INSEPARABLE II

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"So...the goat is after him. Like he's getting full on chased by the animal and I'm standing on the other end of the fence, but he's screaming at me – 'Bhaji, help me'." Prem waived his hands to demonstrate the action in his story.

Laughter poured out of Noor as the imagery of Prem's youngest cousin getting chased by a goat flooded her mind. Finally used to one another's presence and the idea of a renewed friendship with five years of catching up to do, they sat knee-deep in stories just outside the courtroom a little after breakfast.

"But I'm over there thinking of what the fuck to do, like I can go fight a war but I don't know how to control a fucking goat!" Prem exclaimed holding up his hands as Noor doubled over with tears of laughter in her eyes. "But all these people gathered are expecting me to do something because I'm the Chief! Now while I'm still thinking of what to do...the goat catches up with Kabir, and he's on the ground under it. But for some reason, instead of trying to wrestle it off, he just folds his hands and starts chanting the word 'please' as if the goat would be 'oh, well, he's pleading now, I better hop off."

"No wayy!" Noor tried to catch her breath between the laughter. "I have tears in my eyes." She said reaching up under her right eye to wipe away the tear that had leaked out.

"Finally, the farmer runs up to them and takes the goat off Kabir. He was apologizing profusely but I could not stop laughing. I was completely enjoying myself. These girls Kabir had been flirting with saw it take place, man, he was embarrassed! You should have seen his face, the shades of red I saw on him. But since that day, he hates all things goats. You cannot mention a goat around him without him getting worked up." Prem shook his head taking a deep breath to get a hold of himself after the rollercoaster of excitement.

Nihal, after looking for the Queen all around her chambers and the garden, made his way back to the main area of the palace. He saw Veer and Kabir walking towards him and decided it wouldn't hurt to ask them if they had seen her. They both said no but decided to help him trace her down. Veer called upon his guards and asked them to point in the direction they last saw the Queen. The guards named the courtroom and the three men took off. Noor's laughter filled their ears as they turned into the hall leading them towards the courtroom.

"Is that..." Kabir looked at Veer.

"Yeah." Veer confirmed. "I think I'm about to win my bet." He smiled picking up his stride.

"It can't be, Bhaji!" Kabir exclaimed. "It's too soon."

"Nope!" Veer beamed coming to stop at the turn of the hallway, with Prem and Noor in his view. "That horse is mine!" He punched the air in celebration.

"What the hell?!" Kabir stared ahead at the couple in surprise. "How?"

Confused to the core, Nihal frowned at the brothers. Clearly they had placed a bet over some matter involving the Queen and the Chief but what was it? "I don't understand." He stated.

"We had a bet to see how long it would take to find them laughing with each other like that. I said a month, he said two weeks." Kabir explained pointing to his elder brother. "He obviously knows Prem Bhaji more than me." He shook his head in disappointment. "I just lost my newest horse to him."

They took off but Nihal stood deep in thought. The Chief's brothers were betting on how long it would take for him to get the Queen sitting and laughing with him? What is that supposed to mean? And also, even if he does have a certain reputation with women, shouldn't the Queen, at the very least, be spared of his practices? Shouldn't she be above their bets?

Slowly making his way over to them, he was shocked to find the Queen, the most intelligent woman in the kingdom, just fall for this man's play so easily. He bowed before the Queen. "Your Highness, I was looking for you."