SULTAN {Preview}

Chapter Seven

Sultan

"Assalamu Alaykum" I said while coming into the palace

"Waalaykumus Salaam" Abba replied standing up from his seat

"Sultan, is that really you?" He asked, beaming with smiles

"It's me Abba"

"Come here my son, come and hug your old father" I went and hugged him and when I let go, I saw tears in his eyes, he was crying, tears of joy for seeing me after so long a time. If anything, Abba loved me more than his own children.

"Wipe your tears Abba, because Sultan is back" I cheered him up and he smiled.

"I am just so happy my son, seeing you after almost eleven years. Alhamdulillah, look at you, you are now a gentle man, a handsome one for that matter."

"Yes Abba, all thanks to you, for everything" he just shrugged and said "It is my duty as a father. Come let's go see the women, I am sure they will be so happy to see you. I kept your return as a suprise for them " he put his arms around mine and we walked in together.

***

We entered Umma's room together with Abba and we met her together with a young girl, whom I knew for sure most be Batuul, whom was just six when I left.

"Zahra, Batuul, guess who this young man is" Abba said pointing at me.

"Oh Abba, just tell us, please" Batuul pleaded and all the while, Umma was looking at me closely, then she said

"If I am not mistaking, this is our Sultan"

"Umma which Sultan, my Yaya?" Batuul asked, looking between Abba and Umma and then Abba nodded in the affirmative. What Batuul did next took me offguard

"Yaya" she squealed and jumped up, running to give me a hug "Welcome home Yaya, you have grown so much, I would not have recognised you if I were to see you on the road, you are so tall, you even have a beard" she blabbed on, touching my beard and at thesame time trying to compare our height. I smiled at her though and replied

"I am happy to see you to Batuul after all these years, but stop" I said, taking her hand off my shoulder "Why?" She asked "tdon't you know you are now a grown up?"

"But you are my brother" she replied puzzled

"Yes...ofcourse" I didnt know how to tell her that we were cousins and not siblings without hurting her feelings. Umma soon came to my rescue

"Batuul let your brother be, can't you see he is tired" and turning to me she said "Welcome home Sultan, how was your journey, how is Madinah, look at you, you have grown up to be a fine young man"

"Everything is fine Umma" then I knelt down and greeted her properly and after that she asked after Sameer

"Where is your friend Sameer, didn't you come back together?"

"Oh, we did. He went home, but he promised to come by in the evening to greet you all"

"Okay, thats so thoughtful of him"

"Where is Khalil, I haven't seen him yet"

"He must be in his room, let me send for him" Batuul replied, and turning around she called another girl about her age who was sitting, her eyes on the floor behind her "Khairi, go fetch Khalil, tell him Yaya Sultan is back" she ordered

"I will do just that Gimbiya" the girl replied and left, only then did I notice her in the room. She was beautiful, in her simple maid's attire, i stared at her for a while before looking away.

"Who was that?" I asked Batuul, trying to act indifferent

"She is my personal maid, Khairi"

"Oh, I see"

"Oksy everyone, I am going back to the palace, see you later Sultan" Abba who had been quitely observing us said.

"Okay Abba, bye" I was already eating when Khalil came in
"Assalamu Alaykum, Yaya Sultan, is that really you"

"It is me my brother, come here" I motioned to him and stood up to give him a brotherly hug

"Yaya you came back finally, welcome, but I am still angry with you"

"Why are you angry with me Khalil"

"You promised to come back after a year, but you failed to fulfil your promise. Its been almost eleven years" he complained

"I am sorry brother, I thought I will come back earlier too, but I will make it up to you. Just name anything"

"Mmmm...teach me Arabic then"

"Done" I chuckled

"Khalil remember the time you were always crying when Sultan left, saying you will follow him" Umma teased and they all laughed

"Ooooh stop saying that Umma, you are embarrassing me, besides that was a long time ago" he frowned "And you are saying it in front of Batuul"

"I am older than you remember, show some respect young man" Batuul snapped while Khalil smirked

"Stop right now both of you, Khalil, Batuul is your elder sister, she deserves some respect from you and you Batuul, I have told you times without number that your behaviour towards him will not make him respect you" Umma gave her 'usual lecture' according to Khalil. Later on Khalil accompanied me to Jakadiya. She was on her varenda knitting when we arrived and she raised her face up to look at us.

"Sultan!"

She instantly recognised me as I saw tears wailing up in her eyes

"Is that really you Sultan, so I will get to see you again? Alhamdulillah Ya Allah" she raised her hands up and prayed in a shaky voice and turning to me she said "I know you are suprised that I recognised you, don't be my son, a mother will always recognise her son no matter how old he gets or how long ago she saw him" she observed me while still crying

"Come on Umma, you are supposed to be happy and not crying, I am so happy to see you. Where is Qudsiyya?" I looked around for my foster sister when she appeared from the backyard

"Qudsiyya your brother is back" Umma said

"Sultan?" She asked pointing at me "Is that you, you are back after so many years, oh brother, I am so happy to see you"

"I am happy to see you too Qudsiyya, I missed you so much" I smiled at her, she was some months older than me, but I always assumed the role of the elder brother.

"You came just in time, every year around this time since you left, Mama always knits a sweater and cap for you, and she never allows me use them" she pouted and Mama smiled

"Dont mind her my son, it's specially made for you, for the cold season. It always makes me remember you"

"Thank you Umma" I smiled back at her. I love my foster family.

As I lay down to sleep that night, I felt happy, contended and loved.

*****

Salaam dear readers. I am so so sorry for the late update, school have resumed and i have been very busy lately. But In Shaa Allah i will try my best to be updating as frequently as i can, say once a week. Bear with me pls. Thank you.