Returning home was the best feeling. Agra was more than just home to Haider, he had spent 35 years of his life in the city, this city had raised the fatherless boy into a man, a king.

Years into placing pieces in their position and planning his revenge, Haider had completed part one of his plan, his thirst was quenched - a little. He felt truly happy after years.

He dismounted his horse near the main gate of this palace and walked towards the entrance, he was sure his mother would be waiting to welcome him like always.

His welcome was grand, a path covered in rose petals was made for him to walk on and petals of marigold were showering down upon him. He looked around to see smiling happy faces welcoming him, he was home, he felt happy, he felt safe.

As he approached the main door of the castle, on the other side of the threshold stood his family, ready to welcome him.

"Salam Ammi Be !" He greeted and smiled lovingly at his mother. He bent down a little so that his mother could kiss his forehead.

"Walekum Asalam meri jaan." Inayat Begum said kissing her son's forehead and stroking his head affectionately.

"Bohot waqt lagga diya iss daffa Hadi, socha nahi ammi be ka dil tarap raha hoga ?" (You took too long Hadi, your absence makes me uneasy.)

"Maafi Ammi Be. Now that I'm back you can -." Haider stoped midway, he was shut by the jingle of anklets, he had completely forgotten about her.
The jingle stopped, he felt presence behind him.

"Ammi Be." Tahir made his way from the crowd and stood next to Haider.
"Ammi Be, how are you I've missed you so much." He said and wrapped his arms around Inayat's tiny frame.

"Did you not miss me Ammi Be ?" He pulled from the embrace and looked up at the Queen mother like a child hungry for affection.

"Of course I did my darling, everyday I missed you two." She affectionately caressing his cheek.

Next to Inayat stood Haider's younger sister Mahnoor.
Engaged to Tahir, Mahnoor and Tahir were to be married very soon now.

"Mahnoor, how are you ?" Tahir asked with a small smile.
"Good." She said.

"You and Mahnoor continue talking later, first tell me who are the they." Ammi Be said pointing behind Haider.

Haider's heart thudded, he wasn't sure how his mother would react.

"Ammi Be, she is Meera the princess of Bundelkhand, and sh..she is.. she is  my wife now." Haider tried to be confident.

"Your wife ? Princess of Bundelkhand ?"

"Ji Ammi Be."

"Which one is she ?" Inayat asked.

"What?"

"Which one of the two is your wife Hadi ?"

He turned around to see two women clad in lehnga standing, although he had seen his wife before, it was for a split second that day in the tent, when she sported the handprint of her father on her cheek and the busted lip, he didn't quite know how his wife looked like.
He looked at the two veiled faces, and tried to figure out which one was the his wife.

"Have you married both that you can't figure out which one to introduce to your mother." Inayat sassed

"Ammi Be, I-." He was cut off when the women in the orange lehnga stepped forward.

"Hmm, come here." Ammi Be called out to Meera.

She covered the little distance in between them slowly, hesitantly, the sound of her anklet bell jingled as she walked.

She stood in front of Ammi Be a little scared of the dominating presence of the Queen mother.

Inayat lifted up the veil from Meera's face and placed it on her head. A wave of gasp passed through the crowd as they saw their new queen's face.

"Mashallah!" Inayat smiled looking at her daughter-in-law. She lovingly stoked her hand on her cheek.
"Welcome to our family dear and you don't have to cover your face here." She said lovingly.
"What is your name Malika-e-Hindustan ?" Inayat asked referring Meera as the empress and stating her importance to everyone present.

"Meera." She whispered.

"Meera. You can call me Ammi Be, all my children do." She smiled at Meera making Meera's heart feel warm, she felt a little safe now in Inayat's presence.

"Ji Ammi Be."

"Good." Ammi be smiled at her.
"Hadi, Tahir come here. Apna haat sadqe ke bakro par firao." (Touch the sacrifice goats)

"Meera come with me, I'll show you the Harem and later Mahnoor can show you the palace, right Noor ?"

"Yes Ammi Be." Mahnoor smiled at Meera.

Through the castle doors, they walked into a long beautiful courtyard which they crossed to enter the corridor, then turning into another and another taking three flights of steps and they reached the third floor of the palace.

As soon as Ammi Be reached the third floor, she excused herself and took the left leaving her with the maids and Mahnoor.

"This is the west wing of the palace, the residential part of it. The east wing is open to the public and consists of the Darbaar ." Noor said trying to brief Meera.
"This is the Harem." Mahnoor waved her hand around m.

"Harem ?" Meera asked

"You don't know what a harem is ?" Mahnoor asked to which Meera shook her head in negation.

"It's the most secured part of the palace, only the women stay here, no other man is allowed to enter the harem except the king and a few other trusted ones. The harems are heavily guarded by eunuchs." Mahnoor tried to explain to her best.

"Come with me to your chamber, I'm sure you'll love it, it's hidden between the two floors ." Mahnoor tugged on Meera's hand.
They moved towards the right corridor, taking another set of stairs, they reached an open terrace. The terrace was lined by beautiful roses, a small fountain sat in between, in the corner were huge futons and cushions to sit on, Noor pushed the door open and entered into a huge chamber, it was beautiful to say the least, a small love seat sat in the back of the room, in the middle of the room was a fountain again, another entrance was covered by white curtains which swayed with the wind, she entered pushing past the curtain.
She was mesmerised. This room was something she had never seen before.
A huge bed sat in the centre, wide enough to fit 5 grown men, on the left corner was a huge mirror and dressing chair, the ceiling of the chamber was fitted with mirrors .  The bedroom had a separate balcony which overlooked the lake and the courtyard.

Meera was awestruck at the beauty and the architecture.

"Do you like your room ?" Noor asked.

"Yes it is beautiful, it's very beautiful." Meera said still processing.

Noor chuckled, "You deserve the best, after all you are our Queen." She winked at Meera.
"In there is your bathroom, you should freshen up and take rest, the night is going to be long anyway."

"The night ?"

"Oh yes ! Every time Hadi is home from a war we celebrate, and this time he is home with his bride so it's going to be wild." Noor said dreamily.

"We all eat lunch together with the women in Harem in the harem courtyard and dinner with just the family by the pond everyday but since you must be tired I'll send the maids with lunch to your room, however a dinner today is going to be in the main court's courtyard, since it's going to be with everyone important."

"Okay."

"I'll leave now you can wash up I'll send the maid to assist you."

"Mahnoor." Meera called out to her hesitantly.

Noor chuckled at her hesitance.
"You can call me Noor, we are family now."

"Okay, Noor, where is my friend ?"

"The other pretty girl, she is with the maids, she has gone to seen her room and well tell the maid to get your stuff to yours."

Meera got rid of all the jewellery she wore which was not much just a matha patti and her earrings.
She walked towards her bathroom which was as big as her bedroom, the bathing area had a small pool for which was wide enough for her to take a small swim.

She washed her face and decided to sit on the bed and wait for Kanika. The soft bed made her sink into it and slowly she drifted off to sleep.