Anan
The cool air of Mana kisses my face, it smells like rain, it smells like home. It has been a minute, after almost a decade I had eventually returned home from the US. The sun hadn't even set and I had already missed Atlanta, my home.
My eyes are fixated at the palace, the palace where the women and men of my family had been serving since the establishment of this country. Mum likes to say all Farsi shall serve the palace but I desperately prayed that the bloodline ended with me.
I couldn't comprehend how our family were okay with being servants for the whole of time. Yes, the employment had changed, from being treated as utter slaves to having the ideal salary, whatever it had become, it would never change the fact that the black people in our country would always serve.
"Ana". A high pitch voice interrupts my thoughts and I look to see it's Razan, my cousin and closest friend, the only member of my family I tolerated. I don't get a chance to reply to her because she engulfs me in a comfy hug. Her hair smelling, the familiar scent of incense.
"I missed you so much" I muffle, tears cloud in my eyes and I hate how easily emotional I was, as much as I hated this palace, some people made it tolerable.
"You've changed so much" her eyes scan over my body and I hug myself insecure because of the attention.
"In a good way?" I arch my eyebrows.
"Perfect." she jumps before hugging me all over again. Her energy was contagious even for such a party popper like me.
Razan drags me to the Kitchen wing before I could even protest. Shivers run through my spine when all the eyes in the room turn to me, I didn't possess a stable relationship with any of my family.
Especially Mom.
Ever since Baba deserted us, our relationship ended. We were both broken by it and in some sort of way blamed each other for what happened. I wanted our relationship to be better but at this point, I knew I had lost both my parents.
"Welcome back Ayesha" My aunts come rushing towards me, some of them compliment my appearance, some can't wait for me to teach them all the great meals I had learned. I was there for culinary school becoming an expert in digger cuisines, all that was sponsored by my mothers' close friend, The Queen.
The woman I was named after, the greatest of Mana. Queen Amira was the one person that treated us Farsi's as equal, the closest to being equal. Married to the King at the age of 17, to become his third wife, she had taken solace in the presence of the maids around, they were what clung her to sanity. She's the Queen of Mana as she is the leading wife, boring her husband nine sons, including the present Crown Prince Abdullah, and my best friend Latifa.
"Have you unpacked?" It's the first thing Mum says to me. I gulp, she couldn't even ask me how I was. I stifle a nod, after getting familiar with my room, I had gone to the garden to get some fresh air, that was where Razan found me.
"Show us what you learned in the states then" Mum gestures at the kitchen. Deciding to be the bigger person I go over and hug her. "Nice to see you at Mama"
Mustering up her only maternal bone, she puts her around wrapping my small frame. After she pulls away she smiles before handing me the pale apron, I fought the urge to roll my eyes.
The way it was before I left four years ago, that was how it was now. The typical royal kitchen, after cooking the chefs would always leave the meal in the vessel, the maids assigned to a specific royal would take it from there. That was were our work stopped. There were about 250 maids at the palace including Chefs and launderers.
Reading my mind, Mom says "Yes, you just came back but don't forget what you are here for Ayesha" I take a deep breath and she continues "The princesses, Latifa and Munira are so excited to see you again" Munira was Latifa's step sister and together we were the golden trio. I was glad Latifa and Munira didn't change because the kind of friendship we had, you couldn't just throw it away.
"Alright ladies it's 9:00, take these to the royal's respective suites. Don't forget to greet them if their awake and please don't pour anything. We don't have any left, have a good morning" Mumma instructed. She was a petite and short woman who looked very cute in her Chef coat which was over her burqa since she wore the veil.
"Allah!. Where is Noura" Mom yelled. She taps her foot impatiently, glad to see some stuff hasn't changed.
"She's sick"Razan pipes.
"I totally forgot about that, Damnmit" Mom yells, she starts to pace around the kitchen as if the world is ending. I chuckle opening the tap to wash my hands, breakfast was over but preparations had to be made for lunch.
I was about to put on my AirPods when Mom grabs me by the shoulder, I gasp.
"Mama"
"Take this up Ayesha, The Magisterial Suite" she begs.
"I'm not sure I remember where it is" I look for any excuse to stay in the kitchen, no matter how bad it was, it was better than the Royal wing, everything there was the epitome of perfection and my presence was the opposite. I was clumsy and confused all the time.
I open my mouth to protest again but Mama sends me a glare that causes me shut up. Razan does me a favor by explaining to me where The Magisterial suite resides right before doing the mandatory double-check.
I sigh leaving the kitchen.
Razan s direction worked because it didn't take me long before I finally reached the door of the Magisterial suite.
I ring the bell and wait. I think I stand there for over five minutes holding a goddamn hot tray before..
"Come in" his voice was gruff and deep through the intercom speaker. I opened the door quietly making sure I don't make any sound. Although, I slightly failed.
The first thing that welcomes me is his scent. It hits my nostrils, rich and musky.
Whoever this was, he smelt divine. I kept my eyes glued to the floor as much as I desperately wanted to look up.
"Good morning". My voice comes out as quiet as mouse. I'm so nervous, and I can't point out why.
He takes some time before he finally replies. "Good morning" His voice made my insides melt.
He's looking at me, his eyes boreholes in my body and I had to refrain myself to not lookup. I begged myself not to make eye contact with him but of course, my curiosity got the best of me and I had to look up.
The first thing I noticed was his breathtaking eyes. I mean, They took my breath away. I seriously gasped at how intense they were. It was the strangest colour of brown and had specks of light green. His iris had a golden band around it making it more dramatic and intense.
That was the only word I could use to describe them. They were there, just staring at me with such concentration my knees weakened at the their mere sight.
His hair, the darkest shade of black, was probably the silkiest hair I had ever seen. His lips plump and his jaw carved perfectly, this man was it.
Beautiful. Crafted to Perfection.
I need some fresh air.
A wolffish grin grew on his lips, almost like if the devil himself had been standing in front of me and all I could do was gape open my mouth and stare at him like an idiot.
Maybe I had imagined the smile, I probably had because in less than a second he was suddenly very sombre and kind of annoyed that I hadn't kept the food. But did he tell me to?
"I said to place it at the coffee table" his voice is impatient and I realize I've messed up.
I immediately walk towards the coffee table, placing the food carefully begging every single thing in me to not embarrass myself in front of this handsome man.
I turn around and now his whole body was faced towards me. I'm certain it's my hormones messing up because I didn't notice cushion on the floor, obviously gaping at the man standing in front of me.
Because before I can comprehend, I fall flat on the floor, I slam my eyes shut in embarrassment.
Oh God.
As I said, I'm clumsy.