{WARNING: This Chapter contains some mature and disturbing themes. So only proceed if you are comfortable reading them.}

Diya (pov)

It has been a few days since my future has been decided without my consent. It was too late for me to oppose my father's decision as it was not just my family affair... it had become our state affair.

I was looking outside my window, deep in my thoughts when I heard horse hooves sound, ughh not again... I don't want to meet the creepy prince. I don't know why I get this creepy , weird feeling from his stare and his touch. I get a chill down my spine just thinking about him. As I went to get away from my windows... I heard a voice.. a familiar voice.. that guy.. what was his name?? waj.. Wajid!!

She ran to her door... only to see few guys of Nawaab passing though their village. What was she hoping to see? 'Him' her heart answered. Wajid noticed me but chose to ignore. Obviously.

Why am I not scared of these men even after everything? they treated me like a plaything. But I was not creeped out from Wajid or his Nawaab. Yes I didn't like Wajid or those other men. but something felt safe when I think about The Nawaab. I smile thinking about our interaction.

One thing which made me like Nawaab was that he gave me a choice. He left the decision of staying there or leaving... on me....unlike my father who has always tried to force his decisions on me since childhood and now the Prince was doing the same. I hate this.. hate that I have no voice or choice for my own life decisions.

Wajid smirks at me as he and his men pass through. I am already irritated with my life, so I roll my eyes at him which shocks him. Hah! Didn't expect that from a woman did you?! I enjoy his expressions.

Suddenly my Ma sa pulls me back from the door and shuts the door. "Diya why are you standing here.. these Mughals are bad people. After everything that... that happened that day. I don't want even their shadow on you my child." She caresses my hair. I smile half-heartedly.

A month passes, and the day of my marriage is here. The day which is a dream for many young girls.... Does not excite me, rather it is making me anxious and not in a good way. It seems like a beginning of something bad. I take a deep breath as my mother and other ladies try their best to make me look like the most beautiful and happiest bride in the whole world.

We are taken to the royal palace, me and my family. My mother is in awe with the interiors of the palace. My father smiling, greeting everyone with a proud look. I wish he would look at me with such pride in his eyes.... Ever in my life. I look away with tears in my eyes. My mother looks at me and smiles wide which makes me laugh. She is my sweetheart.

Finally the rituals are over, finally I am married to the prince of Amer. Finally I am the Princess of Amer.... But.. I am not happy. I am not the only wife of the Prince, there are 3 others. All of them princesses from other lands, who smile at me but their bitter smiles remind me of those girls from my childhood, who didn't befriend me or include me with them. I smile back at those princesses trying to be cordial.

The prince holds my hands breaking my trance. I smile awkwardly convincing my heart that this is my life.. my future. We both take the blessings of the King and other elders and greet the people of Amer. These are now my people too.

I am finally in my room, my grand room. There is finally silence... pin drop silence after all of the commotion. But I don't like this silence. This seems like.. silence before the storm. I hate such silence. "Diya" I turn when I hear the Prince call me. He walks towards me... making me automatically walk backwards. I don't know why.. he is my husband.. lawfully wedded husband. But I don't want this.. never wanted this.

He holds my hand and pulls me towards him. "where are you running away? Hah?" he grits his teeth. I am shocked to see this side of him. I mean I always felt uncomfortable... but this voice... I try to shake his hands away. But he tightens it making me wince in pain. "You are my wife now. I own you now" saying this he holds my head to kiss me. Nooo!! I don't want to... I want to cry out loud. Please...

He just laughs and pushes me on the bed. "why did you think I married you? ha? You are just a Brahmin Girl... just a commoner.. I made you my wife, I made you worthy..." he climbs on top of me. I am disgusted... at myself.. the way he is describing me.. I feel disgusted.

I try to push him away... but fail miserably. He removes the pallu from my body. "this is my property now.. which increases the value of this beautiful body." He smirks as he dives his head into my neck.

I lose the last flicker of hope. I look up at the roof of my grand room.. my special day... just how did it turn into this nightmare. I just lie there. My tears falling uncontrollably. But I feel nothing. He touches my body with his greedy hands. I don't feel anything... its as if my body has become numb to everything.. to shield itself.

I close my eyes, accepting my fate. Accepting my nightmare. When the door breaks open....

I open my eyes... as the prince gets off me and shouts at whoever the intruder was. He runs towards the door with his sword in hand. I just lay there. Waiting for whatever comes next.

Time passes but there is no sign or sound of anyone. When suddenly a girl who is probably the Daasi, comes running to my room. She stands a few feets away breathing harshly. "Choti Rani Sa.... You have been summoned in the court" she says out of breath.

I inhale a deep breath and sit up on the bed. She looks at my upper nude body, covered only from waist below. I do my blouse properly and cover myself with the pallu. My mind blank... I still am in my emotionless state. I don't ask her anything.. I just make myself presentable and look at her.

"Choti Rani Sa... you should know something... something has happened.." I raise my hand at her. I don't want to know anything.... Nothing matters. She walks, and I follow her to the court. I take the pallu to my head, eyes down, I walk inside the Court of King.

Finally when I stand with the royal family ladies, I look up... my eyes meet those eyes. Those kohled eyes... 'Nawaab' my lips whisper automatically.

For the first time since weeks... my heart finally skips a beat. It's like I am finally breathing. After what happened... this is the moment my body feels alive, I feel chills... my eyes tear up again but this time.. I finally feel something.

I don't know how he always appears out whenever I lose hope.. whenever I give up.... He stands in front of me in all his glory.

i have been writing this chapter for 2 days.. for some reason it just got stuck at some point.. or i got busy at home.. so i was not able to update the chapter. So sorry for the late update.

I hope the chapter was worth the wait and worth proceeding even after the warning. ;)

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I know it would have been a bit difficult to read. what do you all think of this chapter? comment your views. I love reading all the comments! ;)