"Fatiha! Come out now!" Nevzad the head Kalfa called out. She was a plump, tall young lady who didn't wear a smile no matter what. I made my way out, my head bowed, my steps as light as a feather and my arms positioned in a mini arch, swiftly making my way over to her.
"Yes, hanim" I responded when I got to stand in front of her.
"Bow" she ordered. I immediately slightly bent, my knee knotting together. I had practiced all the etiquettes all night, I wasn't going to be designated to the background, even though I was already a personal maid to a new concubine. My prostration pleased her, I guess. Nevzad took her seat in front of a small-sized round table. On top of it were small earthen ware tea cups and an earthen ware teapot. She positioned herself well on the chair, crossed her and pushed the teacup a bit further.
"Pour me a drink" she ordered. I bowed first before carefully picking the teapot. I placed the tip of right finger on the lead of the teapot and used the other tip of my three fingers as I poured the liquid in it into the cup. Nevzad nodded in approval.
"Now sit and pour yourself a drink" she ordered. I gracefully took a seat, and repeated the pouring process. When I dropped the teapot, I arched my fingers and picked up the teacup. As I lifted it up to my lips, I freed one finger, and after I had sipped a little from the cup I gracefully dropped the cup, still without changing the positions of my fingers. Nevzad looked at me, although she didn't smile or show any form of excitement, she nodded slowly.
"You've gotten yourself in order this morning, I am impressed" she announced.
"Thank you, hanim kalfa" I answered with a smile, before bowing and floating back to my position. The head kalfa continued to call out other young girls and ordered them to practice one etiquette or the other. Some did well, and some others were whipped for performing badly. We learnt some dancing and it wasn't that bad for me, I wasn't a bad dancer, so I quickly picked up on the dancing. We were then introduced to needlework. We didn't spend much time on this because the sun had already set, and we were set for dinner. While I was eating the porridge in the bowl, Aisha, Fatima and Mariam joined me on the mat with their own bowls of porridge.
"I told you that you would do well today" Mariam said as she nudged me with her elbow. I smiled sheepishly,
"Thanks Mariam, I can't wait for these trainings to be over" I stated as I shoved a spoon of porridge into mouth. Aisha and Fatima chuckled at my statement.
"Hey, what's funny?" I asked, still mouthful with porridge.
"Training doesn't end, it only gets less strenuous as you get higher in the ranks" Fatima explained.
"But then, this particular training is up for a week. We would need to join the work around here while still training. This is just for the basics" Aisha further explained.
"And if you don't make it to become a cariye?" Mariam asked.
"I have told you this before, but anyways, I'll repeat myself" Aisha positioned herself well on the mat and cleared her throat. Her expression looked more serious than ever this time.
"You'll be sold off, or worse, you will remain a slave here. So get yourself together, if you really want to work out your freedom" Aisha warned. Mariam stared in shock before shoving a spoon into her mouth, before swallowing aggressively. I shrugged before taking another spoon of porridge. The rest of the meal was relatively eaten in silence, I guess Aisha's serious warning must have killed the mood for any fun discussions.
The week went by quickly, and on the D-day, we were all lined up. Nevzad and the other Kalfas walked into our room. We all immediately bowed out heads, but from the corner of my eyes, I could see my friends. Mariam closed her eyes tightly, muttering some words. I looked from the other side of my eye and I saw Aisha, her entire demeanor looked determined and ready, she had been a perfect trainee this week and even put me through in areas I had troubles.
"Your eyes are darting around too much and it's obvious" came a whisper from behind me. I could tell who it was and I smirked. I didn't respond, as I knew clearly I might be spotted.
"A week ago, you all came here unrefined, uneducated and lacking. But now, you have been tested and have proved yourself ready for bigger things" Nevzad began.
"But unfortunately, a lot of you will not cross over, only the best of you will. Your selection begins now" She announced. She went through the rows, and if she placed her hand on anyone's shoulder, they were expected to stand straight. At this point, I stared blankly on the ground, my heart pounding loudly in my chest. My thoughts were all over the place when suddenly, a cold palm touched my shoulder. I slowly lifted my head and stood straight. After she walked past me I looked at my left side, and I saw Mariam standing up right, I looked to my right and I saw Aisha, standing upright and unfazed.
"I'm standing too" came the next whisper. I smiled, knowing that all my friends were standing at this moment. But then, I got a strange feeling,
"What if we are the ones being thrown out?" I thought to myself, and suddenly, my blood went cold. After touching some other girls, Nevzad walked up to the front.
"If you are still bowed, it means you have no place in the palace" she announced. I felt a rush of relieve flow through my body.
"If you are standing, follow me" Nevzad ordered. I looked around as I filed up behind the other girls following the head kalfa out of the room, I couldn't help but notice that the other girls left behind were sobbing silently or looked totally defeated. My heart broke, but there was no time to mourn. I had advanced to the next phase, the game was now becoming interesting.