SULTAN {Preview}

Chapter Thirty-three

Surah Luqman, Verse 17
"...keep up prayer and enjoin the good and forbid the evil, and bear patiently that which befalls you; surely these acts require courage"

                       ~~~

As the days rolled into weeks and the weeks to months, so did our love with Ya Sameer blossom. I was always over the moon with happiness and joy. He sought for Abba's permission to which he gladly gave the union his permission and of course blessings.

Khalil just shrugged when he heard, he didn't tell me what he felt about it even when I asked. I didn't know if he was happy or not, but I think he was, since he didn't object.

We met frequently, he always found time to come and see me. Truth is, even if I had no intention of falling in love with him, it wouldn't have been for a long time, because he had an irresistible nature. He was so loving and caring, he always had a way to cheer me up out of my mood swings  and whenever I start to misbehave, there's a way he looks at me that brings me back to my senses without even he talking. He never misses the opportunity to tell me how beautiful I am and how lucky he is to be the 'chosen one' and boy was he funny. There is a way he looks at me that always leaves butterflies in my stomach.

When Maryam heard about it, she came to me and over a big warm hug, told me how happy she was that I had found happiness, and that that happiness lies in their house, I was coming to their family. When I was almost relaxed as I thought she wouldn't tease me, she started her teasing, sometimes telling me I'm not ashamed to marry someone who watched me grow, other times saying I know I'm not marrying only him, that I'm getting married to the whole family and that will make her my husband too, so respect should be awarded to her. Some other times she will even be like "continue with your waywardness, I won't do budan kai for you, and I will see who else will" then stuck her tongue at me and run away.

At times Ya Sameer becomes her prey, since he's loosen up a bit towards her, on my request for her to be treated now not only as his little sister but also as my best friend. You did hear her saying "Yaya if you continue like this I won't give you my friend, and you know she won't get married without her best friend's consent'. Maryam though, Maryam will always be Maryam.

Then something happened one day, that left me extremely mortified even though he acted normal afterwards. He came to see me as usual after Asr, I wasn't feeling too well but I still dragged myself to go and see him, and instead of me to wear something black, I decided to wear a lilac gown simply because the last time I wore it, he said I looked so beautiful in it.

When I reached our usual spot, I found him already sitting, eating an apple, I returned his smile with a pout, my face was all swollen.

"What's wrong with my Nana today?" he asked worriedly, dropping the apple on the tray before him

"It's nothing really" I replied with a wave of my hand "Just a little stomach ache, that's all"

"Are you sure it's nothing serious?" I nodded "Maybe you should just go in and rest, I will come back tomorrow" he said worriedly, while I convinced him that it's not that serious.

"Okay if you say so. Have you eaten?" I shook my head "Why is that Nana, don't you want to get well?"

"I will throw up if I eat" I replied cringing my nose, remember the fish pepper soup Umma brought for me in the afternoon, and how I started throwing up immediately the aroma hit my nose. The thought alone now wanted to make me throw up again.

"Not even fruits?" he asked, extending the apple he was previously eating.

"Nooo. Let's talk about something else please"