Tales Of The Heart

(38)

The following days were peaceful, Inaya sat on the cushioned platform by the window, absently rubbing her barely visible belly as she stared outside at the palace gardens. Shahzaib looked up from the book he had been reading, a soft smile on his face, knowing how sensitive and emotional she had been lately.

"Hayati, what are you thinking so fiercely?", he called gently. She turned to him, eyes wide and filled with frustration.
"Shahzaib, do you ever think the flowers hate me?", she asked.

Shahzaib blinked, trying to make sense of what he had just heard. "The flowers… hate you?", he stood up from the bed and crossed the room before sitting beside her. "Love, they are flowers. They cannot hate anyone", he said softly.

Inaya huffed dramatically, her lower lip trembling slightly.
"Well, I feel like they do. Look at them, all happy and blooming while I feel like a balloon about to burst", She threw her hands up, and Shahzaib tried not to laugh. He knew better than to take her complaints lightly these days. She did gain some of healthy weight making her look more adorable.

"You are not a balloon, and the flowers are just jealous of how beautiful you are", he said, leaning closer to kiss her on the forehead. "Besides, I do not think they can compete with my future Empress", he said in a flirting glint.

Her lips twitched into a small smile, but she scrunched her face up.
"You are just saying that because you are afraid I might cry. I will cry, you know. Everything makes me cry these days", she exclaimed with a heavy sigh.

Shahzaib could not hold back his laughter anymore, a low chuckle rumbling through him. "You cried over the color of your pillow yesterday, Inaya. I am always a little cautious", he said laughing.

Her eyes widened, a smile tugging at her lips. "It was the wrong shade of blue, Shahzaib! I mean, how could anyone think I would want navy blue when it was clearly supposed to be sky blue?", she said as if it was the most absurd thing ever.

Shahzaib raised his hands in surrender, barely controlling his laughter. "I apologize for the heinous crime. I shall personally make certain the pillows are never that shade again", he said dramatically.

Inaya narrowed her eyes at him, but then the corner of her mouth lifted, and she let out small giggles. "I am being ridiculous, am I not?",

"No, you are expecting", he said, putting an arm around her shoulders and pulling her closer. "You get a pass for all of this. Besides, it is kind of adorable", he accepted with a smitten smile.

She looked up at him, playfully narrowing her eyes again. "Adorable? So, if I decided to demand a feast of pickles, chocolate, and rice pudding at three in the morning, that would be adorable too?", she quirked her brows. Without missing a beat, Shahzaib nodded solemnly. "Absolutely. I will have it delivered on a silver platter if it makes you happy", he grinned.

"I do not know what I would do without you", Inaya laughed, leaning into his chest.
"Probably declare war on the flowers", he teased, kissing the top of her head as Inaya giggled at the remark. As she sighed contently, snuggling closer to him.
"Maybe… but I think I would let them live. For now", they laughed at that.

●○●○●○●○

Princess Anam became a hollow shell of despair after her failed  attempt. Her eyes were red from sleepless nights and endless tears, her thoughts consumed with the humiliation she had suffered.

Shahzaib and Inaya were untouchable now that the child was confirmed to be his. She stared at her reflection in the mirror, the cracks in her once-perfect facade showing for the first time in her life.

Her attendant entered quietly before speaking hesitantly.
"Your Highness, there is someone here to see you",
Anam didn't bother turning.
"Tell them to leave. I do not care", she said nonchalantly.