Ridwaan walked towards Farzana's door which she opened and he held out his hand,she slid her hand into his as she stepped out of the car.They exchanged smiles as he closed the door behind him while the staff members greeted them.They greeted back,Farzana requested them to take their luggage to their room and she told them she would unpack herself.The staff members nodded as they begun to make their way into the palace.
"You are glowing." He complimented her as he dropped a kiss on her head and Farzana blushed as she gazed around.
"Ridwaan,someone will see us."
"I don't care." He said as they walked towards the lounge,their smiles dropping as they heard screaming from inside the lounge.They exchanged worried glances as Abdul Rahman's voice was risen even more.They hurried towards the lounge,Ridwaan surging forward Farzana's hand leaving his as he saw his father raise his hand.
"Ya abi!" He exclaimed as he grabbed his father's hand causing everyone to sigh in relief at his appearance.He let go of his father's hand which had been raised to hit his mother,"What is going on here?Ali,give out orders that no one is to come to this side of the palace immediately."
"Nam,ughi." Ali reached for the phone on the table,he dialled a number and gave out the order that his brother had given him.
"Ya ibn,when you find out what your mother has done you will understand why my anger is at it's peak." Abdul Rahman said as he glared at the woman he called his wife,who stood in front of him with her chin raised.
"What has ummi done,ya abi?"
"This vile women is blind to the actions that Farzana has done.She," He took a deep breath as he looked away from Ridwaan before looking back at him,"She tried to convince your son that Farzana would not love him as his sisters grew up,that she would throw him away and that she planned to send him to a boarding school as of next year.She told that young child that Farzana was only being nice so that you would think of her as a good person and that soon she would not even look at him,especially once she has her own child with you.Shukar alhumdulilah,the nannies that look after Ayesha,Hafsa and Ahmed were wise enough to mention this to Zainub and Nabeela.Allah alone knows what would have happened if they hadn't mentioned it."
Ridwaan's hands curled into fists as Farzana put a hand over her mouth at the words that left Abdul Rahman's mouth as she looked at Rayhana who did not have a trace of remorse on her face.
Ridwaan turned to face his mother who looked at him with an expressionless face as his face grew red in anger and he took a step forward,"Ummi,tell me that what my father has told me holds no truth?Tell me that you did not try to be despicable and poison my son's mind against his mother."
"This woman is not his mother,his mother is dead." Rayhana exclaimed,giving Farzana a look of disgust.
"Farzana is his mother who gave him new life.She is no less of a mother to Ahmed then Fatima was,ummi." Ridwaan pinched the bridge of his nose as he looked at his mother,"Should I really have to remind you,ummi of what my son used to be after the demise of Fatima.He never eat,he never speak,he never play around,he was a shell of the boy he used to be.He went from having three meals a day to having only one or two.He was hooked up on an IV more times then I,as an adult have ever been.Ahmed lost his smile,his laughter,he would have lost his childhood if Farzana had not stepped in.We would have lost him if Farzana had not walked in when she did.Ya Rabbul Alameen!How can you be so blinded that you cannot see the fact that the woman you despise saved your only grandsons life,ya ummi!?"
"Maybe you don't know,Ridwaan." Rayhana said with a smirk as she looked at Farzana who was in shock of what was going on around her,"This woman,who looks innocent,who makes everyone think she is an angel is actually a despicable woman.Do you know that her ex-husband put charges on her for cheating on him and she proved him wrong but do you know that the children that she claimed were his were actually someone elses?She literally took someone else's thrash and brought them to our palace."
"Sayida Rayhana." Farzana raised her voice at the words that Ryahana used to describe her children,"If you wish to slander me,do so,I won't mind but don't mention my children.My children were my ex-husbands.Perhaps while investigating me you choose to overlook the fact that there was a DNA test that had been conducted in which it was proved that Ayesha and Hafsa were his children."
"Nam,ummi.Even I knew that." Ridwaan said as he shook his head,"Ya Allah.Don't do this,ya ummi.Don't ruin the chance that you have here.Let myself,Farzana and our kids live in peace."
"This woman will not let you live in peace,ya ibn as long as we are under the same roof." Abdul Rahman said from behind Ridwaan,"There is only one solution to this problem aand I am saying that you should put this in writing,send your mother and I to the palace in Sultan,immediately."
"Abdul Rahman-"
He raised his hand causing his wife to go silent,"Enough.I will not let you ruin our son's relationship all because your stubbornness and ego is bigger then you will ever be.Do it,Ridwaan."
"I-"
"Mama." Ahmed's exclamation of joy caused Farzana to turn and fall on her knees as she opened her arms which Ahmed jumped into,"I missed you so very much,mama.I'm so glad you are back."
Farzana kissed his forehead as he buried his head in her neck,"I missed you too,my angel." She tightened her arms around him as she held him close,her heart beating rapidly at the fact that this child still accepted her which meant he had not paid attention to Rayhana's words.
Ahmed pulled back with a smile,he tilted his head as he saw her frown and he put his hand on her face,"Why are you making those lines on your forehead,mama?You don't look nice with them."
Farzana forced out a chuckle as she brought him back in for a hug,"Okay,I won't make those lines." She sighed with relief as she let go of him and he went towards his father.
"Daddy,I missed you too.I missed you so very much."
Ridwaan bent down to hug his son and kissed his cheek,"I missed you too,ibn." He moved back to smile at his son,"Were you a good boy for your am and ammati?"
"Nam,I was a good boy for them."
"Good.Why don't you,your mama and your ammati go visit the twins while I speak with your am."
"Okay,daddy." Ahmed kissed his father's cheek before Ridwaan stood up,he looked at Farzana who Ahmed went towards,holding her hand.
"I have something to discuss with Nadir and Ali."
Farzana nodded her head as Nabeela and Zainub came to her side,"Ridwaan,be gentle." She gave a reminder,she did not want him to be harsh with his mother.
Ridwaan only nodded his head as the women and Ahmed exited the room.He looked at his mother and father,"Abi,please escort ummi to your quarters.I need to discuss something with my brothers.Ali,Nadir follow me." Without giving his mother anotherglance he walked out of the lounge with his brothers following him.
Farzana and the others entered the nursery where Ayesha and Hafsa slept in their cots which soon would be replaced with beds.
"As salaam mu alaykum,sayida." Humaira and Kusum greeted them.
"Wa alaykum mu salaam,Humaira and Kusum.How are you?"
They both replied that they were fine and Farzana relieved them of their duty,"Here let me carry Hafsa." Nabeela said as Farzana made to pick up Ayesha.They carried the babies to Farzana's quarters where Farzana and Nabeela put them in their cots.
"Mama,I'm going to play on my iPad.I didn't have screen time today."
"Okay ibn." Ahmed grabbed his iPad and walked away onto the balcony where he sat down.The women made their way into the kitchen where Farzana poured them some juice.
"Jazakallah so much for looking after Ahmed and the twins.I hope it wasn't much trouble for you'll to do so,I know Ridwaan requested and you'll probably had your own plans."
"La,ughti.What trouble?What are aunts and uncles for?If we don't look after our nieces and nephews who will?" Zainub said with a shake of her head.
"Zainub is right,Zana.We don't have our own kids but Ahmed,Ayesha and Hafsa are like our own kids.There's no trouble in looking after them and yes,Ridwaan ughi did ask but we could have said no.Plus we have the nannies and the other staff who are always willing to help us if we need help." Nabeela reached forward to hold Farzana's hand,giving her hand a small squeeze with a smile,"We are family,Farzana.We are here for one another all the time.If you want us to take care of your kids.We'll do it.If you want us to take care of you,we'll do it.If you want us to jump off a plane with you,we'll do it."
"Huh uh.That one you two can do,I'm afraid of heights." Zainub said causing Nabeela and Farzana to chuckle.Farzana looked down at her glass as her sister-in-law's looked at her.
"Zana,trust Ridwaan.He'll make all of this right."
Farzana looked up at Nabeela who had spoken,"I don''t want to be the reason that our family is separated from one another.I understand that ummi hates me but Ridwaan doesn't have to send her far away."
"Zana," Zainub called her attention,"If it were just about you maybe you could sway his mind about the decision to have ummi and abi move away but ummi attacked your weakest link and ughi's closest link.Ughi isn'tt going to let this go and I don't think he should let it go as well.Using Ahmed to try and bring you down in ughi's eyes was a bad thing to do.Allah forbid if she had succeeded,we don't know what the consequences could have been.Let ughi deal with this in his way.You have been good and your goodness had been taken advantage of.Now ummi has to face the consequences of her actions." She looked down,"Plus now,we also have other kids to worry about."
"Which kids?"
"Well,kid." They saw her put her hand on her tummy and her sister-in-law's squealed with joy as they got off their chairs.
"Mabrook,ughti." Farzana congratulated Zainub as she hugged her and kissed her cheek,"Allah-hu-Akbar,I'm happy for you."
"Mabrook,Zainub." Nabeela congratulated Zainub as they hugged,"How far along are you?"
"I am in my second month.I didn't want to tell you'll until the third month but you'll seem to need a bit of joy amongst this chaos."
"Well then I think it won't be a bad time to announce that I'm also pregnant."
Farzana and Zainub smiled as they went into hug Nabeela.
"Mabrook,ughti.Allah's blessings have descended on our family."
"Mabrook,ughti.How far along are you?"
"Third month.Which mean that we will probably give birth a month or so apart from one another."
"Subhanallah.This is amazing news." Farzana immediately begun to form a plan in her mind of what she had to do to celebrate her sister-in-law's pregnancy,"On Monay as soon as I'm in the office I will immediately start preparing for a food drive and clothing drive to all the orphanages around Rahilah.This will be done on behalf of Ridwaan and myself."
"La ughti-" Zainub begun to argue only for Farzana to cut her off.
"What la ughti?This is your first child,both of you.This is the least we can do as their aunt and uncle.Of course,since Nabeela is in her third month as soon as she hits her forth month we'll proceed with her one then once you hit your forth month we'll proceed with your one.No arguments on this."
"Nam ughti,we won't argue.It's good to see that we could at least bring a smile on your face." Nabeela said and Zainub agreed as they proceeded to sit down again.
Yes,Farzana was happy but at the back of her mind she was also worried about what Ridwaan would do regarding Rayhana.How could she be the reason that a mother and son would be separated a son?How would her heart be happy with this?How could she let this happen without trying to resolve the problem so that neither mother nor son was left hurt.
Ridwaan sat in his seat,facing Ali and Nadir who each looked at him.He could see the anger on their faces but he also saw the way their eyes would lower,as if ashamed of themselves.His brothers were blaming themselves and he could not let that happen.
"Ali,Nadir,what is on your minds?"
"Ughi," Ali spoke as he lifted his head,"Please forgive me,we were unable to stop ummi from telling Ahmed a whole lot of nonsense.We should have been there to prevent her from doing so but we failed.You left Ahmed as an ammanat in our hands and we failed to protect his innocent little mind."
"Ali,Ahmed is a clever child.He can differentiate from good and bad.You saw for yourself,he hugged Farzana without any malice in his heart.His innocent mind is the same as when I handed him to you.I don't blame you for anything," Ridwaan took a deep breath,"Ali,Nadir,I need your opinions.I've already given ummi a warning regarding her behvaiour towards Farzana.I have warned her countless times that if she does not change her behaviour towards Farzana I will send her away to Sultan with abi.I never planned on following through on my threat but this time,it involvles Ahmed.I refuse to let my son be used as a pawn in her dirty games.What do you'll think I should do?"
Ali and Nadir exchanged looks as they went quiet for a couple minutes before they looked at their brother.Nadir sat forward,his expression serious.
"Ughi,I think that it is in everyone's best interests that ummi is sent away.Today it's Ahmed,tomorrow it will be Nabeela ughti then it will be my Zainub.We don't need ummi sowing this discord amongst us especially now." His brothers gave him confused looks and Nadir smiled at them,"Zainub is into her second month of pregnancy."
"Allah-hu-Akbar." Ridwaan said as he stood up,moving around the table to embrace his brother with a huge smile on his face,"Mabrook,ughi.Mabrook."
The brother's hugged one another before Ali hugged Nadir,"Mabrook,ughi."
"Jazakllah,ughi."
"Well,then I guess I should also announce that Nabeela is in her third month of pregnancy."
Ridwaan turned to Ali and hugged him,"Mabrook,ughi.Mashaallah."
"Mabrook,ughi." Nadir hugged his second eldest brother,"Seems like our children will not be so far apart after all."
"Yes and they'll have three elder siblings to look after them." Ridwaan said with a smile on his face as Ali turned to him.
"You see,ughi.Now we all will have our own kids,we need to protect them as well.Today it's Farzana being attacked for being a non-Arab with kids,tomorrow ummi will find an issue with our kids because of the status of their mothers or even with our own wives.I am in agreement with abi,let abi and ummi be moved to Sultan.They will be able to come down for important events and other occasions but ummi shouldn't be able to even try what she tried ever again."
"I'm also in agreement,ughi.I also agree with what ughi Ali said."
Ridwaan nodded his head as he let out a breath,"I understand your side but I also need to see this from Farzana's side.I know that she must be thinking that this is her fault and she will probably disagree with this decision."
"Then let us talk to her,ughi.Let us tell her our side of the story,let her know that we are the ones who think ummi should not live here anymore because we don't know who her actions will hurt next." Ali suggested and Ridwaan nodded his head.
"Maybe if you'll say it to her,she will agree." But Ridwaan knew even if she did agree her heart would be at unease.She would blame herself that she caused the family to split but this was bound to happen one day and unfortunately that day was today.There was a knock at the door,"Come in."
The door opened to reveal their grandmother who had just gone to stay with Summay for a couple days on Summaya's request and they immediately went forward to greet her.
"As salaam mu alaykum wa rahmamatulahi wa barakatu,jadati." They greeted her as she walked into the room,they each hugged her.
"Wa alaykum mu salaam,ya ibn." She scrutinized their faces as she sat down and they sat around her,"What has happened in my absence?" She was an old women,she had seen the world around her and she knew when he rgrandchildren were not themselves.
Ridwaan explained everything,they watched as her hand tightened around the head of her walking stick and her face grew red in anger,"Ya Allah,this woman." She shook her head,"I leave for a couple days and her audacity grew.How dare she?What decision are you thinking about making,Ridwaan?"
"Jadati,after discussing this issue with my brothers and after abi's insisting we have come to the decision that it would be better to send ummi and abi to Sultan.They are already incharge of many issues there and they do spend majority of their time there,so it should be an easy transition."
Ummi Abdul Rahman nodded her head,"I agree with your decision." She observed Ridwaan's face,"But?"
"But Farzana might disagree with my decision and she is the only one who can override my decision.I know she will feel guilty and I cannot let her feel guilty for something that was bound to happen one day.I agreed that my brothers should be the one to inform her that they are in agreement with my decision but it worries me that she will refuse to have ummi and abi sent to Sultan or that this guilt will become her burden."
Ummi Abdul Rahman nodded her head,"I understand your concern,ibn but I also know that Farzana is an understanding woman.If you present your point of view to her,I am sure that she will understand as for her guilt,she will learn that there was nothing she could have ever done for Rayhana to believe in her and that she isn't at fault.Come,let us go talk to her."
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As salaam mu alaykum wa rahmatulahi wa barakatu everyone
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter 😬 so we have trouble (we all knew it was coming)
So not to alarm you guys but I don't think I want this book having more then 40 chapter so we may only have five more chapters until the end 😬
Anyway my younger sister caught a hold of my K-pop obsession and has been blowing up my phone with Namjoon pictures so I love her for that.
I want to know if you guys want to see the Pinterest board for Being The Sheikh's Queen.If you guys do want it, tell me and I'll post the link in the next chapter.
I hope you all are well and healthy.
Take care.Stay safe.
Fi amanilah