Stories, stories, stories. Stories are so beautiful when we compare them to reality. I still remember my so-called mother used to tell me many of them. You know the ones where there is a prince, a princess and a happily ever after but only if she had told me what actually is that happily ever after.

We both were still in that same old building, knowing very well that the whole kingdom must already be searching for us yet this felt like that happily ever after for us, a prince, a princess and just the two of them. Ahaan had told me stories from his childhood, I did the same, we even made a sand castle with the construction sand, I know, we are strange but sometimes being strange is all that matters. Both of us knew what will happen once we step in that palace and that is the only thing making us want to stay here, stay happy.

Ahaan took hold of my hand, intervening our fingers. He looked so happy, I feared my heart will die out of pleasure seeing his happiness but even through this I could see the slight fear in his eyes. If his dad is alive then why didn't he came up to take the thrown which was actually his, why did he abandon his son just like that? There were tons of questions and their answers resided in the Palace of Kafilna.

" Let's go." He said but his eyes spoke against his actions. Even he wanted to stay here, away from this cruel world and what's wrong in it, all of us want to be happy and according to me if we find happiness in a moment we must preserve it. We must never let it go.

" But nothing lasts forever. We notice it quite quickly in case of happiness but fail to take note of it when dark clouds surround us." He said looking straight into my eyes. I don't know how but he had suddenly started to read them as if they were an open book to him.

" They are, now let's go." He pulled me up from our sitting position and helped me to a stable position.

" It's now or never." He said and I felt lost of words.

******

We reached the Palace gates a few minutes later, both of us holding hands. The guards gave us weird looks but that was expected. No one was in a habit of seeing their King for the first time covered in mud and sand, looking like a three-year-old, awaiting for punishment from his mother.

We gave them sleepish smiles and they allowed us inside. The maids helped me to my room which was right beside Ahaan's, something I was thankful about. We parted our ways to go and change, basically be presentable.

The whole time in the shower my thoughts were busy searching for some incident that connects to the present problem but nothing helped. I had no clue how Ahaan's dad is alive. I saw the whole report with my own eyes, the departure ceremony's videos included!

" Princess, Crown Prince is waiting for you." A maid said, helping me with my dress and it was nowhere near my regular attire. It was way heavier than Sara Aapi's dresses!

" Wow! Now you look like a true princess." Ahaan commented as soon as he entered my room. I wanted to punch him so badly for making fun of me but his eyes told me he was serious.

" They are waiting for us." He said but made no effort to move. He too did not want to face him, maybe his dad or maybe someone with just his dad's name, chances of the latter were more.

I squeezed his hand, giving him the strength he needed. He looked at me, took a deep breath and said,

" Why do you have a pen in your hair?"

Yes, that is what he said and started laughing. It took me a moment to process his words and I ran straight to the mirror to check what he was talking about, it was my Juda pin!

I gave him an angered look but he was already walking towards me. Slowly he raised his hand and removed it from my hair, making them fall in curls. He then picked up a comb from my dressing table, did some work on them then moved back. He had a satisfied smile on his lips.

" Now that's my Shaziya." He said. My heart was already running at the rate of a horse running in a marathon. I had no clue why but even my breath decided to abandon me at this moment. I was so busy remembering what happened a few seconds ago that I did not even realize when we walked down the stairs and when were we seated on the dining room.

It was only when the guards announced the arrival of His Highness that reality decided to meet me again.

The doors opened and maids quickly ran to stand at the door with rose petals in their hands. A man in his mid-fifties entered, a long scar running down his face, his eyes similar to that of Ahaan and I knew who he was. There was no doubt in it, he was the only dead crown prince, Ahaan's dad.

I looked at Ahaan who's eyes were still busy gasping the situation. If it was so difficult for me to accept, I can't even imagine what must he be going through.

" If it's not the Crown Prince and his mute princess!" He spoke, his words slicing both of our hearts. He knew very well how to harm others with his words.

" You died years ago!" Ahaan yelled. All the maids and servants had gone out by now as if it was already taught to them.

" Yes, I did. I died for you, I died for your mom, I died for every single person in that family but I'm still alive." He spoke so calmly that I feared that if Ahaan did not beat him, I might end up doing that for him.

" Why?" I heard Ahaan's broken voice.

" I don't owe any explanation to a broken prince, one who was cheated by a common girl, one who roams around the kingdom with a mute girl, calling her his princess." He said and started serving food in his plate. I held the table tightly, not wanting to cross any boundaries.

" Don't you dare insult Shaziya, she might not be able to speak but she is way better than you!" Ahaan yelled, his words bringing butterflies in my stomach. Will it be wrong to say that out of all the time that we had spent together, I found him the most attractive now?

" Oh, so baby boy knows how to speak. Well listen, boy, I don't care about your mute girl, neither do I care why your old King sent you here, oh, not your new father, my almost dead father, I meant. The point is you are here, enjoy your stay, roam a little then pack your bags and leave and don't ever try to return here again."

That's it, I lost all my cool and I had no clue how and why but I felt the satisfaction running through each and every vein in my body as my ears processed the sound for his breaking bones when my hands made contact with his face.

And I swear I saw Ahaan cursing too..