"Adaab Ammi Jaan," I greeted my mother as I entered her room. The sunlight streamed in from the open balcony doors as the curtains fluttered from the sea breeze. The room was littered with books and papers, with my mother having tea at her desk.

"Elena, meri jaan (my love) you showed up," she exclaimed, lightly placing her hand on my lowered head. "We were worried you were going to ignore the invite, as you did for Farishta's wedding. I owe EJ dinner," there it was. The immediate attack and reprimand.

"Ammi Jaan, that was two years ago. I'm sure the gift was enough to soothe any issues she might have had," I replied giving her a fond smile.

"Family comes first bachay (kid). No gift can overcome that. Did I not teach you that? But of course, people in the west are very, how would you phrase it? Individualistic," she said twisting her lips as if she had tasted something very bitter. I stared at her in disbelief.

"Let it go Ammi Jaan, she was busy. Besides, she could never miss my wedding, after all, I am her only friend," Izzy interjected and seated himself on the ottoman. Ammi Jaan smiled at him before turning back to her cup of tea.

"I know all about her friends", Ammi Jaan muttered. "I hope you have some decent clothes or shall I ask Andaleeb to find something for you?",

"It's lovely to see you too Ammi Jaan. How was my flight you ask? Wonderful. No, Rania has called in a few favors, we'll have the dresses here tomorrow," I answered giving her a sarcastic smile.

"Rania bachay, I hope they're all designer dresses. The bride will be wearing a Hassan exclusive," she said giving me an exasperated look.

"Hassan who?" I whispered to Rania.

"New in the fashion circuit. Youngest son of the Baloch Sardar. Progressive imagery and all that..." she whispered back. I shook my head in annoyance.

"Rania please make sure that she gets a designer who can make a statement. We can not afford to lose this opportunity. It's her homecoming, she will be welcomed back into the society," Ammi Jaan said as she finished her tea and turned around to reach for a file.

"It's not my wedding, let the bride and groom make whatever statements necessary," I replied. Ammi Jaan put the file down to glare at me.

Izzy coughed to break the awkward silence. Rania slinked back muttering about her site visit and left the room.

"Izhaan, please be a dear and ask Andaleeb to send in my breakfast in precisely thirty minutes." Izzy bolted out of the room shutting the door behind me. I sighed. This was going to be a long day.

"Sit Elena. I've heard you are faring well in that little job of yours",

"It's not a little job. And yes, it is going quite well. Did your informants also tell you how I found them trying to create a duplicate key for my apartment?" I asked sitting on the ottoman, crossing my legs.

"A minor issue. It was for your safety"

"How would I have been safe with someone having access to my apartment?"

"You were living in that questionable neighborhood. I do wish you would have chosen to live in your fathers' apartments"

"I wouldn't have been able to afford that," I huffed covering up the pang of sadness I felt at the mention of my father.

"Of course not. But that's your inheritance," She waved her hand to dismiss my glare.

"I asked for space"

"And you got your space. More than anyone of us has any right to have. You took quite a vacation. Five years of minimal contact, with no visits and no interest in your legacy," She passed the file she was studying to me, avoiding my gaze as she tried to conceal the hurt that showed in her eyes. "Things are not as they appear to be. We need you back."

"Izhaan has managed to do fine without me," I answered, softening my tone and grabbing the file from her. "Economic woes, huh, what does that have to do with us? We're not politicians"

"I didn't expect you to be so naive Elena," I stared at my mother in disbelief. The matriarch was back. She sighed and patted her hair to make sure it was secure in its bun.

"There's a revolution on the horizon darling. Even you with your so-called better education, you can see that," she said getting up and walking out onto the balcony.

"Revolutions have never been successful in Akbarabad," I replied joining her and staring out towards the city. Akbarabad looked beautiful as it glittered under the morning sun.

"Those people see us as figures, leaders, people of consequence. They want someone to blame"

"That would have been true a hundred years ago, or during the Mughal era, but not today. We're a democracy Ammi Jaan. The people have their right to vote. I hardly think they'll take to the streets just because we exist. We have nothing to do with the governance of this country. We're not elected to Gulzar Mahal," I exclaimed, rolling my eyes.

"Your great great great grandfather was a favorite of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. So much so that he named the city after him. We are a symbol of that history. Like the British Royal Family," and there it was. "Symbols are important and necessary even when they are not in plain sight and if necessity demands, they are torn down to convey a message," she continued.

"What has changed? What is it? It can not be the politics or the economy. We've gone through this every election cycle. This is the norm now," I said troubled by her grave expression. My mother was prone to exaggeration but she was extremely protective about the family and if she thought we were in danger, something was definitely amiss. She shook her head in warning as a knock sounded into the room.

Sighing in defeat I walked back inside the room just as Alia rushed into the room with a tray in her hands. 

"Bari Begum Sahib, the minister is here to see you."
"Murad?"Ammi Jaan asked, her face polite but blank. Alia bobbed her head in confirmation. Ammi Jaan threw a sharp look towards me. "Seems like you're presence has been noticed," I groaned.
"It's been two hours since I arrived. He's probably here for something else," I said picking up a croissant.

Ammi Jaan slapped it from my hands. "Have you forgotten your manners? The only reason I let you stay with the British was that they are the only ones with some culture and traditions. Yet you come back and start picking food from trays that are not brought for you? Is that what I taught you? I'm very disappointed Elena"

My cheeks burned red from the scolding. In a second, my mother was gone and the matriarch was back.
"Apparently I've arrived in the nineteenth century", Ammi Jaan scoffed in amusement.
"You never would have survived. Alia, bring this tray to the white room. I'll have breakfast there," she replied and walking out of the room. "And you, get some rest, we have a long week ahead"

I sighed in resignation. Alia stood in the corner with her hands folded in front of her, her head bowed.
"Alia, after you're done, I'll take my breakfast in my room. I'm starving and I also need some fresh clothes," I said.
"Right away Begum Sahiba," she replied scurrying away quickly.

I walked out of the room thinking about the previous conversation. Something was definitely going on. The elections were in a month, my mother was worried and Uncle EJ was on a top-secret mission. The two of them were up to something or something was out to get them. Both of those thoughts led to disastrous consequences.

The hallway was lined with photographs of the previous Sahibs. The family did not own any official titles since the British made sure to strip them away in their conquest of Akbarabad, but the seat had remained. A line of imposing men stared back at me as I walked towards my room. The very last portrait was my favorite. The portrait of my father. Painted with oil paints, it seemed like he was just waiting to rush out of the picture to give me a hug. His brown eyes stared back with pride and confidence. His cheeks were streaked with a dash of dark pink, his mouth twisted midway between a smile and a scowl. He looked healthy and full of life. A far cry from how I last saw him.

"We miss him too you know"
"I know Izzy, I know," I replied not taking my eyes off the portrait.
"Have you had anything to eat yet? I'm sure commercial airlines aren't that great at providing food," I laughed at his feeble attempt at a joke.
"Nope, they're the worst," I replied turning to look at him. "How have you been Izzy?"

His eyes softened and he moved closer. "How have you been Eli-bear? You started quite a life. A life without any of us," I nodded trying to ignore the guilt and panic that crawled up my spine. I had disappeared in the dead of night without telling anyone.

"Don't. Not that again," I held up my hand. "I left for a reason and I'm only here for a week. Tell me about your wedding plans. I want to know everything. Let's pretend we're a normal family for a day," he gave me a level look and for a second I thought he might push it, but then he smiled. 

"Took you long enough to ask"

****************************************************************************************

Moms will be moms, am I right? This is what I imagine Elena's mother to look like.