next to her said, looking up at the clouds, “I’m sure they will soon clear.”
Shahida smiled, smoothing each piece of silk with long fingers. “I hope so.”
Knowing her neighbour was a widow raising three young children, Shahida wanted Gul Bibi to do well.
Sunlight pushed the clouds away and Shahida quietly hummed as she finished setting out her silk that had become famous thanks to Azeus’ patronage.
A scuffle in the distance made her look up. A group of women were coming toward her. She smiled her welcome. The leader of the group picked up a piece of silk with camomile flowers embroidered on it.
“I have saved hard for this.”
The silk rippled in the light as she reverently ran her hand over it and handed over a gold coin. Many in the group also purchased Shahida’s silk.
As always, Shahida whispered a quiet ‘thank you’ to Azeus for choosing her silk on her first day at the market.
Chapter 14
By Hemali Ajmera (India)
The thought of leaving home without seeking her father’s permission made her apprehensive.
At the same time her excitement of setting up a stall to sell her silk cloths was so great she no longer had the patience to linger. If she waited for her father to return, it would be too late.
Donning her favourite black gown decorated with cowrie shells, Yasira carefully plaited her hair. It was the same gown she wore when she first met Azeus. Before leaving she kissed her mother’s shushut and retrieved the dislodged cowrie shell from under her pillow, tucking it in the hem of her gown.
Instructing the servant to serve breakfast to her father and to take care of other chores, Yasira put the cane basket on her head and made her way to the market.
When Yasira reached the open-air bazaar, she was greeted by a cacophony of sights, scents, and sounds. The market was already bustling with customers, on foot as well as on horseback. The sounds of stall owners hawking their wares, loud haggling, horses neighing and strange foreign words mingled with the smell of fresh brewed tea, baked bread, meat kebabs and horse dung.
The Yasing bazaar was a broad dusty street, lined with make-shift stalls on either side. The stall owners set up their stalls as they came and customers shopped either on foot or while riding on horses.