Chapter 56 - Peas In A Pot

Jasmine

"What time would Daniel be here to ask for your hand?" I asked Naïma with mixed feelings. "10:00 AM" Naïma said with a deep sigh. "Let's sleep. It's 2 AM so we better rest, tomorrow is a big and exiting day." I told her.

It still felt like it was the middle of the night when the doorbell rang. Naïma looked at me with big eyes. I glanced at the clock, it was 5:05 AM. We tiptoed to the bedroom door and heard the already familiar male voices in our hallway. "I'm nervous." Naïma whispered.

"Nervous?" I repeated. Why would Ben be here as well, and why would they be here ,this early in the morning? We both got dressed in a daze. I stumbled down the stairs, my body hurt even more than it did yesterday.

Saeed did not spare me.

I was so distracted, that I almost fell down the stairs. But before I could, Benjamin was there to catch me. "Hey little pea." Benjamin said, looking intently into my eyes. "Uh hmm Hi." I said trembling.

Naïma frowned at me, she was still lingering in the hallway looking at us. Then I realized Benjamin's hand was still around my waist. Both my sister and I jumped when Saeed walked into the hall. Benjamin greeted him, but still did not let me go.

"Your eyes." Benjamin gasped. "My eyes?" I did not understand. I sighed, when it finally sank in. "Oh Saeed, I'm sorry I'm sorry. I didn't do it on purpose, please forgive me." I pleaded trying to get out of Benjamin's iron grip.

"Habibie come." Benjamin said indifferent to Saeed's Arabic float of swearwords. Benjamin led me to the Livingroom, where my dad already sat. Next to him was an Iman, whom I had never seen before. Across from the Imam stood a royal official, judging by the way he was dressed.

"Your highness." He greeted Benjamin and I looked at my father, who nervously smiled at me. Benjamin sat next to Daniel. "Firstly I need to apologies to you, I haven't entirely been honest to the both of you." Benjamin said to Naïma and my father, ignoring Saeed.

"My name is Benjamin Al-Raji Al-Saud, grandson of King Salman, may God be with him. " Naïma froze in place. "You're a prince?" She mouthed, choking on the words. Naïma looked at me like she wanted to kill me. "Naïma." My father warned her.

Benjamin smiled that absurd crooked smile of his. I was breathless. "It's okay, she has the right to ask questions." Benjamin said endearingly to my father. "I am." Ben started directing himself to me. "Just when I'm in this country though. At home, in the USA I'm just a simple man, with a simple life." Benjamin smiled warmly.

"First things first" Benjamin said waving his hand towards Daniel. "I have asked for your hand in marriage Naïma, and your father agreed. In the presence of the Imam, I would like to ask for you to be my wife." Daniel said shyly.

Naïma made a strange sound and looked at Ben for far too long. "Yes, yes I will marry you." Naïma said somewhat hesitantly. The Imam performed the Nika ritual and so they were husband and wife.

Then Ben seemed nervous, or I don't know what was up with him. He was fidgeting with something in his pocket and then began to speak.

"Habibie, listen." He breathed. "When I met you for the first time in the palace, I wasn't ready to get married yet, and I know I am your least favorite person in the world." Benjamin sighed heavily.

"I don't really know what I did to you to deserve that." Benjamin ran his hand through his hair in what seemed like despair "Jasmine without knowing where you are, and if you are happy and-" He looked away. "You are my air. I cannot breathe without you." He said clutching his chest.

"But Ben I don't-" I tried to say, but he cut me off. He looked angry now. "Go ahead." He said in a tone I did not recognize. "Go ahead and tell me you don't love me in front of every in this room." He shrugged.

"When you do so, don't you dare wrinkle that nose of yours." He said in abnormal steady voice.

"What?" I frowned.

"Jasmine, you are speaking to a prince." My father warned me. I ignored that.

"Go on." Benjamin urged, daring me.

We stared at each other and the whole room was quiet. It seemed like everyone held their breath. He tilted his head to the left and flashed my favorite crooked smile.

"That is unfair." I pouted.

"I don't know how to put it. I haven't slept yet and I just want you to be happy and study and do everything you've dreamed of. I just really think you deserve that. I tried. Still, there isn't any other way that I can make that happen right now than..- " Benjamin sighed.

"My grandfather gave me his permission and your father agreed." He stood up and nervously took out a little black box out of his suit pockets "Will you give me your hand in marriage Jasmine?" Benjamin almost squeaked.

"I mean, will you be my wife?" Ben tried again in a more steady voice. My mouth fell open when Benjamin opened the small box, while he bent on his knees in front of me.

"Peas in a pot." I hysterically burst out in laughter. Inside the little box was a golden ring shaped in the form of an open pod with three green peas. "How did you do this?" I asked baffled. "I guess it has some perks to be me." Ben said sheepishly.

"It goes perfect with your eyes, exactly the same color." Ben mumbled. "Ugh.. " Why does he always know what to say, his sweet talk is going to make me lose my teeth. How much jewelry had he already made for other woman?

My father scraped his throat. "Jazz don't keep him waiting, you are being very impolite again". Was there really a choice? It was either being married to Benjamin, his grandfather, or to Saeed.

I nodded 'yes' to Benjamin.