Chapter 2: The Royal "Family"
"Your Highness, Please if your armed forces don't assist my country the Hutsi will wipe out the Fulas." President Rusesabagina of Rwanda said.
"Your Highness, I am begging you my family is being targeted because my wife is Zulu please."
"Mr. President, I will send my forces to transport all the Fulas to a refugee camp in another country." Naveen said
"Thank you so much Your Highness, your assistance is greatly appreciated in this time of need in my country."
"President Rusesabagina, we are allies why would I not help you."
"Your Highness, we've contacted all of our allies and no one wanted to get involved."
"Well then they are not really your allies are they?"
"Your Highness, there's a telephone call for you, it's urgent."
"Thank you, Kocoum may you please see President Rusesabagina out?"
"Yes sir."
"Your Highness, I thank you again."
"You are very welcome Abinaza!" After the president left the room Naveen answered the phone.
"Hello?"
"King Naveen, this is President Roosevelt we met at the Inaugural Ball."
"Oh yes Mr. President."
"Please, call me Frank."
"Oh, ok what is it you need Frank."
"King Naveen, I'm visiting New Orleans to try that famous restaurant Tiana's Place and I would love it if you would join me seeing as you've been to New Orleans before." Naveen froze when he heard her name again. Tiana, the same woman who refused his proposal ten years ago, the same woman who broke his heart, the same woman he still loved.
"Hello? Are you still there?"
"Yes sir Mr.…I mean Frank, I have one question. I am sure you have plenty of men in your country, so why would you ask me to accompany you to New Orleans when I'm all the way in Maldonia."
"To be honest Naveen, may I call you that?"
"Of course."
"Naveen, my other colleagues are sticks in the mud I need someone young who can help me around the city." Naveen chuckled
"Well then Frank I would be happy to join you to New Orleans."
"Great I'll be at the Crescent City in two weeks, which leaves you plenty of time to get there."
"Sounds perfect."
"See you in New Orleans."
"See you there." Naveen hanged up his phone, and then there was a knock at his door.
"Come in." A frantic Nadira entered the room.
"Mother what is the problem?"
"Iyanla's giving birth."
"What? Isn't she…"
"Naveen come quick this no time for questions." Naveen quickly followed Nadira to the birthing room. Iyanla's scream could be heard throughout the palace. Then a few minutes later the doctor emerged from the room
"Your Highness?"
"Dr. Arya, how is she?" Naveen asked
"Her Majesty is fine, but the baby died. She miscarried again. Your Highness this is the fourth time, I don't think her body is able to carry a baby a full nine months."
"Thank you Doctor." Dr. Arya simply nodded his head
"Naveen I'm so sorry, I can only imagine what Iyanla is feeling."
"I'll be in my study." Naveen stormed away, Nadira sighed at her son's action, when she entered the room she saw Iyanla holding her baby.
"Iyanla?"
"You don't have to say anything I named her Latika after my mother. At least now she can be with her in paradise. Where's Naveen?"
"He's in his study." Iyanla fought the urge to cry, Nadira felt so sorry for the girl, she loves Naveen so much but they both knew that he wasn't in love with her. The only woman who had his heart was Tiana.
"Iyanla…"
"Nadira, I understand I wouldn't want to see me either I'm a horrible wife. I can't even give my husband a son." Nadira pitied the young girl she's only 24 years old and has already suffered four miscarriages. That's enough to make any woman break.
"Your Highness I'm sorry but I must take the body…"
"HOW DARE YOU! THIS IS NOT JUST A BODY THIS IS A BABY, MY CHILD!"
"I'm sorry Your Highness."
"Please send me another nurse because you obviously have no idea what you are doing. Get out of my sight!" Iyanla said rudely, the young nurse quickly left the room.
"Iyanla, that was uncalled for."
"This is my child; I don't care what anyone says this was my baby." Iyanla tenderly kissed the baby's head.
"Iyanla, maybe you should consider adopting…"
"No Nadira, I am going to give Naveen a child even if it kills me."
"I'm just saying it's a possibility."
"Not a possibility to me."
"Excuse me Your Highness, may I please take the baby?" Iyanla kissed her daughter one more time for before handing the baby to the nurse.
"Wait! Let me see her one more time."
"Iyanla, you have to let go."
"No." Iyanla flung herself to Nadira who comforted the young girl.
"Why can't I have a baby?" Nadira was at loss with words she didn't know what to say to Iyanla.
"It is ok Iyanla one day you will have a beautiful baby."
"Pour me another Kocoum."
"Your Majesty, I think you've had enough…"
"I know when I've enough and I told you to pour me another."
"Yes sir." Kocoum poured the king another drink.
"Kocoum pack my bags I'm going back to New Orleans earlier than planned."
"When do you plan to leave Your Highness?"
"Tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?"
"Yes, is that a problem?"
"No sir."
"Very well then pack my bags at once." Kocoum shook his head at the young king.
Once Iyanla was escorted back to her room she just laid in bed staring at the wall then all of a sudden she felt the bed sink and smelled the stench of alcohol.
"I really hate it when you drink."
"I only had one drink."
"My nose begs to differ."
"Iyanla…"
"I just lost our baby and you decide to get drunk in your office."
"Let's not discuss this."
"Do you love me Naveen?" Naveen sighed heavily.
"You know I love you."
"You mean Tiana." Naveen went wide eyed
"You say her name in your sleep, I don't know who this woman is but I do know that you love her."
"You are being ridiculous." Iyanla sat up so that she could stare at
"Oh I'm being ridiculous? You say her name every time we make love. Do you know how heart breaking that is to me! I have been nothing but a loving wife to you, but instead you run to your concubines that look like that horrid monkey!"
"Don't you ever refer to her as such! You're lucky I don't…"
"What, divorce me? Go right ahead, it's not like you ever loved me." Naveen sighed heavily
"I am going to New Orleans for a month."
"Is that were Tiana is?!"
"Would stop saying her name?"
"Why? Is it because you still love her?"
"I'm sleeping in one of the guest rooms." Naveen got out of the bed
"You know what, I'm done Naveen when you come back from New Orleans I'll be gone!"
"You're just stressed because of the baby, you don't really mean it."
"Oh really? You can keep thinking that until you come back and find my things gone."
"You can go ahead and try to leave Maldonia, but I'll personally make sure that my guards keep an eye on you and if you try to leave I will have them arrest you." Naveen stormed out of the room slamming the door shut behind him. Iyanla screamed out in frustration and fell back onto the bed.