A MAZE OF GREED

The moon that rode on the dark cloud looked down at the world. Billions of stars twinkled as if paying respect to their lord. The whole world was asleep lost in the deep slumber. But not everyone was lucky to have that good night sleep.

There was someone whose mind was restless. He was agitated and couldn't keep calm for a minute. The frantic beating of his heart and the perplexed mind kept him awake. His hands clutched the railings of the balcony with head bowed a little.

A breeze of wind passed through his coffee brown hairs which were not too long neither too short. They fell on his oval face blocking his view. He didn't care to move them out of his face, his eyes were shut together.

His full chest moved up and down as his breaths came deep. He slowly opened his cerulean blue eyes while exhaling through his mouth. He had many feelings bottled up inside his heart. He felt like a fettered animal who tried hard to let loose. His soul wanted to break free, untamed, unshackled but couldn't.

That frustration was eating his brain fuelling his distorted peace. He slowly looked up at the moon that shone in the dark sky. Numerous thoughts swirled in his mind that he couldn't put into words. He wanted to let everything go but if only destiny allowed him.

A white pain shot through his head making him wince. His body was exhausted still he couldn't get any sleep. At that moment he found himself alone and lonely. If only he had someone to talk to, share what he was feeling. He wanted to scream, cry, curse or even kill to let it all out of his system. But he couldn't.

He turned around resting his back on the railing, his eyes stared into his room. It was dark, only a few candles providing the little light that was not enough to make things visible. But he had no problem watching in that darkness. He could see everything clearly.

As his eyes wandered around his room they stopped on a wooden box that was placed on the small round table beside the vanity. He stared at it for a moment and then his legs took him to that table involuntarily. He picked up the wooden box. His straight brows that were a little arched rose higher as he couldn't understand why his mind decided to heed attention to the box considering his stressed state.

He slowly opened the box which contained a piece of cloth. A brown cloth. As soon as his skin came in contact with it he felt a shiver ran down his spine. His visible adam's apple moved up and down while he examined the cloth in his hand. Instinctively he brought it near his nose and whiffed.

His jaw clenched and eyes shut close while he tightly held that cloth. A sweet smell that he couldn't describe entered his senses waking every cell in his body. He couldn't understand what kind of scent that was for he had never experienced it before. But every time he inhaled it something sparked inside him, making him want to inhale it more, time and again.

What kind of flower or plant this scent might be made up of? He had thought about it multiple times. He had even took efforts to search about it in the books that were stacked on the shelves of his library but to no avail. He couldn't find the source of the scent.

It drove him crazy triggering his unscratched emotions. It took him to that unknown territory that he had never imagined existed but it was something adventurous and exciting. The adrenaline in his body worked at its best making him realising his strengths in a new light.

Since the night of the celebration that took place some days ago, this cloth and its scent had occupied his mind completely. He instantly felt his mind approaching the peace that he needed and his tensed muscles relaxed a bit. Since that night this had become a cure of his every problem.

He again went inside the balcony and inhaled the scent one more time. He closed his eyes and a beautiful sight of hazel eyes came in front of his eyes.

"Ruth!" The word left his lips and he liked how good it felt to say it.

"Ruth... sweet Ruth!" A small smile made its way on his handsome face and finally, he felt his mind at rest.

On the other side of the town, another person was awoken too. Her straight brows were pulled in the middle of her broad forehead, her large hazel eyes narrowed as she passed the end of a thread through the small hole of the needle. She sighed as she succeeded in it after the previous three failed attempts.

She took the beautiful bluish-green coloured garment in her hand that felt smooth against the rough skin of her hand.

"Beautiful!" The words came out in a whisper.

Her eyes couldn't get enough of the garment as the colour was soo beautiful and rare for it was too expensive to dye the clothes with Indigo dye brought from the British colony of India.

Finally, after returning from the first day at Mr Cooper's tailoring shop, Ruth stopped by Florence's room.

Florence was surprised to see Ruth at her doorstep at that time. Soon her confusion resolved after Ruth reminded her about the garment. Ruth had to make a beautiful dress for Florence in return for her help with arranging the landlord's rent.

"Please, come in Ruth." Florence invited her but Ruth politely declined her.

"I would have liked to. But I am tired so I would like to go and sleep now." She said with a smile.

Florence was hesitant but then asked, "Ruth I have a small request if you can do it."

"Yes. Tell me, what it is?" Ruth asked while taking the bag of the garment from Florence's hand.

"It would be great if you can complete this dress as soon as possible. I have to visit a place after four days and I was thinking to wear this dress to impress my host. So I wanted to ask if you can complete it before that?"

Ruth wanted to say that she couldn't. If it was before then she would have done it in the given period but now as she had to work a whole day at the tailoring shop, it was very difficult for her to do it.

But the way Florence looked at her expectantly didn't allow Ruth to say the truth.

"Of course! I will try my best." She said honestly.

Florence jumped in glee like a small girl then hugged Ruth taking her by surprise.

"Oh thank you so much, Ruth! It will be amazing to wear your magic." She said with a full smile that showed her pearl white teeth.

That was how Ruth ended up sacrificing her sleep even after a tiresome day. She decided to use her nights to complete the task to keep the word that she had given to Florence.

"No worries Ruth! You can do it!" She said to herself and began with her work.