Chapter 20: The Mysterious Bridge Over the Poisonous River
A fierce battle was raging between Ameer Tahir's elite soldier and the old man.
Suddenly, the soldier struck with all his might, causing the old man's sword to slip from his hand and fall to the ground.
Ali (worriedly): "Elder…?"
First soldier (laughing): "What happened, old man? Lost your arrogance?"
Old man (smiling):
First soldier (confused): "Why are you smiling? You are injured, yet you're still smiling?"
Old man: "Look behind you first. You're the only one left standing, while all your comrades have been defeated. Ali has already tied them up with ropes."
(The soldier's face turns red with rage.)
First soldier (shouting in anger): "No! This time... I won't lose this time!"
Sheikh Hamza: "You look furious, but the truth is that you're all alone now."
First soldier (determined): "Just wait and watch! I alone will overpower all of you!"
(The soldier's face burned with fury, his muscles tensed, and his eyes were filled with bloodlust.
Without hesitation, he roared and swung his heavy sword through the air, charging at the old man with lightning speed.
But the old man was an experienced warrior.
He instantly sensed the attack and, just as the sword was about to reach him, he swiftly ducked. The blade sliced through the air above his head.
Before the soldier could regain his balance, the old man grabbed his wrist and twisted it with such force that the sword flew out of his hand.
At that very moment, Ali quickly pulled out a tiny pin laced with a sleeping agent from his pocket and stabbed it into the soldier's neck.
The soldier's face twisted in shock as darkness clouded his vision.
First soldier (weakly): "Ali… once again, you used that sleeping pin... This is not fair... I will get my revenge…."
(As he spoke, his vision blurred, and he collapsed onto the ground.)
Sheikh Hamza (laughing): "And you thought you could defeat us? You lost!"
(Junaid tries to stand up, and now he stands properly on his feet. He feels strong and healthy again.)
Ali's eyes were moist, and his heart was pounding fast. He rushed forward and grabbed Junaid by the shoulders, shaking him.
"Junaid! Are you okay?" he asked anxiously.
Junaid smiled and nodded.
Ali's eyes lit up with joy. He hugged Junaid tightly.
"You're fine, my friend!" His voice was filled with relief.
There was a genuine bond of friendship shining in both their eyes.
---
Sheikh Hamza: "It's good that Junaid is fine now, but what do we do with these four soldiers?"
Ali (looking at the mysterious old man): "You tell us, what should we do with them?"
(The old man thinks for a moment and then speaks.)
Old Man: "There is a hidden underground cellar beneath this hut."
Junaid (shocked): "What? A cellar?"
Ali (curiously): "Where? Where is the entrance to this cellar?"
(The old man moves a table inside the hut. As soon as the table is removed, a secret passage is revealed.)
Old Man: "This is the entrance to the cellar. We will tie up these four soldiers and lock them inside."
Junaid: "But once they regain consciousness, they will try to escape."
Sheikh Hamza: "Elder, Junaid is right. Once they wake up, they will try to attack us again."
Old Man: "I have a special medicine. If they consume it, they will remain unconscious for at least four to five days."
Junaid (surprised): "Really? That's great!"
Ali: "If we get four to five days, we can surely retrieve the map!"
Old Man: "Consider it done. You have those days now."
(Saying this, the old man takes out a small bottle from his pouch and feeds the medicine to Ameer Tahir's soldiers.)
Old Man: "Now you have four days. Within these four days, you must retrieve the map from Ameer Tahir's hideout."
Sheikh Hamza: "I will take these four soldiers down to the cellar myself."
(Saying this, Sheikh Hamza carries each of the soldiers into the underground cellar and locks them inside.)
---
Junaid (worriedly): "It's almost morning, but we haven't found a safe way to cross the poisonous river."
(Suddenly, Ali remembers what the old man was saying before the attack. He excitedly approaches the old man.)
Ali: "You were about to tell us a way to find out how Ameer Tahir reaches Azamgarh secretly!"
Old Man: "Yes, you're right. I was about to tell you. Listen carefully!"
Sheikh Hamza: "I also want to know how we can uncover Ameer Tahir's secret route to Azamgarh."
Old Man: "Once you reach Ameer Tahir's hideout, your first goal should be to retrieve the map. After finding the map, you must figure out how AmeerTahir secretly travels to Azamgarh."
Junaid: "But how will we find out about that secret route?"
Old Man: "Only someone close to Amir Tahir can reveal this information."
Ali: "But I've heard that his only two trusted guards are the ones we've captured. They won't tell us anything!"
Old Man: "It's not just them. There is someone else as well!"
Sheikh Hamza (surprised): "Someone else? Who?"
Old Man: "Ameer Tahir's daughter!"
Sheikh Hamza: "Yes, you're right! She is a kind and good-hearted girl."
Ali: "Yes, Uncle Sheikh Hamza! You told me that she is not happy with her father's actions!"
Old Man: "She might help you because she definitely knows about the secret route!"
Ali: "We will do our best to retrieve the map and uncover the secret route!"
Junaid: "That's all fine, but before that, we have a much bigger problem!"
Sheikh Hamza: "What problem?"
Junaid: "Crossing the poisonous river!"
Old Man: "Don't worry. Tomorrow, I will help both of you cross the poisonous river!"
Sheikh Hamza: "You? But how?"
Junaid: "Is there a secret way?"
Old Man: "There is a bridge over the poisonous river, which can be used to cross it!"
Junaid (in shock): "But when Ali and I were standing near the poisonous river, we didn't see any bridge!"
Ali (astonished): "How is that possible?"
Old Man (smiling): "There is a pillar at the edge of the poisonous river. On that pillar, there is a hidden button. Pressing that button reveals the bridge."
Sheikh Hamza (skeptically): "But how is that possible?"
Old Man: "The structure of this bridge has been designed in a very special way so that no one discovers its existence!"
Ali (excitedly): "That means we've found a way to cross the river!"
Junaid (happily): "Now we can easily cross it!"
Old Man (in a serious tone): "No! Don't take this bridge lightly; it is very dangerous!"
Junaid (surprised): "What do you mean?"
Old Man (in a low voice): "This bridge has become very weak. It can collapse at any moment, so we must be extremely careful while crossing it."
Ali (wisely): "We will cross it slowly and carefully to avoid any accidents."
Old Man (satisfied): "Good! That caution will keep you safe."
(Suddenly, the sound of footsteps is heard again…
Ali and Junaid's faces tense up with worry…)
Who has arrived now? Could it be Amir Tahir?
Will Ali and Junaid be able to cross the poisonous river?
To find out, read the next chapter…
Chapter 21… Coming Soon…