Chapter18 ~ Sultan takes care of his Begum

Gulaab POV
"This white cloth is wet too. I will give you another one. You should take this out"
The moment he uttered those words I got out of words. I didn't know what to say and how to react. But, somehow I was clear that he wasn't interested in anything but my safety.
I was nervous but suddenly a thought kicked my mind. Why was I nervous? I shouldn't be. He was my husband and if everything was normal, I wouldn't be that nervous. I shouldn't be that afraid.
He walked to the other side of the bed and brought a dupatta for me. I took it silently and muttered.
"Thank you!"
I cleared my throat and he understood my concern.
"Oh yes," He said and walked a little away from me. He opened the knot of curtain and in next moment. The bed was covered with the red velvet curtain around. I felt really good now. I threw the wet cotton cloth aside and covered myself with the dupatta.
I took a few breaths and held the last one to call.
"Sultan"
My voice came so slow opposite to my fast heartbeats when he parted the curtain and sat in front of me.
"Give me your arms," He said forwarding his hand.
I forwarded my arm and he held it softly. He took some coconut oil from the bowl and I understood that I had to hold my breaths to get wild for some time. From inside I wanted it to happen but somehow I was afraid because he had a really breathtaking effect on me.
He lifted his gaze and looked at me for a moment before diverted his sight to the affected arms. He lightly touched my skin and applied the oil from the shoulder to the fingers. He started lightly messaging my arms and I just started shamelessly at his face.
His thick eyebrows, long lashes, and beautiful lips. I remembered how he kissed me. His hand was rough but he was taking extra care when he was touching me. My skin had become red with rashes and burnt portions but I was still feeling beautiful. He was making me feel beautiful and the care he holds for me in his eyes was something I never saw.
He gave the same attention to my other hand and applied the cold coconut oil. I had always dreamed of a loving husband before that incident happened to me. I didn't know if I ever were able to get married to anyone. I lost the hope of a loving marriage after Abhidev. But, now looking at Sultan, I didn't know why my heart again started beating. Although, I was trying hard not to fell in love with him as he was a loyal husband and I respect his love and choices.
Everyone has the right to love and choose, Just with the fact that I started liking him, I couldn't hurt Zeenat Begum. But, she was very lucky to have a loyal lover like him.
Suddenly, I caught off-guard when he asked.
"Are you feeling better?"
I nodded looking into his eyes. He stood up and walked behind me. I felt a slight movement on the bed as he sits behind me.
"You are very caring, Sultan," I said as he applied oil on my nape. I felt his fingers lightly messaging me.
"No doubt, begum. You are my responsibility and knowing the fact that people can try to hurt you. I allowed you to stay alone here." He said messaging my back slowly.
"Why would anyone try to hurt me?" I asked slowly.
"Because you belong to Hind and to a different culture and they think that I will fall in love with you or maybe you give birth to our child." He said moving his hand from my nape to the cloth hem.
"But, why would you fall in love with me? You already love Zeenat Begum and also she is pregnant with your baby" I said turning a little to see in his eyes.
His gaze was fixed on my back and feeling the moment he lifted his sight to me. I could see silence in his eyes and I felt that we were so close.
My lips were close to his cheek and then suddenly I felt him feathering my back lightly. My heartbeat raced and my lips leaned closer to his cheek. Unknowingly, like a bee attracted to the sweetness of a flower. I dared to touch his cheeks with my lips.
Suddenly, he snaked my waist tightly and pulled me closer turning me to him. My heartbeat raced and I got scared. The light was dim but still, I was scared as I was just wrapped in a cloth. He touched his forehead with mine and I could hear the noise of our breaths. My hands rested on his shoulder and his lips went closer to my cheek.
"You know that I can't cheat on my love but still you are making me feel pain"
He muttered against my cheek slowly and his hot breath fanned me. I wasn't able to process anything. My cheek blushed and probably this was the first time he held me like that. His strong arm around my waist seemed like steel caging me and I could say was.
"Sorry!"
He still kept me holding like this for some moment and I understood that it was difficult for him too. He loosened his grip and I sat back a little away from him.
He walked and sat in front of me saying.
"your feet,"
He wasn't looking into my eyes and neither I dared to look at him now. I had already embarrassed myself a lot. I didn't know what type of woman I was. He wasn't interested in me, He was my enemy and I was getting attracted to him.
Suddenly, I noticed that he touched my feet and applied the coconut oil lightly.
"This will heal your burns very soon," He said.
I nodded and then he stood up from the bed.
He walked a little away and I took a few breaths of peace.
I didn't know what was happening to me. But, one thing was sure. If he was going to stay with me and going to help me like that. I would definitely end up doing something with him.
He came back holding clothes in his hand and said.
"You should wear something. I think cotton clothes will help you heal better"
I nodded and silently took them.
"You should change, I am going inside." He said.
"Sure," I said and then he walked away somewhere.
I moved the curtains a little to ensure that the bed was completely covered.
Then I unwrapped myself from the dupatta and tried to wear the blouse. A slight pain hit as my palm wasn't able to tie the knot behind me. I left that there and wore the skirt quickly. It also had the strings and I wasn't able to tie them.
"Sultan" I called slowly.
"Ji Begum," He said from the other side.
"Can you Nagma for some time?" I asked
"Why?, What happened?" He asked.
"Umm... I can't tie these strings." I said.
"Ohh, But Nagma's is also burnt." He said.
"So, Can you ask someone else?" I asked.
"Umm, No" He denied clearly.
"But, I can't stay like this Na" By the time, I finished my sentence. He parted the curtains.
I quickly turned around.
"Are you mad?" I asked.
"No... But I don't trust anyone. They can harm you even more. I am not allowing anyone to help you until I get to know who was behind all that." He said and came closer to me.
I felt him touching the ends of the strings and tying them together.
"Don't you think you chose a really exposing blouse for me?" I asked sarcastically.
"yes, Because it will be good for your skin. It won't create irritation."
He said and after tying the blouse, he moved to my skirt.
I felt a little nervous as he tied it neatly.
"Thank you!" I muttered.
"Mention not. You must be hungry" He said.
I nodded and walked after him as he parted the curtains aside and I could see that chamber was lighting again.
He clapped two times and in no time an attendee showed up.
"Bring some food here for Begum" He ordered and I sat on the couch.
I was taking extreme care to not touch anything as the burns were still itching me.
He sat peacefully against and I looked at him.
"So?" I asked.
"So what?" He asked.
"So, you are not staying here all day," I said.
"Why? It's my Palace, My Begum's chamber I can stay here day and night." He said lying on the couch.
I suddenly noticed that he got dressed too and was wearing a dark brown kurta.
"When you met Zeenat Begum?" I asked as the question hit me from nowhere.
He looked at me and said.
"I know her since childhood. We are related." He said.
"Ohh, you are very blessed to have a wife like her. She is so sweet." I said mentioning the joyful nature of Zeenat Begum.
"I think you are also lucky to have a sultan like me," he said smiling a little.
I chuckled a little and then said. "You are so caring Sultan, No doubt you are a great husband and will be a great father."
"hmm, Time teaches you everything Begum saheb. This is because I have learned losing so many people that Life is so Important. Everyone on this earth is living with or for someone else." He said straightening himself as the attendee brought the food for us.
He signaled him to leave and sat beside me.
"You know, Zeenat will kill me for sure if anything happens to you," He said making the bite and forwarded his hand toward me.
I didn't understand him and opened my mouth. He feeds me until I got full.
I was really enjoying getting his so much attention. He ate after me and till then I roam here and there in the chamber.
I was noticing the antiques in the chamber and then suddenly my sight fell on a box. It was craved wooden box and it had very minor designs that seemed really tough to carve in.
While I was busy noticing the beauty in my chamber he called suddenly.
"Begum"
I shivered and looked at him.
"Ji," I asked.
He was holding a bowl of some brown-colored drink and said.
"This is sent by a physician for you. It will help you heal better and sooner." He tasted it first and then handed me over.
I took and smelled it.
"Yuck, It smells so bad," I said.
"yes, because it is medicine," He said.
"No, I am not drinking it," I said handing it over to him.
"I tasted it, It's good." He said.
"No," I said.
"Yes," He said and handed me back.
I looked at his face and he showed me a serious angry face. I held my breath and drunk it in one go.
Oh my God! what the horrible taste it was. I still had the taste in my tongue.
He smiled looking at me and said.
"Come, You should have rest," He said walking away.
I followed him and sat on the bed.
"Are you still staying with me? I mean, dont you have any work to do?" I asked.
He sat beside me and said.
"No, I am free today to stay with you." He said and lied on one side of the bed.
I chose to sat there as I didn't know how I was going to lie with him. I wasn't able to control him and he was willing to rest with me.
"Begum, Don't worry. I won't eat you" He said and chuckled.
"But, I am worried for you," I said and he asked.
"Means?"
"Umm, Nothing," I said and held my breath before lying beside him.
"Ouucchhhhh" I cried as I felt pain when the fabric touched my back.
"I can't," I said and a tear fell from my eyes.
He straightened himself and hugged me lightly.
"Shh... Calm down" He said and lied back on the bed keeping my head on his chest.
He kissed my hair and said patting my head.
"You will be better soon"
I didn't know when I slept in his arms and woke up when I heard him saying.