I left for the palace at dawn. Mahmood Hassan had announced the wedding last night and people had already started celebrating. I passed groups scattered about in lanes singing praises of Shehenshah and praying for his long of life. People referred to me as Malika Mayera. Very few of them knew I was none other than Saeed and even fewer knew I was the daughter of Abu Fazal. Whoever I was, people were ready to love me and respect me for Shehenshah had chosen me to be his wife. The guards let me pass through without a question, now that they knew who I was. Every passage I crossed in the palace I saw servants busy at work cleaning and beautifying. What could they do to make this palace more beautiful than it already was? Everyone I passed gave me a wide smile trying to show their happiness. Word spread like fire that I had returned. Tasleem came running to me even before I had reached the harem.

"We have been waiting for you. Malika Mariam would like to meet you before you retire to your chamber", she said as she escorted me.

"Assalamualaikum Maa", I said hugging Malika Mariam.

"Walaikumassalam Saeed. I must say I missed you even though you had just been here for a day"

"Well, I won't be going anywhere for a long time now"

"Did you have your breakfast?"

"Yes I did"

"I have already placed the suit and jewellery in your room. The nikah will be held after Asar (afternoon) salah. You have the whole day ahead of you to prepare yourself and relax. Malika Humera, Malika Firdous and other ladies of harem are looking forward to spending time with you. Do join us for lunch"

"I will", I said retiring to my chamber.

I needed some sleep for I had hardly slept during the night. After giving instructions to Zohra I fell asleep. She woke me up exactly like I had told her to, as soon as the muezzin called for the Zohar (noon) salah.

"Is the water ready?" I asked her. "Yes, it is Malika"

I entered the hammam to find a retinue of servant girls waiting to assist me. Bowls of sandal paste, aromatic bathing oils and rose water were placed on the sides of the wide hexagonal bathing tub which was filled to the brim with warm water.

"You all can leave. I'll bathe myself and call when I need you", I said to the servants. They looked at me surprised. Clearly no Queen had denied their assistance yet. But I wasn't comfortable stripping to a bare minimum even if it was in front of women. I stepped into the warm water and let it soothe me as I closed my eyes. I indulged myself in the luxury enjoying the feel. As the steam rose, a heavenly smell from all the spices and oils spread around the hammam intoxicating me. When I finally left the tub my black hair shone and my caramel skin was soft and supple. Wrapping a silk caftan after drying myself, I walked out. Zohra was waiting with oodh steam with which she dried my hair.

"Lunch will be served in a few minutes Malika Mayera", she said.

"I will put on something simple and we can join the other ladies for lunch".

Once I was ready, I walked with Zohra to the dining area in the harem. Shehzada Firoz ran to me as soon as he spotted me.

"Saeed, you are going to sit next to me for lunch"

"Of course Shehzada". I took his hand gracefully and sat down next to Malika Firdous.

"How was the night with your family?" She asked.

"It was beautiful. We had lots to share and did not realize how quickly the time had passed".

"I would like to meet them", she said as she put a morsel in Shehzada Firoz's mouth.

Another lady called Ruquiya asked, "How are you feeling Malika Mayera? Your nikah is just hours away"

"Hmmm. I am not feeling much of anything right now"

"Just wait till the jitters start", giggled another girl.

"She is a warrior, I don't think she will chicken out". This is from Malika Humera.

I just smiled in reply.

"Now Saeed, do you want me to come over to help you dress up?" asked Malika Mariam as the dastarkhan (food spread) was being cleared away.

"No, I can manage Maa"

"You had better get going then"

I took off my dupatta within my chamber and sat down on the bed with a sigh.

"Everything alright Malika?" asked Zohra as she spread my outfit and jewellery beside me.

"I was just wondering where Shehenshah is and what is he doing"

She grinned crookedly. "He hasn't stopped smiling since morning. At least you had some rest Malika, Shehenshah did not even take his regular nap. You have snatched away his peace and sleep. Looks like he will not rest until the nikah is over"

"How do you know all this?"

"Shehenshah's new bodyguard is my brother, Nauman"

I nodded and reached for the outfit beside me. It was maroon and golden in colour made of soft silk. I put it on and twirled to see the shararah spin.

"Pretty", commented Zohra. "The hairdresser Masheeta, is waiting Malika"

I removed the clip that held my hair together and let them flow. Masheeta stood amazed, admiring my locks that reached my curves below. "I must say Malika, you have the finest hair in the palace"

I thanked her and sat down while she styled them. Zohra kept talking to me all the time but I was hardly listening, my mind was too full of the meeting ahead. Once Masheeta was done she left some loose strands to frame my face.

"Zohra, there is a box of kohl in the bag I got today morning. Bring it to me"

She applied it in my eyes as other servants helped me with the jewellery. At last I put on my dupatta and turned to face all of them.

"SubhanAllah! You look very beautiful Malika Mayera"

Their awed faces tell me it's true. I walked to the mirror which I had been avoiding for so long. I had wanted to see myself only after I was completely dressed. As I looked I wondered if the girl in front was me? For a person who had worn nothing but plain cotton gowns and had never worn jewellery or applied Kohl I looked amazing. The reflection I saw was a complete new me! I did know I could look pretty as well. I smiled and it lit up my face even more.

"Shehenshah will loose his heart all over again", giggled a young girl.

"Malika Mariam and Humera are here", said Zohra. Shehzada Firoz came running behind them as well. "Firoz, didn't your mother say you were to stay with her?" Giving a guilty puppy look Shehzada looked at her pleadingly. "I want to stay with Saeed".

"Let him stay", I said. Shehzada happily ran to my side.

"Doesn't the bride look beautiful?" asked Masheeta.

Malika Humera's eyes went round when she noticed me. "SubhanAllah! She does!"

"My daughter in law was already beautiful. Dressing up well has just exposed it. It's time we went to the main hall". Malika Mariam took my hand and I walked with her. With each step I took my heartbeat increased. As soon as I entered the hall, my eyes searched for Dayima and Saira. They were seated in the places of revered guests. I smiled at them and sat down in front of the curtain behind which sat Shehenshah and the male folk. Shehzada Firoz was in a delimma. He wanted to sit with Shehenshah as badly as he wanted to sit with me. Finally he went and sat on the other side of the curtain next to his beloved brother.

Hazrathji started his sermon. I felt like all the butterflies in the royal gardens had taken residence in my stomach. True, I had already been married for 4 days but circumstances then had been different. Now I really looked and felt like a bride. The lady in harem had been right. The jitters had started. Shehenshah's confident voice said Alhamdulillah. My hand shook as I penned my signature and gave my consent. There was happiness all around. Malika Mariam hugged me tightly.

"Mabruk (congratulations) Saeed. Allahu Akbar! Your hands are so cold".

My hands were freezing. Nervousness and happiness were making me dizzy.

"Just a little jumpy I guess". I shrugged at her. People swarmed around me congratulating and wishing. Among the bustle Saira appeared, "Saeed, you look like a Queen!"

I introduced Dayima's family to my own new family. "Our little girl is your responsibility now. We hope you will give her more love than we could ever give", said Dayima.

"Of course! She is the daughter I never had", said Malika Mariam.

"Assalamualaikum Saeed! Mabruk!". It was Nilofer Khala, Meher's mom. "Aameen", I replied. There was a cute little girl with her. "And who is this?" I asked bending down to reach her height. She smiled shyly and hid her face in Nilofer Khala's dupatta.

"This is Ammarah. Meher's sister", said Nilofer Khala. I gently gathered her in my arms untangling her from her mother's dupatta.

"Hello Ammarah"

"Hello Malika Mayera. I like you", she said blushing red.

"Oh sweetheart! I like you too". I kissed her tomato cheeks. Dinner was a huge affair and people enjoyed dawath-e-valima. Time flew and the guests left as night fell.

"It's time for you to finally meet your husband", said Malika Firdous. She noticed the anxiety on my face. "Saeed, you are the woman who trained him, the woman who faced his anger and fought it, the woman who rules his heart and the woman for whom he will do anything. Surely you do not need to be so scared. You have already spent hours in his company".

How easy it was for her to tell all that. The hours I had spent with him were professional and the hours that I was going to spend with him are going to be personal. There is a whole lot of difference! No matter what anyone said I still felt jittery.

I was escorted to Shehenshah's chamber. I looked around the already familiar room, having entered it through the balcony on my first night inside the palace.

"Saeed, make yourself comfortable. Shehenshah will join you shortly". The three Queens blessed me with abundant duas before they left.

As I sat on the bed my heart hammered. I feared it would soon tear out of my chest. To calm myself I started pacing around the room trying to take deep breaths. I couldn't face Shehenshah in this condition. I sat back down on the bed. Gone were the days when he was an angry young man and I was his mentor. Now he was a distinguished person of high authority. Regal and responsible. Calm and composed. Powerful and desicive. I had been looking forward to this moment and now that it was here it was too overwhelming to bear. I reached my decision. Quickly pulling off my dupatta, I arranged the cushions to match a sitting figure and covered it. It looked just like me sitting. I ran to the curtain by the side of an open window and his myself in its covers.

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A/N

Nikah sermon:

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) used to recite the following during a nikah sermon

All praises are for Allah. We seek Guidance and forgiveness from Him. We also seek refuge in Him from the evils of our ownselves. Whoever Allah guides, noone can misguide him. Whoever He lets go astray none can put him back on track. We testify that there is no god but Allah and we testify that Muhammad is Allah's servant and His messenger.

After this he used to recite the following ayahs from the Holy Quran:

Believers! Fear Allah as He should be feared, and see that you do not die save in the state of submission to Allah. (Quran 3:102)

O men! Fear your Lord Who created you from a single being and out of it created its mate; and out of the two spread many men and women. Fear Allah in Whose name you plead for rights, and heed the ties of kinship. Surely, Allah is ever watchful over you. (Quran 4:1)

O believers, fear Allah and say the right thing. Allah will make your conduct (affairs) whole and sound and will overlook your errors. Whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger, has indeed attained to a great success. (Quran 33:70-71)

Explanation:

There are several principles, which these verses present:

1. By asking for Taqwa (fear of Allah)  four times in these verses, Allah is clearly setting the principles on which a sound and stable family life can be established. The Prophet felt it was important to exhort the marrying believers to fear God and to avoid courting His displeasure whenever he gave a marriage sermon. Allah's mercy and blessings be upon him.

2. Taqwa is an important Arabic term with no clear equivalent in English. It is translated as piety, Allah consciousness, fear of Allah, Mindfulness of Allah, Living a life which follows Allah's guidance. Marrying individuals who are mindful of Allah (who have Taqwa), are more conscious of their Creator, stay away from what He has prohibited, and enjoin what He has recommended are more likely to be good to each other and successful in marriage.

3. Taqwa (piety) is not just reflected in worship and Halal (permissible) types of marriage. It also requires clear communication between the spouses. This is the reason that immediately after asking believers for Taqwa, Allah is asking them to adopt proper speech by saying only the right thing. Proper communication is rewarding in this world in that Allah will make your affairs right. Proper communication will also be rewarded by Allah on the Day of Judgment, when He will also forgive our shortcomings in the hereafter because of it.

4. By reminding us that He has created us, Allah is telling us that He knows what is in our best interests. It is also recognized that all human beings have sprung from the same root and that all of them are, therefore, of one another's flesh and blood. By mentioning the process of creation, Allah is bringing in focus the purpose of marriage, and indicating that by marrying each other, we are becoming part of the sacred process of creation that Allah has set up. Quran does not recognize any marriage that is not between a man and a woman.

5. It is the duty of Muslims to serve Allah as a model servants of humanity. At the time of marriage through these verses, the Prophet also asked marrying Muslims and the attending audience to attend to their relatives. This is the reason there are rights and duties of Muslims towards their relatives even if they are non-Muslims.

Excerpted from: http://www.soundvision.com/article/prophet-muhammads-sermon-on-marriage

Lots of love,
Dr Mystic