Acceptance Is Treachery

Chapter 26

"Shahbanu! Shahbanu Nazia!" a gravely voice boomed, the sound of metal pieces jingling was heard soon after.

Nazia was too engrossed in drawing the blueprint of her Father's tomb. Hadija, nudged the fair maiden to signal to her that there was someone who needed her assistance.

Nazia turned around, her turquoise hijab swayed in the wind, as it failed in hiding her voluminous brown hair.

Nazia got up and saw the Minister of Defence as well as three soldiers who looked panic-stricken.

The four of them brought their hands to their eyebrows multiple times while they panted heavily.

"Shahbanu, Uttarakhand wants to start a war with us." The minister informed the Princess while he continued to pant heavily.

"Uttarakhand?" Hadija mumbled aloud.

The soldiers nodded profusely.

"The King of Uttarakhand has sent a scroll to us. Scribe!" The minister signalled as a man with a nasal voice began reading out the message that was printed on the red velvet cloth.

"Due to your seizure of Jaunpur, you have violated the terms of the Marriage of Alliance. Jaunpur belongs to Uttarakhand, not Faizabad. We have to go for war to settle our land. In exactly 18 days, Uttarakhand and Faizabad will be at war. Princess Nazia Begum of Faizabad, be prepared." The scribe read out the letter that had a message which sounded comical in his voice range.

"I seized Jaunpur? When did I seize Jaunpur?" Nazia asked in utter shock.

"Queen, that's a false accusation on you. By right, you should be the one who goes for war against Uttarakhand." Hadija pointed out as she placed a hand on her chin.

Nazia rolled her eyes in response.

"Father, had built this kingdom with his heart and soul. He couldn't bear to see it in ruins and neither can I." Nazia's voice seemed small and empty.

"I can't fight with Uttarakhand. Especially when, Ram isn't here." Nazia replied as she felt her heart tighten.

Hadija placed a hand on Nazia's forearm, sensing that her Princess was having her usual array of sad thoughts.

"Wh-who is this letter from?" Nazia asked in a voice that showed her authority.

A voice that she used to mask her emotions.

"King Arnav, Shahbanu." The minister mumbled.

"Arnav? He threw a false accusation on me?" Nazia asked in disbelief.

"Shahbanu, you do have to make a decision now. Faizabad is dependent on your decision." A knight spoke up, catching Nazia's attention.

"Commence with the war preparation. But do remember. I won't fight. I will only fight when it's necessary." Nazia reminded them. The four of them nodded and proceeded to start preparing for the war.

"Princess, don't you think this could be Empress Sheila's sinister plan?" Hadija asked as she ran after Nazia.

"Trust me, Hadija. I know that it's Empress Sheila's foil. I'm going to play along before I find justice for Ram and my father." Nazia smiled.

Hadija looked at the Princess in admiration. Hadija beamed with pride when she took a glance at Nazia.

Her courage and valour was indescribable.

"Hadija, could you bring a glass of tea to my room?" Nazia's voice pierced through Hadija's thoughts.

"Of course, Princess." Hadija replied before she ran off to the kitchen.

Nazia walked to her room, where she sat on her heavy teak chair that had golden embellishments on it.

Nazia shut her eyes momentarily before a sharp voice spoke.

The voice seemed to be foreign in her palace, however to her it seemed like home.

The voice repeated the same word over again.

"Nazia."

The voice was thick yet soft.

A voice that was-oh so pure.

Nazia turned around. That was when Nazia was taken aback.

Nazia came face-to-face with a man who wore a dark rag-like apparel which had multiple holes in them. Crusty dried blood and mud was evident on the linen fabric.

His hair was decorated with leaves, twigs and dirt. Even a stench illuminated off of him.

Despite him having such an unpleasant aura, Nazia still proceeded to walk towards him.

To Nazia, the man seemed familiar. Almost like home.

Nazia walked closer to the man, her turquoise silk salwaar kameez shined in the natural lighting. Her clothes were neat and in order.

Her hair looked divine and beautiful despite being hidden by a hijab. Beauty illuminated off of her.

Nazia inched closer to this hermit. The more she inched the more safer she felt.

It was beyond absurd.

Once, Nazia came even closer to the unruly man, she saw him.

She saw God in him.

His full hazelnut eyes-encompassed sorrow and pity.

A pure soul he was, for sure.

Nazia pursed her full lips together before she mumbled a word that she hadn't uttered in years.

"Ram."

Nazia looked at the ex-King of Uttarakhand who now was standing before her as an outcast, a hermit, a convict.

"Na-Nazia. I didn't kill him. Believe me." Ram cried incoherently while he covered his marked face with his hands.

The hands, which were once a home to gold bracelets.

Were now in handcuffs.

"I know. I know you didn't kill him. I know you." Nazia replied as she dragged her decorated feet across the wooden floor.

"I love you." Nazia mumbled before she threw her arms around him—

A thud and a scream followed.

Nazia collided onto Hadija, who had spilled the glass of tea on the polished floor.

Nazia looked around, startled.

A gush of wind blew in her room, but there was no presence of her husband.

"What happened, Princess?" Hadija asked.

"I saw Ram. It was Ram. It has always been Ram. I laid my eyes on him that very first day in the Bazaar where he was clad in gold and silk. Today I saw him in shackles and rags. Yet, I could feel it in my bones that it was him. There was no one that could change my mind, Hadija. Not even myself." Nazia muttered, feeling sad and empty yet once again.

"I knew he was my person far before he was even in my arms." Nazia's voice broke as tears fell pathetically down her beautiful cheekbones.

"Princess." Hadija began while she rubbed her Majesty's back.

"King will come soon. I promise you." Hadija reassured the inconsolable lady.

"I really do miss him."