Sultan POV
"I will kill myself before anything,"
She said and my heartbeat started racing. Holding her shivering hands I realised that she was getting a suicidal attack.
"Calm Down"
I tried to say collecting her in my arms strongly along with patting her head slightly.
Her tears started to fall and she said.
"I will kill myself,"
"Shhhhhhhhhhh" Trying to soothe her I started patting her shoulder lightly and muttered in her ear.
"Nothing bad will happen ever. Calm down, Begum"
I was trying hard to console her. I couldn't see her like this. I didn't know why I just asked that stupid question.
But, the reality hit me hard like a mountain. That means if she had denied the wedding proposal that day then I might be the king of Hind by now. Damn!
I lowered my gaze to see her eyes that were shut tightly enough to make me see the wrinkles appearing on the eyelids.
I was continuously patting her.
Now, everything seems clear to me. Why she came running to the courtroom that day. Why she said yes even before knowing me, why she stopped her brother from going to the war that day. I couldn't believe it. I couldn't believe that there would be such a thing behind that. I thought it was just her silliness when she accepted the proposal. But, she really blew my mind away.
She shivered in my embrace and I tried to console her. I placed a deep kiss on her forehead placing my hand below her head slightly. I couldn't believe she just sacrificed herself just for a mere prediction. I didn't know what to think about her, was she the bravest girl I have ever met or the most emotional one I have ever seen.
The much I understood about her was that she might not have many persons to love but she was so much in love with one whom she loves. Like she was ready to do anything for her loved ones. She didn't care about her life, her marriage, or anything. All she wanted was to protect her brother.
I couldn't do anything with her. She was absolutely right in her place. If I were in the same circumstances. I could have done anything for my loved ones too.
Suddenly, I came out of my thoughts when I heard anklets bells as if someone coming into the chamber.
I carefully made her lied beside me on the bed as she was slightly unconscious.
"Ohooo, You are here?"
I looked at Zeenat who was standing in front of me smiling wide.
"Yeah, I came to meet her."
I said signalling towards Gulaab.
"I can see that clearly,"
She chuckled.
I thinned my eyebrows and she continued.
"Seems like some game was on and one or two rounds are already done."
She made fun looking at Begum lying beside me and I tried to stand up from the bed.
"Nothing like that,"
I tried to say trying to hide my slightly blushing face.
"Your kurta is telling everything. I think you should change it before lunch,"
She laughed and I diverted my gaze to my white kurta.
It was coloured with Begum's vermillion over my chest and there were two marks of her messed up kajal too.
"Ohh, it's just..."
I didn't know what to explain to her. It was her brother's wedding and I shouldn't tell her anything that would make her joy suffer.
"It's okay, By the way, you both should join us for lunch in some time."
She said and moved out of the chamber.
I diverted my gaze back to her as she was sleeping. I sat beside her and couldn't stop myself from kissing her forehead.
"Don't worry, I will never let anything happen to you,"
My voice slow only audible to me.
I moved from there and called Nagma. I asked her to take care of her and bring her to the lunch only if she feels good to come.
I left the chamber as I needed to meet Ibrahim before anything.
While walking towards his place, suddenly an attendee caught my attention and said.
"Sultan, there is a private messenger waiting for you,"
I nodded and said.
"Bring him here,"
I waited till the messenger showed up and he said.
"Sultan, There is some kind of chaos in the Empire. It would be best if you depart soon for Darmiyan."
I nodded and he went from there.
I again started moving towards the Ibrahim chamber. I had to discuss some important things alone.
I reached there and there were a few attendees standing there. Seeing me coming, one of them went inside to ask for permission.
They greeted me and I went inside. I looked at Ibrahim sitting over the couch talking to some of the officials. He retired them when he noticed me coming.
"You should have called me, Bhaijaan"
He said and I sat in front of him.
"Privacy!"
He said and all the attendees retired from there just in a moment.
"Its okay Ibrahim, I needed to talk to you about something important."
"What's it, Everything Alright"
"Ibrahim, I know you just got married now and I shouldn't have asked you but it is important. Otherwise, I couldn't have disturbed you"
"What is this?"
He asked offering me a drink.
"Thank you," I said taking the glass and continued.
"By the end of next week, I need your army prepared. There is a special messenger of mine Shakib who will inform whenever the army needs to depart. I want as many soldiers as possible."
"Okay Bhaijaan, Let me know whenever you need it" He agreed even without asking me the reason.
"Just keep them prepared, I will send you the message"
He nodded and the most important task for which I specially came here was finished now.
"Also, Ibrahim, I have submitted all the gifts to your Finance calculator"
"Ji Bhaijaan, He told me about that. Thank you for your warm presence and support."
He smiled and we both just stood up to hug each other.
"Also, wish you a really very happy married life. May Allah bless you with all the happiness"
"Thank you, Bhaijaan"
He said releasing the hug.
"Bhaijaan, time for lunch... We should go for Dastarkhan."
I nodded and said while we both walk towards the lunch arrangement.
"Sure, By the way Ibrahim. We need to go back to Empire today itself. Some urgent work showed up."
I insisted.
His face slightly fell and he asked.
"So soon? Everything okay?"
"Yeah, Yeah just some work"
"Ohh, But you just came a few days ago and I expected a long tour this time."
"I am sorry Ibrahim, If it wasn't urgent then I should have spent some more time here"
"It's okay Bhaijaan, But can Zeenat Apa stay here for some time?" He asked.
"Of course, She can stay and I think she should for some change and well being"
"Oh, that's great then"
He said and we reached for lunch in the meanwhile.
We both entered when everyone was waiting for us there. Ibrahim sat on the mail couch settled for Bride and groom.
I sat on the nearby couch. They were only family members and I was slightly missing my family. I hope she was alright.
Zeenat came after me and sat beside me. I smiled and she was still carrying the baby.
I took the baby from her and looked at the two curious eyes. He was such a small and delicate boy just like his father. Happy and charming.
I tickled her stomach and he laughed. He got big eyes, extremely beautiful. He was playful not like other kids who just cry seeing a stranger or someone other than their mother.
After some time Ibrahim's wife arrived and sat beside him. She was wearing the veil.
I was waiting for my wife too.
Zeenat took her baby from me as she said.
"Sultan, you should eat."
I nodded and then my sight fell on Gulaab. She arrived there and I saw her sitting beside Zeenat Begum.
They both were talking something while I smiled seeing her there.
The lunch went well. We all talked to each other and laughed at something.
Suddenly Ibrahim said something to Gulaab that caught my attention.
"Bhabhijaan, now all I want is to become Chachajaan"
Everyone laughed and I looked at begum from the corner of my eyes. She stayed silent and he continued.
"I am waiting for the good news,"
"Ibrahim, looking at your desperation I think I will become the Chachajaan before you,"
Everyone laughed again and he became silent.
"haha, It's not like that Bhaijaan. I am still a kid to be a father"
I laughed and at the end sweets were served.
We all were done with lunch and everyone retired leaving Ibrahim, Zeenat, Begum and me at the end.
"Zeenat,"
I called her and she said.
"Ji, Sultan"
"Zeenat, we need to go back to Empire as some important work showed up. Do you want to come with us Or stay back for a while?"
I asked her and she looked slightly shocked.
"Today itself?"
"Everything alright?" She asked with a tense face.
I nodded and made her understand.
"Everything Okay, Just some work"
"Oh, I want to stay here for some time."
I kissed her forehead and said.
"As long as you wish for and take care of yourself and our baby"
She nodded and I looked at Begum.
"Begum, come with me."
She nodded without saying anything and I looked at Zeenat and Ibrahim.
"I think we both should meet everyone before leaving."
They nodded and followed us as we went to meet Ibrahim's mother and other family members. We met almost everyone and they blessed us beautiful. Knowing the fact that Zeenat was married to me they still accepted Gulaab wholeheartedly like their daughter.
After meeting everyone I asked all the attendees to take all the stuff as the Sun would be setting soon and we had to reach our empire by tonight.
Everyone came to the door to greet us one last time. I looked at Begum who hugged Zeenat and kissed the baby. I also hugged her.
We big goodbyes to everyone and finally headed back to our Empire.
We were moving fastly as we had to reach before darkness.
While travelling my mind was still stuck with the war thing. I didn't know but somehow I felt as if I lost the chance of my big win and on the other hand I felt relaxed that nothing like that happened. Though if the former situation happened then we might not have met.
And somehow I was grateful for my destiny that it collided us. We both needed each other. I never thought that destiny would play such a game. Like it was not just a coincidence that we both suffered the same thing and met each other. It was more like we understand what we both have gone through that why it was more easy to trust each other even with the fact that we were enemies.
The day almost came to end we were just a few miles away. I got hungry but we couldn't stop as the darkness means problems.
We continued moving until finally, we reached the Palace.
The huge doors opened wide for us as our huge convoy entered. I stepped down from my horse and walked to Begum's palanquin.
She stepped out and I looked at her. She was covering her face with a veil when I asked.
"Are you okay?"
She nodded and I forwarded my hand to take her.
She didn't waste any time taking my hand and I smiled.
We both guided back to our chambers after meeting some officials as they welcomed us. I asked Nagma to prepare food for us.
I asked Begum to freshen up a little and I did the same.
After getting freshen up and eating the food I retired to my chamber. We both were tired and needed to sleep. Also, there was so much going on in my mind to battle with. She also needed rest. I did feel bad seeing her getting a suicidal attack.
This ripped my heart apart as I couldn't believe it.
I lied on my bed removing my kurta. I remembered that it had her vermillion and kajal stain although it was almost faded.
My head started hurting remembering everything again. I didn't know I was at the edge of such a cliff from where I couldn't decide what to chose. Victory or death.
I tried to close my eyes and drifted into sleep after some time.
I woke up at midnight as the thought of Begum hit me hard. I looked around to see her but she wasn't there. I sided the comforter and didn't think twice to go to her chamber.