The only thing that kept Aairah sane is the belief that her mother should be safe as long as she didn't marry the emir.
So even though she knew the Emir is going to take her back to her father's house, she didn't panic. She would simply tell her family that she didn't wish to marry the emir. After all the problems tagged to her name, she didn't think it would be a very big problem.
The wait is still agonizing when she was taken to a foreign, yet, familiar looking house. It reminds her of some houses in Maicki and she didn't feel like she was still in Nigeria. This could be attributed to wealth of gold used to decorate almost every corner of the house. It looks Arabian, yet totally Victorian. It cannot be expressed with mere words. The high ceilings and the tall over exaggerated pillars, remind her of the palace in Maicki. The rich gold furnishings highlighting the 3D effects of almost every single decor surprisingly gives it a soft touch in an untouchable way. Yet the grandeur still makes it feel anything but homey.
She felt on edge and could not keep from shaking her legs in anxiety. Though, she allowed herself to bathe and dress in the new clothes that were bought for her. Despite her protests, Ma, the haidmadiservant, ensured that her feet have been treated prior to bathing. Like she had germs wallah. They also washed her hair thoroughly until her scalp ached. And that seems like she had lies underneath it all. Then they made sure she went through three different baths. The first was scented, the second is for scrubbing and the third is for washing her body with transparent liquid that should be water, but is actually also scented. Yep! Since she dressed like a beggar, they must think she didn't bathe often!
Aairah is not shocked that she smelled so good afterwards. She has no idea why she is supposed to smell good. Just because she didn't wear perfume didn't mean she didn't take care of her body. One thing that made her wear a nikaf is to hide her flawless complexion. In her drab and tattered bag, she has with her, a body wash, face and body lotions, scrub and her spa treatment tube which she uses every blessed day. Her problem isn't money, it's something else entirely.
Yet, she did not have the mind to question their misconception. They'll probably take it as an excuse and peg her dramatic. Afterall, it's evident even Ma, with all of her professionalism, did not think much of her. She is just a third leg they look down upon.
She dressed in an Ankara gown which seemed as if it was made from the lightest fabric. It's one of those shapeless gowns which only hugged her bosom. The rest of her feels freely unbounded by any layer of clothing. She felt so relaxed that she began to feel anxious again. There was no reason to deceive oneself with false security. Once the queen gets wind that she has associated herself with the emir again, regardless of how that happened, her mother will pay the price!
Aairah waited, and waited. Thinking she would soon see the emir and beg him to let her go.
But the emir, it seems, has already forgotten that he had captured her. She keeps hearing about his activities which the servants always talked about. It's like he is living his life as if nothing is happening to her.
She just did not know who took the cup. His wife, for being so ruthless, or him, for being so callous. They truly make a wonderful couple, those two!
It was only on the third day that Burodu, a boy that couldn't be any older than she is, arrived with explicit instructions to lead her return to her father's house.
Aairah found herself staring at an average two story house with a wide hunching gate. She knew that her troubles are not ending. They might truly have just begun!
As the only daughter of her mom, she feels responsible for her. If anything were to happen to her mom because of her, she would totally lose it. So no matter what sort of pressure is forced upon her, Aairah has made up her mind to never ever marry the emir.
The queen would kill for him.
In her books, having a psychotic wife who would stop at nothing to eliminate competition is crossing the limit by a wide margin. It isn't her responsibility to help him shoulder the burden of living with such a woman. She needs to make her own life now. At least, she would stand her ground until the end.
She would rather die than marry him!
Sometimes, she hated the emir with all she's got. But sometimes, she feels pity for him.
If she has a brother like Aasim and a wife like Queen Neemah, she would cry every minute of every day. The bad luck is simply too astounding!
2 days later.
Aairah knelt in front of the elders who have traveled from Maicki just to decide on what they should do with her.
"Tell us why you ran away!" One of them snapped angrily.
Aairah did not know what they want from her. What had prompted her to run is to protect her mother. The queen had been quite clever. She merely sent a woman to show her a video of her mom tending the garden. Then the woman asked her to call her mom and ask her what she was doing at the time. She can see her mother in the video, taking her call. She could see her mother asking her how she was which was exactly what she was doing in the video.
She knew her mom is being watched.
The warning is simple. She is to stay away from Aariz or her mother would pay the price.
Aairah had seen how proud the elders were, including her father and she didn't have the heart to ask them to dissolve the marriage pact. She knew that nothing she says would stop them from marrying her to him. So she decided to run away. If she isn't there, then the marriage has to be canceled. In fact, running away proves a lot of immorality in her home training. It points out her flaw of being a coward and she knew the Fillo clan would never consent to taking her in as the emir's wife.
She was supposed to go back after a few months. But it wasn't possible because that woman seems to find her a lot. And she had warned her to keep away. Because coming back was still unacceptable.
But who would she tell all that? Would they even believe her?
Aairah knew that leaders in Maicki are revered so much that something like that associated to the queen would never be accepted.
Leaders are sacred in Maicki.
So she remained quiet, hoping that things would turn out for the better when she isn't heard accusing the queen of such a grievous thing.
One of the elders was so angry, he began to hit her. No one stopped him until he began to use his cane in his anger. Afraid he would handicap her, and render her useless for the emir, the others had to stop him. Afterall, she is the only ticket to removing their exile and restoring their clan to glory.
Her father remained quiet, watching her be abused with a silent frown in his suddenly aged face. Even though he is Mrithi, he did not have a voice here because his daughter has muted it with her carelessness and her selfishness.
He knew she did not like Aariz because of Aasim. But he didn't think she would go this far.
Five years!
How could she live in the street for that long? Who knows what might have happened to her? She has no one to protect her. Perhaps, she is no longer fit for marriage.
The thought brings an ache to his heart. He has never said it. But Aairah is his favorite daughter. Just like her mom, she is considerate and very very kind. The sweetness she possessed is an innate gift most could only dream of. He had truly thought she would make the emir proud.
How did things get this way? How come everything is so messy? It didn't make sense that she ran away. She isnt supposed to be selfish and rash.
And she refused to say anything.
He knows there has to be something bigger than her dislike for the emir for her to run away like that. And for five years no less! If he mentioned this though, everyone will think he is trying to protect his daughter. So he remained silent. Afterall, what had hurt so much is that she didn't trust him enough to tell him her troubles.
"Do you think the emir will accept her back? Isn't there a way we would sneak back into his favor? We will bind her and take her if we have to!" The oldest Abdulaziz hissed.
Alhaji Hassan knows he needs to say something. So he said "we will surely find a way" They won't bind her. But they would do anything to use her to lift the exile on their clan.
It is something he needs to do as the Mrithi even if his heart breaks as her father. She caused this upon herself.
Aairah felt despair once again. It can't be it is going to happen again! Panicked, she said "I can take anything. But please, don't bring the emir into th..." Someone slapped her hard until she saw stars.
Aairah's heart sank. The pain on cheek nothing compared to the fire in her heart.
"Please kill me....! I want to die so I don't marry him!" She remained ever stubborn which caused the elders to lapse into silence.
They are surprised that she could still talk and to enunciate her stand no matter, well, they all began to think that maybe there is more to this than childishness.
It is in the way she said it. With determination and pride. A note of danger and anguish colored her words and they feared she could really kill herself.
If she died, there will be no reprieve for their clan. Perhaps the emir will disband them!
He was very clear.
That no matter what she did, his intentions towards her is still pure. Which means he would take her, no matter what she did. He didnt care. She is his wife anyway. Even though the marriage pact has been torn, he did not divorce her the islamic way.
The pact can be renewed.
Perhaps they should review their methods of interrogating her.
"She is your daughter Mrithi. Talk some sense into her. We shall be back to hear what she has to say" Phoula, the oldest Abdulaziz stated, wisely backtracking so he doesnt get blamed.
Her father nodded, his gaze still transfixed on her.