Adil-e-Chand, the ashes of desire

10. WILL YOU? PLEASE.

ADIL

"Who hit her?" I asked, seated on the couch in my study, facing the guards tasked with her abduction.

"No one did, Sultan," Ameer declared, his voice rising above the others. "Then why are there imprints of a hand on her cheek?" I inquired calmly for the last time, prompting a silent exchange of glances among them.

"I am asking something" I snapped, causing them to flinch from my sudden outburst," either you tell me what happened or else no one will be alive enough to see the next morning"

One of the guards stepped up, "Sultan, when we reached the princess's chamber, she was deeply asleep on the floor. We didn't even have to force her and not wasting any time, Commander Ameer tied her hands and mouth and we all swiftly got out from the secret exit"

I glanced at Ameer and received a nod. "It must have been from before," he remarked, prompting me to sigh. "Something is not right, Ameer; she isn't well," I whispered to myself.

Ameer commanded out all the guards and sat on the couch beside me, "what happened?" I shook my head.

maybe she was just terrified because of everything that has happened but that only explains her reaction after seeing my wound not the slight red marks on her face, "Did you tell her what I said?" I asked him, attempting to steer the conversation elsewhere.

"Hmm, she stood calm but her friend" he started laughing while shaking his head, "she kind of disliked it, but leave that tell me why you don't want the princess to know about you?"

"She wrote it herself in the letter, that we shouldn't meet in future. It's fortunate that she doesn't realize the boy whose ring she is wears and I are the same person, otherwise I don't think I could have stood upright in front of her." he kept a hand on my shoulder, "Tomorrow I have invited the king of Ajmer and Kannauj to settle everything and marry Chandrika to the prince in Himayat sultanate in front of my eyes, ensuring all goes according to my plans."

"Will you be okay with that?" he asked making me smile, "sabko kaha naseeb hota hai apne pyaar ko kisi aur ka hote dekhna, kal tumhe hi sambhalna hoga sab" I could feel my eyes getting moist.

(not everyone gets the chance to witness their love become someone else's, you will have to take care of everything tomorrow)

"yahi to kaam hai humara" he said proudly, "buttery" I remarked blinking my eyes to look normal.

(this is what I work for)

he got up to go back to his chamber, "u think you need some alone time" I gave him a tight smile but stopped him before he could exit, "and Ameer, send an attendee to check on her before you go to sleep" after he left.

I found myself lost in her memories today, reminiscing about that night and the moments we shared nine years ago. She still gazes at me as she once did, yet something is absent—the sparkle in her eyes has dimmed, the melody in her voice fades with each word, and yet, I find myself falling for her even more. It may seem absurd to others that I fell for someone I've only met twice, but it's not impossible when that person is 'her'.

I was scared that if she came close to me, I might perish away. If not, I had asked Ameer to keep the past of us concealed, I may have been more vulnerable than I am now, knowing she is conscious of my feelings towards her. I don't know how I am going to marry her off.

I closed my eyes to sleep but again her face flashed before my eyes making me chuckle, it was the first time I saw her feisty side if only for a few seconds.

I knew she was standing behind the Chamber doors, she was visible to me through the mirror placed a few feet away in front of us. Her hair feathered her face, tempting me to brush it aside. Her eyes might have radiated courage, but the way she was biting her lips betrayed her fear. As she released her hair, a wave of awe overtook me, and I was utterly lost in her presence.