Lovely Concubine

by Misha Anderson

  -Now I was curious what this woman wants from me, I barely know her.

  Thura authorizes Sapphira to enter the palace, a few minutes later her convertible car gets near the staircase.

  She walks down with steady, confident steps, elegant as ever and when she comes up to us, greets me and Thura shaking her head.

  - Good evening, thank you for having me.

  Thurayya greets her suspiciously, asking her if she wants tea.

  -I accept, your teas are famous, Thurayya, as are your fatayer.

  Thura gets up slowly, saying,

  -I'll bring them to you, I still have them in the kitchen, will you be all right, Bianca?

  I stroke her hand and reassure her, curious to know what Sapphira wants from me.

  -I'm fine, Thura.

  As soon as Thura leaves, Sapphira sits beside me and looks nervous, I decide to break the ice.

  "- said you wanted to talk to me?

  She smirks and slumps into the chair.

  -I know you're a family friend, I come to you for advice, something unpleasant has happened, and I'm not quite sure how to deal with it.

  I still do not understand what she means, much less where Sapphira wants to go, but something tells me that I will not like it, sixth sense of woman is infallible.

  - Yes, if I can help.

  Sapphira speaks softly, so I am the only one hearing what she says.

  -I was with Nahan in Istanbul, where we had a delicious dinner, we drank a few bottles of wine and we couldn’t resist, we got carried away by the desire, for some time he tries to approach me, finally, you can imagine. We could never imagine that the press would take a picture of us at this very intimate moment, I did not want a situation like that to happen, he is always so discreet in his personal life, it was a moment to be ours alone, but they took some photos, a paparazzo came to me and I'm afraid this will become a scandal. If these photos leak, he'll be furious.

  I try to take a deep breath, but the I lack air, I disguise that I could stab her, that makes it difficult to breathe, he made me an idiot, while I was here like a fool missing him, he set up that trip to Turkey to meet with this Arab bitch. It was all planned by him, certainly he didn’t have a meeting with any prime minister, he only wanted a way to fuck her discreetly, away from Bahrain, without raising suspicion. And of course, he kept fucking me until you he got tired of me and returned like a piece of cloth, what remains of me as a woman, to my family. But I will not give the pleasure to this bitch to see me cry, I babble meaningless words, but the end of the sentence, I remember emphasizing well.

  - Do not worry, he is a grown up, he can handle it, he can handle everything, I am not the right person to help you, look for Jafar, the diplomacy, the hell with this government to control this scandal, for me it makes no difference, I'm just a guest here, excuse me Sapphira.

  I get up and leave her sitting alone on the porch so she does not see the tears, which stubbornly fall on my face without my wanting.

  Thurayya passes by me with a tray of tea and biscuits, tells me something, but I do not listen.

  I'm too numb and hurt to hear and say anything, I go up the stairs and go straight to my room, where I fall into bed, my weak control also collapses.

  I cry so much I sob, why the hell did I fall in love with the man who kidnapped me? From the beginning, I knew that I would end up like this, that he would marry the "perfect suitor," a Bahraini woman bred to be his queen. Why did I get involved with Nahan that way? Where I was with my head that I did not fight, I did not try to run away, why did I give myself up, offered myself, the soul, the body, without resisting? For him to do with me what he wanted. To make me love him, was that his diabolical plan all the time, play with my head, took me from the bosom of my family, to manipulate me like a cat plays with the mouse before devouring it?

  Thurayya enters the room and sits on the bed in silence, surely Sapphira had the same conversation with Thura, exposing me to ridicule me even more.

  - She handed me two pictures, they are with me, it looks like he pulls his face from her Bianca', I'm not sure that he actually kissed Sapphire, but it looks like he's fleeing.

  I give Thura a sharp look and I shout:

  - Of course. You are his milkmaid, his aunt, you will never tell me that he kissed Sapphira because he is a bastard, would you? Nahan's poor bastard was grabbed, she stumbled and fell on him, he did not even want to, was it not Thura?

  Thura raises her finger and shuts me.

  -No way, I'm a truthful woman, that's how I created Nahan, at least I tried to create him like that. That's why I keep telling you that something does not fit into this story. Armed, Sapphira's father, always dreamed of making her queen, even before Nahan married Ishna. It would not surprise me if this was a very well-made frame of these two.

  I cover myself with the sheet, curled up in bed, my chest as sore as if a tractor had passed over me. Thura tries to comfort me, but it's hard to bear this thud.

  -I'll stay here until you sleep.

  I lay my head on her soft lap, missing my sister so much, my mother too.

  -I'm sorry if I was rude to you, Thura.

  -That will not remain like this, Bianca, you may for some reason not become the queen of this kingdom, but as long as Nahan hears me, as long as my word is worth something in this palace, neither Sapphira nor any other woman is going to put that crown on their head. This I promise you.

  I've lost count of the messages I sent Bianca without getting an answer, what happened to her that she is not responding to my messages? I would have commitments for two more days, but I warned Jafar, I will not stay here another night, I want to go home soon.

  I bought a set of chain and brilliant earrings that will look perfect on Bianca, glittering, sparkling on her ivory skin.

  Ah! The longing that I feel for my halawi, but as soon as I arrive I'll find a way to spend a few days off, away, preferably on one of our paradisiac islands, away from everyone, just her and me.

  NAHAN

  As soon as I arrived, I received a message from Mohamed to go straight to Government headquarters, an emergency meeting was held because of a wave of demonstrations being raged and incited by opponents of my government. I call home and Fatimah answers, I ask her to tell Thura that I will not be home until much later.

  I only get out of there, after I find a way to get around these leftist attacks to my reign.

  I sent two more messages and nothing Bianca, she didn’t answer, I start to worry, why does she ignore me anyway?

  I woke up convinced that that sweet and silly Bianca died yesterday, I will take the reins of my life in my hands, I will do everything to disappear from this country, but not without before putting a certain king in its right place.

  He'll curse the day he kidnapped me and used me as a piece of meat, I'll tell him everything that's choked in my throat since yesterday.

  I'm Brazilian, Latin, I have blood in my veins, I'm not a doll that he uses and places wherever he likes, I'm going to teach him to respect a woman, you do not lose by waiting, King Nahan.

  I go to the bathroom, take a long shower, they say that woman is like the Indian, only puts makeup for two reasons: for party or for war, today I'm ready for combat, so I do a quick makeup, I look in the dress closet that makes me feel powerful and I find, a blood-red dress adjusted at the knees, I dress it without blinking, I balance myself in a pair of black Louboutin heels and down the stairs.

  I go to the kitchen and shout for Thurayya, she comes to meet me and looks at me suspiciously.

  -Thurayya, I want to go to government headquarters to talk to Nahan.

  Thura looks me up and down and asks why, looking at me with a frown.

  - Why do you want to go there now Bianca, he will get home later.

  I spoke slowly, but in a tone higher than I expected, for me it does not matter, I tremble with hate.

  -I will not wait for the night, no more, take me there, or I'll find a way to go by myself.

&nb
sp; Thura raised an eyebrow at me for my insolence, but came over and kissed my cheek.

  -Wait for two minutes, I'm just going to change clothes, if you're going to put Nahan in his place, I have to be together with you, a slap is on me, I will not miss this for anything.

  Thura reappears with a set of black tunic and gives the order to the driver to take us to the government headquarters immediately.

  When we arrive at the presidential office, Nahan's secretary, Semira, greets Thurayya and informs us that Nahan can’t receive visitors at all, I pass by without arguing, marching toward the office with determined steps and open the door.

  Sayd defends a more peaceful stance and Mohamed tries to convince the other secretaries that we must be more offensive in our stance with our opponents. I interrupt Mohamed’s speech and reiterate:

  - The only point I agree with Mohamed is that we do not live in democracy and my opponents have to understand this, I decide, after all, I am the king, and the power of government can’t be questioned.

  As soon as I finish speaking, I realize that the heated discussion has ceased, everyone is silent, I turn my chair and when I look at the door, I am surprised by Bianca, closing the door of my office, facing all the men sitting around me. I stammer without realizing it, looking foolish.

  -Bianca, why are you around here, any problems?

  My little one is such a beautiful colossus, on a red dress to die for, beautiful and furious.

  Why the hell is Bianca furious?

  Semira opens the door quickly, entering with a bodyguard.

  -King Nahan, pardon me, she came in suddenly without apologizing, but the security guard will take her and-

  The security man approaches Bianca and she grunts softly,

  -If you touch me, I'll kick your balls.

  The guard steps forward and I leap to my feet, tapping the table.

  -Do not you dare touch a finger on my hala ... on Miss Mattos, you may leave, Semira, you may as well go.

  The guard and Semira leave and Bianca closes the door, I stand behind the table, not understanding why Bianca is here, I ask,

  -Is there a problem, Bianca?

  She pierces me with her eyes and responds between the teeth:

  - Yes, all possible problems, can we talk alone?

  I yell at the secretaries and ministers of state.

  - Yalla, Yalla, we're done. (Go away)

  As soon as the door closes and the last secretary leaves us alone, I come towards her, suspicious, but so happy to see her, she raises her hand and makes me stagnate.

  -I could never imagine you being such a fool, such a coward, King Nahan."

  I get closer, irritated, what happened to this woman?

  -Why are you talking to me like that?

  Bianca throws two pictures on my table and I get to look, in one of them I'm having dinner with Sapphira and in the other, from the angle of the photo, it seems clearly that we are kissing.

  My God, mercy! I see Bianca's look of hatred and see that the roof of my palace is going to collapse over my head.

  -I ask you to have the decency of letting me go, you have had everything you wanted ... You kidnapped me, seduced me, made me fall in love with you. You have proven to your enemies what you are capable of, that you are so powerful that you can take a hostage, and make her fall in love with you. So now enough is enough! Let me now go back to my family and you can marry that slut, that bitch, preferably have a litter of puppies with her and LEAVE ME ALONE, KING NAHAN.

  I try to get closer to Bianca and her gaze tells me that it is better to keep a safe distance, she is completely out of her mind and I can’t help but understand how she feels, I would much rather be tearing half of Bahrain if anyone dared touching her, but I did not kiss Sapphira, I can’t lose her for something I didn’t do.

  - Halawi, I can explain ...

  -The hell you can explain. What are you going to tell me Nahan, first that ridiculous dinner, those two women fighting for your attention, your suitors the queen, and now this, what am I in this story? I'll be your lover, is that what you mean? Well, kill me first, if you marry any of them, forget that I exist.

  I scream louder and she shudders scared, but still furious.

  - Shut up and listen to me Bianca, I did not betray you, Sapphira asked to sit at my table in the hotel where I was staying, I was dining, she sat at my desk and we talked. We talked, nothing else, before I got the elevator she did this crazy thing, she pulled me and tried to kiss me, I did not touch her, for Allah, I did not touch her, some journalist must have taken this photo, I know what It seems, I'd be furious in your place, but I did not kiss her, hell! I did not touch a hair on that woman, Bianca, I love you.

  Bianca walks confused from side to side and I follow her footsteps, walking behind her, since when did I become that little dog chasing after a bone?

  -Damn it, you only speak lies, who assures me that you have not invented this trip to be alone with Sapphira, eh? Far from the sight of idiot Bianca. How could you? Telling me yesterday that you missed me and fooling around with this bitch behind my back.

  I sit in my chair, defeated, I do not believe this is happening to me, with us. We were so happy, why can’t I be happy?

  They took everything from me, I lost everything, I lost my daughter, I lost my wife. I have no siblings, I have nothing ... The only person I care for after years of solitude, the only one who can make me smile, escapes my fingers in this way? I lay my hand on my head and stare at the defeated ground, looking for a light that can make this woman understand that I am crazy about her.

  - Bianca, I can prove that what I say is true, do not do this to me, for everything that is most sacred in this world, I have nothing with Sapphira, understand this once and for all.

  If it's not one way, it has to the other, I'm going to make Bianca understand that for me there is no other woman that I want. I walk up to her and grab her waist, she fights in anger, punches my chest, tries to kick me, but I hold her firmly next to my body, I place on the floor everything on my desk and I lie her down on the Wood top. I fit myself between her thighs and my mouth takes hers with despair. She grabs my chest and her nails dig into my back as we kiss like two animals. She murmurs between my lips.

  -Please let me go, I can’t.

  My mouth runs over her soft ear, the curve of her full breasts, Bianca consumes me like a blaze that sets fire to everything around her.

  - I can’t leave you, I love you Bianca, please believe me, for me there is only you, only you halawi.

  Ah! Nahan.

  I pull her dress up to the waist and my mouth goes down to the valley of her navel, she's wearing black underwear that drives me crazy. I bite her flat stomach and I sniff her sweet pussy.

  Before I tear her panties, Bianca pushes me hard and slides off the table, adjusting her dress.

  -Do not you dare touching me with your dirty Sapphire hands, run to your fleecy little dog, you never again lay your hands on me, King Nahan.

  Bianca opens the door and stomps off, I go back, in the antechamber where Thura waits, drinking a glass of water.

  Old goat, she must have joined Bianca in one of those feminine plots, hell, a thousand times hell!!!

  -I knew you were behind all this, why did you bring Bianca here, Thurayya?"

  Thura stood up and took Bianca's arm, holding her.

  -Because you deserved it, how could you fool yourself like that, I did not teach you to be such a fool.

  Bianca turned to Thura and asked her to leave.

  Thura approached me and slapped me on the arm, saying.

  - This is for making Malakatah Bianca cry, come on Bianca, we have nothing else to do here.

  The two storm out from my antechamber like two hurricanes, I returned to my room without paying attention to the surprised look of my secretaries when they saw me being made a puppy by Thurayya and Bianca.

  I pick up the papers that fell on the floor, arranging them on the table, my thoughts totally shuffled. I d
o not know what to do, I can’t give up on Bianca, not now that I feel so happy and so complete, I need to find a way to make my halawi believe me.

  I think and think until the solution comes in a crack in my mind, I dial the number of Jafar and he answers at the second ring.

  -Jafar, I need your help.

  He responds concerned:

  - Did something happen?

  - All the bad Jafar, some paparazzo took a picture of me with Sapphire in a way that looks like we are kissing, these photos came to Bianca, she is furious with me.

  Jafar tries to hold back the laughter and I scream on the phone like an insane.

  -Do not laugh, Jafar, hell!" You know what she represents to me.

  -I do not know, you never told me.

  -She's mine Jafar, are you satisfied? I do not know how it happened to me, but the fact is that I got involved with her, too much, I've never felt this way. I like her, very, very much, my cousin.

  Jafar stammered and then said,

  - Wow! So, the thing is worse than I imagined, what do you want me to do?

  I look desperate, but fuck it, it does not matter to me, I'm really desperate, if Bianca insists on leaving, if she does not want me anymore, as her man, what will become of me? Am I going to go back to being that man carcass, that I was before? This can’t happen.

  I want you to tell her the truth, you saw everything, saw that Sapphire threw herself at me and tried to kiss me, Jafar, tell Bianca only the truth.

  Jafar was silent for a while and then said,

  -Okay, I'll talk to her.

  My heart is filled with hope, I hope Bianca listens to Jafar.

  It's already 1 in the morning and I gave up half an hour ago, going to Bianca's room. She will not let me in the room and she will not listen to me. I still take some of the pride I have left and wander around the palace, moving in and out of the rooms.

  The ghosts of my past tormented me intensely tonight. By Allah! I miss my Amira, I enter her room and I do not dare to taint her bed.

  I lie on the couch and roll from side to side, unable to sleep, my anguish grows as the hours pass, but anyway, at almost daybreak sleep takes me.

  And I dream, for the first time after years, I dream clearly and clearly. And in my dream, Amira held my arm with her little hand and led me to Bianca's room, as she touched the door handle, and at last the door opened.