Chapter 1:- Sultaan Begam

Author's Pov

The entire Sultanate was celebrating.

The long-awaited day had finally arrived. Every prince of Sultanpur had returned home with his bride.

The night sky shimmered with fireworks, their brilliant colors painting the heavens as the city echoed with the beats of dhols, laughter, and joyous cheers. Rose petals rained from balconies while every street glowed with thousands of lamps.

Sultanpur welcomed its new Raaniyas as though it were celebrating a grand festival.

But the happiness belonged only to the people outside.

Inside one of the beautifully decorated palanquins, silence reigned.

Three younger sisters clung tightly to their eldest sister, refusing to let go, as though she was the only home they had left.

"Jiji Sa... ab aage kya hoga?" Shivarya whispered, clutching the edge of Shivakshi's dupatta with trembling fingers.

Shivakshi smiled despite the ache in her heart. She gently gathered all three of them into her embrace.

"Arya... hum hai na. Hum vaada karte hain, humare rehte humari behno par aanch bhi nahi aane denge."

Her voice was calm, but her heart carried the same fear they did.

Just then, she felt warm tears soaking her shoulder.

It was Shivanya.

"Anya... ro kyun rahi ho, aap?" Shivakshi asked softly, lifting her sister's chin.

"Jiji Sa..." Shivanya sobbed. "Aaj agar Maa Sa hoti, toh yeh sab nahi hota na? Kya hum sab itne bure the... jo woh humein chhod kar chali gayi?"

For a moment, Shivakshi's own eyes filled with tears.

She cupped Shivanya's face lovingly and wiped away every tear.

"Anya... humara baccha..."

"Tum sab humari duniya ho. Humne aapse kitni baar kaha hai na... tum sab bahut pyaari ho. Tumse door koi kaise reh sakta hai?"

She gently kissed Shivanya's forehead.

"Maa Sa humein chhod kar nahi gayi... woh humesha hum sabke hriday mein hain. Aur jab tak hum saath hain, hum kabhi akele nahi honge."

The three sisters held her even tighter.

Just then, the loud voice of the royal announcer echoed through the palace courtyard.

"The Maliks of Sultanpur, along with their Begams, have arrived!"

The palanquin came to a gentle halt.

The sisters looked at one another.

This was it.

The beginning of a new life.

Shivakshi adjusted her own veil before carefully fixing the veils of each of her sisters. Her hands trembled ever so slightly, but her smile never faded.

"Shhh..." she whispered, caressing their cheeks.

"Humari gudiyaan... hum hain na."

Slowly, the curtains of the palanquin were lifted.

Hand in hand, the three sisters stepped out beside their Jiji Sa, holding onto her as though letting go meant losing the only person who had always protected them.

The four sisters stood together in a corner, their fingers tightly intertwined, silently seeking comfort in one another.

A few moments later, their husbands walked towards them.

Without uttering a single word, each prince extended his hand to his bride.

The sisters exchanged hesitant glances before slowly placing their trembling hands into theirs.

As they walked forward together, the unspoken tension between the newlyweds was impossible to miss. While the people around them celebrated with joyous smiles, the brides carried hearts weighed down by uncertainty.

Standing at their royal entrance of mahal , the Sultan and the Begam welcomed their daughters-in-law with warm smiles.

"Khush aamdeed, humari betiyon," the Sultan said lovingly, his eyes filled with affection. "Aaj se yeh mahal sirf humara nahi, aap sabka bhi hai. Is ghar mein aapka swagat hai."

The Sultan nodded proudly.

"From this day onwards, you are not merely the Begams of Sultanpur. You are the daughters of this Sultanate. May Allah bless each one of you with happiness, strength, and a lifetime of peace."

The four sisters quietly stepped inside the grand palace.

The Sultan looked towards the head maid.

"Razia, bacchiyon ko unke kamron tak le jaaiye. Safar lamba tha. Thak gayi hongi."

Before Razia could respond, Begam Hoorain let out a cold chuckle.

"Haan, kyun nahi? Le jaaiye inhe. Thak gayi hongi... apne baap ki chaal ka mohra ban kar."

The atmosphere fell silent.

Before anyone else could speak, Ehaan stepped forward.

"Mohra nahi, Maa Begam..."

His voice was calm, yet firm.

"Yeh humari Shareek-e-Hayat hain. Hum inhe poore maan aur sammaan ke saath nikah karke laaye hain. Inki tauheen, humari tauheen hai."

Begam Hoorain looked at him in disbelief.

"Sultan Ehaan... aap-"

"Bas."

The Sultan's commanding voice echoed through the hall.

"Razia, kya humari baat aapne suni nahi?"

"Ji, Bade Huzoor."

Without wasting another moment, Razia bowed her head and signalled the other palace maids.

The sisters exchanged one last glance before quietly following them through the long royal corridors, unaware that the palace they had just entered was about to change their lives forever.

.......❤️❤️❤️.....

"Begam Sa," the young woman bowed respectfully, "humara naam Razia hai. Sultan ke hukum se aaj se hum aapki khaas khidmatgaar hain. Aapko kisi bhi cheez ki zarurat ho, bas humein hukm kijiye."

She placed a hand over her heart before continuing,

"Aur hum aapse vaada karte hain, Begam Sa... apni jaan de denge, lekin aapka bharosa kabhi nahi todenge."

A faint smile appeared on my lips.

"Shukriya, Razia."

She walked towards the bed and carefully placed a beautifully embroidered bridal attire upon it.

"Yeh joda aapke liye hai, Begam Sa. Aaj ki pehli raat aap isi libaas mein guzarenge."

Pehli raat...

The words echoed in my mind.

Pehla qatl kahiye, Razia...

The thought crossed my heart, but I buried it behind a calm expression.

Silently, I gave her a small nod.

Taking the bridal attire from Razia's hands, I quietly walked towards the washroom.

After a while, I stepped out, dressed in the exquisite ensemble. The deep crimson fabric, adorned with intricate golden embroidery, felt far heavier than its weight.

Razia, who had been waiting near the dressing table, smiled warmly the moment she saw me.

"SubhanAllah... Begam Sa, yeh joda toh aap par bahut jach raha hai."

I offered her a faint smile and silently took my seat before the dressing table.

She picked up a velvet box and opened it carefully. One by one, she began adorning me with the royal jewellery.

Finally, she lifted a delicate pair of silver anklets.

"Begam Sa," she said with a gentle smile, "Sultan Huzoor ko payal ki dhwani behad pasand hai."

I looked at the anklets for a brief moment before extending my feet towards her.

"Uhm... hm..."

A small, hesitant nod escaped me as I forced a polite smile, while my heart remained far from the celebration everyone else seemed to be living.

I looked at myself in the mirror.

The reflection before me slowly blurred...

...and a memory came rushing back.

Flashback

"Shivakshi Singh Rajput, wald Dheer Singh Rajput..."

The voice of the Maulvi echoed through the hall.

"Kya aapko Malik Ehaan Haider, wald Sultan Zafir Haider, yeh nikah qabool hai?"

My heart wasn't ready.

My soul screamed in protest.

But then my eyes met those of my three sisters.

They stood there in their bridal attire, looking at me with nothing but hope.

Stay strong, Shivakshi...

Your gudiyaan are looking at you.

I closed my eyes.

"Qabool hai."

The words left my lips before I could stop them.

As the Maulvi Sahib was about to conclude the Nikah, I stood up.

"Humein Sultan Jahan se ekaant mein baat karni hai."

The entire gathering fell silent.

Ehaan looked at me in surprise, but without asking a single question, he nodded and followed me to a private chamber.

The moment the doors closed, I turned towards him.

"Hum yeh nikah sirf apni behno ke liye kar rahe hain."

My voice held no hesitation.

"Agar humari kisi bhi behen ki aankhon mein aapke parivaar ki wajah se ek bhi aansu aaya..."

I took a step closer.

"...toh hum aapke bhaiyon ka sar qalam karne se pehle ek pal ke liye bhi nahi rukenge."

I looked straight into his eyes.

"Manzoor?"

For a moment, he simply stared at me.

Then, to my surprise...

Malik Ehaan Haider slowly went down on one knee.

His gaze never left mine.

"Humare bhai hi kyun, Begam?"

His voice was gentle.

"Agar kabhi hum bhi aapki aankhon mein aansu laayein... toh aap humara sar bhi qalam kar sakti hain."

He placed his hand over his heart.

"Yeh Ehaan Haider ka vaada hai."

"Koi bhi aapse is faisle par sawal nahi karega."

For the first time...

I saw sincerity in his eyes.

Flashback Ends

Just then, another maid entered the chamber and bowed respectfully.

"Begam Sa... Sultan Huzoor aapse ijazat chahte hain. Kya woh andar tashreef laa sakte hain?"

For a brief moment, my eyes met my reflection in the mirror.

I took a slow breath...

...and silently nodded.

The maids immediately bowed before quietly leaving the chamber, gently closing the doors behind them.

Silence engulfed the room.

A moment later, a tall figure entered.

Through the mirror, I watched his reflection as he took a few measured steps inside.

I already knew what I had to do.

Without wasting another second, I turned around in one swift motion, pulling the hidden dagger from within the folds of my bridal attire.

Its sharp edge pointed directly at his chest.

Khabardar Sultan Jahan!

My voice echoed through the chamber.

"Humare kareeb aane ki koshish bhi mat kijiyega "

Not a trace of fear crossed my face.

Instead, it was determination.

"Humare baapu sa ki talwar nhi chali magar humari chal sakti hai.."

I tightened my grip around the dagger.

My unwavering gaze remained fixed on him, waiting for even the slightest movement.

Ehaan looked at the dagger still pointed towards him.

Not once did he try to move it away.

Instead, a faint smile appeared on his lips.

"Humein intezaar rahega, Noor..."

His voice was soft, carrying a quiet certainty.

"Jab aap khud yeh chhura phenk kar... apni marzi se humari baahon mein aayengi."

For a moment, silence filled the chamber.

Then he lowered his gaze and bowed his head respectfully.

"Aur... Maa Begam ke alfaaz ke liye hum aapse maafi maangte hain."

I didn't say a word.

My eyes remained fixed on him, searching for even the slightest hint of deceit.

But there was none.

Here this gift is for you , It's the ritual of first meet ... You look beautiful Noor !

Without waiting for my reply, he quietly walked towards the bed, picked up a pillow and a blanket, and headed towards the private garden attached to the royal chamber.

Beneath the ancient banyan tree, where the moonlight filtered gently through the leaves, he spread the blanket upon the marble floor.

Without another glance in my direction...

He lay down there.

Leaving the royal bed untouched.

Leaving the room...

And its comfort...

For me.

You all may think why he i

s so silent when he was supposed to be violent he stayed calm !

Well you will know this too when the story will proceed and yes

Spoilers will be on my Instagram page soon !!

So keep loving vote comment and see you guys soon🧿❤️

Very soon , Heavy Smuts and All will be posted on Stck.me

Book is also on Wattpad 🦋💗

I will post this story on inkitt too !!

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