Mumtaz Mahal

Chapter 6: The Merciless Prince

Chapter 6

The Merciless Prince

The Prince was sent to defend the border while Arjumand became lonely and empty when Maham was announced as dead including his father and all the travelers that accompanied them to Mallaca. The news was widely spread and it reached to Arjumand's ear. The moment she knew about what happened to Maham, the lady lost its consciousness.

The days without Maham are considered to be her dark days, she liked Maham but she's aware that Maham could not be hers. She's a noble while Maham is a commoner, they are never meant for each other.

Sometimes, in life, we can never really love those things that we wished we have, no matter how we push it, if it was never meant to be in our hands, it will never fall into our palm.

Arjumand spent most of her time in studying and praying. She stayed in the palace by the will of her aunt. She was treated fairly, for aside from she's the empress niece, she is the bride-to-be of Prince Khurram. However, even if she was betrothed to Khurram, she did not become the first wife of the Prince. The Prince, after coming back as a victorious man, married a Persian Princess which became his first wife.

The palace had a feast and everyone was invited, including Arjumand whose heart feels so heavy because of the sudden marriage.

"Arjumand? What happened? Did he forget you?" Nurjana asks the poor lady.

Arjumand just smiled weakly and said, "I hope he really does. I don't want to marry him, my heart belongs to Maham." Her voice is week and sadness is very clear.

"Are you crazy? You're engage to Prince Khurram, do you think someone would wish to be your husband? If he will not marry you, what will happen to you? You would surely be thrown with some humiliations," Nurjana said while looking pity to her friend who's now staring at the lovely couple in front.

"I am already insulted now Nurjana, later could turn to be worst," Arjumand said and slowly left the hall.

Outside, she let her tears fell and cried silently.

How did it all turn like this? She was named as the Prince's bride yet she did not become his first wife. The news was spread before, that the prince's like her, that is why she was named as his bride but it seems like the waves turn against her.

"Have you really forgotten me, Khurram? Or this would just mean that I was meant to be alone in life?" she said while looking up at the sky.

"I hope my life could be peaceful as the night sky," she silently wished.

The Prince once again sent to launch a war, and two years after he came back with victorious with such an honor.

People were shouting his name as he had his way back to the palace.

"Hail Prince Khurram! Hail Prince Khurram!"

The palace became so busy and it made Arjumand wonder. While carrying the daughter of Khurram in her arms, she asks the servant of the Khurram's first lady about the sudden errand of some servants and she was answered that the Prince has already come back, all well and victorious.

When she was informed that the Prince is heading to the first lady's chamber, she did not know what to react.

Is he coming here because I am here?

Her mind is full of idea and it somehow made her smile.

"Arjumand, maybe you could go back to your chamber now-"

The first lady was cut off when the servant announces that the prince was already outside and about to come in.

When came in, he went directly to where his daughter is, which is now in the arms of her mother and gave the first lady a warm kiss. Arjumand, on the other hand, just look down and smiled bitterly. The prince just passed her by and did not even give her a single glance and if the first lady did not mention that she was there, the prince could not even realize her presence in the chamber.

"I am g-glad to see you, Prince Khurram," she said with full of smiles.

The prince looked at her like remembering who she was and who was her in his life, and when he finally remembers something he smiled to the lady and told her to wait to her chambers.

A week had passed since the prince told her to wait on her chambers, but even his shadow did not appear. She was not even called by the Prince, even once when he came back.

"He probably forgot me," she said while taking a bath.

She doesn't like the Prince but the thought that she was engaged to him must be fulfilled. As the day passed, she felt so insulted. The Prince is ignoring her, and she couldn't think of anything that could be worse than this experience –being engaged yet ignored. How wonderful her life could be?

"My lady! My Lady!"

A servant was rushing to Arjumand's chamber and immediately kneeled down. Her shoulders were rising back and forth and she was as frightened as she faced the lady.

"What's with the rush?" the lady asks while brushing her own hair.

"The Prince."

Her full attention is now at the servant. She holds her breath as she waited for what the servant could possibly tell.

"What about him? Did he call for me?" the lady asks with a little smile curving her lips.

The servant shook her head and her tears again started racing down her cheeks.

"The prince ordered the capture of all your male servants."

The lady left her mouth hanging at disbelief.

"W-why?" the only word that came out from her.

"I don't know my lady."

The lady stood up from her bed and ordered her remaining servants to escort her to the prisoner's chambers.

As she steps in the chambers, those howling voice out of pain envelope her ears. Every shout of a person due to pain makes her knees go weak but she wanted to see the Prince and ask to pardon her servants.

"My lord, spare us. Give us another chance! Ah"

"Khurram stop-"

Arjumand did not finish what she supposed to say as her eyes go widened at the sight. Her palms were brought to her hanging mouth. She took a step backward and continued shaking her head out of disbelief.

The area was full of blood, there were already tortured and blinded corpse and so the hands of the prince who just blinded one of her servant using his own fingers.

"W-what are you doing?" she asks while stammering.

The prince tilted his head and later gives her a smile.

"I should be the one asking you that, my lady. But since you're here, come here and witnessed something," the Prince invited her to stand on his side.

Slowly, she walks towards him, her knees were shaking and any minute now, she would collapse.

"S-spare them, please. I cannot take it," she said using her weak voice but the prince just grinned and went to the next servant and using his own fingers he took the servant's eyes mercilessly. As the servant cried out of pain, the lady lost its consciousness.

Indeed, rumors were true about this merciless prince.

To be continued...

Again, this story may be based on the true to life love story of emperor shah Jahan but most of the parts of this story are purely fictional.

Thanks...