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@Haya : No one warns little girls that being a woman is often going to be the art of holding yourself together because the wolf world around you was built to shatter you, to rip your courage out of your own arms so it can tear you apart - Nikita Gill.

@Haya : Even as a privileged woman, I've been in the middle of constant criticism, men telling me what I should or should not, men telling me I'll never be good enough and women agreeing with them.

@Haya : It doesn't matter who you are. It doesn't matter what your gender is. You're always enough and I wish more people could understand that. I wish little girls could understand how important they are and how self secure they need to be when they turn into women.

Haya.

"I don't understand why they're not listening when they can very well get jailed for this crime. Do you see how bad this looks? It's all over social media."

I mumbled as I scrolled through social media and found the same image of a child being beaten buy an elderly man who was his employer. Even though the bill for child labour had been passed a while back and now it was an actual crime to make children under the age of thirteen work in the country.

Still, some people weren't learning. They were not only hiring kids for work but were also beating them. In Buredaan, the wages for children were far less than adults which is why they usually hired them. That was something I was completely against. A child under the age of thirteen was not allowed to work and the government had set up counters to help families with very low financial income anyway. There was no point in making children work.

And then beating them to the point where they are crying and sobbing out loud? It pained me.

"Action is already being taken, Princess. You don't have to worry about this. I'll take care of it." My own Human Rights minister said to me, as if he wasn't the man supposed to be teaching me.

He treated me like I was made of glass and I didn't like it.

"I'm not worried, I'm frustrated about this." I replied, he smiled. He often forgot that he was the one in charge here, not me.

"Please don't. I'm handling it, I promise you, Princess." He assured me again and I groaned.

"My name is Haya. I'm assisting you incase you've forgotten." I grumbled and he finally nodded at me, understanding that he was doing it again.

I was the daughter of the man who ran this country. Maybe, he was still not too used to the idea of that.

Still, he sat down on his seat as I was already sat on the one placed in front of him.

"Haya, we can't get emotionally involved. As a human rights ministry, we see uglier things. What we can do is try to make sure that such things do not happen in the future."

But we had been trying for quite sometime now. Did people have no fear of the law? What was our government doing? Were we so incompetent that we couldn't even get our citizens to obey one certain law?

"How did Prince Amir stop domestic violence so easily? Their rates have dropped like anything!" I exclaimed, still remembering the article that I had read yesterday.

A total of sixty eight percent improvement had taken place ever since Prince Amir took the initiative to stop domestic violence in his country.

The man in front of me gave another smile, but this one was a knowing smile. The kind that made me realise he had an idea about Amir and I.

"You can always ask him that." He suggested so casually, I frowned at him.

"Hmm?" I hummed, daring him to give me that very knowing smile and that look.

He cleared his throat and looked away.

"You're a Royal, he's a Royal. It can't be too hard to contact him, right?" He said, changing his tone.

I looked at him and shook my head. I didn't want anyone to know about Amir and I right now. I didn't even know how he had any idea. I was about to say something, tell him that I didn't like the way he was trying to project something onto me but before I could do that, my stupid phone that always rang at the most inconvenient times, the one that I always forgot to put in my bag, started to vibrate on my table and Amir's image literally popped on the screen.

I felt my ears burn in utter embarrassment and I knew that the HR minister had already seen the screen.

Still, I stood up with a very calm expression on my face as I picked the phone in my hand.

"Excuse me," I mumbled, seeing the amusement so evident on his face.

I turned through the hall and entered my own office, slamming the door shut as I picked up the call with a groan.

"I'm so embarrassed, Amir. You won't believe it." I said as a greeting, knowing that I had to tell him what had just happened.

"You and embarrassed? Why?" He asked back, skipping the greeting himself.

"I was talking with the HR Minister. I mentioned how you've changed the domestic violence rates in your country and I didn't know how you did that." I continued speaking over the phone as he listened to me.

"He said that I could always call you and ask but I feigned ignorance. Next moment, my phone vibrates and your picture pops on the screen."

I whined, he let out an actual laugh followed by more of it. I loved the sound of his laughter but right now, it was only causing me to feel more embarrassment.

"Don't laugh, Amir." I said to him as his laugh slowly died down but I could hear the smile that must have been on his face.

"It's a little funny, Haya." He replied, I shook my head even though he couldn't see me.

"It's not, it's embarrassing. He probably doesn't even take me seriously now."

"It would be highly idiotic to not take you seriously." I smiled.

He always knew what to say and how to say it.

"Flattery won't get me to talk to my father any sooner." I teased, hoping that I'd get a reaction out of him.

"I don't flatter people, Haya." He replied. I let out a mock sigh.

"Oh yes, they flatter you." I playfully mumbled. Amir played along, humming.

"Exactly."

Another moment of silence and hearing each other breath on the phone.

"You still won't tell me what my mother talked about with you?" I asked again.

It had been four days since my mother talked to him and none of them had told me the details of the conversation. I didn't like being out of loop.

"It's not my place to tell." He dismissed.

I wish he could have seen the pout on my face right now. Maybe, I'd look cute enough for him to tell me the details.

"I don't like it."

"I wish I could, but I can't."

"I won't tell her that you told me." I tried, he let out a sound of protest.

"I said to her that I won't tell anything to you. I have to remain honest."

Amir and his honesty. I had already told him so many lies, non hurtful, casual lies ofcourse. But lies anyway. Yet, he was always so honest.

Why couldn't he lie to seem normal sometimes?

"I hate that I can't force it out of you." I stated, he chuckled.

"It's alright,"

I didn't say anything in response to that and knowing Amir, he would either tell me that he had to go or he would simply change the conversation to another topic.

"So were you really appreciating my work with your team? Princess Haya talking about a mere Crown Prince. So very charming, no?"

Amir teased me. I smirked because he had actually changed the conversation.

"Yes, extremely. Especially since the mere Crown Prince has no work to do." I replied, playing along.

"Oh yes. He spends his days longing for a Princess far away." He further played, and I laughed.

When my laughter died down, Amir breathed a sigh and then spoke again.

"Haya, I have to go. Let me talk to you in the evening." He said to me and I knew that he must have an important work to do.

"Have to go and spend your day longing for a Princess far away?" I murmured, ready to hang up myself as I had to give a telephonic interview to a media outlet today.

"You know me." He continued.

"I really have to go though. Talk later, yes?"

"Okay," I murmured, ready to hang up.

"I'll call." He reminded me, I smiled.

"I'll wait."

"How are you? I haven't seen you in a week, father."

"I'm fresh as you can see. Happy to see my beautiful daughter, ofcourse."

My father replied, smiling at me but I could spot the tiredness in his eyes and the exhaustion that was evident on his face. I looked at my mother who was also staring at my father with so much concern.

"You're working too hard, dad." I said to him, he just shrugged me off as the staff put food in our plates.

"I'm doing just fine." He replied.

Since I hadn't greeted anyone on the table and simply sat on the chair, my brother shot me a look.

"You're supposed to greet everyone at the table, Haya. Incase you've forgotten your manners." He grumbled.

For someone who was a Crown Prince, he was too uptight and self righteous. It was the best and the worst quality in him.

"I greeted everyone important, brother." I teased him, he clearly was not in the mood.

He turned to look at our father, who was already focusing on our banter.

"She created a havoc today, dad. She gave a very loopy statement to the media today."

He told my father and I wanted to tell him to fuck off. I didn't give a loopy statement. I just said that the government was being slightly incompetent with handling the law for child labour. It wasn't a lie.

"It was just the truth. Our government needs to work hard in implementing the laws that we make. How is that loopy?" I shot back, he didn't back down either.

"When you criticize your own family, outsiders start revolting, Haya. Don't be an idiot."

I hated being called that.

"I didn't say anything idiotic!" I exclaimed, slamming my hand on the table.

"Haya." My mother looked at me and shook her head, I let out a sigh.

I was already so conflicted about how I would tell my father about Amir and my brother was out here ruining my game. I was thinking of building a plot tonight, casually conversating with him about marriage and stuff.

I stared at my father to defend me. He just gave a smile.

"Your brother is right. You can not give irresponsible statements. I don't want you to say a word to the media without a proper preparation." He stated clearly, I frowned upon the order.

"But dad, I didn't even-" I tried to protest but he held his hand up and tried to stop me.

"Haya, you're not experienced enough. Right? That's why you're not given a responsibility like that." He continued when I didn't look up from my plate.

"Your brother might think you're an idiot but I know how smart my daughter is. She'll not repeat the same mistake twice, correct?"

I knew he was trying to sugarcoat his words so I wouldn't get offended but I still felt bad.

Even though I wanted to defend myself, I knew that I had to stay quiet for the sake of respecting my father right now.

"Yes, dad. You're right." I agreed with him, letting out a sigh and quietly eating my food.

My mother knew what my plans for tonight exactly were and it had all gone down the drain. She shot me a look as she started to speak.

"The Crown Prince of Maraaish is coming next week, is he not?" She asked, staring at my brother.

He nodded, still looking a little frustrated about the argument.

"Yes, he is. Is there a reason to bring him up right now?" He asked my mother, I glared at him for his tone.

My mother narrowed her eyes as well, trying to portray a calm demeanour but I knew that his tone had affected her.

"Well, I'd rather discuss him than see my children throw daggers at one another." She replied, taking a bite of her food.

"Prince Amir will be here on Thursday." My father announced, I couldn't help but correct him.

"Friday, dad." I murmured.

"Right. He'll be here on Friday and it is going to be a very important visit." He told my mother, making up for the crude tone of my brother.

I knew that he didn't like arguments or family drama but sometimes I really wanted him to straighten out my brother.

"He is a very good young man." My mother mumbled, I felt my ears burn.

My own mother was building a land so I could walk on it.

"He's certainly impressive." My father agreed, eating his food.

"Any woman would be lucky to be his wife. Don't you think?" My mother further insisted and this time, my brother interfered once again.

"Any honorable woman would be lucky, for sure. God knows who will marry her."

His tone wasn't in any way rude, infact I felt like he was trying to make things lighter and tease me. But today, I wasn't in the mood.

Honorable? As if I wasn't insecure about marrying Amir already!

I shot him a look, then went back to eating my food.

"She has a golden heart. Any man would be lucky to marry my daughter." My father said, his tone was so proud that I had to look up at him.

My father always saw the best in me. Would he still see the best in me if he got to know about Amir? Would he think that I was risking his diplomatic ties?

I gulped, playing with my food as I felt a feeling of guilt inside of me. I knew it would remain this way until I went to my father and actually talked to him.

As everyone went back to eating, I didn't have it in me to take another bite. Suddenly, I felt too exhausted.

"What is it, Haya? Why aren't you eating?" My mother asked me the moment I stood up from the table.

I shook my head at her and walked towards my father.

"I guess I'm just exhausted. I'd like to sleep now, I'm sorry for leaving mid dinner." I apologised, kissing my father's cheek.

He shook his head and patted the side of my head.

"No, no. Go and sleep. You're working too hard." I cracked a smile.

"Says the King who never rests." I mumbled to him, wishing everyone a good night as I left the dining hall.

After walking upto my room, I didn't even bother to change my clothes as I crashed on the bed. I knew Amir had to call me in a a while, his evening was my night.

I let out a sigh, sending him a message.

I know you said you'll call but I'm really exhausted. Can we talk tomorrow, Amir?

His response came back in an instant.

Of course, Haya. Sleep well.

And so, I slept.

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Thoughts?