"I can't stop yawning" Rania muttered from beside me.
"You've earned it..." I said a smile on my face despite the anxious feeling in my stomach.
"Look at you all bright and chirpy. Birthdays really do make you more likable" I rolled my eyes at that.
I had everything that I could need or want. My family, some of my old friends mixed in with the new. Everything was almost under control. Whatever the New Revolutionaries had planned, would be unsuccessful due to arrests being made by the intelligence agencies. Life was good, my city was safe, my family was safe. Even Ferozeuddin couldn't ruin my mood today.
We watched the news as they telecasted his arrival. The crowd was going crazy for him. I touched the diadem I was wearing. I had insisted on it being visible. My dupatta (shawl) had been strategically arranged to show it off. I needed this today.
"You'll have to tell me about Zaroon at some point you know," Rania said, stretching out her legs on the sofa.
"I think you know more than I do" she laughed.
"Izzy told you didn't he?" I nodded.
"Since we're on this topic... what do you think about Hussein?" Her face closed off.
"He's okay"
"Okay?"
"Okay... why do you ask?"
"Izzy was asking" I would have to remind myself to ask him to cover up for me. "Why are you so closed off about him? He seems like a nice guy"
"He is. He's nice, good and generous. But he has no spirit"
"What?"
"I want to live. I want to enjoy. I mean I love it here but I want to strike out on my own you know? He would never support that. He'll want me to get married and stay in one place. That's what girls in our position do" I sighed and rubbed my temple. That was a definite problem.
"Have you told him that?"
"Why? He's never asked me. I know he likes me and I know he likes me for me. I know that... but I want to be like you"
"What?"
"I want to have that space of growing up and making mistakes. I wouldn't get that with him. I wouldn't get that here. Can you understand that?" I patted the top of her head in a comforting gesture.
"All logical reasons Rania"
"Besides my big sister is still unmarried" I laughed at that. "How could I go first?"
"At this rate, we'll remain unmarried forever" she laughed and closed her eyes. I smoothed her hair. I should warn Hussein. He was going to get his heartbroken. Rania was right. She deserved to strike out on her own and discover herself.
The doors flew open and Rania jumped Up from the lap. I stood up worried to see a very angry Izzy standing there.
"He's here"
I had to remind myself not to run. My heart thundered and I could feel my palms getting sweaty. Beside me Rania walked in a semi running speed, her hair bouncing as she moved. Izzy walked ahead, each stride measured and controlled.
We reached the main hall only to find everyone from the household standing there ready to welcome him. I bristled. This had not been planned.
"Why is everyone here?" I asked Andaleeb. She gestured towards Hania. "Well, I'm asking you to please tell the staff to get on with their duties... we wouldn't want someone to hamper our routine" Andaleeb nodded and walked away.
Slowly, the hall cleared out. Zaroon walked in with Uncle EJ while Ammi Jaan walked in with Uncle Azhar. He gave me a cautious smile and I quirked my lips in reply. Having him here was calming me down but I was irritated by what Hania had done. This was my house. We would give him a reserved welcome. He wasn't a king. Gulzar Mahal was my domain.
"Ammi Jaan... Uncle Azhar, in the main library" they both looked at me surprised. "Izzy, you and Hania are to go with them"
"But Feroze..." Izzy began
"Trust me" Ammi Jaan opened her mouth to question me further but Hania started to lead her out before she could say anything. Uncle Azhar followed them with a confused expression.
"Should I stay here... or am I to be placed somewhere else?" Uncle EJ asked, his tone amused.
"You're right where you should be. Rania beside me" she nodded and stood beside me. I could feel Zaroon's eyes on my back. Andaleeb came back and stood near the foot of the stairs. We were ready to receive Ferozeuddin in Gulzar Mahal.
The anxiety had started to set in again. I could feel the thundering of my heart in my ears. The doors started to open and I touched my diadem.
Maybe I had made the wrong decision in sending Ammi Jaan away. I wanted to face him here on my own terms. I was the heir to this place, this was my territory. He needed me as much as I needed him. I was not going to give him a full protocol just because he might be elected. He had disgraced this house by exploiting his relationship with me. He would receive a cool welcome and nothing more.
A small rotund man rushed in through the doors. He gasped and fought for breath. The secretary stopped in front of us and gave us a short bow.
"Greetings, Begum Sahiba, I am Danial, secretary to Ferozeuddin. He will be here momentarily. He has stopped outside the castle to greet the crowds"
Of course, he had. That snake. I had told him we needed the goodwill of the public and he was doing it without us. Like always he wanted to make a scene.
"Attention whore" Rania muttered from beside me.
"Tell him to get here now!" I growled out. The secretary scurried back worried and exited the hall.
"Elena", Uncle EJ warned.
"That pompous jerk! He wants to undermine me in my own city" I said whirling to look at him.
"And giving him orders will make that happen?"
"Following orders is the one and the only thing he's good at. First as the youngest son, now as a son in law"
"Really, Elena? You always did love telling everyone what to do, didn't you?" A smooth and polished voice called out from the front door.
I wheeled around to see the devil himself walk into the hall. He had not changed one bit. His light brown hair was still swept back, brushed in his signature hairstyle. His suit was tailored with impeccable cuts. He even had the same swagger as before complete with a smirk on his face. It seemed like no time had passed.
"You're late" I snapped, impatient.
"Hi, Rania, Andaleeb nice to see you. Elena, you seemed to be a lot more patient five years ago" red flared behind my eyes and I stared daggers at him. He took a visible step back. Zaroon coughed.
A group of people rushed in through the doors at that moment, looking disheveled and tired.
"My staff... I hope there's space for them here?"
"Of course," I said graciously, gesturing towards Andaleeb. "Welcome to Gulzar Mahal. Please make yourselves comfortable. This is Andaleeb, head of the household, she will show you to your rooms. I hope you'll find everything to your liking. Andaleeb..."
They nodded gratefully, their eyes shining with gratitude. Andaleeb gestured and servants moved forward to grab the luggage and take it to the assigned rooms.
The hallway emptied out till Danial, Ferozeuddin and we remained. Feroze assessed the room, a predatory glint in his eye. He was going to get me back for ordering him into the castle, I knew it.
"So how are you? My dear ex-wife" That rat.
****************************************************************************************
Uh oh...
Feroze:
Zaroon