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Part 1: Abdul Maleek's Plot and the Confrontation
Abdul Maleek walked directly into his mother's room without knocking, as was his usual custom. He stood over them stiffly like a piece of wood, huffing and puffing. In a soothing tone, Hajjiya Ummah asked him what had upset him.
Pouting, he replied, "Seriously, my rights are being infringed upon. How can I be expected to behave in a way that isn't naturally mine? I want to return to being my true self, Maleek."
Seeing that he was about to set their progress backward, Hajjiya Ummah quickly intervened, "Oh come on, Maleek! You are trying to pray before you've even performed ablution. We haven't even gotten anywhere yet, and you already want to ruin our entire plan. Just endure it until everything falls into place, then you can do whatever you please."
"Look here, Ummah. Honestly, you are being very selfish. You're enjoying your own life while restricting mine. Look at me—ever since I returned, I hasn't smoked any weed, let alone taken a drink. You know exactly what kind of state I can fall into if I don't get a fix."
Hajjiya Zulai, who was sitting nearby watching Maleek as if she were watching television, chimed in, "Don't stress yourself, Maleek. You can simply leave the palace, go somewhere else to finish your drinking and smoking, and then return once you've sobered up. How does that sound?"
He looked at her, burst into laughter, and said, "That's why I love you so much! But that's only a temporary fix. As soon as power is firmly back in my hands, I'll drink and do whatever I want right in the middle of this palace courtyard."
Hajjiya Ummah, utterly disgusted and at a loss for words, glared at him. "Maleek, you better watch your step. You talk about ruling, yet you want to drink heavily in front of your subjects? What a completely useless king you would make!"
Unbothered, he just kept laughing and then said, "By the way, I saw a newcomer here in the palace. I asked her about herself, and she told me she is Diddi's doctor."
Surprised, they both spoke in unison as if they had rehearsed it: "Diddi's doctor?!"
He confirmed it to them. Hajjiya Ummah then said, "Whatever they are planning, we will find out. For now, the best thing for us to do is focus on our main goal. As for you, you need to figure out how to fully win over your father so he completely trusts you until the moment he hands over power to you. You must monitor his every move and also keep a close eye on your brother, Maheer. Know everything he does. That is how we will easily achieve our objectives."
"I'll do my best to make sure everything goes smoothly."
"Excellent! Now that sounds like my Prince," Hajjiya Ummah said with a smile.
Maleek then left the room, leaving them to continue discussing how their plan would unfold.
Part 2: Tensions at the Palace
After waking up from my nap, I performed my prayers and headed to Diddi's room. I found her sitting up and reciting her litanies. In a caring voice, I asked how her body was feeling.
She replied, "Much better. I sent my maid to check on you, and she told me you were asleep. Sleeping right before Maghrib isn't good, dear."
"That's true, Diddi. I just lay down for a moment and the next thing I knew, I woke up to find I had overslept. I will be careful next time."
"Have you eaten any food?"
"I'm not hungry right now. Maybe I'll eat later." We then settled into a comfortable chat.
Presently, Prince Maheer walked in and found us talking. He greeted Diddi and then looked at me without saying a word. Diddi spoke up:
"Khadijah, this is my grandson, Prince Maheer. You will enjoy staying with him; he is easygoing and knows how to interact well with people. And you, Maheer, this is Khadeeja. She has no issues, she will take excellent care of me, and she is very respectful and calm. I hope you both understand each other. I don't want a repeat of what happened earlier."
Maheer looked at Deeje. Seeing her stern, uninviting facial expression, he found it amusing that she was strictly holding a grudge against him. He smiled and said, "Insha Allah, Diddi, that won't happen again."
I looked at him, gave him a sharp glare, and told Diddi, "I will do my best to ensure everything goes smoothly."
She replied, "Good, I would love for us to unite and live together peacefully."
Up until this point, I still didn't fully comprehend the hidden meaning behind Diddi’s words. Sensing that they might want to talk privately, I bid Diddi goodnight and left the room. I went to the main parlor and sat down. The television was on but unwatched, tuned to MBC4 playing an Arabic movie. Hearing movement, I looked up and saw the same man from earlier (Maleek). I greeted him, and he sat down, asking:
"Are you also a fan of Arabic movies?"
I looked at him, smiled politely, and said, "Well, not deeply, but I do find them quite fascinating."
Seeing her respond so pleasantly and openly, he adjusted his posture and said, "They certainly know how to make movies, and their plots carry a lot of meaning. I love watching them too. You know, I actually lived in their country for a few years."
"Oh, really? I've heard that their country is known for great hospitality..."
"What are you doing here?!"
We both spun around to see who spoke. The words were barked out in deep anger and a raised voice. It was Maheer, standing there like a raging hyena, huffing with fury. He snapped again:
"Go back to your room!"
Seeing this, Maleek immediately got up and walked away. I looked at Maheer and challenged him, "I don't understand. How can you just find me sitting down and order me to leave? Is it a crime for guests to sit in the parlor of this palace instead of being locked away in their rooms?"
"Khadeeja, or whatever your name is, that man you were with is not a good person. Why would you even sit with him, let alone engage him in conversation?"
I shook my head with a mocking smile, looked him dead in the eye, and said, "Just because you are not a good person, you assume everyone else is just like you. You don't even spare your own brother? What kind of person are you? Seriously, you should learn from him—he is a good man and very easygoing."
Prince Maheer's blood boiled at her words, his body literally trembling with rage. He muttered tightly, "It is absolutely mandatory that you stop interacting with him, because you are not here because of him. If you are here for him, then we shall see."
"I'm not here for you either; I am here for Diddi! Besides, what is your business with me anyway? Didn't we agree earlier that you mind your business and I mind mine? I can see you clearly don't want peace. Rest assured, I stand by my word—I am going to report your true, awful character to Diddi."
Saying this, I stormed past him to my room, locked the door behind me, went into the bathroom to perform ablution, and prayed Ishai. Afterward, I went over to the food that had been laid out for me, dished some onto a plate, and began to eat.
Meanwhile, Prince Maheer stormed into his room in a blind fury. He went straight to the bathroom, turned on the shower, and let the water run over him as he exhaled heavily. Closing his eyes, he replayed the painful, biting words Khadeeja had hurled at him. He realized he had to find a way to make her understand his true intentions and protect her from Maleek's malice. He could see the lustful intent written all over Maleek’s face whenever he looked at her. He knew Maleek's dark nature; if Maleek got close to her, it would mean utter disaster, and it wouldn't take much for him to ruin her life. But how could he even begin to protect her when she completely blinded herself to his warnings because of the bad impression she got of him back at his rest house? Still, he vowed to do whatever it took to thwart Maleek's plans.
After finishing his bath, he performed his prayers, dried off, and walked straight to Maleek's room. Pushing the door open, he found Maleek lounging on his bed in just a pair of shorts, enjoying the breeze.
"Maleek, I see exactly what you are trying to pull with that girl," Maheer warned coldly. "I know you inside out. Consider this a stern warning: back off and stay away from her. If you refuse, you already know what the consequences will be. This is the first time I am stepping into your room to address this matter, but a second time will not be pleasant for you. So, it's better for you to think about it. The decision is yours."
With that final warning, Maheer turned and left the room, heading down to the palace courtyard to spend the night discussing matters with his father.
Abdul Maleek flashed an evil, triumphant smile. He was thrilled because his manipulation was already working perfectly. He muttered aloud to himself:
"Of course! The decision is mine."
Part 3: Shocked by a Familiar Face
After completing my morning routine, I dressed in a beautiful atamfa skirt and blouse, sprayed myself with sweet-scented perfume, draped a shawl over my shoulders, and walked gracefully out toward Diddi's wing. Just as I was passing the parlor, a voice called out from the side:
"Good morning, Doctor."
I looked toward the voice. It was Maleek, dressed in very decent, respectable traditional attire, sitting and watching MBC4. I smiled and returned the greeting:
"Good morning to you, sir. I hope you are resting well."
Delighted by the title, he said, "Look, the movie you like is on. I came out specifically to watch it too."
"Oh wow, has it started already? I need to go check on Diddi right now, but as soon as I'm done, I'll come right back out to watch."
Beaming with joy, he said, "Alright, go ahead. How is her health today?"
"She's fine. But you've already greeted her this morning, right?"
"Yes, we've greeted," he answered briefly.
Just then, Hajjiya Ummah and her close friend Zulai emerged from their wing, heading toward the dining area for breakfast. The moment Hajjiya Ummah spotted Deeje, she froze and gasped, "Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihir raji'un! Zulai, are you seeing what my eyes are showing me? Is that her ghost haunting us, or what...?"
Hajjiya Zulai stood with her mouth wide open, staring intently at Deeje. "By Allah, this is a literal case of 'drop dead and return'! It has to be her ghost, because we are looking at a living mirror image..."
Seeing the two of them coming out together, chatting so comfortably—even without being told, I could recognize the royal woman dressed in magnificent attire. She was fair-skinned and bore a striking, undeniable resemblance to Maleek. I deduced she must be his mother.
I bowed slightly and said respectfully, "Good morning to you both."
Their tongues tied in shock, they managed to stammer out a joint reply while continuing to scan me from head to toe. Hajjiya Zulai asked, "Are you a guest here?"
"Yes, Your Highness, I am a guest."
Hajjiya Ummah added, "Well, we welcome you to the palace." Even without being formally introduced, she guessed this must be Diddi's new doctor.
"Thank you very much," I replied. "I truly admire the wonderful character of the people in this beautiful palace."
They walked past me toward the dining area, visibly shaken and heavily troubled. In her panic, Hajjiya Ummah accidentally bumped heavily into Hajjiya Zulai before pulling out a dining chair.
"Hey, watch your step! Why are you acting like you've completely lost your mind?" Zulai hissed.
"Zulai, I desperately need to find out who that girl is. My gut is telling me there is a dark reason behind her arrival at this palace. Didn't you see how much she looks like my late co-wife, Balbina? I strongly suspect she was deliberately sent here to ruin us," Ummah whispered anxiously as she sat down.
"Whatever the case is, we will uncover it. Let's just eat breakfast first. I'm starving, and I need to hit the road today because my daughter is currently in labor," Zulai replied, scooping food onto her plate. Hajjiya Ummah dished her food as well, and they began to eat.
Meanwhile, I smiled to myself, thinking about how beautiful the woman who resembled Maleek looked in her royal garments, adorned with three massive, glittering gold necklaces and long, shiny earrings. Maleek looked at me and explained, "That was my mother and her friend."
"Yes, I noticed you two look incredibly alike. Let me head inside now, see you later."
I walked into Diddi's room and found her eating breakfast. I sat beside her and greeted her. She responded and asked, "Have you eaten breakfast? If not, dish some out and eat. Don't sit around on an empty stomach."
"I haven't eaten yet, Diddi, but I will later. I'm not hungry right now."
"Ah, Khadeeja, I won't tolerate you starving yourself. Do you want to fall sick from hunger?"
I smiled. "I will eat, Diddi. I just came to check your vitals and ensure you are taking your medications on time."
"I don't play around with them. Look, they are right here. As soon as I finish eating, I will take them."
"Perfect, Diddi, that's best. I have a few clinical tests to run on you. Once you finish eating, we will get to it."
Right then, Prince Maheer walked in with a polite greeting. We responded, and he sat down to greet Diddi and ask how she was feeling.
"Much better. How was your morning?"
"Alhamdulillah, Diddi."
"Have you had breakfast?"
"Not yet, I'll eat later. I need to head over to the prison (kurkuku) right now to oversee some official duties..."
She cut him off, picked up a food flask, dished out some food, and placed it right in front of him, insisting he eat. He immediately began to whine and act like a spoiled child in front of her. While doing so, he stole glances at me, and whenever our eyes met, I quickly looked away. Diddi noticed this and scolded gently:
"Khadeeja, you haven't greeted your older brother yet."
Without looking directly at him, I muttered, "Good morning."
In a warm, gentle voice, he replied, "Good morning. Thank you for your hard work with Diddi, we truly appreciate it. May Allah reward you."
"Ameen," I replied, and immediately began conducting my medical checks on Diddi. Finding everything stable, I quietly stood up, bid them goodbye, and retired to my room to eat breakfast and take a nap.
Part 4: The Outing and Growing Suspicions
By my third day at the palace, my skin had become noticeably radiant and even fairer due to the absolute rest, absence of harsh sunlight, and the high-end luxury soaps and body lotions provided to me. I was thoroughly enjoying my stay at the palace, except for one thing: I couldn't stand how Prince Maheer visibly displayed intense anger every single time he caught me talking to Maleek. I couldn't understand his problem, assuming he was just naturally hostile and against my peace of mind.
The ringing of my phone suddenly snapped me out of my thoughts. I picked it up and saw it was Shareefa. Smiling broadly, I answered:
"My sister, my other half! I've been meaning to call you since yesterday but it completely slipped my mind."
"Bestie! I miss you so much. How is the palace life? Is it sweet?"
"Genuinely sweet, my sister! You need to see me; I've practically become a member of the royal family."
Shareefa burst into hearty laughter. "Wow! I hope they don't sweep my bestie off her feet. Look at you, Deeje, the future daughter-in-law to the King!"
"Hmm, relax, no one is doing any sweeping. You'll see me return exactly as I left—I am still very much single."
We gossiped extensively before hanging up. I stepped out to head to Diddi's wing but stopped in my tracks. The western wing of the palace parlor was being extensively redecorated. Surprised, I wondered to myself if a grand royal wedding was being prepared. Diddi’s maid approached and asked if I needed anything.
"No, thank you, I'm just heading to Diddi's room." The maid returned to her chores while I walked inside.
I found Diddi lying down. Upon hearing my greeting, she sat up and complained, "Khadeeja, I am completely tired of lying down. I need a short walk to stretch my legs and get my blood flowing."
"That's completely true, Diddi. You need some light exercise today to boost your circulation. Let me help you up so we can take a stroll."
Diddi stood up happily. As we stepped out and saw the decorations underway in the western wing near Maleek's quarters, Diddi murmured, "So they've already started the preparations. May Allah bring her back safely."
Without fully understanding who she was referring to, I simply replied, "Ameen."
Holding her hand, we walked slowly out into the palace compound. She pointed toward the royal gardens. As we entered, the crisp, cool air and the refreshing scent of damp soil washed over us. The lush green grass was beautifully dusted with morning dew. I helped her sit down on a relaxation chair and sat beside her, smiling broadly, thoroughly enchanted by the garden's beauty. Diddi turned to me and asked a deeply reflective question:
"Khadeeja, I would love to hear your story. Could you tell me a little bit about your life?"
I slowly raised my head, staring at a nearby lemon tree. Overwhelmed by a wave of sadness about my past, I said softly, "My story is very long, Diddi. But I can tell you a little bit. As you already know, my name is Khadeej..."
"Diddi, so this is where you chose to sit today? I went to your room and couldn't find you, and your maid told me you had stepped outside." Prince Maheer suddenly interrupted, walking up to us.
"Yes, Maheer. I wanted to stretch my legs, so Khadeeja helped me out here."
He walked closer and sat next to Diddi, his premium royal perfume instantly filling the entire space. I looked up at him, and for the first time, he looked incredibly striking and commanding to me. He was dressed in full, magnificent royal attire with a perfectly wrapped turban that suited him flawlessly. Catching me staring, he smiled gently and said:
"Hello, Doctor. Thank you for your great efforts."
I instantly snapped my gaze away and muttered a brief, "You're welcome." I stood up and walked away to give them space, leaning against a nearby pawpaw tree.
Prince Maheer smiled warmly, watching her walk away. Her dignified, no-nonsense attitude deeply intrigued and charmed him.
Diddi noticed how intently he followed me with his eyes and teased, "She is a wonderful girl, isn't she, Maheer?"
Scratching the back of his neck sheepishly, he replied, "Umm, she's not bad."
"I feel immense pity for her. I truly wish her parents would give her to me permanently."
Maheer let out a genuine, hearty laugh. "Diddi, you never fail to amuse me. You can't just take someone's fully grown daughter and keep her! How do you expect her parents to feel?"
"Well, she can always visit them from time to time. By the way, you look fully dressed up. Where are you heading?"
"I have some shopping to do, but His Majesty mentioned we have some official guests arriving, so I'll handle the shopping later. Do you need anything?"
"Yes, I need quite a few things. When we go inside, Khadeeja will write a list for you so you can buy them."
"Alright, Diddi. I'll check back in before I leave."
"Good. Any updates regarding Yusrah's arrival? I noticed the decorations have already begun for her return. I hope there won't be any issues from your end."
He went silent for a moment before replying, "No issues, Diddi. But honestly, I wish she would just stay at her father's palace until the actual wedding day."
"This is the ancient custom of this palace, Maheer. She must reside here leading up to the wedding."
"Alright, I'm heading to the palace court now, see you later." He glanced over at Khadeeja, who had walked further into the garden, pacing slowly and studying the plants one by one.
He walked over until he was standing right behind her, quietly admiring her figure. In a gentle voice, he said:
"Khadijah."
Startled by the sudden mention of my name, I spun around defensively, my face tightening into a frown as I looked past him toward Diddi.
He smiled to himself, thinking about how she was a funny mix of easily startled, fierce, and incredibly stubborn. Aloud, he simply said, "I am leaving now. Go back and sit with Diddi."
"Fine." I walked right past him without another word. He watched me walk all the way back to Diddi and sit down. Shaking his head with a smile, he exited the garden and headed to the palace court to meet his father.
The official guests had already arrived. Maheer personally opened the meeting. Just then, Maleek walked in gracefully, putting on the facade of a perfect, responsible gentleman. His father gestured for him to come closer. Maleek bowed respectfully, and the King asked why he was late. Maleek claimed he was finishing up some important tasks. The King then instructed him to assist Maheer in coordinating the meeting. Maleek was thrilled by this opportunity. He stood up, walked over, and said mockingly, "Hello, big brother Maheer." Maheer completely ignored his provocation and continued leading the meeting, granting the visitors the floor to discuss the new developmental projects to be launched in the kingdom.
Back in the garden, Diddi looked at me. "Khadijah, let's head back inside. I feel fully refreshed now."
"No, Diddi, you've only been sitting since we got here. Let's take a short walk around the perimeter first before we head back inside." We strolled around the beautiful grounds together before returning to her wing. By then, the decorations in the western wing near Maleek's quarters were fully completed. Once inside, Diddi lay down, exhaling a sigh of relief.
"Khadeeja, please grab a pen and a sheet of paper. I will dictate the things I need so you can write them down."
"Alright, Diddi." I fetched the stationery, sat next to her, and noted down all her daily provisions. When I finished, she said, "Keep the list with you for now; I'll ask for it later."
Just then, Prince Maheer walked in with a greeting. He sat down, and Diddi announced:
"Maheer, the list of everything I need is with Khadijah. The two of you should go together so you can do your shopping while she picks out my items!"
Both of our eyes widened in absolute shock. We stared at Diddi in disbelief.
Prince Maheer quickly objected, "Diddi, if the list isn't too long, I can easily buy everything myself. There's no need for us to go together. You see..."
She cut him off firmly, "No! I want Khadeeja to personally pick out my things. If you won't take her with you, then forget about it; don't bother buying anything for me at all!"
"That's not what I meant, Diddi," Maheer relented with a sigh. "Fine, tell her to meet me at the car." With that, he turned and left, deeply astonished by how much Diddi adored Khadeeja. He walked over to his vehicle, where his guard opened the front passenger door for him, and he sat down.
I remained frozen right where he left me, having absolutely no intention of moving. Why on earth would Diddi force this on me? Why couldn't she just let him do his shopping alone?
"Khadeeja, hurry up and go after him. Don't keep him waiting," Diddi urged gently.
"Alright, Diddi," I muttered reluctantly. I stood up and walked out. Seeing a convoy of three sleek cars, I stopped in my tracks, completely confused about which vehicle I was supposed to enter. As I stood there hesitating, one of Maheer's royal guards approached me and said:
"The Prince said you should come over so we can leave."
I followed him. He opened the door to one of the backup cars, and I climbed in. Prince Maheer was not in this car, which didn't surprise me at all. The driver drove out of the palace gates and navigated through the city streets. After a long drive, we arrived at a massive, high-end shopping plaza—the exact same shop where Maheer had originally "kidnapped" me to help his grandmother.
I stepped out after the guard opened my door, but instead of walking in, I just leaned against the side of the car, waiting to see what would happen. Maheer’s head guard rushed inside the plaza to clear the venue and announce the Prince’s arrival. Within moments, the ordinary shoppers inside were ushered out, standing around the perimeter to wait for the Prince to finish his shopping before they could go back inside.
Prince Maheer stepped out of his luxury car with his signature elegant stride and headed toward the entrance. However, he abruptly stopped when he realized Khadeeja hadn't followed him. He glanced back and saw her leaning heavily against the car, showing absolutely no sign of moving. He turned around completely to face her, staring...
2. Summary
The narrative details the escalating conflict within the royal palace involving Prince Maheer, Abdul Maleek, and Khadeeja (Deejee), alongside brewing palace conspiracies.
- Maleek's Deception and the Mothers' Plot: Abdul Maleek expresses his frustration to his mother, Hajjiya Ummah, and her friend Zulai about having to hide his drug and alcohol addictions to maintain a "good gentleman" persona. Ummah strictly warns him to maintain the facade until the King hands over power to him, urging him to monitor Maheer's every move. Meanwhile, Hajjiya Ummah and Zulai spot Khadeeja in the palace and are horrified by her striking, uncanny resemblance to Ummah’s deceased co-wife, Balbina, fueling immediate suspicions that Khadeeja was sent to undermine them.
- The Romantic Triangle and Palace Friction: Khadeeja continues her duties as Diddi's personal medical nutritionist. Maleek attempts to charm her by being pleasant and sharing his love for Arabic movies, which Khadeeja responds to warmly. This infuriates Prince Maheer, who fiercely commands Khadeeja to stay away from Maleek, knowing Maleek's predatory and destructive nature. Misunderstanding Maheer’s protective warnings as sheer arrogance and hostility, Khadeeja fiercely rebukes him, praising Maleek's "easygoing" behavior. This prompts a direct confrontation where Maheer enters Maleek's room and issues a lethal final warning to stay away from Khadeeja.
- Diddi's Matchmaking and the Forced Outing: Diddi clearly grows to love Khadeeja, dropping hints about wanting her to stay permanently in the family. She deliberately orchestrates an outing by forcing Maheer and Khadeeja to go shopping together for her provisions. The chapter closes at a high-end shopping plaza—the very same place where Maheer and Khadeeja originally met—highlighting the stark contrast between Maheer's heavily guarded, high-society royal reality and Khadeeja's stubborn, independent refusal to submit to his authority.
