Festival gathering

"Have you received the invitation Mr. Bari had arranged for us?"

"Yes."

Ella asked again while tying the muslin cloth around her head to cover her face, "This feels very hot."

He said, "You don't have to come over there."

"You have been continuously trying to discourage me from going there."

Roy sighed, "I wish it would have been working. It isn't a festival we are going to enjoy celebrating." He was wearing a long black shirt extending to his knees, called as kurta with comfortable pants. Glaring down to himself he muttered, "I would have felt like a girl if I was wearing this at home." Being clad in traditional clothes was easier to blend in; Ella was wearing the same pattern of dress like Roy with a longer length to reach her toes, almost looking like a gown without a frock.

"The material is soft and the nights are colder, so I will be able to manage," Ella spoke nonetheless, not wanting to complain. He caught her itching around her arms and neck discreetly due to the synthetic decorations in her dress, which was suitable for a festive occasion but not what she was used to.

Taking her hand in his he bought her closer to link the hook of the necklace that was borrowed along with the dress to match for the night. "I know you didn't have an easy childhood which is actually very strange considering you are richer than the Prince and everyone around here." He felt her stiffen while he clasped the hook in the back of her neck, sliding his hands to her shoulders, he saw her in the mirror speaking, "You should not hide away your true feelings."

"If it is stinging you don't have to wear it," Roy unclasped the necklace, holding the ruby jewelry in his hand to throw it on the bed unconcernedly. Her neck was bare, now that there was nothing covering it. Staring at her dress accentuating her chest, he took the scarf like cloth from the bed, "The scarf will look better on you," he said not wanting anyone to see her like that. Unexpectedly Ella was looking very alluring in her costume which was wore as a normal etiquette in the native of this city.

"Some things are bothersome." she shrugged at him, relief in her eyes to be unburdened from the ornaments and another thing he often found in there for the last two days. He didn't want to let his hopes up to believe she would love him, but damn him he wished so much for that to happen. Then it would be easier for him to persuade her.

"Not for your family. I will always be looking after you to ease your discomforts."

She felt uncomfortable which caused an ache for Roy, maybe he was right to think she wouldn't welcome him in her heart. "No one has ever said me such things. It feels surreal to think about it now."

"That's because you haven't met anyone like me," he retorted with a smirk.

"I am happy you met my father." His smile faltered which he covered up saying, "It wasn't a good memory. I was told to either work for him or be in prison for life. The choice was obvious."

"You must have been a very skilled thief then for him to have taken such a step."

"What can I say, I steal what I want skillfully," Roy poised his arms around her waist, bending his forehead to meet hers.

"We have to go now." Ella insisted, stroking her fingers against his neck soothingly, releasing a sound of approval from him. She raised her head to move back but his hold remained, waiting for him to respond. "I have to tell you something." She pointedly fixed her eyes on him asking him to say it, "Not now. But soon."

"When?" she questioned.

"Soon." She tilted her head furrowing her brows wondering what he wanted to tell her about but he wasn't so easy to fall under the traps.

"Is it important?" He saw the fear in her eyes, that it might be something heart failing like the news of her father being part of the Faceless.

"That depends. If you want it to be important it will be or it will not." Continuously gazing for seven seconds Ella agreed, "Alright. I will wait." Moving away from him she turned to the scarf he offered, which was a part of the clothing item ladies of Dubai would wear. It turned advantageous for her that she won't be recognized easily. Except for her eyes and the dark pink dress, she perceived to be another Muslim woman.

The ride from the hotel to the destination was a long one with deliberate turns made to avoid trails, also the time of evening was the one where a lot of valets were hired to look after the approaching and departing cars through the premises. Taking a look at the place where the Royals were supposed to be present, Ella noticed the crowd. It was humongous to be lost easily, she also couldn't guarantee about her not feeling nauseous in there. Thinking of suppressing her complaints in the worry of Roy demanding her not to go inside, she instead spoke, "Will you be able to find me in there?"

He was glancing out the window in the same manner to turn his head at her question, "I am supposed to ask that Elle."

Ignoring his joke Ella panicked seeing a woman being pressed in the crowd among all men, "It's a large swarm of people over there."

Roy nodded looking at the scene, "They are here to meet their Prince. By tomorrow the crowd will disperse eventually." Watching that she was yet not convinced with his words, Roy coaxed, "We won't be going through there. Relax." He didn't give any more information to his hint where Ella had no alternative but trust him to take her safely with him. That gave a dangerous sensation to her as before Roy it was only her father with whom she used to follow ahead blindly, unbothered of the consequences.

Sometimes Ella would interrogate herself if she should trust herself to follow the man blindly or not. Her heart wants to but her mind produces logic of the example of her father. The man who was ready to sell off her.

Descending from the car, Ella crooked her hand around Roy, proceeding together to meet the end of their plan, or more like her plan. Roy had no knowledge of her intentions; fully aware he won't approve or he would have locked her in the suite to ensure safety. Shaking her head at the thought of him worrying above her irritated and melted away her heart.

"I will arrange for us to be able to talk to the Prince for a few minutes," Roy said in her ears above the crowd of laughter, cheers or loud noises. A part of the festival felt like a fair, then the other part was displayed with food prepared in different shapes and dishes foreign to her eyes. They reached the tall building which was visible from a long distance, decorated with lights coloring the skies. In short it was a festival celebrated prosperously.

Her eyes stopped at the stage positioned with musicians playing their instruments. The instruments seemed peculiar as she only recognized a flute and tabla among the others. Roy followed her gaze to listen the music, he whispered to her, "This is one of the authentic music played for the occasions in the name of their Lord."

The music was spiritually enhanced in her mind, he gazed her eyes which was the only evident part of her face, noticing the calmness he was sure she would be ready to face the man.

Lights and uprising notions around her eased her mind rejoicing in the city's wonders for the first time since she was here. The children playing around with their parents not too far from them was an admissible change of view. Smiling at the happy environment, Ella and Roy accepted a drink of aerated sodas which was distributed to each one. Holding the plastic glass in her hand, she resumed her observation until the crowd dispersed in either sides from where they were standing root. The way cleared gradually with the uproars of chants of the Prince, stiffening the back of Ella.

She wanted to walk away from the center of attention but her legs were not complying and not long after was the man came in front of her eyesight. The Prince did a greeting with his right-hand cupping it in front of his face, not touching it, which rose the noise in a single verse.

'Prince Zayn! Prince Zayn!' They chanted while the Prince passed the same greeting to her, lurking his eyes around the crowd as if searching for something until reaching the stage past Ella. After having him past her did Ella realize that she was standing alone in the middle, a hand touched her elbow dragging her into the crowd until the attention was diverted away.