📌 Previously in Chapter 37:
Zayd formed his first official guard unit under the leadership of Aftab. Fifty former soldiers were organized to ensure safe delivery of carriages from the village to Baghdad. As his business begins to grow, Zayd now turns his attention toward managing operations more efficiently.
📍 Scene: Nimr Caravans Workshop – One Week Later
Business was steady — not explosive, but strong.
In the past seven days, they had sold 7 carriages at 400 gold coins each.
💰 Business Summary (This Week):
Revenue: 7 × 400 = 2,800 gold
Expenses (materials, salaries, delivery, upkeep): ≈ 1,950 gold
Profit: ≈850 gold
It wasn't massive, but it was enough to keep things rolling and prove one thing:
Zayd's idea worked.
📍 Scene: The Shop Balcony – Late Afternoon
Zayd sat sipping cold rose-water sherbet. Nimr, his eagle, perched proudly nearby. Beside him, Qadir was fanning himself with a market leaflet.
QADIR (groaning):
"We're selling golden carts and still living like date farmers!"
ZAYD:
"You slept on a silk cushion last night."
QADIR (grinning):
"Which I borrowed from Layla's shipment! That's merchant tradition!"
They both burst out laughing.
Just then, Layla stepped onto the terrace, holding a scroll.
LAYLA (smirking):
"Which shipment was that, Qadir?"
Qadir dropped the fan and stood straight like a soldier.
QADIR (nervous):
"Did I say silk cushion? I meant...uh...paper cushion. Very scratchy."
Zayd chuckled.
ZAYD (to Layla):
"He says dumb things when he's hungry."
LAYLA (smiling, teasing):
"Then feed him wisdom. He's starving."
Qadir pretended to faint from embarrassment, and the three shared a light moment under the golden afternoon light.
📍 Scene Change: Al-Qarah Village – Few Days Later
Aftab returned to the village to oversee the next caravan — but he didn't come back alone.
With him came his two younger brothers: Rafi and Faisal.
Rafi, 19, was quiet, precise, and naturally gifted with numbers.
Faisal, 20, had a silver tongue and could charm gold from stone.
When Zayd met them, he smiled with recognition.
ZAYD:
"I remember you two… troublemakers of the village. Are you ready to build something?"
RAFI (calmly):
"If you trust me with the books, I'll make every coin count."
FAISAL (grinning):
"And I'll make sure the customers never leave without buying."
Zayd shook their hands.
ZAYD:
"Then the shop is yours. Rafi — handle the accounts and supplies. Faisal — handle customers and pricing. Qadir and I will expand the business. Aftab handles security."
He paused.
ZAYD (firmly):
"We are no longer just poor cousins from a lost family. We are the pillars of something that will shake cities."
📍 Closing Note:
Zayd's circle was no longer a dream — it was forming. Each person had a role. And with each new day, Nimr Caravans grew — not just in gold, but in strength, laughter, and loyalty.
End of Chapter 38