Another Young Maldonian Romance
Family Values
Kanad and A'shaira both made it in the dinner room. Naveen, Tiana and James were already sitting at the table.
"Kanad, A'sharia. So glad that you joined us for dinner." Naveen said.
The prince pulled out a chair for his girlfriend to sit before going to his own seat.
"Aw." James teased.
Tiana lightly tapped him on the arm.
"I was only joking around!" James said.
Nagina and Kabir walked in the room.
"Oh, it is a pleasure to have three gorgeous young women joining us." Kabir said, taking his seat.
"Yes, A'sharia…" Nagina started. "This is your first time eating dinner with the family, yes?"
"Yes, it is." The teen girl answered. Feeling a bit of awkwardness with the woman.
Tiana noticed. "Kanad told me that you are an excel student. I know your parents must be proud."
"They are and they would like for me to go to Oxford, but I have an interest in Cambridge." A'sharia shared.
"So do I!" Kanad chimed in, but quickly apologized. "Sorry for interrupting."
Nagina raised an eyebrow. "You want to go to Cambridge, Kanad?"
"Yes." He answered.
"Since when? I thought you were joining the Maldonian military after your studies are done?"
Naveen knew where his mother was headed, another round of annoying questions. "We talked about it several months ago. And I support him whole-heartedtly." He smiled at his brother.
Kanad smiled back, thanking his brother with a nod.
"I think this is wonderful!" Kabir said. "Cambridge is an excellent school! But you have to study in order to be accepted Kanad. And I have my connections-
"Um, Kabir?" Tiana asked.
"Yes, my daughter?" He asked back, but realized what he did. "Oh, my apologies A'sharia. It's just that with Kanad saying he would like to actually go to college-
"It's alright." She said.
"No, no. Tell us more about your family. Where your mother and father are from. What made you decide that Cambridge was the college for you?"
"My father is from Kenya and my mother is from Portugal. And as for my decision on Cambridge? I've always wanted to challenge myself with the best, or at least one of the best. My father disagrees and since he have connections himself with Oxford…he feels as if I have a better chance at getting there."
"Your father has no faith in you?" Nagina asked.
"He does, but he is also very protective. With me going to Oxford he has a lifetime pass there and can monitor whenever he visits."
Just then, helpers started walking into the room pushing in a cart that was full of food.
Kabir rubbed his hands together.
A'sharia's eyes widen at all the food. "Wow."
Kanad laughed. "It is a lot of food."
"No, the food looks delicious." The young girl said.
Naveen and Tiana looked at one another. The king remembered seeing Tiana having the same expression the first time they had food brought to them on their honeymoon.
Nagina sighed and purposely started speaking in Maldonian to Kabir.
Kanad shook his head, he hated when she spoke their language to shut out a guest who obviously couldn't understand it.
"Mother, I am sure everyone would like to hear what you're speaking about." Naveen spoke for his brother.
"Oh very well then." Nagina said, looking at A'sharia. "I was telling my husband how young you and my son are to be inlove."
"Mother…" Kanad groaned. "Not now!"
"No, no. I would like to be honest. You two are must too young to be in this matter. Have you even thought of earning the trust from your father? Surely there IS a back story to him wanting to check up on you even in your college years."
A'sharia began feeling uncomfortable.
Nagina smiled. "Is there something you're not telling us A'sharia?"
The teen girl stood up. "Thank you for having me over for dinner. Excuse me." And left the room.
Kanad stood called for his girlfriend. "A'sharia!"
Nagina shrugged. "She obviously has secrets Kanad. I wouldn't go after her if I were you."
The young prince gave his mother an angry look before going after his girlfriend.
"That was uncalled for." Naveen said. "I thought we were going to have a peaceful dinner. Get to know A'sharia a little more, but you have to always get bitchy when someone new comes along."
Nagina gasped. "What did you just say?"
"Our oldest son just said that you are always very bitchy with the new guests, and I agree." Kabir said.
"Well I've never!" Nagina crossed her arms. "Such language while a young child is at the table!"
"I've heard much worse from papa's mouth." James chimed in.
Nagina looked over at Tiana for help.
"Oh, you know NOT to look at me." Tiana said with a laugh.
Kanad chased behind his girlfriend, seeing her very upset by the front entrance. "A'sharia-
"I'm clearly not good enough for your mother's approval if she think less of me." She looked down at her hands. "I think it's best that we say our goodbyes-
"No." Kanad said. "We are not saying goodbye." He took her hand. "She's always this way."
"The queen must be so strong to take on your mother." She said, holding back her tears.
Kanad wrapped an arm around his girlfriend.
"I'm ready to go back to my hotel suite." The young girl said.
Kanad hated seeing her upset, and he didn't want her to leave like this. "How about we go out in the gazebo before you leave?"
"I don't know…" A'sharia was much too upset to go anywhere else.
So, Kanad took her hand and walked them both outside into the garden. The sun has already set and the garden lights were lit for them to make it to the gazebo.
Once they got in he locked the door and walked her into another room where the ceiling was all glass. She looked up and saw the moon and stars glaring down on them.
"So beautiful." She said, sitting on the soft couch.
"It is." He agreed, sitting beside her, taking her hand. "I don't like seeing my girl upset over my mother's judgmental behavior."
"I can't help myself." She wiped her wet eyes. "No one has ever misjudged me before. I guess my father was right about some people."
"My mother might be a witch, but my brother, Tiana and father like you. James adores you." He pulled her in for a hug, rubbing her back.
"She thinks we're too young to be together." A'sharia said.
"We aren't." Kanad pulled from the hug and looked up at the sky. He noticed two bigger stars that stood side by side. "You see those two big stars up in the sky?"
She looked up and saw the two stars. "Yes?"
"Those are our stars." He said, looking back at her.
A'sharia smiled. "Aw Kanad. You're so sweet."
He leaned forward and kissed her, pulling her closer to him.
A'sharia wrapped her arms over his shoulders. The strange feelings she felt returned to her, this time she couldn't control it. "Kanad…" She breathe out.
Kanad couldn't control his feelings and his hand rested on her thigh.
A'sharia felt her boyfriend's hand rubbing on her thigh and she pushed him back. Quickly moving away. "I'm sorry."
Kanad shook his head. "Don't apologize. We got lost in our kiss."
A'sharia looked down at Kanad's hand and noticed a bump under his pants. She blushed.
The young prince knew what she was looking at and blushed himself. Now embarrassed. "I'm-I'm…"
"Shh." A'sharia said. "It's okay. Its like you said, we both got lost in the kiss."
He closed his eyes. "A'sharia, when we are so close I can't but to get…excited for you. I can't control it."
"I know exactly how you feel Kanad." A'sharia said, running her fingers through his hair. "But we can't do anything about it."
"Right." Kanad said, thinking otherwise.
A'sharia stood up. "I think I should be getting back. I definitely overstayed my visit."
Kanad stood as well. "I don't want you to go back to the suite."
"Kanad…we will see each other soon." A'sharia looked up at the stars. "Before I go to sleep, I'll look up at our stars and think of us being together."
Kanad took her hand. "Come, I'll ride back with you and walk you to your door."
A'sharia frowned. "But won't your mother get upset?"
"I could care less of what my mother thinks right now." Kanad said as they left the gazebo. "I want to spend more time with my girl. And she can't ever stop that. No one can."
A'sharia leaned forward to give her boyfriend a kiss on the cheek. "You promise?"
Kanad cupped her face with his hand. "I promise."
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