Serenity

Serve

Shaista hurried to her brother's chamber, threw open the doors and neared the bed. The girl lay upon it, her raven hair visible among the pile of bedding and blankets. She sat up and looked straight at Shaista

'Get out'

She would not allow this girl to address her in such a way
'This is my brother's chamber'

The girl laughed
'Your brother? This is my chamber, how dare you intrude without my permission'

'Mother said we were expecting guests today'

She lay back down uninterested
'Who is it?'

'Brekhnai Bibi'

'I hate her' there was a fierce expression on her face

'Mother said we have to prepare a meal for her'

'She can go to the barn and eat hay'

She was relieved when her mother marched into the chamber

'Sakina! Sakina will you sleep the day away?'

The Danaii girl stretched like a feline
'If I want to that is what I shall do'

'Is this how you Danaii treat guests?'

'Why yes if we hate them'

'Brekhnai is my childhood friend I will not have you disrespecting her'

'How touching then you must serve her to relive those moments'

'I have told her many good things about you, do not disappoint me'

'You wouldn't be facing this predicament mother in law if you had told the truth. I am not a trophy that will be paraded before each and every' she stopped, a smile spreading on her face 'fine, I will serve her'

Shaista felt the girl did not intend any good at all but left her to it.

The Danaii were merciless to their enemies and Sakina was not any different. She would never forget the trouble Brekhnai had caused her in order to marry her off to her son. All for status and power. She would serve her guest such a meal that would be unforgettable.

Sakina poured the heaped servings of salt and crushed chilli into the rice and stirred
'There...that should be enough to burn your vicious tongue'

She carried the tray and placed it before the smiling woman

'Sakina! I was just telling Sultana how you were always on the plain side, she could have done better for Zalmai'

How she wished to strangle the smug woman

'If I am plain my cooking more than makes up for it'

Indeed the dish smelled and looked divine, the woman eagerly took a bite. Sakina waited, the woman's face turned red then blue then a blotchy purple as she choked and screamed.

She danced around like a mad woman and the Danaii girl clapped in tune to her screaming song.

The mad woman ran and dunked her entire head into the cow's water barrel.

Shaista looked at the girl laughing hysterically on the floor, her mother was not pleased

'You wait Sakina, you just wait till Zalmai comes home'

'What can Zalmai do?'

She skipped away, her laughter echoing through the building

'What a balaa ( a monster) '

Brekhnai returned for her veil, her clothes soaking wet

'This is it Sultana! I have never been more humiliated in my life! Sardaar Zaraar has given you a snake and you have happily accepted her.'

She stormed out leaving behind a distraught Sultana. As for Sakina, she did not regret her actions one little bit. In fact she congratulated herself because she knew she would never be asked to serve a guest again.