Love and The HAREM

Chapter 10

||Empress Parizat Bano Sultana||

Sometimes sweet memories help you to gulp bitter truth

After wedding Princess Parizat Bano was crowned as the Empress of Afghanistan.Shah marium gifted her a diamond crown which was glittering in the dim light of palace at night.Everyone was happy ,after all their own princess became the empress.

After royal feast, Empress was sitting on her bed waiting for her husband, her love.The chamber she was provided was built by Late Emperor for Shah marium,This was the same chamber where Shah marium spent her half life after her wedding with late emperor,It was an isolated part of Harem in the middle of rose garden,attached to her palace,in front of the Lotus pond,large sculpted window allows a major part of wind to enter the room,scent of fresh Rose and lotus was flowing with cool breeze,in the east direction there was an open window,looking outside that window one can see the moon in the mist partially hiding behind barren mountains,inside the room ,floor was specially made of marvel for maintaining the cool climate of room,covered by velvet carpet ,royal bed was of gold with five precious stones embedded in the headboard, this bed was gifted by emperor to shahmarium when she gave birth to their 1st child Crown prince Ibadat ud din Sultan,after the death of emperor shah marium left this room.But few days ago this room was again cleaned for the new empress .Sitting alone she was remembering her childhood,when she was only 4 ,when 12 yrs old prince gifted her a white pigeon,she used to love that pigeon, but after just few weeks that pigeon suddenly died in golden cage.She cried for several days,denied eating foods,and fainted one day while walking in garden.Thinking about that pigeon she always felt hatred for herself, how could she be so selfish that she caged that pigeon .But again she started thinking about her own life,she was very weak from birth,her mother had a hereditary illness of having a weak body that she passed in her daughter.This was the same disease due to which she had miscarriage 7 times before she conceived parizat and due to which she died just after delivery.

Due to not eating properly after pigeon's death ,and fainting several times, late emperor took decision that she will never be allowed to visit outside the palace,that why's she never went outside .At 17 when prince was crowned as emperor he ordered builders from Arab to build a palace of gold for her.The room in which she is currently sitting was also added to that palace.She never visited outside the palace,for her a Mosque was made by emperor in kabba's direction ,a bazaar was established inside the palace so she could buy everything she desires without going outside the palace .

It was mid night and she was still waiting for emperor,it was 1st time when she was going to see emperor after marriage whom she always loved.she hadn't talk to emperor for a long time as he was on war.Her eyes got tired staring at the curtain of entrance, she started yawning, so she went near the window for some fresh air.After lake there was emperor's palace,her palace was made in such a style that she could see emperor from her window.

She was continue staring at his window,she was feeling empty somewhere in her heart ,it was now getting morning but emperor haven't visited her room yet.

She went near her,gold case,there she used to keep her favourite thing,some colours,white silk clothes. She used to paint from a very young age.whenever she felt lonely she painted the thing that makes her happy.She started painting at that time,she was painting but somewhere she was lost ,she was not focussing on the painting,after some time when suddenly a paint fell down the floor,she came to her senses,a tear rolled down her chick,her porcelain white face was now red due to continuous crying,she looked at the painting, it was her husband's image .

She rolled down the paper ,kept it in that golden case.

Suddenly her head maid came inside the chamber ,she was 62 years old lady who was her mother's head maid before her death,after her death she loved her like her own child,she was crossing from emperor's chamber when she she saw a concubine entering emperor's chamber.

She was feeling bad for her empress, it was her 1st night ,it was meant to be special, emperor shouldn't sleep with a concubine at their 1st night.

Looking at the old lady ,who was like a mother to her she hugged her tightly,

"Shhhh ,don't cry,and go sleep,emperor will not come,he is with rukhsaar!!,that sentence broke something in her heart ,her eyes remained open for sometime,and both stared at each other for a while as if they can talk to each other by eyes,tears were rolling down the empress's chicks, suddenly sound of fazr from masjid echoed in the palace,she and her maid both washed their faces, hands and feet,fixed their dupatta and started reading namaz.

After fazr ,she took bath and head maid came with a red embroidered hijab ,it was empress parizat's wish ,she prayed allah that when she will marry emperor, she will start wearing hijab,after wearing hijab,it was time for her to be with emperor in diwan e khaas for walima celebration .

When she entered diwan e khash,emperor was stunned looking at her,her whole body was covered ,only her porcelain face was visible,her long brunnet hairs that he used to love was now hidden in a red hijab,she was looking like a goddess in that hijab,her dress was long sweeping the floor,her eyes were on floor,emperor stiffened a bit ,his face stared at her coldly .

When she sat near him on the throne ,everyone started shouting " long live emperor empress" again and again.Then everyone started giving gifts and blessings to the new couple.
Prime minister Afzal khan came with his wife .They gifted them a gold baby carriage and gave blessing that "may alaah bless you both with a heir soon".

At that her porcelain chicks turned red but emperor's one brow arched and an expression of disgust appeared on his face that nobody noticed .