The ancient town of Maniuiri was once known for its bustling streets, happy people, wonderful weather and magnificent nighttime market, the Shasharkary. Now if you walked into the town, you wouldn’t believe it was the same city the great writer Nugo wrote about in his book of the world’s most beautiful places.
For the past five years, the country of Nakanani has been suffering from a great drought. The country known for its farmers had been ravaged; the oasis of a country had turned to a desert sandstorm, and Maniuiri had it the worst. Maniuiri is at the heart of Nakanani; she didn’t have the most amazing soil or the largest rice farm, for her soil could give no plant life, but it had people from different backgrounds, all gathered in the city of dreams.
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Anything you could ever wish to own could be found in Maniuiri, a market city. The most beautiful fabrics, the most delectable scents, and the rouges that made men drool could be found in the Verceni district, the then-fashion capital of the world. And if you were looking for the things that were not sold, they shouldn’t be sold as they were illegal in their own right; you could go to the Lazinta district.
It was said to be the alcohol capital of the world, but everyone knew that was just a front. Lazinta was the blackest black market of all. Oooh and the Shasharkary, the most beautiful thing you could ever hope to see as a market, was at the centre of Maniuiri. During the day, there wasn’t much to look at; all the stores were closed and the lights were not as bright. But as the sun went down, the lanterns went up, and the sweet, savoury smell of grilling meat could be smelled from the other side of town, and everyone knew that it was time for the Shasharkary. It was as if there was a festival every night in Maniuiri.
As I said, the drought had hit Maniuiri the hardest; it could not handle the weight of the people. So they left her, all moving to towns where they hoped they could find a proper meal. As Maniuiri had no farmers; it also lost its traders. It became a ghost town, you can still see the dust-covered lanterns at Shasharkary, waiting and silently begging to be lit once more.
At Lazinta, they no longer bothered to hide the black market for it was the only place in which
business still took place. And at Verceni, there were no longer women looking to buy clothes or men looking to buy rouges to seduce other men. All that could be seen were the hungry children – the lads and lassies who were orphans before the drought, and the ones who became orphans after the drought.
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It was rumoured that when some parents could no longer feed their children, they were dumped at Verceni, hoping that the benevolent few who came to feed the beggars would. Starving children would feed theirs too. Amid the desolation that had befallen Maniuiri, there was one person who refused to abandon the once-vibrant city; her name was Selene. She was a resilient woman with a heart as vast as the town she called home. Selene had been a vendor in the Shasharkary for many years, selling handmade trinkets and unique artefacts from distant lands.
As others fled the city, Selene stayed behind, determined to breathe life back into the heart of Maniuiri. She spent her days cleaning the dust off the Shasharkary lanterns, arranging her unsold wares with care, hoping for the return of better days. The once lively market square is now echoed with silence, and the deserted streets seem to mourn the absence of the joyous crowds that once roamed them.
Selene’s commitment could be seen from far and wide, and a few kind souls who had left the town returned, inspired by her unwavering spirit. Together, they formed a small community of residents who refused to let the shining light that is Maniuiri fade away. They began cleaning the neglected streets, planting seeds in the barren soil, and trying to revive the sense of unity that had defined their city.
In Lazinta, where the black market had thrived, a group of former traders decided to turn their skills into legal endeavours. Recognizing the importance of economic activity, they established a cooperative to trade necessities like food, water, and medicine, bringing back the necessities into the city. The once illicit dealings gave way to a legitimate market, bringing a semblance of order and commerce back to the district.
Meanwhile, in Verceni, a few courageous individuals took it upon themselves to care for the orphaned children left behind by desperate parents. They formed a makeshift orphanage, providing shelter, food, and a glimmer of hope to those who had lost everything. They also built a little school for the children, giving them hope for a bright future. Slowly but surely, the hungry. The children of Verceni began to smile again, finding solace in the kindness of strangers.
They worked harder than ever to bring back the glorious beauty that Maniuiri was known for. When the great writer Nugo heard of this, it brought tears to his eyes. Determined to help the city Too, he wrote of the strength and resilience of the Maniuiri people. He also helped in providing funds for the school in Verceni.
Word of Maniuiri’s slow resurgence spread beyond its borders, attracting the attention of philanthropists and aid organizations. They recognized the potential of this resilient town and offered support in the form of resources, funding, and expertise. With newfound assistance, the people of Maniuiri worked hand in hand with the outside world to rebuild their city.
Maniuiri was far from its former glory, but the seeds of resilience and hope that Selene and her allies planted began to sprout. The city that had once thrived on the diversity of its people was on the path to recovery, with each person contributing to the restoration of its spirit. The first raindrops fell after years of drought. As a symbol of renewal, the people of Maniuiri dared to dream of brighter days ahead.
