Its like once you start writing big chapters there is no going back !!! This chapter contain 3500 words almost!!!!

ISHWASA PRATAP SINGH POV

The sun interrupted my sleep again and I opened my eyes adjusting to the day light. What I saw next made my eyes widened in disbelief. I was laying on Shahenshah, his one hand holding me from my waist and second one on my head.

I struggled to get out of his strong grip but when I wiggled a little he woke up. I lay down immediately on his chest, pretending to be dead . I was very much embarrassed, what would he think of me? I slept like this with him. Stupid Ishu.

Hey kahna, sometimes I wonder if you have written just two things in my life; one is troubles and second is embarrassment.

Few moments passed, when he did not said anything I thought he must be slept but as soon as I raised my head from his shoulder he laughed loudly.

I gasped loudly looking at him wide awake and rolled down on bed. I pulled the sheet and covered my self completely in it from head to toe.

He laughed more but I was mortified, I slept on him like this, He was calling me bacha yester night but I was not a baby. What would he think of me. He must be definitely laughing on me thinking that I don't have any manners. I even don't know how to sleep.

After few moments I felt utter silence around me. May be he went away.

I peeked from my sheets and found Shahenshah laying on his side with his head kept on his elbow. He cocked his brow at me.

I slightly lower down my sheet and said to him in my defense," I did not sleep deliberately like that and it was you who made me sleep on your chest."

He smiled slightly and shifted closer. He kissed my forehead and said," So what is wrong in it? You are my wife. If not you then who will sleep with me or on me?"

I blinked my eyes not getting his words. Being more comfortable yet hesitant I asked," So I can sleep like that with you?"

He nodded and replied," Only with me."

I still was confused but nodded anyways.

I got up from the bed but he held my arm. I looked at him raising my eyebrows. He stood up from his bed and held my cheek in his hand. He then caressed it softly and kissed my forehead.

He do this whenever he meet me. Just like my maasa and babasa. They both too kiss me every time they use to visit me. One can kiss another one's forehead if they admire them.

I smiled and he said," Aaapko pta hai, aap behad pyaari hain."

"You know you are too cute."

I giggled at his words.

I was feeling so energetic and light today, like my old self.

Both of us initiated our day. He after taking bath went near the window and pulled out a beautiful green mat. Then sat on it and for sometimes he did I don't know what. When he got up finally I asked him," What were you doing Shahenshah?"

"I was praying begam sahiba. I do prayers five times a day they are called Fajr, Zuhr, Asr, Maghrib, and Isha and this was Fajr."

"I also wanted to pray but my kanha is not here." I told him sadly.

"Then we can bring him here. Can't we?" He said to me and blood rushed in my body in full speed.

"Yes, we can. We just need to go to market and bring a beautiful statue of kanha ji and rest I will do by myself." I said to him in excitement clapping my hands.

"Okay then, you will get your kanha ji by your side till evening prayers" He said to me and I squealed in happiness and launched myself on him.

He patted my head and soon attendee came to inform us that Begam sahiba is calling us for breakfast.

I stiffed at her words, I can feel that a big part was lifted up from my heart after sharing everything with Shahenshah but still I am afraid.

Shahenshah held my hand and said," Ham hain na Maahroo, ham hamesha aapke aas paas hi hai. Jab bhi dar lage hame aawaj laga dijiyega or ham aapki khidmat me haazir milenge aapko. Par darna nahi hai. Thik hai?"

"I am here only Maahroo, I am always around you. Whenever you feel afraid just one call and I will be there in your service. But don't get afraid, okay?" I nodded.

We moved to dining room and there were a lot of people waiting for us already. I met few of them these days but rest were unknown.

Few of them greeted with smiles and few were looking not so happy as they were showing. While Shahenshah sat on the head seat I remained stood because every women was standing only. Shahenshah indulged in conversation with them while I noticed few of them serving food to may be their husbands. I too stepped forward and when I touched the plate to serve; Shahenshah held my hand.

I looked at him and he said," What are you doing begam sahiba?"

I.. I was serving you." I replied in confused manner. Not knowing if I did wrong or right because I have never witnessed this thing in my kingdom. My maasa always ate with us and always babasa served food to maasa and me.

He looked at me for a moment and ordered," Bring one chair for begam sahiba."

I looked around and found everyone staring at me. When I looked at begam sahiba she smiled.

Soon one attendee brought a chair and I settled on it.

"What are you doing Ariz miyan? Don't you know that women are supposed to eat after their husbands in their used plate?" One of the elderly man spoke all of sudden making me flinch.

"Fufa jaan, repeat your statement and focus on the word women." He said to him and he again spoke.

"Yes I said women only." He said in heavy voice.

"She is not any women fufa jaan, she is my woman, Mallika-e-Hind, her place is above me so her respect should be more than me. Right?" Shahenshah said to him in a very calm tone that he use only with me.

"First you have married this Rajput princess without consulting with anyone and now insulting me for her sake." He retorted back raged.

"Calm down fufa jaan, when did I disrespect you? I was just stating my opinion. It will be totally upto me how I wanted to treat my wife. I never interfered how you treat yours so I expect you to do the same." Shahenshah said in his dominating dangerous voice. He keep quite listening to Shahenshah.

He then served me food. I was about to have my first bite when he stopped me and took bite from my hand making me eat by his hand.

"Women should be treated like we treat them. If you will make her sit on your head then she will dance on it, then don't come to me saying that she get out of your hands." One elderly man spoke.

"If she would like to dance on my head then I will gladly accept it." Shahenshah spoke making him clench his jaw.

He made me eat whole meal by his hands only. I told him that I can have it by myself but he did not let me.

He then started eating from my plate only. There were plenty of clean plates. He should have taken one from them. But now I can not say anything, there were a lot of people staring at us only.

"This Rajput girl has sprinkled don't know what in his head that all his wisdom flew away in just the span of 15 days." One of the old lady spoke.

He chuckled ," I think your concern is correct she has definitely sprinkled something." He said looking at me.

I looked at him wide eyed. How can he say like this. I have sprinkled nothing. I turned my face away huffing at his lie.

 I looked at everyone still staring at me like I am a potato having arms of ladyfinger and legs of radish.

Don't they want to eat their food? Or is there any rule that they can eat only after Shahenshah. It can be; considering the weird functioning of this kingdom. Anything can happen here. I sighed and sit there doing nothing.

Soon Shahenshah said," Have your meals everyone, I know I am looking handsome but don't make it that obvious you know."

Army chief and home minister sir who were sitting on left side of us snorted at his remark. I too giggled.

The breakfast went well. A few people talked to me and were nice only. Shahenshah stayed by my side every time and after that he headed to court and I came back to chamber.

Begam sahiba entered the chamber and I greeted her.

" Pranam begam sahiba." She smiled at me and caressed my head.

"I am not begam sahiba for you bacha, I am your Ammi jaan now call me that." She said to me and I nodded.

Now greet me once again." She said to me smilingly.

"Pranam Ammi jaan" I said to her reluctantly. This is the change maasa was referring to. She was here to make sure I took my medicine. She stayed there with me for some time talking about the kingdom and telling me about the history of their ancestors. She told me that tomorrow will be  my first kitchen ritual. I sighed listening to it.

Kitchen is the place I hate to enter. Me and those knives have never good bonding. Every time when I was called to teach cooking I somehow ran to fencing practice and there because of presence of Arya bhaisa no one dare to call me again in the kitchen. It was fun but now I am tensed.

Arham sir and Shahbaaz sir came to meet me too. 

"How is our Mallika-e-Hind?" Baaz sir said smilingly patting my head. 

"I am good sir" I replied hesitantly as I was not used to people calling me that.

"So fencing partner, when I will have good fortune to have a battle with you?" Arham sir said in playful voice sitting on chair next to Shahbaaz sir.

I looked at him and smiled while saying, "Soon" 

"That's great!" he exclaimed happily.

"On a serious note begam sahiba, I am here to give you your biggest responsibility." Shahbaaz sir initiated and I nodded.

He handed me a medium size blue velvet golden box and said," It contain stamp of your name declaring you Mallika-e-Hind in every way. Although the ceremony is left but once you use this in any document that will be considered as completely legal. So use it wisely. One wrong use of it and we both will be in big trouble. When ever you need to use it, show me the documents first, Okay. If any problem occur then I will be always there for you" I nodded saying,

"I will keep it my mind sir, Thank you!"

Next Arham sir forwarded one red box to me and I took it from him waiting for him to explain.

The next moment he said," This box contain every little detail about the kingdom, every soldier's d0etail is mentioned in it along with every military chief's. It has all the secret dungeons, paths and chambers mentioned. The war strategies we have used and will be using are mentioned in detail. Keep it very carefully okay. " 

"I will take care of it" I said and he nodded.

"Also Begam sahiba, Being a Commander in chief of Army, I promise you that whenever any trouble reach till you it has to go through me first. I will be loyal to you for rest of my life. I swear on my life that I will never break your trust. 

In the time of slightest inconvenience I want you to call me on the first place and I will be there in your service." 

"Thank you so much sir, I have full faith on you." I said to him being grateful.

They both then left patting my head. I was taking a nap when Iqra came running to me calling me," Begam sahiba, begam sahiba."

I abruptly sat up and she stood in front of me panting and said," You know me and Nadira are assigned as your personal maids begam sahiba. I am so happy."

"That's a great news jiji." I stood up and hugged her. She and Nadira jiji became my very good friends in these days. And having both of them as my personal maids is so good.

Soon Nadira jiji entered and hugged us.

We talked for a while. I asked them whether they attend court and they denied. So I assigned the first task to Iqra to attend the court every morning and tell me the proceedings.

I was habitual of it. Since childhood my maasa accompany baasa to court and he took her opinion on every matter. Being the youngest child I grown up in hands of ministers only. When I became big then my babasa assigned a special chair for me beside Arya bhaisa as shourya bhaisa used to fight with me a lot.

I don't seem it is right to ask for sitting in the court right now because first thing is everyone had not accepted me, I can sense that and secondly I am afraid of sword and unknowns; no matter how much I make myself understand but the fear is still there.

"You know begam sahiba, Shahenshah has his personal garden." Iqra filled me with new information and I shook my head sideways.

"Oh begam sahiba you are missing literally the most beautiful sight of the world." She said to me dreamily.

"What is so special in it?" I asked.

"Everything!" she exclaime0d in high pitch voice.

"Would you come with me to tour it begam sahiba please." She pleaded me and I looked at her confusingly.

"Why do want me to accompany you? If you wanted to visit then you can go alone as well."

Nadira jiji giggled at us and said," This is the whole thing begam sahiba, it is something very secretive place of the royal abode. Only Shahenshah, Shahbaaz sir and badi begam has been to it till now, no one else. And because you are Shahenshah's begam now so we hope they will not stop you,"

"I have heard that it is like a square maze with mirrors at all the places. If one knows every right path then only they can come out otherwise stuck there for ages. And something very secretive is kept there too." Iqra said to me like she is telling me the most mysterious thing in the world. I was listening way too attentively.

But know knowing about this thing thrill rushed in my veins and I too wanted to go there. I wanted to know what is there so special. But the fear inside me restrained me to step out of this chamber. May be some other time.

We were talking when Shahenshah entered the chamber. Both visibly tensed. They bow down their head and left the chamber almost trembling. Everyone here fear him very much. I don't know why, he always very sweet and polite.

"Kaisi hain aap Begam sahiba?"

"How are you begam sahiba?" He asked me moving in the chamber

"Ham thik hain Shahenshah."

"I am good Shahenshah" I replied standing up from my place.

"Did you have your lunch properly and took medicines?" He again questioned and I nodded.

"My little begam is a good girl." He came closer while saying and kissed my forehead. I smiled hearing my praise.

"So now that you have done everything being a good girl I would like to gift you something." He said and I looked at him excitedly.

"Kya laye hain aap hamre liye Shahenshah??" 

What did you bring for me Shahenshah??" I asked not able to contain my excited self.

He clapped his hands twice and two attendees came inside the chamber holding somethings in their hands. They have two big plates covered with red cloths.

Shahenshah looked at me and said," Uncover your gift begam sahiba." 

I hurriedly move forward and uncover first plate.

I clamped my hands on my mouth feeling so happy looking at the statue of my Kanha. It was so so beautiful. It was made up of pure gold.

I immediately rushed to shahenshah and hugged him saying," Thank you so much Shahenshah. You know you are the best." 

He chuckled and asked me to have a look at the other plate. I very enthusiastically went towards the other one and uncovered it in one go. It has very beautiful jewels and decorative items for my kanha. I squealed in happiness again after looking at everything.

But then a thought across my mind, where will I establish the temple for my kanha? I looked at Shahenshah worriedly and he gestured me somewhere in the room. When I followed his gaze I saw he was pointing towards the area of his prayer. He had kept his prayer mat and holy Kuran Sharif there with some other things.

That area was near a window, partitioned from room by wooden carved door which has beautiful patterns, we can see through it. It was quite big.

"But that is yours Shahenshah." I said to him not wanting to occupy his space.

"Everything is Ours Begam sahiba." He said and gestured attendees to follow him. I too went after him to know what he was upto.

He then slide the door and I got the beautiful view of a small stand kept there. He handed my stand that was brought for my kanha and kept it adjacent to it. He then placed the idol on it and looked at me.

"Now its upto you, let's see how much beautiful you can decorate your kanha." He looked at me smilingly saying and I grinned widely at him.

"I will decorate whole this area very beautifully Shahenshah, you will be awestruck to see it tomorrow evening after returning from court." I replied in full confidence.

He nodded his head and order attendees to go. 

We then had our dinner together with him telling me about his day and court proceedings. I listened to everything very keenly. 

It was time to take medicine and call it night.

He gave me the bitter medicines and made me have milk forcefully. Then we both lay down on the bed while talking.

He shifted to my side, he held me from my waist and I widened my eyes. Suddenly he lifted me up with a quick one move and I found my head on his chest with my body laying on him. 

I quickly tried to move but he restricted me by clutching my waist. 

"I am not crying today, nor I will cry. I can sleep on my side." I assured him so that he can leave me. 

He just smiled at me and said," We are going to sleep like this forever Maahroo." 

"Forever?" I asked in low voice not getting the reason behind it.

When we have this big bed that a 4 big people can sleep easily on it then why I am suppose to sleep on his chest.

"Hmm hmm" He hummed 

"But why? " I asked not getting the satisfactory reason.

"Because this is how a husband and wife are supposed to sleep" He whispered again sleepily and I furrowed my brows. 

"Every husband wife sleep like this?" I questioned thinking deeply.

"Jo ek doosre se beinteha mohobbat karte hain wo ese hi sote hain."

Those who love each other immensely, sleep like this." He replied eyeing me.

"Aap hamse prem karte hain??" I asked being shocked, my eyes big in disbelief.

"Do you love me?"

He smiled at me softly and kissed my hairline. 

"Be-had, Be-inteha, Be- hisaab mohobbat karte hain ham aapse. Ibadat hai aap hamari" 

" I love you incalculably, infinitely and unconditionally. You are my prayer."

He spoke with utter sincerity. I looked down at his chest grasping the new information.

"Aap karti hain hamse mohobbat?" 

"Do you love me?" He asked me after a while raising his brows with a half smile.

I shook my head sideways. He smiled widely; I was about to say something when he kissed my forehead and put my head on his chest while closing his eyes he said.

"Hamari mohobbat hi kafi hai."

"My love is enough for us"

But how can he love me? And why he love me?? Why I am suppose to love him???

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So the journey of mischievous Ishwasa has begun!!!

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Thank you for reading and Love uh!!!!!

Your exceptionally skilled and exceedingly mindblowing author

KHWAHISH 🎀