Ali's pov
It had been a while since I had been in a suit, but thanks to Khan Baba they were all still in one piece. He had even stocked my wardrobe with a few more, so that I did not feel out of place in any way. The room could have been completely renovated with all the furniture replaced and the wall papers and ceilings changed for something new but I would still feel at home. However, I knew Khan baba had a weakness for nostalgia and would stay true to his classic taste even if it costed him more than buying modern furniture, and I for one was not complaining.
I had picked a brown suit with a beige button up shirt and the chocolate brown silk tie that hung around my neck in a loose knot, while the uppermost buttons still lay untucked. I sighed, placing my palms on the table and hunched on the dresser with my head turned down thinking about the meeting ahead. It had been a while since I attended a meeting of such nature, with members who we had been fighting a war with for several years.
How could we count on them to hold their side of the agreement when they had clearly proven us wrong before?
I looked at my reflection, where the uncertainty showed itself in my appearance. My hair had been combed back but the front were disheveled and a few wisps lay on my forehead, while crescents a bit darker than my skin tone lay underneath my eyes, but had gotten deeper in the past two days, due to very little sleep. A tired man riddled with doubts stared back at me, almost scared that the past he ran away from has returned.
I buttoned up the two that were left undone and slid up the knot on my tie to tighten it around my collar. After fixing my hair that I disheveled by running my hand through them a couple of times, I wore my blazer, slipping my arms through its sleeves, and pulled it closer to check the fitting, as well as to allow the seams to lay on point. I spotted Arina standing in the doorway, leaning against the wall and watching me with an amused smile on her face, with her arms folded across her chest.
"Everything going fine, Khan junior?" She asked.
"Oh for God's sake," I replied with a huff, but couldn't help the smile on my face. "You know how much the name ticks me off."
"Alright, alright Mr. Ali, my apologies," she said, waving her palms up and down, a gesture that told me to calm down and walked up to my dresser, stopping right beside me. "I was just trying to break the ice."
"And calling me by a nickname that ticks me off would help you?" I asked, turning my face towards her. Her shoulder length red hair framed her small face, some laying on her forehead, falling into her ocean blue eyes which she did not have to raise too high to make eye contact, due to her tall height as well as the stilettos she was wearing that added a couple of more inches to her frame. Her slender body was clad in all black, with a tube top that gave view of her collarbones, a black cardigan to keep her outfit looking elegant and a nicely fitted black skirt that ended at her knees. A smile adorned her pink lips, as her nimble fingers reached for my tie and fixed what I couldn't.
"I like to elude myself from time to time," she replied, a coy smile spreading across her pink lips. We shared a laugh together, the sweet sound filling the empty silence of the room. I noticed how she looked prettier when she was at ease, her composure much more relaxed than usual, however the tension remained in her body, evident in her shoulder and rigid posture.
"You don't have anything to worry about, Ali," she said comfortingly. "We were allies before the war broke out, and we can still work together on an agreement that will be signed by all parties."
"An agreement that they violated so blatantly, last time," I said, turning towards the dresser again, to hide my resentment.
"The circumstances are different this time, you know that, don't you?" She asked rhetorically. I opened the lid of my perfume bottle and sprayed it a few times on the front of my clothes and once on each cuff.
I inhaled the fresh scent of the perfume, the nostalgic musk induced formula calming down my nerves, and allowed me to view things more clearly. Of course she spoke sense, but it would take time to trust the snakes again, where their loyalty was yet to be tested.
"Yousef asked about you often," she said quietly after a moment. She must be aware of our friendship and how it suffered most during the tension between two groups, as well as how the subject still touched close to heart. I remember our childhood, when we played in the gardens, and our fathers watched and fussed over us at our bondage and how similar we were to each other. But how could I forget the war and the atrocities displayed by his father during it, while he watched silently, standing by his side? Our men that he killed out of a simple misunderstanding?
A wave of coldness swept over the emotions of longing I felt a moment ago, at the bitter memory, as I watched my expressions turn stony in my reflection, replacing the worried frown I had on my face.
"I think we should get going," I told her in an indifferent tone. "The meeting's due in only half an hour, and the way is long."
"Of course, Mr. Ali," she said, composing herself in not more than a second, returning in her professional demeanor the one that she was so good at maintaining, although I detected a hint of disappointment in her tone.
We made our way downstairs and saw the others already present there by the doorway ready to leave in their professional attire. Jala wore a white button up blouse, with a black pencil skirt and heels, her luscious curves showing through her outfit, looking as regal as ever. Half of her hair was clipped back, and the fact that she chose to keep everything so basic from her hairstyle, to make up and the simple monochrome outfit she was wearing, allowed her beauty to shine through in such a nonchalantly magnificent manner, that it baffled the onlooker only momentarily before they realized she was so much more than a pretty face, her eyes dancing with a fire unknown. It might feel like an exaggeration, but the magical effect could only be felt in her presence, the aura of resilience and determination she radiated despite the uncertainty lacing every step and confusion still lay hidden in our purpose. The only way that remained now was forward and she gave us the strength to persist with her.
Salman made his way through the corridor that lead to his bedroom, fixing his cufflinks, in a tweed olive green suit, where he ditched the waistcoat and tie, and paired it up with camel brown loafers, with the two top buttons of his white shirt left untucked, opting for a semi formal look that suited him well.
I remember the time when he confessed his sexuality and what he felt towards me. I was taken aback by the revelation because the concept was not taken positively in the region, and also partially impressed with the courage he had to speak about it. I had to decline due to the oath of celibacy I had taken five years ago, and because I was not sure of my feelings towards him and did not want to keep him in any sort of darkness, but I felt extremely protective towards him since then, and added to the weight of conquest that we were about to take in which he would play a crucial role. His captivating green eyes met mine and their corners crinkled as we shared an understanding smile.
Then there was Amira, whose name meant "Princess", literally becoming part of her personality in the never ending sophistication she held herself and her years spent in politics would render her an excellent diplomat. She lead an entire country under her supervision and was aware of the games played in politics, and could trust her predictions about the opposition's next step. Her role in the situation was yet to be determined, but sooner or later it was going to revolve around her, where her limits and conscience will be tested, just like each of ours had been. How she handles the pressure will be entirely up to her, but being a leading member of the party, I think she would do well.
She stood next to Amin, matching his height in her black platform heels she wore with her navy blue suit and white blouse. Her shoulder length hair were styled in loose curls and her makeup enhanced her features making her look more sophisticated and polished than ever. Amin was the usual picture of professionalism, clad in a sleek black suit, his hair swept back from his pale, cold handsome face and held a file in his hand, nodded in our direction and gestured for us to follow him outside where the vehicles stood waiting for us.
The weather was typically Egyptian, with the blazing sun and hot wind that hit our faces as soon as we stepped out of the door, the air conditioned indoors a great contrast to the untethered heat outdoors. Six jeeps were arranged in a circle on the pavement around the fountain that stood in the middle, their shiny surfaces reflecting the sunlight at sharp angles. Khan baba was standing next to the second from left, breaking out the circle as the cars got ready to leave. His pale yellow button up shirt fitted his well built torso, and his healthy mane of silver gray hair were swept back, while the strands of his well groomed beard were combed and set to perfection. He wore sunglasses over his silver gray eyes, to save them from the unyielding light. He skipped the tie on his office shirt, rolling the sleeves up to his elbows, and paired it up with gray formal trousers and a pair of Clarks that shone as he sat in the car in one smooth motion, being a perfect picture of grace and grandeur. Along with him went Demir chacha who couldn't be less concerned about his appearance, wore his usual black kurta that was big even for a man of his size and a pair of cargo pants and traditional leather sandals of Peshawar, that I was personally a big fan of.
Me, Arina and Salman took the four wheel drive behind them, while Jala, Amin and Amira sat in the car at the back, all of them that came in between the vehicles that held the guards and were part of necessary security protocol, for any kind of situation that may take place within the premises of the location that we were about to enter. The apprehension of my companions was evident in their states, as well as the nervous silence that filled the car. After going through the gate we drove on a bumpy road for several minutes, we went over the fly over bridge giving a perfect view of the business hub of the city. Somewhere in the view was a small strip of sand and sea where the harbors met, where most of the cargo set sail to other lands. Ours was also situated nearby where the majority of our cargo ships were granted free access to the sea route. The local DSP had strictly ordered the officers to refrain from interfering with our proceedings at the harbor, but also provide any necessary aid that may be required of which they will be getting their fair wages. Even if evidence was found in illegal trading , I doubt anyone was brave or strong enough to request inquiries into the case since everyone knew the reach of Zulfiqar Khan.
Khan baba never raised his voice on me and gave full freedom in the decisions I had to take after coming into authority, even if they didn't always end well, but supported and guided me whenever I asked for it. However, there was a statement he made once that terrifies me to this day "I hope you never have to make the choices that I have made". To see a man of his stature and strength in the state of such vulnerability and regret, had shaken me to the core, which eventually led to the cowardly decision I made to flee the country, and also from my duties, a poor price to pay for all the generosity and love he had showered me with since childhood. However, at that moment it felt as if I wouldn't be able to breathe properly, much less live within the same lands I had grown up in. The dream felt like a curse and a strange tremor enveloped my body, that I couldn't seem to get rid of no matter what I did. Perhaps, it wasn't the place that I had been living in but the life I had been living that I needed the escape from. The restlessness did not stop but was renewed, as a sense of purpose bloomed in me. Perhaps it would not stop until we reached the end.
The air in the car was thick with anticipation. None of us showed it, but it was there in the wringing of Arina's hands and the occasional sigh from Amin. I couldn't tell what I was feeling, the adrenaline rush had me feeling numb and turned my limbs cold, but I felt short of breath, my heart racing a little too fast for my liking. With the last rays of the sun dying out, we arrived at our destination.
The building of the warehouse was now in sight, its strong and high boundary walls visible from quite a distance, where several vehicles of the lords and ladies had already queued up outside the boundary. Our cars stopped one after the other, parking in a lane on the roadside besides the boundary wall. A line of similar cars parked in the opposite direction, so that they were facing towards us, and a group of armed Arabian women stepped out of the car, proceeded towards the building, while surrounding their leader, Zuleikha, who had not aged a day since I last saw her. We proceeded after them, our men holding their guns against themselves ready for any sort of unprecedented attack that might come from the ones that we once called our friends, because we were now done taking our chances, knowing Khan baba he will not tolerate any such breach. Blood will be his only response. He walked at the forefront, his identity enough to grant him protection.
The warehouse was separated from the official building which used to be our first resort to hold confidential meetings, due to the discreet location. The building was relatively smaller than the warehouse which held the cargo items that were imported and those whose shipments, sales or deliveries were due. However it was still quite large and spacious, where furniture was kept to a minimum except for in the meeting room and the lounge. The reception was a wide room with glistening white floors and an opulent ceiling, brightly lit with multiple LEDs lining its edges and a chandelier hanging in the middle. A gray desk, with a granite black body, silver studs lining its surface and a curved glass top stood a few meters away from the glass walkthrough, vacant of any recipient, although no recipient was required on this occasion. The guards stopped and stood in the corridor as we entered the meeting room. Chairs were already beginning to fill on the sides of the long rectangular table placed in the center, meanwhile a blank screen was displayed at the backend of the room. Zuleikha was sitting alone, with two of her heavily jeweled female guards standing close to her and had swords tied just a little above the waistband of their skirts. She had an empty chair beside her which meant that she was waiting for another participant she planned to take on the meeting but had not arrived yet. The ones standing besides her were her slaves, whom she trusted a little more than others. They were trained to use their beauty where their strength might fail them, where they were equally skilled in the art of combat as in the art of seduction. She also had male body guards since a little muscle was necessary for protection, but it was the female soldiers that her clan was most popular for and was known to be its strength. She was the only one that stood besides Khan baba in the previous war, and it was a debt we were not willing to forget anytime soon.
Hussain walked into the room, in his usual strong stride, and completely alone, something which he took immense pride in, where his security forces were also the smallest compared to us all and he claimed that when the time came he alone would be enough for us all. His dark skin stood against the beige suit he chose to wear with a cream colored shirt and silk tie , where his face was marred by scars, from wounds some that endured on the account of others during battles he fought alone, and some that he inflicted upon himself as a form of purification for his sins.
After a few minutes of incoherent whispers and murmurings that filled the silence of the room, Yaqub walked in through the door on the other end of the room, besides the screen, with the usual smile upon his face, his beady black eyes shining with mirth and something more malicious. He sat at the head of the table and everyone turned their faces towards him, the discussions coming to a halt and him being the focus of attention. Yousef sat beside him, our eyes making momentary contact, in which I recognized surprise in his soft, brown eyes. I guess he wasn't expecting me to be here.
"It's been a while since we gathered under one roof," he began addressing his audience, who he knew were of equal status and power and probably more, and he would have to tread extremely carefully since it was because of him the alliance was broken in the first place. I felt a sudden surge of anger at the sight of him and tried my best to control it as he continued his speech. "The times that we are facing are crucial. It is unfortunate that it took a common enemy to unite us, however it is good that we have realized that our strength lies in unity and not in fighting one another."
"Isn't it true that you were once an ally of the Mother yourself?" Hussain interjected, much to the disdain of Yaqub and Yousef. A bitter silence broke over the table and the participants began to eye one another warily, including me and Amira who was enjoying this, I could see. Things were about to get tense.
"The rumors circulating about you aren't too innocent, my friend," Zuleikha said, looking him in the eye.
"What are you implying, Zuleikha?"
"I'm not implying anything. Your absence in the previous war told us more than a little birdie ever could."
"Oh for goodness sake. You're in the last position to say anything since your treacherous ways resemble the ways of the Mother, more than all of us combined"
"How dare you," she said, her voice a hoarse whisper and her cat eyes narrowing down to slits with fury.
It was honestly a pretty big claim to make, an accusation that none of us were ready to accept or even consider. We all had our own rules of running our empire and no one had the right to make objections unless the policies were getting in our way. Plus everyone enjoyed Zuleikha's presence and the ways of her slaves, including Hussain who had taken them home multiple times and often returned them bruised and broken, after which Zuleikha stopped her trade with him. She was extremely possessive about her belongings and would not tolerate their mistreatment, unless it was her who was punishing them.
"I think we gathered here to bury the past, not to reawaken it," Yaqub stated, a bit impatiently. "We have all been subjected to the Mother's interference in some way or the other and been her accomplice whether knowingly or unknowingly. It is true that I had been once an ally of the Mother, but I chose to leave the alliance behind a long time ago, something that had nothing to do with the causes of the previous war. However, it is time to let go of our grudges and realize who our real enemy is, putting an end to this nonsense once and for all."
"I would prefer a brave nemesis with a knife on my neck, rather than a coward ally stabbing me in the back, Mr. Yaqub," an unfamiliar voice spoke from the corner of the room, walking in through the doorway as her heels clicked away on the pristine marble tiles. She was a tall woman with a cleopatra face and a high ponytail, and glanced around the table with a hint of smile on her face. There was something about her that drew you in, not her beauty or the unnecessary amount of grace she carried herself with, but something more. Something far more dangerous. "But he is right. Not only is the existence of the Mother threatening our power, but also its influence reaching far and wide, within our very home lands. A traitor might be sitting among us and you may never know."