Qarz-E-Jaan

A smile Across time

The sun hung like molten gold in the sky as the royal banners of Orhan's palace fluttered with pride and festivity.

The courtyard shimmered with hues of silk, laughter, and anticipation. A royal announcement echoed through the marble corridors:

"Presenting...Kunwar Nakul of Hastinapur, Rajmata Kunti, kunwari Aadvika,Rani Ambika,Rani Chitra, and Maharani Devika!"

The guards bowed low as the chariot bearing the royal guests came to a halt.

Orhan and Osman strode forward with princely grace, garbed in rich Persian tunics, and welcomed them with warm smiles.

Orhan stepped forward, bowing slightly.

"Swagat hai aap sabka, Humari Sultant mein. Magar humare dost Arjun kahan hain? Unka aana bhi toh bohot zaroori tha."

Rajmata Kunti smiled gently,
"Woh kuch rajya karyon mein vyast hain, Unhone ne Kaha tha ke jese hi unko mauqa milega woh Aapse zaroor milne aayenge."

Orhan Nodded as He Gestures Osman to take them One by one, the guests were led into the grand hall, seated on silk-cushioned diwans.

The fragrance of rosewater, the sound of sitar, and the clinking of golden goblets filled the air.

Suddenly, a courtier entered, striking his staff on the marble floor three times.

"Mallika-e-Kabul, Dewaan-E-Khaas ein tashrif laa rahi hain!"

A soft rustle followed. All eyes turned.

From behind the latticed jharokha, emerged Maheen, draped in a regal emerald green dress that shimmered like the first dew on pine needles.

Her dupatta, embroidered with threads of gold and lined with pearls, trailed behind her like moonlight.

Nakul's breath caught in his throat.

Years had passed...winters had melted into summers, but Maheen's grace remained untouched by time.

His heart thundered against his chest as she walked into the hall like a memory given form.

Maheen looked around, greeting All the ladies one by one until her gaze landed on Nakul.

She paused.

Their eyes met.

Just a faint smile curved her lips one that held a thousand unspoken words

Chitra leaned over to whisper, amused,

"Yeh sundar kitni hai? Kis desh se hai yeh dev-kanya?"

Maheen turned toward them gracefully.

"Umeed Karte hai Aapko Humara ghar pasand Aaya hoga...Main Kabul ki Sehzadi hoon...."

There was a stunned silence. Kunti,Devika, and the others shared glances.

Ambika blinked.
"Kabul?...wahan to..."

She trailed off, not wishing to sound skeptical.

Kunti quickly stood up and stepped forward, smiling warmly.

"Rani Maheen, humari sabse purani yaadon mein Kabul ek sundar sapna tha...Aaj aapko dekhkar lagta hai ki woh sapna jeevit ho gaya hai."

Maheen bent down and touched her feet and stood up with a smile

"Shukriya, Rajmata..."

One by one, Ambika, Chitra, and Devika greeted her.

But none with malice. Instead, there was genuine grace and curiosity.

Aadvika stepped forward next, her eyes sharp yet respectful.

"Aap Kabul ki Sehzadi ho..Arab Ki Mallika ho....lekin dil mein Hind ke Itni izzat..."

Maheen nodded gently,
"Aur dil kabhi seemaon mein bandha nahi ja sakta, Rajkumari."

Nakul finally stood up. His voice was softer than expected.

"Itne varsh beet gaye,... aur aap ab bhi waise hi dikhti hain jaise... pehli baar dekha tha."

Maheen looked at him, her voice like a still lake.

"Aur Aap Aaj bhi wese hi dikhte hai"

A smile tugged at the corners of both their lips.

Before anyone could say more, It was announced of Osman arrival....
.
.
.
Orhan sipped his Sharbat with a smile

"It brings joy to this heart to finally host the Hind dynasty under one
roof after ages."

Kunti smiled back nodding her head

"Your generosity is known far and wide, Orhan But you have offered more than just a palace today you offer us memories."

Nakul nodded looking down
"Some memories... are etched in silence."

On the other end of the chamber stood Maheen, regally poised, though her hands were delicately working. Surrounded by trays of emeralds and pearls, she was personally overseeing the jewelry arrangements for Ruhani's wedding.

Her voice was soft, instructing attendants, her fingers moving with practiced grace. But her heart... it stirred.

Just then, Devika, Ambika, and Chitra approached three women with layered in emotion, maturity, and grace.

Maheen looked up and paused.
She rose and walked a few steps forward, her eyes meeting theirs with honesty, and then she gently smiled

"Maharani Devika,Rani Ambika,
Rani Chitra...I know the weight that time and choices can place upon a woman's heart....If, in my presence during those years, you ever felt shadowed If my bond with Arjun ever made you feel unseen or unloved
Then today, I bow not as a Queen, but as a woman seeking forgiveness."

The silence that followed was not uncomfortabl —it was heavy, yes, but not unkind. Devika, always composed, stepped forward first.

Devika gently Spoke with a small smile

"Maharani Maheen... what passed was part of a journey none of us could escape. Maharaj Arjun was yours in ways we understood, even if not spoken aloud. But he was also ours in the quiet hours, in family, in loyalty."

Ambika nodded
"You do not need to carry guilt where love lived, Rani sa Each of us held Maharaj differently."

Chitra walked forward tears brimming in her eyes

"If you could see the way he spoke your name even in dreams...
We never hated you. We were just women each aching in her own way."

Maheen's eyes moistened slightly. She looked down, then slowly raised her gaze again, this time with both gratitude and vulnerability.

"You have given me more than forgiveness you have given me sisterhood."

They shared a quiet moment, a circle of feminine strength and silent empathy, where rivalries melted into mutual understanding.

The gold bangles on their wrists jingled softly as they took Maheen's hands in theirs.

In the background, Nakul's gaze remained fixed from afar. He could not hear the words, but the scene was enough.

As he smiled He had known these women as wives, queens, mothers. But today, they stood as something far greater women who had survived heartbreak, distance, and time.

And Maheen, radiant yet humbled, had finally found closure for a chapter long buried in her heart.

So What do you all think about their First meet????