Ghungru

What are those Truths?

Shana with a confused looked at the Empress and asked,"Sh-Shehzade A-Ali?!"

"Yes. Ali." The Empress replied with a straight face.

Shana again looked at that sleeping beauty. She had pale white skin with blushed cheeks, she looked really weak but not dead.

With a shaking voice she asked,"How did this happen...?"

The Empress sighed and took her hand and said,"Before that answer me one thing... Do you still love him... even after You got to know about this?"

Shana's face flushed, all the moments with her Ali Sahab played back in her mind. Her pulses got high and she looked at the Empress with wide eyes. The Empress smiled and said,"Maybe it's a bit too early for you... I should be leaving."

The Empress turns back to leave but Shana held her hand and immediately said,"No please! Your highness... I-I respect Ali Sahab... I mean Shehzade Ali... so please tell me bout this..."

The Empress' eyes softened and they both took a seat before letting her know about Ali's story.

"So here's the story starts.." Empress said in a calm voice "As you know I'm Badshah's youngest wife... but like his other begums I do not belong from a royal family. You may say it was love that brought us together.

I was sold to a prostitute house and Badshah saved me from there... eventually we fell for each other and I got pregnant before our marriage. But he took the responsibility and married me... but none could accept me in this Royal Palace... no one acknowledged Ali as His Highness' legal son.

So he got demotivated and lonely... but it was Aman who first raised a hand of friendship towards him. More than half brothers they became like real brothers, always having each other's back. Aman motivated him and made him the way he is now..."

Shana's eyes got widened not from the fact that the Empress is not from a dignified family but from the thing... that Shehzade Aman and Ali both were so much close.

She nervously asked,"T-Then now... I mean... not that close... they... close.. I mean.."

"Ok ok... I got it what you mean" The Empress looked at the ground with a sad face, she continued,"But you know what misunderstandings, regret and anger ruins it all..."

Shana remained silent hoping for a better explanation.

But the Empress looked at her and said,"Ask him... ask him bout the explanation"

It was as if she read her mind. Shana didn't give any response, she was curious with disbelief she wanted to know the whole truth but she was a bit afraid to ask him.

What if too much curiosity will distance them from each other? What if her Ali Sahab don't look at her the same way he used to? What if...?

Many thoughts like this invaded her mind nd this time she wished that Shehzade Ali should not come any soon... or else she might ruin it all.

But the God wasn't that gracious on her. A massager shouted it out loud to every palace so that everyone can hear it out

"GOOD NEWS! GOOD NEWS! GOOD NEWS!! THE WAR LED BY THE PRINCE WAS BLESSED WITH VICTORY!"

Shana's eyes lit up, she sighed out in relief but then she realised...

"AND THE BRAVE PRINCE WITH HIS BRAVE MEN WILL ARRIVE IN TWO DAYS!! TO CELEBRATE HIS VICTORY THE KING PREPARED A GRAND FEAST!!"

Shana's heart sank... she clenched her chest praying to Allah to keep everything peaceful between them.

To be continued...