Arum
How I sat through lunch with Asha beside me after what she uttered in my ear, only gods know. Queen Sanaz arrived after we did. She looked a shell of the woman I had met three months ago on my first visit.
We discussed my impending departure to Bijarma and I listened as Queen Sanaz spoke of her son, his anguish and struggles of playing second best to his older brother. But at its heart, it was a simple plea from a mother to bring her son home.
I reassured her as best as I could, and when Asha put a hand on her arm, I saw her visibly relax. As the food was brought into the room, Eli and his brothers entered. I saw Queen Sanaz's demeanour change as he strode towards her, but when he kissed her softly on her head and promised to bring his brother home, she held onto him and wept.
