Adventures of Sinbad and Layla

Still In Love (Part II)

Before Shaheen could tell his story, the meeting had commenced. Throughout the entire evening, both Esra and Omar were curious about what had happened in his past. They thought that perhaps someone he loved had married someone else, too. But they were itching to know the truth.

Once the meeting was over, the leaders were all shown to their rooms in the guest tower. Shaheen had his usual room in the main tower and he was there with Sinbad and Layla to simply catch up. They sat in the seating area of the bedroom with tea and snacks on the table.

"It's so lovely to see Omar and Esra's own family growing," Shaheen said. "You both have done extremely well."
Layla smiled. "Thank you, brother. We couldn't be more proud of them."
"I believe Esra will be ready to lead the next meeting," Sinbad said. "She'll make a great queen once we're no longer here."
"Indeed. It's important to have a worthy successor to lead the country," Shaheen agreed.
"May I ask you something, brother?" Layla spoke a little nervously.
"Of course."
"What about for you? You've never married and you rejected every girl that I suggested for you. What about a successor?"

Just as he was about to speak, the door burst open and Esra ran in with Omar. They all looked at the two in confusion as they tried to play it casual.

"There you are," Esra said, slightly out of breath.
Layla raised a brow. "Is that any way to enter someone's room, Esra?"
"I'm sorry, mom, but we wanted to speak to Uncle Shaheen."
Omar nodded. "We've kinda been dying to find out about what you told us earlier."
Sinbad's brows furrowed slightly. "About what?"
Shaheen smiled and motioned to the spare couch. "Sit. I was just about to tell your parents."

Sinbad, Layla, Esra, Omar (and maybe even the baby) were all super curious. Omar closed the door before they all went to sit down. They all looked at Shaheen, all leaning a little forward as if he was about to tell them the world's biggest secret.

"The reason I haven't married and choose not to marry is because I have already lost the woman I fell in love with. And I still love her..."

The room was so silent that they could almost hear the shattering of four hearts. Layla's hand was gripping onto Sinbad's but her eyes were glued to her brother.

"I had no idea..." she whispered.
He smiled gently. "You weren't to know. I didn't tell anyone."
"But when..? And how..? Have I ever seen her? What's her name?"
He shook his head. "Her name was Ridhwana. I lost her about a year before I met you for the first time. Estia had reached its lowest point. She was my childhood sweetheart, very much like you and Sinbad."
Sinbad held Layla's hand a little tighter knowing that she was getting upset. "What happened..?" he asked.
"It was when we were 18. We planned my infiltration into the palace together. We both knew it was the best chance to know what Idris was planning. I didn't want to leave her but it was the only thing we had going. She knew how to fight and she was tough." He breathed out deeply. "It was only two days before I was to join the guards that she confessed her true feelings and I was finally brave enough to tell her that I also loved her. She had always been more brave than me. I promised that once we took back our country, I was going to marry her and she promised to wait for me. She was always hopeful of the future, always keeping us optimistic. She was the only light we had in dark times. We decided that we would meet every night under the bridge. So, I would sneak out every night to see her and she always welcomed me with a smile. And then..." He sighed, the memory becoming difficult. "It had only been two weeks since I joined the guards. That night when I went to meet her again, she was waiting for me... But...she was dead..."

Tears streamed down Layla's cheeks as she cried quietly and Sinbad, too, was heartbroken. Omar had his arm around Esra as she cried silently into his shoulder.

"She was killed just moments before I got to her."
Layla got up and went to sit beside him. "Brother, I..." She held his hand as she sniffed, trying to hold back more of her tears. "I'm so sorry..."
He smiled softly and wiped away her tears. "Don't be silly. You didn't know."
"What was she like?"
"Oh, she was stunning inside and out. She was funny and always made me laugh. She was so kind and loving but she was also sometimes really scary, just like you," he said with a light chuckle, also making the others smile. "She was strong and one of the bravest people I have ever known. Her family were killed during the siege just like my own so Khadeem looked after us both. He was just as distraught as I was. We buried her beside the tree outside her childhood home. Her house had been destroyed but that tree stayed standing. You've been to that tree before."
Layla's eyes widened in realisation. "The wisteria! I always loved that tree ever since the first time you showed it to me."
He nodded. "That's the one."
"I saw a stone there. And on it is written the word 'waead'. Is that her gravestone?"
"Yes. It means 'promise'. I promised my heart to her."
"And that's why you choose not to get married." Layla smiled sadly and lowered her head on his shoulder. "I understand, brother. Your love is true and I pray that you're both together in the next life."
"Thank you, tayir," he said as he hugged her gently.
Esra lifted her head from Omar's shoulder. "Is this why you understand King Kouen?"
Sinbad blinked and turned to her. "What does this have to do with him?"
"Well, similar to how I cannot marry another, Kouen has also dedicated his heart to Layladria," Shaheen explained. He placed his hand on her head as she lifted it to look at him. "He has no ill intentions towards your wife, Sinbad. If I was in his position, I too would do anything to see Ridhwana again."