Princess Mehrima stood in front of her full-length mirror ,adjusting the folds of her pink gown . Her brothers had returned from a campaign ,and she was exited to see them again. But there was someone else she was even more eager to see.
her handmaiden bustled around her, Pinning up her hair and adjusting her jewelry. Mehrima tried to keep her mind focused on the task on hand, but her thoughts keep drifting back to the person she loved deeply and secretly .
Finally she was ready. she took a deep breath and headed out of her chambers, her handmaidens following behind her. As she walked down the hallway, she caught a glimpse of her cousin Gaverhan Sultan and Fariha sultan all dressed in their finest clothes for the occasion.
When she arrived in the garden , where the arrangements were done for the dinner , She was greeted by the sight of her family , all saeted on the cussions arround alow table. Her mother, Her grand mother , and her aunts as wll as her brothers and cousins .
And then she saw him . The man she loved was standing by her brothers , looking more handsome than ever. Mehrima's heart skipped a beat , but she quickly compsed her self and greated her elders with a bow. As she was taking a seat next to her mother her brothers Mustufa and Mehmet came to meet their lovely sister.
after a lovely conversation with her brothers she sat next to her mother and started eating, or you can say tried to eat because someones's constant gaze was making her nervous
Mehrima's grandmother cleared her throat, and the conversation at the table quieted down " I have something to say " she began , looking around the family "I think its time for Mehrima to get married "
there was a moment of stunned silence. and then her mother spoke up . "Married? Do you have someone in mind "
"I do have someone in mind "her grandmother said looking pointedly at Mehrima." 'Someone who is from family, who is handsome and kind, and who would make a fine husband "
Mehrima's heart sank . She exactly knew what her grand mother was talking about. The man she loved was not from their family and could never be accepted as a suitable match. She looked over at him ,and their eyes met .For a moment , they were both frozen , unsure of what to say or what to do. Then he looked away ,and Mehrima knew that he was as shocked as she was .
Ahmed excused himself as he coud't hear it anymore. His plan was about to get ruined! no he cant let that happen. He has to do something .
As Mehrima sat at the dining table , She couldn't help but feel restless. She knew that she had to find a way to escape, to be alone with her thoughts.She pushed her food arround her plate,trying to look as though she was eating , but her brother were watching her closely.
"Mehrima , you haven't eaten anything " Mehmet said frowning ."Are you feeling okay ?"
She forced a smile "I am just not feekling very hungry " she said hoping they would buy her excuses.
But her brothers were not easily fooled ."You need to eat something" Mustufa said pushing a food towards her. "You are going to make yourself sick "
Mehrima felt a wave of panic wash over her she knew that she couldn't eat anything not when she was so close to seeing him gain. she needed to be alone, to prepare herself for what was to come
"I am sorry " she said standing up from the table "I'm not feeling well. I think I need to lie down " she said bowing infront of the elders.
her mother tried to say something but her grandmother stopped her. "Let her be Hurrem. She need sometime to think about it "