"Mr. Behram, are you here?" Arsia called in front of the door.
'Now she's got the nerve to look for Behram, huh?', Salim muttered. He was resentful of course because Arsia was looking for his servant more than him. Then in sign, he told Behram not to speak and to hide. He would open the door.
Obeyed his master's order, Behram stepped back a few steps.
Salim only opened the door after making sure Behram's body was perfectly hidden behind the door. The first thing he got after the door opened was Arsia's surprised face.
'Well, I know that she rejected me. But does she have to make that expression like I'm kind of ghost?', somehow Salim felt hurt because of it.
The truth was Arsia reacted like that because she thought that it was Behram's room.
"Is Mr. Behram not here?" Arsia asked clumsily.
The corner of Salim's lips twitched looking at her. He was glad to know that Arsia wouldn't find Behram. In other words, he made fun of Arsia again. But he still kept his face as normal as possible so that Arsia wouldn't suspect him.
"What is it?" Salim asked in a lazy tone.
"I'm looking for Mr. Behram," Arsia answered innocently.
'I know you're looking for him. But why are you looking for him and not me?', Salim muttered inwardly. He wanted to sound it but what came out of his mouth was, "Why are you looking for him?"
"I have something to do with him," Arsia refused to give the details. She thought that she didn't have business with Salim so it was unnecessary to tell him. But of course, Arsia didn't realize that her answer provoked Salim.
"I am the owner of this house. What do you need? I will give it," Salim's voice was flat but full of arrogance.
For a moment Arsia eyed Salim. Instead of being convinced, Arsia even doubted after seeing Salim's noble appearance. 'Is it true that he can do it?', she also wondered.
Salim noticed Arsia's silence. He knew that Arsia was thinking about something and that turned on his curiosity. Then he saw that girl shaking her head which made Salim's curiosity even bigger.
"Um, I'm not sure you can do it..." Arsia was so honest.
Salim felt that Arsia didn't take him into account. It drove him crazy to prove himself to that girl.
"I can even buy Istanbul if I want," he boasted.
Salim wasn't the type of person who loved to show up his status. Even during this time, he was more comfortable being mistaken for a commoner. But to cover his heartache and draw Arsia's attention to him, he behaved like that. Of course, Salim did it unconsciously, carried away by his ego. But he was still a normal human being. An ordinary man who had just been rejected by a girl that he liked.
"Buy it if you want. I have nothing to do with it," Arsia responded. She looked straight at Salim. Then as if Salim wasn't there, Arsia snarled to herself, "I have nothing to do with him. Why did he get in the way? I'm already sleepy! I need Mr. Behram."
Except for the last two sentences, Salim couldn't clearly hear what Arsia said. And it made him feel even more rejected. Because Salim misunderstood Arsia's words.
Salim mistakenly thought that Arsia wanted Behram to accompany her to sleep. A normal prejudice -- according to his side -- because Arsia had just rejected him and took Behram as her choice.
"A-are you okay?" Salim asked in surprise. His right hand was raised stiffly pointing at his own head to support his point.
Arsia was already sleepy, drained, and still had to accept Salim's prejudice! Arsia who realized if Salim just questioned her mental condition immediately barked annoyed while stomping his feet, "I'm not insane! Where is the problem when someone asks someone else to fix her window?"
After that Arsia snorted and left. Also, she didn't forget to grumble, "Go ahead if he wants to buy Istanbul, huh! Like I care! I don't need someone who broke my window and left it!"
This time Salim had to give up again. The problem was that Arsia was right. Salim couldn't fix the window. He didn't have that skill. Each prince had his specialty and Salim's things were science and martial arts.
Now Arsia truly made Salim feel pathetic to think about why not he didn't learn all of those specialties. That way he didn't have to feel useless because he couldn't fix the window he broke.
'Now she must think that I'm useless', he thought ironically.
Salim turned to Behram. Through his gesture, he told Behram to help that girl.
Just didn't ask his state now. If he used to treat Arsia like a tangled clothesline, he looks worse now than that.
"Just close it with something. You can fix it tomorrow," Salim instructed. "Ask her to sleep in my room," he added.
Behram nodded understandingly.
***
Salim bent his left arm to support his head. In the darkness, his pair of eyes stared at the ceiling in the living room. He let himself to slept on the couch so Arsia could sleep in his room. Apart from Arsia's room and her room, there was no other room that had a bed.
That night, Asia's room was left empty. Her broken window was covered with cardboard. The door was closed and locked from the outside in anticipation of if there were thieves who wanted to enter from there.
Although the area where they live was relatively safe, who knows the intentions of people when they found the window was only closed with cardboard. Besides, there was also possible for the drunker to enter unexpectedly.
'Every era has its problems', Salim mused.
"You haven't slept, My Lord?" Behram asked. He was lying on the couch opposite Salim.
"As you can see, Behram," Salim responded.
"Do you feel uncomfortable sleeping on the couch, My Lord?" Behram was worried.
Salim looked at his servant. He was bothered by Behram's question. "Do you think I'm that I'm a mama boy, Behram?"
"Then what keeping you awake, My Lord?"
"I haven't changed my clothes," Salim replied. He felt his body sticky with sweat. And it kept him awake from his sleep.
"Then why don't you change it, My Lord?"
"Arsia is sleeping in my room. How do I get in, Behram?"
"Is the door locked?"
"How do I know, Behram?" Salim replied furiously. He began to be distracted by Behram's list of questions.
"Do you want me to take your clothes for you from there, My Lord?"
Even though Salim knew that Behram only offered to help him, Salim couldn't react properly other than jumping off the couch. There was a feeling of reluctance in his mind just to thought if another man would see Arsia there while she was sleeping
"I can take it myself!" he said and walked to his room.
Salim was hesitant when he stood in
from of his room. He wanted to go in but he didn't want to go in either. If he didn't change his clothes, he won't be able to sleep. If he came in, he was worried as he peeked at Arsia.
For a moment Salim stayed in such a position. Until he finally decided to try his luck.
If the room was locked, just forget to get in. If it wasn't locked, then he could get in.
'I'll just take my clothes anyway', he thought.
Salim slowly pressed the doorknob. Then the sound of opened door was heard which made Salim somewhat surprised. Arsia didn't lock the door, seemingly.
With counted steps, he entered his room. His eyes were accustomed to the darkness so it wasn't difficult for him to find her wardrobe. Luckily his wardrobe was facing the foot of the bed so he didn't have to face Arsia and look at that girl while she was sleeping.
In hurry, he chose his clothes. he didn't plan to stay there longer. But just a few steps, his was already tested.
Salim stopped his steps. He heard Arsia moaning in her sleep. Somehow it provoked Salim's curiosity which he couldn't resist.
A second later Salim was already on the edge of the bed. He looked down at that girl. Even after what happened Salim still found Arsia very lovable.
Something lurched in his heart. Something that made him urged Behram must accomplish to make Arsia reject him and prevent that girl from doing whatever she was planning to do. Otherwise, Salim himself didn't know what he would do.
For sure, it wouldn't be a good thing.