đź“Ť Scene: Village Mosque Courtyard - Early Morning
Dew glistened on the grass as the village mosque hummed with the murmurs of Fajr prayer. ZAYD IBN SULEIMAN, now a few weeks into his second life, sat with a humble notebook on his lap, copying Qur'anic verses by hand.
Beside him stood SHAIKH ABDUL HAKIM, watching him closely.
SHAIKH ABDUL HAKIM:
"You've memorized five juz' already? Masha'Allah, Zayd."
ZAYD (humbly):
"I remembered them from before, but I didn't understand them. Now I try to learn what each verse truly means."
The shaikh's brows lifted in admiration.
SHAIKH ABDUL HAKIM:
"Understanding comes slower than memory. But it is more powerful."
Zayd nodded. His real education had only just begun.
đź“Ť Scene Change: Roadside Caravan - Midday
A caravan arrived, kicking up a trail of dust. Horses, camels, colorful silks, crates of spices, and sharp-eyed men.
At the center rode MIRZA KAMAL, a traveling merchant from Tabriz, dressed in worn but elegant robes. He dismounted at the market square and began shouting his wares in fluent Arabic, Farsi, and Turkish.
MIRZA KAMAL:
"Dates from Basra! Turmeric from India! Fine steel from the Armenians! Come, see!"
Zayd's eyes lit up. He knew the man was no ordinary merchant. His goods were too well-organized. His accent too polished.
Later that evening, Zayd approached him near his campfire.
ZAYD:
"Your Arabic sounds like a poet's. Your Turkish is from the Black Sea. And your Farsi... is courtly."
Mirza Kamal turned with interest.
MIRZA KAMAL:
"And you are either very bold or very clever, boy."
ZAYD (smiling):
"I am both. And I want to learn from you."
đź“Ť Scene Change: The Campfire
Zayd offered to help unpack and repack Kamal's caravan crates in exchange for stories and lessons.
Impressed, Kamal gave him a test: weigh three spices by smell and color, and calculate their market value.
Zayd passed easily. He even corrected one mislabeled jar.
MIRZA KAMAL (laughing):
"I've been cheated with that saffron twice before. You saw it immediately. Very well. For the next three days, I will teach you what I know."
đź“Ť Scene Change: Caravan Tents - Night
Zayd sat cross-legged as Kamal explained:
Spice routes from India through Hormuz
How to bribe border guards without insulting them
The difference between Persian and Kurdish horses
Why silk folds reveal the truth about its source
MIRZA KAMAL:
"Trade is not just gold. It is patience, reputation, and danger. Never forget that the best merchant is part scholar, part thief, and part diplomat."
Zayd listened, absorbing every word.
đź“Ť Scene Change: Mosque Courtyard - Dawn, After Kamal's Departure
As Kamal's caravan rolled out, Zayd stood silently. The old merchant looked back once.
MIRZA KAMAL (calling out):
"You'll be a better merchant than me one day, Zayd ibn Suleiman. Just don't forget your faith while chasing profit."
ZAYD (shouting back):
"Never, sir. My soul is worth more than silver."
Closing Narration
Zayd had taken his first step into the world beyond his village - not with a sword, but with ink-stained fingers and the lessons of a wandering trader.
He had a long road ahead, but now he had a direction.
End of Chapter 3