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The prized jewel of the Ibhaar family, their only daughter now being arranged for marriage —— as Noble families so often do, weddings to secure wealth and a prosperous legacy and as the only girl it fell onto Rameesa to do so early as if it was to pull her weight.
A row of suitors bowed in front her, a star of the Ibhaar family ; treated like a princess in nearly every way though she was not the daughter of a king —— With she had been raised, she may as well have been.
"Ummm. . .No, who brings diamonds that small? Literally like, ew."
A snap of the fingers as she lounged on her elegant chair, plush and surrounded by gold in itself.
The next boy would present himself, and unimpressed as ever Rameesa would glance at the backs of her yellow painted nails,
"No —- Oh, but can you like, leave the present?
I really like pearls."
If it hadn't been evident the treasures piling up beside her were gifts from families from all over aiming to get their in with the Ibhaar family ——
Unfortunately, their daughter had lived by the policy of a gift is a gift so therefore even if she does not accept the boy's proposal, why should she have to give it back?
Another boy knelt down in front of her golden chains held out in front of her to which it initially caught her attention.
"Ooh!"
Hands immediately went to reach the gold, feeling it between her fingers before a pout formed on her lips.
"It's like, not even, like real gold. . ."
"Aah. . .Yes, it is!"
"Um, no, like, I can tell. This is literally like, brass with gold paint."
". . .!? No, no! It's gold—-"
"So, like I know gold! Right? Like, my entire family's thing is handling treasure, I've seen gold and like, this is literally not it."
Chains picked up and flung like a slingshot across the room with the sound of breakage upon their landing.
"Baba, I'm literally never going to sit through these boring boys again anyways —- They're like, literally not my style."
Whiny tone vanished after speaking, her voice softer now, "I don't even want to get married. . . .It's like ——— I don't want to."
"Rameesa," Her father's voice has been calm in its own right but with the undertones of something big, his authority shone threw each word.
"This is how things are done.
For your mother, and her mother, your aunt, and even men too ; myself and one day your brother."
Whenever he spoke like this, she could only roll her eyes.
"This is how nobles have done things for generations and there is no reason to stop now."
"But why do I have to be in such a hurry? Taji doesn't have to get married!"
"You have nothing to inherit, that's why.
Taji is to inherit my position and everything we have."
"But. . . That isn't fair—-"
"That is how the world works, Rameesa.
The same would be true if you were my son instead of my daughter.
Taji will marry when he is ready, don't think he isn't being pressured either, but for now it is important he learns about his position for now."
Maintaining a museum wasn't easy, and working so closesly and directly with the Sultan was an honorable position for anyone.
"However, getting on with business.
Rameesa, with your next suitor we're going to be doing things a little differently."
Brows knitted together, she'd been confused.
"Differently?"
"Since you cannot handle the responsibility of behaving in your own home with these fine young men calling upon you, we're going to make the trip ourselves.
I've already arranged for it."
"But. . . Why?
Baba,
I'm like. . . Literally it isn't my fault if all those boys were like, boring!"
"Rameesa, my little Scarab, my precious jewel,"
His voice was soft, cupping her cheek.
"You nearly choked a boy for bringing you rings made from silver instead of gold."
"Actually, they literally weren't even real silver, they were, like, plated copper."
"And were you clever enough to figure out that one too?"
A light humourous moment between father and daughter, a forehead kiss.
"You're too brilliant for your own good sometimes."
And the rest of the time, too stupid to realize her own brilliance.
His own gold eyes narrowed after the tender moment.
Light catching them in a way just to make their glint look all the more intimidating —- this is where Rameesa got her authority from.
"But you cannot be so picky.
We've exhausted the entirety of eligible boys in Glittering Oasis, and half of the amount in Scalding Sands."
The Palace Asim —— Not a literal palace but with the scale, it may as well have been.
Almost as large as their home back in Glittering Oasis, and certainly a bit bigger than their home here in Scalding Sands.
"Here is my daughter as disccussed, Hamed."
Hand on her shoulder, her father discussed with another man —— only a little younger than himself and beside him a boy just around Rameesa's age.
"This is Rameesa."
"A pleasure to have you both."
The man smiled, it had been bright and flashy —- Like a billion twinkling lights took form on someone's face —- happiness personified.
"And my son, Taji.
We're honored to be your guests for the weekend."
Taji had been smart, knowing to bow before their equals.
"This is Kalim, my eldest son."
Hamed gestured to the point ; short with white hair dressed in silky white with golden hues, he flashes a smile brighter than the man's —- he was basically the personification of joy or a brightly polished jewel.
Rameesa wanted believe it was all presentation but she had promised to not be picky.
She had said she'd not go through so many options and give each one a fair chance.
"We hear you like gold, Rameesa.
My son has a gift for you,"
Rameesa could feel her golden eyes roll —— It always came down to gifts, not that she hated the act of gift-giving or receiving in itself, no it was because they always seemed to be with the expectation she'd say yes and when she says no but keeps the gift, apparently it is in poor taste.
A girl can't help it if she was born and raised for the finer things in life.
A flower made entirely of gold and jewels in the shape of a rose.
"Ooh!"
Rameesa had taken to it so quickly, swooping it from Kalim's hands to her own clutches.
Eyes studying and examining it, ". . . Its genuine. . . Like, for real."
Fingers ran along the emerald dazzled leaves, feeling their smooth texture between her fingers.
"Ancient jewels yet they're barely corroded by time —- Is it a replica? It looks like the real thing.
In any case, its at least a century old.
It doesn't look old enough to be like, ancient-ancient.
Maybe a hundred and seventy-something years?"
He stared at her, ruby eyes in awe as if she had been the smartest person in the world.
Wisest girl in all of the Scalding Sands, the way his eyes glimmered as she studied the flower.
The first gift given that didn't feel like a fake, others tries to pass off brass and copper as gold, but she knew treasure.
Rameesa felt a warmth hit her cheeks for a moment before cracking a smile —- Unserious.
"I mean, it's like, really pretty. . . Woah!"
"Yeah, haha!
I heard about how much you like jewels and gold and all that stuff, right?
So, I had Jamil help me pick it out!
It's from our treasure room!"
Jamil. . . Had that been the name of the boy watching over them in the corner with those eyes that seemed so cold?
He must be a servant.
"I love it! The green's like, soooo. . . Scarab-core."
"Scarab-core?"
"I like, really and I mean like, really really like beetles!"
Kalim's response had been a grin while the other boy in back had seemed to bristle and stiffen at the word "beetle".
"I wish I had known that sooner!
I totally would've given you this Scarab sculpture made of jade that we have.
but Jamil was all like,
"no girl wants that, who would want that?"
So that ship kinda sailed, haha. . ."
The initial meeting had gone well and followed by a formal dinner before Rameesa who spent it surprisingly silent —— so uncharacteristic of her.
And now up in the room, the guest room provided to her ; Rameesa Ibhaar guest of the Asims.
Though she couldn't sleep, laying in a bed that wasn't her own in a room that wasn't her own.
The boy she met earlier —— he'd been cute, and she already promised she wouldn't be picky, wanting to put an end to the suitors ; she'd have to call this place her home and this boy her husband.
A life with many luxuries, look at the treasure they had in such abundance it was almost as much as what they kept back home.
It was nearly akin to what the museum would display when they'd have their exhibits.
But could she see herself spending her life with him?
No, Baba didn't care if she was happy, so long as she'd been wed which she being his precious jewel had to live with.
She aimed for happiness —- pleasure in all things, but she was an ever constant screw-up.
Always dropping and breaking treasure, never performing well enough in her private lessons and never good enough compared to Taji.
Though her Baba was so affectionate with her, he and Taji always made her feel so excluded.
As if she was a lone fool's gold in a mine of diamonds —- not even genuine.
"Rameesa?"
That voice.
Light-hearted and vaguely familiar, the boy she has to say yes to : Kalim Al-Asim.
"Kalim? Its late. . .What are you doing——"
She'd been cut off by shocked as she walked towards the balcony where Kalim sat —- No, where he floated on a carpet.
Now, of course Rameesa is familiar with ancient legend regarding tails of Magic Carpets, but such creations are so rare now that to see one in itself is rather impressive.
Not even the Sultan Hamza Naijmubir kept a magic carpet nor did they have one in all of their discoveries that added to the trove that held the wares they displayed in their museum exhibits which travelled throughout multiple kingdoms.
"Wanna go on a carpet ride?
I know its late, but there's nothing better than soaring under the stars!"
"Is it, like, you know, safe. . .?"
Rameesa's brows knitted with concern as her fingers brushed against the tassles.
Finely woven or however carpets are made, it was the kind of treasure she hadn't been familiar with but it felt expensive and well-made.
Kalim knelt and carpet along with him in a tilt to make a step for Rameesa, hand extended outward like a kind gesture.
"Of course it is!
Do you trust me?"
"Why not? I mean it isn't like you're gonna ride this thing around like a maniac or something, right? Like. . ."
She accepted his hand.
"ARE YOU SURE YOU LIKE, KNOW HOW TO DRIVE THIS THING?!"
"I like to let the carpet do its own thing!"
Kalim chuckled, full speed with hands on the tassles as Rameesa clung to his waist —- terrified she'd fall off at any given moment due to the speed.
"HOLY SCARAB, I THINK I'M GONNA HURL—-"
"Oh, oh no! Hold on, we can slow down!"
The carpet's pace shifted from high-energy and chaotic to the equivalent of an airborne stroll.
Rameesa could finally enjoy the ride in peace, her grip on Kalim loosening as she felt more ease —- peaceful with the breeze against her sleeves blowing them out in all their billowing pink & gold glory.
"Its all so, like. . . Enchanting and magical.
Like, I've never seen anything like this. . ."
To feel like she was one with the stars and with the way her golden eyes shone ;
"You fit right in,"
Kalim found himself speaking without thinking,
"With the stars I mean, you're all glittery and golden."
She didn't want to fall for it but his words had been for once from someone trying ; genuine.
As if he hadn't been trying to woo her at all.
He just complimented her, not because he wanted her to adorn him as a wife but because she was there.
And he seemed to be spontaneous too —— Fun. Not like every other boy she's been presented with.
"I know right? I'm like, literally the prettiest jewel in my Baba's treasure trove."
She spoke without thinking, there was that ego, that over confidence but Kalim hadn't been turned away by ego rather than humble acceptable ; instead he just chuckled.
Silence for a moment as they let the carpet take its course, keeping them up with the clouds, so puffy and white it was almost as if Rameesa would grip them and hug them like they were a plush and Kalim? He had run his fingers through them, making them disappear in wipes.
"I'd like, almost want to paint this, its like soooo Gorge-gina."
The beautiful night sky in its shimmering splendor, it had been so unlike any treasure given to her.
A gift far better than material goods.
"You paint?" Kalim smiled, his eyes filled with kind of curiousity that one has when wanting to get to know more about a person.
"Yeah, I like to do all kinds of crafts, really.
Like, I'd probably try anything once.
I just like, really like making things."
"Sounds fun! Maybe I'll give some things a try!"
Rameesa for once stayed silent, in her own head once again ; if life must end with marriage, at least she can live it out with this boy.
She had already been set on choosing him regardless of how he was to save Taji and her father the burden of having to go through more and more endless hours of visitors but now, this boy —— He'd been someone she could at least see herself being happy to be friends with.
An eternity of what seemed like a potential good friend at her side.
Returned to the balcony where she'd been taken from.
"Thank you for joining me tonight, Rameesa!
I had a lot of fun, but I guess it is pretty late. . . We should head to bed now."
"Do we like, have to?
We could always go again."
A playful smirk, the night had been so grand and so charming ——
She'd been one with the stars and she didn't want that feeling to slip away so quickly.
"We can always do this again tomorrow!
I promise!"
"Ughh. . . .If you say so.
I guess, we like, have to sleep or whatever eventually."
A playful eyeroll,
"Thank you, Kalim. That was like. .. Unbelievably cool of you, y'know?"
A turn of her heel and she was back to heading to the bedroom that had been provided for her.
Though not without the feeling that this would be a beautiful lifelong friendship even ig there had to be rings attached.