SAHAL BEGUM P.O.V.

I watched as Mukhtar Jahnagir Alla called Bakshi Bano to the front of the darbar.Bakshi Bano's face covered by her veil yet her eyes shone with tears as she made her way to her uncle,who as she came closer embraced her tightly.He whispered something in her ear as she pulled away,she gave him a nod before turning to face the darbar.

"Since," She begun to speak in a loud voice,that did not tremor even if her tears shone clearly,"I have been able to comprehend the duties of being the protector of Hajjat Qila,I have tried my utmost best to never let any harm befall any of the residents of Hajjat Qilla nor the citizens of those around Hajjat Qilla.I have tried my best to be just in meeting out justice to one and all.Is there anyone who feels that I have lacked in meeting out justice in their matters?"

Several shouts of 'No' and 'You have always been just' which caused her eyes to crinkle as she gave a nod of her head,"Today,I am honoured to be handing over the responsibility of security of Hajjat Qilla and the nearby villages to Hakim Alla." She took something from the tray that her bandi held,"Hakim Alla,yah par aaye." Hakim Alla walked towards Bakshi Bano,smiling at her as she smiled at him as well,"Hakim Alla,do you swear to protect Hajjat Qilla and the nearby villages even if protecting them may mean that you loose your life?"

(yah par aaye-Come here)

Hakim Alla put his hand over his heart,bending his head,"I swear by Allah to protect Hajjat Qilla and nearby villages even if protecting them may cost me my life."

"Hakim Alla,do you swear by Allah to serve your Shahensha and Sultanat as long as you may live and at the cost of your life?"

"I swear to serve my Shahensha and Sultanat as long as I may live and even if it may cost me my life."

"I hereby hand over Hajjat Qilla's mohar to you.May Allah watch over you and Hajjat Qilla." Hakim Alla took the mohar from her,which he touched to his eyes before embracing her.She embraced him back,he whispered something and she gave a nod before he walked away.

(mohar-insignia)

Balshi Bano looked into the darbar at the multiple advisories,guards and a crowd of people who formed the heads of villages and some other people.She looked over them all before speaking,this time her voice thick with emotions and filled with saddness,"I have served you all to the best of my ability,I have treated you all like my children and looked after you as so.I will never forget the lessons that you all have taught me and the love that you all have given me." Her voice chocked,as she looked down and tears fell from her eyes,"With a heavy heart,I bid you all farewell." She lifted her head,her eyes still lowered,her cheeks and eyelashes glistened with tears as she lifted her hand," Adab."

Her greeting was returned as Mukhtar Jahangir Alla drew her duppata over her head,until it covered her entire face and hung over her bosom.Haider made his way towards her,he reached his hand out towards her which she took.My heart soured at the sight of Haider holding another woman's hand,yet the teaching my mother had instilled in me forcefully squashed away that feeling.If Haider had been any other man,I would have been sharing him from the very day we married and to many more women.

I steeled myself as they walked towards me,Haider's eyes searching my own as if to see what I felt.He had once again forgotten that I was not only his Begum but also the hand that ran his haraam.It would take much more for me to break.This is just our beginning.

I turned to Naseera Begum,smiling at her,"We shall take your leave now,Naseera Begum.Our relationship has just begun,if Hajjat Qilla ever needs anything Ajmer Mahal will never hesitate to help."

Naseera Begum nodded her head,her cheeks stained with tears and her eyes still wet as Bakshi Bano,no,Bakshi Begum and Haider came to stand next to me,"Take care of Gulbadan Begum and Bakshi Bano for us.We will always be here if you ever need our help."

Naseera Begum begun to lead us outside,I walked aside them as Nusrat Bano and Abed Khan walked along with Naseera Bano and Mukhtar Jahangir Alla.Gulbadan Begum and Mukhtar Ahmed Khan walked on the other side of Haider.

As we exited the Qilla,we came to a stop when we found Bakhtawar Mirza and Rukhsar Mirza who stood in their battle clothing,armour around their chest,legs and arms.Their heads though were covered in normal turbans and duppatas.Bakhtawar Mirza stepped forward,his eyes downcast and his voice coated with emotion yet steady.

"Bakshi Begum,on behalf of myself,Rukhsar Mirza and The Black Cavalry we have a small present for you.Please accept this gift from us."

At that moment,I realised that Bakshi was no longer a bano.She was now a begum.That meant that the manner in which we called her name would be changed.

Bakshi Begum stepped forward,her hand leaving Haider's as she looked at her Cavalry from under the duppata,"I have always told you all,that no gift is ever too small." She raised her voice slightly as she spoke up,"Black Cavalry,today you are split into two halves.One half will stay here at Hajjat Qilla to train more soldiers and warriors,so that whenever the Kingdom calls,you will be ready to serve the Kingdom.The other half will make their way along with Rukhsar Mirza and myself,to serve under our Shahensha and to show the world that whenever their intentions will be wicked,they will face this Sultanat's best Cavalry."

Rukhsar Mirza came forward with a tray in her hand,the cover of which fell off the edge.It seemed long almost as a,she took off the cover and I happened to be right,there laid a sword.Yet,a gasp excaped almost all of our mouths as we saw the work on the sheath.The gold sheath,engraved with intricate detail and the handle of which resembled a lion.The eyes of which had a red gem in it,along with gridles for fingers to hold the sword.Bakshi Begum took a hold of the sword,holding it as she looked at her Cavalry.

"Bohot shukriya." She bowed her head,her Cavalry did the same before Rukhsar Mirza and Bhaktawar made a pathway which the Cavalry followed.We walked through the Cavalry,coming to a stop where the palanquins and the horses were stationed.

We all turned to look at Nusrat Bano,who embraced her mother tightly and held her close.The sounds of their sobs rang loudly through the quiet of the courtyard before Naseera Begum let go of her daughter,putting her hand on her cheek and whispering something.Nusrat Bano gave a nod of her head before embracing her father,Mukhtar Jahangir Alla who wrapped his arms tightly around his daughter,tears briming in his eyes which he closed as he lowered his head.Nusrat Bano's body shook in her father's arms as he whispered something to her before she pulled away.He kissed his daughter's forehead,lingering there as a tear dripped down his cheek.Once he let,Hakim Alla embraced her next,his tears falling as he embraced his sister tightly,his forehead on her shoulder as they cried in one another's arms.She pulled away,Hakim Alla whispering to her at which she nod before he handed her a potli,which her bandi took from Nusrat Bano.

Nusrat Bano turned as bari Chachi-jaan walked towards her,Nusrat Bano embraced bari chachi-jaan who embraced her tightly.She caressed Nusrat Bano's back,as she whispered something to her before pulling away.Nusrat Bano at last turned towards Bakshi Bano who stepped towards her.

"Bakshi.." Came Nusrat Bano's hoarse voice at which Bakshi Begum opened her arms,which Nusrat Bano stepped into embrace her.Bakshi Begum and Nusrat Bano's sobs grew as they clung onto one another.

"Aap na khyal rakhna,Nusrat.Allah tumhe hai aur Aalim Khan ko say salamt rakhe.Mein tumhe Allah ke bharose chod rahi ho,woh tum hari hifazat karega."

(Take care of yourself.May Allah keep you and Aalim Khan safe.I leave you under Allah's care,He will take care of you)

Nusrat Bano pulled away,as she held Bakshi Bengum's hand tightly,"Allah aap ko salamat rakhe aur aapko har niqmat se nawase."

(May Allah keep you face and  grant you every blessing)

"Ameen."

"Bakshi.." The call came from behind Nusrat Bano,from Naseera Begum whom Bakshi Begum stepped forward to embrace.Her body shaking with sobs as she clung onto Naseera Begum,who hugged her just as she did to Nusrat Bano.She whispered something in Bakshi Bengum's ear before letting her go.Bari chachi-jaan stepped forward to hug Naseera Begum as Bakshi Begum embraced Mukhtar Jahangir Alla.

Mukhtar Jahangir hugged her tightly,whispering something to her before pulling away and kissing her forehead as well.Hakim Alla hugged her,tears falling down his face as he pulled away.Bakshi Begum touched his face as if giving him assurance before turning to face Bkahtawar Mirza who bowed his head,she nodded at him.

"Aapna,Hajjat Qilla ke logo ka aur humari fohg ka khayal rakhna."

(Take care of yourself,the residents of Hajjat Qilla and our battalion)

Finally she turned to Mukhtar Jahangir Alla and Naseera Begum who stepped forward.Naseera Begum held one shoulder of Nusrat Bano as Mukhtar Jahangir Alla held her other,they lead her towards the palanquin.Nusrat Bano embraced her mother as they walked to the palanquin,her head shaking as they tried to help her crouch down.Only when Mukhtar Jahangir Alla removed his pearl necklace,ptting it around her did she look at him.

His eyes filled with assurance that this step would be the best for her,I did not know what she saw in his eye but she looked at Bakshi Bano,bari chachi-jaan and Hakim Alla,lifting her hand in greeting.They did the same and she crouched down,getting into the palanquin.Naseera Begum helped her in,ensuring that her clothing were all tucked in and she kissed her daughter's forehead,tears streaming down her face before she closed the curtains of the palanquin.

They turned to Bakshi Bano,walking towards her the holding her as they did with Nusrat Bano.She embraced Naseera Begum and Mukhtar Jahangir Alla.She looked back at her Cavalry,lifting her hand in greeting and they all bowed their heads,hands on their chest and a loud "Allah aapko onki hifazat mein rakhe."

Bakshi Bano crouched down,she got into the palanquin and Naseera Begum tucked her clothes in as well,she kissed her cheek and then closed the curtains.

Naseera Begum turned to hug Gulbadan Begum,their sobs and trembling bodies showed the sisterhood they had built and were now bidding farewell to.There seemed to be whispers exchanged before they pulled apart.

Mukhtar Jahangir Alla hugged Gulbadan Begum,his eyes filled with adoration,saddness and pain.He pulled away,smiling at her as he looked at Mukhtar Ahmed Khan,"Mukhtar Ahmed Khan saab,hum aapko humari behen lauta rahe hai,inka khayal rakhyega.Warna hum inhe bapas leayenge."

Mukhtar Ahmed Khan bowed his head,as he looked at Mukhtar Jahangir Alla with assuring gaze as he stepped forward,"I promise,I will look after Gulbadan as well as you have and I will ensure that if she does return here it will be to visit you,not for any other reasons."

Hakim Alla bid farewell to Gulbadan Begum with a hug and promise to meet at Ajmer Qilla.Gulbadan Begum stood with Naseera Begum as they bid farewell to Aalim Khan's family.The women of Aalim Khan's family sat into their palanquins while the men straddled their horses.Hakim Alla would do the same once he had greeted us,as tradition was he would go with his sister to her new resisdence and then return to Hajjat Qilla.

When they all had settled,Mukhtar Jahangir All and Naseera Begum turned to face us.Mukhtar Jhangir Alla came to Haider,with a pained and sad look in his eyes,"Our daughter is yours,please take good care of her."

Haider gave a nod of his head as he put a hand on Mukhtar Jahangir Alla's shoulder,"I will look after to the best of my ability,I will never be the cause of her sadness."

"Shukriya." The two men hugged as Naseera Begum came towards me,her emotions in her eyes similar to her husband.

"Shukriya,for attending our daughter's nikkah.We really are indebted to you,Shahensha Haider and Shahi Khandan.If we made any mistakes,please forgive us."

I shook my head,a small smile on my face as I tried to comfort Naseera Begum,"There is nothing to forgive,Naseera Begum.We will take great care of bari chahchi-jaan and Bakshi Begum.Do not worry about them,we will try to treat them as they were treated her."

"Shukriya.Aap apna khayal rakhna.Yeh," She pointed at the guards who held several trays,"kuch tofeh hai Jahan Begum aur Ajmer Mahal ke Haraam ke liye."

(These are few gifts for Jahan Begum and Ajmer Mahal's hareem)

"Bohot shukariyah." We hugged before she walked me to my palanquin,we greeted one another once again before my curtains were closed.Through the gaps I saw as she went to Nusrat Bano's palanquin and spoke with her,before doing the same for Bakshi Begum.She then took Gulbadan Begum to her palanquin and helped her sit in.I heard Haider talk with Chachu-jaan who would not be joining us to Ajmer Qilla.He would leave the next day as he did not want the two sour grapes to rot the rest of the us.

As the palanquin got lifted by the six men in front and six at the back.I laid my head back,closing my eyes as I finally came to the realization.

I had come as the only Begum of Haider and I was leaving as his head Begum,with another Begum after me.I would be sharing Haider from now.As a Queen,I had done my duty and watched him marry with not a tear nor a regret in my eye.

As Haider's wife,my heart clenched as tears ran down my face.I leaned front letting a heave out,as my heart felt as if it were trying to run out of my chest.I pressed my hand against my chest,rubbing my hand against my chest as I tried to relieve the pressure that had built up.I ripped off my parda as I took in deep breaths,tears streaming down my cheeks.

I would accept this as my destiny but it did not mean that I would not be hurt.A man that had only be mine would now be shared with another.I would accept my destiny but my heart did not have to.I would accept my destiny as long as my Sultanat never faced any darkness.

The struggles of being a Malika were endless but they were nothing that I could not face and I would stay strong until my heart finally understood.