The untold story of a Courtesan

Twenty-one

We arrived at my chambers and I went straight to the bed and sat up straight and tried calming the baby down with singing lullabies and it done the trick.Raj and Pooja drop the items and sat by my side and Pooja asked curiously"who baby is this?".

At first I didn't know what to answer her but spoke"I found her by a river stream while on my way to the red palace and her mother if I'm correct would have abaddon her there,if I didn't come in time.....who knows what would happened with her!".I said to
Pooja caressing the baby cheek.

She looked horrified with my answer and caressing the baby face while Raj sat on the other side of me and asked"what are you going to do with her!".

I sat there thinking of his question wondering what must I do?......but silence overwhelmed the chamber and all of I could hear were the untold creatures lurking in the dark.I looked back at the baby who was sleeping peacefully in my arms and her cuteness stole my heart,it was then a voice uttered to me"Alia.......if you haven't got in time for this child,who know what would of happened to".

"No......nothing bad has happened to her......I will take care of her!".I screamed out loud these words which scared me to even think of something bad happening with her or any child,giving the baby,pooja and Raj a fright and the baby ended up crying.

I took a flew deep breaths and quickly calmed the baby down and looked to both of them and said"I will raise her as my own,that's final!".I replied with a stern voice.

"But what will Jhanvi begum say about this.....she will not accept the situation?".Pooja said with sadness in her voice.

"I Don't Care!!!!!".I replied back instantly.

"Okay.....I will leave you to then,come Raj let them settle in for the night!".Pooja uttered while standing up and told Raj to do the same and waved at me and I waved back at them leaving the room.

After the door closed,I placed the baby gently next to me and fell down on my pillow and turned to her direction then I placed my hand on her and stare at her lying still as a stone and that when I felt a kick made by my own and I caressed my belly in excitement.

Then my eyes suddenly fell opened and close indicating how tired I'm and let a yawn out before closing my eyes and dosing off.

*************

"Ammi.....Ammi,wake up!".

"Okay....I'm awake what is it?".

"He here!....he here!".

"Who's here!".

"The Peshwar?(Hindi word for Prime minister).

"The Pesha"then I was cut off when I woke up breathless and in bed under the cover of darkness,most likely hours before dawn and the baby sleeping peacefully next to me and thought to myself"who the girl and the Peshwar?.......nope probably just some weird dream that doesn't make sense?".I lied my head again but couldn't seem to sleep and then stood up gently not trying to wake up the baby and lit up a lantern and sat by the huge window.

I tried long and hard to figure out who the girl and Peshwar is but no luck with no one reaching my mind as I sat by the window looking out at the stars above me and then the baby started to cry and rushed to her and calmed her down so that her crying doesn't wake anyone up especially Jhanvi begum that would cause trouble.
I went and sat with her by the window and looked at her adorable face while sleeping and asked myself"who are you and what your name?".

But then it hit me"she doesn't have a name?".and since I'm taking care of her,she needs a name and so I started thinking of names for her, something that suit her just perfect.while many names has cross my mind,none of them was right but deep down felt that something missing and all of a southern a voice uttered it to me"Nadia will be her name!".