Till Destiny Bind Us Together...

Chapter One



         Ruia watched the time keeping candle. Dulari ushered the maids in, one came bearing a tray of dry fruits, and the other a jug and glasses. Other came bearing her cotton night dress. The other lower maids put out the lamps leaving only a few lighted.

    Dulari helped her with her jewels and her dress.  She slipped on a robe while a silver basin was brought in, one maid filled it with rose water. Ruia washed her face and her arms and patted her skin dry with the towel. She removed her robe and Dulari helped her slip in her night gown.

      Dulari them unbraided her hair, combing it free of knots. The other minor servants, lighted oudh incense in order for her to relax.

   Ruia made a pretense of yawning and being sleepy as Dulari massaged her scalp. She knew Dulari shifted her eyes and nudged her head. The maids moved out one by one after bowing to her.

      "I have to go." Ruia said suddenly alert. It was exhausting to go through this pretense but weekly twice she had to escape the palace walls to look after the club.

      "Gustaakhi maaf, you seem tired, huzoor. Why don't you stay in tonight?"

     "I can't." She said hurriedly putting on a muslin Navy dress over her body. "Fatma and I have important matters to discuss."

   She and Dulari had stitched it in secret. It was a Islesian style of dress, she had modified according to her interest. The blue silk flowed to the ground. Dulari pinned a sheer malamal veil on her head.

     Dulari took out the box under her matress. It contained the jewels of Empress Nilija, who was a Islesian princess, who came to the Great Empire and married her uncle, the former emperor Salim. Her story didn't end well and she did not  know what exactly had transpired. Just that, that she had thrown herself off the roof.

   But a maid of hers had saved her jewels, they were exotic, and sold them in the Meena Bazaar a few years back,  she had eyed it but didn't have courage to buy it.

     Turquoise. The shopkeeper had told her. It was a stone associated with nobility.

    "Shehzaadis, it deserves to be in possession of someone like you. In the Isles, only the nobility and royalty are allowed to wear these stones and this shade of blue."

      "How interesting!" Razia said touching the stones.

    Razia had liked it too and was vocal about her choice. She waved the emperor over like he was a common man and not a ruler of the vast empire. And the emperor so loved Razia that he had come to see what she was excited about,

   "Baba! They look so pretty. Please please buy them for me?"

"Do you like it, my dear?" He had asked placing his hand on her head affectionately. The emperor's ring glistened in his thumb.

    "Yes, Baba! Please...Your majesty." She pleaded.

    The Empress shook her head. "Razia..." She had warned but the Emperor had told her to let it go.

     "If you like it then I'll buy it for you." He had said. Razia not caring that they were public hugged her father. Ruia stood there with her eyes downcast in fury and shame.

    She had liked it first. How had Razia gained it?

      "Oh Ruia? You're here too?" The Empress had asked noticing her finally.

   "My dear, do you like something? You can tell me, I'll buy it too. Your baba is not the only one with money!" She had said the last part aloud and the Emperor laughed throwing his head back, his voice booming.