"I'm going to be allowed to go outside for my brother, Ilyas's birthday!"said Fahriha.
"That's nice. How did you ever manage to convince your father?"
"It's my brother's birthday."she said.
Malaika nodded.
"How old is he going to be?"
"He's going to be seventeen."Fahriha told her.
"Well, you'll have to tell me everything, Malaika told her."
"I feel depressed."said Jovita.
Jacinta looked up.
"I feel...sad for myself, but, it's like I'm happy for someone else."Jacinta answered.
Jovita nodded.
"Yes, that's just what I feel."
Malaika walked around. She was glad that Fahriha would be going to her brother's party. She rarely got to see her brothers, anyway. Her father was just so overprotective. She just wished she could be going, also, but she wasn't a princess, and she had no brothers. At least none here.
"Oh, wow. She's very nice, Grandmother."said Jacinta.
"I love it!"said Jovita.
They always liked when they're grandmother gave them gifts, even though she did it often. They immediately cheered up. Malaika smiled.
"You're not sad anymore."said Fahriha.
Malaika looked up.
"Sad? I wasn't sad."she said.
"You looked like you were."said Fahriha.
"I was...just thinking."
"Oh. What were you thinking about?"
"Nothing, really. What could I think about?"
Fahriha shrugged.
"You could think about lots of neat things."she said to Malaika. "You come from such an odd land."
Malaika smiled.
"Well, it wasn't odd when I lived there. But now that you mention it, and I live here, yes, it does seem like it's odd, doesn't it?"
"We're supposed to go and work on our embroidery."said Fahriha. "What do you think I should wear for Ilyas's birthday?"
"You'll be wearing veils, won't you?"said Malaika.
"Well...yes."
"So it won't make much of a difference, I guess."
Fahriha sighed.
"You're right."
"Look, come here."Malaika told her. "See, you can wear these. I just embroidered on them, just to for something to do, but the veils are nice. You can wear them."
Fahriha tried them on.
"They're nice. At least nicer than the ones I have. I hope my father will let me wear them."
"They're veils."said Malaika.
One of the maids walked in, and told Malaika that Jasmine wanted to see her.
"Me? Don't you mean, Fahriha?"she asked.
"No. She said you."
"Why would Mom want to talk to you?"asked Farhiha.
"I'm not sure. But I'll have to go."she said, and they walked outside.
"Malaika."said Jasmine. "As you know, Ilyas will be turning seventeen."she said.
"Um, yes. Fahriha told me."
"Well, obviously Fahriha will be coming with us, but I want you to come also."
"Me?"
"Of course. I've chosen you. You are, after all, Fahriha's best friend, and out of everyone here, I know you best."she said. "So, you will be presented to him."