The Crown in the Storm ✔️

Back to the future

There was nothing worse than losing someone. With him gone, I was experiencing the pain of living through a scathing heartbreak. This one of my own making. Love and passion, oh what a cruel combination.

I watched him leave, his back hunched, his gaze to the ground. I wished it was all a dream. I wished I did not have to live with this heartache for the rest of my life. With every step, I felt myself break. This was it. He was leaving with my heart in his hands.

The trauma that Uncle Azhar had instilled in me was going to haunt me for the rest of my life. The pain he had inflicted on me by destroying Zaroon's trust and self-respect was going to follow me to the grave.

Taking deep shuddering breaths, I tried to keep the sobs in. I felt as if my heart had been gutted from the inside and thrown to the sharks. Tears leaked from my eyes and this time, I did nothing to stop them.

"Oh no... Eli-bear," Uncle EJ walked into the room, his face distraught. He came towards me and enveloped me in a hug. I rocked against him, feeling myself break.
"What happened?"
"I let him go, Uncle EJ, I set him free"

The following weeks brought in blessed political chaos and relief. The castle was abuzz with different changes. I threw myself into making sure that everything was back to normal. No one commented on what had happened. No one mentioned his name.

I walked around the castle like a ghost.

Izzy and Hania had left the Monday after the elections. We were all sad to see them go, but I knew they'd be back. They deserved the time off. Izzy had to go back to run his family business and Hania was itching to live in her own place. He'd given me a big comforting hug and kissed my forehead, whispering the words 'Be Strong' before he left.

On the other hand, Rania had amped up her charity work and was training a new team to take her place. I suspected that she wanted to go back to her old job and had asked her to find a replacement. Also, she and Hussein were getting closer and spending more time together. Ammi Jaan had already started dropping hints about a wedding and was going around talking to her favorite designers. All of us were expecting some good news in the coming weeks.

Surprisingly, Uncle EJ had decided to retire and was planning to go on a long vacation away from the chaos. He had just bought a new island and was waiting for the logistics to be sorted out. He promised that he'd be back, but for now, he wanted some time to be alone.

With all the new changes, Ammi Jaan seemed to have gotten even more overprotective. She accompanied me to events and meetings, making sure to keep me in her sight. I knew what she was doing. With everyone leaving, the castle was emptying out. Loneliness was our constant companion. Soon, it would just be the two of us.

We sat in the library a month after the election. Both Ammi Jaan and I were preparing for Feroze. His visit next week would be his first official visit as the Prime Minister. We were finalizing a team of advisors, led by Maryam, who would be presenting a list of recommendations for the government. I was just placing the teacup on the table when a distant shout had us scrambling to our feet.

Before we reached the door, Rania burst in, her face a picture of joy.
"He proposed! He proposed! Hussein and I are getting married!"
"You scared me! I thought... really, Rania" Ammi Jaan muttered with a big smile and gave her a hug.
"It took him this long?" I said ruffling her hair.
"Some of us take our time..." she mumbled, a slight frown on her face. I laughed but the sound felt hollow.
"When will he be here?"
"He wants to come tomorrow, but we'll have to delay the announcement. His elder brother, Hamza is having trouble with the re-election. As soon as that issue is solved, Ghulam Uncle will make an official announcement"

Ammi Jaan nodded and rang the bell for Andaleeb. I pondered this over. The timing seemed to be right and if the wedding happened in a year, that would give us plenty of time to invite everyone. It would also mean we'd be peaking politically. This was the ideal time to pressurize Feroze.

Later that night, I sat at my desk, staring at a blank piece of paper. The thought of Zaroon filled my eyes up with tears. He would have been so happy for Hussein and Rania.

Smiling in self-pity, I put my pen down on the paper. This was a daily ritual. It was my way of keeping myself sane. Everyone around me wanted a piece of me. They wanted the Khanum, all the time, everywhere. I wanted... apparently, it didn't matter what I wanted. Heartache was a constant companion in my life now. It seemed to be the only companion.

Fate really was a cruel mistress. Every night I imagined what I'd say to him if he were here. How I would tell him about my day. I imagined his side of the conversation, wondering what he would say.

Every night I consoled myself by saying that our situation was just a bad nightmare and a figment of my imagination. Every morning I woke up to realize the bitter truth, that there was nothing that I could do to make the pain go away.