<p> </p><p>Inna rushed into the room while the rest headed outside. Little did I know, my stay here had been uncomfortable for her. Suddenly, Ibrahim burst in without greeting, exclaiming, "Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi raji'un!" Startled, Inna and I jumped to our feet.</p><p>"Inna, what happened?" she asked, clearly alarmed.</p><p>Ibrahim collapsed to the ground, his eyes bloodshot. “Inna, how could this happen?”</p><p>Not understanding, she replied, “What happened, Ibrahim?”</p><p>He responded, “Inna, do you know Hameed? Prince Hameed?”</p><p>"Yes, what about him?" she asked, growing more anxious.</p><p>“He's your son-in-law now. Your daughter Humaira and he are married; the marriage contract has been signed.”</p><p>Inna clutched her chest in shock. “What?! Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi raji'un!”</p><p>I was overwhelmed, collapsing beside Ibrahim, crying uncontrollably. “Ibrahim, please help me. Go back and tell them you're the one I chose. I can endure any hardship, but not this one—being tied to the prince and dealing with his royal family!”</p><p>"Stop talking nonsense," Ibrahim interrupted sternly. “Do you think I brought this upon you? This is Allah's decree. Trust that it is for the best.”</p><p>He got up and left. As we sat in stunned silence, we heard someone greet us from outside. Prince Hameed entered. His cologne reached me before he did. I stayed in a corner, hiding in the shadows, while he sat near the lamp.</p><p>He looked even more regal than before—more handsome and imposing. I stared at him, frustrated, wondering why he still carried himself with such arrogance.</p><p>He respectfully greeted Inna before speaking, but she interrupted him with a barrage of questions. “Why, Prince? Why did you make such a decision without consulting us? Don't you see this as a burden on my daughter? She's just a poor orphan! How do you expect her to deal with your father and your wife, Fareeda? Humaira cannot compete with royalty!”</p><p>The prince's face softened, and he smiled. "Inna, please calm down. I swear I had no intention of harming or deceiving you. My father is currently gravely ill, and I intend to use this opportunity to reconcile with him and ask for his forgiveness. There are suspicions that my siblings are behind his condition because they want the throne. But none of this will affect Humaira, I promise.</p><p>"As for Fareeda, my wife, she's under my authority in my household. I won't allow any harm or distress to befall Humaira. You also need to understand that Humaira’s family—her uncles—have no goodwill towards her. When I approached them as a suitor, I pretended to be a commoner seeking help. They said things that made it clear they look down on Humaira and want her to fail in life.</p><p>“I conducted thorough investigations into Ibrahim, too. He's a good man, but his wife is dangerous and vindictive. She poses a real threat to anyone she sees as competition. When I overheard them plotting, I knew I had to intervene. Initially, I only came to talk things over, but Humaira misinterpreted my actions and avoided me, which confirmed my fears that she blames me for all her troubles.”</p><p>He paused, and the room fell silent. I saw tears in Inna's eyes, which broke my heart. The prince continued, “Inna, please have faith. Tomorrow, we'll arrange for four to six people to visit my home and see where Humaira will be living. If you wish, you can come along.”</p><p>Inna seemed to relax a bit. The prince smiled faintly and assured her everything would be fine. Then, he excused himself and left.</p><p>The next day, we set off for the prince's residence. Along the way, I was consumed with worry. What kind of reception awaited us? What would Fareeda, his wife, do when she discovered our marriage? How would I cope with this new life?</p><p>After a long journey, we arrived at a vast estate in the middle of a forest. The prince's home was enormous, equipped with everything one could imagine for a comfortable life. A separate room was prepared for me, with a bed and a mirror. Food was brought in abundance, served in large dishes. The prince had truly gone out of his way to ensure everyone's comfort. Gifts and supplies were distributed to my family and the visitors before they left, leaving me behind.</p><p>Alone in the luxurious mansion, my thoughts were a whirlwind. The prince came to check on me later that night, asking if I needed anything. I shook my head, too overwhelmed to speak.</p><p>In the days that followed, he introduced a woman who would teach me how to manage the household and cook meals suitable for the palace. She spoke mostly English, which was challenging for me, but she was patient and kind. As she showed me around the kitchen, I marveled at the abundance of food and supplies.</p><p>Though I tried to adjust to this new life, the fear of Fareeda's reaction and the uncertainty of my future weighed heavily on me. Each day, I prayed for strength and hoped for peace in the tumultuous journey ahead.</p><p> </p><p> </p>
