So, Cinderella started to gather for the masquerade ball ...
The question arose what Cinderella should wear?
In shorts and trousers? With bare arms and legs? No, no good! So I went to the store. I bought a long white skirt and a white summer jumper. Yes, and another headscarf. I suppose, it is the custom for Muslims people to dress this way.
My husband laughed, saying that I should just buy a paranja, calm down, and hide everything under that paranja!
It does not sound good. Somehow not modern...
I must say that my husband and I were obsessed with this trip to the Sultan Palace. Others said: "Well, what have we not seen there?" Yes, and they probably also did not want to spend extra money. Anyway, the services of the person accompanying us were paid, although the entrance to the palace was free.
Early in the morning we went to the Sultan.
From the entrance we were driven by a car, as the territory of the palace is huge. My eyes barely had time to scan the luxury of palace delights.
We were not taken to the palace. The meeting with Sultan took place in one of the buildings of the palace ensemble.
It seemed to me that I was in a crowded square.
There were people everywhere. Medium height swarthy men and women, noisy children. There was a lot of different food. For everyone, without exception, a treat was prepared. Bruneian people quietly talking among themselves, eating a variety of foods and drinking bright drinks. Their clothes were all bright, colorful, made of silk.
I did not eat anything, really.
A white European woman, in all white, I stood, like the "White Crow".
The Bruneian people looked at me with interest. Since I did not know the rules of meeting the Sultan, I twisted my head in all directions and tried to guess where I should go ...
I calmed myself with the thought that I would soon see Sultan. And oops! My husband and I were separated. We was explained that men will handshake the Sultan himself, and women will welcome the wives of the Sultan.
These are the Muslim rules. The status of a man here is higher than the status of a woman. It upset me a little, but I did not have other options, and I continued on my way.
I had to wait a bit in the cinema hall.
It seems that were no more foreigners there. I was the only one white woman there, like the White Crow.
Bruneian women came to greet their The Regal person. They thought, what the hell? What is She doing here? The women looked at me from all sides.
And I'm standing in line now.
Little time had passed and remained little before I meet with the wives of the Sultan. The guards of the palace were young and strong guys and they were walking around very importantly.
I started to notice that they stopped and took pictures next to me for some reason. I thought, like any woman, that my beauty had even hit the palace guard on the spot! But then, I lower down my eyes and saw that my white cardigan, bought for a trip to the palace, is transparent like a traitor. And my gorgeous lace underwear is visible, as in the shop window! And my third sized bust is shown like on a silver platter! What to do? I take off my headscarf and try to cover up my magnificent bust.
But, thank God, it's time for me to go. It is a small room. Huge colored vases. There are so many flowers ... bright buds of all kinds of shades! And there is a very sweet smell, some thick and viscous. I felt a little dizzy from this smell. Everything was happening, as if in fog. As if time began to stretch, as in slow-motion movie.
The first wife of Sultan handed me a hand, then the second did.
The wives of the Sultan seemed to me unreal beauties. Clothes on them were from the finest fabrics of deep noble shades, their heads are covered with transparent shawls. Gorgeous jewelry with multi-colored stones shined like stars in the sky. Just like the Moon, they swimed on the heavenly vault and fascinated the Earth by its huge disk filled with radiant Divine light. And the faces of these two beautiful women attract the eye. And I want to adore and admire their beauty.
Chaand Kaa Tukdaa (Hindi), it translates from hindi like: Moon-faced beauties. The lines of their face are soft, gentle, even.
Nowadays, for some reason, women's faces in high fashion have sharply outlined cheekbones, like men's. Women specifically highlight the cheekbones by a makeup. It looks like a masculine women! Sometimes, when I look at them I want to say: Spartans - into battle!
But the Sultan of Brunei has three Moons! One of them is in the sky, the other two Moons are in his palace! It's pretty, is not it?
But back to my story.
Everyone who handshakes of royal people is given a small gift. I was given it too. It was a yellow box with a photograph of the Sultan and sweets. Very cute.
When I left the room, I began to look for my husband. After all, should we meet? But my husband was nowhere to be found.
I got in a car with other women. We arrived at the entrance to the palace, to where our journey began.
I looked around again, where was my husband? No, he was nowhere to be found. There were a lot of people on a small platform with a canopy where we were left out of the car. I decided to wait for my husband. What if he's still with the Sultan? I believed he will come soon.
I was walking back and forth, pondering what to do next. And suddenly I noticed that behind me three men were following. They were dressed in silk trousers and shirts bright colors. One of them was younger and he was dressed in a "blue" suit. The other two were a little older. They followed me as if tied to me.
I turned my head and looked at them. My view contained the question: What's the matter?
The young man began to ask me questions. Where am I from? What is my name? Whether I am Married? The other two of them carefully examined me but they did not say anything. And suddenly, a young man invited me to marry him. True, I would have been his second wife, but I would live like in a fairy tale. Because, I would be the wife of a rich Bruneian. I do not need to work. Just relax and travel. All the adornments of the world would be at my feet. He said that he has fallen in love with me at first sight.
I explained to him, like a decent woman, that I'm married, and I have a son. And there is one important point! I am older than him as it seems to me.
Bruneian was 28 years old.
He said that my marriage is not a problem in general! Lawyers will solve everything quickly. He looked at me with such a please in his eyes! His companions were clicking their tongues, as a sign of approval of such a chic choice! Oh it is the power of love, I thought. The New Groom wanted to get my answer immediately. «Make a decision», - he told me. He always dreamed of such a beauty!
I looked around again and again. Where was my husband?
I scanned through everyone who came out of the cars. Time was passing, but Igor was not there.
The Groom was declaring one's love to me. The Marriage-brokers told me about my future life in Brunei interrupting each other. Their gazes rested on my chest all the time.
Yes, I thought triumphantly, elegant lace underwear and a third bust size are killing everyones on the spot. I'll tell you that it is the Most Important Argument.
And then our guide approached me and took me away.
On the way he told me that my husband Igor has long been waiting for me outside the territory of the palace. We just missed each other.
I suddenly thought, maybe it's good thing that we missed each other. After all, how could I have find out that the fate would be ready to present me a wonderful bonus. And I was then 37 years old!
And what kind of karma is that?
Everyone wants to marry me! I took a deep breath by the Most Important Argument and got in the car. I was happy.
In the car, my favorite husband was sharing his impressions of the meeting with Sultan. And I tried to imagine my life with the young Bruneian in my dreams.