Phool for You |Royal Retelling 1|

Chapter 1: Late Beginnings

There is only one thing in the world that can motivate me enough to leave my heavenly bed: chai. The beautiful rust colored liquid with a semi-floral scent and saccharine flavor is most definitely the highlight of my day. There is a special formula to making the best cup of chai known to existence. Adding one teaspoon of sugar and a splash of evaporated milk will make even the most caffeine-tolerant person an addict.

With that enticing image in my head, I rush through my quick and simple daily morning routine, which consists of washing my face, brushing my teeth, and plaiting my hair into a singular thick braid. Throwing on a blue dupatta over my head after changing into a printed blue kameez and matching shalwar, I run downstairs to my beloved cup of tea.

When I reach the kitchen, Abbu already has the dining table set with puri, sooji ka halwa, aloo cholay and two steaming cups of chai. After giving him a kiss on the cheek, I sit down and happily scoop out some halwa onto my plate.

"Beta, I hope you realize that if you keep waking up late, they will take you out of medical school." I freeze mid-chew.

Not again. I leap out of my chair, knocking over my cup of chai.

"Sorry Abbu, wish I could stay for breakfast! Love you, bye!" I yell as I grab my lab coat and sprint out of the house.

Luckily, Rashid Jahan Medical College and Hospital is located on the street behind mine, just a quick ten minute walk from my home. When I round the corner of my street, I sigh heavily, half out of exhaustion and half out of relief. The big marble statue of Rashid Jahan glares at me as I approach the main gate breathing heavily and letting out sounds not unlike those of a dying goat.

As I slip down the halls as quietly as possible, I say a quick prayer in hopes of making it into the class unnoticed.

I push the auditorium door open as softly as I can and make my way over to the back row to avoid being singled out. Needless to say, my plan failed instantly.

"Dr. Durrani, after four years of consistently being late to lecture and staying overtime to clean the laboratories, I had hoped you learned your lesson. But of course, you had to carry on your tradition of arriving in an untimely manner to what should be the most important part of your career," Dr. Raksha says haughtily, staring me down. My cheeks instantly flush due to the unwanted attention from my fellow classmates.

"I'm sorry," I squeak out. "It won't happen again."

"Sorry won't cut it next time. You will be removed from your house-job position if you are tardy again. Do you understand?" She says sharply, her eyes piercing through me.

"Yes, Doctor," I say reassuringly with the slightest waver in my voice.

A sharp tug on my lab coat causes me to fall into the chair beside me. Without having to look over, I already know who it is. There is only one person apart from me who enjoys sitting in the back of the classroom where not a single word on the blackboard can be read.

"Tania kept you late last night?" Afshi whispers carefully while keeping her eyes on Dr. Raksha's retreating back.

I wait until the professor is preoccupied with her lesson before answering. "She made me stay an extra three hours just to switch out all of the lightbulbs. They weren't even broken!"

Afshi pats my hand sympathetically. "You need to quit that job. It's draining what little energy you have left after rotations every day."

She says this in good spirits, but we both know it is next to impossible in today's economy.

Aside from Abbu, Afshi is the only other living relative I have left. She may be my third cousin bloodwise, but I push all that aside and call her my sister. Her family passed away in the same war for independence that took the lives of almost all of the citizens of Surajistan, including Ammi and Raza. The province is still not as bustling and loud as it was three years ago, but it is a work in progress, no thanks to the Royal Court of Mir.