(Unedited)
"This would be an absolute nightmare, Your Highness. First this ridiculous segment and now, Prince Richard is thinking about converting? To Islam?!" Allan blustered. "No one will accept this...this mockery!"
Richard inhaled deeply and looked at his father, who was seated next to him. His father looked deep in thought. He knew Allan would throw a hissy fit the moment this was mentioned, but there was no way around it if he was really to convert. The Palace had to know, The House of Lords had to know, the people will have to know.
Pushed by Vicky, he had already discussed this with Phillip before the meeting with Allan and their father.
"I'm not entirely surprised, to be honest," Phillip had said as he sipped on his whiskey.
Richard snapped his gaze up to look at Philip. "You're not?" he asked quizzically.
"Tch, no. I am not. I knew there was more to your relationship with Ms. Khan the moment you mentioned her idea of the segment. And then I saw the way you looked at her..." Philip trailed.
Richard raised his eyebrows and motioned for Philip to continue and with a cheeky grin, he said; "Like the sun shone out of her arse."
There was a pause then both brothers broke out in loud laughter. Richard ran his hand through his hair and exclaimed, "Oh God, I was such a stupid teenager! I can't believe you still remember that." Richard shook his head smiling
"I will never forget it," Philip sighed heavily leaning back into his chair. "You and Vicky were the only ones who took a stand by me when I wanted to marry Cate."
"What do you think Father will say to this?" Richard asked sombrely.
"I honestly have no idea. Allan though; he might just get a stroke," he said sarcastically, rolling his eyes. "But, forget about the others. Is this what you really want? Think about it, converting to be a Muslim...it's a big responsibility. What if things don't work out between the two of you? Then what?"
"I honestly don't know. I want to be optimistic, but I know that the reality is that not everything works out the way we want it too. But if...if I don't...you know, take this leap of faith; I will regret it for the rest of my life," Richard saying swallowing thickly. He took a sip of the golden liquid in his glass.
"Well, at least you can stop pretending to drink whiskey," Phillip motioned his head to Richard's glass. "And we can finally stop ordering apple juice by the crates now. Has it been three years already, since you started your sessions?' Philip continued.
"Something like that," Richard shrugged noncommittally.
"Are the sessions and new treatments working better this time?" Phillip asked in all seriousness.
"Better, but I suppose I have added incentives that also help me cope with things," Richard answered lightly.
"How much does Farrah know about your anxiety and depression?" Phillip asked without beating around the bush.
"She's...aware, but we haven't delved into the details yet," Richard said, he sat thinking with his fingers around his lips.
"Don't you think you need to give her...well, the details? You are thinking of changing your entire life for her, what if she can't accept this part of you?" Phillip continued gently while frowning.
Richard looked at his brother, with confidence shining in eyes and said, "That's why it's called a leap of faith, Phil. I'm choosing to put my trust in her Phil, my blind faith."
It was his fathers' voice that brought him back to the present, "Allan, I think I need to have a word with my sons. In private." Charles pointedly looked at Allan. Flustered, Allan quickly gathered his wits and excused himself.
"If I refuse...," Charles said with a calculating look aimed at Richard, "What will happen, if I refuse?"
***
"Madercho-" Saif said with a jump as he suddenly heard a high pitch shriek from Farrah who then stopped and glared at him.
"What are you supposed to say, instead of maderchod (motherfucker)?" she asked cocking an eyebrow.
"Ummm...Astaghfiruallah?" he said abashed.
She beamed and smiled at him and Said blinked a few times as he looked at her. Her gaze had rested on him, for just a fleeting moment before she returned to her phone. He shook his head in an attempt to clear it.
"So, what happened? Is everything okay?" he looked at her curiously as she kept smiling at her phone. Her fingers flying across the keypad as she typed on her phone. He bumped his shoulder into her as they walked around H&M.
"My roommate, who is my best friend...she just got engaged," She beamed up at him again. "I am so happy for her," she smiled wistfully at Saif as she slipped her phone back into her bag, leaning on the shelf.
"That's good news, you know the bloke?" Saif asked as he looked through the rails of hoodies and t-shirts. He looked at her when her realized that she hadn't answered for a while. She looked lost in her thoughts as she twirled her fingers in the edges of her hair. "Farrah, do you know him?" he asked again, and her eyes snapped back to him.
"Yes, sort of. He's...ah...friends with...," she trailed uncomfortably.
"He's friends with that bloke you're seeing?" Saif asked.
"Yeah, something like that," she breathed deeply.
"Is it going to be weird? For you?" Saif asked concerned.
"Weird why?" she asked quizzically.
"They are getting married...but you aren't and I guess you're stuck in a weird place with him...and you'll probably see him a lot...," he trailed. "Won't...wont that be weird?"
"I'm genuinely happy for her. They are so good together," she said, she looked away from Saif and continued in a soft mumble; "He asked me to marry him, I said no..."
Saif blinked in confusion. Putting down the blush-colored hoodie that was in his hand, he walked towards Farrah and stood in front of her. Studying her face in confusion.
"He asked you to marry him?"
She nodded slowly.
"You said....?"
"No," she said softly.
"Why?" he asked confused by her admission and the relief that he felt in his heart.
"It wasn't a real proposal Saif," she said sighing loudly.
"...A real proposal? What does that even mean?" he asked biting his lip.
"Meaning, we were arguing about something and he said, 'then marry me' in anger and...and frustration, like it solves all our problems and differences," she said in frustration, suddenly looking and sounding exhausted.
It was then Saif realized that the happy, smiling woman that he had been spending time with all day was just a front. The real Farrah was sad, tired, and so confused. He knew he should feel offended, she had been pretending to be okay all day. But instead, he was upset about it. Why couldn't she just tell me what was wrong?, he wondered. And why the fuck does this bother me so much?
Snapping fingers in front of his face jolted him out of his thoughts. "Come on, Saif. Let's talk about something else," she said with a small smile.
"Oh yeah, like what?" he smiled back at her.
"You tell me, have you been sneaking into the ladies room recently?" she asked with a laugh.
"Tsk," Saif clicked his tongue busying himself with the items he was about to purchase. "Not since I met you."
***
There you go my lovely people, another chapter...again unedited. I have major editing to do once this baby of mine is complete.
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