Seher was sleeping peacefully in her room. Henna clad hands were fully decorated with beautiful designs, her beautiful face was shimmering in the faint silvery moonlight emitting from the window. Her delicate body was shaking slightly from the cool breeze entering through the open window.

Nur Jahan came to the room to check on her daughter, who is getting married in the next two days. She covered her with a warm blanket and closed the windows. She looked at her sleeping daughter with lots of love.

" How many times have I reminded her that it is not safe to open windows and sleep? Seher" Nur called her. She had the same obsession as her mom with watching the night sky full of stars.

"When will she realize that girls should be alert and light sleepers? "

Seher was a sound sleeper. Many times, her elder brothers used to prank her. Once, they lifted her from her sleep and put her near the kitchen door. Salah, who had gotten up for morning prayer, saw his sister sleeping near the kitchen door and understood it was either Shuja or Shab who was pranking her. He tried waking her up.

"Abi salah how did I come here?"

"You wanted to make tea for Baba first thing in the morning. I think you sleepwalked in the night", Salahuddin, who was usually very serious, teased Seher.

Poor Seher thought she really sleepwalked and was very worried. Nur had to calm her down and tell her that it was her brothers who were teasing her.

Unlike Seher, Aayat was a wild cat. If her brothers teased her she would not hesitate to reply back. Shahabuddin was very conscious of his face. Ayat clearly warned him that if he ever dared to tease her she would not hesitate to scratch his handsome face.

Time flew so quickly that now her baby was going to get married. Just then she heard a moment outside and straight away she knew it was her husband. She slowly closed the door and saw her husband sitting in the hall.

"Why are you not sleeping, Fakhr? You must be tired."

"The same reason you are awake, my love."

"You know how Seher is, a sound sleeper. She will only be awake if trumpets are blown. I just came to check on her."

"I know you, Hayat, you don't display but you are sad that she will be leaving in two days."

"Fakhr, she is not going far away. She is just moving to her Aunt's house. "

"Still, it won't be the same love. I will miss her presence very much. "

Fakhruddin had tears in his eyes. Seher was the daughter he always dreamed of. She usually looks after him even before he asks.

"Murad is a good boy, Fakhr. I am sure he will love her just like the way you love me."

"He better do or else...." Fakhr was a protective father.

"You know Fakhr, Ayat is someone who will fight back and find her way, but the way Seher is very submissive and compliant, I always used to worry about her. Your decision to marry her to Murad has calmed my nerves. He is very lucky to have Seher as his wife.

Last year, I was scared that you would accept Sultan Shahzain's proposal, but when you rejected him, I was at peace."

"Hayate, I will tell you a secret. If you promise not to disclose it to your sons"

"What is it?"

"It was Murad who approached me for Seher's Hand. He was very scared of Salah and Shams. He did not want to give your hot-headed sons any wrong signals that he was eyeing their beloved sister."

Nur Jahan's mouth was open.

"Murad has loved Seher since he was a child. He was just waiting for the right time. Now Mashallah, when he became the best Tabib (doctor) around, he got the courage to talk to me"

"I am happier now, Fakhr. Murad is a gem, he will compliment Seher in every way. I am sure he will keep her happy."

" My daughters will always be Happy Hayat. You know I did not select Murad just because he is my sister's son.

I selected him because he compliments Seher on nature. My daughter will live closer to me. I will make sure that no tears fall from her eyes"

" Fakhr we can fight their fate, just always pray that our daughters should be happy in their houses with loving husbands"

They were unaware of the danger lurking around their daughter in the form of Sultan Shazain, who was planning to abduct her soon.

Many things changed after the war. King Hamad passed away after a prolonged illness when Ayat was just a week old.

When Salahuddin took charge of the kingdom, he vastly expanded it, joining all small tribes and kingdoms in the centre. His brother Shamsuddin was the main fighter. He was very short-tempered. 5 brothers worked in harmony.

Shazain, on the other hand, became more and more ruthless with time. Losing his parents at a young age affected him the most. Ashan was never the same after Shazeb's death. A few years after Shazain's official coronation, Afshan passed away. She tried very hard to remove hatred against Nur Jahan but Najma begum's constant poisoning of Shazain's young, growing mind increased his hatred. He thought Nur Jahan was responsible for his father's death. After his mother's death, Najma Begum was unstoppable and constantly filling Shazain's ears.

Shazain, just like his father, took responsibility for the entire kingdom at a very young age. He was the sole heir to the kingdom. He fought many battles and created a small empire in the west. Conquering the whole of eastern Europe. He had many clashes with Salahuddin, who was equally strong. King Samad forced both of them to sign a treaty for peace in the region so that they would not attack each other's kingdom or come in each other's way.

Shazain turned out to be very handsome. Many kings from Europe offered their daughter's hands to him. Some even paraded their daughters in front of him. Shazain would not even give them a single glance. He became the most cold-hearted and cruel ruler. He matured way before his age. He hated the concept of love. He saw what love did to his father.

Shazain always remembered King Hamad's words that if these mountain brats became his brothers-in-law they would obey him. He wanted to get married to Nur Jahan's daughter from the day he was aware of the marriage. Unknowingly, Fate bonded him with the kindest princess of the time.

He found out about Princess Seher. Seher was very famous for her beauty, kind and gentle nature. She was very young but wouldn't care about her age or her beauty, all it mattered to him was that she was Nur Jahan's daughter. He contacted King Samad and sent a proposal asking for Seher's hand through him.

Nur's sons were furious to know about it but Fakhr handled the situation and politely refused, stating that he wanted to keep his daughter closer to him and she was already engaged.

Shazain was very furious.

"I asked for her hand in a proper way but I guess those mountain illiterates don't understand the language of respect. I will now get her in my own way."

He came to know that Seher was getting married. He made a plan to personally go and abduct her. His spies were keeping an eye on her every move. He came to know each and every little detail about Seher.

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It was just a night before Seher and Murad's wedding. It was the first wedding in the Uzbek household. Everyone was very happy. Both Jalaluddin and Hajra Begum were unable to stop their constant smiles, after all their eldest grandson and granddaughter were getting married.

Murad was on cloud nine. Just after a few hours, Seher will be his forever. He fell in love with beautiful baby Seher the moment he laid his eyes on her. He never realized that his innocent feelings turned into strong emotions. He always tried to mask his feelings, but his mom and dad read his eyes.

They were a very conservative family. Seher never came in front of him without covering herself. She always talks to everyone with her eyes on the ground. Shy and timid, Seher became his life. He waited patiently for the right time and made himself worthy of her. His interest was in studying medicine. He went to Hind(India) and China to learn their medical techniques.

With a lot of courage, he asked for Seher's hand from his uncle, who happily accepted. He never spoke to Seher after their engagement. Shy Seher always used to escape whenever he was around.

Today was their pre-wedding ceremony. His mother Shireen, who knew about his unrest just to see one glimpse of his beloved, made a plan to ease her son's longing. She asked Murad to come from the back door and when he entered, he straight away saw Seher who was sitting on the chair in the middle in her pink and blue gown with matching headdress. She was smiling and the dimple in her cheek enhanced her beauty.

Murad's heart skipped a beat, he could not believe that he was so lucky to have this beautiful Siren as his wife. Seher was completely unaware of Murad's feelings. Her sculptured figure and golden orbs were mesmerizing. He was completely lost in her. Suddenly, someone pushed him, breaking his trail. Murad was shooed away by his mother. He hugged his mother and kissed her cheeks in gratitude.

"I know you were restless about seeing her. Now go and have a rest. Big day tomorrow."

"Ummi, did you tell her to wear the dress I brought from India?"

"Yes, she will wear it tomorrow. Now go before anyone comes here."

"Ummi, I love you" he replied.

"I know clearly who you love" she shooed him away.

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