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Ruhani POV

My heart was sunk into the dilemma. Being in a relationship that was either awaiting me to swim or die in those high tides, was confusing for me to put effort into or not.

I was getting ready in that luxurious fabric, like a Queen but all this was incomplete when I wasn't able to comprehend the true emotions on the face of my husband.

No, he wasn't torturing me, he wasn't giving me hard time yet he was strangely sweet and welcoming. But wasn't it too good to be true? Wasn't it suspicious?

"Bhabhijaan, are you ready?"

I came out of my thoughts all of sudden and looked at Adeena who was waiting for my reply, sitting on the couch having a bite of fruit.

My lips curved into a smile and nodded. Fixing my veil over my head, I was feeling confused about why I was doing so.

His mother was looking for another bride for him. His behavior didn't seem like being in love with me. And yet, I was getting ready as the wedded princess to cook for the first time in her In-law's home.

"Shall we go?"

Adeena asked again and I walked to her, clearing my thoughts.

Nodding smilingly I joined her to walk to the royal kitchen.

Passing the galleries, the royal garden, and that pool with a lot of pet animals of the Sultan, we reached the area of the Royal kitchen.

It was made in a slightly isolated place that was equally distant from the royal dining hall, royal chambers, and guest chambers.

"Assalamualaikum Bahu Begum,"

An old man along with a few other men and women wished to look at me.

I smiled and signaled to wish them back.

"Assalamualaikum, Adeena Sultana,"

They all wished Adeena too and she replied with a warm smile.

"Chachajaan, muuafi chahte hai magar aaj aapki bawarchi khane se chutti hai... Magar keval meethe ke liye, agar daawat ban chuki ho to hamari bhabhijaan ko meetha banane ki izazat de,"

"Chachajaan, you all are granted leave for the rest of the day... but only for the sweet dish, Kindly allow the Bhabhijaan to proceed if the main course is ready,"

She said with a warm smile and the royal chef replied.

"Everything is ready, Princess, Bahu Begum can start with the sweet dish,"

Replying with a warm smile he asked a few men to put the really big clean pot over the stove. Igniting the fire, I started with my work.

Pouring the oil followed by the other ingredients, I spent a good time cooking Sheer Khurma for at least a hundred people. The aroma of sweet herbs and dry fruits traveled all across the clouds of the royal kitchen.

I was busy cooking when Adeena suddenly spoke.

"Bhabhijaan, I am just coming back in some time,"

I nodded and she left me there alone. I was mixing it continues to bring the creamy texture and sweetness balanced.

At last, when I was almost done with the cooking and well satisfied with the result. I signaled to Nagina who also came with us.

"Can you please help it put down,"

Nagina asked the helpers and they did so.

Thereafter, I signaled her to ask them to serve the dish in bowls.

They all started working quickly while I indulged myself in crushing some dry fruits and cinnamon and cardamom to enhance the taste.

When they all were done transferring it into the bowls, I was waiting for Adeena to come back. I looked at Nagina and asked her to bring Adeena back as I didn't know what I was supposed to do now.

She left and I started garnishing all the bowls with crushed dry fruits and powder.

"Ahhnn, The smell feels so good,"

My sight suddenly fell on Rabia who just entered here. My eyebrows thinned in a row a little seeing her walking closer to us.

She looked at all the bowls with amusement and looked at me.

"Wow, Ruhani, this is so good,"

Her smile, I didn't know but inside of me was denying to trust that. Maybe it was because she had ideas of marrying my husband.

Though, smiling back, I again diverted my gaze back to my work.

When all the staff were done with the work and platted all the bowls in the trays. I looked at Rabia who just muttered close to me.

"Ruhani, andar ki baat batae, hamari khalajaan ko chuaare behad pasand hai... hamari raaye hai ki aapko unki katori me chuaare bhi daalne chahiye, unki nafrat par farak padega,"

"Ruhani, there is a piece of inside information... that your mother-in-law really likes dry dates... I think you should also add it to her bowl. I am sure it will help your relationship,"

She said with a warm smile, I didn't know but I was slightly doubting it. 

But, before I could say anything she asked one of the helpers to get the crushed dry dates. 

I kept standing when she added dry dates to one of the bowls and mixed it, garnishing again with the dry fruits.

"Ruhani, I think I should go now, Khala must be waiting for me,"

She said and I smiled blankly waiting for her to leave.

"Bhabhijaan, is it ready?"

I looked at Adeena who just entered after Rabia left. Along with her, Nagina was there and I smiled looking at all the bowls.

"Oh my God, this smells and looks so delicious. I can't wait to have it,"

She smiled with joy and asked looking at all the helpers.

"Take all the lunch to the dining hall along with the sweet dish,"

"Come with me Bhabhijaan,"

She asked looking at me and I nodded.

We all walked to the dining hall and reached there. It was already afternoon when we entered it. My sight fell on the people already seated there. There were only family members as there must be a different setup for the left royals.

Suddenly, Adeena held my hand and made me walk to the seat next to Sultan.

"Bhabhijaan, sit here,"

She said and I just looked at Ammi whose eyes just showed hatred.

I wished, signaling her, and sat keeping my eyes low.

"Rabia, sit here, we all were waiting for you,"

I looked at Rabia who just entered and looked at the vacant place next to Sultan.

She walked smilingly and sat there greeting her Khalajaan.

I looked at Sultan who was noticing me while my eyes were fixed on Rabia didn't know why.

"Kaafi achi hai na Rabia vese,"

"Rabia is so good,"

He muttered a little and I just turned my gaze to look at him with anger. He smiled and stared at me.

"yah khuda, na jaane kyu ye jalan hume sukoon de rahi hai,"

"God, don't know why this jealousy is making me feel so good,"

He muttered extremely slowly only audible to me.

I instantly lowered my gaze and waited till the food was served.

I didn't know but I was feeling slightly nervous as, after the meal, there was a turn of sweet dishes. His mother already hated me to hell and if anything up or down happens, I would be finished.

"Aree, Aashiq, aapke haath me kya hua?"

"Aashiq, what happened to your hand?"

I was caught off-guard by the voice of Ammi as she looked at his pierced hand. He was struggling with the food as the curry just stuck to the torn part of his thumb.

"Kuch nahi Ammi, Shamsheer ke saath majak kar rahe the... Haath kat gaya,"

"Nothing serious Ammi, just playing with the sword and got the cut,"

He said and I remembered whom he was referring to the sword. I blinked nervously and her next words just made me look at her with shock.

"Don't worry, Rabia will help you eat,"

"Right, Rabia?"

She asked looking at her with a wide smile and she replied instantly pulling his plate to her side.

"Of course, Khalajaan, why not?"

My stomach twisted insanely and he interfered suddenly.

"Ji nahi Ammi, Rabia hamari mehmaan hai... or vese bhi ye hak sirf hamari Begum ka hai,"

"No Ammi, Rabia is our guest... and after all this right only belongs to my wife,"

He pulled his plate back and she spoke suddenly.

"Lekin Aashiq, Ruhani thak gayi hongi... unhone aaj Khana bhi to banaya hai,"

"But Aashiq, Ruhani must be tired... She also cooked today after all,"

"Esa hai to hum khud kha sakte hai... pehli baar chot nahi lagi hai hume... lagti rehti hai tab Rabia hi thodi khilati hai,"

"If this is the case, then I can eat by myself... after all this isn't the first time I am wounded... not every time Rabia feeds me right,"

I looked at his slightly arrogant face as if this just irritated him.

Without thinking twice, I pulled the plate slowly to my side and moved his hand aside. Tearing the bites, I looked at him asking him to cooperate with me.

He leaned in closer to my hand and ate silently.

His lips accidentally brushed my fingers and I blinked nervously. My eyes stole the gaze of Rabia and Ammi whose lunch had just turned into a nightmare. While Adeena and Saeed were trying hard to compress their wide smiles. 

Also, the expressions of Sultan were flat, just like only caring for his stomach to get filled.

One after the other, I kept feeding him until Rabia's face turned red with anger and Ammi almost stopped eating.

And to make them even angrier, I brushed off the curry stuck to the side of his lips with my fingers slowly.

He hid his smile and looked at everyone.

"Aap sab hume hi dekhte rahenge ya apna khana bhi khaenge,"

"You all keep watching us? or start eating,"

He asked looking at Ammi and Rabia, and they both turned their gaze back to their food.

Then, he looked at me back again and muttered.

"I am done, Ruhani, you should also eat,"

He said softly and my heart fluttered. I didn't know why this man was doing this to me. One moment he was different and in another someone whom I couldn't stop looking at. I nodded blinking nervously and looked at my plate.

I had a few bites only as I wasn't feeling like eating much.

And, then my sight fell on the attendees who started serving the sweet dish. One by one, they were serving the bowl of it, and when they reached us. 

I stood up a little and noticed all the bowls. I was searching for that particular one in which Rabia mixed dry dates. I didn't know but I couldn't trust her. I noticed that bowl in the corner as it was garnished differently than others.

I picked it up and served it to Sultan. I couldn't risk my already struggling relationship with her mother by feeding her anything different.

I took another bowl for myself too and smiled at the server to carry on with her business.

She moved to Ammi then and she picked up a bowl.

"Ammijaan, I bet you will like it so much. Bhabhijaan has made it with so many efforts,"

Adeena said looking at her and she just smiled devilishly.

"That I can tell after tasting only,"

She took the spoon and tasted it. Her eyes told that she liked it a lot yet that cold-hearted lady replied.

"Not that bad,"

"Behad lazeez hai,"

"Extremely delicious,"

My eyes suddenly turned to Sultan who just interfered catching all the eyes.

He said boldly and I looked at Adeena who spoke in between.

"Yes, Bhaijaan, this is the best I have ever had, Bhabhijaan,"

There were a few more appraisals for me and then suddenly Saeed spoke.

"Kya bhabhijaan, Sirf bhaijaan ki katori me chuaare, humse mohobbat nahi hai kya aapko,"

"What is this Bhabhijaan, dry dates only for Bhaijaan, you don't love us?"

I looked at him blankly as he noticed it and looked at others who were also searching for dry dates in their bowls.

I didn't know what to say and suddenly Sultan muttered to me.

"Aap jaanti hai hume Chuaare pasand hai,"

"You know I like dry dates,"

I just stared blankly at him. I didn't know that it would work like that. I just smiled weakly and turned to look back at my bowl. My cheeks, not to mention turned red with his sweet talks.

Finally, the lunch went well and I came back to my chamber back. Along with me, Adeena and Nagina also came and sat on the couch.

"Bhabhijaan, I didn't understand that dry date thing?"

Adeena asked looking at me all of sudden.

I smiled and looked at Nagina signaling her everything. She translated it to her and she looked at me in amusement.

"You mean, that Rabia tried to add dry dates into the bowl of Ammi and you just served that to Bhaijaan?"

I nodded.

"Well played Bhabhijaan otherwise you might have fallen into deep trouble,"

I thinned my eyebrows and she continued.

"Ammi Jaan is allergic to dry dates. She can't bear having them,"

Now, this piece of information hit me differently. Everything made sense to me instantly. That sweet smile and important information.

"I must say, you have to be careful from Rabia. She is a smart girl,"

I nodded to her.

"I should go now, Bhabhijaan... Bhaijaan must be coming here as his court meetings get finished by this time,"

She said and I nodded silently.

She left the chamber and I just turned to part the curtains to feel some soothing sunlight. I stood near the window looking at the clear sky. The warm sunlight soothed my skin making me remember the peace I was looking for. 

I waited for him but when it seems like he wasn't coming here, I got a little comfortable lying over the bed on my stomach and opened the book I just started yesterday.

It was a love story of a couple who just had an arranged marriage and I was waiting to read the next part.

Another Update!!!

Don't forget to vote, comment, and share the book.

Hope you all are liking it.

Well, I know the pace of the story is slightly slow and you all must not be enough even in the more than two thousand words. But, believe me, it is purposely like that and you all will understand this at the end 😉😉😉

I hope, you are not feeling bored?

By the way, My exams are close and I am writing one more book along so updates will be slow until the next notice... ❤❤❤ Also, I don't want to hurry Ruhani just for the sake of finishing... hope you all understand.

Follow bhi to karo yaaro... I mean itne saare Indian readers but they all just run after the foreign writers and then they complain ki Indian writers arent good enough on Wattpad. Hamare Indian readers hi nahi Support karenge hum writers ko to Acha likhne ki motivation kaha se milegi. And because of this I saw many of the talented writers stop writing. I know we aren't the best, neither good as other heavy writers but not even that bad, that don't even deserve a supportive following. I hope you all got me ❤❤❤❤❤

Love you all ❤❤❤