Chapter56 ~ "You have to earn it back"

Gulaab POV
"It's alright, I would like to stay alone for some time and she can stay here for the lifetime,"
His words pierced my heart.
Honestly, I didn't know what to believe or what not? And how the hell he was already here? It took me almost a month to reach there and when I open my eyes I just found him right in front of my eyes.
Did he already attack us?
If this was so cased then why everyone was so calm and smiling.
I lifted my gaze to Maa Saheb, she was looking fine that means he didn't attack us. Then why was he here already?
I didn't say anything when he walked from there.
Honestly, everything happened so sudden that I wasn't able to understand anything properly.
"Raj,"
Maa Saheb called him.
"Ji,"
"I think you should take some rest," Maa Saheb asked my brother.
He nodded and my father followed him.
"Gulaab, you should also take a rest," She insisted to me.
I sat back on my bed and she turned to Bhabhi Saheb.
"Abhi,"
"Ji Maa Saheb," She asked.
"Stay here with Gulaab, I will ask someone to take care of Sultan,"
She nodded and sat beside while Maa Saheb left us alone.
"Princess, are you okay?" She asked catching my attention.
"Bhabhi Saheb, did he attack us?"
She thinned her eyebrows.
"I mean, Did Sultan attack us?"
She smiled and held my hand.
"No, Princess... He just came now. He was looking really worried for you. What happened between you? Is everything okay?... Are you two happy with each other?... I mean if you want to talk to me,"
She was concerned.
"He just came now? As in today?"
I asked again and she confirmed nodding her head.
"Bhabhi Saheb, you remember when you and Bhai saheb were coming from the temple and a few docaits attacked you,"
She nodded her face and I continued.
"It was Sultan's plan to attack you and then he saved both of you from them,"
"Oh My God! But he saved us, right?"
"Bhabhi Saheb, it was all planned,"
"He planned then he saved you because he knew that Pita Saheb would surely prize him in exchange for saving him. And then in the courtroom, He proposed for the wedding with me,"
"Yes, then?" She asked listening carefully.
I told her everything from the start to end and her expressions changed from shock to smile than strange.
"You mean, he planned all this to win Mahabaleshgarh," She asked.
"Yes," I assured.
"But, why did you say yes to the proposal?"
"Because I wanted to save Bhai Saheb from any war or maybe it was because I wanted to postpone it at least," I told her.
"And then what happened suddenly between you? I could see how much you love each other. I mean the way he came running behind you is like he was missing you so hard," She asked.
"He do loves me Bhabhi Saheb. I do love him a lot. We fell in love with each other but still, he is Sultan. He is the same person who married me just to win the Empire. He is the same person who still doesn't like my brother. He has never said that he won't attack our Empire. Moreover, he asked his cousin brother to attack Hind," I bit on my lips as I finished.
My voice was trembling and afraid.
"Princess, I think you should at least talk to him first. Love does changes a lot of things. I am sure he must have changed his mind. Or moreover, he would never attack Hind, You can't see what I can see,"
"What you can see?" I asked.
"Just talk to him first," She said.
"He will surely kill me. Didn't you see how angry he was?" I replied.
"He was angry because he care for you," She held my hands.
"And I messed up everything," I said.
"Or maybe this can clear everything," She assured.
"Let him rest for a while and then talk to him," I nodded to her.
"I will send some food for you. The physician said you are tired," She informed.
"Bhabhi Saheb,"
I called her slowly and she sat again.
"I am sorry, All the while I didn't get a chance to talk to you and realise that you are pregnant," I touched her tummy.
"How many months?" I asked.
"Almost nine," She informed.
"That means I can see the baby," I smiled.
"Of course, princess,"
"Bhabhi Saheb, how have you been? I mean it must have been difficult," I asked.
She took a breath and said.
"Your brother became emotional and missed you a lot. He still does. All the while his source of happiness was the expectation of a kid. It's like you never left him. He was so much concerned about your health, feelings and everything. I think you should surely tell him that how insanely Sultan loves you," A tear escaped my eyes.
"I know. I need to talk a lot, With my brother, mother and father,"
She washed my tears and said.
"Princess, everything is fine and you have to be strong,"
"Bhabhi Saheb, I am sorry. It all started because of me. Bhai Saheb brought you here, because of me. He tortured you because of me. He got the pain because of me. Even I troubled my father and mother a lot and now Sultan is also angry with me,"
"Princess, trust me your intentions were never wrong. Loving your brother selflessly requires courage and strength. Even after whatever happened with you, you stood strong and married a stranger just to save your brother. For me, you are the strongest one and we cherish you a lot,"
I smiled and suddenly.
"Gulaab,"
I washed my tears as my sight fell on Bhai Saheb.
I stood up to greet him. I didn't get a chance to hug him yet.
He collected me in a hug as he asked.
"Tell me if you want me to kill him right away,"
His voice was fierce and angry.
I chuckled.
"No Bhai Saheb,"
"Prince, you can't even touch him. Your little sister loves that person," Bhabhi Saheb said.
"No way," He said with shock.
"I don't even like him, Tell me Gulaab she is lying,"
I broke the hug and said.
"She isn't,"
His face turned shocked.
"Then why the hell you were running away from him?"
He asked.
"Because we had a fight,"
I said.
"What kind of fight was it? I hope he doesn't misbehave with you,"
"He went somewhere without telling me, so I got angry,"
I lied.
I couldn't tell him the truth as it would just raise the misunderstandings between them.
"And because of that you came here running,"
I nodded.
"I can't believe you,"
I chuckled.
"But, I am happy to see here, Gulaab,"
"But, still I am not happy that you married that guy," He made a face.
"He loves me a lot Bhai Saheb,"
"I am believing you otherwise can kill him right away,"
"Please don't,"
He kissed my forehead and said softly.
"You should take a rest. And don't you dare to get angry about small things. Now you are a married woman and Queen of an Empire. Understand your responsibility and answerability,"
He said and I nodded.
"Did he punch you?" Suddenly I asked as my sight fell on the slight mark on his cheek.
"No, I punched him," He told me.
"I think, we should let her rest,"
Bhabhi Saheb interrupted.
"Sure," Bhai Saheb agreed.
They both left after greeting me and I sat on the bed.
Now, I had to meet him. I want to ask a few questions and moreover, I needed to know what he wants.
But, before everything I needed to take bath and change.
I went to the Bathing room and took a short bath. I changed to pair of light green attire made up of cotton. A few attendees helped me to braid my hair. I was in a hurry resulting I didn't choose to get ready properly.
I didn't know that in which guest-chamber he was staying. So, I asked an attendee to get the knowledge of it.
I turned on my heels to reach there. I needed to know what was he thinking.
I entered his chamber. My steps turned slower as I was afraid and nervous to face him. I couldn't believe that we had faced this. There was a time when I was not afraid of him and playful though. But, today he looked angry. The way he held my hair, the way he looked into my eyes, the way his nerves highlighted on his arms when he snaked his arms around me. I felt goosebumps.
I walked past the partitions and entered the Bedroom. I raked my eyes all across and my gaze on his half-naked body. He had just come out of the Bathing room. Standing against the mirror, he was raking the white cotton cloth on his wet chest.
I walked slowly closer to him. He must have noticed me.
"Sultan," I called slowly but my voice sounded terrified and nervous.
I looked into his eyes through the mirror. They were red, swollen a little maybe because he hadn't slept for nights.
"You aren't attacking us? Right,"
He ignored me completely as he stayed busy drying his hair. His slightly long strands danced on his forehead.
"Sultan," I stood beside the dressing table trying to catch his attention.
He moved to walk away but I forwarded my hand to hold his wrist to stop him.
"I thought, you will kill my brother," I initiated, my voice sounds weak.
Suddenly, he turned back to me and pulled me between him and the dressing table.
My hand rested on the wooden table as he leaned in over me. He placed his hand near my palm on the table, slightly bending on me. I arched my body backwards. I felt caged. His naked feet touching mine a little.
"And what made you think that I will not your brother now,"
My heartfelt broken but his voice made a volcano burst in my stomach of a thousand butterflies.
"Sultan, please... you know I can't see it,"
"And why should I care?"
This hurt me.
I looked into his burning eyes, I could see the pain, rage and hurt in them.
"Because, because... I am your... wife," I stated.
His gaze was sharp as he said.
"And, how does it change the fact that I will kill your brother?"
"Sultan, Please... You know I can't live without him. Neither I can without you. The war between you and him would surely declare my loss. And, if you still want to win the Empire then you have to go through me. You will always find me between you and the Hind," I stated.
"Why not?"
He took the sharp dagger from the table. I felt the steel coldness on my wrist as he slowly buttered in on my skin. My heartbeats raced insanely with terror and his sharp gaze.
"Sultan," I begged as it was affecting me insanely.
"My Begum came to her home without telling me, without asking me, without any security and facility, without my knowledge, without anything. You kept yourself at stake just because of a letter. You travelled a thousand miles without any security just because of a letter. You kept my pride at stake just because of a letter. You kept my everything at stake just because of a so-called letter,"
His eyes turned watery as he muttered.
A tear slipped through my eyes as the steel of the dagger touched my skin. It was terrifying but his words were more heartbreaking.
"That letter said that you have asked Ibrahim to keep the army ready to depart for Hind. To your knowledge, you have never said that you won't attack Hind. You married me just to plan against my Empire. Then, why shouldn't I have come here to protect my brother? You know, why I married you, you know what matters to me the most. You have always known that my brother and my land is my priority over everything. A girl who was broken, a girl who never stayed without her family, a girl for her everything was a fairytale agreed to marry a stranger, walked past thousand miles on her own, without any relative, without any security, without any support from her family. She accepted the proposal just to save her brother, just to postpone the upcoming war, just because she was determined to save her motherland. For her, all that mattered was to protect her brother. I didn't know that you would treat me like a wife, I expected tortures, cellar or rudeness from you. Still, I married you. You hated me, I knew it, still, I walked with you. We didn't love each other initially, Sultan. Still, I kept my everything at stake just to save a person. Then, how would all those things have bothered me,"
Suddenly, he held my hair a little harshly. My mouth opened with the effect and he looked into my eyes.
"But, it changed, Gulaab. I changed, you changed, for the God Sake, I love you. How can you say that I faked it just to win the Empire? Why can't you see that I have already won it? You, this Empire, this Hind also belongs to me now. I am the damn Sultan, I don't do useless things. I married you because I wanted to. I married you because I wanted Hind without any bloodshed. I am the Damn Son-in-law of this Empire. Look at me, I am staying here, people are serving me. If anyhow your brother dies, This all will automatically become mine,"
His words felt like heart pierced to me.
OH MY GOD!
Why the hell I never thought this way.
"So, you will kill him?" A trail of tears slipped my eyes.
"Gulaab, Get this into your head. I will never kill your brother. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH. Your pain kills me, The way you left the Empire shattered me into pieces. I just want you, I just my begum to be mine, to be happy,"
"Then, why Ibrahim sent that letter?"
I asked.
"Because I asked him to keep the army ready. It was the time when he came to the Empire before his wedding. I did discuss with him about the attack on Hind. It was all before we started loving each other. But, I never discussed it after that. You could have waited for me, You could have at least asked me before taking such a step. You know, I got scared to death thinking you left without security. What if someone attacked you, What if something had happened to you?"
I forced my lashes close as his I felt slight pain because of his grip on my hair.
"And you easily said that I faked it,"
"I am sorry, Please..."
I opened my eyes and begged.
"You don't trust me, Right?" A tear slipped his eyes.
I felt unbearable pain in my heart.
"I have never trusted anyone more than you. I have submitted everything I had to you only. But, I am sorry, I couldn't trust you as a Sultan. I will always like to die before seeing anything happening to my brother, Before seeing you fighting with him. But, it will never change the love I have for you. I have loved you without your position as Sultan but I am scared of the personality you have as Sultan. I had seen a beast in you. I had seen the way you rips the body apart. I am scared of it. But, I love the Sultan who care for me, who loved me with all odds. Who fought for me. Who makes the love with me insanely. Who holds the power to make me dance on his slight touch. Who came here in just a few days. I love him so much," I cried.
"And you don't trust his love?"
"Please, don't make it difficult for me. I can't choose between you and him, Please..."
"But, I still hate you for not believing in my love. I still hate you for saying that I faked it," He cried.
I sucked on my lips and hold his arms.
"Please, Sultan... Please, I am begging you, Please, please, please... Don't say this. Please..."
I took my lips closer to his, they were trembling honestly begging him for forgiveness.
His hand touched my waist, pressing it a little as he placed his warm lips on mine. He sucked me harshly once, twice and thrice. The fresh warm tears travelled down my eyes. His lips moved to my cheeks, kissing me, then to my ears.
"Please, Sultan" I begged.
He nibbled my ears and muttered.
"You have to earn it back, Gulaab, You have to earn it back,"
I cried.
I felt broken with the release of the touch, he took a few steps back and washed his tears. I cried my heart out and sat on the couch near the dressing table with the effect.
He walked away from me and left the chamber wearing his Kurta back.