Invisible power and stigma

​Tahir's eyes felt heavy. As he slowly opened his eyelids, the dim morning light was scattered inside the room. Right in front of him stood his maid, her head bowed with utmost respect and fear. Tahir sat up on the bed, but as soon as he moved his hands, he felt a dampness and a mild pain.

​Turning his gaze, he was shocked—streaks of blood were flowing from his palms and wrists. Red blood stains had already stained the bedsheet. Seeing this, Tahir lost his temper. His eyes turned red with rage, and he roared, "Why is this blood oozing from my hands?!"

​The maid trembled seeing Tahir's anger. Her face turned pale. She spoke in a faltering voice, "Bl... blood is oozing? Wait, young master, I will fetch medicine from the royal physician right away..." She rushed to run out of the room.

​"Answer what I asked!" Tahir stopped her in a stern voice, slamming his hand on the bed.

​"I... I don't know, master!" The maid joined her hands in supplication, tears welling up in her eyes.

​"You are the one who harmed my hands while I was asleep!" Tahir looked at her with suspicion.

​"No, no! I just entered the room!" The maid took two steps back in panic.

​Breathing heavily in anger, Tahir ordered, "Get out of my sight!"

​"Forgive me, if I have made any mistake..." The maid said in a trembling voice.

​"Didn't you hear what I said? Get out of here!" Tahir's voice echoed through the whole room. Without saying another word, the maid quickly fled from there out of fear.

​After some time passed, Tahir calmed down and came out of his luxurious room. As he walked down the stairs, the atmosphere was quite pleasant. Today, there was a unique pride and a smile on the faces of his parents, Hanif and Samim.

​Seeing Tahir, his younger brother Sakir came running and excitedly held Tahir's hand. There was a spark in Sakir's eyes, "Brother! Brother! Today you are going to use the heat of the sun, right?"

​Seeing the innocent joy on his younger brother's face and the hope of the entire family, a confident smile appeared on Tahir's face as well. Placing his hand on Sakir's head, he said, "Yes Sakir, today I will use the power of the sun."

​"Wow! Then come on brother, why delay?" Sakir began to jump in the air with joy.

​"First, I have to go meet my friend Aki, then we will all go towards the desert battlefield together," Tahir said.

​"No problem brother, come back soon!" Sakir said with a smiling face.

​Tahir stepped out of the house. The morning sun was shining on the desert sand. He had just started walking towards Aki's house when he saw Aki running towards him from the opposite direction, panting heavily. Seeing Tahir, he stopped. He was out of breath, but there was excitement on his face.

​Panting, Aki asked, "Tahir! Is it true? Today you have officially learned how to use the heat of the sun?"

​"Yes Aki, I experienced the heat of the sun just yesterday," Tahir said proudly.

​"Amazing! You were already the most powerful in our clan, and now you have received the great power of the sun too! Now no one in this world can stop you!"

​"Yes, you are right," Tahir nodded in agreement.

​"So today you are going to demonstrate this power of yours in front of the entire 'Sama Family', right?" Aki asked.

​"Yes, just in a little while."

​Aki's face turned a bit sad, "I also wanted to see that grand spectacle... but since I am not a member of the Sama family, I won't get entry into the desert battlefield."

​"You can watch it, Aki," Tahir smiled and placed a hand on his shoulder.

​"Really? I will be able to watch?" Aki's eyes widened.

​"Yes, I came precisely to fetch you. Come with me," Tahir invited, and both friends walked enthusiastically towards the desert battlefield.

​The Gathering at the Battlefield​Amidst the scorching heat in the desert battlefield, the entire 'Sama Family' had gathered. A crowd of hundreds of people was waiting for Tahir. When Tahir and Aki arrived there, the younger brother Sakir ran over and held Tahir's hand. Along with Tahir, his father Hanif, who was the chief of the Sama family, and his mother Samim also walked forward with pride.

​Seeing Tahir step forward, a pin-drop silence fell over the entire crowd. People stood holding their breath in anticipation. Tahir stood respectfully in front of the Sama family.

​In a grave and lion-like roaring voice, he declared, "Today, I, Tahir, son of Hanif, the chief of the Sama family, will use the fierce heat of the sun in front of you all!"​Hearing this, a wave of enthusiasm swept through the entire crowd. People began to applaud.

​Tahir continued, "After many years, our clan will witness this power of the sun. After gaining complete control over this power, I will destroy the cruel 'Setmo' who came into existence 75 years ago! And I will save all of mankind from the hardships of this dry desert!"

​"Yes! You can do it! You can destroy those Setmo made of skeletons!" The people of the Sama family began to shout in excitement. The entire ground echoed with slogans.

​"Now no one in our clan will die of hunger or thirst! I will go to the restricted area of the Setmo and bring food and water for all of you!" Tahir promised.

​The enthusiasm of the people was at its peak, as slogans of "Tahir! Tahir!" were echoing.

​"So... now appearing before your eyes is the fierce heat of the sun!" Tahir confidently extended his right hand towards the sun shining in the sky. He tried to awaken his inner power and draw the heat of the sun.

​But... some time passed.

​The crowd that was shouting in excitement just a moment ago gradually grew quiet. A strange silence enveloped the ground. No wondrous light came from the sky, nor was any special warmth of the sun felt in the air. Everything was normal.

​Sweat poured down Tahir's forehead. He tried again with all his might, but nothing happened. He panicked internally, "What is this? Why can't I call upon the heat of the sun? Where did my power go?"

​"Hey... he can't do anything at all!" a mocking voice came from the crowd.

​"He wasted everyone's precious time!" another angry voice was heard.

​"He doesn't even deserve to be the chief's son! He only talks big!" Murmuring and opposition began to grow among the crowd.

​Seeing the atmosphere of the clan shifting, Chief Hanif's face turned red with anger and shame. He immediately went to Tahir, "What happened, Tahir? What is this drama?"

​"Father... I... I cannot use the heat of the sun," Tahir said helplessly in a trembling voice.

​"Why? What happened?" Hanif asked through gritted teeth.

​"I don't understand..."

​"If you cannot use the heat of the sun, were you lying to the entire clan until now?!" Hanif's voice grew stern.

​"No father! I successfully used the heat of the sun just yesterday!" Tahir pleaded to prove his truth.

​"Then what happened today?!"

​"It seems I have made some mistake... give me some time, I will awaken the power right away," Tahir begged.

​"Take it, take as much time as you want!" Hanif stepped back in anger.

​With closed eyes, Tahir made countless attempts again and again with all his mind and physical strength. His body began to tremble, but the result remained zero. The power of the sun had vanished from his body.

​Hanif's anger was now sky-high, "Being my son, you were lying to me?!"

​"No dad! I am telling the truth, I can do it!" There was helplessness in Tahir's eyes.

​"If you could do it, you wouldn't be standing here like a useless fool by now!"

​"But dad, listen to me..."

​"I don't want to hear any of your arguments now!" Hanif stepped forward in anger and turned towards the crowd,

 shouting loudly, "My boy was lying all this time! He cannot use any heat of the sun!"

​Hearing this, bitter words began to come from the crowd, "He is completely useless!" "He wasted our time!"

​The word 'useless' hit Tahir's ears like an arrow and lodged itself in his heart. He stood there stunned. The crowd began to disperse. Aki slowly approached Tahir, surprise written on his face as well.​"Tahir... were you really lying?" Aki asked softly.

​"No Aki! I used the heat of the sun yesterday! Trust me!" Tahir grabbed Aki's hand.

​Aki placed a hand on his shoulder, "I trust you completely, Tahir. You wouldn't lie. You can do it, but something went very wrong today..."

​Tahir's gaze fell upon his hand from which blood was oozing in the morning. A flame of rage erupted in his eyes, "Someone has definitely attacked me and deceptively stolen my power! Now I will not leave that person alive who has tarnished my honor in front of the entire clan!"

​The entire Sama family began to leave the place, casting humiliating glances. Tahir also moved forward with a heavy heart toward his parents, but Hanif stopped him, venting all his anger and the fury of humiliation on Tahir, "Stay away from me! An empty vessel empties another good vessel too. You are a disgrace to the clan!"

​Tahir could not say anything. He just stood there like a stone, watching his own family walk away.

​Aki came to him and said sympathetically, "Come Tahir, let's both leave this place together."

​Not a single word came out of Tahir's mouth. He just started walking with Aki. Though his feet were walking on the desert sand, his mind was burning in the fire of revenge.

​He made a firm resolve in his mind, "Whoever has played this deception on me and disgraced me in front of the entire Sama family... I will not leave them fit to even breathe in this world!"