In the summer of 1989, no more than 8 going on to 9, a tender, and impressionable age, I so clearly remember, we were at my aunts home for my cousins birthday party.
Like most children that age, I was certainly no saint! Often up to no good, running around like a hooligan - indeed a Tomboy.
That day, like most days, I was terribly hyper! My mothers repeated, yet failed efforts of calling out to me, trying to remind me that I was meant to act like a lady, went on for most of the party. Fed up of being told off, suddenly, I raised my voice at her. At this point my aunt pulled me aside and exclaimed, “do you realise that your mother is a princess!?” “You ought to keep yourself in check while addressing her!”
I could hardly believe my ears, and instantly thought to myself, this is amazing, I’m going to head to school tomorrow and the first thing I’m going to do is brag to all my friends how ‘I’ am a princess!
I woke up the next morning, super excited, quick at my feet, in no time, I was ready to head out for school. Consumed with childish ego, I had an agenda… today is my day to gain all glory! I thought to myself.
Upon reaching school, I made sure to declare to all my classmates, “do you know my mother is a princess, and I too am one!”
The girls were mesmerised, but not convinced. At the end of the day, when my mother came to collect me, all went rushing over to her… “Aunty! Is Rabia a princess?” Mummy, with a look of horror shot me a very disapproving stare and replied, “she most certainly is not! She is no more than a commoner!”
Damn! Those words felt like a tight slap on the face. “But mummy…?” I tried to continue, a simple motion of mummy’s raised hand, commanded that I speak no further. I did not dare to challenge, though I was most upset, for now all the girls were looking at me, while smirking at one another sniggering away. I was doomed, I’m never going to hear the end of this, they are all going to label me a lier, I thought to myself.
Our chauffeur pulled up, got out of the car, took my school bag from me and while he placed it in the booth, mummy and I, climbed into the back seat. We drove off, there was complete silence in the car.
The roads were heavily congested as it was school rush hour. Soon we approached a major traffic light, and our car came to a halt. I mustered up the courage to speak, “I wasn’t the one who lied, it was aunty who lied, just yesterday she announced to me that I must speak to you with respect for you are a princess.”
Mummy, who was looking straight ahead, slowly turned her face towards me, her expression suddenly softened, “your aunty did not lie, my father was the Nawab of Dhaka, which gives me the title of princess! As for you, your identity comes from your father, and he has no title, hence you are not a princess by any stretch of the imagination.”
My face dropped, I was saddened by the reality that I was just like everyone else, as my mother had stated to my friends, ‘A commoner’.
Mummy having seen my expression, spoke once again, “ look out of your window, do you see that child on the bicycle, sitting behind his father?” I replied with a humbled nod, for just then I realised how hot it was, we were sitting in an air conditioned luxury car whilst the boy and his father were without any protection, directly under the blazing sun, in the scorching heat, sweltering and sweating away, yet laughing and chatting with one another while waiting for the signal to turn green. My mother now smiling continues, “ sweetheart, great stature does not come from any title nor wealth, being one who is full of gratitude, and humility will always stand the tallest! Always stay humble that will make you a true princess, a princess of hearts! One that is loved by all who know her for who she is and what she stands for!”
The following day, I returned to school having learnt it the hard way! I no longer felt any embarrassment, so before the bell rang for class to commence, as we waited outside our classroom, I mustered up the strength to share with my friends everything that occurred on our ride back home. “So your mother really is a princess wow!” I replied, “yes she is but that doesn’t make me one, I’m just like all of you, a princess of hearts!”
They all smiled at me with approval, I had redeemed myself and we were back to being just a bunch of silly hyper children.
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