Palmist

CHAPTER 3

Amir was having fun at the party and he really had fun. It turned out that his fiancee has an older sister, much more beautiful than his fiancee, more daring and open. The wedding was scheduled for next summer, as the bride is not yet of age. Amir could not understand the trick of his father, who arranged this engagement. He realized for sure that this was not his fiancee and was not going to marry her; he liked her sister much more, but nothing more. He imagined meeting his future wife in a completely different way and wanted to marry for love.

– Your mother and I were also introduced, and you see we are happy. Rashid was speaking. Amir saw his parents happy, but he would not want such a marriage. Now, he did not know what he wanted yet. Amir was a modern young man, but this did not prevent him from honoring and respecting the will of his parents.

On the day of departure, Amir still asked his father, “Why did you arrange all this?” – Dad, I am not marrying her.

– Who knows? I examined her feet; she will have a happy marriage.

– Yes, but not with me. Did you see me there? Have you examined my feet? Father, finally look at my lines of fate.

– I will definitely look at them, but next time. You see, I want to see you happy, and next to you, I want to see a good wife. Which will make you happy. Maybe you are right; maybe it is not your destiny.

– Then why did you arrange this engagement? She will wait a whole year and hope.

– “An engagement can always be broken off. If she is not your destiny, then her destiny will find her, do not worry.

– It is impossible to talk to you. It was the first time Amir had spoken to his father in such a tone. Rashid was understanding and did not say anything. At the airport, they said goodbye as usual, Amir hugged and kissed his father. His mother had changed since the day of his arrival, Amir could not understand this change, and thought it was something feminine. The plane arrived in Moscow, where his friend joyfully greeted him.

– You have finally arrived. I am already tired of hanging out here without you.

– And why didn’t you go to your home?

– Went for a couple of weeks. There is nothing to do there. Amir gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder. Tell me how you spent the summer.

– You will not believe it, but I am a betrothed groom now!

– How is that?

– And that is it. My dad was engaged. He found me an imperfectly summer bride and arranged a matchmaking.

– “Gee!

– And how? Are you happy?

– “Are you kidding me?” Although, the bride is pretty, and will be a great wife.

– So what are you getting lost for? Marry her.

– You see, I am not mentally ready. I do not know, maybe something will change in a year, and I will marry her. Lyosha laughed.

– I have the same thing, I would also get married, but I am not ready.

– We are still just young. We need to grow up! Lyosha continued to laugh.

– Here! Clever words. We need to go to a restaurant and look at oriental beauties.

– What restaurant?

– Opening soon! An Oriental fairy tale! There will be such a beauty performing there. I forgot her name. And, in my opinion, the Sultan. I saw an advertisement, there is such a girl.

– Yes, a woman with that name should be a Sultana, not a dancer. Amir thought about it.

– What are you thinking about?

– You know, Sultana. Such a name is just fascinating.

– So we’re going?

– Yes! Let us go! When is the opening?

– In September. Do you want me to show you a minute-long video of her dancing, though you cannot see her face?

– No. I want to see her live myself. Amir pronounced these words so sternly that Lyosha even froze.

– Have you already fallen in love after hearing the name?

– No. It just will not be interesting.

– Well, as you know. I suggested it.

Arthur posted a short video on the Internet to attract customers. To promote his new restaurants, he posted a video where Sultana dances with her face covered. This is quite a fascinating dance, where she takes off her headscarf at the end. This exclusive room gathers a full hall of guests. Many visitors came only for her sake, the public loved Sultana. Arthur could not have suffered such a collapse and lost Sultana on the opening day of the restaurant. Of course, he could easily find a replacement for her. Change the performance number. But not now. Now he wanted to use her and take revenge on her for what she had done. Arthur’s people came to Poipet with him. Arthur was preparing a trap for her and this only provoked him, he often smoked, almost did not let the cigarette out of his mouth, and smiled slyly.

Sultana left early in the morning and was looking forward to the end of the journey. She did not sleep a wink the whole way. The car drove up to her father’s house late at night, she was afraid to go out, sensing danger. She rarely used mobile communication for fear that her phone was tapped. And after what happened, she stopped using the phone at all, she was afraid for her father’s life, and her fears were not in vain. The persons accompanying her entered with her. Her father was not revived by her arrival and was extremely surprised. Ahmed was quite young and full of energy. He greeted the guests joyfully, unaware of what had happened.

Arthur himself watched their house. Seeing the extra people, he gave the order to wait. – Let these people leave. We do not need extra eyes and ears.

– Chief, you are right. But they can guess something if they hid it.

– You are good, but I will get even with them later. I will settle the score with this girl first. Arthur waited patiently for the guests to leave the house, but they did not come out. – Well, we will wait in the wings and he leaned back in the car seat.

Sultana hugged her father so tightly that Ahmed immediately realized that something had happened. He looked questioningly at the guests, and after greeting them according to Muslim customs, invited them to come in and feel at home.

– What happened? Sultana looked imploringly at her father and could not say anything.

– Your daughter is in great danger. And maybe you are too. You need to contact the police urgently. The woman and her husband told Ahmed everything. – It is better to call the police right now.

– “Yes, but its night, and we haven’t been attacked. We have to wait for the morning and go to the station.

– When you are attacked, it will be too late. It is extremely dangerous for you to even stay here. My husband has heard about the dark deeds of this bandit. Many people are already talking about him. Ahmed could not believe what had happened. Sultana sat with a drooping face and was silent. She was breathing fast and had a terrible headache.

Ahmed fed the guests a modest dinner. Apologizing all the time for my modesty, I was not expecting guests, and I am not satisfied with much myself. After dinner, he offered the guests a modest bed for the night, and escorting them to the room, all the time apologized for his poverty. The guests were well mannered, and as poor as the Sultana family.

– What are you? We live the same way as you. Wealth is not about money. This Arthur, he is much poorer than we are. Ahmed was pleased to hear these words. Smiling through his beard and mustache, he said, “You’re right. With these words, he left the guests alone and went to Sultana’s room.

Sultana sat on the edge of the bed and waited for her father. Her father sat down next to her and took her hand. – Well, how so. How did it happen that I could lose you at any moment? Sultana looked into her father’s eyes with eyes full of tears; she barely restrained herself from crying.

– “Oh, Dad, I don’t know. I miss my childhood so much. I really want to get back into it. When Mom was around, when I felt safe. I am so sorry that I once went dancing.

– And I regret that I allowed all this. I should have locked you up and never let you out. But nothing Allah is great. He will enlighten our minds and send us help and the key to the right decision. Sultana smiled sweetly and, without saying anything in response, continued to look at her father.

– Dad, I am so afraid of losing you.

– Don’t be afraid. I will not leave this world before my time. How many earthly days Allah has given me, so long will I stay here. Do not worry. Sultana squeezed his hand even tighter. Her father stayed with her for another minute, kissed her on the top of her head and left the room. My father gave up his room to the Sultan, and he spent the night in the living room. He prayed hard all night, and fell asleep in the morning.

While Sultana’s father was praying, Arthur kept an eye on their house. – When the morning finally comes. He uttered these words in such a nasty voice that the driver involuntarily shuddered. – When will these compassionate guests finally leave, and in the end, I will shoot them so that they do not climb anywhere. Dawn was coming, and all the residents of the house got up to perform prayer. After that, a delicious breakfast was waiting for them. Breakfast was lively. The guests talked about their city, their family and shared recipes. It was time to say goodbye, and they were going with great reluctance.

– We are not kicking you out.

– We are just scared to leave you. It is so dangerous to live in such fear, when at any moment they can kill.

– It was so nice to meet Swami. God has sent me people who value my daughter’s life so much. Allah bless you. And after saying goodbye to them, he closed the door. After getting into the car and driving a short distance away, the woman called the police.

– Urgent! She was shouting into the phone. Armed attack.

– What are you? Are you crazy? What are you doing?

– You will find out now. Come back. The husband obeyed his wife and returned. Exactly five minutes have passed. Arthur was already getting out of the car, and his men, armed, were approaching the house.

– Wait. She stopped him. Wait for the police to arrive. Perhaps Sultana’s father will need help. Allah, protect their home. People have already entered the house, knocking the door off their feet. The police were approaching. The siren could be heard.

Sultana stood up, covering her father with herself. The father threw back the Sultan and the shot hit him in the shoulder. Hearing the arrival of the police, one of the people grabbed Sultana and ran out with her into the street, Arthur was waiting for him. They quickly left, leaving an order for two to kill the remaining two and escape. People quickly obeyed the order; they opened fire, killing their partners. Having quickly completed their task, they did not have time to escape, the police entered the house. One of the two jumped out of the window and quickly ran away, the second opened fire on the police, and pushing them ran out into the street. The police shot at him on the street and he was wounded.

The police and the guests who did not leave entered the house. Sultana’s father was alive, but seriously wounded. He was breathing heavily, but he was in his right mind. They could not tell him that she had been abducted.

– She is already at the station. Everything will be fine soon.

– You did not leave!

– No. The woman said with a smile. We are swami to the end. Ahmed smiled back and closed his eyes. An ambulance took him away. Karima and her husband drove to the police station to tell the police everything. – This girl came running to me to spend the night. She managed to escape from the clutches of this bandit. Now, fate has changed her again. This bandit is so strong. I have heard many terrible things about him. Karima told all this with such an expression. Her husband talked to the investigator alone, their conversation lasted a long time. He knew a lot more about Arthur than his wife. He did not let his wife into such secrets. She only knew what she had heard on the street.

– Thank you for your testimony, they will help us a lot in the investigation. The woman smiled happily, after waiting for her husband, took him by the hand, and left the station with him. Karima was such an adult, intelligent and, of course, a beautiful woman that the shawl in which she was wrapped like a blanket could not hide her beauty. Her husband knew about it. And I always tried to wrap it as carefully as possible. Therefore, after leaving the station, he made a stop and corrected all the details of the handkerchief on it. Karima loved it so much when he did it, it did not bother her at all, but on the contrary pleased her. They got into the car and drove to the hospital to visit Ahmed.

The last thing Sultana saw was her father falling from a gunshot wound. Next, she was seized and taken away. Sultana was sitting in the back seat in a semi-fainting state. She did not want to live. She thought her father was dead. Sultana did not have time to see anything, she only heard the howling of the approaching police, and she did not know what happened next. All these events happened in just two or three minutes. She did not have time to understand anything. It seemed to her that barbarians had raided their house, destroyed the entire inventory, killed her father, and she was kidnapped and sent into slavery. To some extent, it was. Only her father remained alive, the entire destroyed inventory remained in place. His own men, one managed to escape, killed two of Arthur’s men, the wounded man was on his last legs, which caused a lot of trouble to Arthur. He was afraid that he would shake up something superfluous and then he would be finished. He could not find a place for himself, and sent one of his men to finish him off.

Despite the fact that Sultana was not well educated enough, she had the dexterity of mind that she inherited from her mother. But her main quality was the ability to eavesdrop, she could hear even what the walls could not hear. This girl was always silent, but her ears were the ears of the walls. Sultana realized that she had taken another life. It was this guard who shot at her father, and he missed and hit her in the shoulder. Sultana did not know this; she just thought that this guard was on her side. It was so; he missed on purpose, not wanting to kill an innocent, respected person. Sultana realized that she was bringing death, and this feeling made her disgusted with herself, it seemed to her that everyone around her was leaving her. The car brought her to Arthur’s private plane, and she was prematurely delivered to Moscow.

Moscow was preparing for the Day of knowledge. There was a week left until 1 September. Students stocked up on textbooks and notebooks, flower sellers received orders for bouquets. Lyosha and Amir were sitting in a pizzeria and enjoying the last days of the outgoing summer. – It is somewhat boring.

– Yes, there are not enough girls.

– I am not talking about them. I miss my gift. I need to apply it somewhere. I fade out without him. Do you understand?

– To be honest, no. If I get bored, it means that I have not been with a woman for a long time and have not received female energy.

– Yes, you are an obvious womanizer. Lyosha looked at his friend with a smile. His smile was so funny. His front upper teeth bulged forward so much, Lyosha did not notice it or just got used to it, and it attracted attention, including women. Lyosha had no problems with girls, and he did not value them. Amir still shunned them. Their sweet conversation was interrupted by a phone call. Igor called and asked Amir to come. Amir gladly agreed and took Lyosha with him to make it more fun.

– What happened? A man was sitting in Igor’s apartment, he looked kindly at the guests who arrived and gave the floor to Igor.

– It is okay. It is just that this young man has very strong problems in his personal life. Women just run away from him. And the last time, a woman who is very dear to him left him. I wanted to ask you to help him. Maybe you know the reason. Amir listened attentively to Igor, and silently examined the two feet of his friend’s feet.

– Who do you work for?

– A pathologist.

– By whom? Amir could not stand it and laughed. You know, if I were your girlfriend, I would run away too. Just do not be offended. The guy looked at Amir sadly.

– And what exactly is the matter?

– That is the whole reason that you do not understand. Women should not be told what is happening at your work. And even more so on yours. Your position is not enviable. And your details just scare them. They run from you like the devil from incense.

– That is right. This guy was so simple and straightforward, he just couldn’t be any different. After a long conversation, Amir agreed to come to his work. He was interested in getting into the morgue himself.

– See you later. And don’t forget what I told you. This meeting, as well as the meeting with Igor, was not accidental in Amir’s life. In the future, she will play a big role in the events taking place.

Meanwhile, the man who carried out Arthur’s orders found out that Sultana’s father was alive. Ahmed was seriously injured, Karima took care of him, and her husband looked after the house. They did not know that the guard who shot Ahmed was seriously wounded in the same hospital.

This man has done his job masterfully. He made his way to the hospital and injected through a syringe into a vial with a dropper solution some kind of remedy, after which a cardiac arrest occurred. Walking along the corridor, he saw Ahmed lying in the slightly open door of the ward, he hesitated, and not knowing what to do, he quickly left the building. Having reported to his boss about the work done quickly and efficiently, the killer did not tell that Sultana’s father was alive, and the same woman who delivered her to him was taking care of him.

When he came to, Ahmed immediately asked about his daughter. They could not hide the truth from him for so long, and the truth had to be told. Ahmed’s eyes grew sad. Ahmed fell into silence, spoke occasionally, mostly answered questions briefly. An investigator came to his ward and accepted a statement about the abduction of his daughter.

The sultan was placed in some kind of basement room, which was illuminated by a dim light; there were no windows in this room. The door was tightly closed, and it seemed to her that no one could hear her from outside. It was like a laundry room, or a vegetable warehouse. This warehouse was empty. Her accommodation, which was rented for her in Phnom Penh, was much better. It was a whole house, and she felt like a mistress. – Nothing, I will get out of here. She spoke, but no one heard her. After sitting there for exactly a day, she was transferred to a room that was not very cozy, when she was led down the corridor, she realized that she was in a restaurant, and this room was for relaxation. The sultan was fed dinner, and she spent a day in this room. No matter how she tried to find out something, no one talked to her, even the employees of this restaurant; they walked by as if she was not there. The girl gained patience and began to wait in the wings. The main staff of this restaurant was brought from Morocco, as Arthur had Arab roots; they were cooks and a bartender. The bartender, knew several languages, including Russian, and was one of Arthur’s loyal people. The waiters were brought from different countries, including Cambodia, but this did not help the Sultan, it was simply forbidden to talk to her. Arthur knew Russian, but he used this language when it was extremely necessary.

CHAPTER 4

Sultana was waiting in the wings; Arthur was waiting in the wings. A great plan had matured in his head, and luck helped him in everything. Arthur kept Sultana just for one performance in a restaurant. Further, he no longer needed her, and he planned to get rid of her in such a way that no one could establish her identity and find traces. He found her a suitable replacement, no less worthy than her. It was an Indian woman from Indonesia who was in no way inferior to the Sultan. She is also good-looking, also danced only Indian dances in Indian costumes, and is poor in origin. He plans to replace one dancer with another, and the audience will not feel the difference, and will not have time to get used to the dancer in one evening. But this evening will gather a full hall of people. Arthur rejoiced, and did not think about the problems.

Arthur made frequent flights from one country to another, as he had his dirty business in several Indo-European countries. In one of which he found this Indian woman Guilty. A guard who informed him that Sultana’s father was alive and being cared for by a woman who helped her escape overshadowed his happiness.

– The blockhead. You let him live. Why did I send you? I want you to ruin my whole holiday. Arthur pulled out a gun and took it off the safety and shot the guy in the head. The gun was with a silencer, no one heard the shot, and Arthur called his partner to get rid of the corpse as soon as possible. – People know how to spoil the mood, he said, and stepping over the corpse went outside and went to a restaurant to watch the performance of Guilt. Arthur watched this girl dance perfectly, the audience would not feel the difference, he thought, without taking into account the opinion of the Guilt itself. The girl did not know yet that she was already considered a slave in Arthur’s opinion, and she was going to perform in restaurants in Moscow. Arthur also thought about what actions Sultana’s father had managed to commit against him. This news crept into Arthur’s head and gave him no peace. This girl is nothing but trouble, he thought, looking at the new dancer. Guilt, unaware that evil itself was looking at her, came up to him and seductively let out a wave with her stomach. Arthur gave her a sly wink, and the girl smiled back.

Unlike Sultana, Vina had the advantage that this girl was not a dancer; she worked at a dance school and taught dancing to girls, girls. A friend of her family invited her to work in the restaurant, he asked her to help him. His restaurant had fallen into disrepair and he was on the verge of bankruptcy. Arthur did not suspect that it would not be so easy for him to take this girl to Russia. She was poor, but she was not as lonely as Sultana was. She had a full-fledged family, including brothers. Vina was beautiful, very beautiful, but she did not have such greatness as Sultana, and she was not so proud. Rather, on the contrary, softer. Maybe thanks to her gentleness, Arthur will be able to take this beauty away voluntarily, and in addition to everything, she herself contributes to her removal.

Sultana lived out her days in the staff room. She could not talk to anyone, eat as she was used to, she did not have the opportunity to bathe and clean up. Her life has turned into an even bigger nightmare than it was before coming to Russia.

The first of September came, and all the students started classes. Amir and Lyosha were surprisingly happy about this day. – The day of knowledge has finally arrived.

– Yes, with his funny smile, Lyosha picked up. The girls at the institute were waiting for Amir; they really needed to know everything about the guys they met in the summer.

– What nonsense. You might think that they have written on their feet in detail about every guy they meet.

– “Isn’t that right?”

– Of course not. You can read fate, not a fleeting acquaintance.

– And why are you guessing on your feet?

– I did not study it. I inherited this gift through the male line. He came to me by himself. And my father helped me figure it out.

– Cool. You are lucky. You can find out everything about every person. No, not about everyone. I cannot read my destiny. And my father has not read it until now, and I do not know where danger may await me.

– So no one knows where danger awaits him. That is the whole joke.

– You know, you are right; it is actually easier to live this way. Not knowing what is waiting for you around the corner.

– You see! And don’t forget that I ordered us a table in an oriental restaurant.

– So early. Plenty more time.

– So there are no more free tables. Everything is packed!

– Holy shit. Is it really going to be such an evening there.

– yes. There will even be real oriental musicians.

– You are doing great. And I completely forgot about this oriental dinner.

Arthur was trying to find out what Sultana’s father had managed to do against him. What he managed to tell the police, and how the search is progressing. This information did not give him peace of mind, Arthur wanted to personally fly to this area and find out everything, but out of fear of attracting attention to himself, he said goodbye to this thought. “I’ve seen enough of this town,” he thought. And I decided to send a well-tested person. Arthur had people who served him like dogs. But there were few of them. And he got rid of the rest as soon as he didn’t need them. He himself was preparing for the opening of a restaurant in Moscow, and was going to fly there in the coming days. He was more interested in how to take the Blame with him. Something told him that there would be more problems with her than with Sultana. It was easier to get rid of Sultana, Vina was too necessary and famous a person. Her search could create too many problems, but Arthur was obsessed with revenge, and revenge clouded his eyes. At his own risk, he negotiated with the owner of the restaurant where the Wine was performed. But these negotiations were in vain. – Her family will not do it. The man answered, and spread his hands. Arthur decided to talk to the Guilt itself, deciding not just to bribe her, but also to recoup. Promising that as long as she works for him, her family will not need anything. The fault itself was not against this trip, it remained to persuade the family, and the girl took on this complexity. Of course, Arthur could not understand the purpose of Vina’s visit to Russia, but her goal was simple. Vina fell in love with this villain and was ready to go anywhere just to be with him. This happened when Arthur began to come to their restaurant and stay there, the wine was already dancing there at that moment. He often came to this restaurant to look after a girl for work; it could be a waiter or a dancer. No one suspected where the girls were disappearing. Everyone thought they were just quitting. And his next victim was Guilt. She took over negotiations with her parents and a few days later the plane with Vina and Arthur flew to Russia. Vina had no idea who she was falling in love with.

Arthur was ready to do anything to find a replacement for Sultana. And when he finds a replacement for the Fault, he will have to either return it or get rid of it. But he wasn’t thinking about it now, his head was busy opening the “Oriental Fairy Tale”. There was exactly a week left before the opening, and Arthur, to his misfortune, decided to show Vina Moscow. He did it not out of love for her, but in order to appease her and win her over. Vina took it all completely differently and her eyes shone with brilliance. Arthur did not notice this, he was thinking about his plans, and placed the Wine in one of his apartments, not very far from the restaurant. He did not want to arouse any suspicion towards himself and created the promised conditions for Guilt. Vina had a connection to the house when she wanted to, and everything went well. She was guarded as carefully as Sultana, only she did not know about it, and she did not really go anywhere without Arthur’s escort. Food was delivered to her apartment, and she did not need anything.

Meanwhile, Sultana, who was mourning her father, was obsessed with revenge, she so wanted to take revenge, or even destroy her tyrant, who had done to her and her father what she is going through now. But Sultana understood that she had almost no chance of salvation. She had not spoken to anyone since arriving in Moscow, she did not know the language, no one contacted her, there were three days left before her performance, and all these days she had to stay locked up. One of these days, Amir went to the morgue after studying, he accepted this invitation with pleasure, not expecting it from himself. When he entered the morgue building, he immediately smelled death and felt sick. The morgue is a creepy place. Moreover, this applies to people with supernatural abilities. It seemed to Amir that he could hear the voices of the dead, or even see souls walking along the corridor. But moments later, the visions disappeared. – Don’t be afraid. Said the guy. – We should be afraid of the living.

– “You’re right. Amir looked around in horror, not daring to go forward.

– “You’re going to have to go through this anyway. They will take you to the morgue anyway. All students go through this.

– I know. Somehow, I am not ready.

– It is better to step over yourself right away. This guy was acting so naturally. He was just born to work in the morgue. Amir got the impression that he came to the museum for a tour. This guy was acting so lively. He was always saying something. – Look at me. He said, and passed his hand over himself. – I have been working part-time here at night for six months, and nothing, I am used to it.

– Are you working part-time? So it’s a side job for you.

– Yes. Everything suits me. And the money is good. I am my own boss. Shut down and work. And you can’t please the living.

Amir bit his lower lip. – Now I fully understand why girls run away from you. Amir was scared to be with this guy in the morgue. And he, not daring to go any further, took a few steps back.

– Where are you going? Do not be afraid to come in. It is easier to work here at night. There are no bosses.

– No thanks. I will come on this tour with my guide and a group.

– Are you scared? I do not bite. You said something to me about my girls. So why are they all running? Amir has already taken a determined step towards the front door.

– Lets not do it today. I am not ready today. And taking a decisive step, he opened the door.

– I hope we will see each other again.

– Absolutely. With these words, Amir left the morgue building and walked with a quick decisive step to the metro station.