Love and The HAREM

Chapter 11.

||Empress Parizat Bano Sultana||

You can't read someone's mind

After walima,empress was just heading to her palace when a maid came near her and told her that shah marium is no more.

World felt stopped for few moments,that woman who was as strong as an iron,as intelligent as an eagle,who was a mother figure to her,who loved her from her birth was no more.

Suddenly thought of her husband crossed her mind ,she gathered some courage and started walking where maid headed toward .Shah marium was on her bed lifeless,but still as beautiful as before, silent but still as grand as before ,her long wavy hairs were all over on the bed. Empress got near her and started crying non stop ,looking like she wanted to remove all the pain that was in her heart from a very long time.

Emperor was standing there ,seriously looking at the floor,lost somewhere in his deep thoughts.

2 days later:-
Shah marium was gone,empress was in her room thinking about her life,emperor hadn't talked to her from a long time,even before their marriage.It was new to her,even when she tried to talk to emperor so that they can share some pain with each other,guard in front of his chamber told her that emperor doesn't want to talk to anyone.

She was not taking her food properly after her marriage due to circumstances. She was looking weak,and the daily fights between emperor's concubines ,their complains was making her more tired day by day,it was just yesterday when she approved the yearly business prices for goods used in harem.She was taught from her childhood how to be the best empress.She learnt 8 different foreign language, some basic fighting skills,sword fighting,as well as playing chess.She learnt cooking at the age of 8,she can make different cuisines.She was skilled in knitting. And learnt business,finance,basic accounting for harem from a young age.

Suddenly a maid came near her,she was breathing heavily,"what happened"? empress asked .

Empress ,rumours have spread in the entire country thAt emperor was already married to a rajput princess when he married you and you are his second wife .

She told her head maid to find the truth, is there any truth in these rumours, Head maid nodded,said as your wish empress with a serious look.

Empress remained calm like this didn't affected her.She told everyone to leave.When she was alone , she took that painting of emperor that she painted on their wedding night.Looking at the emperor, she asked "Is it true Shahanshah,you really married another woman before me and that's why you don't even talk to me"?,
And started crying, her only love betrayed her,she thought herself that she doesn't have anyone who now loves her,her parents died just after her birth,her mother figure few days ago ,the one she loved and felt he also loves her never loved her and married another woman .She is an empress whose husband have not even touched her yet, she felt rejected .Embarrassment of rejection from her own husband made her feel disgusted she threw a jug on the mirror and it broke into several pieces just like her dream of remaining the only wife of emperor,only empress to do so ,suddenly her lips curved and a beautiful smile appeared ,more like a smirk before laughing hysterically, she laughed like a maniac as she thought something .

After crying for a while she stood from the cold marvel floor and ordered maids for preparing bath.

After bath wearing a yellow dress she was on her bed when her head maid entered her chamber and confirmed the news of Emperor's first marriage with a Rajput Princess ,She stood up from her position ,and sitting on sofa she wrote a letter and pressed her stamp on letter, ordered head maid to give that letter to the general of ghazini who was in kabul from past few days instead of Ghazini due to death of shah marium.

Maid followed her order unaware of what was written in that letter but she already knew how smart and clever her empress is.

Then empress ordered her maid to bring royal tailor and jeweller to meet her and royal architecture too.

Shahanshah was not informed about it because it was afghani rule that an emperor cannot question an empress's decision on the matters of harem.

Empress was looking at the dresses in front of her brought by royal tailor she chose a red gold embroidered lahenga .From jewellery ,she chose a ruby necklace set .

Head maid didn't ask any question from empress as if she already knew everything.

Two days later,it was friday evening emperor was returning from masjid after evening namaj with his ministers and some generals when he saw general of ghazni entering from main gate with hundreds of soldier and a carriage surrounded by 15-16 maids.

He turned and noticed empress standing in front of the palace with 100s of concubines and maid looking at the carriage .

In curiosity he went near the carriage, carriage opened and he saw his 1st wife coming outside it,nervous and afraid whom he left in ghazni palace .

His hands turned into fists rage captured him he was well aware who can take such decision without any permission. He left the place ordering maid to tell empress to visit his chamber after being free.

At night,empress entered emperor's chamber,guard's faces were neutral, behaving like they were unaware about empress's presence.

Entering the chamber,she saw a figure sitting on bed ,room was dark as if no body lightened the room.She went near the figure unafraid as if she was proud of her decision and prepared to justify her decision.

Salam shahanshah ,she said (a way of greeting the emperor ) ,now the emperor's face was partial visible due to moonlight falling on his body,his eyes were on her now.

Emperor was just watching her as if he was trying to find something in her face,may be hatred,sadness,anger.
But he found nothing.

He ordered her to sit near him on his bed .Empress sat near him ,now their faces were just inches apart.Suddenly pungent smell of wine hit empress's nostril and she realised he was drunk.

He was looking at her face from few minutes now,,her eyes were dark ,he gulped a lump in his throat,his Adam apple moved,there were pure lust in her eyes.A need crossed his mind and he unpinned her hijab.Her brown locks covered her soldiers and in moonlight her face was looking like a moon itself ,her face was neutral but his action made her to look at the floor.

Why??
He asked
She was not prepared for this question at least at that time."Shshhshahanshan"(Emperor) , she said hesitated ,it was true that she loved him from time immemorial and she was well aware about how much he cares about her but was not sure that he ever loved her or not.
No matter how much things she did for him but she always felt nervous when he was near her.

"Hmm"?...he again asked in his masculine voice, little rough and husky this time.

"Shshanhanshah"!!she is your wife,1st wife ,a royal la............."shhhhh" before she can complete her sentence his fingers on her lips stopped her...
She looked at his eyes wide opened.