NOOR

6. BEGUM

" This is you tent Begum Sahiba" the maid bowed in front of Noor, as she smiled and signalled her to leave her alone.

Stepping inside the tent, she found her belongings already set at a corner, with the makeshift bed hogging most of the space.

She chuckled internally, this was way different than all those nights and days she spent in tents with Jaswants while wandering through different Kingdoms.

" I am a Begum now, obviously I will be bathed in luxury" she smiled, her hands slowly going through the expensive silk that covered the cushions on the bed.

Suddenly hearing footsteps entering the tent, she turned around quickly, a wide smile and an expecting gaze adorning her face. Which quickly fell when instead of her husband, Jaswant stood at the entrance with his mouth wide open.

" Jyoti your tent is twice the size of mine... That's not fair. I am a guest too!" He whined, plopping down on one of the sofas at a corner, trying to judge the "springiness" of the cushions.

" Where's Shehanshah? Why are you here?" Jyoti's accusing tone didn't go unheard by Jaswant, who smirked and held a mischievous gaze at his twin.

" Wow, already missing your husband? Maybe he's already contemplating marrying a witch like you!"

" You-" Jyoti huffed, throwing one of the cushions on the bed at Jaswant, who caught it before it could hit his face. " You are now talking to a Begum, Jaswant. Treat me so!"

" Oh ho, Begum Sahiba, so sorry for my ABSOLUTELY TRUE comments!" He bowed while sitting, thus missing the second cushion being hurled at him.

" Ouch... Jyoti! I could have broken my neck!" Jaswant whined again, massaging his cervical as he put the cushions back on the bed and plopping down beside Jyoti.

" Sorry" Jyoti pouted, almost feigning any guilt at her actions. " But seriously, where is he? Its almost night"

" The chief minister has come to us, you know, Shehanshah's Bari ammi, Maham Anga. He's right now having a meeting with her and the rest of his people. He'll probably get late, so I thought I should come and accompany you till he comes back"

" Accompany me? Why?" Jyoti tilted her head.

" So that you don't fall asleep on your first night idiot" Jaswant flicked Jyoti's forehead, who winced in pain. But even that couldn't stop the slowly creeping redness on her cheeks.

" You don't have to care about that..." Jyoti sulked, as she realised that Shehanshah left her alone on their first night without any notification. If Jaswant hadn't come to tell her, she would have probably dozed off while being frustrated.

" I have cared about everything in your life Jyoti. And although I quite didn't want to interfere in such topics... I still think I need to remind you to not.... Exert yourself. Understand?" Jaswant stated, worry clearly etched on his face. " Maybe tell him straight forward that you cannot have kids. Or that you cannot afford to lose much blood-"

" Jaswant... Calm down. Please" Jyoti held her twins hands, " I understand everything Jaswant, and I really... really appreciate your concern. But... I love him. And I want... Want to spend time with him. Plus I am sure, he who has numerous wives in his haram wouldn't pester me for more than maybe five times" she chuckled, hiding a bit of sadness in her words.

Jaswant's eyes softened, hearing his sister always put herself down made him angry at first, but he had now accepted it. He knew, it was her way of justifying the whole world and her existence in it, so he let it be.

" He does have a lot of women, but numerically, you're his fourth wife. Don't forget your worth when we reach the fort okay? If you talk like this in front of the women of the haram, they will walk all over you" he stated firmly, " they won't coddle you like Maa or Bhabishrees. Oh God... I am already hyperventilating thinking about everything. Cannot he just give you a room close to mine? What if you fall and bleed all over and no one comes to save you because they're all jealous of you or hate you-"