○○○○○ HayatThis was a difficult decision for me to make, so I don't even know how Rukhsat will feel about this. I know that she would agree with whatever I say right now because of the situation we are in.

Rukh was sitting in her room with a worried but angry expression on her face.

"Rukh, we need to leave right away for their tents. I know it is confusing for you, but you need to trust me as your elder sister and let me make this decision for the better. They demanded that we go there by our own free will and marry the king and his brother, and they leave our Kingdom alone," I said, hoping that she won't start arguing with me right now.

"Baji, what kind of a condition is this? Why would we go there willingly? Our dynasty's honor would be at stake! Do we have no other choice? We can still go to war, wait for reinforcements from our friends! I don't even know how you are okay with this, Baji!" My sister said all this with so much anguish, and I understood her pain.

I finally had to tell her the truth I haven't even spoken out loud myself because I couldn't believe it. With a heavy heart, I said, "Salim sent a pigeon today. It would take him 3 days to get the reinforcements here, and by then, our palace would have collapsed."

Salim is the Shehzada of Junagarh. Junagarh had always been a friendly kingdom to us, even though they were very clever and ruthless against their enemies. They were known for their scheming ways which were beyond me, but Salim was also my Betrothed. We hadn't really met each other much, but he had asked for my hand when I was only 15. Father agreed because he thought that he couldn't find me a better suitor than him, and that is why he became our last hope.

I held her hand with tears in my eyes and continued, "the choice is ours, Rukh. We can either go with them without anybody getting killed, or we can go to war, see our army losing, see this castle falling, and then go with them."

"Baji, you are my elder sister, and I would do what you say. We should leave soon," she paused and looked at me, "Is there a guarantee that they wouldn't harm our family if we go there?"

"Rukh, the world is not black and white, there are a million grey possibilities with this agreement, but what we can do is hope that they would honor their words and treat us with respect. Rukhsat, we need to do this for our home. We can save so many lives."

"At what cost, Hayat Baji? We would have to sacrifice ourselves. We don't know what those animals will do to us! How can you trust their word that they would accept us in marriage and not just keep us around in their Harem to do as they please! Baji, I will not go down without a fight!! No matter what!"

I was angry at my sister by this point. I know that she is just angry and would never get anyone hurt if she had the chance to save them. She is 2 years younger than me, meaning she is just 18 years old, and I feel like her rebellious phase is still there.

"Rukh, the only person you can fight right now is me. I have already accepted their proposal, and we will be leaving in the next 30 minutes. Please don't make this more difficult than it already is. Just change your clothes and grab whatever you think is an extreme necessity, and Rukh, don't even think of doing anything rash, anything which might end up hurting Abu and our Riayat," I said, hoping that I made it abundantly clear that she has to follow what I say for now. We had grown up to be really close as sisters, but I was the elder sister, so I was the responsible one. There were a lot of times that I had to be stern with Rukh and Karim because they were extraordinarily naughty, but then they were kids.

As I leave the room, the gravity of the situation dawned upon me. The decision I had taken was not merely a decision that had to be implemented on paper, but it was a decision that is going to change not only my life but my sister's too.◇◇◇◇◇I stood on the highest point of the castle right next to my father. He looked like a burdened man. I knew how hurt he was, but he was trying to put up a strong front. Holding my scarf in place, I told Abu that Rukh and I were ready to leave.

He asked Rahim Chacha to prepare the Shahi Palki, the one which was being prepared for my wedding to Salim. My heart broke into two pieces when I saw the Palki. It was beautifully decorated. The gates of the palki were covered with a beautiful translucent cloth so that I could clearly see from the Palki, but others won't be able to see inside.

Rukh still had a really angry expression on her face, but she managed to mask it. Her eyes were full of pain and anguish, but nothing could have been done to ease that pain.I looked at Karim, who was trying to control his tears. His face had already become red because he was trying too hard not to cry.

The only comforting thing about this whole ordeal was that both of us were together in this. We are sisters not just by blood but also by bond. We belonged together. We got in the Palki, praying to Allah to keep us safe.

•••••

King ZaidWatching my daughters being carried away in the Palki made me feel like my heart was stabbed a thousand times.

If my Zybeda were here, she would have never let me do something like this, but I had no other choice.

What mistake did I do, ya Allah, to have suffered this pain?

I looked at Karim, who was standing in the corner shaking while crying. He was my only son, and he was just 13 years old. My wife, the late Queen Zubeda, died giving birth to him. For him, Hayat was like the mother he never had, and now she was snatched away from him too.Ya Allah, please spare my family from more pain!