The Crown in the Storm ✔️

Reflections

Zaroon,

The fall season is notorious for forgetting and moving on. I keep hoping and moving on. I'm trying new things. I realized something today, the first time, I'd shunned duty and had rebelled out for love. Now I have shunned love and chosen duty. My duty to you.

For a second there I made the mistake of thinking that I could have it all.

Yours,

Elena

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I woke up to the sound of someone banging at my door. Groggy and still half asleep, I shuffled over to the door, yanking it open, waiting for someone to offer a good explanation for waking me up at 6 in the morning.

Rania stared at me, her expression sheepish. Behind her, Ahsan looked ready to bolt. Silently, I moved to let her inside.

"What?" I said banging the door shut.

"Well... there was a scheduling mistake" I waited as she wrung her hands. "You have a lunch interview with a television channel, today"

"Wasn't that next week?" I asked sitting down on the chaise.
"That's where the scheduling issue comes in"
"Oh no! Rania, how could you?"
"I'm sorry, it must have slipped my mind, the dates are getting confusing"
"It's fine. It's okay, we'll just ask them to reschedule"
"Uncle Azhar's getting convicted tomorrow. Do you want to give them that leverage?" ah, that's why we had shifted it to this week.

"You realized this at 6 in the morning?"

"The reminder on my phone went off" she mumbled, hiding her face behind a cushion.

"Well, nothing we can do about it now. What do I have to do?"

The afternoon sun streamed into the room. Sana stood in front of me her eyes taking in the glory of Gulzar Mahal. I watched her face light up with joy as the crew set up the equipment in the mirror room. Both Rania and Ammi Jaan hovered in the back, their faces tense. I stood still as one of the assistants fixed my mic and my makeup artist, Adnan patted the concealer into my skin.

"You have to start taking care of your skin" he muttered, sweeping some powder on my cheeks. I sighed. If only he knew that the dark circles and dullness weren't from the lack of care. The problem was internal.

"Thank you, Adnan..."

"Are you ready? They're all set up" Rania said coming up to me.

I nodded and everyone rushed to their places. I took the seat in front of Sana and gave her a smile. Adnan fixed my hair and hurriedly moved away to stand behind the director, his gaze on the monitor. Sans smiled back, her gaze kind and still a little awestruck. The director cued her in. We had 30 seconds before the show went on the air. Ammi Jaan blew me a kiss and Rania gave me a thumbs up.

"Our guest today is one of the youngest leaders we've had in a long time. Someone who powered through for the youngsters in this country and is rumored to have been the magical serum that boosted the Prime Ministers campaign," a light laugh rippled in the room. I smiled at the introduction. "For her first interview ever, please welcome to the program, Begum Elena Gulzar Khan"

"Just Elena please, we're all colleagues here. Thank you for having me, it's a pleasure." she smiled.

"Let's start with the basics. You're the daughter of the late Gulzar Khan and Begum Noor Jehan and you're the eldest of two children" I nodded. "Your father was beloved not only in this city, but also in the country. What do you think he would have said if he were here today?"

"Ah, I wish he was here today. Although, my sister and my mother have an equally important role in who I am today, we all miss him terribly. Like every daughter, I was my father's princess. If he were here today, I'd like to think that he'd be proud of all of us"