My father returned within a week. Bought the Lego toy for Fateh, nothing for me.

I ate the doughnut.

I can feel myself returning home. Like my smile coming back and my carelessness mixing with my voice. My actions speaking without my permission. I was like this years back but why now?

My melancholy has subsided or has hidden.

Maybe we are not sad, we are just not distracted.

Distraction makes the sadness go away and I am way beyond occupied with rambling thoughts, solving mysteries of Dar-Al-Maqamah.

I heard Mrs. Kasheefa cooking lunch.

"Need help? " I enquired.

"No. Go out and play," she said beaming.

Well, I am an adult. So that made Al-Hassan so offended. I grinned with the thought.

I was crossing the garden, I saw the gathering of the brothers there.

I was bored. Should I see them? Probably should.

I greeted not noticing a new addition.
A man, tall and lean. White skin and messy hair. Wearing jeans and a T-shirt. A boy mind me, wearing headphones and a phone in his hands.

A city Guy.

Making all of them seem like the rich kids of fancy dress party whose theme had been Hollywood glamour of the '20s.

"hi," he said bringing his hand forward for a handshake.

"Hello," I said putting my hands in each other.

"You got married? " he asked the brothers.

"he's my cousin from North Carolina. Ar-Danish Wahi. Ar-Danish this is Falaq-Naaz, our... Our guest" Al-Wais introduced.

"you can call me Dan. Danny is fine too" he fumbled.

"please have a seat" Al-Wildan offered.

I had to sit down.

" were you lost? Where are you from? I've come to see my Lil Willy man" he went on.

Al-Wais drew my draft for him. To be frank, he was not as weird as the surrounding made him look like.
In fact, he was the new age guy from any city. Comfortable and approachable.

"How's work?" Al-Wais asked.

"Man I'm telling you this new boss of mine is such pain in my a**. Fu*king bit*h. She is ruining my life. The other day I called the zoo, I was like "Man take your property from here, I'll pay you with my a** if I had to. Didn't help, still sucking my blood."

I looked at the side. They all did not appreciate his sense of humor.

I had heard rants like these often. Now they seem strange from this seven-month detox.

When he left. Al-Wildan asked me "city men? "

"yes they're near all the same"
I said.

At night when I cannot sleep, I have developed this ritual, black tea for Al-Wais and a tea with milk for me under the stars until I feel sleepy enough to cut off the conversation with the King.

I reached the balcony and my mood spoiled.

The new guest had occupied my place.

"Oh come Falaq," he said.

My name after days.

"oh you bought coffee for us" he took a cup.

"ugh that's tea"

"I don't like tea much but I'll manage"

That was my tea.

Al-Wais took a sip and smiled sheepishly.

I hate them.

"sit with us," he said making a place.

At first, there was no, then he forced me to join. Then I sat but beside Al-Wais.

"it must be hard for you to live in this village," he said.

"not very much to be honest. I feel almost home"

"Great. That's amazing! My brothers are a boring company to keep ayy I know that!"

All while Al-Wais decides to silently listen.

"No they are Good, " I said carefully watching my words.

"Did you work back in the city? "

"At my Dad's library. I wasn't really into the whole career thing"

"Oh, housewife trainee Huh? "

"Not really" I stated firmly.

"there are great sights in your City, I've been there. My friend took me there once. Where do you live exactly "

"I've left that City "

"Don't stay with my brothers for a long time I'm telling you Falaq they will turn you like themselves "
He laughed. He laughed alone.

Cringy.

"Goodnight, " I said and left the table.

"night night Falaq"

"Goodnight Falaq-Naaz" I heard Al-Wais. Some kind of feeling, like coming home; When I heard him.

The next Day. Danish had left for some work somewhere.
I was glad.

Now I felt comfortable.

I was looking for Al-Wildan to ask him to take his medications but when I opened the lobby door. I saw someone else.

I looked into the room.

There was A Woman.

Oh Lord, she was beautiful.
I was immediately intrigued by her presence.
She had such figurative body, each curve ending like calligraphy, her eyes were green and gorgeous, she had red dark hair and full mouth and her nose was sharp and scornful.

She had a skin of Lilly.

Al-Wais entered from the backdoor.
She saw him and smiled.

"Oh Al-Wais so nice to see you" she sat folding her legs.

In a red gown hugging her curves and a thigh-high slit, she had an impressive s*x appeal.

"What brings you here? " Al-Wais spoke with his head high.

"Kept a new maid? " she asked looking in my direction.

"She's Falaq-Naaz. She is a close friend of the Family " Al-Wais stressed.

"Fascinating, the last time I checked nobody was Allowed to have friends"
She said sharply.

I stood there like a statue. Then I moved behind the door but I peeked from the glass window, I could clearly hear them.

"Back to my question. What brings you here? "

"I missed my home. I came back here so I thought I might as well have a visit to maccameh" she said in her English accent.

"You are not welcome. The visit is over. You might leave now" he stated clearly.

She smiled deviously.

"I met him on my way. Good Lord, come over. Handsome isn't he? " she said looking at Al-Hassan entering their meeting.

"Would you like something? " Al-Hassan courteously offered.

"No, I have had enough" she spoke in angst.

"Dismiss" Al-Wais announced.

And Al-Hasaan got up to leave to which the woman commanded "Sit Hassen"

He left the room.

She looked at the side in fumes.

"You see it's time to leave" Al-Wais smirked.

"Oh I would and I would leave with what is mine"

"It is always a pleasure to see you, Scarlett Rosalind, "

"Don't call me by my full name Al-Wais it annoys me to hear it from your mouth"

"That is the reason I always suggest you leave first"

"I am Scarlett Al-Wais, deep inside, in every single vein, in every single nerve, in every single organ. I rush, I am the poison that is needed to sustain and in excess I am harmful. But you; you ask me to leave if I leave everything will fall down and a corpse would be left. I hope you understand Al-Wais "

"Similarly My father did not name me Al- Wais for nothing. I swear a steel armor and fire residing in my heart, I can cut throat with my words, you know me too well and for mere women wrapped in thirsty body know this, I can do anything to guard Dar-Al-Maqamah. Kings are not afraid of Blood Or gore"

"You don't understand this but you, you do underestimate me"

"Do not take my words as a warning, Miss Scarlett Rosalind, it is a Threat"

"we'll see about that"
She mumbled and left.

Who is she?

I wondered and wandered. Tipping the flowers, I rehearsed the scenario In my mind over and over.

Seemed like an enemy but they weren't always enemy were they?

There must be a story.

Early morning, the hummingbirds hummed their favorite song. I sat in the garden with Al-Wildan, Al-Shizad, and Al-Souffian.

We were waiting for the morning.

The gates opened.
Scarlett Rosalind.
In her black curve-hugging above the knee dress, perching stilettos and a plunging neck flattering her cleavage joined uninvited.

"Good Morning," she said her clear voice.

"Good Morning! What a pleasant surprise. I didn't know we were expecting to you see you" Al-Wildan exclaimed.

"oh Wilden, look at you, grown into such a handsome man" She smiled.

The tea arrived. Danish joined, his eyes fixed on the woman.

They greeted each other but they were unfamiliar.

The servant served. She knew the servant by name.

Then when the tea came close to Al-Shizad he fluttered it with his right hand. The servant took the cuppa away.

"What spoils your mood Shized," She asked.

The basic prediction of an answer would've been a blunt 'You'

But instead he said "Nothing, how are you?"

"I'm great! Just missing Home. Where's your Father? " She smiled deeper.

"He on a Business Trip. Where are you staying?"

"A few miles away in a Hotel "

"Stay here," Danish said almost desperately.

"No thank you" She answered almost rudely.

Now Al-Hassan entered the garden and her eyes fixed on him as he sips the tea.

"You're beautiful," Danish said filled with admiration.

"Good Morning Heaven " She greeted Al-Hassan with the bliss marking every edge of her face.

"Good Morning" He smiled.

I could see Danish completely lost in awe of the woman and she lost in Al-Hassan and Al-Hassan lost in the usual grief that rests on his face.

"Master Al-Wais calls for you" a servant informs Scarlett.

*-*-*-*-*

It was another restless night, I filled two mugs but I was vexed with the thought of Danish being there.

To my luck, he left just before I entered the passage.

"Good tea" Al-Wais sipped.

"Thank you"

"Al-Wildan is so fascinated by you. He tells me you are a great storyteller. His favorites are your travel stories and when he is younger you were his source for Grimm's Tales and Aesop Fables"

He smiled.

"Al-Wais, what's the matter with Rosalind, " I asked.

" It's a long story"

"I love stories"

"You won't like this one"

"I insist"

"It's About Scarlett Love"