Seher was feeling very angry at Shazain. His embrace was very tight and warm. She wriggled to get out. Shazain opened his eyes and covered her and pecked her lips.

"Seher stop exciting me. Tell me if you want me because I am always ready for you" He was nibbling her neck.

"I don't want anything" Seher turned her face.

"Ok, then stop moving and sleep because your movements are giving me other indications"

Seher did not say anything further and just turned to the other side. Shazain knew that she was angry at him and wanted to go away and the best thing to make her stay was this threat. He was confident that she would give in to his tender ministrations but he was too tired and his head was hurting because of lack of sleep. He pulled her closer and buried his face in her neck and soon sleep took over him.

Seher was unhappy that she always give in easily to his threats. I will shift to the chamber next to grandmothers and lock the door. It's just a matter of tonight as he is leaving tomorrow. Hope grandmother gets better I will leave as soon as possible.

She could feel his even breath on her neck she tried to move as one final attempt but his hold was strong, so she gave in and slept. Shazain and Seher woke up quite early for their prayer.

"Seher let's eat breakfast together. I will leave afterward"

"Why, Is Ariana not accompanying you for your meal?"

"Why do bring her in between us, it is our time. when she becomes my wife she will have her time and you will have yours. you will understand with time."

"Give all your time to her because I don't need any"

"Stop fighting Seher, a good wife should send off her husband with a happy mood"

"Husband really! Stop the act. I am here just because of the promise I made to your grandmother, the day she gets better I will go"

Either Shazain was a fool or too arrogant to notice that he and his behavior was becoming repugnant to Seher. She developed a feeling of antipathy against him. Seher just kept quiet as she did not want to argue with him further.

He ordered servants to serve breakfast on the terrace.

"Bring breakfast on the terrace and inform guards that no one should disturb us"

Seher just ignored him and walked towards Najma begums chamber. Shazain knew by now that it was not easy to convince Seher once she is upset, he picked her up and walked towards the terrace.

All the maids in the morning shift were giggling seeing Shazain's open display of love for their young Sultana

They were seated when Maid came.

"Sultan, sorry for the disturbance there is some old man named Aliyaar from young Queen's kingdom and asking permission to meet you both"

Shazain looked at Seher who face lit up listening to the news.

"Who is it?" He asked Seher

"It is grandpa Aliyaar, he is my grandfather's friend"

"In that case, bring him here. he can join us for breakfast"

Salahuddin after carefully thinking selected Aliyaar to get news of Seher, initially he thought to send one of his commanders but later changed the plan. He selected Aliyaar for two reasons, one was seher knew him and the other the old man was a well-trained assassin and nothing can escape his well trained experienced eyes

Aliyaar greeted Shazain and Seher. He was happy to see Seher and Shazain together. Shazain welcomed him and asked him to join us for breakfast.

"What brings you here suddenly is everything alright?"

"Yes Sultan everything is fine, You know Sultan Salahuddin went to China recently and had brought presents for his beloved sister and brother-in-law. I am sorry if my announced visit disturbed you"

"No, it is pleasure to welcome you, I was just worried about the wellbeing of my beloved's family"

Seher asked him about everyone back home.

" Everyone is fine daughter Seher, they are all missing you very much." He turned towards Shazain

" Sultan your in- Law's have sent a few gifts for you and your wife"

"That was not needed but Seher will be happy"

Aliyaar looked at Shazain feeding Seher in amusement, he was putting morsels in Seher's mouth and glaring at her from time to time to make her eat more. Seher was unable to do anything in front of the old man.

" You remind me of Fakhruddin. He was the same, He never let his wife go hungry especially when she was... Sorry, may God keep you happy. your affection took me down the memory lane"

Shazain understood what the old man was trying to ask.

"I will not even let her put her feet down when she will have my kids"

Seher Choked her food. Aliyaar saw Shazain's care towards Seher but at the same time, Seher's unhappiness and sadness did not go unnoticed by his trained eyes. 

"Seher what happened to you? where is your glow"

Shazain was very clever he knew that this sudden visit is to assess Seher's wellbeing.

"Seher has become very much attached to my grandmother and because she is not keeping well for the past two weeks, Seher is worried about her,

Seher is not eating properly that's why I am personally looking after her and also she is upset that I am going away for a week. She doesn't like me staying away from her"

What a conniving liar you are Shazain. I will be happy if you stay away from me. You are a heartless monster, an ape, a wolf in sheep's skin. Seher was cursing him, she wanted to tell the old man to take her away but thinking about Najma begum stopped her

" I am sorry to hear about Queen Najma Begum, May Allah gives her long life and good health." He then turned to Seher"Seher a king has to do many duties he cant stay with you all the time." Aliyaar was explaining to her. Seher just smiled.

"Salahuddin and Shamsuddin will visit you soon, " Aliyaar added.

Shazain's face changed its color for a second and Aliyaar caught that. 

"It will be nice to welcome my brothers-in-law's, isn't it Seher?"

"Yes, Sultan but were you not supposed to leave by now?" Seher questioned him back.

"Yes, I was but someone from your family visited how can I leave my guests"

"Oh! Sultan, I will take my leave soon as I have to go to Shujauddin" Aliyaar interrupted.

"How come Grandpa Aliyaar, be ur guest. give a chance to show our hospitality" Shazain was very polite.

"Another time, I just wanted to see You and Seher. I came here to take Murad and Bahar back "

Murad's name alerted Shazain. Seher was worried about her uncle and aunty and she knew how much they loved their only son.

" Are Aunty shireen and Uncle Hafeez OK?"Seher asked in concern.

"Yes they are but you know Shireen, She misses you and Murad"

"Murad should go back, He should not torture his parents because of me" words slipped out of her mouth involuntarily

Shazain face was red with anger and jealousy.

"Brother Murad, Seher"

"What," she asked 

"He is elder to you and I think it is high time he should get married leaving behind what happened in the past," He told Aliyaaar

What a hypocrite Seher thought, He can roam around with Non-mehram girl and I can't even address my cousin. why is he suddenly interested in Murad's marriage?

 Aliyaar sensed the tension in the air 

"Yes that is why I am taking him back, Nur and Shireen have shortlisted a few girls"

Aliyaar did not stay for long and went away. He noticed that Shazain did care for Seher but there was something that was not right Seher's face was not happy like a newly married girl. 

*****************************************************************************

The guest room of the palace was filled with many gifts and priceless Jewelry. Ariana who was very upset because of Shazain's rejection yesterday night got happy thinking that Shazain might have brought this for her, to appease her but was shocked when she heard the head maid Gulab ordering the maids to take all gifts to Najma Begums Chamber. 

Seher ordered all this to be taken to her grandmother's room. she wanted to show it to her.

"What is all this going on?" Ariana asked Gulab.

"These belong to Sultana Seher and I was ordered to place it in Queen mothers chamber."

Ariana was furious. How can Shazain fall for a low-class woman? That poor wrench does not deserve all this. I am going to be Shazain's queen. I will kill that Seher. I will never allow her to stay with Xain. I waited for Xain for so many years and I can not let this girl win.

As soon as Aliyaar left Seher walked away to avoid any altercations with Shazain, her bad luck She ran into Ariana. Ariana wanted to take out her anger on the person who bumped into her but when saw it was Seher she smiled viciously.

"Why are you in such a rush Seher?"

Seher tried to be as polite as she can" I have a lot of work", Please excuse me"

"you should be ashamed playing your tricks, Seher. Enticing Shazain in bed by your body and you think you can become his queen. You just wait and see I will soon through you out of his life and this palace."

"I am dying to get out of his life rather put it like this I am waiting for the day when he gets out of my life. I am not after titles and positions that come being associated with him as I have my own identity."

Her words were like a slap to Ariana. her blood boiled she came dangerously close to Seher." You poor people just know all the tricks to lure men. Don't be happy thinking that you sleep with Xain and be happy. I will make your life miserable. Xain loves me only me, get that in your head you are nothing to him"

"Why don't you trust your love and if he really loved you why did he marry me.?"

"You are no one to judge that and I gave him permission to marry a low-class maid who can bear him kids"

Seher wanted to scream and say that she is forced into this marriage and She has nothing to do with both her and her Xain.

"Yes, yes your true love that is why I am his wife and you are nothing just a time pass"

Ariana wanted to slap her hard but there were maids around she burned in anger and quickly ran outside.

Shazain and Utbah who were standing out saw Ariana rushing out. 

Shazain turned towards Martha and asked"What happened"

"She was talking to the young queen and suddenly left"

"Seher," Shazain screamed.

Seher came out" If anything happens to Ariana I will not spare you. I will kill you with my hands".

Ariana heard that and was happy. Xain did not lie to me and maybe he really wanted to sleep with me after we get married or else how is it possible that he trusts me more than a girl who he sleeps with him. See Seher you are nothing but his bed warmer. She wanted to test Shazain so she sat on a horse and rode off.

Shazain rushed and he jumped on his horse and went after Ariana leaving a shocked Seher and Utbah behind.

Shazain overtook Ariana and stopped her horse.

"Ariana what is this"

"Xain, why do you care?"

Shazain got down from the horse and pulled Ariana down. Ariana was crying hard. 

"Do you care about me Xain"

"Yes, Ariana you are my responsibility" She embraced him.

"No, Xain you are with me just because of the promise to my father. I don't mean anything to you. You have a beautiful wife be happy with her, I will go back to my country. Don't worry I will not tell anything to my father anything. After yesterday I feel disgusted with myself. You might be thinking low of me and how characterless I am that I threw myself on you."

"Ariana If it is about yesterday I know that you got insecure because of Seher but you will get your rights once we marry. I did not think anything bad about you. Trust me Seher is my wife and you will also be my wife "

"Shazain why can't you just leave her and marry someone else please"

"She is my wife Ariana I can never leave her. Ariana did she tell you anything, tell me I will sort things out"

"How did you know, Forget it she is immature. "

"Tell me what you want to make you happy"

"Xain tell me one thing why do yo pamper that low-class girl more. I have seen the wardrobe she has unique and exquisite Jewelry. You never gifted me things like that"

Shazain knew Ariana was not aware of Seher's true identity, Gifts always made her happy.

"Ok tell me what you want, I will get it for you"

"I want the emerald set that Seher has"

"That is her's, I will ask Jeweller to make a replica of that. Happy now?"

Ariana smiled.

*******************************************************************************

Abasi came to visit Shuja and saw a young ma sitting with him.

"Welcome Abasi meet Murad, My cousin"

"Abi Murad this my friend Abasi"

Murad greeted Abasi and asked him

"How is Seher?"

"She is doing fine, actually Its weeks I have not visited the palace yet"

Murad recently came to know about Ariana through Bahar and was very upset with his sister. 

"Bahar why did you not tell me about this before"

"Abi She is married and she is married to a king she has to deal with situations like these"

"She might be suffering there Bahar"

"What will you do, nothing"

" I will wait for her till the end."

He visited Shuja just to know about her. Shuja did not have any Idea about Ariana. he did not want to disrupt his family by telling about Ariana. He wanted to talk to Abasi alone about Ariana. Shuja grandpa Aliyaar is on his way why don't you make arrangements I will accompany your friend.

Abasi was observing Murad intently.

"It must be very hard to let go of something so precious isn't it," Abasi asked him.

Murad very well understood what he meant.

"Sometimes things are not in our hands no matter how hard you try, just like sand it slips away from your fist and just remnants are left behind" Murad replied.

"If I was you I would have fought till the end to get what is rightfully mine. for me, it is either getting it or losing life"

" What about the happiness of the person you love?" Murad questioned

"If she loved me then her happiness lies with me "

"Abasi she use to like me but never loved me as much as I love her. I think she was not even aware that I love her"

"It was your fault, you should have expressed your love"

"We are raised in a traditional way and I thought that I can shower her with my love when she becomes mine but your brother came in between.

Just tell me what is your brother's relation with that Ariana?"

"Nothing to worry about and don't worry I will be there for Seher and personally drop her back safely to her family whenever she wishes."

"Abasi, Seher is very tolerant and kind please make sure she is happy"

"When will you move on Murad"

"I have moved on and my purpose of life is to serve people"

Abasi was not aware of this kind of love, which was so pure and selfless. Respect for Murad increased in his eyes. He can never be like him for him it was to go get the person you love or end your life fighting for it.

*********************************************************************************

Shazain and Ariana returned to the palace.

"Ariana you go inside and I will see when I come back and please don't leave anywhere till I come back"

Ariana was happy that Xain still valued her like before.

Utbah turned to Shazain.

"Shazain, we were supposed to leave and you wasted today's day going after woman, what happened to you"

"Seher's family sent a spy to check on her"

" Shazain, I am telling you again Seher will not stay with you the way you spoke to her was wrong"

"I can manage Seher, I know her very well and she loves me, " Shazain said with arrogance.

"You are in illusion she is queen Nur Jahan's daughter the other day Aunty Gulab was telling me that her Mother was very tolerant but when she moved on she never turned back and don't forget Seher was supposed to be wedded to someone else. That man is still waiting for her"

"Murad will get married soon " Shazain replied.

"If you can marry again so can Murad. he also has the same options as you"

Shazain held Utbah by his collar.

"Stay in your limits and utter a word about my wife I will forget you are my friend"

"Kill me because I cannot lie or flatter you like King Christos or his daughter. I am showing you the mirror. you love Seher and you can fool others but not yourself, her departure will kill you."