Page 42 of Queen of Barrakesch
Imani loved to read. Reading had opened up a whole world to her as a child, so Yasmin’s project was exactly the kind of thing she could get excited about. They both sat on the sofa in Imani’s office discussing a trip to the rural areas. Yasmin wanted Imani to observe the work she’d done and consider promoting the project by convincing Wasim to instruct Parliament to increase the budget so she could expand the program.
“Have you asked Wasim already?” Imani asked.
“He’s busy, and he’ll want to see facts and figures that I don’t have. How can you quantify the changes made in these women’s lives? In the lives of their families because they can now read. They can take the bus into the city on their own and order supplies for their households without having to wait for their husbands or sons to do it for them. And the daughters get to see their mothers becoming more independent and learn from their example.”
She spoke so passionately that Imani was immediately intrigued. These were exactly the kinds of projects she worked on in Zamibia, and she would love to do the same in Barrakesch.
“When can we go to see the recipients of the program?”
“As soon as you like,” Yasmin said immediately.
“How about day after tomorrow?”
“Yes, absolutely! Since we’ll be gone most of the day, I will check with Farouk to make sure that works for him.” She immediately fired off a text, and the answer came back right away. A big grin spread on her face. “Day after tomorrow is no problem. Farouk will take Malak to the worksite with him. He loves to do that, and put on a hard hat like his father and the other men.”
“Good. We’re all set.”
“Um, do you need to check with Wasim?”
“No. He’s busy during the day, so I’m sure it’s no problem.”
“I see,” Yasmin said, her voice filled with doubt.
Imani quickly added, “But I’ll mention it tonight when I see him at dinner.” No point in letting her sister-in-law know there was tension between them.
Yasmin’s face transformed into a smile. “If anything changes, let me know.”
* * *
Nothing changed.
The next morning, Imani woke up in bed alone, again. Wasim hadn’t come to her room the night before, nor had he eaten dinner with her, so she’d eaten alone and then called her mother and Dahlia to chat. Afterward, she reviewed the details of the literacy program, and Wasim called to tell her that he had an early flight in the morning to attend a two-day summit in Pakistan.
That was it. He didn’t ask about her plans, and she didn’t tell him she would be leaving to go into the countryside.
She ate breakfast with Wasim’s sisters and their mother on the fourth floor and was in her office getting ready to meet Yasmin downstairs when a package arrived from Wasim’s office. She thanked the courier and walked over to her desk. She pulled out the sheets of paper and saw red.
It was the agreement between Barrakesch and Zamibia.
Imani flipped through the pages. They were copies, but in all the places across from King Babatunde’s signature, Wasim had signed his own name and applied the royal seal. Dated yesterday. No doubt a set of originals were in his office and another set on the way to Zamibia.
A maelstrom of emotions seized her, and tears sprang to her eyes. Finally, the project she’d worked so hard on would come to fruition. But a hint of bitterness underlay the joy. That he’d been so dismissive of such an important moment rubbed her the wrong way. That she was here, in the palace because he’d withheld this very document, hanging it over her head in exchange for her agreement to marry him.
Imani tossed the papers to the desk and called Wasim. After two rings, he answered his personal phone.
“Hello?” he said, sounding distracted.
She heard voices in the background. “Hello, Wasim. I received the signed agreement a few minutes ago.”
“Good. I’m sure you’re pleased.” He whispered something to someone nearby. He wasn’t even giving her his full attention.
“I am pleased. Ecstatic,” she said in a caustic tone.
Pause.
“Are you?” he asked cautiously.
“Of course. You gave me what I wanted. Finally.Shukraan. When will you be returning from your trip?”
