Magnificent Century: Mihirsah

Running into a stranger

As soon as I exited the Haram I had two routes to go back to the Harem: The longer route, which we had been using since the day we arrived here or the shorter route; which I had seen Jannat and the other servants use.

I chose the shortcut.

It would be years later that I would think back to this day. About what would have happened if I hadn't opted for the shorter route; would I have never become Mihirsah Sultan? Or would destiny have made the subsequent events take place later on during that time?

Sometimes when I would suffer or be stuck in terrible situations I would often curse myself for taking that route and other days when I would be happy and feel blessed I would thank the Lord for my decision. Regardless, I chose that route that day and it set a chain of motions that I hadn't even imagined.

I kept trying to recall which way to follow as I walked along the hallway; I was checking my back to confirm whether I was walking in the direction when at a sharp turn I accidentally ran into someone and almost fell. My reflexes caught onto the person's arm and I was almost face to face with him.

It was a young man who couldn't have been much older than me. He seemed well dressed, he had short but luscious brown hair and his eyes were deep and brown. He was very fair and for the split second that his face and mine were in close, even his breathe felt amazing.

He allowed me to stand before starting on, "Watch where you're going girl." He scolded me.

He must have been an inch or two taller than me and he was definitely not older than me, hence his scold didn't even feel half as intimidating.

"Excuse me?" I said controlling my laugh, "Girl? How old do you think I am? More importantly how old do you think you are?"

The young handsome man once again looked at me in a condemned look as if I had insulted his mother, "How dare you speak back to me! Do you know who I am?" he questioned me.

For someone who would never tread into a situation unless aware of the possible consequences, I found myself not being able to take him seriously.

"Do you know who I am?" I asked as I stepped forward and looked him directly into his eyes trying to be as intimidating as possible.

He looked at me in slight confusion and asked, "Who are you?"

I started taking slow but steady steps towards him, "I am a very close person to Kosem Sultan and she holds me in high regards." I bluffed.

"Oh really?" He replied; Now he seemed cocky.

Slightly afraid of his new found confidence, I continued "Yes, and if you ever speak to me like that again I'll have your head." I tried to match my voice to sound as commanding as Kosem Sultan's.

The young man started laughing, and continued, "Is that so? How about we meet Kosem Sultan right now? Perhaps she can clear the air between us. Perhaps she might even decide to not take my head?" he signaled me to follow him.

"I do not wish to disturb her peace but since you make a very logical point we shall go." I bluffed again. I followed him for a minute and I realized that he was leading me away from my actual route and that if he wasn't bluffing and actually took me to Kosem Sultan, I would have to do a lot of explaining.

We came to a point where there were two routes along the central hallway that we were walking on and then a sharp route which would exit us from the central hallway to the main hallway that would lead us to the chambers of the sultanas.

I saw this as my chance as soon as he turned at the sharp turn and doubled back and ran to the left route fast, I heard some shouting and footsteps but I continued along the path until I was confirmed that nobody was following me.