36

Arabian Nation Of Zidra - Bedouin deserts.


In an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of Zidra, an evil person was glaring down at the other people gathered there.

"How could you? How could you miss the fact that Zayed has fathered three kids?" The evil voice thundered across the walls of the warehouse and the people gathered there shivered.

"We only got information that he was showing extra interest in one of his employees. My informant is an employee of Maxwell groups. I had ordered for a detailed enquiry. But by then Zayed declared that the woman is his wife and that they have three children. Things got
out of hand quickly," one of the people said apologetically.

"I don't need to hear these silly excuses. Get rid of them. I don't want to know how. Get rid of them soon. The reign of Zidra will never be taken over by Zayed's blood." The evil voice decreed and left the warehouse, leaving the people gathered there to plot ways to kill the triplets.


****

Arabian Nation of Zidra - Ahmed Palace.
The triplets were playing hide and seek in the palace, where they could find infinite places to hide.

A palace chamber maid named Nilofer, was tasked to look after the kids.

Ava didn't want her children to feel suffocated with constant security guards around them.

"Let's go outside the palace. There are more places to hide in the palace grounds behind the old fountain," Nilofer said and the kids excitedly followed the woman.

Zada was the one counting and the brothers had gone hiding.

For some reason, Zahir decided to tag along Zian in hiding and they hid somewhere closer to Zada.

"This way, we can go and touch the catcher's point when she goes to search for us," Zahir said grinning.

They listened carefully to Zada counting loudly.

What, neither Ava nor Zayed knew was that Nilofer was a part of the group wanting to harm the children.

Zahir and Zian looked at each other when they realised that Zada's voice got muffled when she reached the count of forty five.

They looked around the deserted area of the palace grounds and came out in search of their sister.

The kidnappers, realising that kidnapping three kids from the palace is a hell lot risky, decided to snatch one and let the other two trail behind in search of the first one.

As expected, the over protective brothers started worrying realising that their little sister was not at the catcher's point.

"Where is she? Let's call momma," Zian said in panic.

"Look, there's her shoe. There is only one," Zahir said, pointing at the single shoe lying abandoned on the way towards the rusty gate on the corner.

"The gate is open. Let's go and see," Zian said and the brothers ran towards the gate.

The rusty old gate opened into the desert region and the boys had difficulty walking in the hot sand.

They were not used to it, but they needed to find their sister.

"Look, there's a van," Zian said, pointing at a lone vehicle.

They walked towards the van. They were not used to the desert heat and they were sweating profusely.

By the time they reached the vehicle, they were dizzy and they collapsed out of tiredness as soon as they got into the vehicle.

Zada cried seeing her brothers. She had been dragged into this vehicle by the bad woman named Nilofer. The woman had also struck some tape on her mouth, making it impossible for her to make some noise.

****

Ava looked around the palace for her children.

She was starting to worry.

It was not the first time the triplets had done some mischief. But this time it seems different.

Her heart beat had raised in panic.

Even the woman assigned to look after the triplets are missing.

She took out her phone and dialled Zayed.


****
Zayed was in Zidra oil rigs to get a report on how things were.

He had been away for the better part of the month and he had missed so much.

Even Basim, who was supposed to look after the work, had followed him to the UK.

"Everything is a mess. What the hell is happening here? These pipes are of low quality. How could you approve of this? This is a recipe for an oil disaster," Zayed thundered at the manager.

The manager was tight lipped. He only had one thing to say over and over.

"I had only followed your orders, Your Highness. You were the one who approved of the pipes," the manager said.


"Rubbish. I would never approve of this. Stop the work immediately. There will be no more work until I get a detailed report into this." Zayed said coldly.

As he was walking out of the oil rigs, he got a phone call from Aveline.

He smiled as he saw her name on his phone screen.

It was him who always called her. She never calls him.

Soon the smile wavered as he realised there must be something wrong if Aveline had picked up her phone to call him.

"Aveline. Is everything okay?" Zayed asked as soon as he picked up the call.

"The triplets. I can't find them," Aveline cried and Zayed's heart started banging against his ribcage.

"They must be there. Hiding somewhere planning some mischief," Zayed said, trying to console Aveline and himself.

"No. They are nowhere. I looked everywhere. That woman, Nilofer. The one who was to look after them. She is also missing," he could hear Aveline's hiccups in between her words.

"Darling. They will be there. I am sure. I am on my way. Stay strong baby," Zayed said.

As soon as he hung the call with Aveline, he dialled Salim and Basim on a conference call.

"I am on my way to the palace, Zayed. Milly called me. I have informed the security head to look at all the nooks and corners of the palace," Salim said as soon as he attended the call.

Basim was clueless.

"What are you talking about?" Basim asked.

"The triplets. They are missing. Aveline is panicking," Zayed said.

"Oh God. I will be there soon," Basim said.