Husaam El Azzada’s Harem
By Alexandra Riera© 2007 Alexandra Riera
“Salma Anvari is requested to go to the headmaster’s office please. This is a call for Salma Anvari.” The voice on the speaker could be heard throughout all the finishing school grounds. Salma was in her dormitory studying for her last exams.
“Oh, no, and what does he want now?” Said Salma as she pushed her books out of the way and got up.
“It can’t be good,” said Latifa. “have you got caught smoking?”
“No, I never get caught; I’ve been quite good lately anyway. I’d better go or I might end up being sanctioned for being late.”
Salma got out of the dormitory and walked down the corridor and as she made her way towards the headmaster’s office, all the other school girls looked at her and speculated on why she had been summoned. Salma was the heart and soul of any party that they managed to go to and she was brilliant at concocting ways to escape school unseen. She was the one with the brains out of all of them.
Salma knocked on the headmaster’s door.
“Come in Miss Anvari” said the headmaster in a dry voice. “Please take a seat; you’re going to need it.”
“Yes sir, thank you sir.” She answered meekly as she sat down in front of him.
“Miss Anvari, you are to be married to Mr Husaam El Azzada next week. Preparations have been made so that you can travel to Mr El Azzada’s harem this same afternoon. You…”
“But….” Interrupted Salma, “I just can’t be married off just like that! I want to be a mathematician.”
“That’s no problem at all Salma; you can pursue your hobbies at your own pace after you’re married. Please start packing straight away.
“But.. Bigamy is illegal” she said fighting back her tears.
“It’s not where you’re going to. Get out of my office and pack. If you do not have time to pack it all, the maids will finish the packing for you and all your things will be sent to you in due course.”
“What about my parents?”
“They have already signed the agreement. Off you go, don’t waste any more time.” He said as he got up and pointed to the door.
Salma went out of the office, not without slamming the door shut behind her. She ran to her room with tears in her eyes. When she opened the door she expected to find her friends there waiting for her but what she found instead was a man wrapped up in a tunic wearing a turban around his head.
“I’m to help you pack your things. Just tell me what to pack.” He told her as she walked in.
“Who are you? What are you doing here?”
“I’m Ali Mahrari, your servant.”
Salma was speechless. She had to think. “Alright Ali,” she finally said, “you see that wardrobe?, Get all my things from there and also all the books on that shelf over there.”
Ali took a mobile phone out of his sleeve and made a phone call. Moments later four people carrying chests came to the room and packed everything for her.
This was no joke she thought as she was escorted outside to a silver limousine. Where was everybody? Where were her room-mates? Now she knew what had happened to the other girls at school that had disappeared out of thin air. They had been sold like cows in a market. This couldn’t be happening. It was illegal.
Selma was taken to a private airport from where she was flown away. The journey took a few hours but she decided to make the most of it since she had no other choice for the time being. If you can’t beat them, join them she resolved.
“Ali, some water please,” she asked after a while.
“Here you are.”
“Please sit down Ali and tell me about my future husband. I should like to know about him.” Since I have no other choice but to marry him or be locked up in some basement, for all I know, she thought.
Ali got up and went to a cabinet where he took a photograph and then handed it to her. Salma looked at the picture and saw a handsome man with strong features, big dark eyes and nothing else as he was wrapped up in a turban. So this was to be her husband.
On their arrival, she was ushered to a beautiful mansion where old ladies took her to her apartments. They helped her undress and sent her to a bath filled with scented water. They scrubbed her back and feet, they towel-dried her. She expected a traditional wedding gown and was very disappointed when they presented her with a dress that was made out of many layers of fine clothing in bright colours. A fine apron was tied to her waist and a shawl was put over her shoulders before she was taken to the wedding room.
Salma wanted to run; she still hadn’t been able to see a way out of this madness. She hadn’t had a word from her parents and she hadn’t even been able to get hold of a phone to call them. As she entered the room, all thoughts of escaping went out of her mind as she found the room full of people around a banquet table filled with beautiful decorated dishes. They all looked at her expectantly. The priest greeted her first and sat her at the head of the table and moments later her husband to be came into the room. He sat down next to her and didn’t look at her as the wedding ceremony was performed. Salma knew that she had no other way out for the time being so she went through the ceremony as calmly as she could.
She ate and danced with Husaam and as he held onto her she could feel his strong arms holding her and guiding her through the steps. He was a good dancer and she liked his smile. Contradicting thoughts invaded her.
At the end of the evening, they were taken by limousine to a little palace by the beach.
Before entering the outer portal of the palace they stopped to drink by a fountain at the front. He cupped water in his hands and offered it to her. Although Salma didn’t want to drink from his hands as it would show that she was submissive, she reluctantly cupped his hands into hers and drank slowly the water offered to her. When she straightened up she realised that the little palace was no little palace at all, two towers guarded by soldiers flanked the entrance door and she could see buildings within buildings, all elaborately decorated. All the windows had grids on them and at first she thought it looked quaint until she realised that this would be her jail.
As they made their way through corridors Salma´s eyes drifted towards the paintings and carpets on the floors. She suddenly went cold when she realised that all the paintings depicted sexual encounters; she realised that this was no party but her wedding night and that she had been taken to a real harem.
Husaam stopped in front of a golden door and the pair of black guards that blocked the door stood apart and opened the door for him. Golden light filled the room and Salma walked into a world of luxurious fluffy cushions and multicolour glittering veils that surrounded an enormous bed in the centre of the room.
“This is your wedding present Salma,” he said as he pointed at the bed; the bed was covered in diamonds, rubies and emeralds.
Salma was speechless, her eyes locked onto the jewels and she didn’t seem able to move.
“It’s all yours and there’ll be more.” He told her trying to get her attention back.
“Oh, sorry, sorry, thank you but…”
“But?” he questioned her, “What but?”
“What about love?”
“This is love.”
“No it’s not!” She said angrily at him.
“Yes it is. We’re already arguing, we’re the perfect couple, you’ll be my number one.” He said with a smile.
“Why should I share you?”
“You see? You’re jealous already!” he said laughing.
“No I’m not jealous! I don’t love you. I’ve been kidnapped!”
“You’ll grow to love me, you’ll see.” He said as he calmly walked out of the room and leaving her there.
Salma went after him but the door was locked before she could reach him. She kicked the door and later threw a chair at it screaming for someone to let her out. She threw herself on the bed and pushed all the precious stones onto the floor. She cried herself to sleep that night.
The following morning she was greeted by beautiful maids that gave her breakfast, bathed her and pampered her until she looked radiant. She pestered them with questions but none gave them any. She thought that Husaam would ask for her but he didn’t. She was angry with him now, she was all dressed up and she had nowhere to go; she wasn’t allowed out so she spend her day reading.
The morning after that, the maids came again with the same routine and when she realised that this was going to go on every day, she made things extra difficult for them. The maids didn’t seem to mind her temper and her tantrums, nor her throwing clothes at them or even vases; they simply took longer to have her looking beautiful but they did it nonetheless.
A month went by and just when Salma was giving up on the idea of seeing Husaam again, he just walked in half way though her bathing treatment. The maids left her immediately and Salma had to greet him from her bath.
“Pass me the towel, will you?” she told him.
“Weren’t you taught manners?” he asked her frowning.
“Sorry, I mean, please, pass me the towel. And turn around” she added as a second thought.
Husaam passed her the towel and turned around. Selma was surprised but didn’t waste any time; she quickly got out of the bath and wrapped herself with the towel and sat down on one of the fluffy armchairs.
“How do you like it here then?” he asked her as he sat on a stool.
“It’s alright I suppose but I miss having my freedom.”
“You’re free to go anywhere you like.”
“That’s not true, the door is always locked.”
“It won’t be from now on. Hey! would you like to have dinner with me tonight?”
“Yes, as long as you don’t try anything funny on me.” She said.
“Well, get ready then, we’re going out tonight. Pick you up in an hours time.” He told her as he got up and left her.
Salma called her maids and they helped her get dressed and do her hair. Before the hour had elapsed she was ready and waiting impatiently for Husaam to come. Five minutes after the appointed hour a knock on the door was heard and when she went to open it she found that it was one of the eunuchs with an envelope for her. It was a note from Husaam; he had had an unexpected problem and requested that they met the following day at the same time. Salma went to bed early that night.
The following day, another note came from Husaam saying that he regretted immensely not being able to see her again on that day and as an apology he offered her a present that he hoped she would like and accept. The present was a pair of earrings and a matching necklace.
On the following morning she was woken up by Husaam himself; he had let himself in and had sat by her bed admiring her sleepy face. Not being able to resist her beauty, he traced the contours of her face with her fingers and woke her up.
“Sorry to wake you up like this, I hope I didn’t frighten you.” He said apologetically. I’m glad you didn’t run away. I thought you would run away before I could take you out.”
“It’s alright, don’t worry; I thought you did a runner and that you were teasing me, so we’re even I suppose.”
“I wouldn’t run away from you. Come on, get dressed now and let’s go.”
“Turn around then” she told him just as she was about to get out of bed.
“But, we’re married, there’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
“No, we’re not married, well; we are but not really; just turn around please.”
“Alright.” He said as he turned around. “Please hurry up.”
Twenty minutes later they boarded a private jet and an hour later they landed at Paris Airport. By the time they landed, both of them had had a few drinks and were feeling quite merry. At the airport they took a taxi and went for a tour around the city. In the evening they went for dinner at a small café and by the end of the evening they were walking hand in hand through the streets of Paris.
Salma was happy. She could get to like this guy after all.
The end
(2204 Words)© 2007 Alexandra Riera
By Alexandra Riera© 2007 Alexandra Riera
“Salma Anvari is requested to go to the headmaster’s office please. This is a call for Salma Anvari.” The voice on the speaker could be heard throughout all the finishing school grounds. Salma was in her dormitory studying for her last exams.
“Oh, no, and what does he want now?” Said Salma as she pushed her books out of the way and got up.
“It can’t be good,” said Latifa. “have you got caught smoking?”
“No, I never get caught; I’ve been quite good lately anyway. I’d better go or I might end up being sanctioned for being late.”
Salma got out of the dormitory and walked down the corridor and as she made her way towards the headmaster’s office, all the other school girls looked at her and speculated on why she had been summoned. Salma was the heart and soul of any party that they managed to go to and she was brilliant at concocting ways to escape school unseen. She was the one with the brains out of all of them.
Salma knocked on the headmaster’s door.
“Come in Miss Anvari” said the headmaster in a dry voice. “Please take a seat; you’re going to need it.”
“Yes sir, thank you sir.” She answered meekly as she sat down in front of him.
“Miss Anvari, you are to be married to Mr Husaam El Azzada next week. Preparations have been made so that you can travel to Mr El Azzada’s harem this same afternoon. You…”
“But….” Interrupted Salma, “I just can’t be married off just like that! I want to be a mathematician.”
“That’s no problem at all Salma; you can pursue your hobbies at your own pace after you’re married. Please start packing straight away.
“But.. Bigamy is illegal” she said fighting back her tears.
“It’s not where you’re going to. Get out of my office and pack. If you do not have time to pack it all, the maids will finish the packing for you and all your things will be sent to you in due course.”
“What about my parents?”
“They have already signed the agreement. Off you go, don’t waste any more time.” He said as he got up and pointed to the door.
Salma went out of the office, not without slamming the door shut behind her. She ran to her room with tears in her eyes. When she opened the door she expected to find her friends there waiting for her but what she found instead was a man wrapped up in a tunic wearing a turban around his head.
“I’m to help you pack your things. Just tell me what to pack.” He told her as she walked in.
“Who are you? What are you doing here?”
“I’m Ali Mahrari, your servant.”
Salma was speechless. She had to think. “Alright Ali,” she finally said, “you see that wardrobe?, Get all my things from there and also all the books on that shelf over there.”
Ali took a mobile phone out of his sleeve and made a phone call. Moments later four people carrying chests came to the room and packed everything for her.
This was no joke she thought as she was escorted outside to a silver limousine. Where was everybody? Where were her room-mates? Now she knew what had happened to the other girls at school that had disappeared out of thin air. They had been sold like cows in a market. This couldn’t be happening. It was illegal.
Selma was taken to a private airport from where she was flown away. The journey took a few hours but she decided to make the most of it since she had no other choice for the time being. If you can’t beat them, join them she resolved.
“Ali, some water please,” she asked after a while.
“Here you are.”
“Please sit down Ali and tell me about my future husband. I should like to know about him.” Since I have no other choice but to marry him or be locked up in some basement, for all I know, she thought.
Ali got up and went to a cabinet where he took a photograph and then handed it to her. Salma looked at the picture and saw a handsome man with strong features, big dark eyes and nothing else as he was wrapped up in a turban. So this was to be her husband.
On their arrival, she was ushered to a beautiful mansion where old ladies took her to her apartments. They helped her undress and sent her to a bath filled with scented water. They scrubbed her back and feet, they towel-dried her. She expected a traditional wedding gown and was very disappointed when they presented her with a dress that was made out of many layers of fine clothing in bright colours. A fine apron was tied to her waist and a shawl was put over her shoulders before she was taken to the wedding room.
Salma wanted to run; she still hadn’t been able to see a way out of this madness. She hadn’t had a word from her parents and she hadn’t even been able to get hold of a phone to call them. As she entered the room, all thoughts of escaping went out of her mind as she found the room full of people around a banquet table filled with beautiful decorated dishes. They all looked at her expectantly. The priest greeted her first and sat her at the head of the table and moments later her husband to be came into the room. He sat down next to her and didn’t look at her as the wedding ceremony was performed. Salma knew that she had no other way out for the time being so she went through the ceremony as calmly as she could.
She ate and danced with Husaam and as he held onto her she could feel his strong arms holding her and guiding her through the steps. He was a good dancer and she liked his smile. Contradicting thoughts invaded her.
At the end of the evening, they were taken by limousine to a little palace by the beach.
Before entering the outer portal of the palace they stopped to drink by a fountain at the front. He cupped water in his hands and offered it to her. Although Salma didn’t want to drink from his hands as it would show that she was submissive, she reluctantly cupped his hands into hers and drank slowly the water offered to her. When she straightened up she realised that the little palace was no little palace at all, two towers guarded by soldiers flanked the entrance door and she could see buildings within buildings, all elaborately decorated. All the windows had grids on them and at first she thought it looked quaint until she realised that this would be her jail.
As they made their way through corridors Salma´s eyes drifted towards the paintings and carpets on the floors. She suddenly went cold when she realised that all the paintings depicted sexual encounters; she realised that this was no party but her wedding night and that she had been taken to a real harem.
Husaam stopped in front of a golden door and the pair of black guards that blocked the door stood apart and opened the door for him. Golden light filled the room and Salma walked into a world of luxurious fluffy cushions and multicolour glittering veils that surrounded an enormous bed in the centre of the room.
“This is your wedding present Salma,” he said as he pointed at the bed; the bed was covered in diamonds, rubies and emeralds.
Salma was speechless, her eyes locked onto the jewels and she didn’t seem able to move.
“It’s all yours and there’ll be more.” He told her trying to get her attention back.
“Oh, sorry, sorry, thank you but…”
“But?” he questioned her, “What but?”
“What about love?”
“This is love.”
“No it’s not!” She said angrily at him.
“Yes it is. We’re already arguing, we’re the perfect couple, you’ll be my number one.” He said with a smile.
“Why should I share you?”
“You see? You’re jealous already!” he said laughing.
“No I’m not jealous! I don’t love you. I’ve been kidnapped!”
“You’ll grow to love me, you’ll see.” He said as he calmly walked out of the room and leaving her there.
Salma went after him but the door was locked before she could reach him. She kicked the door and later threw a chair at it screaming for someone to let her out. She threw herself on the bed and pushed all the precious stones onto the floor. She cried herself to sleep that night.
The following morning she was greeted by beautiful maids that gave her breakfast, bathed her and pampered her until she looked radiant. She pestered them with questions but none gave them any. She thought that Husaam would ask for her but he didn’t. She was angry with him now, she was all dressed up and she had nowhere to go; she wasn’t allowed out so she spend her day reading.
The morning after that, the maids came again with the same routine and when she realised that this was going to go on every day, she made things extra difficult for them. The maids didn’t seem to mind her temper and her tantrums, nor her throwing clothes at them or even vases; they simply took longer to have her looking beautiful but they did it nonetheless.
A month went by and just when Salma was giving up on the idea of seeing Husaam again, he just walked in half way though her bathing treatment. The maids left her immediately and Salma had to greet him from her bath.
“Pass me the towel, will you?” she told him.
“Weren’t you taught manners?” he asked her frowning.
“Sorry, I mean, please, pass me the towel. And turn around” she added as a second thought.
Husaam passed her the towel and turned around. Selma was surprised but didn’t waste any time; she quickly got out of the bath and wrapped herself with the towel and sat down on one of the fluffy armchairs.
“How do you like it here then?” he asked her as he sat on a stool.
“It’s alright I suppose but I miss having my freedom.”
“You’re free to go anywhere you like.”
“That’s not true, the door is always locked.”
“It won’t be from now on. Hey! would you like to have dinner with me tonight?”
“Yes, as long as you don’t try anything funny on me.” She said.
“Well, get ready then, we’re going out tonight. Pick you up in an hours time.” He told her as he got up and left her.
Salma called her maids and they helped her get dressed and do her hair. Before the hour had elapsed she was ready and waiting impatiently for Husaam to come. Five minutes after the appointed hour a knock on the door was heard and when she went to open it she found that it was one of the eunuchs with an envelope for her. It was a note from Husaam; he had had an unexpected problem and requested that they met the following day at the same time. Salma went to bed early that night.
The following day, another note came from Husaam saying that he regretted immensely not being able to see her again on that day and as an apology he offered her a present that he hoped she would like and accept. The present was a pair of earrings and a matching necklace.
On the following morning she was woken up by Husaam himself; he had let himself in and had sat by her bed admiring her sleepy face. Not being able to resist her beauty, he traced the contours of her face with her fingers and woke her up.
“Sorry to wake you up like this, I hope I didn’t frighten you.” He said apologetically. I’m glad you didn’t run away. I thought you would run away before I could take you out.”
“It’s alright, don’t worry; I thought you did a runner and that you were teasing me, so we’re even I suppose.”
“I wouldn’t run away from you. Come on, get dressed now and let’s go.”
“Turn around then” she told him just as she was about to get out of bed.
“But, we’re married, there’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
“No, we’re not married, well; we are but not really; just turn around please.”
“Alright.” He said as he turned around. “Please hurry up.”
Twenty minutes later they boarded a private jet and an hour later they landed at Paris Airport. By the time they landed, both of them had had a few drinks and were feeling quite merry. At the airport they took a taxi and went for a tour around the city. In the evening they went for dinner at a small café and by the end of the evening they were walking hand in hand through the streets of Paris.
Salma was happy. She could get to like this guy after all.
The end
(2204 Words)© 2007 Alexandra Riera
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