CHAPTER NINE
Oh God, bringing Tuba was a mistake! To prevent a total disaster, I jumped in quickly to distract her.
"Tuba! Quick, go downstairs. Your father is here—don't you want to see him?"
Ryan seemed to catch on to my panic and laughed softly. "Tuba dear, finish what you were saying. What did Auntie do?"
Without even a glance at me, Tuba carelessly demolished my years of dignity with total nonchalance. "Auntie is trying to take you away from me! She doesn't love Masih anymore; she loves you. And why can't I call you Ryan? This morning she fought with me and said I must call you 'Khan' and not 'Ryan.' I'm mad at her!"
My mouth hung open at the sheer absurdity of her words. Ryan's face was lit up with a broad, knowing grin as he tried to keep his composure.
"Oh, so your aunt fought with you? Well, you can call me Ryan, but only when it's just the two of us. Deal?"
Tuba laughed delightedly. "DEAL!"
I shook my head and focused on cleaning the room while Tuba prattled on with Ryan. Finally, by some miracle, she got bored and left the room. I was distracted by the bookshelves when Ryan's soft chuckle brought me back.
"Aha... so Tuba's aunt loves me? Hmm, how interesting!"
"Ryan, shut your mouth! I'm not in the mood for this. Instead of talking nonsense, come and help me clean this black-and-white room!"
"As you wish, my Yas! Where do I start?"
Inside, I was laughing. It was unbelievable to see Ryan Khan Ehtesham, in all his grandeur, taking orders from me. It felt heavenly.
"I can't reach the top. Take this cloth and dust up there."
"Fine, but I'm not an expert, so don't yell at me later."
I handed him the cloth and started organizing his wardrobe. God, this man has so many clothes. If he were a girl, what would he do?
"Is that all, Yas?"
"No, look, that desk needs dusting too. Just watch your sleeves..."
"Yes, Ma'am."
I went back to work with an involuntary smile. Ryan kept asking questions, and I guided him patiently. With his help, the room—or rather, the suite—was spotless within an hour. Exhausted, I began to grumble.
"Was it really necessary to build such a massive room? My back is breaking..."
"Hahaha! Oh, my Yas is tired. Forgive me, dear. From now on, I'll dust my own room. Happy?"
"Ryan, stop with the 'My Yas' stuff! Talk your age, for heaven's sake. And you're supposed to be our doctor!"
"No, I like the word. And aren't you ashamed to call me 'Grandma'? Am I a woman?"
I narrowed my eyes and threw the dusting cloth at him. "But I like calling you that! Why should I be ashamed? I'll call you whatever I want. You got a problem with that?"
Ryan caught the cloth mid-air, his laughter echoing. "Whatever comes from Mon Coeur (My Heart) is sweet..."
I rolled my eyes. "You're a Mon Coeur yourself! What does that even mean? Don't flaunt your French at me. If it's something bad, it goes right back to you!"
"I am Mon Coeur?"
"Yes! You! What, you don't like it? That'll teach you not to use those ridiculous titles on me!"
"No... no, actually, it's quite pleasant. And when did I ever call you a 'vile' name for this to be the second time? In fact, the word means 'friend.' You can call me that—but only when others aren't around!"
"Why not around others? I'm not saying anything bad. You are my friend, right? It's a good thing you told me; I thought it was a swear word and was about to gift it to Isar! Hahaha!"
"Oh, Yas... don't you dare use that word for anyone else, even by accident. Understood?"
"Not really. But fine. Why is it a secret?"
"Because some words are better kept as secrets between just us."
"Fine then, Mon Coeur! Now let me go."
The smile that danced on Ryan's lips was new—brighter than his laugh, more captivating than his usual grin. What magic was hidden in that word?
"Where to?"
"To the two remaining rooms. If the Doctor permits, I'd like to finish my 'sacred duty.'"
"Wait, we'll clean them together!"
"NO!" I shouted in shock.
"Why not? I'm not letting you clean those rooms alone. Where is Sophia anyway? I should hire new staff."
"Not necessary! Sophia is cooking. We don't need more people. Your monster of a room was the only hard part!"
I should mention that extra staff only came during banquets; the Khan didn't like having strangers living in the palace overnight. Besides Sophia and Masih, there were only two guards.
"Yas, don't be angry. I'll tell Isar to help you."
Before I could protest, Ryan strode toward Isar's room. Oh God, no! Isar would shoot my shadow, and Ryan thinks he'll help? I followed with leaden feet and stood by the door, head down.
"Yes, Lala," Isar muttered. Ryan stepped out, winking at me as he passed. I swallowed hard and entered Isar's blue-themed room.
"Hello," I said.
"Greetings," Isar replied, cold and dry. I ignored his attitude and started working.
"What do I need to do?" he asked. Wait, he's actually going to help? He must be terrified of Ryan's orders.
"Nothing, thanks. I can do it."
"Where do I start?" he repeated, ignoring my polite refusal.
"Fine. The top of the wardrobe."
With the "rude" Isar's help, the room was soon sparkling like glass. I looked around with a smile, but then saw Isar's scowl. "What? Why are you looking at me like that? I didn't ask for help; your brother did. It's not my fault!"
Isar just shook his head and said nothing. I grabbed my bucket and left. One more to go: Israr's room.
I walked in to find Ryan—"Grandma"—had already started. Israr wasn't there.
"Welcome, my Yas!"
"Be happy, 'Grandma'..."
"Grandma's sacrifice for you!"
"Ugh, Ryan! You know these nonsense words don't suit you, but you won't stop."
"Why don't they suit me? I—"
"Just finish it!"
"Insolent Yas!"
I bared my teeth playfully. "Insolence tastes better with you, Ryan Khan!"
"If people saw you talking to me like this, there wouldn't be much left of 'Ryan Khan.'"
"Who cares? To hell with 'others'!"
Ryan laughed and kept working. He did almost everything while I just gave orders. With his hair messy from the work, he looked so beautiful—like he didn't even belong in this dark palace. He was the only color I liked here.
"Finished, Yas!"
Seeing the clean room, I impulsively rushed at Ryan and hugged him tight. "Oh, I love you, Mon Coeur! If it weren't for you, I'd be working until midnight."
Ryan froze. He stood like a statue, paralyzed by shock. I didn't realize the gravity of the situation. I never felt there were boundaries between us—perhaps because he always looked at me like the "Little Yas" he used to mother.
I pulled away with a grin. "I'm going. You should rest; you have a long night ahead!"
Ryan was still in a daze. As I turned to leave, he caught my hand. "Where?"
"I said I have to go! Didn't you hear me?"
"No. First, pick out an outfit for me, then you can go." He pulled me back to his room. "Tell me, what should I wear tonight?"
I looked through the mountain of clothes. "Black and white? Or olive green and black? I don't know, you tell me."
I scanned the options again. "Hmm... olive green and black. You'll look different and more handsome than everyone else."
"As you wish! And what are you wearing?"
"Me? The party is for you. I'll just watch from a quiet corner, 'Grandma'."
"It's better that way. Better you stay away from that crowd."
"Haha, yes, let me be the 'Heavenly Houri' whose absence is better than her presence..."
"Don't doubt it—to me, you are more than a houri, my dear."
I laughed softly and headed for the door. "Because friends always look beautiful to each other, even if they're plain like me."
I went to the kitchen. The extra servers had arrived for the banquet. What a night this will be.
"Yas! The Khan is calling for you!" Sophia whispered.
"Me?"
"Yes, but go to his room through the third-floor entrance!"
"What does he want? All the guests are arriving. If the Big Khan sees me..."
"The Khan is downstairs with the guests. Don't make excuses."
I hurried to the third floor, feeling a strange mix of nerves and annoyance. I reached Ryan's door, still feeling a bit irritable. I pushed the door open—and stopped dead.
Oh, no. Was this a man or a spirit? I was breathless. His beauty was too much for one human. His hair was artfully messy, and he wore the dark olive tunic I had chosen. Truly, the Creator of this painting deserved praise.
I squeezed my eyes shut to snap out of it. "Ryan... is it your wedding?"
He looked at me, confused. "No, why?"
"Then why did you put so much effort into looking like this? You look... terrible!" (I lied).
"Hahaha! I didn't do anything. Just a bath. And you chose the clothes, 'Grandma'!"
I walked toward him. "Anyway, did you need me?"
"Why is my Yas upset? Who fought with my dear?"
I sat on the bed. "I'm just not in the mood. Do you know the girls who are downstairs? All of them with their flowing hair and layers of makeup. And Sophia tells me: 'If you took off that headscarf, you could join the party too!'"
Ryan sat beside me and touched the edge of my scarf. "That's what makes you different. All of them are for everyone. You are only for me. That's it."
I couldn't process his words. He spoke as if he were a lover and I the beloved. Was this too much for a friendship? Was I just stupid, or were his words intentionally mysterious?
"Well, 'Grandma,' don't you want to go down and dazzle those girls with your face? Were you dazzled?"
"No... because I'm not a flirt. I'm Yas."
He watched me with a magical smile. He was so captivating I couldn't look away.
"Lady Yas, if you're done staring at me, would you grant me the honor of a dance?"
Yas, you idiot! He realized I was eating him up with my eyes. "Who... who's looking at you? You're dreaming. And no, I won't dance. You're not worthy of me!"
"Is that so? Get up and don't get on my nerves!" He pulled me up.
"Hey! You're pulling my arm off! I don't want to dance. Is this forced? You should be downstairs!"
"Yes, it's forced, you stubborn girl!"
Classical music drifted up from the ballroom, clear and haunting.
"Ryan, this is bad. I'm your age? Go dance with someone like yourself!"
"Yas, where is your milk bottle, little child? Don't bring up our age difference; you're ruining my mood."
I always lost to Ryan. He placed one of my hands on his shoulder and locked my other hand in his. "There. Good girl."
"Shut up. I don't know how to do this ridiculous thing."
He laughed and began to move. "I'll teach you. Just be a good girl."
He spun me around as if I were a doll. I must have spun five times before the dance ended with him dipping me low, his hand supporting my back. I felt like a branch that was a second away from snapping. I looked up into his hazel eyes—eyes that were laughing.
I cleared my throat. "Finished? Pull me up, my back is about to break!"
"I enjoyed that. You'll be better next time, then we'll dance all night."
I tapped his chest with my free hand. "Next time, dance with your wife, you shameless boy!"
I was still dipped back in his arms when the door was suddenly pounded and then swung open. It happened so fast we couldn't break the pose. I don't know if Ryan couldn't—or if he didn't want to.
Who walked into the room?...
END OF CHAPTER NINE