Sheikh And The Princess 1

by Kimaya Mathew

  **********

  Sadhiya felt, as if, somebody thrashed her across her cheek. Hard, mercilessly and without even an ounce of pity! Her head went light as if oxygen has left her entire body! “What!” she stuttered as she left her seat, stood up and went near him. It has to be some sort of cruel joke. “What sort of joke is this, Reyhan? Of course, it belongs to you. Stop throwing this kind of cruel statement’s at me. You know…” she turned him so that he may face her. “Really?” he turned at with the hints of mockery playing on his face, “You expect me to believe that. Tell me Sadhiya, if I may be wrong, how can an infertile man produce children?

  ********

  This takes the trophy, Sadhiya’s mind cried out as she stared at her husband dumbly. Infertile? Reyhan was an impotent? No, that was impossible. There had to be some sort of mistake there. It cannot be, it cannot be… “What are you talking about?” she asked, “How can you be infertile when this child clearly belongs to you. Wait a minute,” her heart stopped in her chest as she asked him, “Are you telling me that I have gone with someone else and…?” she could say nothing further. He doubted her fidelity? How dare he? Who gave him the right? How can he doubt her like this when she had slept with none but him? “Oh, come now,” he looked at her irritated, “don’t act innocent. It’s not, as if, you were not aware of this thing…” “I was not aware of this thing, Reyhan” her voice had gone all wobbly and she wiped the core of her eyes, “How do you expect me to know it when no one told me about it?” “Oh,” he raised his brow and mocked her, “You mean to tell me that Jamal mentioned nothing of this sort to you when he had that talk with you in the garden. When you both were roaming there,” “He did mention the accident…” “And he never mentioned doctor’s report to you, did he?” his eyes went wide and mocking her once again, he moved passed her as he said, “Doctor’s report had it, Sadhiya. It was the reason I changed. It was the reason, why I never planned to get married in first place. It was the reason, why I said, we can’t consummate this marriage. Why do you think I said those things to you in the first place?” “But, you said…that night…” “I lied; I thought that Jamal had mentioned each and everything to you. I thought that you are aware of yours and mine situation now. Why, Sadhiya, why?” his scream resonated in the air and shook Sadhiya head to toe. Things were making so much sense to her now. “If you wanted children, you could have told me. I was aware that by marrying, I was putting someone’s entire life’s happiness on stake but I did it for the sake of my people and my guardian. No one knew about this thing apart from Jamal and I had forbidden him to tell anyone but you. It was important for you to understand. This is the reason I bedded you, hoping that you must have understood the situation by now. I am an infertile Sadhiya, an impotent. A person, who can never have the good fortune to hear the gurgle of his own blood,. I was about to talk to you about adopting someone but, when doctor informed about your waiting pregnancy, I was shocked.” Sadhiya was standing there like an effigy. Nothing came to her mouth. All her heart told her was…there was some mistake somewhere. “I don’t believe you,” she said, “You are mistaken,” “It’s Ok,” he sighed, “You don’t want to tell me but, I know who is the father?” saying that before Sadhiya could say anything, Reyhan showed her the glossy stills. The photo’s where her love and she was standing with some happy smiles on their faces. “He is the father, isn’t he?” Crash! Sadhiya’s palm made such a hard contact with Reyhan’s face it was a little wonder nothing or no one came on the balcony to see what all the fuss is about.

  “Sheikh Reyhan of Buktsar,” Sadhiya’s eyes were filled of rage, anger and unspoken hatred, as she uttered those words. “Never ever in my wild dreams had I imagined you to be of such low, cheap and vulgar mentality? Isn’t it enough that you are calling me an infidel when I have been making every sort of effort to make a little space in your heart by various efforts? I planned this dinner for you tonight thinking that, when I will inform you about our little miracle you will be filled with love and respect for me. Leave that, you are accusing me of sleeping with someone else? How dare you? Who gave you the right? This child is ours whether you accept it or not. Don’t you have any shame in your heart for your actions? With whom did you see me in these days than your sole self? You are calling this person my extra-marital affair?” saying that, she threw those photos on Reyhan’s face. His cheek was swollen red with the slap but his eyes were like hers, Red with anger!

  Her patience had vanished from such a long argument and she could feel the slight headache building in her temples as she said, “I don’t know about you Reyhan but I was about to confess my love for you tonight. I love you, this was what I was about to say but thank god,” she laughed a heart-wrenching laugh, “I didn’t. Person like you don’t deserve those words from me” she turned and was about to walk away from the spot when something stuck her. “One more thing,” she turned, “I am sure that something was wrong with your physical self but it has nothing to do with your ability to produce children. I am living for Sehar tomorrow morning, Reyhan. If you have decided that I am an infidel, might as well just part our ways so that, in future, when your child will ask for his dad, I will tell him or her that dad never wanted him in the first place If the situation become too much, send me the divorce papers. I will sign it, thinking that I gifted you something worthy for an entire life.”

  That thrown on his face, Sadhiya ran to her set of rooms.

  *****

  Everything in Sehar was, as it always was. Only difference was, Sadhiya had lost the charm of place the day she got married. Marriage, she smirked, it was a farce now. It had been one week since her arrival here and everyone thought that she is here for a limited time, in other words, she is visiting her parent’s after the marriage. She wanted to cry out her agony to the entire world. Who will listen? Who will care? She was not at all worried about herself. It was the unborn child which held her tension at the time. What will happen to this new life? When he/she will open its eye in the new world, how in the heaven, will she answer its questions? Well, time will tell. What should she do? Apart from Shara, no one knew of her misery. Shara had cried along with her and has consoled her. “Sehar will always remain your home, Sadie” she had said, “I will talk to Sultan, if you want me to” “No,” Sadhiya had to stop her, “He doesn’t want me to. He cares for no one, Shara. I know Reyhan very well.” “Why didn’t you tell me anything about your condition?” she questioned her, “there was nothing to tell,” Sadhiya wiped her cheeks again. “But, infidel?” Shara’s voice had gone one pitch higher, “How dare he…” “Shara, mind your language. He is still your brother-in-law” “The hell he is,” cursing under her breath, as she caught Sadie’s eye she apologized, “How is baby doing?” Sadhiya smiled, “Fine,”

  *******

  Reyhan’s head was in between his palms as Doctor Qashid read his latest medical report. Qashid had a small satisfactory smile on his face as he ended the report. “Everything is fine, Sire” “About his previous reports?” Jamal questioned, “It seems, as if, the previous doctor made some mistake where fertility is concerned. Everything is fine and you are perfectly healthy.” “But, previous check up was also done in your clinic, doctor” Reyhan asked, “About that, let me ask from my fellow colleagues, Sire. As soon as anything is reported, I will tell you about it. But for now, you have good health and yes, you can produce hundred sons and daughter, if you want” Qashid winked at them. Jamal had a small smile playing near his mouth. Reyhan, he looked almost on the verge of fainting. He was normal. He was not an impotent. A small doctoral medical report had ended his love life so easily. Love, yes, he loved Sadhiya! And the realization hit him hard when she left him. At the time when he should be near her, he abandoned her and left her on the mercy of her parent’s. “I am an ass,” he muttered as both of them left the clinic, “You can say that again,” Jamal muttered and almost kicked his back in frustration. Seriously, man needs some sort of love classes where his own love life was concerned. Witho
ut concerning anyone, he left that innocent girl and his first baby to her paternal home. “What should I do Jamal?” Reyhan turned to him, “Apologize,” “She will never listen. I know Sadhiya, she is too stubborn” “Well, you deserve that,” Jamal huffed a sigh. “I know,” Reyhan thought of many ways to say the words out loud. “I am sorry, Sadie. I love you…” Every one of them started with the same sentence. How to say them? What to do? “Jamal,” Reyhan spoke out his heart, “Tell Humar to start preparing my luggage. I am leaving for Sehar tomorrow morning,” “Love does crazy things to your head, doesn’t it?” Jamal sighed and smiled, “that photo’s that you showed me…do you know who that person is?” Jamal questioned, “No,” he shook his head. “He is late Prince Kareem of Sehar, Reyhan. The only brother to the three princesses. At least, you should have asked someone before connecting the affair to her dead brother!” “Prince Kareem?” Reyhan murmured and was frozen on the spot. God, why doesn’t he hang himself somewhere? “Kareem died of cancer on his 13th birthday, your highness” Jamal continued, “How do you know so much?” “I keep myself updated,” Jamal said without showing him the other side of his.

  Someday he will tell him how!

  ************

  “Sadie,” Shara came running to her side and Sadhiya looked up from the book she was reading. This was all she could do these days. Shara and Noor had forbidden any sort of work for her in these days. “What is it?” she straightened, “It’s Reyhan.” The name ignited the very reaction Shara wanted to see. “Reyhan! What happened to him?” Sadhiya’s entire light mood vanished.

  “Nothing,” Shara laughed and grasped her hand; “He is here.” “Reyhan is here!” Sadie gasped and both of them turned when someone knocked on the door, “May I come in?” “Come in,” Shara said. It was Noor! “Hey, Noorie” Shara laughed as she came inside. But Sadhiya was looking at the person behind her. Clear grey eyes zeroed on her face. The power and the authority of the ruler spiked off the person and engulfed her. “Reyhan!” Her breath left her lungs as she stared at him. He was here, after all! “Sadhiya,” he acknowledged her, “Greetings, your highness” she bowed her head. Of course, something’s are meant to be kept private.

  **********

  One week had passed in his persuasion of hers and all Reyhan had succeeded in was…well! Nothing! Not once had Sadhiya looked at his face. She just had been doing the normal formality of a courtly courtesy. So many times he had apologized for his doing but all she had replied was…again, nothing!

  **********

  It was Sadhiya’s birthday. King and queen had organized big banquet for the occasion. They were delighted of the fact that soon, a grandson/ granddaughter would enter their world. Sadhiya wanted the child to be healthy that’s it. She was not choosy about the gender. “Ladies and Gentlemen” Shara’s voice boomed across the hall as she spoke on the microphone. “Today, on this beautiful occasion of Sadie’s birthday, I would like to wish Sadie many happy returns of the day and hope, my nephew or niece enters the world soon,” Slight swell of Sadie’s belly was visible to everyone. She smiled at the announcement and Noor clapped by her side. Thank you, she mouthed the words and blew a flying kiss to her sister. “Now before, all of us are taken by the charm of the night. Sultan Reyhan of Buktsar would like to say something to all of you and especially,” she looked at Sadhiya, “To you Sadie,” Smiled wiped from Sadhiya’s face as she stared towards the stage. Hall erupted with cheers, laughs and guffaws as Reyhan took the stage for himself. “Thank you Shara for this occasion and to all of you. Today, I would like to confess something which I had never done before. Some years back, while on an adventurous trip to Gestalt’s Ice-skiing, I met with an accident. Fortunately, I was saved and nothing major happened apart from the thing that some doctor, mistakenly, exchanged someone else’s report with mine in which it said that my fertility was affected. In other words, I was reported to be an impotent.” Loud gasps followed his words. Silence spread all over. What is he doing? Sadhiya thought at the back of her mind. Why was Reyhan saying all those things? What was he thinking?

  “But, thankfully” he smiled so that people may listen to him, “A month ago, Sadhiya’s pregnancy took place and shocked me to the core. I said, how can this be? In my ignorance, I fought her, called her a cheat, fraud and the result was…I lost the only important women of my life, Sadhiya returned back to Sehar!” Sadhiya was aware of the gazes that were directed towards her. Stop it Reyhan, she muttered. Was this some new plan to humiliate her? Weren’t the things he had said that night enough for him? Some days ago, Doctor Qashid here,” he directed towards an elderly looking man who was smiling patiently, “He corrected me as I had the health check up again. He told me, what a complete idiot I had been in saying no to the only person who mattered a lot. People, I am an orphan. I never had anyone really close to me ever in my entire lifetime. Sadhiya’s love and devotion to me was like a healing balm to my wounded heart. I know, I don’t deserve any sort of forgiveness especially when I brought the Late Prince Kareem of Sehar in the equation.” Sadhiya could see the magic of Reyhan’s words on each and every face there. Women’s cried! Even her mother was busy sniffing and sobbing on her dad’s chest as the story was narrated. But, those were the tears of happiness. It takes lots of guts and courage to come out in the open with something like this. There were so many side-effects to this action. The media could get such negative about him; his business may suffer due to this. What are you doing Reyhan? She wanted to cry out. Forgiveness! It was, as if, she was never angry with him. Her eyes cried the silent tears of forgiveness, thereby removing any grudges from her heart where he was concerned. “I don’t deserve to be forgiven,” he said, “I am aware of the fact but all I am asking from you Sadie,” his gaze turned to her along with everyone in the hall, “I Love You because I know you are the only person who has touched my heart.. No one will ever take your place in Buktsar, Sadie. I know…it’s out of the question but…can you please, please re-think on this whole situation again? Can I be forgiven by you? Can that kind heart of yours take me back?”

  Sadhiya never saw anyone. She had all the attention for her one-true love. When he extended his hand, it took all her strength to not to just run back into his arms. Instead, conscious of her child, she walked slowly, cross the steps and threw herself in his waiting arms. She was home! She was back with her love, that’s what matters!

  “I Love you too,” she sobbed in his chest. Amidst all the claps and cheers thundering the hall, Sheikh Reyhan of Buktsar kissed his bride. Sheikha was coming back, as was his life!

  **********

  Coming Soon…

  Sheikh and the Princess 2