Into the Life of Hadji Part 3

     A number of weeks went by, and although things were alright between
Hadji and Miana, they were distant from one another as well.  Virtually no
affection was shown between them, which had everyone puzzled, and Miana
very worried. 
     The time came when Jessie cornered Miana. 
     "Hey, Mi!  I've been looking for you!" shouted Jessie as she found
Miana sitting by a pond in a garden in the remote corner of the compound. 
"What's up?" 
     "Hmm?" 
     "With you and Hadji.  The two of you haven't been the same for weeks,
ever since you and he had that ordeal with Jonny's game." 
     "Honestly, Jessie, I can't tell you.  If you want to know the truth,
I'm scared.  He hasn't touched me, hasn't kissed me, hasn't even put his
arms around me.  I'm afraid things are ending for us." 
     "Nonsense!  Hadji loves you!" exclaimed Jessie. 
     "You wouldn't know it from my end.  Ever since..." 
     "Ever since what?" prompted Jessie. 
     "The night after the game, things got rather heated between Hadji and
me.  I stopped things before it was too late, we found out each other's
deepest secrets, and that was it." 
     "That was what?" 
     "The last time Hadji and I really had any contact with each other." 
     "Secrets?  It's common knowledge that Hadji is a virgin." 
     "It's not that.  My secret." 
     "Oh?" 
     Miana regarded Jessie with a serious demeanor. 
     "Miana, you can trust me..." 
     "Jessie, you mustn't tell..." 
     Jessie put her hands on Miana's shoulders. 
     "Miana, no one will ever hear it from me." 
     Miana then disclosed her painful secret. 
     "Anyway, now Hadji thinks badly of me." 
     "No!  Hadji would never judge you like that!  It could be that he may
have something on his mind.  After all, this is as new to him as it is to
you." replied Jessie. 
     "I hope that's all it is. I really do." said Miana as she headed back
to the house. 
     Hadji was in his room meditating.  He wad clad in nothing but his
turban and a linen loincloth.  He had been meditating for a number of
hours, but his concentration was constantly broke by images of his
encounter with Miana, and their adventure in the Garden of Eden.  He felt
deep desire, and was very disturbed that he couldn't put his carnal
feelings aside long enough to keep in touch with his spiritual self-- the
side of himself that he deemed most important. 
     Miana's door was open, and she noticed Hadji walk by, clad in nothing
but his loincloth.  He didn't even stop in to say hello, but rather went
straight to the gym.  It was there that Hadji found Jonny. 
     "Hadji! Long time, no see!  What brings you here?" 
     "My thoughts were disturbed." said Hadji curtly, while going over to
a Nautilus machine. 
     Hadji was on a machine, sitting straight with his arms over his head,
pulling on a bar that lifted weights behind him.  He had a fierce look in
his eye that Jonny found both strange and disturbing.  Hadji was pulling
on the weights aggressively and with great speed, and was constantly
getting frustrated because each setting did not offer enough resistance,
and he kept having to add more weights.  Each time he did this, he became
more and more agitated. 
     Jonny got up from his weight machine and went over to Hadji and
grabbed a weight from his hands. 
     "Hadji! Slow down!  Calm down and talk to me!  What's this all
about?" 
     "Mind your own business, Jonny!" demanded Hadji, jerking the weight
from Jonny's hands. 
     "What's your problem, Hadj?!" 
     "I told you to mind your own business!" 
     Hadji threw the fifty pound weight across the room like it was a toy. 
It hit the floor with a 'thud' that was heard all over the house.  He
pushed Jonny, and a fight broke out.  Everybody came running from all
parts of the house. 
     "Hadji! Jonny!  What's going on here?" screamed Race as he went to
pull Hadji off Jonny.  "In all the years I've known you boys, I've never
seen you fight, especially like this!" 
     Benton and the rest of the family was in shock, and Miana was in
tears.  She ran up to her room. 
     Hadji calmed down and regained control. 
     "I'm sorry, Jonny.  I do not know what came over me." 
     "It's ok, Hadj" said Jonny as he wiped sweat from his brow.  "Feel
like talking?" 
     "Is it safe to leave the two of you alone in here?"  asked Race. 
     "Yeah, everything's fine." replied Jonny. 
     "I'll want details later, boys." replied Benton. 
     Everyone left, and the boys were alone once again. 
     "It is the way I am feeling, Jonny.  I cannot handle it!" 
     "What are you feeling?" 
     "Loneliness, longing, desire... Every time I close my eyes I see
Miana... her body..." 
     "Her body?  Hadji, did you and she..." 
     "No, but we came close.  She stopped it before we went too far.  Ever
since then I cannot get her out of my head.  I love her Jonny, but it is
so much more. I WANT her, Jonny.  I want her with every fiber of my being! 
I cannot concentrate, I cannot even meditate, and that disturbs me
greatly!" 
     "There's more, isn't there?  I smell a decision brewing upstairs,
Hadji.  I know you too well.  What are you considering?" 
     Hadji looked at Jonny square in the eye with a look more serious than
Jonny had ever seen in him. 
     "I'm considering marriage." 
     "Hadji, you can't marry someone because you're..." 
     "No!  It is not that at all!  I've wanted to marry her all along--
even before our encounter.  But--" 
     "But what?" 
     "She had an... incident... that occurred in her childhood..." 
     "And you're afraid she'll say no." 
     "Exactly.  That fear is stronger in me than anything else." 
     Jessie was eavesdroping on the conversation, and was satisfied with
what she had heard.  She went up to Miana's room with the intention to
reassure her, only to find her in tears and packing. 
     "What are you doing?!" demanded Jessie. 
     "Hadji no longer wants me-- the display downstairs told me everything
I need to know!" 
     "You've got it all wrong." 
     "Oh, do I?!" 
     "Yes, you do!  I heard Jonny and Hadji talking after he calmed down. 
He wants to marry you." 
     "He what?" gasped Miana, dropping and armful of clothes.  "Why was he
behaving..." 
     "Because he's scared.  He mentioned your 'incident'-- and he used
those words-- as a child, and that because of that, you didn't want him
and would say no to his proposal.  He's also overcome with intense desire
for you, and intense loneliness." 
     "Loneliness?" 
     "Yes.  He feels empty without you.  That's how you know when someone
truly loves you." 
     Miana's look softened as she picked up her clothes from the floor. 
She took on a look of disbelief. 
     "But give him time.  Do not let him know that you know.  Let him come
to you." 
     "Thanks, Jessie!  You're the greatest!" beamed Miana as she pulled
Jessie into a hug. 
     "Now unpack, and join the rest of humanity!" exclaimed Jessie as she
left Miana's room. 
     The phone rang, and Jonny answered it. 
     "Hadji! It's Pasha!" yelled Jonny. 
     "Hello, Pasha! Yes... mhmmm... yes... Great!  We'll arrange it right
away!" 
     "Arrange what?" asked Jonny. 
     "Pasha wants all of us to come to Bangalore.  He said my mother
misses me, and it would be a nice surprise." answered Hadji. 
     "I'll make the arrangements right away." replied Benton as he came
into the room.  "Does the invitation include Miana?" 
     "Of course!" answered Hadji.  "Why wouldn't it?" 
     Jessie went back up to Miana's room. 
     "Start packing!" cried Jessie. 
     "What?!?" panicked Miana. 
     "No, it's not what you're thinking!  Hadji just got a call from
Pasha, his old guardian.  We're all going to India!" 
     "Me, too?" 
     "Of course, you too!" beamed Jessie as she bounced out of Miana's
room. 
     Hadji came up and found Miana's door open and stuck his head in. 
     "Miana?" 
     "Hadji!  Jessie told me about the trip!  I can't wait!"  exclaimed
Miana. 
     Hadji came in and Miana jumped into his arms.  Hadji had a serious
look on his face as he gently stroked hers and pulled her into a kiss. 
     She looked up at him, stroked his face, and regarded him with a
starstruck but serious look. 
     "Hadji, I love you so much!" she cried, almost in tears.  "You
haven't hardly said a word to me in weeks!" 
     "Oh, Miana, it is not you.  It is me.  I am sorry-- the last thing I
would ever want to do is hurt you." replied Hadji.  He kissed her lightly
on the lips and left her room. 
     A week passed in preparation for the Quests' trip to Bangalore. 
Things between Hadji and Miana were still low- key, but Miana was hoping
the trip would change that. 
     The Quests made the journey in the Dragonfly.  It was Miana's first
time on a plane, and the Dragonfly was especially impressive to her.  It
was one of the most beautiful things she has ever seen-- she never thought
a plane could be a work of art.  The Dragonfly landed on the airstrip near
Bangalore Palace, and Miana was amazed that this was where they were
going. 
     Hadji came up to Miana, smiled at her, and offered her his arm.  She
put her arm through his, and were the first ones off the plane.  They
approached Neela with dignity and grace.  Miana was surprised at all the
formality this place presented, but all that melted away when Hadji
embraced his mother and Pasha. 
     "Mother!" cried Hadji as he embraced her.  "It has been a long time. 
How have things been here?" 
     "Things have been quite different, my son." answered Neela.  "But
first, you must introduce me to your friend." 
     "Mother, this is my consort, Miana Scolari.  Miana, my mother Neela,
and my mentor, Pasha." 
     Hadji went up to Pasha and embraced him. 
     "Pasha! Thank you for the invitation!" 
     "The Sultan of Bangalore needs no invitation.  I just thought it was
time you came home to see your mother.  Miana- - a beautiful name for a
beautiful girl." continued Pasha as he kissed Miana's hand. 
     Miana's eyes were wide and she was speechless. 
     "S-s-sultan?" asked Miana. 
     Just then, everyone else came up, introductions and greetings
continued, and valets came out from the palace. 
     "Welcome, your Highness.  Any requests?" 
     "Yes.  Please escort my companions to their rooms.  Dr.  Quest,
Jonny... Thank you all for coming.  Make yourselves completely at home."
replied Hadji. 
     Hadji looked at Miana. 
     "S-s-sultan?" 
     "Your girl seems stuck on a single thought." observed Pasha. 
     "I take it my son has not enlightened you on his position here."
observed Neela. 
     "N-no, Ma'am. I mean your Majesty... your..." 
     "Please, call me Neela.  No need for formalities here."  said Neela
warmly, taking Miana's hands. 
     "Pasha, why don't you take Miana to her chamber.  Give her one of the
best in the house-- one that close family of the Sultan would occupy."
requested Neela. 
     "No problem, Ma'am.  Come, Miana-- I could tell you all about the
trouble Hadji got into as a boy." replied Pasha as he escorted her to her
room. 
     "My son!  It has been too long.  We have had some trying times in
your absence.  The famine has reached Bangalore, and it is hard on the
people." 
     "I trust you are doing all that can be done and that is the best you
can do, mother.  However, with the minds of the Quest team here, maybe we
can come up with some solutions." 
     "Your consort is a beautiful girl, Hadji.  Is it serious?" 
     "Yes, mother.  I want to marry her." 
     "Hadji, you hadn't even told her about you station here.  Do you
think she could adjust?  Also, why didn't you tell her?" 
     "I think she could adjust well, mother.  As for my not telling her,
there have been other issues that took precedence, added to the fact that
I was at a loss of how to tell her..." 
     "I can tell by your demeanor that there are some problems." observed
Neela. 
     "There are no problems with us per say-- but I have some issues that
I am dealing with." replied Hadji.  Hadji went on to explain the situation
to his mother. 
     "I think this trip would be the perfect opportunity to propose to
her.  I could tell by the way she looked at you that she loves you deeply
and would accept your proposal in an instant, despite the things that have
occurred in the past." 
     "Do you really believe so, mother?" asked Hadji. 
     "Yes, Hadji, I do." answered Neela. "So sure, in fact-- that I would
love to plan a ball while you are here, and you could surprise her with
your proposal." 
     "Excellent idea, mother. Please do so." 
     Pasha had long since shown Miana her room, and the two of them had
gotten into an involved conversation about Hadji's childhood and the story
behind how he re-discovered his roots. 
     The rest of the Quest team were involved in different activities
around the palace and were enjoying themselves immensely.  Hadji pulled
Benton aside and enlightened him on the food shortage Bangalore was
experiencing and requested his assistance on the matter.  Race and Jonny
went adventure hunting, which left Jessie and Miana alone to do their own
thing.  Neela also had made herself scarce, as she had a ball to plan. 
     "I can't believe how fast everyone has just gone off to do their own
thing." replied Miana. 
     "Hadji and Dr. Quest have a lot to work on-- as for Jonny and dad,
that's typical of them." said Jessie. 
     "Oh, I understand that-- I was just hoping Hadji and I could spend
some time together.  Guess I should've known better with him being Sultan
and all." 
     "Do you think you could handle being a sultaness?" 
     "What? Oh, Lord!  That thought never occurred to me!  That's right--
if Hadji and I were to marry..." 
     "What do you think of the idea of staying here if you had to?" 
     "This place is so beautiful!  It wouldn't bother me at all!  I have
no family, and Hadji's family accepts me-- I could be at home here
easily." answered Miana.  "As long as..." 
     "As long as what?" 
     "As long as he doesn't have or acquire a harem." 
     Both girls laughed. 
     "I don't think you'll have to worry about that.  Polygamy isn't
Hadji's style." replied Jessie. 
     "Thank God!" laughed Miana. "I don't think I could share
 him easily."