El Ghaliya

Enter Jameelah.

It was presumptuous to say that Jameelah possessed only the charm of her looks, for she had so much acuteness in her eyes and she was, as innocent as she might seem, a wild animal. That day, when El Ghaliya returned from her study, Jameelah noticed that something was off with her sister. From her slow steps to her sulking body to her grave face, she knew that trouble was knocking on the door. El Ghaliya tried hardly to look pleasant during the evening meal; yet she couldn’t entertain her audience as usual with her terrible table manners. She didn’t drink her tea in gulps, she sipped it politely. She didn’t perform her hilarious dance moves; she sat still like a statue. She also answered vaguely to the questions thrown at her, nodded absent-mindedly, and when was asked about what she read during the day, she answered that she didn’t read much. Yet what convinced Jameelah that her sister’s change of character was not the result of one of her trivialities is that El Ghaliya didn’t touch the plate of the sweet almond bricks that was stationed, purposefully, in front of her. She nibbled on her food, and food, as everyone knew, was El Ghaliya’s panacea. That erased all existing doubts. The second daughter of Sultan Rashad had involved herself in great trouble and no one but Jameelah should be the first to discover it.

It was long after her hair was braided and skin oiled and perfumed that Jameelah slipped calmly from her quarters without lighting any candle, calling for a guard or waking a maid for company. Her intention was not to expose her sister and disgrace her in front of the whole palace, she only wanted to get hold of one of her secrets, threaten her at times, and enjoy observing the tumult that she would create in her little sister’s trivial life. Jameelaah was, indeed, a rare combination of good and evil and fortunately for El Ghaliya, her sisterly affection was fully awakened that night. In fact, she was extremely happy when she didn’t find her in her quarters that she was ready to scold her only for a little, forgive her easily and then, she would lecture her about the foolishness of touring the palace at night alone and unprotected. But, this all was forgotten when she heard the conversation between Yazad, that ungrateful vile lowly slave, and El Ghaliya.

She heard every single word and every sob that wracked her sister’s body. There was no greater astonishment and no greater vexation more than hers; for her sister’s irrationality exceeded all limits and stepped on every red line and sacred tradition. A low servant would have been better than a black slave. A gardener, a cook or one of her teachers would have, at least, been more reasonable, but a slave! A slave purchased by her father was something unheard of. Regardless of her agitation, Jameelah remained composed and unwilling to witness the disgusting scene, she made herself heard and then opened the door. 

El Ghaliya wore the stupidest expression on her face and laughed nervously trying to convince her sister that she had one of her inspiration attacks and had to write some ideas down. The stares of Jameelah went through her and she, despite hearing everything, couldn’t find where the third party was hiding. She advanced steadily towards her sister and slapped her with all the force her skinny arms allowed, trying to vent the anger she felt with every passing moment:

“You! Uncontrollable ungrateful wench! What would father think if he finds out about your little adventures and inspirational attacks? Do not argue with me and follow me immediately.”

The slap on El Ghaliya’s face was a price she was willing to pay to protect her relationship with her beloved Yazad. He, in the other hand, was at the point of interfering; ready to make Jameelah taste the same slaps, but his lover was wiser. She glanced quickly to his direction, holding her cheek in her palm and laughing at herself without making a sound. It was after leaving the room and walking a great deal after her sister that her expression would change. Jameelah stopped walking and turned towards her, saying provokingly:

“Now, tell me my dear little sister, when are you leaving the palace with your lover? I want to fully prepare for your departure.”

El Ghaliya’s face turned pale, then blue. Drops of cold sweat appeared immediately in her forehead and she trembled in terror and dismay. How could she be careless? How could she allow this to happen, now of all times? If something happens to him, it would definitely be her fault. Why didn’t she act more cheerfully during the evening meal? Why didn’t she dance and swallowed her food without a care in the world? Her hands moved unconsciously to cover her lips; for her intestines weren’t strong enough to bear the news and she was about to vomit when her sister clicked her tongue and whispered repulsively “Dirty slave!” In an instant, El Ghaliya’s eyes grew fierce and as she feeble as she was, she managed to say emphatically:

“His name..is..Yazad!”

That sentence triggered it. Jameelah grabbed El Ghaliya’s hair violently and drew her close enough that she spat on her face while talking:

“Now, listen carefully because I’m not repeating it for a second time. I’m doing you a great service by not calling any guards. If it were anybody else who had found out your little secret, your slave (she stressed the word) would have been hanged by dawn. Look, you go to your chambers directly, have enough sleep and I’ll be expecting you in my quarters tomorrow.”

No arguing followed these words. Jameelah was right. Such carelessness would have cost them their lives, his especially. The sisters parted without saying a word. One was thinking about her schemes and plans and how to approach the story from that moment on. While the other was absorbed in thinking of the errands that she will be running in the future, the services and the favors that she will be making to her beloved sister. Everything was acceptable, feasible and bearable as long as Yazad lived by her side. Yet both of them didn’t notice that there was another pair of eyes hidden behind one of the palace giant pillars watching them and that it vanished quickly into the night once the conversation ended.