— "My mouth is shut but my brain is screaming a lot of words."

Vincent Van Gogh once said, "I have nature and art and poetry and if that is not enough, what is enough?" The impact of his words hit her full force as she sat on a wooden chair viewing the magnificent beauty of Raiya.

The dark hues of the Earth were a stark contrast against the lush greens of the forest and the sky blues of the heavens. The mist swirled mysteriously over the widespread branches of the trees, enhancing the magic of the place. Mahrosh sighed, peace and serenity overwhelming her senses.

"Now that the fog of lust and admiration for his handsome face has subsided a bit—" Daniya started, ever since she'd met him yesterday all she could talk about was the "stranger with sexy eyes".

"Just a bit?" Samar butted in, arching an eyebrow.

They were waiting for him at the archery field. he was supposed to have arrived an hour ago but instead, he'd left her with these two battle-fond warriors.

"As I was saying, now that I've come to my senses—" She cut him with a scathing look before continuing.

"Partially." He scoffed unabashedly.

"Samar, I hope you die a virgin. That's all I have to say about your miserable existence." Daniya flopped back in her seat and raised her hands up in resignation as if she truly was done with him, having lost all hope of finishing her sentence.

A squirrel nudged her feet and Mahrosh bent down to feed her the nuts that'd been placed before them to snack on. The little creature munched on it in seconds before running away. She laughed in pure delight.

"That's low even for your standards, this is mental harassment. Is there an online crime bureau for this? I'd like to register my complaint right away." The younger man looked about like a knight in distress, claiming foul play like a squire of yesteryears.

"There's a bureau for withered old virgins." Daniya snapped, shrugging her shoulders.

Mahrosh's eyes rolled heavenward, God help those two. Then she tried to find any approaching vehicle from the rough and muddy roads that apparently helped you get to that particular area.

She surveyed the field again; there were targets for archery and grass grew from the rich turfs in sync—layered to perfection as if a gardener paid it due attention every day.

"I mean, you would know." Samar looked at her gamely; as if challenging her to come up with a better come back.

Their back and forth insult-exchange was still going when they heard the loud roars of an engine echo in the distance. She inwardly groaned at the way her heart skipped a beat but then she worried about the air and oil pollution noisy vehicles made.

My poor Earth.

"Is that his car?" Daniya frowned, unable to make up an opinion of the vehicle before her.

"That's a 2020 Jeep Wrangler...holy smokes!" Her little brother's eyes were wide with astonishment and awe, much like the scene yesterday night at dinner when he'd learned that Mikail's house was indeed designed by him.

"His car?" Her best-friend repeated in an "isn't it obvious" tone, having no knowledge about the world of cars.

"First of all, it's a Jeep—one of the most rugged off-roaders in the market. Stop being disrespectful and if he owns it..? Phew, the guy's loaded." Samar wiped his forehead, sweating with excitement at this point.

"Maybe he has a well-paying job?" Mahrosh offered, eyeing the glossy black wheels, the matte trail-rated badge, and the handles on the tailgate. There were so many technical and complicated features to the monster jeep that she gave up on the examination.

It was the man who stole her attention. His lean yet broad physique; the black hair that tumbled on his forehead and his graceful gait. He finally approached them and greeted them all with his signature cool politeness.

Except for her.

Ouch.

"The man, the myth, the legend—Mr. Mikail Durrani. Do you know it's unfashionable and super rude to make ladies wait?" Daniya's voice carried a pretend offense but she looked at him like she'd make a dessert out of him and devour it in minutes.

"I apologize, I ran into a little accident on the way."His eyes darkened but he sounded like his usual emotionless tone that gave nothing away. He sat down on his chair, dwarfing it and the view. But she didn't mind. God, why didn't I mind? She smacked herself.

"Are you alright?" She asked gingerly, expecting to be rebuffed. Emotions of worry and fear swiveled across her face—for him.

He must have looked at her for three seconds, nodding a curt yes but that disarming look was enough to tilt her world off its axis. I've seen these eyes before...I have!

"What happened, man?" Her brother asked him, curious about what had taken place.

"Just a little bender, we had to move a dead tree out of the way." He replied so easily as if hauling dead trees was a norm for him.

"Raiya badly needs new roads. Why does no one fund this? It's tragic considering what a damn good place this is." Samar mused, making a "tch tch" sound in his throat.

The man wanted to say a lot of things, his mind screamed for the words to spill but he controlled it. Held himself in check. He couldn't tell the kid that the deed lay with his father and only he was authorized to build roads in Raiya.

"Roads would come first, naturally."

Mahrosh picked up on the veiled taunt knowing how a road was being built but not for the villagers. It was for the imminent arrival of tourists after the resort was built.

"Is it true that four's boredom and five's a party?"

A young man who could have been called Mikail's copy if it wasn't for his overall happy vibe and that hundred-watt smile decorating his face jogged up from behind them. Mahrosh sensed his energy and it was so overwhelmingly bright and cheery; visions of red beryl swamped her mind.

"Only in your books, Mr. Party Crasher." Daniya scooted closer to get a good look at him and her lips curved upwards when he reciprocated with a grin.

"This is Haris, my younger brother, I hope you guys don't mind his intrusion." Mikail, the ever stoic and stony, introduced his brother as if the poor guy was a criminal on the run.

"I have heard nothing about you from my brooding brother but I hope we can change that now?" He shook hands with Samar and took a seat at the table, eyeing everyone with open curiosity that wasn't uncomfortable in the least.

"Yes, but I'm afraid we're going to have to split up." Her best-friend announced with insincere guilt.

Mahrosh shook her head, almost terrified of the words that would come out of Daniya's mouth.

"This soon, my lady?" Haris played along, he was the type of person to jest and laugh until kingdom come.

"Ha ha, I meant I have zero interest in Archery. None whatsoever so we can let Mikail and Mahrosh be on their merry way into the Woodland while you can tell us about your Raiya." Her eyebrows wiggled suggestively and she elbowed Mahrosh in the ribs making the latter choke on a soft cough.

"What are you doing!?" She hissed in low octaves lest anyone else heard them.

"And the Jeep Wrangler, I need to know about that. Can I please drive it?" Samar was deeply fascinated with the car, or jeep, or whatever that it was called.

"Under my supervision, I might just allow it." Mikail's brother slapped Samar on the back heartily, it seemed as if he was thoroughly onboard Daniya's plan.

"Take them to the stables, if they're interested." Mikail threw in his suggestion, she wanted to detect his reaction but his face and posture betrayed nothing. He swiped through his phone in deep concentration; his face taut with the undivided attention he was paying it.

"It's a perfect time too, the feeding hour," Haris informed them, further hyping the excitement.

"Oh, my God, Can we go? I love horses and I'm a fairly good rider if I say so myself."

Daniya wasn't a good rider, but that died on the tip of Mahrosh's tongue. It was useless. She looked around into the crystal clear ear, not missing the smog and congestion of the city one bit.

"I don't think riding is wise—"

"But why?" Daniya interrupted Mikail.

"My horses don't cooperate with riders they're not familiar with."

You don't cooperate with anyone so I'm not surprised. Mahrosh snapped at him inside her head. He was so smug, full of himself yet not...argh.

You hate that he ignores your existence. The sensible part of her brain attacked her.

"It's yours...? Of course. I'm beginning to think you own Raiya itself."

The brothers looked like they wanted to say something but held themselves back by chains and locks that were heavy and bruising.

"My estimations tell me that buying a horse, acquiring a trailer to haul it, a truck to pull said trailer, the Hobby Farm let's not forget that then bins, wheelbarrow, pitchforks, buckets, halter, tacks, and blankets. Gosh, that's a whooping 4000$." Samar counted on his fingers, putting his business subjects to use.

"And hey, don't forget the added 3000$ of buying a pal for the said horse, a female maybe? You guys are filthy rich."

"You paid a lot of attention in maths class that I did not." Haris chuckled softly, looking anywhere but at them. A look of uncertainty passed his face, of a person who was hiding something.

"Don't worry, same here. Samar, you're an alien."

"Buzz off."

The Daniya and Samar chronicles resumed as two people on the table tried hard not to look at each other, the new man had his eyes fixated on that exchange. He wondered when they'd slip up and drown in each other's eyes?

"So, will you guys go without us?" Mahrosh cleared her throat, swallowing nervously. The idea of being alone with him left her with mixed feelings; a part of her was dancing with excitement when the other half screamed "trouble."

"You'll be fine with him here, right Mikail? You'll protect our rich girl from Robin Hood? She's a victim for theft, our baby." Daniya pouted, caressing Mahrosh's petal-soft cheeks.

"The Robin Hood rumors reached you guys, then?" Haris rubbed his hands, leaning forward on his elbows.

"Samar's been spreading them so, unfortunately, yes."

Haris stopped another Samar and Daniya battle by speaking up; Mahrosh thanked him and God a hundred times in a record minute.

"You guys ever encounter this phenomenon, or is it all lies? I mean you are wealthy AF and if it's the rich he's got a problem with, then you guys shouldn't even be in Raiya right now."

Samar had a point. Mahrosh eyed the brothers with interest; within their answer laid the answer to the mystery.

"Actually, we are only authorized to use some of the land, our birthright. The rest was bought by...people and it's up to them what they do with it. As for your Robin Hood..." Haris explained the truth tightly like it hurt to admit it. He stared off into the distance, reminiscing.

"He doesn't exist." Mikail stood up in a bound, leaving everyone bereft. His cool departure left everyone reeling with the harshness of his abrupt words.

➽───────────────❥

Daniya, Haris, and Samar left for the stables around the corner; it was a ten-minute walk so Mahrosh did not feel unsafe. Actually, even if it had been more than that—she might still not have expressed any inhibitions to being alone with him. Stupid girl. But it was of no use, the stupid girl couldn't control her heart.

"Roads first, tourist destinations later?" She addressed him, words sweet yet meaningful.

"I meant no offense." He looked at her from his peripheral vision, walking down the stone path, the enchanting dark green of the copses surrounding them.

"None taken. I agree and understand, err, your reservations? I mean anyone would wonder the same. It's great criticism. It's just that they're overly enthusiastic and passionate about this project." She insisted in her usual soft breathy voice sparing a quick glance at him to see if he was offended.

He on the other hand knew how she used her politeness as a warship; always the dutiful daughter. Her kindness wrapped a noose around his neck and forced him to accept what he'd known for a long time now.

"I get it." Monotonous. Abrupt. Cold.

"But do you?" She murmured, doubting his words.

"It's none of my business, Ms. Khan." He assured her, pulling a tree branch out of their way.

She took that moment to survey his boots that were muddied badly and when he bent, she had a perfect view of rippling muscles that protested against the confinement of his jacket.

The haya in you died sometime after meeting him, Mahrosh.

"It's Mahrosh, please. You're my tutor, after all." She practically beseeched.

Oh, God. Oh, God. 

DID SHE JUST FLIRT WITH HIM?

God call me over. I'm done here.

"A teacher and student do not normally converse on a first-name basis." His lips thinned, he squinted his eyes to look at the splashes of blue in the sky; wondering where the sunlight was? The crops were a mess after the rain, they needed to be dried.

She saw him pull at his collar, his face hidden from her view but his soft rejection of her extended hand of friendship left her reeling with hurt and confusion.

He's a good person and just not that into you.

"I'm sorry if you thought me forward, it's—ahh!"

She stumbled on her step, almost falling head-first into the dewy grass but a leather sleeved arm shot in front of her, becoming a wall between her and a painful fall. She clutched it, breathing heavily with her legs wobbling like uncooked jello, eyes squeezed shut.

"Are you alright?" He breathed out, his heart thudding loudly.

"Y-Yes, I'm okay. Thank you." She muttered, unclenching her hands from his jacket and moving away awkwardly.

His jacket smelled of an opulent, heady, and smokey impression that danced a Zumba on her senses.

It felt as if the squirrels, butterflies, birds, and a thousand little insects stopped to feast their eyes on the scene before running away; tittering and giggling.

When they reached the range, where the hunting equipment was laid out; he picked up whatever was needed, slinging a bow and quiver of arrows over his shoulder. She was mesmerized by the action.

She really needed to snap out of it.

He explained about archery styles, names of shots, and types of targets. Hunter bows, flatbows, freestyle, hunting tackle and so much more.

He had a great voice.

"Archery isn't just about physical agility and thrills, it strengthens your mind too. What's your route?" He asked her, preparing the equipment for her.

"I...because I was fascinated with Merida when I was young?" She blurted out the truth, wincing at how feather-brained she must have sounded.

"Do you have attention to detail?" This time his voice held bemusement and she could see he was trying hard to hold back a smile.

Victory!

"I am a candle-business owner, I know my distinctive scents." She preened because she really was proud of her little scented-candle company.

The achievement wasn't exactly a feather in her cap because her dad set it up but she was a proud CEO now, handling her own businesses and the complexities it came with. Her dad didn't help her anymore.

"Archery is strategic, it might feel overwhelming but it'll all be worth it when your arrow shoots a precise shot." He handed her the bow, their fingers scarcely touching before he stepped back. the bow almost fell but she managed its weight in time, her cheeks reddening with embarrassment.

"That sounds terrific." She brushed it off with another polite smile.

"This is a compound bow—what we call a rookie's weapon—and since it's light, you won't have any difficulty handling it." The wooden bow in her hand was lightweight, she eyed its craftsmanship with praise glimmering in her eyes.

"You've said two full sentences twice in five minutes, I'm in a pleasant shock." She quipped, flashing him a cheeky smile.

Mahrosh wondered if he was distant and cool only with her did other people get the same treatment?

"I'm a man of few words, Ms.Khan. I hope that doesn't prove to be a hindrance to you." He leveled the bow with his face and shot; the action was primitive, manly, and oozed of power.

Her head snapped towards the colorful pegs.

The arrow was right in the middle.

Red.

She swallowed, her senses reeling from his virility. She was curiously breathy.

"I wasn't mocking you, I'm sorry if it came across like that. It's just that you're so...aloof and—" She remembered their conversation and hastened to explain herself.

"Abrupt, cold, and silent?"

"Among other things."

"It's best this way, humans tend to create temporary emotional attachments to amuse themselves and it's a waste of time." He clipped, his eyes on the next arrow that he'd procured from his back.

"You're so cynical." She shook her head in disappointment; wondering why she felt that way.

He could never be that boy.

"Cynicism gets the work done." His voice was laced with self-assurance; frosty, chilled to the bone, and void of any human emotion.

"The red spot is your target, shoot blindly. Let's test your grip." He now leaned against a tree; his strong arms folded against his marble chest.

She squeezed one eye shut and opted for the red peg; hoping if she hit it square in the middle, she'd finally impress him.

"You're holding it the wrong way."

So much for that.

"Like...this?"

"Higher. Level it with your eye-range." He moved forward and tilted the bow with his index finger; the scent of spicy aftershave, sweat, and pine trees assaulted her once again.

The wind picked up speed, plastering her femme floral fabrication to her body, she quickly tugged the collars close; her cheeks stained pink.

"I am reconsidering my outfit choice, learning archery in a ruffled dress isn't exactly ideal." She spoke through the embarrassment, trying to brush it off.

Thank God she hadn't worn the floppy hat.

He looked at her dress for one brief second then averted his gaze; as if guilty of a crime.

"Ready?" His question sent apprehension racing through her body.

"I don't want to kill any bunnies." She pleaded, afraid she'd do exactly that, looking at him innocently.

"Not on my watch. Steady your hands." He looked at her trembling hands and her shaky grip; mighty tempted to support the softness of her fingers with his calloused palms so they'd stop quivering.

"Yes, easy and slow." He cajoled in a deep drawl, his eyes trained on her small hands.

"Can I ask you a question?" She broke their momentum once again, shifting the bow downwards to look at him.

He thinned his lips. Was he trying to contain his laughter or annoyance?

"You have to focus on the target to get this done." He nudged the side of his thumb against his nose looking away, then moved back, avoiding her face.

"You're wearing bull leather." She stated as if he had done some abhorrent crime.

This caught him off-guard and he stared at her dumb-founded. His eyebrows scrunched.

"I...I can't concentrate because I keep thinking about how you know...it was, err, sewn with animal hide? It's making me queasy." Mahrosh explained, helplessly frustrated. Much to her chagrin.

She was an animal rights activist as well as a vegan so she recognized the leather material of his jacket immediately. It made her uneasy— she also knew he wanted to throttle her about now.

"Are you a vegan, by any chance?" After what seemed like long, long minutes he finally spoke with a twinkle of amusement in his eyes, shrugging the jacket off his body: revealing tanned arms full of lean muscles.

"Tofu tastes better than meat." She looked away, her mouth doing dry.

She regretted her decision to speak about the material of his clothes now. So badly. Those arms needed to be hidden away because they disturbed her...yes, they disturbed her.

"Better?"

"Umm, thank you." She nodded, smiling up at him—he did not return the gesture but she knew for certain he wanted to laugh.

He was the most patient tutor, she marveled—because after a thousand tries her arrow still refused to hit the target. It shot everywhere else; like the tree stumps, the vast sky, and almost a possum. The latter almost gave her a heart attack. She didn't want possum murders on her conscience.

"I'm hopeless! This really isn't for me. Hamza, as always, was right." She flopped down, sweat beaded her forehead and she looked as if she was bone-weary of the sport that was Archery.

"You let others make a lot of decisions for you?" He was gathering all the equipment, his back facing her and she saw it bunch beneath his back.

Stop ogling him!

"My family is very intrusive, but you have to admit, I really am terrible at this. It's not a sport for me." She waved it off, breathing in ragged puffs of air.

"It's a hunting sport, a cruel weapon if exploited but liberating if control is what you're practicing. You need to find your reason." His statement was worldly, coming from a man who'd seen life's worst and suffered through it.

But the fact that he was talking to her now even though they were short, curt sentences made her feel like they had a camaraderie of sorts; an odd kinship.

➽───────────────❥

Mikail had gotten busy with teaching the swarm of little kids archery, finally satisfying Samar's curiosity about why the kids excelled at it. They were all now seated on chairs fashioned from tree stumps with an even larger one in the middle for a table.

"So, what are our stables worth again, Samar?" Haris laughed his attention on Samar.

When they'd told them that all the horses were wild horses except for the one Mikail had; they'd been shocked. The brothers did not collect pure-breds.

"Nothing, just a couple million dollars." He shrugged as if it was no big deal. "Don't forget the wrangler, though."

"Damn, why didn't I know we were millionaires, brother mine? I'm feeling grossly left out." He placed a hand on his heart, showing that he was wounded by the revelation.

Everyone laughed softly at their antics, no one noticed Mahrosh's deep silence.

"If you handled our funds, we'd be bankrupt." Mikail's gaze lingered on her for a second before moving away; he answered his brother curtly.

"Ouch...that hurt."

"The truth always does." His words, it seemed, were directed at someone else.

Her eyes traced his side profile, jaw covered with dark stubble, eyes wrinkled in the corners with every movement of his mouth. When her eyes descended south, she took in his strong arms and the veins that decorated them like artwork, throbbing in artful strokes.

Everywhere she looked, she saw a smattering of dark hair that added more appeal to him. It complemented what he already carried so spectacularly; that he was a well-composed, confident, and reserved man who had made a place for himself in this world at such a young age. His aristocratic features were a tell-tale sign of what her dad called "good breeding".

"I'm gonna be showing my riding expertise one way or another, it's final," Daniya announced, sipping on her coconut water.

"Poor horses, those unlucky creatures." Samar was quick to add.

"Mahrosh, I'm—why are you fiddling with the obsidian stone? Are you mad at someone?" Her best-friend eyed the insistent movement of her hand on the stone that supposedly released disharmony, fear, and resentment.

"N-No...I—" She tried to explain, scared witless that this would turn into...one of those scenes.

Those scenes were the worst.

"Did someone misbehave with you?"

"Who was it? Mikail?"

"He did noth—"

"Are you okay?"

Mahrosh felt the questions hammer her head, Daniya, and Samar's voices so loud—so loud she wanted them to stop yelling but it was too much. Sitting there, visions of a past she couldn't remember playing hide and seek with her, a man who she felt an odd kinship with for no reason—her heart couldn't take it all.

So she stood up and left, warning them not to follow her.

➽───────────────❥

She was walking aimlessly, cursing her anxiety and her stupid crystals and her sensitive nature and naive beliefs and everything that made her a victim for overprotectiveness when she saw an old, run-down stable in the distance. It was absolutely nothing compared to the ones she'd left behind.

What her eyes beheld when she neared it made her breath leave her body in a whoosh. A majestic black horse adorned with a coat that was fully glossy black had its head dipped in a trough, his midnight tail wagging. The horse was already saddled. She neared the animal as if she was in a trance, she should have been afraid...but she wasn't.

What if it belonged to someone? She ignored all the warning signs and red flags.

"Hi, there." She extended her hand tentatively and the horse's huge, round eyes took her in.

"You beautiful thing. Stop, don't lick—eww." The creature nuzzled her cheek in a sudden movement making her shuffle her feet involuntarily in a funny dance.

"Would you mind if I take a seat like...on top of you? I know it must suck but I promise I don't weigh that much." She jutted her bottom lip out, pleading with the animal who neighed in response.

"It's a deal then, a nice stroll and no reign pulling." She cajoled it, caressing the mane with the utmost gentleness before she mounted the saddle and trotted outside the ramshackle stable.

The wide branches shadowed the earth from the sun and gave the place a look of a fantasy realm. She had always been an escapist, today she felt as if she was a Princess and this was her Kingdom. The canopy of trees shielded the rider and her mare as they trotted around under the surveillance of numerous wild animals; they all peeked at the stranger from behind their hiding places with curiosity.

She felt the breeze on her face, her skin absorbed the clean air like it desperately needed to. She had never felt this liberated, this experience rejuvenated her whole existence.

Her eyes shot open when the horse neighed in distress, she couldn't see the snake that had spooked the horse into running at a break-neck speed. The hooves thudded against the earth as tree branches started scratching her from everywhere; she screamed for help and ducked down, trying to save herself but the mare was thundering down upon the land ceaselessly.

"Mahrosh!" The panicked voice came from afar but she recognized it immediately, she didn't risk looking back lest she fell; she clutched the reins to death, her fingers white with the lack of blood circulation.

There was a commotion in the forest.

Would the prince save the princess?

Or would she die...

The creatures wondered.

"M-Mikail!" She screamed his name like a prayer, her heart in her throat. The trees were a blurb, her eyes swam with tears; she tried being brave but images of her lifeless broken body attacked her anxiety with ferociousness.

Another horse tried to match the speed of the wild mare's, this one was a trained pure-bred who heeded to his master's command and when he said 'giddy-up', he meant business.

He looked like a knight in a leather jacket, his armor was his strong hands and the fact that he was a great rider. His horse maneuvered through obstacles to reach the wild mare ahead.

"Hold on tight!" The man screamed, his Adam's apple bobbing, black hair flying with the wind as he raced with time to save someone who might as well be the blood running in his veins. The fierceness of his eyes, a spectacle the skies witnessed.

"Take my arm and jump!" He extended his arm when he'd sped up to the rider and horse. Mahrosh's face was streaked with tears. The mere action of his heart beating was painful for him.

Their eyes clashed.

He looked like he'd lost all sanity.

Wasn't this what she wished for?

"I can't!" She sobbed out, the horse rocking violently beneath her. She was afraid to let the reigns loose. Her hair waved behind her, the dress she wore torn from various places.

"Close your eyes and take my hand!" His eyes swung from the trees ahead and then to her, he knew towards the end was a clearing, beyond that a cliff and then...inevitable death.

"I won't let anything happen to you," he was certain of that, "just jump. For God's sake, jump!" He screamed at her, his eyes red and desperate.

The flashback came again, of a boy with long hair who'd told her nothing would happen to her if she jumped off the tree they'd been sitting on.

"I won't let anything happen to you."

She closed her eyes and grabbed his arm, he hauled her off the horse in one strong movement and she landed on him, a bundle of immobilized senses and limbs. She wasn't sure if she was even breathing.

He'd saved her! They cheered enthusiastically.

"I got you, I got you." He breathed against her hair, not caring about the masquerade he'd set and planned. He only cared about the fact that he'd almost lost her.

Forever this time around.

Mahrosh's limbs were frozen in shock, and there was a darkness that spread its wings to hold her hostage in captivity. The sky was beaming down at the disaster in pure mirth while the horse that had started the trouble now trotted off cheerfully to munch on grass.

She sobbed against his chest and felt him cover her with something, the warmth seeped through her bones and she cried harder.

And he held her close. So close.

➽───────────────❥