It was a stormy and thunderous afternoon in the city of Dubai.

The cloud was pitch black, threatening to cry. The sun found the canopy under the thick cloud, warm but heavy wind blew from the south, tossing away any material that dared stand in its way.

Ranty sounds of thunder permeated the magnificently designed room, Malik’s heartbeats weren’t helping matters, they seemed to be in rhyme with the thunder.

Each pump of blood pervaded fear within his being. He swallowed hard for the umpteenth time, boils of sweat trickling down his skin, defying the cold atmosphere.

Malik paced around like someone whose wife is experiencing her maiden labour.

It's high time he let his father know about his decision to renounce Islam- a religion his predecessors had practised so faithfully.

Yes, he knew it won’t be easy but the squeaky wheel gets the grease.

He stuck his legs into his curved shoes, took in a big gulp of air and reached for the doorknob.

He turned it slowly and walked out to the hallway, heading to his father, to meet his fate.

Malik Saud Bin Rashid Al Sharqi was the firstborn son of the prominent Sheikh Akeem bin Rashid Al Sharqi.

Malik opened the palace door with shaky hands and trembling feet. He had never felt like this before! He spent all his life in the palace, why was he having this strange feeling now?

His facial expression script it all, he was greatly worried.

His dad sat on the high and mighty throne with two bodyguards standing by his right and left respectively.

As-salaam Alaikum” he greeted breathlessly, with his head slightly bowed in respect.

"Is anything troubling the prince"? Akeem asked on noticing Malik's countenance.

He sighed, "father, I want to make an important request".

“Go ahead son, you know I’ll do anything and everything for you”. Replied Akeem who was oblivious of his son’s request.

Malik threw his father another glance; beyond the royal attire, he saw a man who had a blazing passion for Islam and wishes all his family members to follow in his footprints.

For a moment, Malik thought of aborting his plans, he thought against it when he remembered the promise he made to Matilda.

No! He can’t afford to lose her…..

“Father, I…. I Hmm.….. I wish to convert to Christianity". He found himself stammering.

At the drop of a hat, the tender smile Akeem was wearing drifted to a heart-crushing frown.

Malik could swear he saw real fire replacing his father’s pupils.

“What did you just say?

The king got up angrily.

Malik’s heart skipped, he also got up. “calm down dad….. I…”

“Shut up” the king shouted, and got into a session of loud coughs.

His heart ached badly, Malik wished he could swallow back his words, but too late to cry when the trigger is pulled.

Akeem fell to the floor helplessly, he had been managing cardiovascular attacks for the past few months now.

Malik grew red with regret.

“Help!”

he screamed and a guard ran in almost immediately.

Seeing the king on the floor, he was dumbfounded.

“What are you waiting for? won’t you help me?!” Malik exclaimed angrily.

The king was rushed to the hospital in the company of his wife and two children.

Malik sat with his mum in the waiting room, they were not allowed into the ward.

Liya the king's wife was visibly shaking, she kept muttering incoherent prayers, she wasn’t ready to be a widow…no not yet.

Malik didn’t know what to do, he was caught between two stools, should he continue being a Muslim for his father’s sake or abide by his promise to Matilda?

God! He was drop-dead confused.

****

Christina stared affectionately at her now miserable daughter.

Matilda, the last of her children had refused to eat or go out of the house ever since her parent’s told her about their plan to return to the United States for good.

Christina knew why her daughter was adamant about their trip, she was in love with a Muslim!

Geez she would never let that grow under her feet, yes she loved her daughter, she was doing everything for her best interest, if only Matilda could understand!

Matilda came down to the UAE with her family when she was sixteen.

Her dad, Neville was a contractor, he got a rossy federal contract which paid off more than what he ever envisaged.

He decided to reside in UAE

Matilda attended her university there, where she met a charming young man, who gained her love, the feeling was mutual.

They scaled through variant challenges, their religious differences were the stumbling block left. Matilda’s dad was a clergyman while Malik’s father was Amir. The two parents didn’t for one minute accept that love was a powerful spirit capable of breaking strongholds and concrete beliefs.

They were all against this relationship, Malik however promised to talk to his dad about it, Matilda on the other hand was waiting and hoping for a positive outcome, albeit her hopes weren’t high, only sheer fluke can rescue the love birds.

Matilda felt a soft tap on the shoulder.

She turned abruptly, her mum smiled and sat next to her, on the bed.

The room looked so very untidy, quite unusual for her.

“I understand what you are going through, believe me, I do……”

“No mum. You don’t” Matilda caught her mum short, she was tired of hearing soothing words accompanied with absolutely no action.

Christina re-adjusted her seating position, “you see, sometimes we chase what is never meant to be ours, and we end up losing everything.

You and Malik are not meant to be, it's best if you give each other a little space, I’m sure you would learn to love again, there are many unfinished fishes in the water, Matilda '' Christina advised softly.

Matilda shrugged, she wished stopping her heart from beating for Malik was easy. “I understand mum” she replied, with her head tilted down.

“That's my girl….cheer up okay” her mum gave her a heartwarming smile before vacating the room.

**

Matilda’s cell phone beeped almost immediately her mum dashed out.

"Better half calling”

a smile greased her beautiful face again.

She had been waiting patiently for this moment; Malik promised to talk to his dad about their relationship. Albeit her hopes weren’t raised, she knew it takes a stroke of a fluke for Amir to accept her.

She picked the call with a heart of euphoria. Malik told her to meet up with him.

The duo stopped visiting each other after their parents had a heated argument.

On a fateful day, Matilda visited the palace, with the hope of seeing her heartbeat.

The King had her seized and thrown in the palace cell. What a tragic day it was for her! Her parents had to swallow their ego and plead with Akeem. He let go of Matilda after lots of arguments with her father.

Malik learnt about his father’s stupid act and drove down to Neville's residence, where he got what he least anticipated.

Mr Neville gave him a dose of his father’s medicine.

After that incident, the love birds resolved to see eye-to-eye in a restaurant situated two blocks from Matilda’s house.

Matilda scampered her way out of the house unnoticed, she was now an expert at sneaking.

As she approached the restaurant, she could see Malik from afar, he was leaning on his car with arms folded to his chest.

She held her chest tightly to prevent her heart from ripping out, her heartbeats increased tremendously.

Should she elope tonight with Malik? Has his dad finally accepted their relationship? Should she break up with him now?

Many thoughts came to her head.

Oh, God! She was drop-dead confused.

She felt stuck between two mighty mountains.

Hi,” Matilda greeted with a gentle peck on his cheek.

“How is my baby girl? Malik forced himself to speak, evading the dampness of his heart.

From his countenance, Matilda knew something was wrong somewhere. Oh, how she wished it wasn't what she was thinking.

“You don’t look happy, everything okay? She asked...

Malik couldn’t hold it any longer, he just had to tell her everything.

“My dad! He had a heart attack today,”

Matilda was gobsmacked, this wasn’t what she bargained for, now she knows her mum was right when she said Matilda and Malik weren’t meant to be.

“You know, I can’t help but blame myself, it's all my fault…. I…..”

Matilda cut him in.

“No Malik, it's not your fault, if there is anyone to blame, that should be me.

I’m just like a pest in your life, ever since we met, I’ve caused you nothing but trouble….I’m sorry Malik”

She summoned the whole energy in her to stop herself from crying. The more she tried, the more rains of tears flood her eyes

She couldn’t break herself to believe she was leaving Malik. Fate can be so cruel sometimes! He was the only one who could draw out a genuine smile from the darkest part of her heart, he was the only first and true love she had ever experienced.

Malik was confused. “w….wh….what do you mean? He asked in utter frustration.

“Malik we live in two separate worlds, separated by religion, royalty and race. Our destinies are separated like heaven and earth, we were never meant to take a step from platonic friendship…. I love you Malik I’m sorry we have to end it this way”.

Malik rubbed his eyes fiercely no! This can’t be happening, it must be some sort of dream.

” No Matilda, I can’t last a day without you and you know it, please don’t leave me.

If you want, we can elope, yes! To a faraway country where no one would know us, let alone disturb us.”