Acceptance Is Treachery

Chapter 1

The sunlight shined upon the marble walls of the Babri Masjid-a mosque located in Faizabad. "All praise to be upon Allah, the Almighty." Princess Nazia raised her hands and brought them over to her face in a swift motion.

After completing her morning prayers, Princess Nazia, exited the mosque with her lady-in-waiting Hadija by her side. Princess Nazia removed her veil that was covering her head and looked at Hadija. "I'm feeling slightly hungry, what about yourself?" Princess Nazia laughed as they walked through the streets of Faizabad.

"Your highness, you're really strange. In Faizabad, every girl wears either a veil or a hijab. Why do you despise wearing one?" Hadija walked beside the Princess who was busy acknowledging the throngs of peasants around them. "Well, that is my choice, Hadija." Princess Nazia laughed as they continued walking into the city. Princess Nazia's raven black hair flowed around her covering her exotic features.

"All hail, Princess Nazia!" was heard around them. Princess Nazia just smiled as they walked around the marketplace. "Princess, I shall go and get you a peach. Do wait here." Hadija mumbled , while running off to serve her queen.

While Princess Nazia, walked down the marketplace, she saw an uttariya on the ground. An uttariya is a silk scarf-like cloth that descends from the back of the neck to curl around both arms, and can be used to drape the top half of the body. It is usually used by high class men.

Princess Nazia picked up the cloth and examined it closely. "This looks like it belongs to a man from the Pawar kingdom-a Hindu kingdom." Princess Nazia thought to herself.

When, suddenly, she felt a palm touch her back. Princess Nazia turned around swiftly with the uttariya held tightly in her palm quickly hiding it behind her. Princess Nazia, came face-to-face with a man who was sculpted for the gods.

Clad in solely gold jewellery and a silk dhoti, Princess Nazia almost salivated at the man's perfectly crafted torso. However, her thoughts dispersed momentarily as her eyes came into contact with a mark on his forehead- a white mark was drawn in a 'U' shape and a red line was drawn in between it to symmetrically divide it.

The man was a Hindu.

Princess Nazia quickly shifted her eyes from his torso and looked at his eyes. "You must be Princess Nazia. I admire the way you have built Faizabad from rubble in a mere five years." The nobleman greeted Princess Nazia with his palms together. "How do you know who I am, when I don't even know who you are?" Princess Nazia laughed as she maintained eye contact with the nobleman. "Everyone knows who you are in India. You are well-known for your valour as well as your cascading curls." the man sang praises of the Princess, causing her to turn pink.

"I'm King Ramji of Uttarakhand. Please address me as King Ram. I have come to Faizabad to invite you to my wife's baby shower." King Ram smiled. "Wife?" Princess Nazia asked as she felt a slight heaviness in her heart.

Let me introduce you to my wife, King Ram smiled as he brought a pregnant lady with him soon after. Princess Nazia smiled as she looked at the maiden with porcelain skin and beautiful brown locks. The fair maiden looked like a goddess.

"I'm Queen Binita of Uttarakhand, nice to meet you." Binita greeted the Princess while placing her palms together. Princess Nazia tilted her head slightly and brought her palm to her eyebrows. "The pleasure is all mine." Princess Nazia smiled.

Princess Nazia, noticed that the Royal pair resembled 'Ram-Sita' a lovely Hindu pair depicted in Ramayana. Princess Nazia had always loved the great epic despite being a Sufi-Muslim.

Princess Nazia's daze was averted by a deep voice. "I really hope you can come for the baby shower, Princess. It would be an honour for you to bless our children and my wife." King Ram smiled as he looked at his Queen briefly. Princess Nazia, smiled, "I'll definitely be there." Queen Binita and King Ram bid Princess Nazia goodbye and proceeded to leave Faizabad after their chat with the Princess.