Mistress Asthana

CHAPTER TEN: WEDDING ANNOUNCEMENT

A knock on the door woke me up from my sleep. I sat up and put on the bedside lamp. Huda was still sleeping soundly beside me.

"Who is by the door?" I asked sleepily. I rubbed my eyes with the back of my hand and blinked several times to clear the sleep from my eyes.

"It's me, Tabassum" a reply came from the other end of the door. But who was Tabassum? I didn't even Know anyone in the palace. I tapped Huda lightly on her shoulder and she opened her eyes.

"Tabassum is knocking, should I let her in?" I asked and she nodded. She yawned and rested her head on the headrest. "Come in" I said and the girl walked in.

Tabassum walked in with a bright smile. Judging by her clothes I could tell that she was a maid in the palace.

"Good morning, I just came in to wake you up for the morning prayer. And the King said that no one is allowed to miss breakfast today." she said and made her way out. I watched quietly as she made her way out. Huda sat up as Tabassum's statement cleared the sleep from her eyes.

"Wow, I wonder what Dad has to tell us today, it must be really important" Huda said while stretching. She kicked the bed covers away and headed to he bathroom.

We both prayed our Subhi (morning) prayers and I was reciting the Qur'an and Huda went back to bed. I concluded my recitation and began looking for a broom to clean the room.

"Are you looking for something?" Huda asked. She was now wide awake and busy with her phone.

"Nothing really, I was just looking for the broom, I want to Clean the room" I replied. Her eyes widened and she shook her head vigourously.

"No, you don't need to worry about that, Tabassum will do it. She'll be here soon. Just relax. You can go back to sleep if you want" she pleaded. It felt awkward to go back to sleep after waking up in the morning, but Huda wouldn't hear any of it.

Tabassum came in, not long after to clean and arrange the room. "I'm out, you can use the bathroom now" Huda announced as she stepped out of the bathroom wrapped in a pink towel.

Huda loved pink a lot. Her room was painted in a light and dark pink color. She had a huge pink vanity mirror which matched her queen sized bed. There were two giant floor to ceiling windows which let in a great amount of sunlight. Her reading corner also had a wide window which enabled her a clear view of the garden and it's beautiful flowers. The room was pretty big and beautiful, it was all pink with a little touch of white here and there.

I got into the bathroom and had a long relaxing bath. To be sincere, bathing in her bathroom was much more enjoyable than bathing at home.

I wrapped myself in a white towel and came out. Tabassum and Huda were sitting and chatting away on the bed. Huda had already dressed herself in a light blue turtle neck paired with a black Palazzo and a black scarf. I loved the look, simple yet elegant.

"We were just thinking about what you'll wear. Come let's pick out a dress for you" Tabassum spoke, smiling widely and I smiled back at her.

Huda was a really nice person and was willing to share anything with anyone. I spoke to her about it and told me about a Golden book which contained all of their Santalma rules. She even recited rule no 007 #Santalma golden rule 007: It is only what you give to someone that truly belongs to you" it was such a beautiful quote and I loved it.

"Wow Huda, I never knew you had casual clothes, you  always wear dramatic clothes and your faces are always hidden under your cloaks" I said and she laughed. The girls from the royal family were never allowed to show their faces outside. And their clothes, although beautiful, they look heavy and exhausting.