Not able to keep to herself any longer, partly because of the Queens treatment, and partly because of curiosity, she took her phone and called Ali.
"Are you still awake, Mita? Do you need me to cuddle you to sleep?" He said answering the call.
"Are you crazy? What if it was somebody else who called you?"
"Who would call me on the night before my wedding?"
"Who knows? You got a house call didn't you?"
"Are you jealous?"
"Umm, maybe," She could hear him smiling. "Abang, you know something strange is going on here."
"There? In the palace? What strange thing?"
"I have a feeling that my father and his first wife are keeping a secret between them, they keep making gestures at each other."
"Well, keeping secrets together between husband and wife is not something uncommon."
"I know, but I have an intuition that this is something bigger than that. And I also have a gut feeling that it has something to do with the crown prince."
"The crown prince? How did you get that conclusion?"
"Well, every time one of my sisters mention him, they glimpse at each other."
"Hmmm, it does sound strange." He pondered. "I thought you were going to spend more time with them."
"With who? My family? They don't like me, to them I'm an outsider."
"It's okay, you just have to get through tonight and tomorrow. From then on, you don't have to step into the palace if you don't want to."
"Promise?"
"I promise!"
"Okay then. I'm going to sleep, the sooner this nightmare is over the better."
"Good night...."
"Good night."
She was just about to cover herself with the blanket, when the door burst opened and Puteri Siti Hamidah entered. "Have you prayed?" She asked.
"Yes I have Bunda." Paramita responded.
"When the other three princesses got married, they had two weeks of full beauty treatment, massages, scrubs, facial mask. I wonder why Permaisuri didn't arrange those for you."
"That's okay Bunda. I had my fair share of beauty treatments most my teenage life living with my mother. She wanted me to follow her footsteps in the modeling world." She replied. "Now I'm finally free of those beauty regimes, I'm actually very happy about it."
"Why didn't you go through with a modeling career?"
"I think the Sultan called my mother and prohibited it. Besides, modeling was not my thing." She recalled.
"Hmmm, I understand certain careers are not suitable for daughters of the Sultan. But look at you, you are tall, white and beautiful, you would have made a good career for yourself."
"Bunda, you compliment me too much."
"I'm just saying what I see....." Puteri Siti Hamidah replied.
There was a knock on the door, and without waiting for an answer, the door was opened and Puteri Siti's two daughters entered.
"Did you bring the herbal tea I asked you to get?" Puteri Siti asked them.
"Yes we did Bunda," Puteri Hartini said while pointing to a plastic bag she held in her hand.
"Adik this is a special herbal tea that is passed down from generations to generations in our family. It's good for married women, or who will be married like in your case. This will make your husband very happy and pleased with you so he doesn't turn to look at any other woman."
Paramita smiled politely.
"Eh..., Adik, especially because your husband is Raden Ali, not only is he a very popular among women, but there was gossip that he was dating a famous singer. You have to be able to compete with her and conquer him." Puteri Karmini said.
"Kak Mini, what did Kak Nurbaiti mean by him taking a lover after a few months?" Paramita asked just to assess the situation with her sisters.
"Don't worry about her," Puteri Karmini said. "She's just jealous that's all."
"Jealous? With me? What on earth for?" Paramita asked.
"That's because for several years we thought that she would be engaged to Raden Ali, then suddenly she was engaged to Pangeran Hasan who is now her husband, and they were married just one and a half years ago."
"Wait a minute. So there were plans to have my Raden Ali marry to Kak Nurbaiti several years ago and suddenly she was engaged to another person and married off to him?"
"Yes," Puteri Hartini added, "She had a very short engagement probably, what? Half a year? Yeah, half a year and then they held the wedding ceremony. Poor Adik Nurbaiti, she must have been shocked. She never knew her husband before she married him. She was always in love with Raden Ali. Not because they were close to each other, they barely knew one another, but because Bunda Permaisuri always taught her that way."
Paramita couldn't understand the Queen's reason to doctrinize her daughter that way. She fished for more information, "Well, that's still longer than my engagement to Raden Ali."
"What are you talking about? Ayahnda announced to us that he would marry you to Raden Ali at the same time he announced Adik Nurbaiti's engagement to Prince Hasan."
"Is that so?" She thought about it for a while, then went back to the subject of her sister to not look as if she was too interested, "Oh, well that's sad. Imagine being taught to love somebody for some time then be married off to another man. I can understand her coldness towards me." Paramita said. But the information made her curious. "Do you know why, Ayahnda Sultan is so keen to have Raden Ali as his son in law? And why was Kak Nurbaiti suddenly married off to her current husband?"
"Who knows? Maybe it's because of Uncle Raden Hamza, who is father's favorite cousin. As for why Adik Nurbaiti was suddenly married off, it was Ayanda's decision, I think it was about the same time Kakanda Putra Mahkota was sent to study overseas. I remember that Bunda Permaisuri was against this decision. But, of course, if Ayahnda already made up his mind, nobody can or should go against him."
"Come on, stop gossiping about your sister Nurbaiti and continue to give marital advices to Mita." Puteri Siti Hamidah scold them.
Although she tried trolling around some more, Paramita couldn't get any new information she concluded that her sisters and their mother really didn't know anything else.
* * *
They left her to take her beauty sleep, claiming that staying up too late will make her face puffy tomorrow morning. She was happy to be able to talk to them. They were warm and friendly to her. "Children, especially daughters take after their mother." She thought to herself, "Kak Mini and Kak Tini are warm, caring and open hearted just like Puteri Siti Hamidah, while Kak Nurbaiti is distant and looks down at me just like Permaisuri. And I am... Am I like my mother? Since I don't agree with her behavior, then I have to be careful and make sure that I don't become like that. I have to use her as an image of what not to be."
She picked up the herbal tea that her sisters gave her. How sad knowing that this herbal tea was created by women just like her to gain the love of their husband's through sexual pleasure. Husbands who can legally take more than one wife. "If Abang ever does that to me, I'll just walk out the door with my kids without looking back." She said to herself. Suddenly she realized, maybe she was just like her mother, after all. She picked up the plastic bag and buried it deep in her bag.
* * *
"Please, go easy on the makeup," Ali said to the stylist in charge of dressing him in the traditional garb. Seeing all the cosmetics that are stacked on the dressing table. "I don't want to be mistaken for the bride."
"Raden that's not possible, the clothes are different." The stylist answered with a smart ass attitude.
"Are you ready?" Raden Hamza asked while poking his head through the door.
"I think so," Ali replied while standing up.
"Raden, at least let me apply lip gloss." The stylist said.
"Not necessary!" He replied, "But thank you for your effort." He said while standing up fixing his kain samping and then his songkok.
Raden Hamza entered sitting on the bed he handed his son a Keris, "This Keris belonged
to my father. Although it's not a functional weapon, but more of a ceremonial accessory, it is our family heirloom. This is my gift for you, in your new life and responsibilities you will be required to use our traditional clothes often, I want you to always carry this Keris with you to remember everything I've taught you from childhood to now. Remember that title, position and power can corrupt a man. All your life I have given you a good moral compass to help you find your directions in life, always remember them and don't stray away. I have always given you an example of loyalty to your mother Nabilla, I have never disappointed her and never been unfaithful. I hope you will follow my lead in your actions as a husband and as a father to your future children. Your wife is a strong and independent woman, and she is of higher birth than you, but it is your responsibility to protect her, love her and care for her. I wish all the happiness in the world, you have all my blessings for this new phase in your life." He held his son's face and kissed his forehead.
Ali slipped the Keris under the belt that tied his kain samping. He kneeled in front of his father, putting his head on Raden Hamza's knees, he whispered, "Thank you father."
Raden Hamza nodded as he gently caressed his son's head, his eyes were moist, "I'm proud of you."
As per tradition, the groom and his family will parade towards the bride's home where the wedding ceremony will take place. The purpose of this parade is to announce to everybody that the two children of both families have legally become husband and wife. In addition, it's to ask for good wishes and blessing from any and every onlookers. Since this was a wedding ceremony held by two prominent families, the Sultan himself and a very influential nobleman, the streets were crowded with people trying to watch the procession and taking pictures of it. Rows of reporters were also making live broadcast of the event so that the citizens living outside of the capital can watch it live in the comfort of their own homes.
Once they reached the Palace which, in this case, is the home of the bride's family, they are greeted at the gate and received by the bride's family. This is followed by an exhibition of Silat fighting styles by the groom, this is a symbolic gesture to show to the family of the bride, that the groom as the head of the family has enough prowess and manhood to lead and protect his family. Afterward, they continued to the courtyard where both families play a symbolic battle of throwing raw curried rice at each other as a sign of which family gives more blessing to the other. Once the rice throwing had finished both families exchange gifts of betel leaf, betel nuts, betel chalk, and tobacco. At the door of the house an exchange of rhymes are done, once the bride's family feel satisfied with the rhymes, they then drop the makeshift barrier, made of silk, to allow the groom and his family to enter the house.
The bride was taken out from inside the house to meet with the groom, both of them were led to a seating area where the parents from both the bride and groom were seated on decorated chairs. Both the groom and the bride had to kneel in front of each parent to get their blessing for their new life. The Sultan was accompanied by both wives, Paramita felt it ironic that her mother wasn't there.
Since the marriage contract was done a week before, they continued directly to the Sanding, where the bride and groom will sit side by side on a stage in front of all the guests, this is a testament that they are officially married.
A contingent of prayers, blessings, and speeches followed afterward. Paramita felt warned out sitting for hours in her kebaya, especially with the tight canvas long belt they tied around her waist to make her waistline look smaller. Her face also felt stiff from smiling all the time. She was feeling envious at the guests who were walking around with a plate full of food in their hand. She glanced at Ali, he was sitting calmly and comfortably. "Why does society dictate for women to be vain?" She thought, "I wonder how many other women present here today have to suffer this type of torture just so people can see her as beautiful."
She looked towards the guests sitting on the seats arranged in rows in front of the stage. Her mother was there on the VIP seat, she was sitting with several foreigners who Paramita deduced that they are representatives of foreign countries in Jothar. A pair of aged foreigners caught her attention. The man was dressed in a black tie suit and the woman in a beautiful haute couture gown. What caught Paramita's attention was her face, she was a female version of Ali. She guessed that she must be his biological mother. She also saw Jonathan Tan among the guests that had just arrived, and walking beside him was Dewi Chandrawati. She understood that as Raden Nabilla's brother, he would be invited to his step nephews wedding, but she wondered at his motive for bringing Dewi as his date. She sensed that he had a sinister reason behind it. A group of reporters ran up to Dewi and started to take photos of her. Instinctively, Paramita moved her body, but she felt a hand holding hers, and gently squeezing it. She turned to Ali, he gestured that he also saw what she saw, and he was calming her down. She smiled at him and tried to relax. Once he saw her calm again, he withdrew his and put it back on his lap.
One of the women assigned to attend the guests brought a tray with two plates of food for them. Ali took a plate and gestured for the woman to leave. Paramita wanted to protest for her meal, but Ali brought a spoonful of food to her mouth and smiled. She opened her mouth to accept it. Seeing the groom feeding the bride with affection, the reporters shifted their attention from Dewi and started taking pictures of them. Ali ate a spoonful himself, before feeding his wife with the spoon again, he continued with this until the plate of food was empty. He used the napkin in his hand to gently wipe the corner of her mouth. She smiled at him thankfully, for saving the situation, but inside she was cursing him for causing her to eat only half a meal.
After a few minutes, Paramita saw the number of royal guards increased inside the banquet hall. This helped control the reporters.
After all the guest had eaten, they were welcomed on the stage to congratulate the bride and groom along with their parents. This was the highlight of the event for most of the guests because they could actually shake the Sultan's hand and have a picture taken with him.
Paramita couldn't feel her hands from shaking with so many people. But she pushed on, wearing a smile on her face and thanking people. Her heart beat a little faster when Jonathan and Dewi came to the stage to congratulate them. She guessed that Dewi wouldn't dare to do anything that would tarnish any of their reputations in public.
She glanced at Ali acting indifferently when taking his ex-girlfriend's hand and shaking it. When Dewi was in front of her, she put on a polite smile, and with her most soft and friendly voiced, she thanked Dewi, even though Dewi didn't really say anything to her.
It was when Jonathan came to shake her hand that she cringed as he gently squeezed her. She pursed her lips to the inappropriate behavior, and tried hard to refrain herself from punching him in the face in front of all the guests. She put on a wide and obviously hypocritical smile and thanked him.
The reporters didn't miss the chance to take their pictures. Dewi stood by her side and Jonathan besides Ali.
Ali put his left arm around Paramita's shoulder and pulled her closer, he took her left hand in his right one and smiled for the camera as the sound of shutters and flashes filled the room.
Chapter Twenty Nine
After the guests had left they were allowed to have an hour break before they have to continue with an inner family gathering. Paramita was allowed to go back to her room. She sat on the bed trying hard not to tear off her clothes and change into something more comfortable. The door opened and Ali was shown in, he was accompanied by three of the Queen's lady-in-waiting who came in pushing a wheeled tables. Paramita could smell the delicious food being brought in.
"Your Highness Pangeran and Puteri, please eat first," Said one of them, "We're going to move Her Highness Puteri's luggage to the bridal room, please excuse us." They went and brought Paramita's bag out of there before exiting and gently closed the door behind them.
"How are you feeling?" Ali said while sitting bes
ide her on the bed.
"Tired, suffocated and numb." She replied.
"That bad huh?"
"If you had to wear a tight belt and a stiff hair do all day, you'd probably feel this way too."
"You look beautiful." He said, "You always do."
"My husband is the best at praising me." She replied, she stood up and walked to the table and served some food on a plate, then handed it to him.
He received it, "Thank you." He said.
Then she served another one for herself and walked back to the bed and sat down to eat. "Bang, you know I found out some more things last night." She said after swallowing a spoon of rice.
"What did you find out?" He asked.
"Did you know that you were originally supposed to marry my older sister from the Queen, Kak Nurbaiti? Then about two years ago, she was engaged to Pangeran Hasan from one of the kingdoms in Malaysia, and at the same time the Sultan announced to the inner family that I was the one who was going to marry to you."
"What? How come I've never heard of this before?" He wondered.
"So according to my other sisters, Kak Nurbaiti has been in love with you for years."
"I hardly know her. How can she be in love with me?" He glanced and smiled audaciously, "She probably fell in love at first sight seeing my beautiful and masculine self."
"Here buddy, chew on this piece of meat to calm your ego, there you go, good boy!" Paramita said while putting a piece of meat in his mouth, then patting his head, "Anyway according to Kak Hartini, her mother the Queen had taught her since she was younger that she couldn't love any other man but you. And I also heard that the Queen was upset at the Sultan's decision of marrying you to me."
"That's.....why would she do that? Why me?"
"That's also what I was asking myself, why is my father the Sultan so keen on making you his son in law, that he would engage you to two of his daughters? I mean I had the theory about you and your renowned political views, but now I'm confused."
Princess: Nuance Of Love Book 1 Page 24
