Shedding ROYAL Blood

▪︎4▪︎Pt II▪︎What Have I Done?

▪︎°•Amrit•°▪︎

As Hussain had predicted, there were a lot of people at the main gate. There were guards, checking them, looking around cautiously checking for weapons and other harmful substances. One of them had a list and he was allowing only selected people to go in.

As I walked there, he stopped me and asked my name.

"Amrit."

He looked deep into the paper and said, "Khatoon (Woman), your name is not on the list. I cannot allow you in." He said looking again and again and I showed him the ring. His eyes widened and he gulped in shock seeing the ring and then me.

After that, he composed himself and said, "I am sorry for stopping you. Come in." He said moving aside and gesturing the guard in the front let me go in.

Hm... I was impressed. Hussain must have some big position in the Palace. From there I saw another spy coming. Oh no. I have no explanation why I am still here. I should have left by now. No worries. I will leave in a few hours but till then he should not see me. With the same thought, I covered my face with the ghunghat (Veil) and headed towards where all the people sat. Looking at the site in front of me, I could only pity all these women. Thousands of women standing in semicircles waiting to be chosen to become a part of a loveless, respectless marriage. God forbid anyone from such a fate. Where is Hussain by the way?

▪︎Sultan Omar Khan▪︎

"O Lord of the worlds, the heavens and earth, men and all kind, in your name, we start this auspicious ceremony. We all together pray for the Sultan and Sultana's long life, prosperity, happiness and safety. And the safety of the life they will birth together, of the heir born to them. We present to you these Honor Brides. Grant them all the pain, problems, miseries, Misfortunes that you have written in the Sultan and Sultana's destiny. In your name and Malika-e-Jahan's permission, this ceremony we commence." Molvi Saab (Muslim Priest) completed, picking up the silky red shawl with beautiful Golden border, gave it to the horse who obediently held it in his mouth and started galloping down the raised aisle.

The whole ground was visible from here. There were innumerable ladies, of all caste, creed, color, tribes, etc. standing there in semicircles looking at the horse with the Desire in their Eyes. Desire that he would stop at them. Desire for money, luxuries, and a handsome husband. My eyes kept searching for that one face which I couldn't find among all these women. Did she not come? I felt disappointed. Hardly ever does it happen that a Sultan wants something and doesn't get it. This feeling is so new to me. I've always, by hook or Crook won whatever I wanted. I was distracted by sudden gasps and loud murmurs from the crowd. I looked down to see something strange. The horse had diverted from its path and was now slowly walking towards the place where all the subjects and spectators sat. I couldn't understand what was going on and nobody had the guts to stop or divert the horse to the other direction. He continued walking and to my shock, he climbed the two little stairs that lead to the stand, carefully Walked in and placed the Shawl in his mouth on a veiled woman's shoulder.

Damn!

All rejoiced at this moment, loud cheers, prayers for the couple and these presentable women throwing daggers at that woman could be seen. I didn't even ask or say anything else. I didn't even care. Malika-e-Jahan gestured to her to walk towards us and as the whole Kingdom was looking at us, I smiled half-heartedly. Everyone asked the woman to walk up and stand on the aisle beside the Sultan but she did something unexpected. She pulled the shawl of her shoulder, walked Malika-e-Jahan, went on her knees and placed the shawl at her feet.

"I am sorry Malika-e-Jahan. But If I wanted to win this, I would be standing with all these women. I wasn't a part of this because I didn't want to." Her voice sounded somewhat familiar. "I don't want to be an Honor Bride." She said to everyone's astonishment. This has never happened before for as long as I remember. The hall went silent for a minute and then all the common people started hurling, shouting, showing anger at her for such an act.

'You brat! You are lucky to be selected!'

'How dare you say all this?'

'This is a glorious opportunity you vile woman!'

'You are a traitor to your kingdom!' and much more and I angrily raised my palm towards the public and they went quiet.

Malika-e-Jahan proceeded to speak. "You do realize whatever you said, did at this very moment was outrageous and outright disrespecting the Royal family. It can be labelled as a treason to your Kingdom but I would like to hear your side." Malika-e-Jahan said fuming.

At this point, the veiled woman slided her ghunghat backwards, revealing her face and I was shocked. It was her. My girl. My Amrit!

She raised her eyes and looked beside Malika-e-Jahan and they held extreme shock as they met mine. Nobody could understand but I could see how she mouthed 'Hussain' in shock.

"Why don't you stare at Sultan a bit longer and then you might change your mind." Abu Bakr said with a smirk, looking between me and her. Of course he was there with me. He knew about the hunting incident.

"Sultan?" She said with confusion, her eyes holding a pain, and looked down again. She folded her hands together in request and said, "I am sorry again Malika-e-Jahan but I cannot. I have very grave reasons. I am extremely sorry if I ruined anything but-"

"Nobody is interested in your reasons. How dare you say that? You have any idea how much this ceremony means to us? The significance of it? This is your fate and the final decision.

You have two options now—

Either get married to Sultan and have a life of respect and dignity

OR

never get married and spend your whole life as a courtesan at the brothel-Husn Mahal (Beauty Palace)."

What?

"You have time until tomorrow morning. You will declare your decision in the Diwan-e-aam. Till then, you will be staying at Sultan's Harem (The part of the Palace reserved for a king's wives, slave-girls, concubines.

Forbιddeη to every other male) You're his property from this day onwards." Malika-e-Jahan said angrily walking away and I could helplessly stare at Amrit and then her. What have I done? Where have I brought her?

She kept looking at me in shock as two maids dragged her struggling, tearful self away.

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