Haya.

"Yes, come in." She said, hearing the knock on the door and then the soft door bell that was installed outside her suite.

She was lying on the sofa in the living room, somewhere between sleep and concsiousness. Honestly, she had not been able to sleep at all last night. Infact, just to avoid crying because she was upset and hurt..she had watched three comedy movies. They hadn't made her feel any better.

She had checked her phone every hour or so, seeing hundreds of messages which didn't matter but not seeing a single one that did.

"Princess, it's time for brunch with your mother. She's waiting in the garden."

Haya let out a sigh, knowing that she didn't have much choice right now. She wished she didn't have to go, she didn't feel like meeting anyone or talking to anyone but her mother always made brunch arrangements personally. She spent days trying to find a new theme and literally stood in the garden, seeing people work and making sure they were doing everything right.

"What time is it?" She groggily asked, still lying down.

"It's twelve. The guests have arrived as well." Brunch started at around eleven thirty and she was the first one to be there, to greet the guests with her mother and receive their wishes.

She was already late.

"Fuck." She muttered, getting up.

"Is everyone literally there? Is Aaliyah there?" She repeated, hoping to hear a different answer.

Haya groaned out loud.

"Yes, they've been here for a while now."

She stood up, hating that she was the least excited on her own birthday.

"Your hairstylist is waiting outside. Should I send him in?" Her entire team was usually on standby on her birthday.

Today, Haya didn't feel like receiving any special treatment.

"No. Tell him I don't need him right now." She replied, entering her dressing room and slamming the door shut.

"Good morning." She greeted, plastering a fake smile on her face as you saw the countless women in the garden and her mother standing up as she arrived.

Everyone's attention was on her as she entered and there were several women ready to wish her a happy birthday, tell her how beautiful she looked and talk to her.

Haya didn't really care today. On any other day, she would have met the governer's wife, told her that her husband was cheating on her again. She would have met the wives of her uncles and bitched about their decisions, she would have gossiped with her mother and laughed at the horrified look on her face, she would have thanked everyone for being there and would have even meant it.

But not today.

"Ah, there you are. Happy birthday darling." Her mother embraced cheerfully, already knowing that she wasn't happy.

She knew the reason why. She just didn't know what to say to her daughter or how to make her understand to be compromising in such a situation. She didn't have any words.

"Thank you, mummy." Haya whispered against her cheek, pulling back.

"You look so beautiful. Did you sleep well?" She nodded, even though it was not true.

She hadn't slept. She didn't even feel sleepy despite that.

"Yes, I slept okay."

"Come on. Go greet everyone. They've been waiting for a while."

Her gaze travelled straight to Aaliyah, who looked so hung over. She knew her cousin couldn't stand up and just walk over to her right now but the concern in her eyes showed that she knew Haya was quite upset.

She greeted Yaman's mother, his fiance. She met with Governer Chalwan's wife, his daughters, she embraced her Uncle Imam's wife, his daughter in law. She thanked Uncle Rizwan's wife for coming.

She received her birthday wishes from the Army General's wife and daughter, the same one who she got along with really well. Haya had no energy to respond.

Her gaze travelled to Mahrookh, who was by her mother's side as well. Both the women greeted Haya and wished her. Haya didn't even have the energy to smile back at her close friend.

It was only when she reached Aaliyah that felt the corner of her eyes burn. She let out a shaky exhale and sat down on the seat next to her, ready to eat.

When the food got served, she only picked a small piece of fruit and played with it. She knew she would probably throw up if she had a single bite.

So she didn't.

A few more minutes and Haya just couldn't take it. She didn't even talk to Aaliyah. She almost felt ashamed.

She had told her friends that Amir would come to celebrate her birthday and he hadn't even bothered to show up. He hadn't even wished her yet.

What the fuck was going on with him?

She stood up quick, knowing that she had to leave before showing any signs of vulnerability.

She excused herself with a pleasant smile, walked away from the garden..only to find her mother following her.

"Haya.." She got stopped by her mother.

"I want to go now." She murmured, informing the woman that she couldn't stay at the brunch any longer.

"You didn't even eat anything. Are you okay?"

She shook her head, not even bothering to lie at this point.

"I don't feel like being among people right now." She truthfully told the Queen, who nodded with a sigh.

"Alright, I'll handle this. Your father's waiting in the prayer room."

Haya swallowed, not knowing how she would face her father when her heart was nowhere at peace or happy.

She hated that she didn't feel angry right now. She just felt disappointed.

She felt sad.

She hated feeling sad.

"He cancelled his day plans." She heard further.

"Okay."

She was just about to leave but she got stopped again.

"I know you're upset but please don't show up like this in front of your father. You know he worries the most about you."

Ofcourse.

She told her father everything but even she didn't have the heart to cry in front of the man and tell him how bad she felt.

"Yeah, I know." She mumbled.

"And change before you go in there."

She rolled her eyes this time.

"I know."

"Good morning, dad."

When she covered her head, she thought about him. She thought about how happy he would have felt..seeing her dressed so modest.

She did not ever want to be one of those women who just thought of their husbands and boyfriends all the time, She did not ever want to be one of those women who thrived on the attention of their men, she did not ever want to be one of those women who gave their entire heart and soul to the men they loved.

Still, she felt like she had turned out to be pretty much that.

"Happy birthday, my lovely." She felt her father pull in her for a hug, Haya sighed and hugged him back.

Even being with her father wasn't helping her heart stay at peace. She felt so restless.

"Thank you." She whispered, pulling back and faking a smile for him.

"Won't ask for your present?" The King asked, Haya shook her head at him.

Usually, she was biting his ear off..asking what present he had for her and yet..she wasn't doing that today.

Infact, she usually bargained with the man.

I'll only pray if you tell me what gift you got me.

"I know you must have something special prepared. You always do." Haya said instead, still smiling even after her eyes felt like burning.

"Ofcourse. You're my daughter. You're the most important person to me."

Well, atleast she was still important for her father. She would always remain that way in his eyes atleast.

"Promise to say that in front of my brothers?" She tried to joke, knowing that she had to make her father think that she was doing okay.

"Well, I think they already know." He patted her head, chuckling as Haya pouted at him.

"Are you ready to pray and thank God for the past year?" He asked.

Haya knew she had alot to thank for, she had alot of blessings from the almighty but she didn't feel like she was blessed enough today.

"Yeah, I am." She replied, swallowing when she felt her father's gaze on her.

"And you're fine? Why do you not look happy?"

"I'm just tired, dad. Last night was hectic." She didn't exactly lie.

It was mentally exhausting, pretending to be okay was tiring.

"Are you sure?"

She shook her head this time.

"There are things that are bothering me but it's nothing your daughter can't handle on her own. Trust me." She tried to put him at ease.

The man nodded.

"Haya," He cupped his daughter's face, not liking the sad eyes.

"Some times, we expect differently from people and we think that they have disappointed us."

"But at the same time, the same people end up surprising us in a very different way, one that we couldn't have even imagined."

He vaguely said, hoping to put his daughter at ease. Haya smiled.

"Come on, let's pray."

Even while praying, all Haya could think about was him praying in front of her.

All she could see even with closed eyes were his closed eyes as he prayed.

All she could feel was his hot breath on her face as he would recite a few verses and then blow on her face.

He had set the bar so high, he had hardly ever disappointed her. And today, when it was the most special day of her life..he was nowhere to be found.

She understood that he thought of birthdays as childish and immature but she didn't.

Her family had always made such days special for each other. She expected him to understand that.

Besides, he had promised that he would come but he didn't. He didn't even call her, let alone come.

A part of her wanted to call him and ask if he was okay but if something bad had actually happened, she would have known about it by now.

It simply hurt.

It hurt her because all her life, she felt special.

And today, she just didn't.

Late in the afternoon, after visiting the children's hospital and the orphanage she had named after Amir, she arrived home..knowing that she had to get ready for her birthday party.

The truth was, Haya didn't even want to have a party today but her family had thrown a grand celebration and she didn't have the heart to tell them that she didn't want it.

She also knew that have family most certainly understood that she did feel upset over Amir not coming to Buredaan but nobody knew that he hadn't even wished her yet.

How hard was it to make a fucking call?

Truthfully, at this point she actually wanted to call him up because her hurt aside, she felt worried about him.

He loved her.

He loved her so much.

It was so unlike him to hurt her this way.

He wasn't so stubborn either that he wouldn't call her because of a stupid argument.

She swallowed, seeing the final touches of her makeup done and her hair being set for the last time. She sprayed herself with some perfume and stood up, not even bothering to look at her makeup and hair guy.

She walked towards the table and picked up her phone, hoping to find a message or a few missed calls from him. There weren't.

She sighed and put her phone back on the table, eyes drifting towards the knock on the door and her brother entering at the same time.

Illyas entered her living room with his gaze on her. He frowned just so lightly, seeing the choice of her sister's clothing.

Wasn't she into dressing a little modest lately?

"Amir knows this is what you're wearing?" He enquired, Haya rolled her eyes at him.

She didn't really shoot back with an insulting response, which made him frown even further.

"What? Why are you so grumpy on your birthday anyway?" He asked, checking the time as he was already late and so was she.

Haya swallowed, not even knowing what to tell him.

A part of her wanted to scream and tell her entire family that her husband hadn't even wished her on her birthday. But another part of her didn't want to tarnish her husband's reputation in her family's eyes.

"Haya, I'm serious. Okay? Is it because he isn't here?"

He sat down, pulling his sister down on the sofa as well. Haya sighed, nodding.

"He's a Crown Prince. Did he not tell you that he's stuck somewhere? You know he's not the kind to hurt you on purpose."

She knew that.

She knew he wasn't the kind to do such a thing but she was too stubborn to call him. What if she called him up and found out that he was just busy with his work and nothing else? What would she do then?

"Yeah," She whispered, letting out a shaky exhale.

"It still doesn't change the fact that he isn't here. I wanted him here." She insisted, finding Illyas' gaze turn sympathetic.

"He will make up for it. Cheer up." He patted her shoulder, Haya couldn't even feign a smile.

"Dad has been worried sick all day because of you. Usually, you're on cloud nine during your birthday."

And now she felt even worse.

The last thing she wanted was her father worrying for her. She wished she could just sit in front of him and open up her heart, tell him how much today was bothering her but she just couldn't.

What was this dilemma?

"I know, you're right." She agreed with him, Illyas stood up with a groan.

"See. This is exactly the problem.."

"If you weren't upset, you would have told me to mind my own fucking business. Instead, you're telling me that I'm right." He looked at her like she was acting crazy.

Haya stood up as well and clicked her tongue.

"So you have a problem with me respecting you?" She asked, he nodded.

"Yes. I actually do."

She wasn't snapping at him because her father had already told her about her older brother's decision to skip a very important meeting for her sake.

Usually, he was such a hardcore businessman that he didn't give a fuck about prioritising such things.

"Illyas, I'm respecting you because I know you had to be in Portugal today but you cancelled it so you could be here for my birthday."

She told him, continuing when she saw the confusion on his face turn to a look of affection for his sister.

"I know how much you care about business and yet you chose to stay. I'm happy that you did."

He cracked a smile.

"Does that mean I don't have to gift you anything?"

"Nonsense." She said, smacking his shoulder.

Illyas pulled out a box from his pocket, handing it over to Haya. She already knew it was an emerald ring, the one he wore for luck.

She had always asked him for it and her brother had always refused, telling her that he'd only gift it to her once she got married.

"Happy birthday, Haya. Be happy."

She smiled, looking at the ring and embracing her brother.

"You look so lovely, my beautiful girl."

Her mother gushed the moment she walked downstairs, finding her mother already waiting for her.

"Thank you, mom. This is so much better than how I used to plan it." Haya replied, complimenting her as she could already see the garden decorated to perfection from the window..

Usually, the entire family entered at the same time but Haya could neither find Yusuf, nor her father. She knew Illyas and Shahid were already near the garden, waiting for them and meeting people at the same time.

"Where's Dad?" Haya asked, frowning as she couldn't find him anywhere.

"He's outside."

"Why?"

"Amir's here."

Her heart felt like it had dropped in her stomach and she gulped, not expecting that.

Seeing the expression on her face, the Queen frowned and looked at Haya.

"You didn't know?" She asked, her daughter could only manage to shake her head.

"Oh, he probably wanted to surprise you..I'm sure you gave him an earful about not coming on your birthday so he came here rushing hmm?"

If only her mother knew.

If only her family knew that he hadn't even wished her.

The most important person in her life hadn't even wished her on her birthday.

"I guess so. I'm going out to see him then."

She didn't even know why she wanted to do that but she felt an utter desperation within herself. She wanted to see if he was alright, she wanted to make sure that he was okay.

"Haya," Her mother tried to protest, Haya clicked her tongue.

"Mom,"

"Fine, take a jacket. It's cold."

She nodded, walking outside the Palace with urgent steps.

Seeing him in the flesh, it felt like she hadn't even lived before him. She felt like she hadn't even breathed before him. It hadn't even been two days since she had gone without talking to him but her heart ached like anything today.

She didn't care that he hadn't wished her, she didn't care that he had hurt her. All she cared was the fact that he was in front of her and he was okay.

"There she is. She didn't tell us but she has been so low since yesterday." She could hear her brother's voice but she didn't even look at him.

She didn't look at Yusuf even when he directed himself at her.

"It was evident from her face. Feeling better now, pouty?"

All she could see was Amir.

She swallowed, looking in his eyes and seeing galaxies.

"Salam,"

He greeted with guilty eyes and a soft smile, his eyes staring at her with such an intense gaze that she literally felt an ounce of breath being taken away.

She stood there, at a distance of a few steps. She couldn't will herself to come any closer. He had hurt her and even though he was here now, he hadn't been here when she had expected him to be.

Surprisingly, Amir was the one to take a step in her direction. He was the one to cup her face gently before pulling her into his embrace.

At times, he was even hesitant to hold her hand. Yet, here he was.. embracing her because he felt guilty.

His embrace was warm, strong arms wrapping around her with ease and comfort. Despite her hurt, Haya hugged him back.

"Happy birthday." He whispered in her ear and she closed her eyes, feeling the burn again.

She slowly pulled away from him, once she had seen that her father and brother had walked away. Clearly, they wanted to give them a little privacy.

The moment she created a distance between them, she felt the anger and hurt resurface.

"Haya," Amir noticed her indifference, she held her hand up to stop him.

"Not now."

"But-" He tried to talk to her.

She shook her head.

"You know I'm not diplomatic and fake, Amir." She pronounced, smiling as she held his hand and started to walk inside the Palace.

"I'm faking myself for the first time. Don't make it hard." She mumbled, finding everyone's eyes on the Royal Couple.

"Will you atleast listen to me?" She heard him whisper against her, she wanted to scream at him but couldn't.

"No, not right now."

She said back in the same tone, faking happiness the entire night.

---

Ugh Haya has changed so much no?

Thoughts?