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I needed to talk to Khalid.
21
Nasrin
“Will my brothers scold me?” Zara asked, her voice small, sulking in the chair.
“For what?” I asked, watching the hairdresser snip away at her roughly cut hair.
I had called the best hairdresser in Azmia, offering a bonus if she would cut the Princess’s hair in her room and keep it a secret. I was sure Zain wouldn’t want rumors about Zara spreading across like a wildfire.
“For disappointing them,” she answered.
“They are not disappointed in you, Zara. You are their little sister. You could never disappoint Zain or Khalid. They got a little mad because they thought they couldn’t protect you, and that you are hurt because of their carelessness.”
“I don’t want them to be angry because of me, Nasrin,” she muttered. “How do I make them not mad? Khalid won’t even look at me.”
Swallowing the lump in my throat, I squeezed her hand. “I asked Zain to talk to you after dinner and bring Khalid with him. You can resolve any conflict by communicating, Zara. I am sure your brothers will understand or at least try to understand and do anything to help you because they care about you.”
She nodded and gave me a small smile. Even though it was not her full dimpled smile, it was still better than the frown.
The hairdresser stepped back, removing the cloth from Zara’s neck and brushing away the stray hair. As Zara had chopped her hair very unevenly, the hairdresser gave her a pixie bob. Her chocolate-colored hair was slicked back and a fringe with short hair framed her elfish face, bringing out her sharp bone structure.
“Do you like it, Princess?” The hairdresser asked with a meek voice, afraid of her rejection.
Zara grinned at her and bowed her head. “I love it, thank you so much!”
I smiled at her, playing with her hair, seeing it from all the different angles.Zara is going to break many hearts in the future. When the hairdresser was paid in full with a tip, she left, leaving Zara and me alone in her room.
“Can I ask why you were so sad and angry that you chopped your hair?” I said.
“I wasn’t angry at myself, even though I was stupid. I was angry at… at someone,” she grumbled.
I hummed. “Was that someone a male?”
Zara stared at me with wide eyes. “Please don’t tell my brothers or they will kill me. Or worse, they will kill him.”
“They will not kill him, Zara,” I chuckled. “I assure you they know even they can’t protect you from love and heartbreak.”
She gave me a smile and hugged me. “I am so glad you are here, Nasrin. Thank you for marrying my brother.”
I was touched by her words. Hugging her back, I whispered, “I am glad too.”
* * *
“Is she okay?”Zain asked me as soon as I entered the room.
His hair was damp, and he was wearing clean clothes, smelling of mint and jasmine. Did he use my body wash? It made me smile.
“She is. I promised her that you and Khalid will talk to her after dinner. Please listen to what she has to say before making any assumptions.”
“I will. Did she mention what happened?”
“I believe your sister got her heart broken.”
Maybe I shouldn’t have said that. Maybe I should have let Zara tell him that because as soon as I finished my sentence, Zain’s face turned from confused to shocked to anger.
“How dare someone break my little sister—”