THE TEARS OF KUMARI KANDAM
CHAPTRE 15

Laasya seemed to be sitting restlessly in the waiting room of the warrior palace, hugging tightly onto a mysterious tome that she had managed to get with an unkempt fear. Strange events in the basement the other day kept Laasya awake all night, even feeling like she was being watched by something out of nowhere.

Honestly Laasya wanted to immediately tell about the peculiarity to Haala shortly after the incident occurred, but he was undone given the nature of the brother who did not easily believe anything without evidence. Therefore Laasya desperately gathers guts, in order to return to the basement and take the mysterious book.

After successfully obtaining the mysterious book, Laasya immediately met Haala who was unfortunately very busy training the horsemen. Laasya insisted on waiting even though the chief steward of the warrior palace asked him to come again tomorrow. Until the figure that awaited Laasya since two hours ago also appeared, with a step terkopoh, and facial veins full of worry.

"Maybe something happened?"

Laasya nodded repeatedly at Haala. "What's wrong?" ask Haala again.

Laasya showed me a mysterious book. "I found this book last night. He opens himself. I swear."

"His own open book?"

Laasya nodded back. "I picked out a few random sentences and translated them. But I didn't continue because it was too hard, and that's when he opened himself, on the last page I was translating."

Haala did not answer, only began to open the contents of the book. "The idea is more or less about destruction" added Laasya.

"Destruction?"

Laasya nodded again, taking over the book and looking for the last page she translated. "This. Perish in the wrong world because Yusef faithfully gives the Bahadir people his oath of succession."

Haala was silent for quite a while, thinking. "The world will perish because the heir to the oath of allegiance Yusef Bahadir gave his heart to the wrong man."

"Could this concern your brother and His Majesty the King?"

Spontaneous Haala moved, hugging the mysterious book. "Go home. Let me take care of this."

After making sure Laasya returned home safely, Haala immediately bestowed the day's solid training on her representative without saying a single reason. Haala intends to meet Daxraj who is believed to be able to interpret the entire contents of the mysterious book in Videsh* language without wasting much time, considering the tribe of travelers who supposedly created the language.

*Videsh* is a kumari kandam language used by early ancestors. No longer used in the present because it is too complicated*.

But Haala's arrival was immediately rejected. A man in black turban was seen waiting for Haala in front of the entrance of the temporary residence of the wandering tribe. The man looked familiar, but Haala had trouble remembering him. Haala also slowed down the pace of her white horse, stalling for time to remember the figure of a man with a black bandage with a frail stature in front of him.

*FLASHBACK ON*

Haala looked back, everything seemed very dark because the day was indeed late. But the mysterious place in front of Haala seemed to be the opposite, very hot, as if the Mentari was busy perched right on the crown. Despite the hesitation, Haala was eager to enter that mysterious place, however.

"Enough to get there." The voice of a man was clearly heard from within the mysterious place.

"Because you've got what you want, don't look for us anymore" added the man who is completely invisible.

"I'm sorry for making you and your tribe feel uncomfortable."

"If you understand then get rid of it" replied the mysterious man.

*FLASHBACK OFF*

"Greetings." Haala bowed respectfully to the turbaned man before her.

"I'm sure you remember me. Sorry for not being polite at our first meeting. Meet Aryesh Farorz, deputy leader of the wandering tribe."

"Anandmayee's Haala."

Aryesh nodded. "Just go. I was commissioned by our tribe leader to expel you."

"But there's a very urgent matter that I have to tell him immediately."

"Whatever it is, our tribal leaders will not accept you" Aryesh replied.

Haala was silent for a moment. "alright. But can I find out why?"

"Because you're dirty."

Haala frowned. "I'm sorry?"

"Our home is very sacred. In addition to the forbidden to bring the relics of the dead, where we live also abstain from receiving dirty humans."

Haala frowned more and more. "I'm sorry but I still don't understand."

"You have committed a great sin. Contact with a man who is not in a marriage relationship with you."

Haala was speechless, because what Aryesh had just said immediately dragged her to a sweet memory some time ago, when she and Braheim kissed in the corner of the bathroom. Even if remembered in more detail, not only his lips had been touched by Braheim, but Haala felt too excessive if the dirty label was pinned on him.

"Then I'll be back tomorrow."

"It's free because you're still dirty tomorrow, too" Aryesh told Haala.

Haala was silent for quite a while. "There's one way. Sanctify yourself in Baadal*" Aryesh added.

*Baadal* is one of the sacred lakes in Kumari Kandam. It is said that Baadal was guarded by a giant fish named Ghinauna. Those who soak in Baadal will be purified from the rest of human filth, the rest of the food and drink, or the poison that settles in the body. But Ghinauna is known to be unfriendly, so very few people can soak there*.

Haala shook her head in response to Aryesh. "That's impossible. Not even one of the earlier Kings of Kumari Kandam was accepted by Ghinauna."

"There is no way you could have met our tribal leader. Forever."

...¤○●¤○●¤○●¤...

If you hear the stories of residents who live around Lake Baadal, Baadal guards, Ghinauna, will immediately show their form when they do not like the presence of someone. And the truth of the story of the people who thought Haala was just that nonsense. A giant white fish is now looking at him with fiery red eyes that successfully make Haala difficult to swallow her own saliva.

This was the first time Haala wanted to escape from something. But Haala ventured, though doubts increasingly strangled her. Haala took off her clothes one by one, and reluctantly began to walk closer to the lips of the sacred lake. Ghinauna was still faithfully staring at Haala, but then immersed herself along with the side of Haala's feet who now felt the coolness of Baadal water.

"If it is true that I have wrongly given my heart, then accept me, and purify me of the sin of this presumptuous heart" Haala said before closing her eyes and immersing her whole body.

Feeling that something warm was surrounding her, Haala opened her eyes. Ghinauna is currently circling Haala. In contrast to her shuddering eyes, Ghinauna's overall appearance turned out to be very beautiful. The fins that adorned Ghinauna's body looked like a transparent drape that dangled, then her red-colored eyes slowly turned an emerald green color.

BYUR!

Haala's astonishment came to a halt when she heard the sound of something that had just fallen from Baadal's surface. Haala was surprised instead of playing to see Daxraj's arrival, and wanted to hide her innocent body as soon as possible. But his body is unable to move because it has been wrapped around the fins of Ghinauna somehow since when. The deeply embarrassed Haala had no choice but to turn her face away from Daxraj.

"He will not commit that sin again so forgive his life."

"We know very well he will do it again" Ghinauna replied to Daxraj.

Daxraj rubbed Ghinauna's head. "I'll watch him. So now let him go."

"Shy, annoying. You've been watching him all this time, but not once have you stopped him."

Daxraj smile. "I believe I have a reason for that."

"The reason is because you're stupid. Quickly get out of here before I change my mind and make you two have dinner."

Daxraj holds Haala's hand. "Come on."

Daxraj took off his arm when he reached the surface. Daxraj then handed Haala's clothes away with a look. Daxraj believes that Haala is struggling with a variety of silly questions. A talking fish, a fish that understands human language, and a Daxraj suit that remains dry despite having just gotten into the water, are the exact questions that now revolve around Haala's head.

"What's going on?"

"You just survived death because Ghinauna wasn't so hungry" Daxraj replied.

Haala was silent for a moment. "So I should have died?"

"Yes. If I'm one second late."

"Then why did you save me?" ask Haala again.

"My job is to save the world."

Haala was silent again. "So it's true that it was written in that book that the world would perish because I gave the heart wrong?"

Daxraj was silent for a long time. "While you look unhappy, unfortunately I have to say yes" Daxraj finally replied.

"Then how can you be sure if giving my heart away is the right one?"

Daxraj sighed. "Because that's the prophecy."

"I think that's just an excuse you've made up."

Spontaneous Daxraj turned to face Haala. "For what purpose?"

"Personal grudges with His Majesty the King or my ancestors. Or maybe you're just bored with your women."

Daxraj walked over to Haala who was still busy getting dressed. "If I have a personal grudge with them, I just need to flatten Kumari Kandam. Then I'm sorry, I'm just gonna admit to one woman in my life and that's you."

Spontaneous Haala turned to face Daxraj. "I know you're upset about accepting this fact, and I don't want to force it. You have the full right to refuse. My job is only to do what I can, and the rest I'll leave to God" Daxraj said.

"I can't believe you yet, that book, and the prophecy you're talking about."

Daxraj was silent again. "If it's in your position I'll say the same. But can you take better care of yourself?"

Haala reluctantly responds to Daxraj's ambiguous-sounding question. Until Daxraj takes off his turban suddenly, and speaks his meaning through action. A rough kiss had just landed on Haala's shivering lips, accompanied by touches that were no less rough. The rough touch seemed to have been set to remove the trace of Brahim's soft touch a few days ago.

"Just do this with me. Because I won't pass Braheim Bhaavesh for the second time until you allow him to cross the line again."

...¤○●¤○●¤○●¤...

Jihan screams angrily calling out to all her personal servants for being disturbed by the sunburns that burned her beautiful skin. But there was no noise of footsteps running ahead of each other as usual, although now the burning was no longer felt by Jihan.

Jihan is reluctant to heed, and only intends to continue her sleep. But the rough hands that suddenly swayed his body made Jihan immediately wake up. The royal physician, Sanjeev Rajak, was sitting next to Jihan, showing off a disgusting smile.

Spontaneous Jihan snorted in annoyance, as she immediately understood her current situation. Jihan is forced to spend a long night with Sanjeev, as she does not want to miss out on a lucrative offer from the genius royal healer. And that's how Jihan finally came back ready to be braved.

"Why are you still here? Hurry up and execute your plan."

"Just calm down, Your Majesty. Servant will not disappoint you," replied Sanjeev while peeping at the back of Jihan's hand.

"Make sure he doesn't show up in front of me anymore."

Sanjeev grinned. "He won't even appear in front of everyone, Your Majesty."

Jihan grinned. "Don't forget to destroy the body until Braheim won't see it."

"As per your orders, Her Majesty the Queen."