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Rehana POV

I felt too timid to even meet his gaze and gently stepped down his feet.

Of all the things, him kissing there— just below my ear—was not I ever imagined.

"Rehana Bhabhijaan," Haider's sudden call from the middle of the chamber caught my attention, and I closed my eyes, realizing we were in the middle of a stupid game.

But, a timid smile appeared on my face as Jaan-e-Jahan whispered in my ear while tapping thrice on my hip. Very Gently.

"Jara bhi khauf nahi hai shauhar ka, bohot Behaya hai Begum Hamari,"

"No fear of your husband at all; such a shameless wife I have,"

And the way he glided his hand up, held the hem of my dupatta and placed it over my head before kissing the side of my forehead, I could not help but lean into his chest to hide my flushed face.

It was so romantic that I would die.

Thankfully, he could not notice any of it due to the darkness. But the moonlight filtering through it caught my attention.

Suddenly, I heard the pair of anklets.

I stepped away from Jaan-e-Jahan to pull the curtain aside and peep into the chamber.

What was happening?

Haider reached closer to a pillar, his hands waving in the air, searching for anyone, while Ruhani silently walked out of the chamber.

A soft chuckle escaped my lips, and suddenly, Ruhani turned around, and her gaze met mine.

She stopped and signaled to me by placing her adjoined hands under her tilted cheek, indicating that she was going to sleep.

I nodded and noticed Agastya and his wife behind another pillar. I could see them, but they could not see us.

And the way Agastya held her from behind, making her laugh and talking something I could not hear, made me feel joyous for them.

I had never seen such a lovely family.

But, suddenly, I noticed Haider's cry.

Jaan-e-Jahan immediately leaned over me and looked at him.

He got his head banged against the pillar.

Ufff. Painful.

"Aaouchhhhhhhh!" he cried out loud.

Before I could react, I noticed Rudra coming out of a curtain and slowly walking towards him.

Stepping closer, he tickled Haider in his tummy, and Haider jumped all of a sudden.

"Who the hell is this?" his voice was loud, and I felt shameless to chuckle at his reaction.

Even Rudra laughed "Hahahahahah," like a monster, and I could not help but laugh even more.

Aahil and Ranvijay also came out to trouble him, and within a few moments, everyone came out except the ladies.

Jaan-e-Jahan also went there.

I just laughed, looking at them. They all began to tickle him one by one. And, he started to jump and catch the culprit.

"Mallika," 

And suddenly, a sweet voice caught my attention.

I turned around and noticed Ghazal approaching me with Nandani, Abhinandan's wife, Aishwarya, and Suman.

"Yes," a wider smile appeared on my face.

"Come with us," she requested, and I gulped with slight confusion.

We were in the middle of the game?

And, Jaan-e-Jahan was here?

But I kept my questions to myself and nodded with a smile. Maybe I was needed somewhere else.

As the men kept troubling and playing with Haider. I could guarantee they were seeking revenge for the game he made us play.

We all walked out of the chamber, even without informing any of them.

It seemed adventurous. Letting the men find their women.

"Where are we going?" I asked Ghazal, wondering if we were to hide somewhere discreet and impossible to be found, and the men would spend the whole night searching for us. Such a fun it would be.

And she just smiled.

"To your chamber," her answer came just after that, and I knit my brows.

Why? And.

"Everyone?" I asked, raking my eyes around, and they all chuckled.

"It's your special night. And...we are giving you moral support," Nandani clarified, and my mouth hung open. My voice stuck in my throat for a solid few moments, and a wide smile appeared on my face.

"Special night?" I asked in a whisper, concealing it from the attendees walking here and there, and Aishwarya laughed a little.

"Are you not afraid about it?" Suman asked, sensing my happiness to be strange.

"I was so afraid," she replied with a soft sigh.

"By the way, I do not know your name?" I looked at Abhinandan's wife, and she smiled with a soft reply.

"Trisha, it is, Mallika," I found her gesture welcoming.

"Beautiful name," I replied.

"And you all were scared?" I asked, looking at them, wondering why exactly they were frightened. They did not love their husband.

"Only a little," Trisha replied.

"A lot," Aishwarya exclaimed, enlarging her eyes, "I had my heartbeats in my mouth,"

"I had mixed feelings," Nandani replied, lowering her gaze. Suman inhaled sharply.

"I was nervous," Suman said.

"I was really scared," Ghazal broke the silence.

"And, how was your experience? I mean, can you tell me something that will help?" I asked, looking at them, and they just smiled.

"Difficult question," Trisha replied.

"How about you fall asleep and delay it?" Ghazal suggested, and they all laughed slowly.

"Why?" I asked.

"Because it's..." Ghazal did not finish.

"Painful?" I asked, and Suman immediately answered.

"Yes," she nodded with full confidence. "Too much, initially, but... get better,"

"And adventurous," Trisha added with a smile, and I nodded.

Adventurous? I could not relate to it.

"Okay," I breathed.

"You might feel numb," Nandani said, and we all looked at her for a moment.

"Oh," Now, I really felt a little bit scared.

Numb? Why exactly? I had never seen anyone in the brothel getting numb.

"Also, it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience," Aishwarya said with a wide smile, and she placed her hand on my shoulders.

"You can always say No," she added in a low voice, and they all hummed in unity.

"I use it often," Ghazal said with a grin.

"How often?" Nandani asked with interest.

"Seven days a week," she replied, and we all laughed.

"By the way, here we are," Ghazal said, signaling towards our chamber, and I smiled at them.

"Is there any surprise waiting for me? Like that flowers and candles?" I asked, and they all chuckled, looking at me.

But, instead of answering, they walked me inside, and the moment I noticed the whole chamber filled with the floral scent, burning candles, and carpets of flower petals laid on the floor, a gasp escaped my lips.

I was honestly shocked.

I only thought of a few flowers, not the bed, and a few pieces of furniture drowning in the flower petals. It was too much.

I noticed Ruhani adding the rose petals on the bed.

"Do you like it?" Ghazal asked, catching my attention from that, and I nodded.

Though, I was awestruck.

"It's beautiful," I replied, finally gaining my voice, knitting my brows, and asking.

"So, the game was just to implement this?" I asked with a few questions blurring my mind, and they all nodded.

"Hmmmmmm!!!!" they hummed in unity.

"Bhabhijaan," Ruhani screamed with joy, and I looked at her.

"How is this?" she asked, filling the last little blank spot on the bed with roses.

"Beautiful," I replied. The word 'Beautiful' would not be able to describe it completely. Walking down the few stairs to step inside, I raked my eyes around, soaking into the flowery embrace.

And, noticing the mixed flower petals laid on the floor, I pulled my feet out of my bellies.

My soul hurt to crush them with footwear.

I had never walked on my flowers. I loved flowers, but walking on them did not feel right.

But they were making me feel special.

I felt so special.

"Mallika, you should rest; we should leave you with Ruhani and Ghazal. And all the best," I heard Trisha's sweet voice and beautiful smile, and I just nodded absentmindedly.

"Congratulations!!!" Nandani said, smiling at me before adding, "Good night. And enjoy it to the fullest. This is a special night for the women,"

I wished her back, "Good night, and thank you. I will," and assured.

Aishwarya and Suman smiled at me. "Good night, Mallika, enjoy the night," they both wished while leaving with Nandani and Trisha. I nodded and gestured a Salam to all of them.

Ghazal looked at me. She chose to stay.

"Are you really nervous?" she asked, her voice now loathed with the seriousness, and I nodded a little.

Honestly, I was not before, but after having the kiss right below my ear, I was definitely nervous now.

Also, I did not know what Jaan-e-Jahan would do. He had not even called me beautiful or said any beautiful words a husband should say to his wife.

I did not know what he was feeling.

I wanted to know what he was feeling about me.

"Come," Ruhani said, catching my attention. I noticed Ghazal helping me lift my dress up a little as I placed my feet ahead, one after the other.

Though, I should focus on this.

Reaching closer to the bed, I noticed Ruhani putting her hand out for me.

I held it and inhaled deeply as she asked.

"Do you want to change?"

She had a beautiful smile on her face and was flushed. I did not know what she was thinking, but it would not be so hard to guess that she was madly in love with her husband.

I did not know if I wanted to change.

I did not know anything. I would change it if Jaan-e-Jahan wanted me to, but I would not change it if he wanted to take it off by himself or watch me in it for the whole night.

"I will ask Jaan-e-Jahan," I replied in a low voice, and her smile grew even wider, and I could not help but feel a deep blush on my cheeks.

She sat in front of me, and I noticed Ghazal sitting beside me as well.

"Aapi, Darna mat, Sultan tang kare to palat kar so jana,"

"Sister, do not get afraid, okay? If the Sultan teases you, just turn around and fall asleep." This was the most Ghazal had spoken about.

"Nahi tang karenge, bohot ache hai Rehman Bhaijaan,"

"He will not tease you; Rehman Bhaijaan is really nice," Ruhani said, looking at me, and I smiled.

"I hope so," Ghazal said, and I chuckled.

I wanted to know what was there between her and Haider. They seemed pretty much in love but mysterious.

"Are you feeling nervous?" Ruhani asked, gently caressing my henna and red-inked hands.

I shook my head.

"No, nothing about him scares or nervouses me," I replied in a soft voice and they smiled looking at me.

"That is how a relationship should be," Ruhani said, and suddenly, we all noticed the faded noise of all the men laughing.

"I guess they are here," Ghazal said. Now, I felt a tiny knot curling in my stomach.

"Alright, Bhabhijaan, All the Best, and I really hope you do not catch a fever tomorrow. And, if you do, you should know that you got lucky," she said, and I did not understand a single thing.

Ghazal giggled while hearing her, and I just smiled silently, looking at them walk out of the chamber.

Now, I wanted to meet my husband. My Jaan-e-Jahan.

"Welcome, Bhaijaan," I heard Ruhani's faded voice coming from the door. My smile grew wider.

I could not see anything as the whole bed was covered with long curtains of flowers.

There was a mix of jasmine and roses.

Everything was so beautiful. I had never even thought of it in my dreams.

Because, in my dreams, he was not a Sultan; he was a simple man with a simple life.

I dreamt of a small home, our sorted life, and me loving him the most. Everyday. Making every moment of his life special.

Suddenly, I heard a burst of loud laughter and Jaan-e-Jahan exclaiming.

"Do not push me; at least, I am going,"

And, after that, the doors were shut closed.

My heartbeats slowed down.

Finally, me and him were in a chamber, closed doors, and in the middle of the night.

Unknowingly, a wide smile appeared on my face, and suddenly, all of my overeating uneasiness, the tightness of my outfit over my waist, and the sweat beads crawling down the curves of my back stopped.

Everything stopped.

I looked at myself from my chest to my toes. My knees were closer to my chest, my feet feathering over the layers of roses over the maroon bedsheet.

I tied my bangles-filled hands over my calves as I noticed the faded noise of him stepping forward.

I was unconsciously counting on my breaths, anticipating his steps approaching me.

With each passing moment, the sound of soft thumps grew louder. I lowered my gaze.

My nose felt short for the sudden uneven breathing.

Seven years.

I craved this night for seven years. And, finally, I was having it.

But, suddenly, I noticed the footsteps fading away.

My brows knit with confusion, and I lifted my head a little up, trying to peek through the curtains of the flowers, wondering where he had gone.

Maybe he was standing there and wondering where to start.

I could understand.

He could be nervous.

But why the hell was I feeling nervous?

I knew everything. I knew what had happened, and I had seen it happen hundreds of times before me.

The loving, the brutal, and everything in between them.

I was no naive.

"Jaan-e-Jahan," I tried to call out slowly, not using my complete voice and showing my true colors on my first day.

True Colors— Excitement and impatience.

Technically, first night.

Correction! Second.

Because, yesterday, he slept with his nonexistent one of the three thousand wives.

Oh, correction! Three thousand and one.

Haha!

Just one. Me.

Rehana—?

What after it?

Should I use my family's name or my husband's name?

Well, my mother was an English girl and got tied up with my father.

Many say that I was not even his legitimate child because my parents never got married.

But my father always took great care of me. He loved me dearly, and that was why I still missed him.

Maybe he would come back one day.

My mixed genes and illegitimacy were some of the reasons why my mother sold me to a brothel.

But destiny brought me where I should be.

Hamid Sultanate.

The sultanate I had never seen before. I was born years later after my uncle lost it to Rafiq Sultan.

But destiny brought me back here, and now people call me Mallika of it.

It was not like I was proud of something.

But, shocked. Grateful, actually.

And, suddenly, I returned back to the present as no voice came from his side in return, and I closed my eyes for a moment.

If I stepped down the bed, the decoration would get ruined.

What if he was in the washroom?

I should wait.

I kept waiting and waitingg and waitinggg.

The floral scent and the comforting bed after the tiring day begin to make me feel dizzy.

Even my straight back hurt sitting like this. It was too much delicate and seductive.

When he did not come for a while, I stretched my legs long and laid back against the pile of soft pillows.

I told him clearly to sleep with me.

But he just seemed to be too stubborn.

Closing my eyes, I felt like giving up to sleep.

But, suddenly, I felt the faded noise of the footsteps again.

And, this time, they were approaching me. My dizziness broke, and my eyes widened as the mild smell of bathing oils hit my nose.

Oh! He was taking a bath.

And just when I was to sit up again, he parted the floral curtains, and my sight fell on him.

He was rubbing his wet hair off with the towel. The dark brown Kurta revealing the V in his chest made my mouth water, all of a sudden.

"Kapde nahi badle abhi tak, inhi me soengi?"

"You have not changed the clothes yet. Will you sleep in these?" he asked, throwing the towel away, and took a few steps back.

He looked serious.

I noticed him walk towards the other side of the bed and part those curtains again.

He had a book in his hand, and he gently collected the curtain on his side and tied it with the bedpost so that the light emerging from the table's oil lamp would fall on the bed.

Sitting down, he laid back against the pile of pillows and looked at me.

"What happened?" he asked, and I gulped nervously, noticing how amazing his hands looked with his sleeves rolled up to his elbows.

I had not seen them before.

"Rehana, you will sleep in these?" He asked again, catching my attention, and opened the book

I gulped, looking at myself, and asked.

"Badal le kapde? Utar de inhe?"

"Should I change the clothes? Take them off?" I asked in a low and sad voice. I looked so beautiful in them. And he just wanted me to take them off. Just like that?

"Aap nahi utarenge?"

"You would not take them off?" I could not stop myself from asking, and he just stared silently at me before a wide smile appeared on his face.

I waited for his answer and he did not reply, looking at the book.

"Jaan-e-Jahan, badal le kya? Sach me?"

"Should I change for real, Jaan-e-Jahan? Really?" I asked him again, looking at the beautiful bridal outfit I was wearing.

I did not want to take it off by myself. It felt so special.

And, he replied lifting his gaze for a moment.

"Hn, Bache, isme neend kese aaegi aapko?"

"Yes, bache, how will you sleep in this?" His caring voice melted me but I could not clicking my tongue with frustration and pushed the floral curtains away to step down the bed.

Fine!

Walking away from there, I went to the changing room and found two different outfits. It was the gown with an inner, which would end low on my thighs.

That looked bad. Jaan-e-Jahan would not like it even a bit. I was understanding him slowly.

And, the other was a plain white coloured ankle length suit with the lower. The fabric felt soft and it was full sleeves. And, noticing the loose fitting, I decided to wear it.

It would be comfortable.

Standing before the mirror, I grabbed my dupatta and took it off before beginning to take off my necklace.

One by one, I took every piece of jewelry off my body except my anklet bells and bangles.

And, then, I took off this mountain of dress. And the moment I took it off, I felt so light.

Keeping that on the table with care, folding neatly, I dressed up in that thin suit.

But my braid still had jewelry, and I needed someone to take it off.

It frustrated me for some reason.

One, Jaan-e-Jahan was ignoring me like farmers ignore crows.

Exactly, they push crows away willingly. They don't ignore them.

Second, I was feeling tired and sleepy now, but I wanted to spend some time with him.

Having no option left, I marched back to the bedroom and approached him.

Parting the curtains, I noticed him deeply engrossed in a book. Like, he should be in my face, in my arms, and in my love.

Urgh.

"Jaan-e-Jahan," I called out, sitting on the bed, and he replied with a hum.

"Hnnnn," without even looking at me.

"Idhar dekhiya na,"

"Look at here," I said, and he just forwarded his hand out, signaling me to wait.

Clicking my tongue with frustration, I laid on my side, and weighed my body on my elbows, shiting on my stomach and curled my hand around his hand.

"Jaan-e-Jahan, suniya na,"

"Jaan-e-Jahan, listen to me," I requested.

I understood that he might not have liked the dress, but this night was to read the book?

And when he did not reply, I placed his hand flat on the bed, palm up, and placed my cheek into it, wanting to feel at least the warmth of his hand.

My lashes felt heavy as soon as the comfort of his palm sent the calm of love to my wandering soul.

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