The Crown in the Storm ✔️

Reunions

The waiter placed the Chow mein on our table. "She's amazing," he continued. I smiled at the affection in his voice. "You already know how I met Hania. It was at Farishtas wedding"

"Ah, weddings, our version of Tinder," I replied dipping the dumpling into the sauce. The restaurant buzzed with activity as people sat and conversed over dinner. We were seated at the back of the hall with two of our guards having dinner at the table next to us.

Rania walked in and sat next to me. Her guard joined the other two at their table.

"Please, go ahead and make yourself comfortable. Do you have any more calls left to answer?" I said shaking my head and unwinding the scarf around my neck. Rania stuck her tongue out at me as Izzy laughed.

"So, she walked in wearing this beautiful blue dress, her hair up in a bun and decided to tell me off for trying to sneak the groom out of the wedding"
"You were doing what?", Rania and I said at the same time.

He waved his hand to dismiss our indignant tone. "Mark my words, if it wasn't for the baby, they'd be broken up by now. Farishta should thank Hania for making sure that her wedding actually went through. Anyways, so I tracked her down through some mutual friends. They threw a party, which I had to pay for. I bribed several people to make sure she came", I laughed at his tone.
"So you were serious about her from the get-go?", I asked running my fingers through my hair to massage my skull. The time difference was giving me a headache. Izhaan rolled his eyes.

"When you know, you know. I apologized and introduced myself and the rest, as they say, was history"
"But that's how you met... what is she like?",
"She's amazing. She's kind and generous. You'll
love her. She's feisty too." He ducked his head, rubbing his neck in embarrassment.
"I'm sure I will. How did Ammi Jaan react to the news you'd chosen your own bride? So modern, so untraditional. Did you create a scandal that was big enough to cover mine?", Ranua coughed to hide her discomfort at the question. Izhaan gave me a strange look.

"Well, she's the only daughter of the head of the shipping and ports union, so no. I'm afraid you're still the black sheep of the family",
"That explains a lot. At least you fell for someone you could have and not ruin the family name at the same time"
"Rania's on the same path. Did she tell you about Hassan's brother? The designer? Apparently Hussain is the contractor for the new orphanage"
"You what? When did this happen?", I asked turning around to glare at her. Rania gave me a frustrated look.

"Nothing has happened. We're just friends" she answered stuffing food into her mouth. Izzy let out a short laugh.
"Friend. Some friend who decided to build the orphanage out of the goodness of his heart"

I looked at Rania. She stuck out her tongue at Izzy. "He's using it as a tax write off and we get to use our money on the important things, like the welfare of the kids who'll stay there?" She answered. Izzy shook his head and went back to his food.

"How close are the two of you?" I asked her.
"That was his call. He's arriving the day before the wedding"
"So I get to meet this man? Wait how old is he?"
"He's 28 years old"
"And his brother? The designer?"
"24"
" I didn't expect them to be so young."
"They're from his second wife...the first one has a son and two daughters"
"Oh boy. So you get the middle child?"
"I don't get him. We met at an event and became friends, that's all" she hissed stealing a dumpling from my plate.
"If you say so" Izzy muttered just before his phone rang. He excused himself and got up to take his call.

"Rania, Feroze is coming to the wedding. Did you know that?" I whispered to her as we both watched Izzy's guard walk towards him. Rania squeaked in surprise.
"What! No! Why? How dare he! That slimeball..." I breathed a sigh of relief. At least my sister was on my side.
"What do we do? Ammi is adamant that this is my chance to step up. I can't do that if he's here! I can't face him, Rania, I just can't!"