6 ~ The Nikaah Ceremony

Sultan's POV

"Leave me, Plea-"

I quickly placed my palm on her mouth as I heard the light sound of anklets. I straighten my head back and pulled her down, allowing her to stand well.

Suddenly the door opened and I looked at the Zeenat standing far away from me on the stairs.

"Sultan, we can't find Choti begum anywhere. I don't know where she went. Nagma asked her to enter her Hammam but she is nowhere to be seen now." She said in a breathe and I noticed tears in her eyes.

"Don't worry, Zeenat... she will be here... somewhere" I try to say.

"And you don't run like that," I ordered.

"Okay..." She said weakly and went back from there.

I lowered my gaze back to her. She was the most indisciplined and mannerless person I had ever seen on earth. My inner instincts were crying aloud to kill her and sent her dead body back to her father.

"I will see you tonight," I said dangerously and left her with a jerk.

She was the one who was responsible for everything. I wanted to become the King of Hind and that piece of shit ruined everything.

I walked back out of the Hammam leaving her there because I didn't care if she lives or dies. All I wanted was to become the King of two continents. I wanted to achieve bigger and better. But, All my dreams and hard work of years shattered in just one moment.

When she said 'Yes'. I still didn't know why the hell she said 'Yes' for the alliance. I expected a 'No', a big 'No". A denial from the Mahabaleshgarh. But, this half-dead meat ruined everything.

I inhaled a deep breath trying to calm myself down as I climbed the stairs of Hammam to get out of there.

I walked back to my chamber and looked at the attendees waiting for me. I signaled them to brought my clothes, overcoat, and jewels here as I sat over the couch removing the fabric from my middle section.

Here comes an attendee holding a dry cotton cloth and suit for me. I quickly dried my legs and wore my lower and allowed him to dry my back and hairs. He silently, lowering his gaze did what he asked to and handed me my upper and overcoat of black in color.

Suddenly, I heard the announcement of Zeenat coming to my chamber. I brushed my hair with my fingers and asked the attendee to bring my jewels soon.

"Sultan," Zeenat said loudly.

"Jii, Begum Sahiba... tell me," I said smiling towards her.

She walked towards me holding her tummy and I stood up from the couch.

"Sit here," I asked her.

"Zeenat, Please don't run like this. I know you are excited but think of your child first." I said signaling her to sit down.

She said smiling at me and said.

"You didn't tell me that You both were having the bath together." She said teasing me a little.

"She mistakenly entered in my hammam" I stated clearly reminding her again that, whatever she was thinking was next to impossible.

"And you don't try to do anything else. Get it!" I said in a flat tone.

"Privacy!" She said loudly and in a moment everyone left the chamber.

"Why are you doing all this Zeenat? You know, I hate her, I don't like her, She is nothing to me. I wanted to kill her and feed crocodiles." I said.

"You know it very well, Rafiq. Why I am doing all this? You better know that this is good for Everyone." She said in an angry tone.

I couldn't help but nod.

"Fine"

"Can someone get my overcoat?" I called.

In no time a few attendees showed up again and I focused on getting ready. I looked at Zeenat who was having a few fruits while keeping an eye on me.

"I am ready!" I said and continued.

"Call me whenever you want me there," I said and turned to get out of the chamber.

"Sultan..." Zeenat tried to call.

I turned.

"Your Nikaah ceremony will start soon, so don't be late." She said with a smile.

"Doing this just for you, otherwise... would ruin her behind walls," I said in slight anger.

I left the chamber and went straight to meet Vishakha and Murat.

I was fast in my steps as well as in my next plan against Hind. I wanted to be the king of Hind more than anything. I walked through the various galleries and hallways to reach the very untouched section of our Palace.

I entered the chamber of Vishakha and Murat and Murat instantly stood up looking at me.

"Sultan, You here"

"Assalamualaikum"

He wished and I nodded. My sight diverted to Vishaka lying on the couch. She was wearing a long skirt of peach color with a blouse and dupatta, just like new birds wear in our palace. My sight noticed the cup she was holding in her hand. She was looking at me with her attractive eyes and I see her raising her nosering a little to take the sip of thing from the cup.

She gulped the whole liquid and I could her neck skin turning to slightly blue-green for some moments. Her tongue seemed green, and I smiled, looking at the thing I prepared for someone very special.

"Murat!, I think she is ready to visit his soulmate," I said.

"Of course! Sultan, you can send her now anytime. I trained her well and I also remind her every day what to do." She said bowing a little.

"Good! We will be sending her to hind next week" I said.

He bowed listening to me and then my sight diverted to Vishaka who seems least affected by my presence. She was busy enjoying the liquid and I could see how venomous she has become. She had a pure white milk body and her veins were slightly visible too.

Her eyes lashes, eyebrows, hair were so dark and thick that any man could fall for her easily. Her features were so sharp and attractive that sometimes I also found myself staring at her.

I smiled inside as I could see my history in her.

I moved from there and went back to the place where I was asked to be. It was my Nikaah today, and I didn't want it somehow, but I had to. I made a few promises to Zeenat and she was the one who wanted me to get settle.

I walked to the place where everyone was waiting for me. I entered the Hall and I could see the kind of excitement ran through everyone as I reached.

I wished a few of my elders and Kazis. Everyone wished me back and I walked straight to the couch where I had to sit. They set the floral turban on my head and I sat comfortably. There was a kind of curtain in between as the man and women were sitting apart. The Kazi started muttering something, I couldn't focus as my focus was on finishing this wedding as soon as possible and move on with the plan I had in my mind.

In some time, she was here too. I moved my gaze and tried to look behind the curtain which was kind of impossible.

Our Nikaah Ceremony started and for some time I had to focus on that. Although the wedding with my enemy's sister still I didn't want to disgrace the Nikaah. It was something pure and I was like someone who believes in God's presence so much.

At some time the Nikaah Ceremony finished and I had to meet everyone. There were a lot of gifts and I could see the kind of Excitement everyone had as it was their sultan's Wedding. They all wanted their sultan to get married and there it goes finally.

I met a few Important persons lastly and then there was a Celebration in the evening. I didn't want to bother my newlywed wife as she needed the rest because after that I had to fetch some genuine information from her in my way.

The royal celebration started with some Sufi and folk songs. I had to listen and enjoy while my whole concentration was on thinking about the ways my plan could fail. I had to work on the loopholes that my plan had in these seven days.

The day almost came to end with the celebration then dinner and then a few meetings. I felt slightly tired and the last thing I wanted to do today was meeting Zeenat Begum.

I excused myself from the celebration going on of only men in the hall room with lots of Alchohol and Hookah. I walked towards the Zeenat's chamber as I needed to ask for her well-being. She was my prime responsibility as she was pregnant. I needed to take good care of her.

I entered her chamber and asked aloud.

"Zeenat!"

My sight fell on her as she was lying on the bed and sat up instantly looking at me.

"Sultan, you here!" She said.

I lied beside her taking off my overcoat and asked looking in her direction.

"Then where should I be?"

"In your chamber," She said almost ordering me.

"You gave me chamber to her, now I will stay here," I said closing my eyes and keeping my hand below my head.

"Get up now! Rafiq. This is your wedding night. You can't let your wife wait for this much. Go to your chamber. I like to sleep alone." She said with slightly angry eyes.

"Wedding night? You know very well that this can't happen between us ever" I replied.

"Why can't you forget her? Sultan. At least give a chance to you and her." She requested.

I didn't know why she was always after me. Why she wanted me to get married to someone. And she wasn't stopping here. She wanted me to fall for her. That was impossible.

I said.

"From her eyeliner to the fabric of paashmeena...

Her gesture is still fixed in my eyes...

Time has passed and time will be passed...

But this eyes always long for her smile only..."

I said in a slightly angry tone as she was asking for something that I couldn't give. I couldn't love anyone.

She said.

"Intzaar aane wale ka hota hai...

Or jo hai nahi unke deedar ki tadap kesi...

Aapke dard ki chamak laazmi hoti sultan...

Agar is dard se nighahen aapki sukoon me hoti..."

"You should be waiting if she was supposed to come back. And this is giving you pain and pain only. I could have felt your pain right if you were happy" She said backfiring me and this just made me a little arrogant. How could she say that I was in pain?

I said.

"Sukoon Aakhon me beshak na ho...

Dil me hamare poori Kainaat se jyada hai...

Bhoolne ki naubat nahi aaegi kabhi...

Kyuki unki yaadien hamari saanso me taro taaza hai..."

"There might not peace in my eyes but it is present in my heart and there won't be any moment when I will forget her because her impressions are always alive in I breathes"

I said to her clearly not agreeing with her. I ignored and turned to the other side trying to sleep.

She said.

"Ye sukoon nahi hai huzoor... dard hai...

Jo khokhla kar raha hai aapko...

Aap jaan nahi rahe hai kese din bar din...

nauch ke nanga kar raha hai aapki rooh ko"

"This is not peace, Sultan! You aren't understanding how this is eating you inside." She said sitting back on the bed. She started taking deep breathes and I could feel that this conversation was affecting her. She was eight months pregnant and the best thing was to keep her happy by obeying whatever she says. We couldn't afford any casualties now.

"Fine, I am going there to SPEND MY WEDDING NIGHT WITH HER!... Fine???" I asked.

She instantly smiled wide and then said.

"That's like my sultan! I am sending Badam Milk for both of you and enjoy" She said almost giggling.

I took my overcoat and replied.

"Let your delivery happen once, only then I will teach you a good lesson Zeenat," I said.

"Khuda Haafiz Sultan! Go to your chamber now" She said with the longest smile I ever seen and then I left her chamber to go to mine.