His Queen

Chapter 17

Junnut’s POV

I had held back my tears when I was cleaning the blood off Banafsha’s body, she had never looked so weak in her entire life, she had always looked so strong and domineering but tonight, her lips were pale and her skin was clammy, my heart broke for her,

But now, I was alone in the far ends of the palace gardens, Rihanna and the others had told me that no one ever went there when it was dark, they had said it was one of the most peaceful place in the whole palace,

I sat on a low bush and stared up into the sky, it was starlit night and the moon was big and full, it was supposed to be a beautiful night but when I remembered how pale and weak Banafsha had looked when I left her, I could not help the tears that slipped down my cheeks,

The tears had fallen calmly in the beginning but after a few minutes, I was really sobbing and praying that Banafsha wouldn’t die, I was really worried about her, she was my only friend and family, she was the only one I had left in this whole world, if something were to happen to Banafsha I had no idea what to do with my life, I had served her basically all my life and it will be nothing short of a nightmare to live without her.

I wasn’t sure how long I sat there crying to the stars, I finally stood up, deciding to return to Banafsha’s side, I strengthened out my dress and turned around, I suddenly jumped and let out a little scream,

Before me was a tall man, he was almost as tall as Jawhar, he had dark hair just like Jawhar as well, but his was long enough to tied back, his hair was tied loosely and countless strands were moving gently in the calm evening breeze, it was hard to tell if his eyes were black or brown in the darkness but they looked captivating as the moonlight reflected in them, he was dressed in a black kaftan with matching trousers and he was looking at me with something that closely resembled amusement and curiosity,

I had thought I was alone when I had sat there crying and sobbing as loudly as I could “Had he been behind me all this while? Had he heard me crying so shamelessly?” I asked myself,

I looked up at him again and a small smile had formed on his lips, for some reason which I could not explain, I couldn’t pull my eyes away from those lips, then suddenly those lips curved in a smile that seemed very knowing,

I was suddenly able to pull my eyes away from those lips and back to his face, he was looking at me with an expression I couldn’t define now,

I was suddenly feeling self-conscious and I wanted to leave his piercing gaze, I felt uncomfortable all a sudden, I was feeling warm all over despite the cool night breeze,

I decided to leave, I stood up straight and held my head high, I walked past him without saying a single word, I had taken a few steps away from him when I heard a deep chuckle, it was no doubt a mocking laughter meant to spite me,

Anger flooded my body, I wanted to turn around and tell him what I thought about arrogant men like him but I held back, I held back for one reason only, I was in strange land and I wasn’t sure if the men were brutes who assaulted women in the dead of night in quiet gardens, I was not ready to take that chance, so I bit my tongue and walked away,

His mocking laughter kept following me until I took a bend and left the gardens, I didn’t know who he was but I wanted nothing to do with a man who lacked manners and character.

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General Nihal Jaan’s POV

After I had left the king and received his order, I had returned to my chambers, I had taken off my official attire and neatly parked it up, I had grumbled a lot when the soldier had told me that the king had given me a royal summons,

I had never received a royal summons from the king so late at night so I had found it puzzling, I had dressed quickly and rushed to the throne room only to find that it hadn’t been a royal summons, I had felt finding that soldier and giving a punishment befitting his offence.

Right now, I lay on my bed unable to fall asleep, sleep had always evaded me, it had been so long since I had a good night’s sleep, it had been years since I came to the palace but I still found that I couldn’t really call it home.

I stood up and slipped on a shirt, I left my chambers and headed towards the gardens, it was peaceful and hardly anyone ever went there at this time of the night, it had somehow became my safe haven, countless nights I had gone there to look at the stars, the bright stars twinkling individually reminded me of myself, they shone so bright but were all alone,

I had attained fame and position, the name Nihal Jaan was a name known to even the children playing on the streets of Atrabad but I was still completely and utterly alone in this life, the orphan boy who had dwelled with the prince on the streets of Atrabad unknowingly had grown to become the general of the army and one of the greatest warriors this kingdom ever knew, this was one of the favorite story for the storytellers in the market.

I was supposed to be happy, most people will believe I had all the things a man could only dream of but I was not, I felt alone like I didn’t belong.

I arrived at the gardens but tonight it was as silent as it usually was, the sound of a sobbing woman filled the air, I stopped and listened, the cry sounded so pained and it was easy to tell whoever was crying was in great distress,

I found myself drawn toward this sound that had disturbed the quiet I so much enjoyed and sometimes found myself craving, I walked farther into the garden until I saw her, she sat on a tree stump crying her heart out and offering to keep someone safe and well,

She had her back to me so I couldn’t see her face but her dressing, I could tell she was not a noble woman, she was a woman from the lower class, her dress lacked the elaborate designs which the ladies seemed to adore so much, her clothes were plain and simple and somehow I was glad about that, I was not sure why but I was glad.

I stood there watching and listening to her as she cried and prayed, I knew it was wrong to invade her private moment like this but I felt I should stay, maybe my presence will somehow offer her comfort, it was unnatural to think that but I decided to believe it all the same.

Then she stood up and smoothened down her dress, I felt I should perhaps hide because she will be startled when she saw me but I really wanted to see her face,

Then she turned and she suddenly screamed when her eyes fell on me, I had to fight back the smile that threatened to cross my face, her eyes were wide as she watched me,

This was the first time I had seen her, she was tall and had big eyes, her complexion was a bit darker than that of the women here so I figured she was not from Atrabad, she must be from one of the neighboring kingdoms, she was looking at me with her big eyes, I could tell she was shocked but somehow I found that amusing, her entire appearance was amusing to me, I wondered why I had never seen her in the palace before.

I watched as her eyes travelled over body then I watched as her eyes settled on my lips, I couldn’t help the smile anymore, it curved my lips as I watched her, her eyes suddenly flew back to my face and for some reason the smile refused to leave my face,

She suddenly straitened her shoulders and held her head up, then walked past me, I watched as she walked past me, my eyes followed her then suddenly I chuckled, I hadn’t planned on laughing but it suddenly happened ,

She stopped and I could tell she was angry, I would normally have tried to apologize for my behavior but tonight seemed to be completely different, I couldn’t stop laughing even when she stormed away angrily.

I was finally able to stop laughing after a few minutes, I found her amusing and that rarely happened, I never paid attention but right now, I wished to know who that woman was and look in those beautiful big eyes once again.