CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER TEN – ENTERTAINMENT " Bitaqir, the Valide have ended up organising a party instead of just dinner as she had originally planned, but then again why am I not surprised?" Nigar Kalfa spoke in a sarcastic tone and Bitaqir smiled understanding very well what Nigar meant. Nigar Kalfa was bought into the palace as a slave, unfortunately at the time there were no Princes of age to take in concubines and the king had no interest in her, she was to be married to one of the Pashas but he died shortly before their marriage and hence she became a Kalfa- a palace maid. But looking at her, her youthfulness still gleaming one would think that she has a long line of men awaiting her, becoming a Kalfa had blocked all her way to marriage as people view the Kalfas as the lowest of all. The Princes have no interest in the older women so she had lived her life in solitude devoid of all forms of romance. When then Lady Aisha was married to the king and conceived Bitaqir, Nigar was tasked with taking care of the baby, and so what started off as a job ended up as Nigar's happiest moments. Nigar has always been Bitaqir's personal Kalfa ever since she was an infant and they shared a far deeper bond than what one could expect by looking at the surface. " Nigar are you gossiping the Valide" Bitaqir asked faking a disapproving reactions but ended up smiling. As she adjusted her cushion properly she and Nigar lay in the terrace and all other Kalfas and the girls have been dispersed, the terrace has become her new favourite place more quiet and serene than the garden itself. Finally Bitaqir could come out of her shell and relaxed, no longer looking like the Queen who had executed her brothers a few hours back, but rather like the young and innocent girl she is. " No!!, I wouldn't dare" Nigar spoke mimicking the spoilt Princess Serra . " Nigar ....stop, if Serra hears you now she'll definitely be as red as a tomato.....not from anger .....but from...? Bitaqir spoke between laughter but her sentence was cut off by the call for Salat. Bitaqir got up and headed in, but as though as remembering something " Nigar call the girls to help you in here, I don't like you tiring yourself." Bitaqir spoke with all honesty and Nigar felt touched . ********************************************** Bitaqir could hear instruments playing all the way in the hall as she approached her mother's quarters. "Her Majesty Queen Bitaqir " The Aghas announced as she neared the entrance and everywhere was dead silent. "Please, continue. " Bitaqir said in a gentle voice after she noticed that they stopped for her. Settling down besides her mother she noticed how awkward everyone was, she felt weird. Seeing Sadika entering the hall she suddenly had an idea. " Sadika!" Bitaqir called in an excited voice surprising many as they had thought that the crown will make her arrogant, but here she was calling Lady Sadika as she used to, with no evidence of arrogance in her eyes or body language. Seeing her at this moment, one would not believe that, this is the Queen who executed her brother with her bare hands. One will think that she is just another one of the Princesses calling her attendant. "Majesty " Sadika answered in the same tone. " You play the most beautiful violin tune, can you grace us with your signature tune." Bitaqir asked all the while maintaining eye contact with Sadika. " As you wish" Sadika replied trying hard to hide the victorious smile she had. Being the first instrumentalist that the Queen had personally asked to play for her, she felt pride and at the same time contempt from the other girls. Sadika's music was all that was needed to bring calm and relaxation to the hall. In a short span of time the once quiet and tense hall has now turned to a lively hall with musicians and dancers performing here and there, the laughter and chatting of the ladies can be heard. With this development, Bitaqir finally relaxed and could now feel the weight of her duties easing of her shoulders, she took advantage of the moment and enjoyed herself although she preferred a less crowded environment. " Bitaqir how are you?" Valide Aisha whispered to her, concern clear in her eyes. " I'm fine, my Valide" Bitaqir replied with a shrug of her shoulders. " Have I ever told you how terrible a liar you are? " Valide stated whilst arching her eyebrow. Bitaqir just shrugged her shoulders . " Mother, I'm fine, I'm just exhausted that's all" Bitaqir replied with a smile. " I'll take my leave now" Bitaqir said as she bent down to kiss her mother's hands. "But the entertainment is in your honour" Valide Aisha informed Bitaqir with disapproval clear in her voice. "The party can go on as long as you wish , please do not deprived them because I'm tired, besides I might have to travel to the north tomorrow " Bitaqir replied whilst feigning a yawn. "Fine!" Valide Aisha replied giving up on the matter. " Also, I want Nigar Kalfa to be my head Kalfa, and Sadika to be my lady in waiting, Nigar can chose some girls at the harem to help her out." Bitaqir spoke with finality and then exited the hall. Feeling the exhaustion weighing down on her, Bitaqir fastened her pace only to bump into something hard ....or someone, she raised her head only to see Selim. " Of course it's you, can you for once look....."Bitaqir trailed off when she saw the look in her brother's eyes. " That look..." Bitaqir said as she narrowed her eyes at her brother and Selim just smirked being fully aware that his baby sister has caught on what was going on. " Where is your red hankerchief" Bitaqir asked although she had a hint of where it was, but Selim just shrugged it off but the glint in his eyes just confirmed her guess. " Tell me about her" Bitaqir said and intertwined her hand with her brother's as all traces of her exhaustion disappeared replaced by excitement. " Sister, sister you are truly sent from above , you know, I've just met the most beautiful dancers in my life. You see 'sighs' she's just sooo...." Selim started seemingly in dreamland. " Enough, I just lost my excitement, I'm going to sleep " Bitaqir said in a bored tone and walked off. "Come on Bitaqir you need a little bit of knowledge about these things, it'll come in handy one day" Selim said with a smirk. "Whatever " Bitaqir replied from across the hallway and rolled her eyes. " Majesty" an Agha called Bitaqir as she was entering her chamber. Bitaqir turned to the Agha and arched an eyebrow at him. " The Viziers await you in your study" The Agha informed her and she immediately changed her cause of direction and headed to the study instead, grateful that it's just a room away from her chambers cause she was really tired. At this moment all she wanted was to lie in the comfort of her chamber and snuggle in her bed.