Empress Dosha

Chapter 46

________

"The Almighty's timing is the best." The Imam paused, clearing his throat. After a while, he continued with the sermon.

The bride; almost to be one, held Dosha's hand that rested on her folded legs. Dosha gave her a light squeeze in return, tilting her head to look at her, although Fa'iza wore a translucent veil, she could see Dosha, a reassuring look was passed to her. Fa'iza breathed in and out, calming herself. Her situation could be understood, she was getting married, any moment from then, she would be proclaimed as Ali's bride. Who wouldn't be anxious? Or jittery? Or nervous? Or happy? You name an emotion.

Though the environment was serene. The Imam's words kept repeating in Dosha's mind 'the Almighty's timing is the best', it truly is. But people can make you feel worse, act as if you don't care, deep down it has an effect. Even if it is a tiny bit.

Her eyes caught the King's gaze who sat with the groom and the men, opposite the women, at a long distance, which she had been avoiding ever since she felt it. His eyes casted a soft look on her, looking for a discomfort, he found none. She wasn't hiding anything, for now. She returned his light smile, holding his gaze a bit longer, the Imam's voice brought her gaze to the elderly man as he called the King's attention.

The Imam asked him a few questions, which he replied, and she noticed his gaze never wavered, he was still looking at her as he answered.

Dosha truly wasn't feeling what she felt that morning, deep down, there was this nagging feeling she was pushing down. Rashid had helped in taming them down. The words aren't what she'll forget easily.

Flashback;

Dosha halted her act, admiring him; that man, that body, she'll never get enough of it. She wants to run her fingers on him, feel him, again and again. She does that well enough, but the man has a way of doing things which got her on edge. The man is so manly.

He caught her in the act, she returned to knitting his headdress. She heard his chuckle, her insides went jittery immediately, she smiled, carefully inserting the needle and thread into one another. Then the thought came, crashing her mood. She became stiff, her hands trembled lightly, remembering their words and the thought of having a second. She wanted to break the matter to him.

"You were smiling not so long ago." Rashid's figure was now before her, giving her a scrutinizing look. She looked up, and what he saw wasn't very likeable, he squatted to her height, "What is it, my Queen?"

Her lips pressed to a tight line, her lips shook as she uttered a single word, "I...." She couldn't meet his gaze again.

Rashid took the headdress she was knitting along with the needle and thread, putting it aside, "Talk to me." He said softly.

"Will you like to marry another?" She dropped the spark. His hands went cold, his face set to a confused frown. The environment also went quiet at her question.

"Where is this question coming from?" Rashid inquired, his eyes on her face as she still refused to look at him. She couldn't answer, he knew then there was a big problem. "Dosha, look at me." If he was thinking what she was thinking, just by her question, he knew what the problem was.

'I probably shouldn't have said it.' She thought.

"Did anyone say anything?" Rashid dropped another question.

How could she tell him what she heard? No matter what, they are his family, she wouldn't want to cause a rift between them. They said a lot which she heard but just two sentences were stuck with her.