The Crown in the Storm ✔️

Power is Power

God, I wished Abba (Dad) was here with me. The room was full of men. Ammi Jaan, Rania and I were the only women there. His presence would have been enough to divert any of the questions I would be facing today.

"How did Ammi Jaan do this?" I whispered to Rania.

"I don't know" she whispered back.

We stood at the back, trying not to look like we were intimidated by the crowd of experienced older men staring at us. Thankfully, Ammi Jaan and Uncle EJ took the lead and started to greet the men in attendance. Taking our cue from them, we started to mingle too.

After a while, the phrases started to blur together. I had to fight to keep the smile on my face.
"Greetings Begum Sahiba"
"What happened yesterday was terrible. You were very brave to come out as you did. What are you planning to do?"
"I hope you're enjoying the city? It is miles away from London"
"Oh no? But you've been very assertive!"
"The economy has taken a turn for the worse, it just makes our job a lot harder. What is your position on that?"
"My wife met you at your birthday party. She told me it was quite an event?"

Rania and I met up after our first round, shuffling ourselves into a corner. I shook when she clutched my arm tightly.
"My lips are permanently fixed in this smile," she said through clenched teeth.
"I shouldn't have worn heels" I hissed back trying to ease the pressure by leaning against the wall.
"Ammi Jaan's training makes sense now"
"A lot of stuff makes sense now," I said hoping for someone to tell us to get seated.
"Ferozeuddin seems to be enjoying it" we both stared as Feroze moved around the room with a practiced air.
"Ugh... we can't let that peacock outshine us in our own home, come on" once again we plunged back into the crowd.

After another short round of pleasantries, I had had enough. Paying no heed to anyone, I decided to sit in my seat, at the head of the table. Silence crept over the room as people took notice one by one. As if on some silent cue Uncle EJ and Ammi Jaan took their seats at either side of me. A moment later, Feroze sat next to Uncle EJ, only hinting at his displeasure at my position. The others filled in, their gazes were wary and curious. Since I was not married and had no children, Rania took her seat behind me, as my heir. 

Once everyone had been seated, Ammi Jaan gave me a subtle nod to indicate that I should start with the meeting.

"Welcome everyone, it is my honor and pleasure to welcome you all to my home, Gulzar Mahal." A low mummer of welcome and thank yous echoed around the table. "You were all invited here today, for a very important reason"  Ten pairs of eyes blinked in unison. " Unfortunately, the South is under attack." Noise erupted in the room, disbelief mixed with anger and suspicion. I sat back enjoying the effect. Let them figure that one out for a moment.

"What are you saying Begum Sahiba?" Hussein's father, Ghulam Khan, said after the noise had died down. I smiled at him. He was one of the easier ones to convince. He was exactly like his son. Or his son was like him. Aside from their strikingly similar features, both of them had a very easy-going nature.

"I am saying that the south is under attack because of who and what we are. We represent the very thing they want to silence." I answered him. Feroze cleared his throat. Honestly, this man.

"Because of what we could be. All of us, in some way or another, are part of Gulzar's Family. If not by blood then by trade. We have a huge opportunity in front of us in the shape of a Prime Ministerial candidate. There are some people, who are not happy with our potential return to power. There are some people who are waging a rebellion on the streets" gasps echoed around me. While I was not completely sure about Naila and the Kingmaker's involvement, I was sure about the New Revolutionaries.

"Rebellion, Begum Sahiba?" Jamshed asked, his voice fearful. I tried to keep my words and tone neutral so I would not scare him. After all, his predecessor had been attacked by those very people.