Acceptance Is Treachery

Chapter 23

Upon reaching Faizabad, both Nazia and Hadija were handed a black hijab and niqab respectively.

Nazia walked straight to where her father was placed to lay, for the people of Faizabad to pay their final respects.

She saw throngs of figures in black crowding the centre of the grand hall. When the Princess walked through the crowd, they seemed to separate themselves.

Creating a path for her to tread on.

Once again, the people clad in black seemed blurry to her and their sobs seemed almost inaudible to her.

The only thing that seemed clear to her, was that of her father's body.

Sultan Azman, who once wore extravagant jewellery and silk clothing was now clad in only a white cloth which was wrapped around the entirety of his body.

Nazia heard her mother sobbing in a corner, when she neared her father.

Kneeling next to her father, tears were streaming continuously down her face.

"Father." Nazia managed to mumble while she saw the uncovered face of her father.

"I will make sure the culprit will not go unharmed and Faizabad will be well taken care of. It's my promise to you, as a daughter, as your Shahbanu." Nazia mumbled once again, whilst bringing her fingertips to her eyebrow.

Nazia got up and wiped the tears that were streaming down her face, whether she liked it or not.

Nazia knew that she had to be strong, for her mother, for herself, for her Kingdom.

Soon after, the males in the family brought Sultan's Azman body which was now fully covered in a golden coffin to his final resting place.

From afar, Nazia, her mother, Hadija and Empress Sheila stood as they watched the final rites of Sultan Azman being performed.

Nazia raised her palms up, placing her right palm over her left palm she closed her eyes, tears still began streaming.

"Allah, the most merciful. Please forgive me for my sins and give my father a path filled with no obstacles in his afterlife. Lead him to Jannah and open for him the eight doors of Jannah. Shukraan Allah." Nazia prayed while she opened her eyes.

Nazia saw her mother hugging her aunt whilst crying continuously, she also saw the last handful of sand being released from a tanned hand.

"All praise is to Allah." Nazia and Hadija repeated continuously, which caused Empress Sheila to scowl.

The ladies who were present at the burial, began leaving to either the city or the Palace.

The men began taking their leave as well.

"Shahbanu Nazia, I'm very sorry for your loss." A minister conveyed his condolences to Nazia before hugging her.

"Minister, I want to build a tomb for father. It has to be down with the most priceless materials you can find and it has to be done in three years." Nazia ordered the minister while she wiped the tears that were falling once again.

"As you wish, Shahbanu. However, what are we to do about Faizabad? Sultana Raziya is returning to her kingdom." The minister mumbled.

Nazia paused momentarily to look at the black chains of the mangalsutra that were exposed from beneath her hijab.

"I'll rule it. I am the Princess of Faizabad." Nazia replied, anger detectable in her voice.

The minister nodded before he bade the Princess farewell.

Hadija and Nazia walked in silence to the FaizabadPalace, before Nazia felt a palm touch her back.

"Arnav?" Hadija asked, not remembering seeing him at the funeral. However, she dismissed it due to the massive crowd that was present there.

Arnav hugged Nazia, before speaking with her.

Hadija left the royals to converse alone, while she walked back to her former palace in silence.

"I'm sorry for your loss, sister-in-law." Arnav sighed as he pulled away from Nazia.

Nazia forced a smile, while she looked behind Arnav.

Amongst the blurry images in the crowd, she hoped to find the face that she wanted to see. The face she recognised.

Alas, he was not there.

"I apologise for what my brother did. He should have known better than to murde-" Arnav was cut off by Nazia almost instantly.

"He did not kill my father. I know it. You know it." Nazia seethed while she walked away.

"I know brother didn't kill Sultan. It was a shock to me too, Queen. But, he didn't even turn up for the burial and there were witnesses as well." Arnav replied.

"I know my husband, Arnav. I know he didn't kill my father. I want to see him. Where is he?" Nazia asked staring at Arnav.

"Mother sent him on an exile, for life I think." Arnav replied.

"Exile?" Nazia asked surprised.

"Yes, Queen. She couldn't allow a King who has been framed to lead a state. She said something about how other states will look down on Uttarakhand." Arnav tried his best to remember what his mother did previously.

"Great. Then, I shall exit Uttarakhand till my husband comes back. I have no say in Uttarakhand's policies without King Ram. He is still my husband and through the Marriage of Alliance was the only connection I had with Uttarakhand." Nazia replied walking away from Arnav.

"But Queen-" Arnav was once again cut off by Nazia.

"It's Princess, King Arnav." Nazia smiled before she walked off.

"I know he didn't do it. I know he did not." Nazia mumbled to herself with tears falling down her face as she embarked on the walk of loneliness.

Formally cutting off all connections with Uttarakhand till her King returned.

Arnav stood rooted to the ground while he saw Nazia's black hijab sway in the wind, as she walked further away from the Royal that hailed from Uttarakhand.