Hidden scars

It is rightly said, the scars from mental cruelty can be as deep and long lasting than wounds from physical assault.
 
Like every other kid, Prince Jalal too was the child born with inbuilt innocence, honesty and no evilness or malice in mind.Although he tried living a carefree life under the shade of his foster mother's love and affection, but the ugly truth of his birth mother remained an irrevocable scar throughout his life. 

Knowing, he was the child of a deposed queen, son of a disrespectful woman who was thrown out of the palace for her evil deeds churned his little heart.
 
Although he got love from his adoptive mother, but the constant rejection from his own father and family broke his heart brutally forever.He was always sidelined and ridiculed by his father while his brothers and sisters joined in to poke fun at him.
 
He was named as the disfavored child of the emperor,often bullied by people of older and younger ages. He was hurt and mad beyond imagination, running away was the only way he could think of every time rather facing someone.
 
It was too overbearing for a small child to accept the ugly truth of his origin. He felt so crushing that he could not even breathe. In order not to reveal the deep cut inside his heart, he started hiding himself.

The aggressive bullying and lack of affection from his own family has turned himself into a monster in disguise. He exuded an oppressive aura that did not let people look down on him. 
 
Slowly distancing himself from everyone, he accompanied his foster uncle Subedaar Raheem, 'brother of Begum Sakeena', to war feilds.

Under his guidance, he refined himself into an unbeatable warrior. 
 
                     ~☆~☆~☆~
 
Eastern palace (Second prince quarter)
 
“Your highness! Your highness?” 
 
The prince furiously strode towards his residence completely ignoring the person following him,  holding his sword that shined in rage he stepped ahead taking long steps with blood dripping down from the sword ,behind him all the way.
 
As he walked towards his chamber, the maids shrank back terrified clearing his way and stood aside lowering their head, their hands trembled in fear. Utterly scared, they even forgot to greet him. 

It was very rare for them to see him around, for he has always been away from the palace since he became an adolescent.
 
 Unlike his other siblings he was sent to a faraway small province by his father for obvious reasons and it was only times like this that he gets to visit his palace in the capital city. Being treated with indifference does look normal now, hurts less than before.
 
He kicked the doors of his chamber and walked in,throwing his blood stained sword on the floor. He looked at his image in the mirror.His eyes were blood red while his hands curled up in fists of fury. He was literally looking like a beast right now. 
 
His eyebrows furrowed deep. If someone were to walk in now they would most likely either beg for their little life or look for the nearest exit the next second. He had such a dangerous glint in his eyes. He hated,when people looked down on him. Though not new but still this triggers a wrong nerve.
 
"Your, your highness?”
The man with a valiant tall figure dared to speak from behind.
 
“Out I said,” he shouted making his personal bodyguard retreat back for a moment, only to re approach seconds later accompanied by another certain someone.
 
 The prince brought Nabeel, to the palace at a very young age. Prince Jalal was on his military campaigns when he found this abandoned child wandering on the streets with nowhere else to go. 

It has been few good years now since Nabeel followed the second prince.
 
He already informed the imperial physician on his way back to the prince quarters as his wounds needed immediate treatment. Nabeel had to look after his lord as, he least cared about himself.
 
Soon after few minutes, the physician arrived and anxiously stepped in with his medical kit and kneeled right in front of the prince,waiting for his permission to work on his wounds.

The atmosphere inside the prince chamber was so heated that sweat drops formed on his forehead. 

Scared to make a move he gazed back at Nabeel who silently stood by the door with a threatening look “Dare you come back without doing your job.”  

The poor physician's life was at stake either way, thus he gulped down his saliva, and stuttered ... “Your, your highness", only to hear aloud roar.
 
“Out!” The next moment imperial physician shuddered back tottering and bumped into the Emperor on his way.

Everyone quickly kneeled down in respect when Baadshah Salamat walked inside prince Jalal's chamber.
 
Seething in anger with his hands folded back, he asked the physician to leave while he humbly obliged.
 
"Adaab Shehenshah", the second prince greeted lowering his head and continued "His majesty could have called me if he was looking for me, why take the trouble?" 

The emperor's voice boomed in accusatory tone as if the slight mockery in Jalal’s statement did not matter.

“You really care for my troubles?" The emperor was offended and the prince was completely aware of the reason.
 
Prince Jalal stood unwitting to explain himself. Ofcourse, why should he?, very well aware, in the end it is he who will with stand the worst of his father’s ire. No matter, whatsoever the situation is.
 
His silence infuriated the emperor with each passing second. 
 
"You still have nothing to say, huh?” he growled in utter disbelief, it’s only been a while since the second prince was back to palace and he already started messing around? Can’t he for once live in harmony with his brothers and cousins? 

Emperor's anger reached the sky with his son'snonchalant behavior.
 
“Forget it, why am I even wasting my time, you will only follow your mother's footsteps, won’t you?” The words rolled out from hismouth in rage that left rubbing salt on his son's wound. Whilst this triggered the rebel streak in second prince, increasing his anger by a notch.
 
Suddenly, the second prince felt suffocated, the least he wanted was to be compared with his mother. 
 
He rushed out leaving his father behind who kept screaming “Stop, you ungrateful child! I am not yet done talking with you"
 
Jalal jumped on his horse. Pulling the reins, witha firm exertion of force, he kicked the horse sides, which immediately ran forth like a shooting arrow.
 
Even before Nabeel could say anything, the horse already flew forward. 
 
                   ~☆~☆~☆~
 
Imperial zenana

The magnificent chamber was welcomed with silence watching the progression of chess played by two young women. The competition was tough and none was ready to give up.

Dilawar,  Empress Zubaida's personal eunuch, offered sherbet and snacks to the wives of officials, military officers and other noble ladies who gathered in the imperial harem after the exquisite feast.

It was a very good opportunity for the women tointroduce their daughters, for one might become future princess consort afterall. 
 
Sitting on a diwan was the Empress, with same dark evil eyes, only thing is now her hair sprinkled with gray and few wrinkles added to her oval face. 
 
As the wives counted the talents of their daughters, the Empress scrutinized the two girls who were deeply engrossed in the game. she took a sip of sherbet from her goblet.
 
They were beautiful, no doubt, but they were smart too, she noticed, something she totally despised.  

Beauty with no brain was the type of girl she was looking, for her beloved son, Omar.

Selfish indeed but it is all worth. 
 
As the game ended, everyone praised the winner,while the proud mother smiled deftly. Her purpose of coming to the imperial harem was served; her precious daughter not only got the Empress's attention but also won a bejeweled necklace as a token of appreciation. 
 
They left after a good time making the Empress fall back on the diwan, tired as soon as they left. Servant girls fanned the mighty lady while Dilawar pressed the Empress’s stretched out hand. 

“Your majesty, did u like any girl?” His curiosity was visible in his words although he knew his master well but he could not beat ease until he hears from her mouth. 
 
“Such show offs, good for nothing”, the Empress replied holding her head in her hands.
 
Taking it as a cue Dilawar now started pressing theEmpress’s head and grinned knowingly when a servant requested an audience. 

“Let her in,” the Empress ordered, Dilawar saw the servant murmuring something into the Empress ears, which brought a sparkling smile on her lips. 
 
Continuing the work he was doing he twitched his mouth“Will not your majesty share her happiness with the humble servant?”

His words made her laugh more.
 
“Dilawar, Dilawar! What do you want to know?” She paused taking another sip as her lips stretched “Shall I tell you how angry the Emperor is right now or how the second prince was scolded by him?”

Dilawar understood that the servant was a spy who was keeping an eye on the princes, especially the second prince, as ordered by the Empress.

“Your majesty, I think you are unnecessarily giving importance to him, how can a troublemaker like him pose a threat to crown prince?” 

The Empress laughed at his innocent remark, how was she supposed to make him underdtand that, among the other sons of the emperor only second prince can stand in front of prince Omar. Although now disfavored, but he is very competent and Empress knew that, which is why she kept her spies around him, anything small or big related to the second prince was brought to her notice.
 
 That is the only way she can safeguard her position and her son's future. 

                    ~☆~☆~☆~

 somewhere in a distant village

Prince Jalal's horse was one of the best warhorse,it was much taller and much faster than typical horses. He drove his horse into nothingness with his cluttered mind.

Crossing the streets and forests, he rode his horse without break until he reached a distant village. 

It was getting dark, lanterns were already lit up by that time, and the streets were filled with common people sitting around bone fire warming up them. 
 
He dismounted from the horse, as his eyes looked around,“where is this place? Did I come too far away from capital?”
 
His thoughts came to screeching halt. It was not until his stomach growled that he realized he travelled almost the entire day with outeating anything. A look at his horse and he knew it too was exhausted; he starved the poor horse with him. 

He is not very kind and thoughtful person in general but for some he can be, really, especially his horse.
 
His anger was gone long time back and was substituted by hunger but he need to do an important work before that.

 He tied the horse to a tree so that he can go and search something to feed it, after all it suffered too with him, unnecessarily.

“Where should I go?” Unable to decide he contemplated for a while when he heard the sound of hurried horse hooves.

The horse hoisted up in the air with the sudden halt. 

"Your highness, are you alright?” Nabeel asked while coming down from the horse. Concern was clearly visible on his face. 

“You are late Nabeel.”  
He coldly said making his bodyguard look down apologetically. 

No matter how good of an equestrian he was, he was no match to his master. 

"Do you have anything with you to feed the horse?", the second prince asked.
 
The young man shook his head in response when something stuck his mind. 

Since the time Prince Jalal left the palace, Nabeel followed him, though he could not catch up his masters pace and lost him for awhile but he did not take a break and instead rode continuously until he found him.

Nabeel's eyes fell on his masters clothes. 

The royal rob was covered in dust and dirt, which will provide a good cover for the time being. He does not want the prince to be spotted without any guards on his tow.  
 
“Your highness, please wait here, I will come back in a minute,” saying so he left immediately while prince Jalal tied the other horse to another tree and waited for his bodyguard to return.

After few minutes, Nabeel finally came back with grass and hay for the horses.
 
He also brought him to an inn, which he spotted on his way back. It was filled with customers. After a momentary reluctance, the duo stepped inside the inn only to find the place crowded.
 
The duo sighed and turned to leave when the ownerof the restaurant came running towards him. 

“This way please, sir.”
 
The owner could not let any of his customers leavewithout tasting their delicacies. He called the waiter and asked him to escortthem to the second room which unlike the other room where charpais were aligned in rows for the people to sit on small chairsand eat, had only jute mats sprawled on the cold floor. 
 
People were supposed to sit on it to eat. 
"Your highness, let’s leave and look for any other place.” Nabeel whispered in his masters ears, the distaste clear in his voice. How can he allow his master sit on the floor and eat.
 
"Forget it, I’m already hungry. Let’s just eat,alright?" Prince Jalal said with no intention to go back.
 
Placing his sword on the floor the prince sat folding his legs carrying an imposing manner that warns strangers to keep away from him while Nabeel stood still, hesitating to sit beside his master.  
 
"Do you need an invitation?” He asked in his cold stern voice. 

"Your....” 

"Sit down", the prince said in his commanding voice and the servant obeyed. 
"What do you like to have sir?" The waiter asked for their order. 

The inn ran by a Brahmin family and prince Jalal was not fond of veg food, therefore he reluctantly ordered the waiter to get anything that tastes good for both. 

The little boy left immediately while Jalal shifted his gaze towards the window, from where he could see the moon. 
 
He hated socializing with others, especially strangers and there were exactly a couple sitting right in front of him. He would rather gaze those celestial bodies rather than socializing.
 
They were talking about random stuff in the beginning. Slowly the talks steered about the interesting matters in the capital. 
 
“Did you hear the Emperor got a new wife again? I heard she is not even half the age of his Majesty, can you believe it?"It was hard to ignore when the man cannot talk in low voice.

Very disinterested, Prince Jalal looked away whileNabeel had all his ears towards them. 

“What’s there to not believe? He is the emperor, he can have whoever he wants and as many as he wants, isn’t it common between royalty?”Nabeel heard the wife reasoning.
 
“Of course! That’s what I am saying, he can marry whomever he want regardless of age, isn’t that wonderful" The man slurred, he was tipsy it was clear.
 
"Huh! Wonderful? Like really? Have you ever thought about the poor girl? She will be trapped in the quagmire of imperial zenana where she will be seen striving hard to obtain emperor's favor every day, if she succeeds she will be despised by other ladies, if not she will be left alone to rotten in those imperial golden walls, is this even called a life?”The woman said sympathizing with the girl. 
 
"Not entirely correct, being emperor's mistress, don’t you think it’s something to be proud of? Won’t her family have a better life here on?”
 
"Right, till she satisfies the emperor, maybe but what after he gets bored of her? She will be left to spend her entire life alone,isn’t that sad?” The wife stated the ugly truth of royal women.
 
“She was right”, Nabeel agreed with the woman mentally, imperial zenana was indeed not an easy place to live in after all. 
 
A look at the thoughtful expression on his husband’s face, she playfully chirped "By the way, if u r so interested, why don’t you go and have a try? Your brother’s daughter has reached the right age.”
 
"No, no. Never! Friendship or enmity, with royal family, both are considered dangerous, isn’t it?" shaking his headwhile holding his one ear with one hand he hastily replied.
 
The duo laughed together for a while then the man added again "I heard the crown prince never married again after the death of his first official wife nor he gave that position to any of his other begums, shouldn't the emperor think about him, instead of filling his own harem?"
  
“Shut up, it has nothing to do with us. Enough of these talks.” 

Just when they were busy talking their stuff, second prince brows knitted together at their nonsensical discussions. He closed his eyes listening to their stupid talks.
 
 Didn’t he run away far from capital to get some peace, yet he has to hear palace related stuff, so annoying!
 
"You are right, by the way did you ever hear about the second prince Jalal?", the man started ignoring his wife’s angry stare. 
Prince Jalal's ears perked up on hearing his name.

"No, why?” 

"Nothing, it’s just that he is rumored to be the beast in human skin, people think twice before messing with him. Somewhere I heard that he’s following the footsteps of his deceased mother.”
  
Prince Jalal glared at the two fools while though angry, Nabeel wondered “if they find out that the person sitting opposite them right now is the same beast they were speaking of, what would be their reaction?”
  
As Nabeel’s assumption registered, a haughty smile crept on his lips, which dispersed as soon as he heard the woman’s words.
 
“A wild beast needs to be tamed. Let him get married, I’m sure his wife will make that wild beast into a love sick puppy.”

Nabeel spurted the water he was drinking from his mouth.His eyes then travelled to meet his master’s gaze, which were shooting dagger sat the two people sitting in front. 

God save these people, mentally sending a quick prayer to the almighty he watched them intently. 

 The couple paused shortly as they felt his gaze on them.
 
“What?” The man asked seriously knitting his brows. 

The second prince hand went to his sword, which the two did not notice before while his cold, impassive face gave chills down their spine.
 
The duo immediately stood up wondering how they offended this man, gulping down their fear the man enquired. Whilst the woman held her husband’s hand.
 
"Young man, are you by any chance an imperial official?”Their eyes fixed on his jeweled sword sheath, and they knew, he was not an ordinary person.
 
 Prince Jalal actually knew what their thoughts were right now and decided to humor himself. 

"What if I am?" he gritted his teeth.
They chuckled nervously and left the place, hurriedly.

"Idiots!” he scoffed under his breath and started eating his food which the waiter brought.
 
After having their stomach full, they paid the money and tipped the waiter, which he gladly accepted and came out of the restaurant with leftover vegetables and grass in their hands to feed the horses on their way back to capital city.
 
They jumped onto their horses as soon as they reached them and kicked the sides of their respective horse and dashed forward.
 
The duo reached city outskirts in no time. Their speed decreased, when they saw a small troop marching forth blocking their way. 
 
 They were wearing official uniforms; second prince and Nabeel quickly recognized them as imperial guards.
 
They were drawing a small carriage, which was covered by heavy black curtains from all sides. As they marched quietly, the sound of spinning wheels rumbled in the air. 

"What is it?” prince Jalal's curious gaze met Nabeel’s scrutinizing eyes.
 
"Your highness, looks like a prisoner is being escorted by them to the capital, shall I go and ask the guards to give us the way?” 
As Nabeel waited for his master's reply which never came he heard the sound of hoof steps approaching imperial guards. 
 
“What the hell is going on there?”

                      ~☆~☆~☆~☆~