CHAPTER TWELVE
Usman continued his jokes, and Tuba and I laughed until our sides ached. One of Usman's traits that resonated perfectly with my nature was his sense of humor; it ensured that a gathering with him was never tedious, but rather a source of genuine inner joy.
Soon, Tahmina joined us, adding her own wit to the mix. I often marveled at how two people could possess such identical temperaments, as if they were sculpted from the same clay for one another.
"Father!" Tuba chimed in suddenly. "Auntie Yas got so angry with me and Mother because Uncle Karim was standing behind the door instead of you. Do you know what she said? She asked Mother, 'What is this girl supposed to learn from you? Shouldn't you ask who is standing behind that ownerless door first?' That's what she said, Father! I'm mad at Auntie!"
Usman immediately erupted into loud laughter, savoring every word. "She said that, did she, my daughter?"
Tuba pouted, looking disappointed. "She really did, Father..."
"But why? Tuba dear, there must be a reason. No one gets angry for nothing."
"I don't know, but Uncle Karim was staring at her very intensely. Maybe that's why... Auntie, is that why you were mad?"
Tahmina smiled quietly at the memory and lowered her head, while Usman tried to control his laughter, pretending to be occupied with Tuba.
"Yes, sweetheart, that is exactly why I was angry," I said firmly. "And you, Usman! Make your wife understand—she is never to mention that idiot's proposal to me or my mother again. My God, what part of him is even worth describing?"
"Well, Karim isn't a bad man," Usman countered. "And you are at the right age for marriage. Besides, their economic situation is far better than ours."
"Not you too... I didn't like those shameless eyes of his, and yet you tell me to marry him! Let them keep their wealth and power. I have much more vital criteria for marriage than those two things."
"Hahaha! Yas, couldn't you find a better excuse?"
"No, I couldn't. For now, you'll just have to accept that one."
All three of them, including Tuba, laughed, while I simply shook my head. Dinner was finished, and I no longer had the strength to keep my eyes open. Tuba and Tahmina stayed in the bedroom with me, while Usman took the living room. As was my habit, I began to analyze the events of the day, but my face darkened at the thought of that boy.
"I was wrongly calling poor Isar a 'rude brat,'" I whispered to myself. "What a waste!"
Before long, my eyelids grew heavy, sleep claimed me, and I became a wanderer in the colorful realm of dreams.
"Yas! Sister, wake up! We have guests."
Oh, how I hated my name when it was played in my ears at dawn like a torturous melody. Yas, get up. Yas, wake up. Yas... Yas... Yas!
"Auntie!"
I sat bolt upright with a flash of anger. "Tahmina! Did this guest of yours hear I was coming? Was there no other time to visit? Let me sleep! I have no peace from Ryan over there, and now I have no peace from your intrusive guests here!"
"Yas, hush! It's shameful; they'll hear you. I don't know why Mother was so lax in your upbringing!"
I made a face at her, signaling that her words didn't suit her at all—as if she were such a "lady" herself. With a grumpy, sleepy internal fire, I went to the washroom and splashed my face with refreshing water. Afterward, I tidied my short hair and headed to the living room.
With a heavy sigh, I entered the room and was stunned to find a literal herd of guests. Have they come for a proposal? God, give me patience.
I exchanged greetings and cheek-kisses with all of them—there were about eight or nine people. Tahmina brought tea, and I settled next to Tuba. An elderly woman with a wide, toothy smile said sweetly, "Masha'Allah, my daughter, you are as beautiful as the moon."
Excuse me? I am beautiful like the moon? Why would she say that?
I looked at Tahmina with wide eyes, but she simply raised her eyebrows, warning me to control myself and not act "wild."
I cleared my throat and said with a forced smile, "You are very kind, Auntie. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."
"I would sacrifice myself for such a fairy-faced and polite bride!"
Bride?
Following the old woman's words, all the guests laughed loudly as if they were at a circus. Is this Karim's mother? Oh no...
One by one, they began to describe me, but their praise wasn't pleasant in the least. On the contrary, I wanted to leave immediately. The guests stayed until noon, and I felt a heavy weight in my chest. I suspected they intended to stay for lunch.
I was right. They ate, and only after tea did they finally head home. I immediately turned my verbal assault on Tahmina, who was standing by the door after seeing them off.
"What do you mean, 'bride'? Was that the mother of the 'field mouse'?"
"Yas, calm down! I had no idea. Karim must have told them you were coming. Don't take it so hard!"
"That talentless idiot had no right! Just please, don't drag this out. And don't you dare mention this to Mother. I'm leaving now; it'll be too dark to travel later."
"Can't you stay?"
"No, Mother is alone. I don't have permission for more than one night."
"At least wait for Usman. You shouldn't go alone."
"Tahmina, it's not that far. I can go by myself. Don't worry yourself over nothing!"
"Fine, stubborn Yas. Go. Just be careful not to wake Tuba, or she'll start a riot."
"Understood. Where is my veil?"
Tahmina went to the bedroom and returned with my white veil. I took it and covered my face. "Give my regards to Usman!"
Tahmina hugged me tightly and kissed my face. "Give my love to Mother and Father."
"I will."
I left Tahmina with a smile and started down the path. After about forty minutes, I reached the palace. I knocked, and Masih opened the door.
"Look who it is. Welcome back, Miss Midget."
I rolled my eyes and said tiredly, "I have zero patience for you, Polar Bear. Move out of my way."
"Why? You just got back from a holiday."
"Unfortunately, an annoyance like you was present there as well."
I left a confused Masih behind and hurried to the kitchen. When I saw my mother, I rushed to embrace her. "How is my Queen? Don't ask how much I missed you!"
"Hahaha, calm down, girl. When did you arrive?"
"Just now."
"Were Tahmina, Usman, and Tuba well?"
I let go of her and sat on one of the chairs. "Yes, they sent their love. Mother, where is Father?"
"He and the Big Khan went to a cafe for coffee. They'll likely be back by tonight."
"Aha, fine... By the way, where is Ryan?"
"At the clinic. Yas, it's best if you don't grow under his feet for a few days. Since yesterday, he's been in a foul, hellish mood."
"Why?" I asked, genuinely bewildered.
"I really don't know. No one has dared to speak to him all day; he's snapping at everyone. I don't understand what's come over him."
"Really?"
"Yes. God help us, he's worse than the Big Khan when he's like this."
"Alright, Mother. I'll put my veil away and come back."
I headed to the basement with a thousand thoughts racing through my mind. After changing, I returned to the kitchen. Waiting is hard, isn't it? Time felt like it was crawling, and there was still no sign of Ryan. I wanted to know what had set him on fire.
Dinner came and went, but neither Ryan nor Isar appeared. Cup in hand, I waited for Ryan, restless to ask how he was. Sophia wasn't there today, and even though I'd been gone for half the day, exhaustion clung to me.
Then, I heard the sound of tires. Ryan was home.
With a wide smile, I walked toward the entrance and waited for him. As the black car stopped, my smile deepened. Seeing Ryan's silhouette, I clapped my hands mockingly. "My 'Grandma' is finally home! Oh, Isar should sacrifice himself for such a tall and graceful stature, Doctor Sahib!"
Ryan approached the palace with disheveled hair and his top shirt buttons undone. He looked like a man who had spent the night in grief and hadn't touched a pillow. Every step he took made my heart want to fly toward him, yet that familiar hesitation kept me in place.
Ryan walked toward the palace with a blank stare, not yet noticing me. I cleared my throat and spoke softly, letting the words drift like a melody.
"Greetings... Mon Cœur."
Upon hearing my voice, Ryan stopped exactly as I expected. I stood there, a toothy smile on my face, drowning in his gaze. I expected a "Welcome back," but instead, he bypassed me with long strides and headed for the second floor, as if I didn't exist.
Had my one-day absence left him this unsettled? What had happened? But that was no excuse to ignore me. He was my only companion, my only sanctuary in this palace. He couldn't just walk past me without a word.
With knitted brows, I hurried after him to the second floor. In a fit of pique, I threw open his door. My anger had blinded me and sharpened my tongue.
"Why didn't you answer my greeting? Why are you so disheveled? Did you poison yourself with drink, or did someone leave you? That's no reason to ignore me like an ox!"
The moment the sentence left my lips, the reality of the situation hit me. Ryan was standing there half-naked, holding his pajamas. My eyes nearly popped out of my head. Embarrassment flooded me, even though I'd only caught a glimpse. I spun around instantly.
"You rude man! Why didn't you lock the door? Don't you realize Yas might walk in?"
"Get out!"
"I won't! Put your clothes on; we haven't settled our score yet."
"It's best not to play with my nerves... Go back to wherever you were lost last night."
I heard the bed creak as he sat down, signaling he was dressed. I turned my head back tentatively, terrified I might encounter that scene again. I opened my eyes one by one, checking the situation.
Thank God, his shirt was on. But my guess was right: Ryan Khan was sitting on the bed in a blazing fury, staring at me with those almond eyes.
"Why are you so angry? What happened?"
He continued to glare at me. If I denied the fear rising within me, I would be committing the greatest lie of my life. I hesitated. Should I stay or go? I wish I had listened to my mother. Even as a child, when Ryan got angry, he would tear the room apart and scream. Back then, even the Big Khan couldn't control him.
I swallowed hard and said softly, a hint of fear coloring my voice, "Ryan, why are you looking at me like a serial killer? I'm actually scared!"
"Why should you give me a reason to get this angry? Oh, so you're scared?"
With a sudden leap, Ryan was off the bed and walking toward me. Oh God, I seek refuge in You... No, it's time to save my life, or this wild man will swallow me whole.
There were still a few steps between us. I intended to open the door and bolt, but as usual, I failed. Ryan slammed the door shut with a bang, preventing me from leaving. My fear multiplied, and a deep regret washed over me. I shouldn't have set foot in this room!
My gaze was locked in his rare eyes. His face was contorted with rage, making me shrink back.
"I want to go..."
"Where?" he asked, his voice dripping with mockery.
"To bed! Where else?!"
Ryan, now with both hands braced against the door, leaning over me, attacked me with his cold, mocking stare. Truly, this look was worse than a thousand punishments.
"Where were you last night?"
Why did my leaving matter so much? What did this doctor's anger have to do with my absence?
"I went to see Tuba..."
As he watched me, Ryan took his hand off the door and moved it toward my face. I reflexively closed my eyes, certain he was about to slap me. I waited for the sting, but it never came.
Instead, his finger gently caressed my cheek. I opened my eyes slowly and looked at him, puzzled. The rage of moments ago had vanished from his eyes, replaced by that captivating smile.
"From this moment on, you don't go anywhere without telling me. Understood?"
Having regained my courage, I thumped my fist against his broad chest and said with lingering heat, "No, it is not understood! You went wild over this? Well, I'm getting married the day after tomorrow..."
My arm was suddenly gripped, and silence was forced upon my lips. Ryan, his jaw tight from clenching his teeth, said indifferently, "Don't weave fantasies, Yas... let this be the last time you leave this palace. I won't forgive you again!"
Does he think I'm an old maid?
I pulled my arm from his grasp, grabbed his sleeve, and led him toward the bed. "If you ever get angry like this again, I won't be your friend anymore. I pity your patients... you ill-tempered doctor!"...
END OF CHAPTER TWELVE