The Crown in the Storm ✔️

Licking the wounds

Ammi Jaan rushed towards me, were those tears in her eyes? She engulfed me in her arms, a controlled sob breaking out of her. I stood there stunned. Uncle Azhar broke protocol to embrace his son, who looked equally if not more shocked then I did.

Aunt Mamo started to lead Feroze and her grandson inside the house. The boy looked at me curiously but did not say a word. He was Feroze through and through. The same brown eyes and floppy hair. He even had his mischievous smile. He walked into the house with one arm around his father's leg and the other around a teddy bear.

"Come, Ehsan, Izzy, and Rania are worried sick" she started to lead me in and I turned back to look at Zaroon. He gave me a reassuring look and I followed Ammi Jaan into the house.

Uncle Ehsan, Izzy, Rania, Hania, Salaar and Hussein all descended on me as soon as I reached the foyer. All of them expressed their relief in seeing me arrive safely in one piece. Salaar and Hussein then both left to find Zaroon.
"And how are you, Uncle EJ?" I asked him, once the initial inquiries had been done with.
"I'm okay... knocked my arm against the railing. It's fine" he said showing me his cast. I grimaced at his pain.
"Are you okay honey?" Ammi Jaan asked. I nodded.
"Zaroon knocked me to the side, so I didn't get the brunt of it" now that I thought about it, how did he know? His sixth sense?
"Told you he's good" I blushed at Uncle EJ's words. Rania put her arm around me. Her whole body was shaking.
"I'm okay, baby..." I soothed her, running a comforting hand through her hair.
"You better be, because I don't want to be left alone, in charge of this dump. Only you could do that" all of us started to laugh at that.
"I guess I should ask after Feroze, now that I know you're okay" Ammi Jaan muttered.

"Why is Aunt Mamo here?"
"As soon as she heard the news, she couldn't stay away. She grabbed her grandson and flew here" Hania answered her hand around Izzy's waist. I nodded. Poor sweet naive Hania.

She had run to save her life. She also had a bargaining chip in her hand. If Feroze had died, she would have had Naila's son with her. One of her sons was handling the family business abroad, while the second one was in charge of the family lands. She would have to have Gulzar Mahal's support to have some political standing or clout.

Politics really was a dirty game.

We made our way into the library, where Feroze was being berated by his mother. Honestly, this was the most surreal thing I had seen in my life. Feroze stood there with his head bowed, listening to his mothers' lecture while his son played on the carpet.

"Enough Maimoona, he's been through quite a lot already. Let the boy sit" Aunt Mamo paused and sighed.
"You're right Noor, I am being hard on him. But I could have lost him today"
"We could have lost both of them today" Ammi Jaan corrected, her hand on mine. Aunt Mamo blinked. "My daughter was there because of your son. The least you could do is to show some courtesy and ask after her" I bit my lip to stop a laugh from escaping.

I could sense Rania's joy from beside me. I did not dare to look at her for the fear that I might burst out laughing. Ammi Jaan adored Aunt Mamo, so for her to call her out on her crap was hilarious. Aunt Mamos face went red.

"Of course. I must have forgotten in the state of things... how are you, Elena?"
"I've been better" I replied trying to keep the amusement out of my voice.
"I suppose the Captain is somewhat capable after all"
"Major" I ground out.
"Isn't that what I said?" A serpentine smile snaked across her lips. I bristled at her tone.
"Truly. Who could ever doubt your words" her eyes narrowed.
"Enough... Where's Danial?" Feroze said.
"In the suite... Hassan honey, why don't you go to your room?" Aunt Mamo replied. Hassan got up, gave us a small wave and then ran out of the room.
"He's a shy boy" Feroze answered at my questioning look. Aunt Mamo walked to the phone and dialed for Danial.