Shorter chapter than the others but oh well. It's a regular update still!!

The end is my favorite portion of the chapter btw. Haya amir being all cuties ugh I love.

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"So then she is going abroad hmm?"

Haya knew that Suhoor wanted to study abroad and she had been begging her family for it. But she didn't know that the girl could convince them in just a week.

She was on phone call with the Crown Prince, as he told her about his sister.

"Yeah, but unlike you, father isn't sending her to Oxford to have a normal experience."

Of course, he wasn't.

She knew that the King would never allow his daughter to mix up with all the normal people so easily.

"Yeah, I think I get that." Haya murmured, still surprised that he had actually allowed her to go.

"You must have convinced him? I don't think he's the type to let his daughters free like that."

Amir hummed over the line.

"It's not because he doesn't want them to get an education or he doesn't trust them. It's simply because they're women and like any father, he's fearful."

He defended his father, Haya could have argued and said that the man just didn't want his daughters to fall in love with someone or to have a relationship before marriage or to go clubbing or drink, there were countless things that he didn't want his daughters to do. So instead of trusting them, he wanted to keep them caged. Atleast, that is what she thought of the matter.

She didn't blame him for it either. In their culture, it was the right thing to do.

"I know, where is she going?"

"Emton College in Paris. She always wanted to live there so I guess her wish is fulfilled now."

Emton College was a private university, mostly for people like Suhoor. It was completely private and secure, with privacy of everyone kept to a huge limit.

"I am actually happy for her. It's so much better than getting married even though your heart isn't in it." Haya told him, because she actually did feel happy for Suhoor.

Amir replied with a yes, and before Haya could talk to him even more..she saw her PA enter the room after a knock.

She asked if Nadia could enter and of course, Haya nodded. Nadia wasn't just a co worker anymore. She was almost a friend.

"Hey, so Nadia's here. I'll talk to you later?"

She said over the line.

"Of course. I'll see you at home."

Amir ended the call, Letting her go back to work.

"Assalam alaykum, Haya. How are you?"

Nadia entered, smiling at Haya as she saw the Princess end the call and put her phone away.

"I'm doing good. You tell me? How are things coming up?"

Haya enquired as Nadia sat down, seeing her nod enthusiastically.

"They are coming up great. We have already established three different centres, focusing and educating women about their rights and how they can be independent in the future. Everything is going according to your plan so far."

Nadia informed, putting Haya at ease.

"Although, a few problems have risen but nothing that cannot be handled." She further said, Haya leaned forward and asked her to elaborate. 

"What problems?"

"You know, when you tell women that they can be independent and free of any dependency on men, some men start to feel insecure and act on their insecurity."

Haya could not agree more.

"Amir warned me of this. He said that I won't be able to change anyone's mind overnight. Even with such a cautioned and slow plan, there's still problems."

She murmured, not understanding how she could avoid all this shit and also get the job done. It wasn't easy.

"It's fine, Haya. As I said, it's nothing that can't be handled." Nadia assured her.

"Okay. Is everyone in the conference hall?"

"Yes, they're actually waiting for you. We should get going."

Haya stood up, knowing that Nadia had arrived to take her to the conference room.

Her PA followed them, trailing behind.

"Word of advice?" Nadia said as they walked across the hallway.

"Of course."

"Mr Rashid has been around the government for a long time. He used to be the King's favourite at one point. He's still heading two ministries at the same time."

She informed the Princess, who already knew of the man. Amir had told her about him several times and she was quite sure that he was mostly on every Maraaishi visit to Buredaan.

"I know who Rashid Mohammed is, Nadia." She stated, Nadia hummed.

"But you don't know that he will oppose every plan you lay out because he thinks you are an outsider."

She informed Haya, who gave her a look.

"He will disrespect me knowing who I am?" Haya questioned, Nadia nodded.

"He doesn't fear any status, Haya."

Haya was always up for a challenge.

"Okay, let's see what we can do then."

"One more thing?"

"Hmm?" The door was opened as Haya stopped to wait for what Nadia had to say before entering the room.

"He's my father."

"Fuck."

She murmured, entering the meeting room.

"Hello everyone. I hope you're all well." Haya greeted, finding a man in front of her in Traditional Maraaishi clothing instead of an office attire.

She didn't mind. She knew that even Amir wore the traditional attire on some days but most of the times, he preferred a suit.

Nadia's father gave her a wary smile and Haya already knew that he didn't like her very much. He didn't even spare a glance at his own daughter.

Still, he had stood up the moment she walked into the room. He had shown respect and she couldn't really be rude just because she thought that he didn't like her.

"Salam, Princess Haya. How are you?"

He greeted her.

"I'm fine, thank you. Please sit."

Haya gestured him to sit as she sat herself.  She looked around at the four women and three other men in the hall, asking Nadia to sit as well as she was standing behind Haya.

Nadia sat on the seat opposite to her own father, saying a salam to him. The man only nodded and then turned to Haya, expecting her to speak.

"So as you know that you have been invited here because we want to take help from your ministry in spreading awareness."

She started off, he nodded and waited for her talk more.

"The Cultural and Art Progression that you're in charge of, I think that using the platform.. we can do a lot of wonderful things for women and increasing their awareness in finding jobs and being independent."

Haya expressed, earning another nod.

"What did you have in mind?"

She had already discussed this idea with Amir. Her husband had been relecutant at first but once Haya had assured him that she wouldn't try to disrespect the culture and would make sure that the women looked modest, he had agreed.

"I know that there are many plays and musicals that happen in different art centres across the country by your ministry. I was thinking that we can include women in all of those plays, it will create a sudden impact."

A surprised look crossed his face and he almost frowned.

"Women? In plays?" He repeated, Haya looked at him with an eye raised.

"Yes?"

Mr Rashid let out a laugh. Haya's frown deepened further.

"I don't see what's so funny here." She stated with a straight face, finding it disrespectful that he had laughed like that at her suggestion.

"I apologize. It's just that we have around one or two women in the play and even those don't say a single word. The audience is used to seeing men perform."

He tried to shut down the idea.

"Really? I was actually going through some facts and figures and as it turns out, Jennifer Lawrence movies are the most watched in this country. She doesn't sound like a man to me."

She shot back, not understanding the misogynistic behavior.

"That's different. She's not a Maraaishi woman. Why do you think that there is not a sudden outrage for you?"

No one in Maraaish had spoken to her in this manner so far. Everyone respected her because she was a Royal Princess, wife of their Crown Prince. However, since this man was quite close to the King..he had enough confidence. And Haya remembered what Nadia had told her, he didn't really fear anything.

"Our people do not own you. They can not protest against you because your blood is not from Maraaish."

He put his own logic but Haya knew better. This was a bullshit excuse.

"No, they can not protest against me because I am the wife of their Crown Prince. I have an entire country behind me." She said, continuing when she looked at everyone in the hall.

"People thrive on making women fear and when they see a woman who does not fear anything, it scares them." She declared, daring Mr Rashid to counter her argument.

He could have, but he didn't.

"The point is that we can not have such plays. It won't be good for us." He said instead, coming back to the topic.

Haya gave him a pointed look.

"No. the point is that I already discussed the idea with your Crown Prince and he was perfectly okay with it. I wanted to talk to you directly so that I could explain my point of view."

She didn't want to use the Amir card. She wanted to be independent but she also needed the job to be done. And she had come to terms with the fact that she would be known as his wife, the same way she was known as King Najaf's daughter. She couldn't change that but she could still create her own identity through her work.

"And you did, Princess Haya. You explained it very well but I still don't agree with using my ministry as a means to help women."

He replied, Haya hummed.

"Because you don't agree with it. That's why."

"Yes, exactly that is why. Women shouldn't work. That's not how things are supposed to be."

She let an unbelievable chuckle leave her mouth. How dare anyone say that?

"I can't believe you would say something right in front of five working women. One of which is your own daughter."

Haya argued, finding every bone in her body being angered but she tried to breathe deep and not cause drama.

"I'm not one to lie or sugarcoat." He stated, Haya nodded.

"Of course. So here is how this is going to go then."

"You will approve this idea. Nadia will give you all the details you need and from now on, women will also be a part of your play."

She ordered, continuing.

"Infact, National day is coming. Nadia, get a writer to write a script focusing on women issues and how they empower themselves. Get preparations done."

She said to Nadia, then looked back at everyone.

"The Royal family will be there at the parade ground. A stage can be set up and the play can also become a part of that day. It will cater to a huge audience and cause big influence too.

"We will discuss this tomorrow. I believe the ministry is going to be of incredible help." She looked at the man, knowing that he would not question her anymore. 

Haya stood up, giving him one last stare.

"It was not really a pleasure to meet you."

She said, before walking out of the hall.

The old Haya would have told such men to fuck off and choke on something.

If it wasn't for her brother's third text message, telling her in all capitals to be nice to his fiancee and call her back, Haya truly would not have.

Sara had called her two times in the past three days. She had even made a call to her personal assistant and dropped a message with her.

As if that was not enough, she had told Yusuf that she had called Haya but she hadn't picked it up. Now, her brother was being serious about it.

Since she didn't want to argue with her oldest brother, she dialled Sara's number with a loud groan.

"Hello, Sara. How are you?" Haya greeted the moment Sara picked up the call, she was hoping the woman would not pick it up but she had.

"Haya, hello. I am very well, thank you. I'm glad you finally called back."

Haya rolled her eyes. She wished that she hadn't called back but she could not listen to her brother lecturing her about basic manners again.

"Yes. My PA told me that you called as a reminder twice and I figured what could possibly be so important. I had to call you back."

Haya said as a matter of fact, listening to the response.

"I texted you and then I called you, and Yusuf told me that he had already told you that I'd call. It wasn't something too important but I still needed to talk."

She explained, hoping that Haya would be nicer this time. Her fiance's sister hadn't been rude to her but she had also not been the nicest. She had made no effort to welcome her to the family, even though Sara had tried to be friends with her after the engagement.

"Yeah, anyway. What did you want to talk about?"

Haya questioned, getting to the point.

"As you know, the wedding is next month and my friends are taking me on a cruise by the end of this month for my bachelorette."

The Princess raised her eyes, already knowing what Cruise she was talking about.

Yusuf had told her on a phone call yesterday that he had recently bought a cruise from a Russian Vodka Tycoon, it had costed him three hundred million dollars. Haya knew that Yusuf was fond of yachts and things like that but she never knew he was so fond of them.

Now, it made sense.

"Is this the 300 million dollar cruise that my brother just bought?"

"Yes, he told you?" Sara hesitantly said.

"Yeah, I reckon it's a wedding gift for you?"

She never knew her brother was such a romantic. She was almost impressed.

"Yes. Yusuf surprised me with it. He's wonderful."

Haya knew he was. And she also knew that her brother was a good judge of character so she did not think that Sara was with him for all the wrong reasons. It was just her personal protectiveness that always got in between and made her act like a bitch.

"He is. And he seems to feel that way about you too so I'm happy that my brother is happy."

She finally said, taking a sigh.

"Thank you. I wanted to invite you to the bachelorette. It would be amazing if you could come."

She didn't want to. Not at all. Not even a little bit. It wasn't only because she didn't like Sara too much but it was also because she was busy and she had too many plans for this month.

And, she also did not want to be away from Amir for an entire week right now.

"I would consider it but I am quite busy and I don't think that we are close enough for me to come to such a personal thing anyway."

She replied, hoping that the girl would not try to convince her.
Thankfully, she didn't

"I understand. I knew what your answer would be but I still wanted to invite you."

"Thank you for inviting me. I hope you have a lot of fun."

"Okay. I'll see you at the wedding then?"

"Yes. You will."

Haya was about to end the phone call, practically thankful that she hadn't been a total bitch and she wouldn't get a lecture from her mother or brother.

Still, she didn't know why but she started to speak again..

"Listen Sara, if there is anything troubling you and you cannot talk about it with Yusuf or anyone else, you can contact me." She murmured.

She knew that even someone like her was nervous at the time of her marriage. She wanted constant assurance and while she knew that Yusuf must be giving Sara all the comfort she needed, Haya did want her to feel welcomed.

"Really? I thought you didn't like me much."

She rolled her eyes again.

"I still don't but you are going to be a part of the family. It means something." Haya declared, ready to end the phone call.

"Thank you so much, Haya."

"Take care, Sara."

Either she was simply changing too much or she was tired of arguing with her brother all the time.

Haya really didn't know.

She hadn't heard from him after her phone call in the morning. Amir usually arrived before dinner but his team had already informed the house that the Prince will be arriving late. Haya had sent him a text but Amir had not even read it, let alone replied. She knew that he had been going hard at work so she didn't bother making a call.

Haya had spent the evening getting pampered instead. An hour of facial care followed by an hour of massage and a manicure, she was finally in bed.

Haya held a book in one hand as she munched on some nuts at the same time. She was halfway through the book when she heard the swipe and the door open.

She looked up, hearing her husband's footsteps as he walked into the bedroom.

Just by looking at his face, she could see that he was exhausted. There were dark circles under his eyes, his hair was more ruffled than usual and he had already taken off his coat.

She slipped off the bed and walked towards him, wrapping her arms around his waist. She buried her head against his chest murmuring a soft hello. Amir let out a salam, his chin resting on her head as he sighed.

"I'm tired." Haya heard him admit and she hummed, knowing that he was exhausted.

"Dinner?" She enquired. It was possible that he already ate at the office or maybe he didn't, but she still felt the need to ask.

"No, I just want to sleep."

He murmured.

"Okay." Haya said, finding him walk towards the bed with tired, exhausted steps.

"You don't want to change?" He always made sure to shower and change, no matter how late it got.

Today, it seemed that he was genuinely too tired.

"I'll do it when I get up to pray."

She knew that he wouldn't be comfortable sleeping in a dress shirt and dress pants. Haya rolled her eyes, knowing that Amir was the kind of person who didn't even like getting help.

She stopped before he could lay down and made him stand up. Amir let out a sigh, not even protesting. She unbuttoned his shirt first, chuckling because he had done the same for her just a week ago when she was tired.

Amir smiled too, feeling her hands around his belt as she removed it and then dragged his pants down his legs, leaving him in just his underpants.

She liked him shirtless anyway. Amir was just about to bend down to remove his shoes but the next act quite literally surprised him to no ends.

This was Haya.

Princess Haya of Buredaan.

The woman who was so stubborn, with ego and always ready to fight because her opinion was different.

He tried to stop her but she hushed him with a look. Haya didn't know why she was even doing this, she had never done an act like this before but something about his tired face and exhausted eyes spoke to her. She didn't want him to do anything but rest.

She removed his shoes first, then also removed his socks..throwing them at the side.

After that, she gestured him to lay down. Amir, in his surprised state managed to do what she had said. She put the blanket over him, switching off the lights in the bedroom with only a lamp remaining on at the other end.

She walked inside the bathroom, washing her hands and applying some mosturiser on them before she entered the bedroom again.

Haya picked up her book again, laying down on her side of the bed slowly just so Amir wouldn't be disturbed.

A moment later, she felt his face pressed between her chest and his hands around her waist.

Even though Haya felt discomfort at the sudden weight, she didn't say so.

Instead, she pressed her hand against his head and ran her fingers down his hair.

Haya smiled, not even feeling annoyed at the snores which left his mouth.

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(How I imagine amir sleeping on haya😂❤️)

Thoughts?