It was a night engulfed in a strange calm. She and Prem were in the process of enacting the highest act of treason to their states, their families and yet there wasn't a single ominous sign in sight. The sky was clear and filled with stars along with a stunningly beautiful crescent moon. The temperature of the hot summer night was offset by a cool steady breeze. The soothing music provided by the gently clattering leaves of the trees circling the temple played in her ears to the present day. It felt as if the entire universe was conspiring to finalize their union. In the presence of the Prince and the Priest, Prem and Noor got married in such a dreamlike peace that none of them could have predicted the storm that followed.
Marriage was not on either of their agendas when they first returned from finishing their education abroad. Deeply in love and freshly separated after eight years of togetherness, Prem would visit Noor on a periodic basis in the secret of the night for the months to come. When they occasionally tested the waters by mentioning the enemies in a positive light to their families, they were heavily reprimanded and quickly realized their love was a fantasy far from reality. Soon, their families were looking at serious marriage proposals for them. Still, the thought of marriage to one another had not occurred to them.
That was until one night Prem was caught leaving the palace by Noor's father after his visit to Noor's chambers and hell broke loose. The furious Chief had threatened to take his life if he as much as steps foot in Basher ever again. After a clamorous outburst at Noor as well, her father punished her by locking her up in her chambers until further notice. Seeing it as the only option to separate her from Prem for good, he informed her he was confirming her marriage to the son of another chief and that she had lost all rights to choose her groom for herself.
Having made up her mind to rebel, Noor had then sent Prince Udam a royal letter asking him and Prem to come to a fairly secluded temple some distance away from the palace of Basher. She wrote she would marry Prem on the 15th day of the month and no one would be able to stop her from doing so. As instructed, Prince Udam and Prem made a private journey to the temple in Basher as Noor made the minimum arrangements required in the week leading up to wedding. It would be simple wedding, no extravagant outfits or jewelry and definitely no rituals leading up to the wedding ceremony. On the night of 15th day, Noor sneaked out of her chambers and walked past Sevak in the hallway. She halted in her tracks when she thought she saw him move. He did not get up so she hurried out.
Once outside the temple, she had rushed into Prem's arms. "I would have died before marrying anyone else."
"And I would have killed before letting anyone else marry you." Prem had replied with equal passion.
"We should hurry." Prince Udam had softly interrupted them.
The ceremony began and concluded effortlessly. They walked out of the temple a husband and wife having tied Kurral and Basher in a bond that would be rendered unbreakable. They were only in the courtyard of the temple for what felt like a mere moment before they heard shouts of warning on the outer gate. The Chief's guard of Basher had surrounded the outer walls of the temple and in the large gates stood Noor's father with Sevak on his side. Noor would later find out one of her father's loyal servants had seen her secretly enter the temple with two strange men and had tipped the Chief off.
The recollection of what followed the confrontation at the temple gates sent chills down Noor's spine. She had replayed the scene in her mind so many times that only the distinctly painful portions remained. Her ears could still hear the frightening thunder of her father's raging voice. Her sweaty palm could still fee Prem's powerful grip. Her mouth could still feel the dryness she had felt during the shriek she let out when Sevak finally did strike Prem on top of his heart and his white kurta began turning a deep shade of red. It was clash, consisting of harsh words at first and when she did not budge at her father's orders, it quickly became physical. Of all the guards, her father gestured at Sevak to remove Noor from Prem's side. He knew neither Noor nor Prem would attack him despite their readied swords. When Sevak silently walked up to Noor, she and Prem stood frozen as he gently unclenched her grip from her sword and removed it from her hand.
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INSEPARABLE I
Romance"If I have to leave you, I'll start seeing courtesans." He stated. Unfazed, "go ahead," whispered the woman of his heartbeat. Prem took one hand off her back and brushed the loose hair at the side of her face behind her ear. "I'll make sure to pick...