We were startled a bit on the knock initially but then Hakeem realised that he had arranged for a bullock ride for me to go to the neighbouring town. We stood motionless for some time. Hakeem then went outside to check.

“Yes, it is the bullock ride. I have asked him to sit and wait in the mosque,” he informed me.

We then hurriedly buried the gold and other treasure in the crater and filled it up. The fresh mud gave a look of a newly dug place but there was no chance of anyone barging into the house as the whole neighbourhood belonged to Muslim community.

We changed our clothes, carried our stuff and locked the door from outside. It was early morning and people were going to their fields, exchanging greetings with us.

The bullock cart was still standing near the mosque. Hakeem went inside to search for its owner who had gone to sleep. He came out rubbing his eyes.

The bullock ride took us almost an hour to the neighboring town from where we board a bus to Fazilka. We both were still travelling together but from Fazilka ahead, the journey was not safe. We decided to split up as per our program. I got into the bus for Bahawalpur and Hakeem got into a lorry for Lahore. Hakeem gave me address of his relatives in Lahore.

He was carrying all my cash and I trusted him. I had no other choice.

reached my village at last light and went straight to my house only to find out that my mother was summoned by Nawab Sadiq about a month back. She did not return since then. If Nawab Sadiq was keeping her as a prisoner then I alone would not be able to get her released. Nawab Sadiq can even put me in prison too where I might rot for my whole life. I wanted to go to Noor Palace well prepared. The only person who could help me was Nazir Bux. I knew where he lived. It was not very far from my village. I decided to take rest and get hold of him the next day. I spent a very restless night in my own home because I was worried for my mother. But I knew Nawab Sadiq would never hurt her. He would keep her alive so that he could trade with me for his own safety.

Next morning, I bought a camel and went to see Nazir Bux. I reached his village by midday. His den was in the graveyard. I had come here once and that was not a very good experience. Nazir Bux knew black magic. I had seen him performing acts which a normal person is not capable of doing. I had nothing to defend myself. I believed that meeting a weird person is better than confronting the army of Nawab Sadiq.

I knocked at the door of the hut. There was no response. I knocked again with more force. There was still no answer. I was thinking of what to do next when I heard a sound of hissing and rattling. It was certainly a snake.

I turned back and saw a big rattle snake at some distance from me. I was brought up in a desert and snakes were a common sight. But this was big and had no intention of slithering away. I stood still avoiding a direct eye contact with the snake. This is something I have learned to avoid them. The snake, however, started moving towards me. I took out my knife and got ready to fight for my life. The snake came very close to me. I ducked instantly and swung my knife cutting the snake into two. As I turned back to focus on the door, I heard the hissing sound again. I looked back and was amazed to see two snakes now moving forward to attack me. I got puzzled as there was no sign of the snake which I had cut into two parts. It looked like that those two parts had become two snakes. My mind was working fast as I did not have much time. If I cut any of the two snakes then these will reappear in double the number. I realised that it was the Nazir Bux playing his tricks again. Both the snakes had started attacking me from opposite sides. I was still carrying my knife but was careful not to cut the snakes rather I had to crush their heads to get rid of them. I had to try it. I dropped the knife near my feet so as to pick it when required. I had to catch the snakes with my bare hands and crush their skulls. The problem was that both the snakes were attacking me together and I was unable to focus on catching either so I was concentrating more on evading them. I was about to pick up my knife and was thinking of sprinting from there when both the snakes jumped at me at the same time. I instinctively took a step back which resulted in the snakes hitting each other. As they fell down, I immediately put my feet on their heads, crushing them to death. I did not want to take any chance so I picked both the snakes and as a ritual of the desert I crushed their heads with stones.

I looked towards the door of the hut which was still closed. I walked up to it and was about to knock again when it sprung open. It was dark inside but I did not hesitate to enter this time. I was terrified when I was here before but not this time. I had come here to seek his help.

As I stepped inside the hut, the door got closed behind me. In a few seconds, my eyes got acquainted with the darkness. I was now able to see Nazir Bux sitting in one corner with some sort of magical shield around him. I stood quietly at the entrance.

“Why have you come here, Yousaf Shah?” Nazir Bux said, breaking the icy silence.

“Nazir Bux, I know you helped Nawab Sadiq to kill my grandfather. I won’t blame you because you were following his instructions. I have come here only to get your help,” I replied in a plain voice.

Nazir Bux was still sitting behind the shield. He was such a great wizard yet he was terrified from me. I did not know at that time that none of his magic works against me. I was carrying powers which he was aware of but I was not. I was therefore confused why he was hiding from me.

“How can I help you?” he questioned again as I paused.

“You need to tell me about my mother. Where is she being kept and how can I get her out of there?” I said.

He was still skeptical of my intentions and wanted reassurance.

“I can tell you what you have asked for and even help you getting your mother back but first you have to give me your word that you will not hurt me,” he said.

“I give you my word. I will not hurt you ever if you help me now,” I replied with a smile.

The magical shield disappeared. The long nose of Nazir Bux popped out of the corner first and then his remaining body. He was standing in front of me with his burning red eyes.

“She is being kept in the same dungeon where your grandfather was killed. It is in the basement of Noor Mahal and is heavily guarded. Beside the guards, I have put spell on her chains. If anyone tries to touch those chains, he will burn to ashes. I will go there myself. I know a secret passage into the dungeon and will get your mother out from there,” he spoke in a shaky voice.

I was surprised as to why he agreed to help me. I did not have to do much convincing. What I did not know was that he had guarded his den with the best magic he knew yet I had walked straight up to him. I only had confronted his magical snakes whose skulls I crushed with a little bit of effort only. I did not want to waste more time.

“Let’s go then. My camel is outside. I will give you a ride,” I asked him.

Nazir Bux was still standing very close to me. It was like he wanted to touch me but was unable to do so. He seemed frustrated.

“I don’t need your ride. You must go back to your home. You will see your mother before the sunset,” he spoke in a jittery manner.

I had to trust him. If he wanted to disappear he could have done before my arrival.

“If my mother did not come to her home alive by last light today then I will chase you to the last place on this Earth. I will find you and kill you, and I will kill Nawab Sadiq as well with my hands,” I said vigorously while agreeing to

his plan.

It was for the first time ever I saw him fearful. Color of his eyes had changed from red to yellow. He said nothing but stood still. I turned back and the door got opened. I walked to my camel and rode back home after two hours. It was afternoon and there were still three hours to the sunset. I was wondering how Nazir Bux would go from his village to Noor Mahal, get my mother and then bring her over here in the short span of time. Well, he was a magician. He can travel faster. Time was passing by and sun was about to set. I was losing hope when I saw a camel coming from the far west. There was sun behind the camel but I could see ilhouette of the rider. It was some woman and I was sure it was my mother.