Ruhani POV

Musht-e-Khaq jitni umeed hi kaafi,

Haasil karne ko sar jameen-e-mukhalif,

Magar Noor-e-chand, gulaab-e-lab aur,

Mohobbat-e-Ruhani...

Aashiq ko hamare kaafi nahi... Kaafi nahi,

***

मुश्त - ए - ख़ाक जितनी उम्मीद ही काफी,

हासिल करने को सर ज़मीन - ए - मुखालिफ,

मगर... नूर - ए - चाँद, गुलाब- ए - लब और मोहोब्बत - ए - रूहानी,

आशिक को हमारे काफ़ी नहीं... काफ़ी नहीं।

***

Enough is the Hope, equal to the handful of Sand,

to achieve, enemy's Kingdom's Land,

But, this glorious face, rosy lips, and the divine love of Ruhani,

to my love, not enough... not enough

***

A handful of hope is enough to win the Kingdom of an enemy. But this glorious face, rosy lips, and divine love of mine were not enough for Aashiq. 

***

Adeena brought me back to my room, and Saeed followed silently. There was utter silence outside, but a storm was thundering inside me. The noise of that slap and the scary conversation was alarming inside my brain.

I didn't know what would happen now. How would he behave with me? Everything was so scary and dangerous. Everything that happened from last night to now was blurring my vision repeatedly, bringing goosebumps to my skin.

"Bhabhijaan,"

Suddenly the voice of Adeena broke my chain of thoughts.

Sitting beside me, she held my trembling fingers and muttered weakly.

"Don't worry, Bhabhijaan; we two won't let anything happen to you,"

I smiled weakly and signalled them back.

'I know,'

She thinned her eyebrows and chuckled a little.

"Okay, I think we first need to understand this sign language. Otherwise, we can't plan anything,"

I smiled as she mentioned 'plan' teasingly.

"Don't worry, Adeena; I already called a translator, you know,"

Saeed smiled.

"Bhabhijaan, everyone here is good. But, you have to stay away and safe from my mother,"

I thinned my eyebrows as Adeena turned and tensed all of a sudden.

"Unlike us, my mother has great influence over Bhaijaan. Trust me, he is not that bad and very alone in his life. The loss of our father hollowed him from the inside, and that was when my mother created an impact on him. He undoubtedly believes her but trusts me, she is not good. She had always opposed this wedding and will try her best not to let it work at all,"

She was whispering slowly.

"But, you don't worry. I know you are the best for our Bhaijaan. We love you after all,"

Saeed interrupted.

The siblings seemed to be my age, and they were really good and helpful.

"Privacy,"

I shivered when I noticed that Sultan was there. His face was emotionless, and I looked at Adeena and Saeed.

They both stood up and gave each other looks.

"But, Bhaijaan,"

Saeed tried to interrupt, but Sultan declared.

"Saeed, Adeena, you can meet her after some time,"

He said softly.

They both nodded and muttered slowly.

"Ji Bhaijaan,"

They looked at me with sympathy and then left the chamber silently.

Sultan locked the door when they left, and I silently stood up from bed. My heart was racing insanely, but I was trying to hide my fear.

He strolled toward me, and I was feeling weak on my knees. He walked closer, and with the nervousness, my veil slipped from my head. I quickly moved my hand to settle in the back, and the tickles of my bangles pierced the silence, making me even more uncomfortable.

"You could have gone back,"

He said, standing in front of me with a low yet angry voice. He was tall, more muscular, and well-built, which I noticed attentively.

I blinked as I didn't know how I was going to explain him.

I chose him because I was somewhere the reason for his father's death. And this cold condition of him was because of me, as he lost his father at such a tender age. The only promise I wanted to fulfil was the one that I made to his father. He just asked me to be with his son, Sultan Aashiq Ibrahim Khan.

"Aren't you scared of me?"

He asked all of a sudden.

I looked at him and smiled weakly.

Shaking my head, I tried to signal him.

I am married now.

I had a lot to say; I wanted to tell him everything. Why would I be scared? 

Well, people were afraid when they had something to lose. They were worried when they felt that anything worse could happen. But, in my case, the worse had already happened. The biggest fear of my life was standing in front of me. I was scared that he would reject me, and he did. What else could happen? 

What worse could happen in someone's life? The one you have been pursuing since childhood was not ready to accept and reject you.

But, in no case I could leave him alone. I couldn't disrespect the sacred rituals and this bond. Moreover, that one promise was my responsibility. No matter how weak I was, vulnerable, or broken, I was not someone who would run from reality and disrespect responsibility.

"Listen, Ruhani; I know all this isn't your fault,"

He started, and I looked at him.

"But it's neither mine. I have nothing for you: no hard feelings or even no feelings to be true. But, I hate your father. Don't worry; I am not the beast who would use you to hurt him. I am a man of words,"

I thinned my eyebrows a little.

"Until you are here, you are my responsibility, but I cannot assure you of your father's safety. You have to ask the attendee whatever you need. Every small or big wish will be fulfilled as you are my wife,"

A tear escaped my eyes, and I nodded.

"But, I cannot assure you, my love, Ruhani. As I myself don't know who I am. I have a goal and a destination to reach,"

"Jindagi ka safar bhot lamba hai mere dost,

Hamsafar tujhe kese bana le,

Jab hume khud apni manzil ka aitbaar nahi,

I smiled weakly as his talks were making sense to me.

Undoubtedly, he was emotional and still hollowed by the loss of his loved one. My father told me his story. How he was hollowed like this when he lost his loved ones, and then how my mother changed everything for him. 

It was like I was able to connect with him emotionally.

"And, the last thing, I am initiating a war against your father for this betrayal,"

He declared, and my heart started beating madly. A tear rolled down my eyes, and I fisted my hand on his overcoat to stop him. My lips were trembling to stop him.

Please...

I begged silently.

I closed my eyes and suddenly felt a light kiss on my forehead. I tightened my fist even more.

My heart was pounding hard in my chest.

"Khuda hafiz,"

He muttered slowly and walked away from there leaving me.

I settled on the bed, controlling the flood of tears on the dam of my eye. The door opened and shut back as he walked away and left me alone.

Adeena and Saeed entered when he left the chamber.

"Bhabhijaan,"

Adeena came and sat beside me, holding my hands.

"Don't worry; we will figure out something,"

She said and washed my tears.

"Saeed, pass a glass of water,"

Adeena said to Saeed, and I looked at her with hope.

'What will we do to stop him?'

I tried to ask her. She thinned her eyebrows, and I repeated slowing down the signals, even moving my lips to make her understand.

"Plan?"

She asked, and I nodded.

"No, we won't do anything. You will stop him?"

I thinned my eyebrows, listening to her.

She smiled and muttered.

"Our kingdom is not ready for war now. We don't have enough soldiers to beat Darmiyan Sultanate. The war preparations will take time, at least a few months. All we have to do is to stop Bhaijaan from preparations,"

"And how will we do that?"

Saeed interrupted.

"That you leave on me,"

She said with confidence.

"But, bhabhijaan make sure you are ready for frequent encounters with Bhaijaan,"

Her words weren't making any sense to me. How were we going to stop him?

"But, what exactly are you thinking, Adeena?"

Saeed asked, and I looked at her too.

"Nothing much; I think we should get some breakfast for Bhabhijaan. She must be hungry,"

Adeena said. 

But, suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

I shivered suddenly, and Saeed said.

"Come in,"

"Shehzaade Saeed, this lady wants to meet you,"

An attendee introduced a young girl. She was beautiful and chubby.

"Assalam walaikum shehzaade, I am Shaheen, the translator you asked for,"

"Oh yes, Shaheen, come here,"

The young girl walked to us, and Saeed said.

"She is our Bhabhijaan; you have to stay with her to help her always and Bhabhijaan,"

He turned to me.

"Don't you dare to feel afraid of anyone,"

I smiled weakly and nodded.

"By the way, Bhabhijaan, Bhaijaan also didn't have breakfast,"

I looked at Adeena, who said this line slowly, influencing each word.

I shook my face as if I didn't have the power to face him again. This idea was a flop. We two couldn't have breakfast together, at least after what happened.

Suddenly, Adeena clapped, and an attendee showed up.

"Bring the breakfast for us here and ask Bhaijaan to join us here for the breakfast. And specially mention Saeed and me in front of him,"

The attendee nodded and went from there.

I shook my head and looked at Adeena with pleading eyes.

"Don't worry, Bhabhijaan; he will not do anything in front of us,"

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