The Crown in the Storm ✔️

As I read, I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once

Izzy and Rania helped Uncle EJ up the stairs and I turned the duvet for him. He came in, his face tired but relieved. Ammi Jaan came up at the rear, her eyes narrowed.

"I'll ask Andaleeb to send some soup" and with that, she exited the room. I helped him lie down on the bed. His eyes closed as soon as his head hit the pillow.

I entered my room, elation, and relief mixing in together. One problem down, several more to go. Jumping up, my feet brushed against the paper. Another letter. Excited, I bent over to pick it up.

"My dearest Elena,

God was today a day. I could not stop the crazy thoughts in my head this morning. Varying scenarios flickered through my mind. I can not imagine how you felt. I saw how worried you were and how you kept biting your lip. Your eyes kept darting back and forth, searching for him. Oh, Elena, he is lucky to have someone like you. I can not explain the relief I felt when he was granted bail. It was as if a weight had been lifted off my shoulders and I could breathe again.

You know what your Uncle means to me. He supported me at the darkest time of my life. The best part about meeting him was that I got to work here and meet you. The girl who had haunted me since I was ten. Of all the things he has done for me, asking me to come here was the one I would owe him for the rest of my life. I wish I knew what was going on in your head right now. I want to know whatever nefarious scheme you're cooking up. That brain of yours...

If there are any more late-night trips, I am, as always, at your service.

Yours,

Zaroon

P.S Rania has a really good taste in music."

I sighed and flopped down on the bed. Who knew Zaroon could be such a romantic? I reread the letter with a huge smile on my face and placed it in my drawer with the first one. I rolled over and stared at the ceiling my mind drawing up comparisons. I had told Feroze not to talk to me and he had not. Zaroon had found a way to do so. If only I had this much sense when I was at that age. I had wasted three years of my life waiting for some sort of acknowledgment from him.

Which made me come back to Naila. Boy, had she confessed. Now I had to tell all of that to Uncle EJ and define our plan of action. She and Feroze were going to be away for the weekend. We only had Aunt Mamo to contend with and she was not much of a threat after the Hassan mishap. Danial and most of Feroze's staff had left with him. Finally, the castle was as close to being empty as it was ever going to be for the next five years.

A knock sounded on the door and Rania walked in.

"Hey" I greeted with a huge smile. Her eyebrows went up.

"Okay... what's up?"

"Nothing"

"Did you talk to Zaroon? That's usually when you're this happy. Honestly, I should thank that guy for making you bearable" I threw my pillow at her and she laughed. "Ready to go over the week's events?"

"Before I forget, I invited Hussein and his dad for dinner tomorrow. Oh and Sameer will be there too"

"Awesome...you have an event to attend tomorrow afternoon, you also have an engagement on Sunday. I have sent the itinerary to Zaroon bhai. I'm thinking of hiring a secretary for him. He can not possibly be on top of everything and still take care of you" I stared at her.

"First, stop calling him Zaroon bhai, that sounds like..."

"You're married to him?" I glared at her. "We all have a bet on how long it's going to take"