Being The Sheikh's Queen

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Farzana got off the car,Ahmed's arms tightening around her neck as she stood beside the car and with the strength that only a mother could have,she adjusted the blanket so it covered his head.She saw three men clothed in the royal staff garb make for the boot of the car which was opened by the driver and she heard them begun to pull the bags out.A shiver went through her body as the cold desert air brushed along her body.Farzana was thankful that she had changed into a comfortable jeans and sweater before they had,had to leave for the honeymoon which had turned into going to the hospital.

They had supposed to have reached the holiday home nestled in the desert surrounded by a small village just after Magrib time but due to Razia giving birth,they had only reached close to midnight.She turned her head to see Ridwaan holding the car seats of each twin which he reattached to the pram and walked to the pram handles.He gave her a smile as she turned to face the staircase,a middle age man stepping forward.

At the steps of the building a small group of staff waited on each step,they stood respectfully but Farzana could see the looks they gave her under the bright lights.They were assessing her,they were trying to see why Ridwaan would marry such a woman.Farzana only looked down at the child in her arms covered in blanket and she smiled,they would never know the beautiful reason Ridwaan had married her for.

"As salaam mu alaykum,sayid wa sayida.Ahlan wa sahlan." The man who had stepped forward,cladded in a black jalbiya and white keffiyeh and black agal,which was the traditional grab of man especially when meeting the King.

"Wa alaykum mu salaam,sayid Adam." Ridwaan looked at Farzana who had nodded her head in greetings to Adam,"Farzana,sayid Adam is the care taker of our holiday home here in the desert.He has been here since I was a child and he had been just 19.He has handled everything here beautifully."

The man bowed his head as a smile blossomed on his face,"Jazakallah,sayid.I have just been doing my duty."

"Zainub told me about you,sayid Adam.It is a pleasure to meet you." Farzana soke,softly in an attempt to not wake the twins up and Adam looked at her with the same smile.

"The pleasure is all mine,sayida as well as the staff who work under me."

"Shall we proceed inside,sayid Adam?There is a chill in the air and I don't want the children to catch a cold." Ridwaan's question was met by a nod from Adam who gestured for them to walk forward,"Sayid Adam,I need you to help me take the pram up.Be careful,the babies are in the pram." Ridwaan lowered his voice as he turned his head to speak to Farzana who visibly shook from the cold wind that seemed to get sharper,"Farzana,walk before us.You should get inside before you get a cold."

Farzana smiled at him as she nodded her head,"Nam,Ridwaan." She heard a sharp intake of breath from one of the staff closest to them and she tilted her head to see the staff member quickly look down.Farzana did not bother to think about that as she climbed the stairs with Ridwaan and Adam carrying the pram behin her.She nodded her head at each staff member as they lowered their head but she still caught the judgemental looks they gave her from the side.

Farzana was tired and had dealt with her mother-in-law giving her those looks the whole day so these staff members did not bother her.As she got to the door,two staff members opened the door and Farzana stepped in,"Jazakallah." She thanked them as she walked past.She covered her mouth with her hand as she let out a yawn as she came to a stop in the hallway,she turned her head to look at Ridwaan who was finally up the stairs.

"This way,sayida." Ridwaan gestured as soon as he was next to her,leading her towards the staircase where Ridwaan stopped.He moved to the front of the pram,unlatching the baby seats from the pram,"Sayid Adam,can you please take Princess Ayesha's baby seat up while I hold Princess Hafsa?The pram can stay downstairs for when we have to go out."