The Red Rose

8. Records

The more you dig, the more soil gathers at your feet.

"Hello, general" Alijah makes her way towards Arfan making him surprised with the tone of her words. Before she could speak further Rehman lets out a fake cough in warning, a warning for the princess so she doesn't extend things unreasonably.

But as always Alijah ignores him again and made a pleasing face in his direction and again he ends up agreeing and stood few feets apart both of them giving them privacy. She knows that Rehman doesn't likes the general, she knows whatever she is doing is against the limits and rules, she knows that if there was someone else in the place of Rehman she would have never done so, but still she chose to be this reckless.

"I guess roses are special." Arfan says making the princess come out of her thoughts.

"I need something from you." She cuts straight to the point not wanting his senseless talks that make her blood boil.

He raises both of his eyebrows as if impressed by her guts. "Go ahead."

"I want the old records of the staff, from the last 5 years and I know you have them." She states folding her hands.

"And what makes you think I will give them to you, princess."

"I am asking for a favour from you, you don't get to see this often." She replies, the last thread of her patience breaking.

"And what makes you think I will not tell Sultan about the plans going in that little brain of yours."
He says lowering his head a little so that he can see her face clearly.

"Ok leave this then. Let's talk about the lady if that's what interests you, general. So, what were you two talking about, should I go and tell abbu?" She smiles widely at him, a hint of sarcasm in her tone that makes Arfan go sober.

"You will not."

"And what makes you think I will not tell Sultan about the plans going in that little brain of yours."
Alijah phrases mockingly.

"Stealing each other's sentences now, are we?" He says folding his arms infront of his chest.

"Leave it general. I don't want to waste my time anymore. It's already been exhausting for me to talk to you for a second. Guess this was an achievement." Alijah sighs, turning around to walk away when Arfan again interrupts.

"Ok, I'll let you see the records on one condition."

"I know."

Without saying anything further he extended his arm directing towards his room and Alijah starts walking a trail, feeling a little success she internally smiles. This was indeed an achievement for her. As she stepped inside his room she took in the surroundings, a royal chamber yet no extra furniture. Only the necessary stuff and the chamber looked organised, smells just like him. As she wandered further she saw a desk and a chair at one end. The same chair where the lady was sitting. Alijah turned around only to get hit with a hard surface in return that was none other than Arfan's chest.

"Can't you see." Alijah says annoyingly rubbing her temple a little.

"With that little height of yours? No I can't see." He scoffed and went towards the desk taking out a few files from the drawers that Alijah guessed to be the records.

"Shut up." She replies.

"I hope you are not forgetting that I am none of your servants, princess."

"I never knew, Arfan. Thank you so much for telling me." She smiles at him with sarcasm and before he could reply again she shut him up by showing her palm leaving no room for argument.

After a few moments of going through the files he took out one of them and forwarded it to Alijah.

"Last 5 years record."

She smiled at him with gratitude and shifted her feet to go back when The general held her wrist abruptly making her stop.

"Uh-huh princess, you are not allowed to take this with you."

"But-"

"I don't know what you are up to, but please don't take such risks that involve the chances of me being beheaded. Now if you want to have a look, either you have to see them here or nowhere."

"Ok" without wasting a second Alijah started shuffling through the binded papers, feeling a pair of eyes staring at her all the while but she decides to ignore him, for she knows that he is the only ray of hope for her at the moment and any disturbance in their link would only cause further problems.

Rapidly shuffling through the papers, Alijah noticed a name and quickly retreated that page out.

"Hameeda." She murmurs.

Hameeda Hussain. Wife of Zorawar Hussain. Age- 56 years. Worked for 7 years in the ladies quarters.
Left the job due to sudden illness.

She abruptly looks up at Arfan and pointed at the sheet.
"Isn't this the record of last 5 years?"

"She worked here in those years. That's why." He shrugged casually.

"Oh" Alijah made sure to make a mental note about all the information of the lady, she knew it would help her a lot. Open new ways to find the truth, this little piece of information gave her both hope and strength. She smiles internally remembering her mother's face.

"Thank you, general." She said while giving him a little smile and started making her way back out, but stopped when he said~

"You can call me Arfan, princess. No need for the 'general' title. It's clear you couldn't care less about my position anyways."

She just let out a chuckle hearing him knowing he was annoyed as hell because of her but she just left without saying anything in return.

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Thoughts?
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Words ~ 973 (humbling myself)
Love zainab.