Ruhani POV

'Yu is Qadar Hamare Aansuo ki wajah na ban Aashiq,

Khuda-e-Kasam, Mohobbat-e-Ruhani ko Umr bhar tarsega'

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'Don't you become the reason for my tears O Love,
You will yearn, I swear on God, lifetime, for my Love.'

***

'यू इस क़दर हमारे आंसुओ की वजह न बन आशिक़,

खुदा-ए-क़सम, मोहोब्बत-ए-रूहानी को उम्र भर तरसेगा '

My heart hurt insanely as I looked into his eyes. There were no emotions or feelings as if my family was just a delinquent already.

I didn't know how to make him understand that my family didn't betray him. We sent the letter all by ourselves to reveal that I was mute. But what was the use of voice in front of a deaf?

He had already decided to punish them rather than thinking for some time. Otherwise, he would not have called my father into the courtroom.

Honestly, I could see the hate he had for my family, as If he believed that my father was the reason behind his father's death. But, this was not true. Only I knew the cause, and never in my life could I tell it to anyone, not even my shadow.

He walked away from there without even having breakfast. Neither was I hungry for the meal, rather the impatience and the worst possibilities surrounded my brain.

I looked at Adeena and tried to tell her I wanted to meet my father. She thinned her eyebrows and looked at Saeed in confusion. A tear rolled down my eyes as I again tried the sign language.

"Father?... You want to meet your father?"

She asked.

I nodded immediately.

Her mother gave me a deadly glare, but Saeed interrupted.

"Bhabhijaan, come with me," He held my wrist and made me walk out of the dastarkhan and took me to the Royal Court.

I was stunned to see my father and Rehman Bhaijaan Standing in the middle of it with a few men present, still waiting for the Sultan.

My father turned to see me, and I couldn't stop running and landing in his comfortable hug.

"Ruhani,"

My name from his mouth sounded like heaven as he collected me in his secure hug. I sobbed silently, and he patted my head slowly, asking.

"What happened, Ruhani,?"

He kissed my forehead, and I cried even more.

No, I was not unhappy because he did not treat me as I was expecting, but I was disappointed because he called my father into the Courtroom. He was not just my father but a friend, saviour, idol, and everything. Ever since I took birth, he has been my teacher, making me who I am.

My fingers fisted his overcoat tightly as I remembered how my husband disrespected him.

"Hamare jigar ke tukde ko kisne dukh pohuchaya, batae hume,"

"Tell me, who hurt you, my princess?"

He asked with authority, and I left the hug. Washing my tears, he made me look into his eyes and ask.

"Ye to hamari Ruhani nahi hai, itni si baat pe itne aansu?"

"This is not our Ruhani; this many tears for just a small thing?"

I sobbed even more and tried to tell him with sign language.

'He thinks that we lied to him. But I know we sent the letter,'

He smiled and replied.

"We did send the letter. Nobody lied; moreover, your alliance with him was fixed in childhood in the presence of his father, Ibrahim,"

'I know, but he is not ready to accept

"Leave it; you just tell me if he misbehaved with you?"

I shook my head immediately.

But before he could say anything. The announcer announced his presence in a loud voice.

"Attention! Please stand for the grace of his highness as Sultan Aashiq Ibrahim Khan is stepping up the Royal Throne,"

My heartbeats raced as I saw him walking towards the throne, and for a few moments, our eyes met; I immediately withdrew my gaze, feeling afraid.

"Hamari sultanate me aapka istikbal hai phuphajaan,"

"You are welcome in our Sultanate, dear uncle,"

My father chuckled.

"Kamaal hai, Aashiq, Phuphajaan ko seedha hi peshi pe bula liya, na koi khatirdaari, na ji huzuri, tehjeeb ki kasar maalum ho rahi hai,"

"Wow, Aashiq, called your uncle directly to the courtroom, no hospitality, no welcome, clearly witnessing the lack of manners,"

His words made me stunned in no time. I expected soft talks, but he didn't seem in that mood.

"Tehjeeb ki aad me dhokha mila hai hume. Aitbaar kiya tha ki hume apna samajhte honge aap, hamare abbu ke ishare par, na hum Ruhani se mile, na dekha, na baat ki, or Aitbaar ka ye sila, Dhokha diya aapne hume, aapke khandhan ne,"

"I have been deceived in the manner of Culture. I had thought that you would consider us as your own at the behest of my father; neither I met Ruhani, nor seen, nor talked to, or is this the result of respect; you deceived us, even your family members,"

I could see the hate and arrogance in his voice. He was clearly upset with whatever happened.

"Deceived? We sent you the letter two days before the wedding. We didn't know that you all knew Ruhani could not speak. She lost her voice at a young age, that's why I myself wrote a letter to you because we didn't want to hide it. And even received the reply,"

My father declared with confidence, and I knew he was right. The attendee from his Kingdom himself said that Sultan had no problem with this.

"Show me the reply?"

Sultan Aashiq asked.

"Show you? It wasn't a letter but an informer from you, Empire, who told me that you don't have any problem,"

"You are lying," Aashiq exclaimed louder, stepping down from the throne.

"Why would I lie?"

My father asked back with the same tone.

"Because you wanted to fix your daughter's wedding with me, anyhow,"

"I accepted this alliance because it was your father's last wish. Now, seeing your behaviour, I AM REGRETTING MY DECISION,"

"You care for my father's wish, and you killed him,"

I couldn't stop my rolling tears. All this was happening because of me.

Seeing me crying, Rehman Bhaijaan came closer and hugged me tightly.

"Shh, baby, calm down; they are just talking,"

I cried even more.

"He got attacked when he was visiting us. Why would I kill him? He was my cousin, the closest one to my heart,"

"Shut up, Aashiq, calm your damn mouth down,"

Rehman Bhaijaan interrupted.

"I know he was your father, but he was no less for us too. Just because he spent his last few days in our Kingdom doesn't mean we planned his death,"

He yelled at him with a cold face.

He fell silent for a moment and then finished.

"I want revenge for this betrayal. First, you took my father away and then betrayed me. I don't hate her for being mute, but this betrayal is unacceptable. You can't prove your point well. I didn't receive any letter. I just got to know about this conspiracy last night,"

"There is no conspiracy. Ruhani is a piece of my heart that I gave to you. Why would I risk my daughter's life by doing so,"

My father said with a cold and dangerous tone.

"Because that piece of the heart cannot speak and is a burden on you,"

I looked at him, but before I could process what he said, my father landed a loud slap on the cheek. The rings pierced his cheek and shook his neck as the slap was powerful.

I was scared to death.

"You don't deserve her. Not her; you don't deserve any woman. First being a father, then differentiate between the burden and the miracle,"

"Chalo Ruhani, hum aapko ek pal ke liye bhi yaha nahi rehne denge,"

"Let's go, Ruhani; I can't let you stay here, even for a single moment,"

My father held my hand and started walking.

But I kept standing frozen in my steps and looked at him.

All this was happening because of me. My father and family were again in trouble because of me. I couldn't go back to increase their problems. Moreover, Aashiq's father made me promise never to leave him. It was his last words to me. He wanted me to be on his son's side, always.

'I cannot come with you,'

I cried while signalling to him.

"Why? You don't deserve to be here,"

He declared.

'It doesn't matter what I deserve, but I should be here with my husband. I am married now,'

My father cupped my cheek and muttered.

"He doesn't deserve a person like you, Ruhani. He doesn't deserve you,"

The tears rolled down my eyes even more.

'I can't leave him. I have a responsibility now.'

He pulled me in a hug, and I cried even more.

"No doubt, why I love you the most and am proud of you. But, this time, you must agree with what I am saying. You are coming with me,"

I shook my head and begged him silently.

Please...

He sucked on his lips and kissed my forehead.

"Aashiq Khan, if I ever find that you have hurt my daughter, God swear, I will forget that you are Ibrahim's son and now my son-in-law,"

He warned him, and I could clearly see the tensions between both men.

Though, even from starting they both did not like each other much. The main reason for the alliance was just his father, Ibrahim Khan.

He was the friend of my father, his cousin's brother. And he was the brother of my Badi Ammi, Zeenat.

My father respected him a lot, and this marriage was the last wish he presented before him before he passed away.

"Leave her, first save yourself from me. I will take revenge for this slap, this betrayal, and my father's death. God swear, only one of us could stay alive,"

He was filled with rage when he muttered those few words.

"We should leave, Abbu Jaan,"

Rehman Bhaijaan interrupted and pulled me into a hug.

"Just write to me whenever you need, whatever you need, your brother will come running to you,"

He kissed my forehead, and I smiled.

Rehman Bhaijaan was the calmest of us. He was always smiling and easy with things. He didn't get angry quickly.

After releasing the hug, I looked at my father. He was looking concerned and tensed about me.

'Abbu, please don't worry and don't tell Ammi anything. She will be worried unnecessarily,'

He kissed my forehead and blessed me.

"Allah aapko hamari khushiyan arjh kare, meri nanhi si jaan pata nahi kab khush hogi,"

"May god bless you with my happiness; I don't know when my small baby will be filled with happiness,"

I smiled and kissed his hands.

With a heavy heart, I bid goodbye to my father and brother and turned to see him.

His cheek got pierced with the slap, and a little blood leaked.

Honestly, I was scared because of him.

But, he said slowly.

"You should go to your chamber,"

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