Nawaaz (pov)

I enter the hall, where I see Badshah, Naseer, and Begum Nusrat... "Well that's a first" I hear Naseer speak. What does that mean?? I bow to the Badshah and Begum "What is that supposed to mean" I ask Naseer, my Step Brother as I raise my head. He grins like the little shit he is "You were smiling just now" he raises his one eyebrow, What? I was smiling? that too in their presence??

Images of her in the bath.. images of her... flashes before my eyes. So she is the reason. "I see you realised your reason for the smile, Please Bhai Jaan, do tell" he grins. I absolutely hate his grin.. how can he always maintain his smiling face? How can he always keep grinning like that? Does his jaw never ache from all that grinning??

"Is this why we are here Naseer? Stop with this nonsense" Begum grits her teeth. Now this feels more like my so called family. I scoff turning their attention towards me. "Why did you call me?" I can't bear these people now.. I just want to disappear from here as soon as possible.

"I heard you conquered Amer, Oh and also you got married to the prince's wife? I don't understand the need for that but who cares, All I want is the detailed list of all that you took from there" Begum gives me a sharp look.. that classic look, which used to creep me when I was little, but now those won't work, as I am creepier than her.

"And? You have the Baadshah, you yourself are the Begum-e- sultanate. Why do you need me? You have all the sources." I shrug with smugness.. because I know why. I know exactly why they need me. But I want to hear her say it. She bares her teeth with hostility. "You know exactly why.. Don't pretend to be all ignorant and innocent!" comes a reply from my very own father, who winces as if my mere presence is offending him.

"Oh forgive me.. But I really don't have any idea what you all are talking about. How come the King and Queen of this Sultanate have to BEG me for some minor information. Afterall you all have enough power, people with you, Am I right Badshah ji?" I remind him of his own words. "Enough! You know that your Men don't listen to anyone other than you.. Nawaaz" Begum stands up and whisper shouts. I can't help but smirk at her fakeness. She pretends to be all noble and dignified.. but I have always been able to see through her mask, since the time I first saw her.

Flashback (25 years ago)

A 5 year old Nawaaz, who had recently been bought to the palace, didn't have any idea about how royal families work.. how he is the son of Badshah of a Sultanate. But he had a clear idea about how his mother was summoned by the Badshah, how they had to suddenly shift from their small home to this huge palace. Little Nawaaz was unaware about his scandalous story.. until he met her... 'Begum Nusrat'. The day he saw his mother being slapped by the ever so gracious Begum, the day he found out about their infamous story. He heard her shouting abuses at his mother.. words not so noble, screams not so dignified... She did all that behind closed doors... hidden from the outer world. Little did she knew that Nawaaz opened those doors in search of his mother...and found out about the hell she has been living in and has dragged him too now.

(flashback ends)

"How about... I don't want to tell you" I shrug nonchalantly and I see their faces literally turning red, well except for that grinning bitch, my step brother Naseer. I shake my head at him which only broadens his grin. "You have to Nawaaz, not only will you tell us... You will also hand us all those treasures. You have to." She smirks like the witch she is, thinking that she is dealing with that 5 year old Nawaaz... tch tch tch... She thinks she can beat my mother, and me and force us to obey her... little does she know I am not that weak Nawaaz, who was shifted away with his mother to other palace. (where he came to be known as the Nawaab. His Mother had recently came back to Delhi sultanate, when he went for war.)

"Oh really. Why would I do that? Who will force me? You? Begum- e- sultanate? Will you beat me and force me to surrender all those treasures? Oh please try.. I am standing right here" I spread my arms indicating her to come forth and attack. Her face turns pale.. and she gulps... and for the first time I see my brother, Naseer's serious face. Oh so the little bastard has a straight face other than that foolish grin of his.

"Bhai-jaan what are you saying? Beat you?" he asks with a serious straight face. I scoff at his fake concern. Like Mother like Son. Fake! All of them. "If that's all you needed me for, I shall take your leave, you three continue with your gossips, because I have works to do, unlike you, Badshah and Begum- e- sultanate. And if you really want to know about what all I conquered from Amer, search it for yourself" I turn around and leave, because I cannot stand a second more of this suffocation... not because of the room, but the people inside this room, who stir my past memories, shake my stability and try to make me weak... try to make me that weak five year old Nawaaz.

Diya (pov)

I have come to realize that the only thing keeping me sane in this unknown palace, is the memories of Nawaaz ji. I cannot help but blush at the kind of thoughts my mind is weaving... I just can't forget how he was so close to me today morning. I am not just talking about the physical closeness.. it was more than that... much more than that. It was like, finally we are getting closer emotionally... finally I am paving my way to his space.

These thoughts are all I have.. even while planting Tulsi in the garden near my chambers. I asked one of my Daasi, Asha, who is the only one I talk to here, to bring the sapling of Tulsi. I don't have any 'pratima' of any deity. I would have made one myself, if I had the clay and soil used for it. I huff as I finish planting it , and get up. "This is done, Now I just hope this grows beautifully." I smile looking at my little effort. A Happy mind, surely gives you energy to be productive. Few days ago, I was just being all gloomy and lazy because I was depressed myself.. I was drained by my life events.

I look around the palace, with a small smile on my face. Now I feel belonged... like I belong here. I feel like i can be happy and lively as I used to be few months ago. Ofcourse I don't have my family with me.... But that's... ok I guess. I must learn to survive without them. I must learn to be strong without my mother's strength.

"I see the reason for his smile finally" A man's voice breaks my chain of thoughts. I turn to look at the owner of the voice, and I see a man.. quite similar to Nawaaz ji but also very different to him. I cannot pinpoint the similarity and the difference... but his wide smile is one of the difference for sure.

"I know I am handsome.. maybe more than my brother, no need to make it so obvious with your stare" he grins, is he being serious or just teasing me.. I cannot tell. Wait.. Brother?? Is he Prince Naseer?? Son of Begum-e sultanate?? If it's true.. then that explains the similarities. "Either you are aware of our story, and know who exactly I am..... or you are very unaware about me.. Your Husband's one and only Step Brother." He raises one of his eyebrow in question. I don't know how to reply to his question.. "Are you.... Dumb? I mean are you unable to speak?" he frowns.

"umm.. sorry. I was just taken aback by your sudden presence Shehzaade Naseer Ji" I bow as a greeting. "I know.. about you" I say and his grin returns as he interrupts me "Woah! I am getting surprise after surprise today. As you already know my name, May I know yours?" he asks me, "Diya, is my name" I answer with a smile. He is totally different from his Brother, who just gave me a Petname, instead of asking me my real name. I shake my head at the memory, and my heart skips a beat as I hear his husky voice calling me by petnames like 'Angel' and 'little dove' in my own head.

"Little Dove!" I hear his voice... yes I love to hear that name. "Diya!!" his shout breaks my reverie. Oh my god!! It was not my mind playing games!! He is here!! I look at shehzaade Nawaaz who is grinning at someone behind me. I turn and see him walking closer. Why the hell was I so lost in my own thoughts! His piercing stare gives me chills.. not sure if in a good way or a scary way. "Nawaaz Ji! I am sorry I was lost---" I try to explain my reason for not responding at his first call but he cuts me off "Yeah I saw that you were LOST" with the emphasis on 'lost', his eyes turn a shade darker, his face blank but I can feel the rage burning inside him... But why? Did something happen?

"Bhai Jaan, Diya and I were just talking about—" Shehzaade Naseer Ji speaks up only to be interrupted by Nawaaz ji again. "I saw that too" comes his crisp reply. There is an awkward silence for another minute. "Nawaaz Ji! See I just planted a Tulsi here!" I try to break the silence. I don't know, why I told him this though, as if he would be interested in my activities, that too with so much excitement like we were some old friends. I mentally slap my head.

He looks at the place that I pointed with my forefinger. "You could have just asked the gardener to do it, he is paid for this!" he gives me a cold look. I don't know where the hell did I go wrong? What did I do? Did I spoil whatever little bond we had? But how?

"Diya ji, Bhai Jaan is right, you are a Queen here, you should not dirty your hands with such jobs, instead you should pamper yourself like good noble women" Naseer ji suggests with a chuckle. But I don't find anything funny in his statement and neither does Nawaaz ji. I see a vein popping on the side of his neck... "And you should mind your own business Naseer!" Nawaaz ji tilts his head and smirks as if he is genuinely giving a suggestion. For a second, I see shehzaaade Naseer's smile vanish into thin air.

I feel like a plant of the garden, watching their silent conversation, my presence being ignored by both of them. "umm- I guess I should take your leave now." I bow and turn to leave from there, But I feel him grab my wrist, making me stop on my track. I look at his hand holding my wrist in a tight grip.. and then I look up to his face, still expressionless, but his eyes are now back to normal.. back to being emotionless.

He starts walking, taking me along with him, his hand still holding me wrist. "I will see you around Diya ji" I hear Shehzaade Naseer shouting from behind. I was going to turn my head and bid my leave with a proper bow of respect, But I stop myself as I feel his grip on my wrist tighten... almost painful, I look at his face, trying to read his inner turmoil, trying to understand the reason of that hidden storm. Will this storm, throw me away from his space.. a place which I managed to walk into this morning?

There you go my Darlings! Another chapter!! A peek into Nawaaz's past. How did you find the new characters in this chapter. Do tell me about all your views on them and the chapter in the comments. Don't forget to VOTE! and COMMENT down your precious povs as i love reading them. ;)

I am thankful and grateful for all the love you all shower on my stories. Truly blessed to have readers like you. Kisses from Nawaaz and Diya too you all!!

Ps- Those 107 people who follow me... I don't know why you all did that or what I did to deserve this immense love. THANK YOU!

Love to all my lovely readers. ;) You all are precious.