The sun beat with an unevenged fury as the men offloaded the camels and carried their loads to the Oasis storehouses. A tall blonde man with piercing grey eyes scanned the horizon , his long nose quivering. "Hurry up!" He shouted . The men then rested in the shade as the camels drank water . Dates were passed around and men ate them quickly. The blonde walked to a building and slammed the door shut, it's ancient hinges almost coming off . The wound stung when he washed it with the brackish water . His grey eyes grew a shade of violet. It needed stitching . He reached into a duffel bag and pulled out a tin. In it were some needles and thread and a bottle of honey. He poured a little of it into the wound and then began pressing it. He felt the pain run through his body. Using the thread and needle he behan to stitch the wound closed. Several times he felt like blacking out but it was done soon .He put the stuff away and dozed off . A storm was on the horizon and the caravan was halted. The blonde was furious and swore in a foreign tongue . Handsome though he was he has a vicous temper . He kicked at a cat that was stretching and it screeched as it flew through the air and then scurried away. Ali felt the wound stung but took his camel and tied it to a palm. It was a good animal and Ali took care of it . He began to brush it's coat . It stank but then again so did everyone. She stood up on a dune , her hair flowing , in her white ,long dress. Ali wondered to himself how such a beautiful creature could exist. Her hair was golden brown with black in between and her eyes amber . Her skin was light and smooth as alabaster . All the men stood in awe . How could such a beauty be with such a beast? She looked down and caught Ali's gaze . He looked away , shy and blushed . He felt his skin burn and his eyes water . His pulse raced and he could not breathe . He heard the whip and a scream and knew the blonde had seen the men look . A purveyor of confectionery , the blonde had amassed the fortune on the backs of the workers he badly paid . "Get inside! " he shouted at the woman. "I will go in when I want to," she said defiantly . Ali's eyes turned dark brown , then black . He looked up at the blonde . He had already taken a lash from the whip this morning but was not scared. "Get back to work!" the blonde shouted and then went into the building . The girl smiled at Ali who looked away. When he looked up again he caught her gaze and she smiled . He smiled back and he suddenly felt weak. He collapsed . He woke up in a tent . The girl was in it with him . They had sprayed water on him and then began to give him sugared water. She felt his forehead and he cringed at her touch. It was as if some force had entered his body. Her hands were soft and gentle . She had soft eyes and he was lost in them. The storm had come and was growing in intensity . The packers hurried to their tents leaving Ali with her . The tents were sturdy but the dust buffeted the tents . The noise was deafening .   When morning came Ali found her next to him . She was so soft and beautiful to behold . He had loved her for a while but too scared to speak to her lest Yusuf the blonde got enraged and killed her. She got up and smiled . "Waris!" she heard Yusuf shout.   Intrigued by Waris' allure and sensing her distress, Ali approached her cautiously, offering a sympathetic smile. Their eyes locked, and an unspoken connection was forged in that very moment. They exchanged a few hesitant words, and Ali learned of Waris' dire circumstances. His heart swelled with empathy, and without a second thought, he vowed to help her escape the clutches of Yusuf. Under the cover of darkness, Ali and Waris met in a hidden spot outside town, armed with nothing but their determination to find freedom. With hearts pounding and adrenaline coursing through their veins, they mounted two swift Arabian horses and galloped into the vast expanse of the desert. The moon cast a soft glow upon their faces as they rode tirelessly through the night, the desert stretching endlessly around them. The cool desert breeze whispered tales of hope and whispered promises of a better future. Ali's injured leg throbbed with every step, but his determination pushed him forward, fueled by the desire to protect the woman he had grown to care for. As the sun began to rise, casting a golden hue over the desert landscape, their weary eyes caught sight of a shimmering oasis in the distance. Their hearts filled with a renewed sense of hope as they urged the horses forward, their exhaustion momentarily forgotten. Upon reaching the oasis, Ali and Waris dismounted, their eyes widened in awe at the sight before them. Tall palm trees provided shade, and a crystal-clear spring flowed gently through the sandy banks. The air was filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers, and exotic birds serenaded them from above. Their eyes met once again, but this time, a shared understanding and blossoming affection filled the air. In the sanctuary of the oasis, away from the chaos and dangers of the outside world, Ali and Waris found solace in each other's presence. The oasis became their sanctuary, where they could heal and build a life together, far from the clutches of Yusuf. *Ali, how is your leg," she asked him one day. "Much better," he said. Seeing the light catch her hair from behind he thought her too beautiful for words . He smiled . She smiled back. "Is there something wrong with me Ali?" she asked . "No,"he said. "You can't even look me in the eye," she said . "Waris, I am just a common man. Short and ugly and no money to my name. Why should I even cast my eye in your direction?" he asked . "You're a handsome man Ali. Why have you not seen that?" she asked . He said nothing . She looked at him and tears began to flow down her face. "Don't cry," he said . She started to run away and he grabbed her. Her dress tore and revealed her bare back. It had scars . He caught her and turned her around and held her. " He did this to you?" he asked . She nodded . He looked into her eyes and kissed her tenderly. She felt her feet levitate. His hot breath wanted her face and she felt weak. He picked her up and lay her down in the shade . Touching her face gently he caressed her face . He began to kiss her tears away , tasting it . She groaned as he kissed her and touched her arm. He began to pull her dress off then stopped. He felt the scars on he back and began to gently kiss them. "They are so ugly," she said . "Nothing is ugly about you," he said . "I love you," she said . "I love you my rose," he said . He held her in his arms and felt so safe and secure . "I want you forever," he said . " I have wanted you since the first time I laid eyes on you," she said . "I want to marry you and make sweet love to you," he said . *I want you now ," she said . "You have me now . When we marry we will be one forever," he said . "You're still as beautiful as the first time I saw you fifty years ago Waris," he said. She smiled and her hair , now grey wafted in the wind . She came down the  dune and said ,"You're still so handsome my love." He kissed her and they felt a love that defies description . Against all odds they had survived true love through ups and downs but their love never waned.    .