Chapter 21: " Don't even Trust my Shadow "

•| CHAPTER - 20|•

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€ MORNING

€ SULTAN'S TENT

My sleep got broke when I feel water sprinkle on my face. I move my head and touch my face and flutter my eyes open and look at the fingers which turned wet.

“ Sabah al-khayr, Shehzadi ”

“ Good morning, Princess ”

I blinked seeing Sultan in front of me smiling.

Smiling.

He is smiling, it means he is planning something evil.

I place my hands on the ground and pulled my legs closer looking around cautious. Last night I just come back and sat on the ground leaning against the bed and don't know when I fall asleep sitting here.

I turn my gaze back at him and found him gazing at me still smiling. I feel my heart beat starts to get rise. He raise his hand and I flinched a little and close my eyes when I feel him taking a strand of hair in his hand.

“ Hum umeed karte hai aapki raat acchi biti ho ”

“ Kyuki...”

“ Because ”

I feel him coming closer and whispering the words into my ear his warm breath fall on my ear and I get chills when I feel his fingers tracing my jawline.

“ Ab aapki saza ki baari hai ”

“ because now it's time of your punishment ” I abruptly turned my head and our gazes meet. We are so close that our nose were inches apart. Slowly his lips curved up  and his teeth got visible in a sinister grin.

He get up and made his way towards the door. I get up and a wave of pain travelled through my body specially legs.

“ Ahh ” a moan of pain escaped my lips.

I usually don't walk so much and it was after effect of so much walking in one day. I sat down on the bed and look at my sole of my foot which turned red. It happened because of the high temperature of sand.

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€ Outside Tent

I walk towards the door of the tent which was covered by thick curtain raising my hand I parted the curtain just to peek outside and sharp rays of sun blocked my view.

I immediately close my eyes covering them with my hand. I lower my hand and he come into my view. He is sitting on a horse along with him is Arim and other few men who looked like officials and all the other servants and maids present are standing ready to leave.

I don't know what he planned for my punishment.

I pulled down the veil from my head to my face covering it completely I made my way outside and a lady voice stopped me.

I turned and found the same old lady who yesterday ordered me to go inside the Sultan's tent.

“ Where are you going there? Come here ” she ordered me and I think for a minute whether should I go or not but then I went behind her.

I halt where all the other maids are present forming a circle and in between all the kitchen related things are present utensils, equipments, grains etc.

“ What you all are looking at! Hurry up ”

I abruptly looked up at her hearing sharp and high pitched voice which pierced my ear.

“ Grab the things and start walking, the Palace is too far from here ”

I went still hearing her. I can't able to step ahead without feeling the terrible pain in my legs and feet and she is saying go back and with some thing.

He knows I'm here then why he did not arrange some palanquin for me. I was thinking this when someone made me grab a big pot filled with water it was heavy. I place it on my side and wrap one arm around it.  I grab my veil and raise it a little to look in the direction of Sultan.

He is talking with his officials the sun rays which were falling on him made his fair skin appear golden and by his wide smile and playful voice I know he knows what is happening.

“ Let's leave it's Sultan's order ”

Offcourse it is Sultan's order.

The convey start heading towards the Palace. The soldiers were forming a circle around the whole convey. The Sultan were ahead and behind him were his officials on horse and behind them all the servants.

It was not far when I feel the burning sensation in my feet because of sand. The sunlight were very harsh sweat beads form on my forehead and slide down on my face. The water vessel is heavy too and on top of that my legs which were throbbing in pain.

It was very difficult for me and I haven't eaten since yesterday evening I'm feeling weakness.

Ahenkara you wanted to become Queen, right?

Is this how you become Queen?

Are you this fragile?

Then how can you think of becoming Queen, how will you fight for your kingdom and people in the war. With determination I clenched my teeth and grab the pot tightly and start taking bigger steps.

But this doesn't remain for long. I can't control my psychical condition with my determination. The sun was at top of my head, I wipe the sweat from my forehead.

I was a Princess what my condition has turned into. The tears start forming in my eyes and start sliding down without my permission. I miss my Kingdom, I miss my Father, I miss my friend Chapla. I miss everything.

My feet has refused to move forward I don't have any energy to step forward. My vision starts to get blur the voices of maids talking to eachother, the sound of horse footsteps and sound of soldiers heavy footsteps starts fading and I feel my eyes closing.

“ What happened! ”

I hear a feminine voice and open my eyes and found she is grabbing me.

“ Are you fine?” she asked and I nodded.

But she didn't look convinced taking the watter filled pot from my hands she offered me some water which I'm of immense need. She grabbed the pot from me for little way and I feel fine after sometime then I took the pot back from her. I prayed every god to bring the Palace and I look up and found the Sun starts to set and a smile come on my lips.

It means the Palace is closer.

I can't express the huge amount of happiness I felt seeing the main door of Palace. We entered inside and I stand taking the support of the wall. The lady is saying something but my mind stop working the pot which I bring with so much carefulness slip from my grip and break into small pieces.

All of them look at me I can see the anger on the lady's face she opened her mouth but I'm no longer interested in this. I turned and made my way towards the his chamber opening the door of his chamber ignoring my dirty condition I fell on the bed.

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€ NIGHT

€ SULTAN RIYADH'S CHAMBER

“ Begum Sahiba ”

“ Begum Sahiba ”

I hear someone calling me. I turned on my back and slowly open my eyes and saw a maid standing at the edge of bed.

“ Yes?”

“ Begun Shahiba Sultan has send food for you ”

I saw a maid standing beside her with a plate of food. She place it on the bed and both take there leave.

So he has send food after my punishment.

I thought while uncovering the dishes. I grab a some pomegranate. My legs are hurting if I move them a little.

“ Mrtuyu aap hume de nahi rahe hai,

Jivit aap rehne nahi de rahe hai ”

“ Aap humse chahte kya hai ”

" You're neither killing nor letting me live. What do you want?"

“ Aap humari hai, humara haq hai aap par. Aap hi nahi humne apke zehen bhi qaid rakha hai, apke khayalo me bhi humare alawa koi or nahi aa sakta ”

{ You are mine, I have right on you, not you but your mind is also in my cage nobody can come in your thoughts except me}

“ Humse dur isiliye bagti ho na kyuki kisi or ke pass jana hai”

{ You run away from me because you want to go to him}

“Humari hone ke baad vo apna lega tumhe?”

{ He will accept you after you will become mine}

His words rang in my mind and one by one I collect the dots making a picture out of it.

He thinks I liked Suryadev and that's why I don't accept him as a husband.

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€ NIGHT

€ SULTAN RIYADH'S CHAMBER

I pour the cold water on my feet my feet are burnt from the burning sand. The cool sensation of water gave relief and I close my eyes. I have never walked so much so in my life.

I heard the sound of door opening and footsteps moving inside they come closer and  halt. I slowly lift up my lashes and he come in my view standing before me with a slight smirk and proud look on his face. He raise his brows slightly when he saw me staring at him as if challenging me.

I won't do such thing now I have understood I can't win him over in fight of power he is more powerful.

He is Sultan.

I need to choose another way.

He walked closer to the couch where I'm sitting my eyes followed his moment not moving away from him even for a minute. He stop in front of me and lean forward my eyes widened and heart beat rise up seeing him I back up as he move closer. He pick up the water pot and pour in down on my feet while keeping the eye contact.

“ Kaisi lagi aapko apki saza? ”

" How was your punishment?"

His green orbs was pouring into mine making the rest of all blur. I feel my throat getting dry and breaths coming out in small pants.

“ Hum Suryaveer ko pasand nahi karte ”

" I don't like Suryaveer"

His eyes widen a little making his green orbs more visible and I saw emotions flash through them and in second he blink and stood up straight looking at me with cautious.

“ Hum vivah karna hi nahi chahte the. Apni jahah apni choti behen Nayantara ko bhej diya or khud chorni ke vaise me aapse takra gaye the”

" I don't want to do marriage. In my place I have send my little sister Nayantara and I have taken the disguise of thief and that's when I stumbled with you"

" My Father feel that it hurt me because my Sister and Suryaveer marriage got fixed that's why he arranged such huge soyamwar for me"

“ Hum apni sogand khate hai humare jivan me pehle bhi koi nahi na tha na ab koi hai ”

" I swear that there was no one in my life before, no one is there now"

My glass bangles made a sound when in a sudden motion he gripped my forearm and pulled me up the water vessel got flip making a loud sound when it touched the floor. He pulled me flush against his hard chest my breath got hitched. He move my arm behind my back and twist it roughly I bite my lip to stop moan of pain from coming out.

I feel him touching the strand of my hair I open my eyes and saw his dark green orbs. He move his hand and I feel his thumb caressing my cheek.

“ Humara khowab hai yeh?”

" Is this my dream?"

“ Hume itbar tha humare ishq ke aage hum us Suryaveer ko do pal me bhula dengi ”

" I have trust in my love that you will forgot Suryadev in two seconds "

Suddenly he pulled me more closer and I tremble when I feel his lips near my ear they touch the outer side of my ear.

“Aapko kya laga hum yeh bolenge? ”

" Do you think I will say this?"

My head tilted back when I feel a tight grip on my neck I immediately gripped his arm because I'm not able to breath.

“ Aapko kaha tha na yakeen toh hum apne saaye par bhi nahi karte ”

" I have said to you that I don't trust my own shadow"

I gripped his wrist more tightly trying to pry hus hand off my neck my ears start ringing and I become desperate for air.

“ Toh aap par kaise karenge ”

" Then how will I trust you"

He shoved me back I stumbled back but didn't lose balance. I took deep breaths by my mouth grabbing my neck. I look in his direction and saw his retreating figure through my blur vision because of tears.

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