Chapter 24
The LGA chairman had pulled some strings and to my surprise the compound I and my entourage had settled in was quickly filled up by curious and hungry looking Schelarians.
A canopy was propped up for shade from the scalding sun and I stood to speak to the people gathered. Aside from their hungry and curious looks, I saw many doubtful and skeptical ones as well. It dawned on me that the people gathered here were those that had only ever seen me on a television screen or heard my voice through the radio. The same could largely be said for my father, a distant man deciding their futures at a whim.
With the Presidents by my side as well as cameras pointed at me, I put on a lax and rather cordial affair; holding babies, discussing football, a sport I and little knowledge of with the men and children and even going as far as dis.h.i.+ng out food and handing over the food grants. Bags of rice are heavier than they looked.
Unconsciously and quite coincidentally, I'd made true history with the people. Being the first leader to physically interact with the populace. Needless to say, I felt proud of myself once I'd realized this fact but the feeling was tempered by another truth; if I hadn't needed the sympathy and support of the two Heads of State I'd come with, I'd probably never be here.
Speaking of my guests. Whilst I'd played happy-go-lucky leader, they'd been entertained by Luciano and the LGA chairman. As I approached I wondered what they'd been discussing.
"My apologies for keeping you waiting so long," I begin as I take a seat on an empty s.p.a.ce next to Luciano. I'd long since discarded my blazer and rolled up my sleeves as the manual labor proved too tasking to look charming for.
I look to Luciano and the rather bright smile on the man's face got me a little nervous at what the man had said while I was gone. He had little to no tact for diplomacy after all.
Noticing my rather nervous look Bernardor jumped in with a chuckle, "Relax President Fatah, Luciano has done a great job convincing us both of your integrity as a leader and well-meaning for the nation you govern." He says, smiling and chuckling all through.
I put on a smile as well and ask, "So what does this all mean exactly?"
"It means that we are willing to give you what you want," President Nawab began, "I know for a fact that all this you've done here," he gestures around, pointing outside where the people still lingered a bit, getting food, drink and all round provisions, "Was simply to garner our favour. You've done an impressive job at it too. Most heads of state wouldn't dare bring guests of our status to the slums of their nation. You have tact…boy."
My eyes narrow and I grind my teeth at the word. Nawab was a pretty small man, it would be quite effortless pummeling him into the ground. But I knew that was no way to gain his respect.
I don't let my feelings show on my face, I force
I see them both reel from the shock and I feel Luciano's hand squeeze on my arm, I shake it off violently and rise from the couch, folding my sleeves some more as I do so, the sneer on my face growing as I stare down at Nawab's scowl.
"I will offer you both seventy-million dollars for the best quality cargo s.h.i.+ps you have, now I doubt your country has seen such financial luck in ages, Nawab. Whatever report you give back to the African Union I am not concerned, Schelar has survived long and hard without the help of the so called Union, and I trust we can continue to do so."
I step into Nawab's s.p.a.ce, its uncomfortable even for me as I might fall onto him without proper balance but I hold on to prove a point, "To look down on me is to look down on Schelar, never do such."
"Luciano! We're leaving!"
***
What I'd done might as well be an international incident. I worried about it but soon I found my resolve. What I did was right and well deserved. As desperate as I was, I wouldn't debase Schelar by licking the shoes of men who run Nations older and poorer than mine.
I arranged a ride for Bernardor and Nawab, a flight as well too. Although, this time they didn't fly back with Luciano and I. The flight back to Mahe was quiet. Luciano knew by the look on my face alone that he wasn't to speak at that time.
It would be the same quiet ride back to the Palace if I didn't say something. So I did.
"You did a good job, Luciano," I say, quietly looking out the window as I had nothing else to distract me from my own actions and it possible haunting consequences, "I don't know what you told them to get them to agree to give us what we want but you did a good job."
I steel my mind and I turn to look at him for the first time since we'd left the LGA house, "But I'm not sorry for protecting the pride of our nation. If Nawab thinks we're going to be indebted to him, that his favour is something that costs so much that we'd bend over and take any insult, then there's something else going on in his head."
Luciano looks solemn as he takes in my words, I wondered what he thought. Perhaps he thought me a child too. No.
"Hasina," I narrow my eyes as he uses my first name, whenever he or Matthias did so a lecture often followed. I was in no mood though.
"Sir." I correct sternly.
He takes a breath, long and deep before letting out, "Sir," much better, "It is your job as the Supreme Leader of our nation to ensure our survival. Surely you can see that your acti-"
"The pride of a nation only can ensure its survival, Luciano!" I level a heated glare at him, "And I am the nation."
He looks solemn again as he opens his mouth to speak some more, "I told them, Bernardor and Nawab, I told them of how you been strong for the us, for the nation all this time. Even after your parents died."
At the mention of my parents I ease up on the glare and ready myself to listen.
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"I told them of how you've risen up to each challenge and provided crucial solutions to keep the nation safe, to make it prosper, to ensure we survive. I told them of how I, a man far in years looks up to you for your tenacity and loyalty to the state, even at your own detriment."
"My own detriment? I'm fine." I wave him off on this but he only raises an eyebrow at me.
"Fine? Hasina, you are turning twenty in a few months and a single day wiped out your social life. Despite whatever you may think, Matthias and I are not suitable people for you to call friends. Have you even seen your cousins? You made some of them Generals in the army but since then have you bonded, mourned?"
He shook his head as my mouth hung open and my eyes scrambled for an answer that wouldn't come.
"h.e.l.l you haven't even gone back to your University ever since that day, have you spoken to any of your old friends?" he huffs out and points to my pocket, "You hold on to your old phone against security protocol but have you used it to communicate with those who knew you personally?"
He places a hand on my shoulder and smiles a sad smile, "You've isolated yourself, Hasina. You've done so much for the nation but like you said, you are the nation, you've got to take care of yourself."
My mouth had shut but my eyes were wide with surprise. I still had no answer to his challenging questions. I felt myself dig deep for an answer that I knew was there. An answer to why I'd done all I had. I could feel it bubbling just beneath the surface, like a fish caught on a hook I could reel it in and hold it in my hands, I knew I could. But I didn't.
My eyes had been wide open and tears had welled up in them as they dried up, clouding my vision. I blink them away and see we've arrived at the Palace. This wasn't the time for introspection. Despite whatever Luciano and Matthias might think and despite whatever lied beneath the surface. I knew I had better things to do than mingle.
I had a nation to rule.