At just before 2:30 p.m. the Crown Princess, her 3 ladies and bodyguards leave her apartments for the Great Hall. It looks like every inhabitant of the Royal Harem is present. As they enter the chatter stops, they all bow deeply then it seems as if everyone is clapping the Crown Princess. Rashid, the architect is waiting patiently for her by the platform and she asks if he is ready. After bowing deeply, he says that he is and taps his scrolls with a smile. She returns his smile and leads the way onto the stage where all but Ayisha sit on the chairs provided.
She opens proceedings by thanking them for the kind reception which means a lot to her, she then surprises everyone with her greeting: "My dear sisters and brothers, fellow inhabitants of the Royal Harem. I am delighted to introduce to you Rashid, the very talented architect to whom I have entrusted a major project. I now invite him to join me and tell you all about the project". They exchange smiles as he joins her and starts his address: "It is hard to imagine there is anyone that hasn't been consulted by, or heard about the Crown Princess' aspiration to improve the life of every inhabitant of the Royal Harem. The plans I am about to show you have been approved by our beloved Crown Princess".
He unrolls a larger scroll than he showed her before, with an ink image of one of the identical suites to be occupied by a Royal Concubine. Ayisha, still beside him holds one side of the scroll while Maryam comes forward to hold the other. He says: "Thank you esteemed ladies. This scroll shows the design that will be used for every room to be constructed in the project. Please note the king size double bed that acts as the focal point. To one side of the bed is a lounge area with a couch, coffee table and large flat screen TV on the wall over a writing desk. There is ample space around the double bed making it easy to move about the room. On the other side of the bed is a fitted wardrobe beyond which is the en-suite featuring a bath, a walk-in shower, a wash basin and a WC. Beside the door is the control panel for the climate contol system and a switch to turn on a red 'please do not disturb' sign on the wall outside the suite".
He unrolls a second, enlarged scroll which Ayisha and Maryam hold open for him: "The space currently occupied by the corridor and dormitory exactly matches the dimensions of 2 rows of 10 rooms, all insulated for noise reduction purposes. One row will be against the outer wall of the former dormitory and the other against the side of this great hall. Between the 2 sets of 10 rooms will be the replacement corridor". He unrolls a third scroll showing how the upper of the 2 floors will be identical to be lower floor. Together they will house a total of 40 Royal Concubines in comfort and privacy, i.e. adequate for more than all the current ladies of the Royal Harem. The completion of these 40 rooms is anticipated to take 3 months. He turns to Ayisha and ask if she would like him to end there".
On being asked to continue, since it is his project, he says: "Her Royal and most benevolent Highness describes the ladies' accommodation as phase one of the project. Phase two of the project is the complete updating of the accommodation for every Royal Eunuch to the same high standard as that of the Royal Concubines. My presentation is now complete and I hand you back to the loving care of our Crown Princess". After the enthusiastic applause subsides, Ayisha thanks him for his excellent drawings, presentation and for bringing her dream for the Royal Brothel into an achievable project, adding that they will be available to take questions after a 5 minute break. Again there is enthusiastic applause. Maryam rolls up the scrolls for Rashid while Ayisha takes him aside for a private word.
Ayisha tells him that she is very pleased with his performance and ability to hold the attention of an audience. He has displayed the very talents that she has been looking for in the 'right person' to be appointed as a new member of the Royal Harem Management Committee in the capacity of Head of Infrastructure. She asks, by his name Rashid, whether he would be willing to take on such responsibility for the benefit of the Royal Family, for the Royal Harem and for all the inhabitants of the Royal Harem. He is speechless for a moment and falling to his knees before she can stop him, he tells her that there is nothing he would like more. He rises at her request and Ayisha says that she will now ask Amina, the Head of Communications to make the announcement, after questions have been taken, while everyone is gathered together. Also to announce that Meher will be teaching lession 4 of her belly dancing course immediately following her announcement.
She goes to Amina and tells her of her appointment of Rashid to the Royal Harem Management Committee as Head of Infrastructure and asks her to announce the appointment immediately following the Q&A session, which in turn will be followed by Meher's 4th lesson: How to do a chest shimmy. They all come together and the first question is exactly what she expected, i.e. why double beds in single rooms? Ayisha answers the question, confirming publicly what she had said previously; that personal intimate relationships are allowed in the Royal Harem and the design of the rooms facilitate such relationships in comfortable priavcy. She adds that the relationships must be carefully managed to prevent conflicts in the Royal Harem which by her decree is to be a place of love, harmony, peace and calm. The applause is immediate, loud and accompanied by calls of "Bravo".
The second question takes Ayisha completely by surprise, a Royal Concubine asks: "Before entering the Royal Harem, which I now never want to leave, I was a registered nurse for about 5 years. My question is whether it might be possible to use my room as a confidential place in which to help Royal Concubines with physical or mental ailments?" Ayisha says that the rooms were designed to facilitate interpersonal intimate relationships BUT her sister has raised a very important point for which she is very grateful. She asks the lady her name and she says it is Asiya. Ayisha smiles, thanks her and asks her to make herself known to one of her ladies so that she can join the Crown Princess and her ladies for the evening meal in her apartments. Asiya's reply is lost in the communal gasp from the audience but her smiling happy face makes it clear that she accepts the invitation. Ayisha asks Amina to make her announcement while Meher makes her final preparations for her lesson.
Amina announces that the Crown Princess has appointed Rashid, the architect, to the Royal Harem Management Committee as Head of Infrastructure. The appointment to take immediate effect. Her second announcement is that Meher's 4th belly dancing lesson: How to do a chest shimmy, will follow very shortly when all those not participating have left the great hall.