Princess Sultana's Circle

inspected Omar’s colorful ensemble.
“Oh?”
    I did not want Kareem to
judge Omar harshly, for I understood that this small man had not
chosen the role in life he had been forced to play.
    “ Yes! Omar’s lifelong
mission has been that of a protector. A protector of
women!”
    Just then Amani walked into
the palace with a row of her new pet birds balanced on her arm.
Miraculously, our daughter had already trained some of the birds
she had saved from Faddel’s garden paradise.
    With a broad smile on his
face, Omar jumped to his feet. “Young Mistress, I watched from the
bushes as you carried these poor birds from Master Faddel’s palace
to freedom! For sure, you will be favored by Allah for your
goodness!”
    Amani had never been
praised for protecting animals before. Disarmed, she smiled and
looked warmly at Omar.
    Kareem’s earlier reluctant
tolerance was beginning to turn into alarm. “Great God, Sultana!
What is this? Have you taken Faddel’s dwarf, too?”
    “ Omar is not a dwarf!” I
protested, “Omar is a eunuch!”
    Kareem threw his arms into
the air. “Sultana!” His loud voice and gesticulating arm movements
caused Amani’s birds to flutter around the room in
panic.
    Amani screamed,
“Father!”
    Omar rushed to help Amani
gather the birds and return them to the garden. As soon as the door
closed behind them, I attempted to soothe Kareem by explaining the
morning’s events, and how it came about that an aged and wildly
dressed eunuch was now living in our home.
    When Kareem began to
comprehend that, not only had I disobeyed his earlier instructions
by returning to Faddel’s palace, but had created yet another
upheaval at that palace while on a second mission of mercy, his
tolerance for my behavior vanished.
    Kareem shouted, “Save me
Allah, from lying lips and deceiving tongues!” The raised veins on
his face and neck were alarming.
    I tried to tell Kareem
about the plight of the poor women being held against their will,
but Kareem’s loud cries overwhelmed my words. We quickly became
involved in a senseless shouting match. Our argument ceased only
when our voices grew hoarse.
    When he fell silent, I
tried to tell Kareem the tragic story of the young women held in
sexual bondage by Faddel, but even the grim reality of innocent
girls imprisoned in a harem made no impact on his anger.
    I added meekly, “I know
that I should have first confided in you, Husband. But, you already
were so burdened with Amani and those birds, that I hesitated.” I
leaned close and placed my hand on Kareem’s leg. “Had I not gone
with Maha, and made an effort to free those young women, she would
never have forgiven me.”
    Kareem shook his head
angrily, “What good did you do, Sultana? The women still belong to
Faddel. Nothing can change that fact! You well know that no one in
this country will take up the cause of women in such a situation!”
He gestured toward the spot where Omar sat previously. “So, what
did you accomplish? The addition of an ancient eunuch to a
household that has no need for one!”
    Kareem and I were startled
to hear Omar clear his throat behind us. From the heaviness now
reflected on his sagging face, it was clear that he had overheard
Kareem’s callous remarks.
    “ I will leave your home at
once, Master.” Omar stuttered in a high, meek tone of voice. “You
are right. A eunuch is a pointless creature. At least these
days.”
    Omar’s eyes were
glistening, and I feared that the poor man was going to fall to his
knees and burst into tears.
    The sad demeanor of this
little man softened Kareem’s heart, stripping him of his anger.
There are times that Kareem can be a sensitive man, and this was
one of those times. “I am sorry for my careless words, Omar. No man
is pointless in the eyes of Allah. And, if Faddel does not protest
your absence, you are most welcome to live with us.”
    Omar’s countenance
brightened immediately. “Oh, Master, my presence will not be missed
in that place! I once left to travel with a visitor from Taif and
was away for four months. Upon my return, it was clear that my
absence had passed unnoticed by Master Faddel and his
wife.”
    Omar went on ruefully, “I
was told by other servants that Faddel and Khalidah expressed the
hope that I had crept into the bushes and died. Those two even
begrudged me what little food my small body requires!” He stroked
the fabric of his brocade drawers. “Master Faddel refused funds for
me to purchase more