INSEPARABLE I

XXVII

Nearly two months had passed since Noor last saw Prem and as expected, she thought of him every single moment of every single day. A lot had taken place since their last encounter and many things had changed but the most overwhelming change was how often she began hearing of him. He seemed to be in the headlines of the gossip of the Kingdom on a weekly basis. News that used to speak passionately of his charm and kindness now had undertones of fear and intimidation. He was beginning to act like a Chief and not just any Chief, the Chief the entire Kingdom expected the only son of Ajit Singh Dhaliwal to become – charming but fearsome, kind but extraordinarily powerful, and humble but with just a hint of arrogance. News of activities circled far and wide. He had started multiple manufacturing projects within Kurral, one in association with Mand using their surplus of cotton to further increase Kurral's exporting power in trade outside the kingdom. He bought one of the most expensive and rare jeweled necklaces in the kingdom for his mother. In one instance, word was that he beheaded a man on the spot for brutally forcing himself on a woman.

Noor knew she was single handedly responsible for the change Doab was witnessing in its most competent leader but she could not figure out how she felt about it. The day of the assembly had arrived once again and she had no idea how to face the man of her life and breath anymore.

As usual Noor arrived at the assembly exactly on time, 10 AM. To her shock, Prem wasn't there yet. Greeting the Prince, the other Chiefs, and the noblemen, she took a seat. She naturally earned inquisitive looks from the officials who hadn't seen her since the chaotic day at the court in Sauli. She could tell most of them wondered how it was possible for her to show up so effortlessly after messing up as badly as she and Prem did. The court was silent as they waited for the final Chief to arrive. It was nothing out of the ordinary for her heart to begin speeding up in anticipation of his arrival. After a minute or so, movement at the door caught everyone's attention. It was Prem.

Dressed in an all-black kurta pajama under the usual khaki shawl Prem had folded the sleeves up to his elbows and walked in with a rifle larger than necessary hanging on his right shoulder with some 30 Kurrali officials. Apart from a jewel on his left middle finger and a small ringed gold earring in one ear, the only piece of jewelry he wore was the karra given to him by Noor's mother two months ago. It shined with all its purity on the golden skin of his wrist as he clutched at the rifle band. "Please, accept my greetings, Your Grace." He bowed his head before the Prince. Ignoring the looks of the curious onlookers, he too, repeated the greeting to the other officials in the room just as Noor had and took his seat.

Noor waited with bated breath for him to look up at her after he got settled in. He never did. In fact, he didn't look in her direction even once throughout the whole assembly. Her heart broke, though she wasn't sure why. She had sworn not to speak to him and this was the best way to keep that oath but something inside her had still hoped they would at least continue to exchange a few words through their eyes. He seemed determined not to let that happen. She deserved it.

After the assembly was the routinely feast with the Prince. Once again, not a single look from Prem even remotely within Noor's direction let alone at her. His expression showed neither anger nor pain, it was instead strangely normal, indifferent, joyous even. He laughed a little louder than Noor would have expected and talked a little more energetically than the executives around him were prepared for.

It was only when they stepped out of the feast that Noor saw Chand. What she was doing at the quarterly assembly held for Chiefs and their cabinets was beyond Noor. As she made her way up to Prem, Noor noticed the gold jeweled dagger she had last seen Prem leave with in Sauli hanging on Chand's waist. Her heart sank a little at the sight. Chand arrived next to Prem and asked where they were headed next.