Chapter 51: Chapter 51
THE ACT ONE
Aamina stood at the hidden corner, opposite the kitchen, no one would be able to see her, due to how dark the corner seemed to be.
She heard and saw everything that had transpired between Miss Lucy and Prince Madok.
She mentally made an applause clap for Lucy. "Afterall it isn't everytime he gets to commanding people around, sometimes he's got to or pushed about also", she thought.
Whereas after Prince Madok had left for his room, she came out of her hidden corner, signalled to Khadija, so they could take their leave.
Khadija took the hint and left the kitchen immediately, "he must surely suspect something is off", Khadija said to Aamina.
Aamina nodded her head and replied, "he will surely do, by the way do have a good night sleep.
Remember for you and for the unborn baby", Aamina said as she snickered and gave an hysterical laughter.
"That is too loud, take it down, you should know that because I am pregnant, this loud laughter of yours could cause some headache, you also don't think the baby would like it.
Do you?", Khadija said with a tone of irony.
"Ohhh I am so sorry, ma'am, I promise not to be so bashful with my laughters", Aamina said as she bursted into another round of laughter.
"Alright, alright, it's time to sleep, goodnight Aamina", Khadija said, as she brought her hands to the surface of her stomach and rubbed on it as she continued, "hey bunny, tell aunty goodnight".
Aamina looked at Khadija and replied, "don't worry bunny, I can hear all of it, goodnight too", she said, as they both parted ways, to their respective bedroom.
*************
Everyone was out for breakfast, apart from the Robsons', they were the only ones missing at the dining room.
All the Zadir family were seated, still waiting for their visitors to come out.
In their tradition, they respect the visitors so much and treat them with concern, it's their duty to make sure they eat at the right time and also partake in any activity which could be going on in the Royal House.
Prince Madok decided to use it as an opportunity to correct the wrongs of yesterday night, he wanted to clear every doubt of Lucy Robson on him.
He stood up and was about leaving the dining room when his mother, the Queen stopped him.
"Madok?, Where are you going to?.
Don't you think, you should be patient enough to sit down and wait for our visitors to come down to dine with us.
You just want to leave, because of what happened last night?, You dare not try that.
You will just come back here and sit down, while we wait for our Mrs Robson and her daughter Miss Lucy to come down.
You don't actually know what's delaying them from coming down", Queen Amancia said, as she gave him an abrupt glance.
"Mother, far from it, I am not impatient about their inability to be here at this time of the day.
I believe that my future bride to be, is so tired and would rather spend the rest of the day, recuperating from yesterday's journey.
I was just about to go upstairs and see if I could find out what's delaying mother and daughter from joining us at table", he replied his mother.
"And what did you say happen yesterday?", the Emir asked.
"Ohh, er..ermm, n-noth-ing, nothing my husband, it's just that...
"I won't ask again, what are the wrongs, both of you insist on making right?", He asked again, already getting impatient at their replies.
"If I don't get an answer from any of you, consider this breakfast over, I will rather have mine in my room", Abdul, Madok and Rashids'father said.
He is a hot tempered man, Rashid got most of his trait from him.
From the old man's height, to the nail of his toe.
No difference.
"He was just talking about, you know, yesterday night, he had mistakenly poured cold water on her, when he wanted to offer her a cup.
He was only talking about righting his mistake, that's all my husband", Amancia said, with her head bowed and with trembling hands.
The Emir calmed down after her explanation, as Madok came back to his seat.
"Khadija, go to the Robsons'room, check out what they are doing and call them out for breakfast.
Hurry up", Queen Amancia ordered.
Khadija bowed and scurried up to their room.
She was still on the staircase, when she heard alighting sounds, she looked up immediately, it was the Robsons'.
She stood on her side, greeted them with a smile and allowed them to pass.
Meanwhile, the Queen was expecting Khadija to be back already, to give her feedback, she wanted to howl out her name, when she saw her friend coming down with her daughter.
"Ohhh, I was just about coming up to check what was actually delaying you both, but on the contrary I remembered you both had a very hectic journey, so... I decided to let you both sleep and have a great time to yourselves.
Nevertheless, how was your night?", Amancia asked.
"It was very fine, my dearest, everything was good, from the warm bath to the fluffy bed, we both enjoyed it", Mrs Robson replied as she urged her daughter forward to greet the family.
Lucy reluctantly obliged to her mother's request, "Good morning to you all", she said, not even addressing Madok, or giving him a glance.
It was time for the act, "Khadija, dish out the food", Queen Amancia instructed like the Queen she is.
Khadija replied her and went over to dish out the food, starting from the Emir, to the Queen, she finally went over to Mrs Robson, before heading over to Prince Madoks'side of the table.
When she was about to dish out the food, the urge to throw up started hitting back at her.
She dropped the serving spoon and rushed into the guest toilet.
With head bent over, she threw out the contents of her last night food.
She was about leaving when it the nauseous smell came hitting on her.
After she was done throwing up, she washed her face and her mouth, she looked at the mirror in front of her, she noticed the presence of someone.
It was prince Madok, she finally lifted her face, turned around and was about heading to the dinning room, when his hands clasped hard over hers.
"What is wrong with you?", He asked in a calm voice as he wanted no one to hear the ensuing discussion between the both of them.
"I-i e-er-er-eeerm, I re-ally don't know my prince, maybe it's a little headache and e-er-er-eeerm, maybe it's what I ate yesterday night", she stuttered.
"I do hope, it's what you ate yesterday night, I hope so, I hope it's nothing else other than that", he thundered.
After that, he grabbed his robe off the floor and hurriedly walked out of the guest toilet.
She used her hands to wipe off her mouth, as she eyed him warily.
************
Madok came back to the dinning room, he was acting so queasy that Lucy could not help but notice him.
She noticed the way he rushed out immediately the lady dishing out the food, who turns out to be Khadija, left the room.
She perceived something fishy might be going on between the both of them, she waved it aside and continued with her meal, "afterall it is none of my concern, my only concern is with Rashid", she thought, as a smile litted up her face.
The Queen could not help but notice when Luciana smiled and also, when her son hurriedly left the room, like though there was something important he had to attend to.
She was not even worried about Khadijas' attitude that morning, a very selfish Queen who cared only about herself.
Her selfishness is what closed her eyes to everything surrounding her.
Khadija came back to the dinning room, Madok turned back and gave her an ugly stare.
Khadija did not reply the stare, rather she went ahead to dish out his food, she wanted to go to Lucy's side when she noticed she had already dished out her food.
She stood tiredly and bunched up against the wall.
Some minutes later, they were done eating.
"Khadija, Khadija, Kha-di-ja", the Queen called.
"What's wrong with her?", The Queen asked no one in particular.
She stood up and tapped her, Khadija woke up with searching and scanning eyes, roaming over the place.
Lucy noticed the intense and harsh stare Madok gave Khadija.
She knew something was off and definitely wrong somewhere.
"I am sorry, my Queen, e-er-er-eeerm, I slept late yesterday night. I am so sorry", she said again.
"You better be", Amancia replied her.