Phool for You |Royal Retelling 1|

Chapter 10: Unpleasant Encounters

"Roosa! Wait!"

I freeze on the stairs as one of my favorite voices in the world reaches my ears. I bound up the stairs without watching my steps and fly into Afshi's arms.

"It's been too long," she says, her voice muffled as she buries her face into the crook of my neck. "Which ward are you assigned to today?

I tighten my arms around her as I realize it's been a while since I've last seen her. My face burns in disappointment and dejection as I tell her what happened. She responds by squeezing me even harder. "I've heard of that before," she murmurs sympathetically. "It's why Prince Rafay and his siblings never went to primary and secondary school with us even though we are around the same age. They had a private tutor. I failed to remember that you would be in the same category as them after marriage."

"How can this be happening?" I manage to say, my voice choked with emotion as tears stream down my face. Losing my family, my home, even my dignity—all of that was devastating, but this feels like the ultimate punishment. Not being able to obtain my medical license. It's a cruel blow, one that invalidates years of hard work, tears, financial sacrifice, and dedication. Medicine isn't just a career for me; it's my passion, my lifelong dream, and now it feels like it's slipping away from me.

Afshi sighs in dismay and rubs my back. "I think it was a safety concern. Prince Rafay did try to attend a public law school but he quickly became a target for blackmailers."

"Political law does not require him to finish training in a public place, but medicine does," I reply woefully. "Afshi, I can't not practice medicine. Ishq hai apne kaam se."

"I know, and we'll figure something out, meri pyaari dost," She says, gently wiping the tears off of my face. "I can't bear seeing you like this, let's talk about something else."

I pull back and study Afshi's face. It appears sallow, with her cheekbones more defined than usual, which is concerning given her already remarkable bone structure.

Frowning, I say, "Afshaneh Rizwan, you're not on a diet, are you?"

She lets out a breathy laugh. "No! Randah has been working me a lot, that's all. In between rotations and the diner, I've barely had time to eat or sleep."

My heart jolts painfully. After Afshi's family had died in the war, Randah, her estranged khala, was given sole responsibility of her. It's safe to say that she hasn't been treated like a niece. More like a servant worker.

"You know you can always come stay with me at the mehel," I suggest, squeezing her shoulders. "It's too quiet and empty there."

Afshi cups my face with her hands. "Yes, my beautiful behen, and I love you for that. It's not much longer until I graduate and start practicing. I think I can hold up until then."

"I was saying it more for my sake than yours. Main wahan rehe kar paagal ho rahi hoon!"

She lets out a hearty laugh and places her arm in the crook of mine. "Fine, I'll come over today since I got off early. Let me get my things from my locker."

Afshi and I race down the stairwell like we have always done and burst through the doors of the main floor, panting discourteously.

I stop short when I see Zohair standing at the front desk, engaged in an animated conversation with the receptionist.

Immediately, I pivot on my heel and stride swiftly back toward the emergency exit hidden in the stairwell. Under no circumstances do I want to have an interaction with Zohair, especially since it has already been an emotionally taxing day.