Hotel Noor

Chapter 5

1853

Tying her hair into a bun, Tahira walked out of her room to head over to the palace to meet her father. But that was not the only reason she was going.

She entered the palace, carrying a basket of fruits in her left hand. It was Eid, and the whole place was filled with people, feasting. She spotted her friends and ran up to them. Everyone was talking about how magical the manor looked that day. There was a sense of impatience in the crowd.

Then the trumpets bleeped, and the royal family made their appearance. The king, Abdul Aziz entered first alongside his dazzling wife, as a bright blue dupatta draped her shoulders. Close behind them, prince Bahir walked, holding his sister, Aliya's hand.

Tahira stood in the crowd, her eyes adoring the young prince. A silence filled the room as every eye admired the royals. The prince caught Tahira's eyes and there was some exchange of expressions.

After the king addressed the gathering and everyone resumed back to their feast, Tahira went to the rose garden to meet with the prince.

As she was walking on the moist grass, a hand gripped her shoulder and pulled her into an ethereal embrace. She pulled close and drowned her worries in the prince's broad arms.

" I missed you so much, Tahira Jaan" the prince exclaimed.

"I dreamt about you and your sweet words. These two weeks without you have been miserable" said Tahira.

"I know but I have to tell you something."

"I have to tell you something as well," Tahira said as she placed her arms around her small bulging belly. Seeing this, the prince went silent. His reaction perplexed her.

"My parents had me married to the princess of Arab, Shah Noor."

This agitated Tahira as tears streamed down her cheeks like a cascade. She took a few steps back as her young heart crippled inside of her.

"Tahira. Tahira, I didn't know that that was going to happen when I traveled there. I didn't intend to marry. Pleases forgive me. But we must tell our families because you are carrying royal blood inside you. Tahira."

Hearing this, Tahira broke into a run and sprinted out of the garden. Her heartfelt like it was stabbed a million times. She reprimanded herself for being so foolish. The adolescent had never felt this betrayed before. She ran as if she were entering hell, to pay for her sinful crimes.