Princess: Stepping Out of the Shadows, стр. 4

nationalities, who know little of any significance about us. Prior to the stories about my life, most people thought of Saudi Arabians as people who are oil-rich and lazy – people who contribute little to the world and care only for themselves. We are seen as selfish, sitting atop vast reserves of black gold. But the stories I have shared, documenting my life, have unexpectedly created an understanding that has brought affection to those in our country who push for change. Readers whose minds have been opened as to the truth of our lives write to tell me how they have come to know that Saudi Arabians are like most others in the world; we are a nation made up of good and bad people, and many make valid and important contributions to society and to the world.

I am told through the communications I receive that readers feel they have come to know the women, and the men, of my family. There are many who say they had no knowledge that Saudi men could be so understanding and sensitive about the issues of life until they read about my husband, my son, my sister Sara’s husband and other exceptional men in the royal family.

Nothing is more important than creating understanding and sharing knowledge amongst different nations and cultures, and this is what the books about my life have accomplished. Consequently Ali’s empty words could not convince me otherwise.

After Ali understood that I was not going to be drawn into a verbal battle with him, he gathered his senses, picked up the book and, realizing he had an audience, glanced caustically at the servants, exclaiming, ‘Have you no work? Does my sister pay you to gawk?’

The servants quickly scattered.

With their exit, Ali’s tirade ended, although he looked at me with disappointment flashing in his eyes.

‘You know, Sultana, if anyone outside our immediate family discovers you to be this princess, your children will be the ones to suffer for your folly.’

I felt stricken by his threatening words but did not respond, intentionally keeping my face expressionless, for what could I say? His words held an important truth which often makes me uncomfortable. If my identity as Princess Sultana becomes popular knowledge within the Saudi royal family, my children will indeed suffer, for they will be scorned by many they now consider friends.

All who know me understand that my children and grandchildren are the most important people in my life and are the true reason I have never come forward to reveal my face and identity to the world. I must protect my children from being rejected or ridiculed by their relatives and friends. Most children in Saudi Arabia would feel shame to have a mother whose life is publicized to the world, for most women in our isolated world still live very private lives. Despite the fact that my stories are told in order to promote understanding of my world, most would not appreciate the reasons behind the revelations. They would not know of my passion to fight for equal rights for women.

In Saudi Arabia, the entire family is held to blame if any member acts or reacts in a manner considered unacceptable. My children are happy and well adjusted, and any harm to them brought by my actions would render me weak from sorrow.

Once Ali realized that he could say nothing to provoke me to retort in wrath, he abandoned his anger and behaved normally, as if nothing had happened and he had not stormed into my home with strident and insulting words.

‘Sultana,’ he said with a smile, ‘are you going to offer me a coffee?’

I laughed.

My brother laughed.

Did we finally understand one another? We had been sparring since the time we were children only because Ali was a natural-born bully. Did he comprehend that he could no longer control his adult sister? Had I reached a position of harmony with my brother’s need to control all women in his sphere of influence? Only time would tell, so I lightly shrugged my shoulders and issued the invitation he expected.

‘Of course! Come with me to the sitting room, and we’ll have a coffee and a sweet.’

And so the morning ended without further commotion, as Ali disclosed the most recent news of his new wife and their toddler son, who was spoiled by his father and whom Ali claimed to look and behave exactly as he had as a child.

‘Is that so?’ I replied, a smile lurking under my words, recalling how Ali had tormented his sisters in his youth with his demanding ways and aggressive conduct. Secretly I hoped that his son was nothing like his father, when it came to selfishness and lack of compassion.

I felt relieved when Ali left within the hour to tend to business affairs, but admittedly I was glad that we had parted amiably, something rare in our long and quarrelsome relationship.

* * *

I had no indication that day of the surprises that were about to be revealed in my country. My happiness was soon rising, for it was not so long after my brother’s visit that an unexpected announcement came from the men who rule Saudi Arabia, a revelation that promised a better future for all Saudis – women and men. Our world was about to be enriched to an extent that most could only imagine. Indeed, none of us has ever believed that we might live long enough to witness such progressive changes.

Only a few short months later, many of us would be celebrating the fact that we were fortunate that one of the highest-ranking people in the kingdom had determined to bring the best transformations to our nation and to make our country great in the eyes of the world.

As I mentioned earlier, this unexpected social revolution is being spearheaded by a young male royal named Muhammad bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz al-Sa’ud, who has appeared to us as a miracle; a bold man who is pushing away the darkness cloaking all