INSEPARABLE I

XXIII

That night the chambers next to the one occupied by the Prince were prepared for Prem and Noor. The meetings the council members of both Kurral and Basher were caught up in continued as the rest of the palace headed to their chambers to rest. It seemed the verdict would only be out the following day.

As Prem and the Prince stood outside their chambers, they saw Noor turn into the hallway with Gulab.

"Aight, bro. Good luck tonight." Prem playfully punched his best friend's forearm with a wink.

"Thank you. And good luck to you as well." Prince Udam nodded at Prem.

Prem shook his head. "I'm seasoned, my man. You're gonna need all the luck tonight. Stay relaxed. Have fun. Don't hold back. Don't be a nervous little bitch."

"You..." Prince Udam took a step towards Prem fighting his smile, "can call me Your Grace."

Prem's face welcomed a further mischievous expression. "Oh, is that what you prefer tonight? Your Grace? I can get the message to Gulab." The Prince could no longer hold back and broke out laughing. "Yes, Your Grace. Right there, Your Grace! Harder, Your Grace!" Prem pretended to grow breathless as they both doubled over in uncontrollable laughter at the thought.

Their wives were only a few steps away when Prince Udam whispered another warning to Prem. "Motherfucker, I will have you hanged if you don't shut your mouth right now."

Getting a hold of himself, "what was that?" Prem spoke when Noor and Gulab were within earshot. "You want to be choked while being called Your Grace?"

They hadn't noticed the glass of water in Noor's hand until she spit out her water in response to Prem's words. Laughing, she looked at him in wide eyes as Gulab turned red in embarrassment.

"Please. Ignore him." Prince Udam managed as Gulab eyed the ground and then him and Prem.

Prem held up his hands, "Gulab, the Prince has some interesting fetishes. Good Luck." Gulab cheeks seemed to turn an even deeper shade of red as Noor tried to control her laughter.

Prince Udam jammed his elbow into Prem's ribs this time. "Let's get out of here, Gulab." He said putting his hand into his wife's and leading her towards their room.

"Don't rush into it, Your Grace!" Prem called out from behind him. "Go easy, tonight!"

"Prem!" Noor taunted him as he placed his arm around her shoulders and continued laughing at his best friend.

Just before Prince Udam turned into his chambers, he gave Prem one last amused look. "Sweet dreams, Your Grace!" Prem shouted at him. The Prince simply shook his head in the inerasable smile he had on and shut the door behind him.

"You are horrible!" Noor turned towards Prem. "Horrible!"

"I was trying to have a boy's moment with my best friend, ma'am. Do you mind?" He stated bringing her into himself and circling his arms around her head as if he were hugging it. He held her in place and planted a kiss on top of her head breathing her in. "This." He smiled putting his chin on top of her head as Noor smiled against his chest. "I would almost say this will be the most romantic night of our life if I couldn't see the 16 bodyguards lined up outside our chambers ready with swords in case someone tries to kill us in our sleep tonight." He let out a laugh. In addition to eight of their personal body guards, each of their families had assigned four extra guards to protect their children for the night in response to the added threat that now loomed over them.

Escorting Noor into the chambers through the line of guards, Prem nodded at Hakam and Sevak standing opposite one another nearest to the door. He trusted these two men with his life and knew there wouldn't be a leaf moving near their chamber without them noticing.