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@Haya : #GenderEquality

"How's the new advertisement coming along, Nadia?" Haya asked, looking at the woman she had grown to like so much.

Nadia, unlike her usual days had her hair down. She had taken off her head cover for the first time in front of Haya.

She often wondered how different it would have been for her. Nadia was a strong and opinionated woman. She had an intellectual mind and was highly educated.

The way Amir conversated with her clearly showed how much he appreciated her as well.

She rolled her own eyes, finding it so fucking weird that even looking at Nadia's hair reminded her of her husband.

Her husband who had ignored her for three days straight. She had let him ignore her, giving him the space he needed.

She had too much built up inside of her and she wanted to calm herself down too.

"It's really good so far. I've already sent it out to be checked and edited. Thankfully, the outrage over our previous ad wasn't worse either."

She heard Nadia reply, Haya nodded.

"Alright. You know I'm invited to the Global Civil initiative. We need to have something concrete in our hands before that."

Global Civil Initiative was an international platform that gave people of Power a chance to talk about human rights violations, woman rights and other issues.

Haya had represented Buredaan with a very blunt speech two years ago. While people had expected it to backfire and ruin her reputation, it had only made the people of her country love her more. Ever since that speech, Haya had been known as a rebellious royal spirit. She had captured international attention.

Last year, her brother Yusuf had been able to attend himself but she had still accompanied her brother.

She knew that her mother was going to represent Buredaan this year and she wanted nothing more than to represent Maraaish.

She didn't know how she would talk about it with Amir, considering they weren't exactly on very good terms.

"You're going? That's in two weeks." Nadia noticed, almost impressed. 

"Yes, I know. This is why we need to get that new advertisement running. I'm thinking we should also arrange a few seminars." Haya murmured, leaning forward as she saw Nadia sit down with her brows furrowed.

"Can you please elaborate?"

"I'm thinking we invite powerful women who have created a name for themselves, in Maraaish." She started off, nodding at Ayesha who had just walked inside the office after knocking on the door twice.

"We let them speak, we let them tell their stories of hardwork and success. We need to inspire women that they can do this too, that they don't have to shy away or hesitate anymore."

Haya elaborated, continuing.

"When I was going through the statistics, I found it crazy that so many women graduate but only a tiny percentage of them actually work."

She stood up, her heels clicking across the marble floor as she talked more and more. Haya always had such a passion when it came to dedicating herself to a certain cause that she felt at peace in a way. She felt at peace knowing that she wasn't rotting away.

She didn't care whether Amir had said they only needed rising figures to create an image. She truly wanted to help the women of the country she was married into.

"Our first agenda needs to encourage them to work and our second agenda needs to pursue the equal pay issue." She said, looking at her assistant.

"Ayesha, arrange a meeting with the marketing head you kept mentioning the other day. I want this to be highlighted in our social media campaign."

While Haya had kept Ayesha as her assistant, she hadn't even realised how many more people had suddenly begun to become a part of her team. She didn't need a huge social media cell. She felt like she was smart enough to handle her social media on her own. She personally enjoyed using her accounts.

Still, her team consisted of two social media managers, a press secretary, a make up artist, stylist and even a hair dresser that she had just called from Buredaan.

Her mother used to have more people on her team but she hadn't really felt the need to have a team before marrying Amir. Her mother's assistant and secretary used to handle her affairs as well.

It was quite different but also comforting in a way.

"Salama Ahmed?" Ayesha asked, wondering what woman Haya was talking about.

Haya nodded.

"Yes. Invite her for tea tomorrow with me. Nadia and I will discuss our ideas with her and maybe she can be a part of our seminars." She murmured, finding Nadia smile at her enthusiasm.

"I think that will be great." She agreed, Haya smiled.

"Me too."

@Haya : Fierce soul, brave heart and a  fighting spirit.

"Marry me, Haya. I'll give you the world."

She repeated the words she kept going back to in her head. She didn't want to pronounce them out loud, she wanted to remain silent. She wanted to be quiet and let him ignore her while she also ignored him.

Still, her mind kept going back to all the promises he had made. Since Amir wasn't there with his loved up face, staring into her eyes..Haya had actually managed to do alot of thinking.

And the more she thought, the more she realized how much effort she had genuinely put for his sake.

The Crown Prince was using his phone when he heard his wife's words and he lifted his head up, finding her stare on him.

When he didn't say anything, Haya swallowed and stared him in the eye.

"That's what you said, no? That's what I remember you promising me. So far, all I've received is this constant pressure." She truthfully said, finding him raise an eye at her.

"Excuse me?"

Haya stood up.

"You knew who I was when we got married. You accepted me and told me you loved me so much that you didn't need me to change."

She knew all the frustration that she had built inside of her was going to come out today.

"In return, I promised you that I wouldn't do anything to tarnish your image in front of the world. I promised you that I wouldn't be the Haya I was in Buredaan. I'll be your wife."

She reminded him, finding his blank stare too fucking annoying at the moment.

"I chose to wear the kind of dresses that wouldn't cause an outrage in your country, I chose to shut the fuck up when you know damn well how much I like to speak."

"I would be present at every event in my country, I would represent my country internationally. I would attend movie premieres with my friends, I would do interviews like nobody's business."

She snapped her fingers at him. He was listening to her, so attentively but Haya truly didn't know what was going on in his head. She couldn't figure it out.

"I partied almost every single night, Amir. Every night."

"I fought against every injustice I saw and I didn't care about causing an outrage or any issue back in Buredaan."

Amir knew that. He had experienced it with her. She was about to go and question her father's decision at her own wedding reception.

"Do you think I don't know about the several human rights violations in your country that I don't dare say a word against?!" She exclaimed, her voice getting louder than before.

"I read the newspaper every single day. I am on social media. I have a freaking team who tells me what's happening but I shut my mouth because I don't want to cause trouble for you."

She pointed at him, almost smacking his chest with her hand as she tried to make a point. Amir didn't even blink, still listening and not speaking.

"I gave up all of this for your sake! I gave it up because I love you. I didn't even realise what I was giving up."

Her voice turned soft, a sigh escaping her mouth.

"And I don't regret it, you know? I'm not throwing it on your face. I didn't do it to have any leverage over you." She explained, swallowing.

"I'll never regret loving you, marrying you." Haya whispered, feeling too much all of a sudden.

She always felt like Amir understood her so much, he always knew who Haya was deep inside. He had told her that he found her heart pure.

He told once her that her soul was golden. Then why did he judge her like that?

"But I also don't regret drinking that night. I was with my friends and I chose to be the person you fell in love with."

She told him the truth, watching his frown deepen.

"You told me I reeked of alcohol and the smell was disgusting to you. You know what else was disgusting?"

Haya asked, narrowing her eyes at him.

"Your judgement. You judged me and that is disgusting to me." She finally said, letting out her frustration.

The one thing that she hadn't expected from him was his judgement. She always believed that he wouldn't judge her and yet, he had.

If he hadn't judged her that night, Haya would have apologised on her own. She would have made sure things between them were okay but they weren't because he chose to judge her.

Amir didn't lie so when he didn't protest about judging her, it only confirmed her thoughts.

Still, his frown had been replaced with a look of conflict.

"Haya,"

She hadn't heard him take her name in three days. He hadn't said a word to her in three days.

After coming back from Maraaish, Amir had left for an official visit. He had texted her of his whereabouts but hadn't talked to her. He had only arrived back home last night.

"I gave you three days to think about your behavior and maybe think about how you might have hurt me. I needed to say this today." She told him, continuing.

"I never said I would change Amir but I still changed for you. I moulded myself into a woman graceful enough to be your wife in front of your people."

She knew she wasn't perfect in his family's eyes but she didn't need to be perfect for anyone, as long as she was perfect for him.

She knew they weren't compatible but they loved each other and that had to account for something. Right?

"I can't change my personality for real."

Her voice cracked as words left her mouth and for the first time in three days, she saw concern on his face. His eyes stared at her, concerned.

"Haya,"

She wanted to melt, wanted to be held in his arms and not care about anything else.

"Do you think I'll be the Haya you fell in love with if I changed?"

Haya asked, eyes watering as she looked up at Amir. The Crown Prince shook his head at her.

She had expressed everything and now it was his turn to do so. She had been mature enough to start a conversation and put in everything she had been feeling. He had to do the same.

"No, I don't think that." He told her first.

He loved Haya the way she was. He tolerated her cursing, hated her drinking and adored her heart. He loved her passion, her concern for her family, her countless talks about poetry, fashion, politics, the way she would gossip and then smile at him like it was the juiciest news in the world, her way of waking him up in the morning, her tantrums and complains..and alot more.

All of this made Haya who she was and he didn't think he would've fallen in love with her if she hadn't been so different.

"It was your choice to drink that night and it was my choice to not come close to you."

He told her, upfront and honest.

"I know the effort you've put but sometimes, you act like a teenager and throw all of it away without even realising it."

Haya listened to him, crossing her arms.

"As your man, I have the right to say that I don't like that you drink alcohol. I wouldn't want you to drink it but it all comes down to you at the end of the day."

He said, shrugging his shoulders.

"I can't force you. It's your choice. I agree with that." He stated, looking at her face.

"I am sorry that I judged you. I didn't mean to do that."

He apologised, not because he wanted to but because he needed to. He needed to apologise because seeing such a hurt expression on her face and her watered eyes, it had caused an ache in his heart.

He never wanted to be the reason for her hurt.

"You're my wife and I love you. I'm sorry that you felt hurt but I'm not sorry that I called you out on the drinking. I would do it again."

Haya nodded.

Sometimes she felt like they were both right in their own way and God forbid if they ever fell apart, it would only be because of their difference of opinion.

"It's in our culture, Amir. You need to understand that." She insisted.

"We celebrate with champagne and wine. Our traditional drinks include alcohol. I was with my brother that night and I didn't care because it's in our culture." She explained.

Amir knew that it was a part of her culture but it wasn't a part of his. Since there was a huge amount of non Muslim community living in Buredaan too, the culture of the country was quite mixed up. It wasn't the same way in Maraaish.

"If it's in your culture, why does your father not drink?" Amir asked.

"He used to. He only stopped after I was born." She replied.

"And you took on his responsibility fiercely."

She had hardly ever heard Amir's sarcastic response before but today she did.

Haya smiled at him devilishly.

"You haven't seen fierce Haya yet, sweetheart. All you have seen is a love struck, compromising and slightly stubborn woman." She told him, Amir sighed.

"You're the luckiest man in the world because you say baby and I forget that anything else exists in the world."

She didn't know how but one apology from the man and a few lines of him being straight up himself had made her forget all the hurt.

It was crazy how much he affected her.

"When I'm away from you, I think about who I was and I think that I miss it so much and then I see your fucking face and those dimples."

She put her finger on his cheek.

"After that, I don't even remember what I was thinking about anymore." She rambled, Amir smiled at her.

She found his dimples again and her heart warmed seeing the smile reach his eyes too.

Maybe it was the same way for him. She probably impacted him the way he always impacted her.

"Baby, I want to shut you up now." Amir said, leaning forward.

Haya put a hand on his chest.

"Amir." She stopped him, knowing that they still needed to reach some sort of conclusion.

Was this enough of the talk? They were okay now?

The Crown Prince let out a soft groan.

"I have heard all you needed to say. I have it in my head but I'm no mood to put any argument or explain anything." He said.

"We have different opinions and that won't change, Haya."

Haya agreed with that so much.

"Yeah, I know." She affirmed, Amir loooked at her.

"I'm exhausted. I just want to kiss my wife, see her smile at me so I can go to sleep as a happy man."

She smiled, shaking her head at him.

"You don't deserve to go to sleep as a happy man after ignoring me for three nights." Amir cupped her face in his hands.

"You ignored me too. Stop complaining." He said, leaning close..

"I shouldn't let you. You stepped back that night." Haya whispered, finding his lips too close to her mouth.

"And I will step back again if I smell alcohol on you. Your choice, my choice." He said it out loud.

Haya didn't mind that.

Your choice. My choice. It seemed like an okay thing to agree on.

"Okay."

"Okay what?" Amir asked, she gave him a smirk.

"I'll make sure to pop a mint the next time I drink." She tried to tease, Amir put his hands on her shoulders instead.

"Haya, this isn't funny to me. If my family found out that you drank, you have no idea-"

She didn't even let him complete his sentence.

"Adil drinks, doesn't he? Your family doesn't seem to have a problem with that."

"He never drinks in front of us. He never drinks when he is in Maraaish." Amir argued.

"But he drinks either way and no one says anything because he is a man. Quite typical." Haya shot back.

Amir shook his head, completely disagreeing with her.

"It's not about man or woman. It's wrong in my eyes. It's wrong in my family's eyes." He insisted, Haya let out a groan.

"I'm not some drunkard, Amir. You don't have to worry. Nothing public, I know." She assured.

"I wish you wouldn't do it in private either." He grumbled in response.

"I wish we could just end this discussion already. Just kiss me." Haya replied, he nodded.

Amir didn't kiss her on her lips this time. He felt like he just needed to hold her.

"I love you." He whispered, kissing the top of her head.

"I love you too." Haya replied, sighing as she smelled his perfume and inhaled deeply.

She missed being near him.

"I don't ever want you to feel judged with me, Haya."

She was in his arms and his lips were on her forehead as he spoke.

"My disapproval isn't my judgement." Haya heard him say, she felt relieved at his words.

"You're precious to me. You make my heart beat in a way that makes me feel more alive than I've ever felt."

He confessed.

Haya smiled and looked up, pecking his lips.

"Sleep, you're exhausted." She whispered, he nodded lazily and kissed her head one more time before moving back.

"Come to bed." He ushered her.

"In a moment." She needed to take a bath first.

"And Amir?"

"Hmm?" He hummed.

Haya didn't know why and she hadn't even thought of it but she didn't want to him to worry about tiny things when it came to her.

"I'll try to not drink again." She stated, finding a pleased smile appear on his face.

"Really?" Haya nodded.

"Yes. I'd rather feel intoxicated by the taste of your lips."

She murmured, finding him rush  forward to kiss her in the very next moment.

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Thoughts??