SULTAN {Preview}

Chapter Twenty-two

"Accept what is, let go of what was and have faith in what will be"

                      ~~~
Batuul

I have heard multiple tales of weddings that fail to take place, of men that reject their brides, of runaway brides, but never have I ever heard of a prince who rejected a princess, and little did I know that the first of that kind I would hear will be mine...

When I walked out of Yaya, I made for my chamber but on a second thought, I changed my mind and headed to the servants quarters instead. Khairi was the reason I'm in pain right now, and for that she also has to feel the pain along with me. I will not go down without a fight, and if at all I'm going down, I will not do that alone, we are going down together.

I banged the door of one of the rooms open, searched around with my eyes, it was empty. I skipped to the next and banged it open, there she was with another maid Larai, who was applying black henna to on her hands. Henna to entice Yaya right? I see.

They were startled but when they looked up, Khairi flashed me a smile, and just like that fresh anger resurfaced in me and before I knew it, I pounced on her and started slapping her, beating her.

I have never fought in my life, have always been a bully right from childhood, my victim was always Maryam, when ever she got me angry, I beat her up and later on console her and we continue playing. I never apologize, I found it hard to, it wasn't in my nature to apologize. I tried my bullying on Khalil a couple of times, until he was old enough to try to fight me back one day. I never bullied them again, for fear of losing, because again, it wasn't in my nature to lose!

But now that fear of being a loser is back and that doubled my anger to which I unleashed on Khairi. I never knew I had this much strength until today. Anyway they say anger brings out the strength in a person, because right now, I could not only beat Khalil, but ten more of his kind.

I was beating her, shouting, cursing. But she didn't bug, she didn't try to dodge the beating or stop me, she didn't even cry. She just sat there and let me beat her, she was calm, like the submissive servant she had always been. And that got me more frustrated, cos instead, I was the one crying.

I never expected this from Khairi of all people.

"You slave..witch..daugh...daughter of..of a no body!" I stammered "How could you, how could you do this to me" Larai was on her knees, begging on Khairi's behalf.

"Gimbiya please, have mercy on her. Please Your highn... "

"Get out" I turned around and snapped at her, as she was lucky enough to dodge a slap.

The fact that Khairi didn't show any sign of pain even though her nose was already bleeding and she had a fresh cut across her left eye because her face was the main place I attacked. Her now messed up henna, stained her clothes, mine too.

I flopped down in frustration, covered my face with my palms and cried my heart out. After a while, I felt a gentle touch on my knee, followed by Khairi's voice, calm as ever. "Please Gimbiya, I don't know what I did to you, but what ever it might be, find a place in your heart to forgive me, please"

"You have the audacity to ask for my forgiveness Khairi, after enchanting Yaya? No wonder he was very fond of you, always standing in for you" I shook my head "little wonder. And you sit here telling me you don't know what I'm talking about,  who exactly do you want to fool?"

She still gave me a blank look which even made me even angrier. I jerked her up by the collar of her clothe "Tell me what did Yaya see in you to think you worthy of being his wife over me! Have you grown so bold to think you can be my competition? You, a slave, a war captive, a nobody?"