NOTE: Hope you all are doing super well and smiling!! So, I wanted some serious advice Something about this story is worrying me. I feel like some readers (rightfully so) are complaining about Maya acting super weak at the beginning of the story, and though, later I have explained why she is the way she is...I feel like I should put a disclaimer at the beginning of the story.
Do you think I should do that?
Anyway, back to the story...
Have an awesome day!
________
-Not all princesses chose the right knight-
Having lunch with Asmara's family turned out to be a huge task.
The family spread a beautiful rug on the floor where we all had to sit and eat. I found that arrangement so exciting and was about to loosen up when Asmara's second mom joined us for lunch. That woman hardly looked older than me and had a constant haughty expression on her face. She was wearing too much gold and didn't even bother smiling.
It was so uncomfortable.
As Hena served us delicious food, the second wife, whose name I still didn't know, simply pulled a chair next to us and sat with her hands folded. She didn't even bother with basic etiquette as Hena practically placed the food plate in her hands. She seemed slightly spoiled and proud. Mrs Emir was treating this woman the same way she was treating Asmara and me, and at this point, her constantly trying to please this woman seemed pitiful.
I almost choked on a piece of butter bread when Mrs Emir brought a glass of sweet milk for the spoiled queen, and she simply waved it away with a single gesture of her right hand. All this made me feel so sad for Mrs Emir...and frankly ashamed at my own self. Was this how I had been acting around my husband? The effort Hena was putting seemed so heartbreaking, but strangely Asmara seemed unbothered with it. She was chewing on chicken legs while I sat feeling awkward and weird.
Having a spoonful of spinach and tomatoes, I literally had enough when Hena offered to make something else for the second wife, since that she really wasn't eating anything, but that spoiled girl only rolled her eyes in annoyance. Was this the kind of atmosphere Asmara had to deal with every day? The constant humiliation of her mother...the reminder of her father's betrayal...it must be excruciating.
Rosy had told me that Asmara's father saw this woman working on the farm and immediately decided to marry her. The second mom actually used to be Asmara's friend until she caught the chief's eyes. It was depressing how this girl didn't mind getting married an old man. Most of the village girls, here, were actually obsessed with finding a rich husband. It was just how they were brought up. Getting married was their topmost priority.
Anyhow, after having lunch, Asmara took me to her room. It was upstairs and seemed of cooked tea leaves. We were sitting on her bed when she decided that I had to her see family stables.
"Zaheer personally grooms the horses there. They are his most prized possession," she boasted, making me awkwardly shift. Again with the mentioning of her brother...
"That's nice," I simply smiled, fidgeting with my fingers, but she wasn't going to take my composed gestured as an answer.
Grabbing me by my hand, she began dragging me to the huge outfields behind their house. There were workers and family staff roaming around us, but they didn't really bother us as we headed towards the fieldside.
The wind had subtly started to blowing as we trampled past the dried-up crops and headed towards the huge red stables. The neighing of horses had already begun reaching our ears.
Upon reaching the stables, I realized it was lunch-time for the horses as most of them were busy chewing on huge heaps of hay and apples. Asmara began leading me to her favourite horse.
"There," she pointed at a black stallion, standing in a compartment that was a bit bigger than the rest of the sections. "We call him king, and he doesn't allow anyone to ride on him expect Zaheer," she spoke with slight adoration, now moving to stand in front of the horse.
I chose to keep my distance.
This horse...it seemed so beastly, strong and dangerous. Any stranger coming close to it would definitely receive a kick. However, as Asmara continued petting the horse and feeding it hay, she mutely gestured me to come close.
"A-are you sure?" I spoke with terrified cautiousness.
"Just feed him some hay," she advised, making me take a deep breath and hesitantly nod.
Okay, so it was just a horse. I could do it.
Carefully moving near the horse, I nearly yelped as he breathed out loud and turned towards me...his eyes cautiously eyeing me; brown and angry.
"A-Asmara," I worried again, but she just shushed me and gestured me to come closer.
She handed me some hay, and I carefully began moving it towards the horse's mouth. However, instead of turning aggressive, King easily ate the hay from my hands. I was so astounded.
Nearing my hand towards the horse's head, I eyed Asmara for permission, which she gave, and turned my attention back towards the might horse. Carefully patting his head, I let out a little gasp as it affectionately began rubbing his head against my hand.
"Wow," Asmara grinned, sounding quite surprised. "King never really opened up to strangers that quickly."
"Really?" I laughed, loving how the horse was still rubbing its head against my hand.
"Yeah, why don't you try taking it for a ride?"
"Are you sure?" I confirmed, making her nod.
"Yeah, just try to put a saddle on him. If he moves away from you, then that means he doesn't want you to take a ride on him. But if he doesn't, then you would be the first person after Zaheer he has grown fond of," she beamed. I chuckled a bit.
Soon, after having Asmara arrange a saddle and a small set of stairs for me, I tried to put it on the saddle on King's back and laughed with excited-surprise as he allowed me to put the saddle on his back.
"Wow," I gushed. "Can I take him for a ride?" I looked at Asmara, who also seemed equally surprised and amazed.
"Sure," she nodded, moving away from me.
Laughing, I then got on the horse and felt giddy as it carefully began heading out of the stable. When I was in my teens, my parents used to take me to this local zoo which taught children how to ride on horses. Though that skill of mine was a bit rusty now, I felt like I could fully trust this beastly creature.
Having King now manoeuvre us out of the stable, I couldn't help but quickly grab on the reins and excitedly race out towards the open fields. There were workers curiously turning in my direction, but I didn't mind as I had King race us past the tomato and cornfields. This happiness...the wind blowing in my face...the thrill of just freely speeding away from everyone...it had me feeling like I was on the top of the world. It was after a long time I was truly feeling this way...my heart...it felt so uplifted by powerful emotions of being free.
Was that what my marriage had done to me? Had I truly been so trapped? Momentarily, the ache of remembering Demir's smile hit me, and I felt my emotions palpate slightly. I wasn't really trapped. He had been a beautiful delusion that I didn't have the strength to rebuke.
Feeling hit by a stern and low wave, I then slowed down the horse a bit. The moment was gone. My happiness...it was always going to be tainted from now onwards, but I was working on rebuilding my strength. Farm work, making good friends, reuniting with my roots...they had worked wonders, yet there was still a lot of work to be down on my mental strength.
Now allowing a sad smile on my face, I turned King around and decided to go back. My momentary urge to yearn for freedom had died down. It was time that I headed back.
However, just as I neared the stable, I heard someone yelling out loud.
"What do you mean Ma'am had taken King for a ride? King trusts no one but me. In fact, I gave strict orders that no one is supposed to go to King during his lunchtime, so where is he?" Shoot! It was Zaheer shouting at a few workers gathering around him. I felt so embarrassed and slightly terrified. Would he yell at me, too? Where was Asmara?
Not knowing what to do, I was about to turn King around when someone called out loud.
"Look, Sir, there it is..." It was one of the workers. I turned completely pale.
Keeping my gaze lowered and feeling my heartbeat loudly pound in my ears, I awkwardly began moving King towards Zaheer. The crowd around him started to disperse. Zaheer was eerie quiet as I led King back to its compartment and awkwardly got off. I was feeling so embarrassed and humiliated. I should take Zaheer's permission before taking his horse for a ride, but at that time, I was just too overwhelmed with emotions and Asmara had said that it was okay.
It had been such a humiliating mistake.
Rubbing my arms, as I now stepped away from the King, I felt a strange sense of pity filling my heart again. Yet, another man had me feeling so weak and fearful. Would I never gain emotional strength? Had my soul really been that damaged?
However, as I was about to skilfully sneak out of the stable from the back door of the stable, I heard Zaheer call out to me.
"Wait!" He sounded a bit...embarrassed?
"Ummm...I-I d-didn't know it was y-you who took K-King out for a ride," he literally stuttered, as I turned towards him, keeping my gaze lowered. I had never really heard a man nervously stutter before. I was used to a confident, arrogant and powerful man. This change had me suppressing an amused smile.
"Ummm...s-so I am s-sorry if you got o-offended," he kept on stuttering. Instinctually peering at him from under my lashes, I was surprised to see that he also had his head nervously lowered towards the ground. Here, many village men were like that; gentlemen who really respected the village girls.
Sweet.
Fidgeting with my fingers, I simply nodded in understanding and turned around to quickly rush out of the stable. However, just as I had reached the stable's exit, I heard Zaheer call out to me again.
"A-also, you can take King for a r-ride whenever you want. I-I wouldn't mind," he nervously spoke.
I smiled to myself.
___
Walking back home from my sewing class, I was laughing as Asmara and Rosy playfully bickered beside me. We had been given a group assignment, and my crazy friends just couldn't decide what they wanted to sew. I had recommended sewing a floral design on a white scarf, but apparently, I had no clues about fashion sense. The group with the best assignment would be given a special prize by our teacher, so Rosy and Asmara were taking this pretty seriously.
"How about we sew some colourful beads in clusters on the edges of a black scarf?" Asmara suggested. Both Rosy and I shook her head.
"Too bland," we both spoke together and then looked at each other, cracking up.
"Umm...then what about-"
"Guys," I interrupted, pushing my handbag up my right shoulder. "Aunt Shazia wants me to reach home quickly today. She has a surprise for me. You mind if I quickly rush towards my home?" I excused myself.
Both of them nodded.
"Sure." They waved me off.
Quickly rushing back home, I decided to take a quick shortcut through the crop fields. I was excited about the surprise back home and had a hunch that it probably included on my parents paying me a visit. They didn't really call me with the fear that their call might get traced, so I really wanted them to pay me a visit.
Skipping past the huge corn plants, I noticed some young girls around my age working on the field. I didn't pay them any notice as I walked past them. These girls were probably from some nearby village because I had never seen them before, and I was pretty much acquainted with all the ladies that worked on the fields. I still struggled with making introductions.
"She is the city girl...nah?" one of them sneakily began talking about me.
I slightly stiffened.
"I don't know what the whole fuss about her is... anyway." Another one spoke. I halted. This trash talk about me...I don't know why, but it triggered something. I was just too tired of people badmouthing me and feeling weak. This one had just hit home.
"Excuse me," I turned towards them, frowning. "Are you talking about me?" I raised an eyebrow.
There were three of them, and they all shared a haughty look with one another.
"Yeah so?" One of them mocking stepped towards me. These girls...they were from some unknown village side. I didn't know what background they were from so suddenly felt uncomfortable with this scenario. I hadn't know ideas about what boundaries these girls could really cross. It had my heart shooting.
Awkwardly turning around, knowing these girls weren't giving good vibes at all, I began hastily speedwalking away from them only to feel someone suddenly pull on my shirt from behind.
"City girl...nah..." I heard a mocking chuckle in my ear as the three girls ganged up around. Two of them grabbed me by my arms, pressing their sharp nails into shirt while the third one slapped me. I was too frozen and scared to do anything.
The terror...the humiliation...I couldn't believe what was happening to me.
"Let go!" I fearfully protested, trying to keep my tears at bay, but that just earned me another slap, bringing back so many memories and so much pain.
"No, city girl...let's see if people still make a fuss about you once we are done, " my abuser taunted.
However, just as she harshly grabbed hold of my hair, I heard someone harshly call out.
"What is going on here?" It was Zaheer.
The girls quickly backed away from me, looking terrified. I couldn't help but slightly sob out loud. This again...the terror...the humiliation...the slaps...I was feeling so miserable.
"I said what is going on here?!" Zaheer's voice now sounded stern, making the girls gulp.
"We were just talking with the city girl." One of them started grooming my head...fakely patting my head. I instantly moved away from them.
"Is that true?" Zaheer asked me softly. I simply kept my head lowered, sniffing pathetically. This broke me...mentally...I felt like all the progress I had made had gone to waste.
I was back to square one now.
"She is crying! Get out of here! You three will be reported to the chief of your village," he then fumed, making the girls immediately start to beg for forgiveness, but Zaheer wasn't having any of it.
As the girls rushed away, he called out to me again.
"Listen, I will w-walk you back home," he offered, clearing his throat. I didn't have the strength to say anything.
I stayed completely quiet as he walked me back. He tried to ask me if I was going to be okay, but what was I supposed to tell him. Despite my efforts, I was still that weak and miserable person who allowed others to trample over her. I was still that same pitiful girl who allowed others to abuse her. At this moment, I had absolutely nothing to say.
Upon reaching home, I stepped inside the house only to find Aunty Shazia folding a cream cheesecake for me. That was the surprise, and I don't know but that bit just made me burst into tears.
"Oh, dear...I thought you liked cheesecakes," she tried joking, as I hugged her with all might.
I backed away, chuckling slightly at her remark, and pitifully wiped my face. "I-I am sorry, Aunt Shazia," I hiccuped, a-apologizing. "It's just that I am such a mess, na..." I confessed, feeling huge tears roll out of my eyes. She warmly patted my head as she tenderly wiped away my tears. Thankfully, the twins weren't around.
"What happened?" She spoke, raising an eyebrow.
Her concern made another fit of tears hit me and I pitiful leaned my head against her shoulder. "I-It's just that some other v-village's girls made me realize that I-I am so emotionally weak...and I can't keep staying that way, y-you know," I stuttered. "I mean what if D-Demir was right to t-treat me this way." I slightly moved away to meet her gaze. "I n-never fought back...n-never really defended myself when he was being horrible, so maybe I d-deserve t-this. I am j-just so weak..." I began crying again, making her hug me tight.
"No, no, my dear," she cooed, smoothing my hair. "No one has the right to make you feel low about yourself. I have seen the progress that you have made here, and that makes me feel so proud of you. About your emotional weakness, I know what you have been through...what you witnessed when you were little...those scars tend to take a lot of time to heal, but that doesn't mean we give up on ourselves. We just fight back. I know you can do it, but do you want to? she asked, making me slowly nod.
"I do," I confessed.
"Okay, then go wash your face and come with me. I thought you would be able to manage without it, but I feel like a little help wouldn't really be bad. I know someone who can help with this. You have to come with me."
"Who?" I spoke curiously, voice cracky from all the crying. A part of me was now feeling embarrassed that I broke down like that in front of my aunt. What would she tell my home?
"The village's main teacher. She knows how to deal with such scenarios."
A/N: Thank you so much for reading, commenting, voting. It means a lot!
SMILE, BE KIND, BE FRIENDLY, AND JUST BE SUPER SWEET, LOL.
Hope you enjoyed this chapter. I don't know why but I turned a bit teary when writing this.
Anyhow,
Q1. What do you think will happen next?
Any suggestion?