Bakshi Bano P.O.V.

Ammi-jaan and mami-jaan walked into the room where we stood.Identical smiles on their faces,their faces glowing and eyes glistening,shinning with happines that seemed to want to leave their bodies.They shared a gaze,smiles seemingly widening as they looked back at her.

"Chale?"
(Shall we?)

My hands that had held a sword,that had defended this land now shook,wetness covering it as I held onto my own duppata.Once I would step out of that door,the entire Sultanat would know that I would be wed to Shahensha Haider.I took in a deep breath,letting it out slowly.I held my head high,not allowing it to fall to my chest.I had faced war,I could face this new chapter of my life.

"Chalo." Nusrat Bano and my voices echoed,we both looked at one another and giggled lightly.We both looked at our mothers who gave a nod of their head before they came towards us with a parda in each hand.Ammi-jaan tied it around my face while mami-jaan did the same for Nusrat Bano.They turned as we let go of one another's hands and they begin to walk.Nusrat Bano and I begun to follow them out of the room.
(Let's go)

The bright sun rays shone brightly over us,my had high but my eyes lowered.Flowers began to be showered over us,the strong scent of roses and lilies grew stronger as we walked past the many attandees.As we came to the area that had been set up,our bandi held our duppata that trailed behind us and we climbed up.

Nusrat Bano and I turned around to face those who had been invited for the wedding functions.Out of habit,my eyes wandered around the courtyard.I held back the nod of approval that I wanted to give Bhaktawar and Ruksar Mirza,yet I knew they saw the pride in my eyes.

I continued moving my gaze around which then fell on Masuma Begum and Hafeeza Bano who stood along with abbu-jaan and Hafeez Bhai,the latter two of whom looked as if storms of displeasure had surrounded them.Whereas,abbu-jaan and bhai-jaan had wide smiled,their faces glowing.Abbu-jaan had already expressed his happiness at the fact that I would be wedding Shahensha Haider.

"Aap sab ka Hajjat Qila mein istiqbal hai." Hakim Alla announced,starting off the function,"Hajjat Qila is honoured to be hosting you all today.Hajjat Qila's two daughters will be wed from here,today we host their gift ceremony.For every amount of gifts put on the scale when the scale my sisters sit on will raise will be given in charity.First,the ceremony will be conducted for Nusrat Bano,followed by Bakshi Bano."
(We welcome you all to Hajjat Qila)

Mami-jaan lead Nusrat Bano to the scale where she helped her sit on the one plate of the scale,after which mami-jaan's bandi stepped forward to hand her a couple potli which were filled with jewellery which she touched to Nusrat Bano's head.She then placed the potli on the other plate of the scale.She was followed by ammi-jaan who then did the same.

I stepped forward,Khaazra stepped forward with a tray which I took a potli from,I touched it to her head as well.Memories of the two of us running around this scale,when I would sit on one end and she would sit on the other end.Memories of our birthdays when we the gold according to our weight would weigh down,came across my mind.I felt a tear run down my face which I wiped down as I put the potli on the other plate.

The rest of the women did the same including Malika Begum and Nusrat Bano's fiancé's family,yet the scale did not lift.That is when mamu-jaan stepped forward,taking a necklace from a tray his bandi held forward for him and he touched it to her head,when he put the necklace on the scale,it begun to go down while Nusrat Bano's scale begun to rise.

Once,the jewellery had been removed and Nusrat Bano got up from the scale.Ammi-jaan came towards me,her hand fluttering to my arm as she begun to walk me to the scale.She helped me sit down on the scale plate,her hand touching my cheek as I looked up at her,the tears glistening in her eyes made me smile gently.

She took multiple potli from the tray Mahnoor held and put them to my forehead before moving away,as tears ran down her face.

In a while I will be able to tell you that you will be coming with me,ammi-jaan.

Next,mami-jaan came and did the same for me.After mami-jaan,Masuma Begum came forward,I saw hesitation in her eyes and an unease in her stiff body language as she went through the actions.Nusrat Bano followed her,her eyes squinting as she gave me a smile under her veil.The rest of the ladies from the Qila did the same.Then Malika Begum stepped forward,being the last woman.She touched the potli to my forehead as she whispered from under her veil.

"May we stand together from today,that no harm reaches our family."

I whispered under mine as she walked away,"Ameen."

As soon as she put the potli down,the scale begun to lift me as the scale with jewellery begun to lower itself.I got off the scale with help from ammi-jaan who then lead me to the seating couch that Nusrat Bano sat on.

Nusrat Bano's fiance's family stepped forward,they gave her a gift which she took then handed off to a bandi.They then gave gifts to mami-jaan,mami-jaan,ammi-jaan,Hakim bhaijaan and me.I thanked the bandi who handed it to me before Ikhtiyaar took it from my hand.

The Malika Begum stepped forward,she begun to hand out gifts in the same manner,this time though Nusrat Bano got a tray rather then me.After which she made her way back to Shahensha Haider.

Hakim Alla spoke loudly,"All of the women may make their way to the eating area that has been set up,while the men may follow me."

We walked away,ammi-jaan leading us and we came to the eatin area.I waited for each person to sit down before looking at ammi-jaan who touched my arm and lead me to the end of the table,helping me sit down next to Nusrat.We removed our veils,my eyes flickering all around until they fell on Rukhsar Mirza who already begun to walk our way.She came next to me,sitting down and whispered.

"Mubarak ho,Bakshi Bano."
(Congratulations)

I smiled at her,reaching out to touch her hand,"Shukriya.Are all the security arrangements in place?"
(Thank you)

"Jee,everything is in place.Updates are being given every hour.So far,there seems to be no trouble makers."

"In Sha Allah,it will stay like that.Tell the guards to stay alert,we cannot compromise on Shahensha Haider and Malika Begum's safety."

"Jee,now our guards will be even more vigilante because you are about to be a part of the Shahi Khandaan.They will not miss anything even if it may be an ant moving a grain of rice." I shook my head but Rukhsar did not let me talk as she continued,"Whether you call yourself a loyal soldier,you will be our Queen soon.We will not compromise on your safety as well.You may fight me as much as you want on that."

I narrowed my eyes,even though a smile sat on my lips,"Sometimes I forget just why I choose you as my right hand."

"It is good that I remind you at times about it." She stood up when ammi-jaan came towards us,"Adab,Gulbadan Begum."

"Adab,Rukhsar Mirza." Ammi-jaan smiled at Rukhsar Mirza before gesturing for her to stand next to me,"Please fulfil your duties as Bakshi's best friend and right hand."

"Shukriya for trusting me with this responsibility."

"You have an even larger responsibility,when Bakshi goes away you will be there to look over her and guide her.I do not know of anyone else except Nusrat and Bhaktawar Mirza to keep an eye on her,than you."

"I will never let you down."

I smiled as ammi-jaan sat down next to me,as Rukhsar Mirza cleared her throat.If only ammi-jaan knew that her worries were about to disappear.

"Aap sab ka istaqbal hai Hajjat Qila mein.Breakfast will be served soon,then we will escort you all to your chambers so that you may rest until the night function." She gestured for the bandi to start serving food which they did.As I ate I felt a piercing gaze upon me,when ammi-jaan turned to talk to mami-jaan I looked around when my eyes clashed with Masuma Begum's furious gaze.I held her gaze,wondering what went through her mind at the time that I had been so happy.If she had nothing to do with me,why this blazing anger in her eyes?Why the need to show me that my action brought her no pleasure.I could not help but wonder.I held her gaze until I felt a hand on my knee.I looked to my side to see Nusrat's wide,furious eyes as she also turned her gaze towards Masuma Begum.

"Do not look at unfortunate people,they do not get a right in your happiness." Nusrat whispered as she laid the bindi from her plate on mine,"Eat."

I did just that,yet I could not wonder what would happen tonight when I would meet Masuma Begum.The first time we would exchange words in private.The first time I would say anything to her after years of being abandoned.Years of her supporting her eldest daughter,because I knew deep in my heart that Masuma Begum knew that I did not just fall into the water that dreadful day.

I steeled myself,taking strength from my ammi-jaan and family.No matter what she threw at me I would take it,even if it meant standing up to her.

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As salaam mu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatu

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