"It had been a while since we got together like this. Thank you for arranging this, Haleema Begum," said Princess Unaiza, taking another bite of her food.
"My pleasure. It is good to get together like so," Haleema Begum replied gleefully.
Zarnab took another bite of her food, glancing around the table. She sat beside her mother, Samina Begum, the King's third wife. At the other end sat the Queen Mother, and beside her sat Princess Unaiza, her daughter and the King's only living sister.
Haleema Begum, the King's second wife, had apparently held this banquet to get in the good graces of the Queen Mother in hopes that she might do something in favour of her own sons. Zarnab snickered within herself at the futile attempt. In her desperation to please the King, she had even invited two of his mistresses!
"Indeed it is. This is also a good chance to celebrate our victory in the battle up North," replied Princess Unaiza gleefully. Princess Haleema's face fell.
"Congratulations, Princess Zarnab. General Imaad did it once again," said Fardeen, one of Haleema Begum's daughters in laws. Zarnab gave a nervous smile, tipping her head gently. Samina Begum looked at her from the corner of her eye. Seeing her usually confident daughter suddenly nervous was new to her. Haleema Begum shot Fardeen a look and she instantly went back to eating.
"It wasn't just Imaad," the Queen Mother interrupted. Zarnab turned to face her. Of course she couldn't bear hearing the grandson of her husband's mistress being praised.
"Exactly, all our soldiers worked very hard," said Beren, one of the Queen's mistresses.
"Do you intend to say that soldiers under other battalions do not work hard?" Samina Begum interrupted, raising a brow. "Let us give credit where it is due. Without doubt, the credit of this victory goes to General Imaad Uddin. And it will do everyone well to admit that."
Zarnab inhaled sharply, glaring at the Queen Mother from the corner of her eyes. For years, her grandmother had poisoned her mind against her husband, but it had been some time back that she had begun realising that she did not have her best interest at heart.
"Speaking of Princess Zarnab, I have heard you are donating to lawyers helping women going through divorce," said Maheen, another one of Haleema Begum's daughters in law.
"Is that so?" Princess Unaiza inquired curiously.
"Yes, I am," replied Zarnab proudly, the corner of her mouth rising into a smile.
"That's a wonderful cause, your highness. May I know what inspired it?" Said Fardeen.
"Do women not suffer enough?" Said Zarnab. "If a few pennies can help them get through the legal fees, then I would appreciate it."
"Divorce is a curse, Milady," interrupted Beren haughtily. Ah yes, the King's whore talking about religion. "And you are helping women achieve it?"
Zarnab swallowed down another bite of her food. "I have nothing to do with such ignorant thoughts. No woman should have to live with a man who wilfully does not fulfil her rights or unfaithful to her."
Beren raised her brows cunningly. "Perseverance is a woman's jewel. If you put up with it for a while..."
"Dare not utter such gibberish in front of me," Zarnab interrupted firmly, zipping Beren up quickly. "I shall help those women with everything I have. And that is the end of it. I will not discuss my charities with others." Beren swallowed, looking down at her food humiliate.
"You seem to have a lot to say, Princess," Farah interrupted with a snicker. Zarnab frowned. Farah, another one of the King's whore. She had bore him two sons. Too bad neither was going to become King. "And you sure seem to want to do a lot. I sure hope your... predicament doesn't come in the way."
Silence fell around the table. Farah sighed dramatically. "May the Lord not even put an enemy through a calamity like this. Almost ten years under the belt and..." She trailed off intentionally.
By this point, Zarnab's eyes were bulging out of her head. Fardeen and Maheen had suddenly developed a deep interest in their food while Samina Begum and Princess Unaiza stared at Farah, bewildered by her audacity. Halima Begum's mouth twisted as she attempted to hide her smile, and the Queen Mother hid hers by placing a cup to her lips.
"Anyways, may the Lord keep Prince Imaad Uddin's heart drawn to the princess, may the Lord keep him loyal, even if he has no reason to..."
Farah shrieked as the sharbat drenched her. "How dare you speak to me like this, you insolent harlot!" Zarnab roared. everyone stood up immediately.
"Zarnab!" Samina Begum shrieked, getting up from her seat.
Zarnab didn't listen, instead going around the table towards the table. "I am not the one going around fucking every man in the kingdom! Worry about catching disease from one of them instead of my man!"
Fardeen and Maheen held her just as she was about to grab Farah. "Princess please!" Shrieked Maheen.
"Enough!" Roared Princess Unaiza. "Farah, go back to your home immediately. Samina, take your daughter."
Samina curtsied, grabbing hold of her daughter as Maheen and Fardeen let go.
"Is no one going to say anything to this harlot!" Zarnab screamed as her mother dragged her away while the Queen Mother glared at her in anger. "Is she just going to go home like nothing happened!" Her voice trailed off as they exited the hall.
...
"Why call us? Why not call that whore?" Zarnab hissed to her mother as they stood before the King's chambers awaiting his permission.
Samina Begum exhaled slowly, as if she knew something Zarnab didn't. Just then, the doors opened and a guard approached from within. "Please enter," he said, lowering his head.
The mother and daughter walked into the royal chambers. In front of them stood the King with his back towards them, clad in golden robes that hung around his body and a white turban laced with far too man jewels. He turned around to face them. He was a slim man with deep peircing eyes and a long beard with strands of grey in it.
Before the two could curtsy, he barked, "What is the meaning of this? Attacking Habiba like a wild cat!"
Zarnab looked up bewildered as if not expecting him to attack her. "Your highness, have you not heard what she said to me? She..."
"And what exactly did she say that has offended you so?" He interrupted. Zarnab's eyes widened as Samina Begum sighed. "Is it not true your womb is still empty after ten years?"
"Baba..."
"I married you to Imaad one month after you first started bleeding! Now one year shy from turning twenty five and still we have heard no news from you!" He spat before breaking into a fit of coughing.
Zarnab stared at him in shock. Yes, her father was a scumbag, but the least she expected was for him to acknowledge that she had been wronged.
He slid out a handkerchief from his robes, placing it on his mouth before glaring at Samina Begum. "What have you taught this daughter of yours? One child to raise and you couldn't even do that properly?" He snarled at her. She didn't reply, simply raising her brows and looking to the side.
He cleared his throat before looking at Zarnab, who by now was barely containing her tears. "Kneel down and prostrate before the Lord that your husband hasn't sought another wife or a mistress to continue his bloodline. If he wanted to marry again, not even I as King could defend you!"
With that, he broke into another fit of coughing. Samina Begum took the moment to grab Zarnab, curtsy and exit his chambers leaving him to his coughing.