â¢| CHAPTER - 18 |â¢
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R I Y A D H
⬠AFTER FEW DAYS
⬠MORNING
The sun is shining brightly the sunrays were falling on the fair skin of Sultan Riyadh's chest who is trying to tame a wild horse. The horse stood up on his hind legs letting out a loud neigh and but Riyadh grabbed the reign and pulled it making horse start running he run in circles.
" Sultan chor dijiye is belagam ghode ko apko gayal kar sakta hai"
" Sultan leave that untamed horse, he can hurt you" the horse trainer said and Riyadh smirked wrapping the reign tightly in his hand the leather belt left marks on his skin.
" Sultan hatyaaron or topo ki kharid ke liye mulakat tay kar di hai"
" The meeting for buying of weapons and cannons is fixed" Arim informed after coming and standing in front of the circle of fence.
The horse start getting slower and slower and start walking in normal speed. The huge smile come of Riyadh's face when he successfully tamed the horse.
" Good" he yelled, patting the horse lovingly.
He left the reign and the horse trainer take them from him and come out of the cage and took the scroll from Arim opening it he give it a look he nodded and gave it back to the arim and walk away ignoring the attendees who are standing with a bowl filled with water and towel.
He entered the Palace and walked through the cooridor making his way towards his chamber.
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A H E N K A R A
⬠SULTAN RIYADH'S CHAMBER
The tear slip from my eye moving horizontal it fell on the couch disappearing in it. I'm half laying on the couch resting my head on the armrest of it laying like a piece of furniture in his huge chamber.
I look at my empty left wrist with her bangle I always feel she is with me but now I'm feeling alone.
This kingdom, the people here everything is suffocating me.
I heard the sound of door opening I immediately wipe my tears and keep sitting in my position. I feel his presence close to me and I put my head down and close my eyes just wanting him to get disappear.
" Itni narazgi...ki humari taraf dekhengi bhi nahi"
" So much anger that you won't even look at me"
I heard him say but didn't reacted and pulled my feet close to me my anklets made sound. I didn't hear any activity for sometime so I lift up my head and look around and found him sitting beside to me on couch. He raise his brows two times and gives me a smile. My gaze went down and fell on his bare chest I immediately avert my gaze and look in front of me.
"Humne suna apne khana nahi khaya?"
" You didn't eat anything?" He asked, and I didn't reply anything.
I feel my dupatta tugged and I turned frightened and saw him wiping the sweat on his arms then the side of his head. I shut my eyes in frustration because I can't do anything.
He clap two times loudly and a maid come and place a large plate full of different dishes on the table. He gestured his hand and she left after bowing down.
Last I ate yesterday morning since then I didn't eat anything.
He washed his hand in the water vessel placed there and he picked up the bowl of curry and pour it in the rich and mixed in the rice by his fingers and pick up a morsel and I bite my lips when my stomach clenched. My eyes followed him till he eat the morsel and my mouth get opened in shock.
" Kya apko khana hai?"
" Did you want to eat?" He asked, licking his lips then licking his fingers.
Disgusting.
I look away and put my head down.
Only Chapla cared about me she always scold me whenever I skipped my meals. She is like a sister to me.
My arm was grabbed and I was pulled to a hard chest. I tried to pry his hand off me by my other hand without looking at him but he grabbed my arm more tightly causing me pain so I let my hand fall because I can't win from in strength.
My side is firmly placed to his bare torso the heat coming out of his body and his closeness making me uncomfortable. I saw him bringing the morsel close to my mouth and I turn my head to glare at him then move away but he clearly don't understand consent.
He jerked me towards him making my head hit his hard this action made me close my eyes and his cologne and his smell come and I struggled to move away but leaving my arm he wrapped his arm around my shoulder making me still in my place.
" Kha lijiye, humne aaj tak kisi ko apne hatho se nahi khilaya"
Hume bhi mat khilaiye.
" I didn't made anyone eat from my hands" he move his hand close to me and I close my eyes.
Don't make me eat too.
His hand touch my lips and I reluctantly open my mouth and took the rice in my mouth and flavours bursted in my mouth. He move his thumb on my lower lip and a shiver run through my body in discomfort.
There was spoons placed in the plate but I know he deliberately made me eat by his hands.
I look at him there is slight smirk on his lips as he bend forward and pick another morsel. He turned towards me and a look of suprise come over him.
" Aap hume aise dekh rahi hai jaise humne apke khaas paltu janwar ka khoon kar diya ho"
" You're looking at me like I have killed your pet animal" he said amused and move forward his hand and I reluctantly again open my mouth while keeping my gaze at him and a smile come over his lips when he sees me eating.
Of course this is giving him immense happiness.
I move my gaze away and look down at floor because I know there is no feelings in this man. He won't feel any remorse or sympathy towards me. I open my mouth and eat and my eyed widened when I feel burning sensation in my mouth.
I immediately move forward and look for water but there is not any I heard a loud laugh and I turned and saw him laughing. Tears filled in my eyes and he is laughing head tilted up towards ceiling.
I took a deep breath and look away wiping the tear from the corner of my eyes. I heard somene clearing the throat and I open my eyes and found a glass of water infront of me than I look up at the person and found him. I look aside I would gladly suffer the burning of chillies then his help.
" Nahi chahiye?"
" Thik hai"
" Don't want it?"
" Fine" he move and sat down beside me.
" The chillies are one of the spiciest chillies in the world but this proves you're more spicier than it" he grinned and drink the water placing the empty glass on the table he left the chamber.
I place my hand on my lips which is burning till now.
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⬠NIGHT
I pull the quilt up to my shoulders and turn on my side but the sleep is far away from me my head is paining very badly I raise my hand and place it against my head lightly massaging.
Suddenly my eyes flew open when I heard the loud sound of door opening and closing and the sound of footsteps coming towards me.
I grip the quilt tightly my heartbeat starting to rise as the sound of footsteps keep getting louder and loud there is low light in the chamber but I don't need light to see him I can feel his presence.
What is he doing here? He didn't come in chamber at night. What if he again tried to force me a wave of fear come over me.
My breathing gets hader and harder as my heart pounded fastly. A loud sound of someone's falling come and I got stilled in my place my breathing hitched. I took short breaths and slowly turned on my back and slowly open my eyes and found him laying beside me on his stomach his mouth slightly open hair falling on his forehead and strong smell of liquor coming from him.
I close my eyes and sigh in relief then suddenly my eyes got opened when I feel weight on my stomach. I look down and found heavy arm on my belly. I wrap my fingers around his wrist and move his arm away from me. I turn on other side and close my eyes trying to sleep then again I feel weight on the leg I look down and saw his one leg on top of mine.
He is not even letting me sleep.
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⬠MORNING
⬠BATHING CHAMBER
A maid was washing my hair and other one was applying the paste to my arms and neck and rest of them are busy in their work.
" Suno Sultan kaha hai?"
" Where is Sultan?" I turn back a little and asked.
" Hume malumat nahi ha begum shahiba magar hum abhi khabar late hai"
" I don't know begum but I will go and know about it"Â said and left.
If he is thinking I will drop my plan of escaping from here then he is wrong he had already done worst and now nothing can stop me from escaping here.
" Begum sahiba Sultan mahal me nahi hai vo kisi kam ke silsile me bahar gaye hai"
" Begum, Sultan has left for some important work" the maid informed.
That's whay I want. A smirk come on my lips.
" Privacy!"
All of them left their work and made their way towards the door. I stood up and come out of pool.
" Tum ruko"
" You wait" I stop a maid whose height is approx mine. She stood there keeping her gaze low and rest of them went out. I waited for sometime then made my way towards her she didn't look up. I raise my hand and press the nerve on her neck instantly making her unconscious she fell on the floor.
" And Queen used to say fighting skills doesn't work for woman"
I squat down and unwrapped her dupatta.
I stood up infront of mirror in maids attire. I'm only wearing a small pair of jhumkis in case I need money. I wrapped the dupatta over my head.
" Hume shama karana par hum tumhe apna mulyavaan lehenga de kar ja rahe hai"
" Forgive me but in return I'm giving you my expensive lehenga" I look down at her. I grabbed her arm and lift her up and entered in chamber I made her lay down on bed and cover her up to the neck and put veil over her head.
I pant after doing all this and a smile come over my lips now no one will get suspicious. I pulled down the black veil covering my face fully and exit the chamber softly closing the door.
I look left then right there is no guards present here. There is open area downstairs from where I tried to run away last time but this time I will use no shortcuts. I start walking in the cooridor I remember the way the maids used to take me here when I came here I used that way and I heard the sounds of footsteps and I immediately hide behind a wall.
The two guards passed and I scold myself if I keep hiding like that then people will get suspicious. I start walking again and finally come out of Palace but the real problem is to cross the main door where several guards are present and a person who is sitting on the table. Is he keeping records who come in or out?
How will I cross this?
My gaze fell on the group of maids walking towards the door. Are they going outside? Without waiting I run and slowed down mixing in there group. All the maids are wearing same dress black it's not difficult to mix in them but if he counted.
I just hope everything goes right.
We formed a line and the person sitting there start asking something and one by one move ahead. What is he asking? I don't understand there language completly.
My hands start getting cold and sweaty in nervous and fear continue rise as my number is coming closer. I forced my feet to move and I arrive in front of me.
" Naam?"
" Name?" He asked looking down at his book where he is writing in another language.
Naam.
" Sufiya come here"
I remember a maid called another by this name.
" Sufiya"
" Kya?"
" What?" He asked looking up and my eyes widened and I was going to step back when I remember my face is hidden he can't see me.
" Sufiya" I said loudly this time.
" Pura naam"
" Whole name?"
I bite my lip I have no idea what they used for last name. I can hear ny heartbeat.
" Say faster others are waiting to" he scolded.
Shehzaade- e - Sultanate
Riyadh Mohammad.
" Mohammad Sufiya Mohammad " I said hurriedly.
" For what reason you're going out and in what time you will be back?"
Reason?
" Khansama hai hum sab huzur usi ke kiye ja rahe hai"
" We all are cooks and for this purpose we are going out" a girl behind me said to him and he nodded.
" Ja sakti ho"
" You can go"
I walk forward a wave of happiness come over me and I stood with maids.
" Ahmak ho kya?"
" Are you idiot?" The same girl who answered for me said to me then busy with chit chatting with other. I shook my head and waited for the door to get opened.
The small door get opened and I was in so hurry that my feet stuck in the door frame but I didn't fall. All come out and start walking. I continue followed them.
We all continue walking and by the harsh sunlight I can say it was afternoon. My feet start aching and the heel start paining but I didn't stop.
First I need to buy a horse. I don't know the exact way of Suryapratap Garh but even leaving this kingdom is enough for me. I can go to my aunt's kingdom or my maternal kingdom.
It was almost evening the sun has set and orange colour covered the sky.
" We have reached" The head woman who is older halt and said. I look around my eyebrows pulled together. There is tents around and weird types of things are there and so many guards. My eyes widened and my body tremble.
" What all are you looking at the kitchen is there?"
I heard the woman yelled but I got froze in my position when I saw a familiar person come out of one tent. He is always with him.
Arim.
" You come here" he pointed towards me.
I turned my back towards him and start walking pretending I didn't hear him when someone grabbed my hand and I look up and saw that old woman.
" Didn't you hear huzur is calling you?" She scolded and shoved me in his direction reluctantly with head bowed down I walk towards him while praying he shouldn't be here, shouldn't be here, he shouldn't be here.
I stood in front of him he turned and walk inside and I followed him when a voice come and my blood run cold.
" Agar yeh saudagar saude ke liye nahi manege toh hum unki ijajat ke bina yeh sauda kar lenge "
" If the businessman doesn't agree then I will do business in my terms" Riyadh walked across the tent and lay down lazily on the couch with a glass of liquor in his hand placing a hand on his forehead.
" What are you looking at? Arim snapped at me." Go and massage Sultan's head."
I forced myself to move and stood behind him. I took a deep breath it's ok he won't recognise you. I raise my hand and place them on his head slowly moving them. I close my eyes controlling the tremble of my hands.
" Arim bahar humara intejar karo"
" Arim wait for me outside" he nodded and went.
He grabbed my hand and I froze my breathing stopped. He pulled me in front of him and stood up.
" Chorni, kaneez kya kya hai aap? Shehzaadi"
" Thief, maid.. what are you? Princess" saying this he pulled up my veil and I look at him wide eyes.
_____________________________
So how was it?
Riyadh recognise her.
Her plan flopped again.
Excited for next?