I never wanted to meet another prince again.
Ever.
DJ Srilata was now playing feel-good eighties music and I could hear it echoing in the terrace. As the chilly outdoor air whipped my hair across my face, I tried to steady my breathing and felt a sense of calm I hadn’t felt in a long time.
I wouldn’t get married. No more pressure. So, what if I got too old to have a baby? I could freeze my eggs. Or adopt. I just needed to find a better paying career. Although after tonight, my social media following had gone through the roof, not a bad thing for a blogger…
Seriously though, no more men who seemed right rather than men who felt right. No more rishtas. No more eligible morons! No more following the money. I would make my own way in the world. I could at least try, I thought. But first, there was one thing I had to do. I ran inside.
‘Olivier,’ I called, ‘Olivier!’ I was shouting now, and I didn’t care who heard.
‘Were you looking for me?’ he said, appearing from inside a knot of people.
‘Yes’, I said, smiling, ‘I was.’
He smiled his crooked smile.
The DailyTale
Best or Worst Dressed? You Decide! Princess Eugenie, Victoria Beckham, Lily James, Bella Hadid…CLICK FOR MORE
Scott Tanvir seen embracing a Kylie Kardashian-lookalike who has poured her curves into a barely-there dress…
Europe’s hottest princelings: Publicity-shy Olivier, youngest son of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg…CLICK FOR MORE
Olivier is the entrepreneur of ecofriendly high-rises in Scandinavia and is seen here in close conversation with blogger Roya Khalil, formerly photographed with Scott Tanvir…
Acknowledgements
This was a labour of love that wouldn’t have been possible without so many people’s help – thanks to all Austenistanis and everyone at the Jane Austen Society of Pakistan—we did it! Brown girls REPRESENT!
Thank you to my parents, for always saying yes. To Mahlia and Harris, the most loyal sister and kindest brother a girl could ask for.
To Faiza at Bloomsbury for being her brilliant self and for believing in this project when it was just an inkling of an idea. To Jay at Jacaranda, my kindred spirit and the dearest of agents.
To my family — Auntie, Gasha, Saif, Faiz, Dinara, Rayyan, Soniah, Sarah, Fahad, Sobia, Jahanara, Ana, and all my aunts, uncles, cousins around the world and my late beloved Kashmiri Abaji, Punjabi Abaji, Moji, Ami—you are loved! A special mention to Auntie Helen for giving me my first Austen novels on my 12th birthday, which I will always cherish.
To all my sisters — for you are really nothing less – Rishm, Saniyya, Ayesha, Izza, you kept me afloat. Sweetest, kindest Wajiha, Saba, Sabrina, Munizae, Tanya, Mehreen, Mashaal, Fazila, Fatima, Amber, Shazo, Rina, Faiqa, Sehyr and all my remarkable friends, well-wishers and loving, supportive soul sisters and brothers — you know who you are and I am so very fortunate to have you all in my life.
To all the wonderful print, digital and broadcast media, friends and supporters around the world who have shared our enthusiasm and excitement, the British Council Pakistan, the British High Commission Pakistan, the Jane Austen Society of North America, the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation, the Jane Austen House Museum, All Things Jane Austen, Factory Films, Muse District, The Last Word, all the wonderful lit fests that have invited us to speak, Moni, Caroline, Joan, Rebecca, Amanda, Ashok, Sam, Basia, Rosemary, Maarya, Adriana and so many, many more— thank you!
And, finally, my eternal appreciation to the incomparable Jane Austen, for enriching my life and for continuing to fascinate and inspire imaginations around the world.
Biographies
Nida Elley
Nida Elley is a college teacher, writing coach, and freelance writer based in Austin, Texas, and has been published in journals and publications including Psychology Today. Nida received her BA degree in Journalism & Mass Media from Rutgers University and an MFA degree in Fiction Writing from Sarah Lawrence College. She currently teaches Rhetoric and Composition at St Edward’s University in Texas.
Saniyya Gauhar
Saniyya Gauhar is a barrister by profession and was Editor of the Pakistan based business magazine, Blue Chip, for four years. Saniyya has worked in corporate law and litigation in both London and Pakistan. She is currently a freelance writer and editor based in Islamabad, and has had articles published in magazines and daily newspapers, and has edited and co-authored papers for prestigious international academic journals.
Mahlia S Lone
Mahlia S Lone started her career as the Assistant Editor of the Op/Ed pages at The Nation followed by a stint as the Features Editor of The Friday Times. Based in Lahore, she currently freelances as a textile journalist contributing frequently to publications including Women’s Wear Daily and works as the Editor of Good Times magazine.
Mishayl Naek
Mishayl Naek is a freelance writer and economist, formerly at the State Bank of Pakistan. Mishayl lives in Karachi, where she runs the Yummy Mummy Network to address childcare issues, activities and resources for metropolitan Pakistani mothers. She has been published in various print and digital publications including The Express Tribune, Good Food, Grazia Pakistan, Libas International, and Women’s Own.
Sonya Rehman
Sonya Rehman is a freelance journalist based in Lahore and has been published by TIME, Rolling Stone (Middle East), the BBC, The Hindu, The Huffington Post, Al Jazeera, The Diplomat Magazine, Forbes, The Friday Times, DAWN and The News International. She was awarded the Fulbright Scholarship to pursue Print Journalism at Columbia University, where she received the Joseph Pulitzer II and Edith Pulitzer Moore Fellowship. Sonya teaches English and Journalism, runs a postcard start-up, From Lahore With Love and organizes local TED events. She has anchored and scripted for television at HUM TV, hosted a radio show for City FM89, and conducted Journalism and Creative Writing workshops.
Laaleen Sukhera
Laaleen Sukhera is a communications consultant and media professional based in Lahore. Laaleen has worked in TV production, advertising, and media projects in Pakistan, the UK, and the USA. She appears as a panelist and public speaker at literary events and on television programmes, and is the founder of the Jane Austen Society of Pakistan. Laaleen is currently a Contributing Editor at Libas International, and is currently working on a novel and a screenplay.
Gayathri Warnasuriya
Dr Gayathri Warnasuriya is a scientist and programme manager currently based in Amman, working on science and innovation partnerships between the UK and Jordan. She has a PhD in Molecular Biology and Toxicology. Born and brought up in Sri Lanka, she has been a nomad since the age of fifteen and has lived, in chronological order, in Saudi Arabia, the UK, Nigeria, Guyana, Barbados, and Pakistan.
Please visit Laaleen.com for further information
Austenistan Page 14