I would like to believe that I was quite in control. Rania's throw had caught Feroze right in the face. The water on Feroze's face dripped down to seep into his collared shirt. I pressed my lips to avoid the smirk that threatened to escape.
"There, maybe that would help clear your mind and vision," I said. Rania huffed and crossed her arms. Danial looked horrified. I knew Uncle EJ was fighting a smile. I did not dare to look at Zaroon, that was one bridge I was not ready to cross.
"I guess I deserved that," He said. My mouth dropped open in surprise.
"You guess?" Uncle EJ muttered. Feroze looked at him and then gazed downward, reproached.
"Uncle Ehsan... Salaam (greetings). My apologies" Feroze had always carried a torch for Uncle EJ. When we were little we used to think of him as a pirate. Sailing across seas, accomplishing impossible tasks, going on missions and bringing back gifts. This remark had to sting.
"The others are waiting for you in the library. If you're ready?" Uncle EJ asked, his tone neutral. He nodded, his gaze hard. Rania led the way and we followed her to the main library. Feroze started to walk next to me. It was only right but I could feel several eyes on our backs.
"Will the southern leaders be meeting us tomorrow?" Feroze asked me. I tried to keep my tone blank.
"Yes, they all said yes to the invite"
"What is it about these New Revolutionaires?"
"They're a group of rebels... I explained that over the phone?" I knew our conversation was being heard by everyone who was walking with us. Not that they were out of the loop, it just felt strange to talk to my ex-husband in person, for the first time, surrounded by people.
"Yeah... you did. There was something else I wanted to talk to you about. Privately" I didn't answer, my heart going into overdrive, again. What was he going to talk about? After all those years of silence. And should I ask him about Naila? And his son? Was that proper? Before I could formulate a strategy, we arrived at the library. Rania pushed open the door and walked in. We followed her in.
Ammi Jaan stood up to greet Feroze but did not place her hand on his bowed head. Izzy looked ready to murder him. I gave him a look asking him to restrain himself. He rolled his eyes but stopped glaring at him. Honestly, I was impressed Feroze had the nerve to show up here alone. Every person in the room, except Danial, looked ready to murder him. Well, maybe not Uncle Azhar.
"So... this is the lovely Hania. Apologies for not attending your wedding" Feroze said after a brief pause.
"You weren't missed," Izzy said his voice cool. Hania looked at him, horrified. I tried to see this through her eyes. The future prime minister, soon to be one of the most important people in the region, was being treated coldly and dismissively by us. Although, as far as I remembered, she hadn't liked him in the beginning.
"I trust the journey wasn't too bad?" Ammi Jaan asked.
"No... not at all. Akbarabad has changed" He said, still standing. Oh God this was insane. He was our guest. We had made our point. This was a truce.
"Yes, it has," I said gesturing for him to take a seat. He nodded gratefully and soon everyone found a place to sit.
"I can't believe how different it must have been for you..." oh no don't you dare go there Feroze. Apparently Rania had the same idea because she, very loudly, ordered for some tea to be brought in. Feroze smiled and looked at the ground. He was going to react to this... I could see it.
"Mother sends her regards" He continued. A ghost of a smile flitted over Ammi Jaan's face. My heart ached. He was the son of her beloved friend and now she could not even talk to him properly.
"I trust she's well?" I asked as Alia entered the room with a trolley filled with tea and treats.
"Yes, she could not stop talking about the wedding and ... you" why did he say that? Manipulation tactics... like before. That was it. That's what he wanted. To see me unsettled.
"When are we leaving for the rally?" I asked him, taking the teacup from Alia.
"Danial?"
"At around 3, Begum Sahiba. Also, a suggestion Begum Sahiba, to show our alliance, it would be prudent for you to travel in the same car" the frack?
"That's not necessary..." Zaroon interrupted, just as Izzy said "Over my dead body"
"I'm sure that's not necessary," Uncle EJ asked.
"Of course not, but we're already doing damage control. Gulzar Mahal has had no statement about the elections. They did not send a representative to receive us. They did not even bother to come out of their castle to greet us. Or to greet the people." Silence descended over the room. Rania cleared her throat and I looked at her.
"It won't be the worst idea" She began.
"I'd like to speak to Elena... privately" a flurry of no's echoed around the room. I stared at him. He looked at me, his eyes wide and open, pleading.
"It's fine... we'll go to my office. Come" And then I got up and led out of the room, leaving behind a stunned silence.
What was I doing? I kept asking myself that question as I walked ahead of him. What could he possibly say to me? What did he want? We reached my office and I pushed open the door. He followed and closed the door behind him.
The click resounded in the room. I stared at him. He gazed back.
"You look well" I rolled my eyes. "I mean it... you really do look great"
"Get to the point Feroze"
"Naila and I are separated" I stared at him. He made a face and sat down on one of the chairs.
"That's... I'm sorry" I actually was.
"Hassan... my son, he's so young, but we just can't make it work" the poor kid. I wasn't a monster enough to wish that on a child. "He keeps asking questions... he's with mother now" more silence.
"Why are you telling me this?" I asked after a while. The man in front of me had a defeated look on his face.
"Because... we were something, Elena. Before we got married, we were friends. Childhood friends. That has to mean something" I shook my head at his words. "Don't. Don't do that. You can't erase everything. You asked for a divorce. You broke the marriage off"
"You were getting married to Naila... you left me in that house alone!" What was this guy?
"Because her father had asked to see me"
"You left for a whole night! Do you know how people perceive that in this culture? I was alone, in a house in the woods, with no husband"
"God Elena, I was going to come back! You just had to trust me" He exclaimed, getting up.
"I saw your engagement news splattered in newspapers everywhere and I was supposed to trust you? Are you nuts?"
"They sent it out before anything was confirmed. They did it to pressure me. To break us up"
"You didn't bother to clear it up... you got married to her a week later"
"After your divorce papers came to me"
"Which you signed" we were both on our feet and inches away from one another. He ran a hand through his hair.
"I was told you didn't want to see my face or hear from me again"
"True"
"Your father threatened me to sign the papers. He asked me to leave his daughter alone. To not contact her in any way." I stood there stunned. Abba had told me that Feroze had signed the papers on his own will. He had said that he didn't even mention me or us.
"You're lying" His eyes narrowed in anger.
"Do you know how many times I have stayed awake trying to muster up the courage to talk to you? To know if you were okay? To explain?"
"Lies. If you had cared for me you would have found a way"
"Oh my God Elena, we're not kids anymore. You can't blame me for everything"
"I can because it was your fault" My voice was rising and so was my blood pressure. This was not happening.
"Ask Uncle Ehsan if you don't believe me"
"I don't believe you and I will not waste my time asking Uncle EJ about this topic" more silence. "Is that all?"
"No" there was more?
"What is it?"
"Naila tried to have me assassinated"
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