Chapter44 ~ Begum is Excited

Gulaab POV
"Aankhen unki zheel ke jesi hai,
Saaf Or gehri,
Muskaan unki baadlo ke jesi hai,
Ghani or jhuti,
Jism unka ghaatiyo ke jesa hai,
Vishal or Sthir,
Chamak unki taaro ke jesi hai,
Kaatil or nasheeli,
Mohobbat unki nashe ke jesi hai,
Chakle to ek baar fir or ek baar fir"
I put the ink dipped feather of peacock down when a loud and heart shaking noise of thundering travelled down my ear all of sudden.
I quickly got up from the bed and walked towards outside the door that opened to the Royal Garden.
It was afternoon a few time ago but it seems like sky got covered with dense rainy and thundering clouds. The darkness took over the environment in no time and I could feel the cold breezes touching my skin.
I pressed my palm on opposite arms when a cold wind made me shiver. The curtains started to fly along with the air and my attention got caught by Nagma all of sudden.
"Begum,"
I diverted my gaze instantly to her. She looked tired of running and breathing hard.
I walked towards her.
"What happened Nagma, everything okay?"
I asked placing my hand over her shoulder with concern.
She lifted her face to look at me. Her eyes filled with water and her lips trembling.
For a moment my heart raced to think dangerous possibilities but everything stopped around me when she muttered.
"Sultan,"
I walk a few step closer turning a little serious.
"Sultan? What happened to Sultan?"
"Begum... Sul... Sultan said... He said, he will leave empire,"
She tried to say.
"What? What are you saying?"
I asked not understanding anything.
"Jannat Begum Jaan, she asked sultan in the court to leave"
"What are you talking about, Nagma?"
I asked and she explained me everything in detail from scratch.
I couldn't believe it.
Without thinking twice, I turned on my heels to run.
My eyes filled with water. I didn't know why all of sudden my heart started paining.
I could hear the noise of my anklet bells when I was running to his chamber. A sudden urge erupted in me to see him instantly. I just wanted him in front of him.
The water unintentionally flowing out my eyes declaring that I had much more than attraction for Sultan.
I stopped in front of his chamber and pushed the door open as no attendee was present there.
I stepped inside his chamber and saw him sitting on the couch busy with some work.
How could this man be always busy with work?
He lifted his gaze noticing me. His expression changed from normal to tensed looking at me.
He stood up looking at me and I raced to walk to him. Precisely, I ran to him and unknowingly melted in his arms. He opened his arms slightly seeing me coming and I just ended up hugging him tightly. My hands fisted his kurta behind tightly, when I raked my arms around his waist and placed my head over his chest almost crying.
"I will also come,"
He tightened the hug around me pulling me in his embrace and placed his palm lightly over my head feathering slowly.
"Where will you come?"
He asked and I sobbed lightly. The thought of him leaving me haunting me and I was slightly on the verge of breakdown.
"With you, anywhere, anyhow, I will also come,"
He kissed my hairs and said.
"Begum, look at me."
He said releasing the hug and made me walk towards the bed. He made me sit on the edge and sat in front of me on his knees.
Washing my warm tears, he said.
"It's only for sometime everything will be fine then... If you want you can go back to Hind, I can't take you with me"
His voice soft, hurt but inside I knew that it would be difficult for us to be separated.
"Sultan, however the time will be, how much the time will be... I want to stay with you only. Please take me with you. I don't want to stay without you"
I requested.
He held my palm and looked into my eyes before saying.
"Begum, where will you roam around with me, I might get attacked too... I can't risk your life"
I frightened listening to him and asked.
"Is it necessary to go? You are Sultan, no one can overrule your decision then why are you getting tricked with her words?"
"Begum, I don't have any problem in giving the sultanate to haider's baby. But, this time I want to open someone's eyes. It's seems like someone is playing conspiracies against the sultanate. Even I think that badi ammi is related to Haider's death somehow. Because, he was very fine warrior. It wasn't like he didn't fight or win battles. His death was something shocking and all of sudden."
He said and I saw her eyes changing from concern to anger.
Listening to him, my eyebrows turned in a thin line. Suddenly, I could feel goosebumps of scariness over my skin. Collecting my strength I asked.
"But, why would Badi Ammi kill her own son?"
"This is politics begum, from the initiation she wanted haider to be the sultan of sultanate but haider was sure that he didn't want to be sultan. He always wanted me to be sultan. And until haider was alive, she won't be able to succeed and she knew she could conquer zeenat's baby but not haider."
He said and my eyes widened with shock.
"Sultan, I can't believe this. I think you are overthinking"
I tried to say but he said.
"I just pray that I am overthinking. But, to know that I have to go"
He said.
"I don't know, I will come with you wherever you go"
I declared.
He smiled weakly and said.
"It will be rough and tough to live in woods like normal persons."
I nodded.
"With you, I can survive anything."
I tried to assure.
He nodded and brought his lips closer to my forehead placing a soft kiss.
"Don't tell anyone anything what I said."
I shook my head confirming and I asked.
"When will we leave?"
"I have to finish some work. Maybe today evening. If she could, then she has thrown my out just way before"
He said and I smiled.
"Begum,"
He called slowly.
"Ji,"
"Since, we both have to show that we are leaving this palace forever. That means we are going to spend our rest of life being a normal person. I think, you should just carry simple clothes with you. I hope you know that there won't be anyone to help us. No attendees, no helpers, no guards just you and me"
He was talking to me some serious thing and I didn't know why listening to his 'just you and me' caught my attention. I felt slight tickle in my stomach. Like, there wouldn't be anyone disturbing us. There would be no work for him. Internally, I smiled. I didn't know why it was seeming like vacation to me. Shouldn't I be sad? But I wasn't. Though I was trying to look sad.
I nodded and he smiled.
He went back to his couch where he started working again. He was going through some of the letters and Royal papers.
I said catching his attention.
"Call me, whenever you are done"
He nodded and I asked to leave. I was smilingly foolishly. I came back to my chamber and looked at Nagma still crying.
I instantly turned my face sad.
She looked at me and came running.
"Begum, did you ask him to stay here only?"
She asked with concern and I could see some kind of fear in her.
"I tried, Nagma. But, he has made his mind."
I declared.
"But, badi ammi will rule from behind. I don't want that." She complaint.
"It's okay, Nagma. Everything will be fine soon. I assure you"
Touching her hand lightly, I promised.
She nodded, but it was like she was more assured that Badi Ammi wouldn't be behaving any good with everyone. Somehow I understood that she wanted to rule on the Sultanate hiding behind the young emperor.
"Don't worry Nagma, everything will be fine. Sultan said to me,"
I smiled.
"Aren't you afraid? Begum. I mean anyone can attack us if Sultan will leave the Empire,"
She said and what she said made sense to me too. But, he must have thought about it. Right?
"Nagma, there are so many officials in the Empire. I think they can manage"
"Begum, it seems like you are happy with his decision. Wait, Are you also leaving with him?"
She asked walking a little closer.
I thought for a moment then tried to form an answer.
"Yes,"
Tears erupted in her eyes and she cried.
"Begum, what will I do without you too in this Empire. I wanted to serve you only for my lifetime."
"Nagma, It's okay. Sometimes, it's better to take harsh decisions rather than ignoring them and you should trust Sultan. He must have thought something about the safety of everyone."
I tried to say and she nodded.
"I really hope everything gets better like before."
I smiled and asked.
"Nagma, can I get some pairs of normal clothes. Like Lehnga that I wear but not royal"
I asked her.
She thought for some time and said.
"Begum, a few years ago there were some ladies migrated to here from nearby Hind. They wear the same kind of clothes. I can ask them?"
"Perfect, Can you get them?"
"Sure," She said and took my leave from there.
I didn't have much time to prepare. I didn't know why I was excited as if I was on cloud nine. Going all alone with Sultan was something like a fairytale coming true. If someone has said this a few months ago, I must have crying now, but we had developed an understanding bond. And he was definitely not like I had thought about him rather he was the man that I never dreamt of. As if all my prayers to lord shiva were served really well.
I smiled and took my veil down. One after the other I removed all my jewellery. I have to be simple and sober. No burden of ornaments. I smiled.
I just left my toerings as they were the symbol of my marriage and nosering. I looked at my nuptial chain which was heavily made of gold and ruby. I couldn't wear it. A thought hit my mind and I started searching for a black thick thread. Then my sight fell on black wool. Could it work?
Without thinking twice I braided a medium length thin rope of woollen thread and remembering all my deities wore it.
I was feeling really light. Just a few bangles in both of my hands and necessary jewellery. Perfect!
By the time Nagma arrived with clothes and she handed me over four pairs of plain attire. One was of blue and yellow colour, the other was of red and blue, one more was of maroon colour and the last one was of green colour. They were perfect.
I packed three of them in a thick bedsheet and ask Nagma to tie the edges so that I could easily carry them.
Everything was done and I had to change only. I quickly changed into simple clothes and looked into the mirror. I smiled.
"Begum, you look really happy. I mean Sultan is leaving forever. Right?"
Nagma said catching my attention and I instantly turned my smile into sadness. She would catch me for sure.
"Nothing like that Nagma, I am sad too."
I tried to explain but the newfound glow on my face wasn't helping much.
I waited and after some time Sultan seems coming into the chamber.
Nagma left seeing him coming and he was looking different but smarter than before.
If anyone was there he could have noticed my blush.
His hairs slightly messed up and that plain dark brown kurta on him was looking delicious. He just came out of the hammam.
"Ready?"
He asked and I was caught off-guard.
"Yeah," I said.
"Begum, are you sure. Do you want to go? Here, you have all the facilities"
"If you won't be here, then what will I do?" I asked and he walked towards me.
He leaned slightly to my ear and muttered slowly.
"It isn't vacations, Begum"
I shivered.
God! Am I looking too much excited?
"I know, Sultan"
I managed to say.
He nodded and said.
"Let's go,"
I nodded and we walked towards the outside of the chamber for the main entrance.
I placed my veil over my head hiding my face and coming out of the chamber I saw what was the situation of Palace.
Everyone was crying and requesting Sultan to stop. The attendees, work was aligned in a row to see their Sultan probably one last time. There was a huge population residing in the Palace and that I saw that day. My heart beat raced to see that.
We walked towards the main entrance and there were all the main officials standing to greet Sultan. Sultan hugged each of them and they exchanged some words. One of them handed over Sultan's huge sword and he smiled.
"Sultan, A bunch of soldiers will go with you," One of the senior officials said.
"No, But I request you all to take care of the Sultanate and accept what fate has decided."
He said and they bent to serve the last goodbyes.
Badi Ammi didn't come to see us off.
"Let's go!"
Sultan said slowly and I took my small bundle of clothes in hand. Sultan also took his and we both started a new journey of our life together.