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Here Nur was screaming and crying in her chambers, even though she asked him for separation it was not an easy decision. She loved him from a tender age.
"Nur, why are you doing this to yourself? Give him a chance and he will agree with your demands. I know him. " Aimen, her foster mother, was trying to change her mind.
"What demands are you talking about, Amma Jaan? I don't have any demands. I just wanted his time, I wanted him to spend some time with me. I would have been happy with at least a day of his week. He will never agree to spend time with me. He will never do that, Amma Jaan. Seema would never allow him. Do you think it's just about his heir?
You know that amma Jaan I am not barren but he labelled me as one. He and his family declared me barren. I lost my ability to have a child just because of him and he still did not acknowledge my sacrifice." She clutched her tummy and cried out.
"I can not even see his face. Please don't ask me to give him a chance.
Amma Jaan? Why does it hurt so much?
I acknowledge that Princess Seema is more beautiful than me. I never wanted to marry him. I told him to marry her in the first place, but he assured me that he just loves me and wants me. Everything was false. All his promises were false.
He was my husband, my first love.
Am I not worth loving? Your Nur is completely broken, Amma. I am not crying over him I am crying because I loved an unworthy person. "
Aimen stroked her hair to calm her.
"I cannot see you crying anymore." She called for her son Hafeez,
"Baby Nur Jahan" Hafeez entered her chambers unannounced. He couldn't stop himself when Gulab informed him about the chaos going on in his sister's life.
Every maid, every guard in the service of the princess Nur Jahan was upset today. Their Queen was crying.
One of the new guards asked, " why are you all sad? I have seen many wives' crying for husbands after their second marriage. She will be fine after a few months. I have seen similar situations throughout my service in the royal palace"
" You don't know about Princess Nur Jahan. She is a unique one. One in a million. She rules the hearts of people.
She is a people's princess."
"Have you ever seen any royals eating with maids?"
"No, never. Why will they eat with maids?"
"Princess Nur does that, she eats with her maids and sometimes even share the same plate."
" She does not allow any males inside her quarters beyond this point, but when something special is made in her kitchen, we all have a feast. Our children play with her without any fear. She teaches our children, she believes all girls should at least learn to write their names." one of the guards said.
" All her maids are good at sword fighting and archery. She thinks women should be able to defend themselves as you never know which enemy is lurking around," the other added.
" Maids fight to be in her service. We can die for our Princess."
" Our king did injustice to her. He is blinded by his new wife"
" I heard he chased princess Nur Jahan for two years just to make her agree to marry him"
" Yes, she agreed to be his after a lot of struggle. He made a lot of promises, left all his work and chased her like a stalker. "
" It looks like someone cast their evil eyes on their pure love"
"Then what happened?" the new guard asked.
"It is a story for another day."
" Shh you will be beheaded if any one of the king's royal guards listens to you. "
" We can all just pray for her. Brother Hafeez is with her, he will look after her. Don't worry"
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Back in Nur Jahn's room
Hafeez was angry, looking at his baby sister's condition. If he could kill king Shahzeb he would do it with his bare hands. He never liked Shahzeb for his sister but she fell hard for him.
"Nur," he wiped her tears. "Did you forget that your brother is still alive? I want to see you cry like this only when I die."
Nur trembled at his words.
"No Brother, please don't say that. You have been my strength from childhood. "
"Then tell me, Nur, how can I see you cry? Look at yourself. "
"Gulab let me cook for my sister today. "
"Brother you?"
" Yes, just like old times."
Hafeez was a year older than Nur Jahan but he treated her like his baby sister.
Aimen begum always treated Nur as her daughter. Aimen was the daughter of a tribal chief. She fell in love with a commander in Hamad Shah's (Nur Jahan's Father)army. Her father cut all his ties with her. There she met Anjum Ara, the young bride of the Sultan. They became close friends. Anjum Ara supported her when her husband Khizer was martyred in battle.
Anjum was barely 16 when she was pregnant with Nur Jahan. Her fragile body was not ready for a child. She passed away giving the responsibility of Nur Jahan to her. Hafeez was still breastfed and she nursed Nur as well.
"Now be a good girl and get ready, you are stinking." He tried uplifting her mood.
Nur was reluctant but she had a bath and was ready for dinner with her brother.
He made her eat forcefully. Then, when she was relaxed, he left.
She offered her salah and was taking to god in her prayers.
"I can hide my feelings from people, but not you, my creator. Take me on the right path. Ease my pain". She prayed hard. It was routine for her. She felt closer to God at night.
She sat near the window. This was the same place when he held her in her arms for the first time after marriage.
"Nur, I still can't believe that you are here in my room. Look, I have fulfilled my promise. Now you can't stop me."
"What promise, my King?"
"Now I am your husband. I can't touch you with all right. "
He slowly moved towards her and held her in his arms.
"Why are you standing near the window, little minx?"
"Look my Sultan, the moon looks so bright and beautiful from here."
"Not beautiful at all ", he looked at the sky.
"How can you say that? "
"Because my moon is more beautiful."
"Which one?"
"This one" and he kissed her gently.
She was trembling. Her eyes were closed and she held him tightly.
" Why is my courageous wife shivering in my arms? Now, do I have permission?"
She looked at him with a blank face.
"Do you know what husband and wife do together?"
"Yes, "she said in confidence.
He raised his brow.
"Then let's get ready my sultan".
Shazeb never expected this boldness from her. Just a second ago she was trembling with a mere kiss.
Before he could react, he saw her laying prayer Mats on the floor. He had a laughing fit.
"What happened? Did I do something wrong? "
"No, nothing, let's pray. our first prayer together."
How did I get so lucky to get such an innocent wife? He thanked God.
After prayer, I asked her
" What do we do now?"
"Oh, Amma Jaan told me to listen to everything you say."
"Did she tell you anything more?"
"Maybe, but I slept at that time."
"Did I do anything wrong?"
"So everything I heard about you is true?
That you are unaware of all the things which girls do. I need to teach you a lot of things. Let me start with the art of pleasure."
"Sorry, sultan, but I hate painting."
" Noorie, do you trust me? "
She nodded yes.
"Then you will enjoy this art."
He then lifted her in his arms and took her inside. All the while she was asking him to put her down.
He then taught her the gentle art all night.
Why did you change so much, my Sultan? She couldn't stop her tears.
Suddenly, there was an announcement of someone's arrival.
Who could it be at this hour?
- Writer
