Meera had seen the Mughal court on her first night here during the Dawaat , but the morning sunlight made the golden walls of the court look more majestic if that was even possible. The white marbles lining the floor reflected her her image and the glass chandelier handing from the ceiling was so huge that it made her think how in the name of Lord Krishna had they got it up there.

She stood in front of the the throne where Haider sat with a crown placed on his head.

"Malika-e-Hindustan !" Haider greeted her and Meera looked at him and gave him a small smile.
His green eyes eyes had specks of blue and grey and looked like an image of sky on a stormy night. His under eyes were darker and a 5 pm stubble lined his perfectly sculptured jaw.
He woke a dark green silk kurta which coincidentally matched her own green lehnga.

"Can we start the proceedings your highness?" Ali Baksh asked Haider to which he nodded.

"The court which has been summoned today will be discussing subjects related to the Mughal sultanate and its citizens." Ali Baksh began the court briefing. "Today the matter in hand are : budget allocations for Hajj, land allocation for the Shiv temple, land allocation for resettlement of migrants from the mountain, dispute settlement between the Ansari family, making employment for the migrants, Bilal Ashraf vs defendant Mee... defendant Meera Haider Ali Khan accused of kidnapping and harassment ?" Ali Baksh said confused reading out from the scroll.

"First case : Ansari family dispute."

Meera couldn't register the accusations for sometime and it then struck her, Bilal Ashraf was Avantika's husband, the same man who was forcing himself of her yesterday the one she thrown out yesterday.

The news of the queen being summoned in the court had spread throughout the palace like wild fire, while most prayed and wished well for Meera, there were a few who heart soared at her misfortune.

Ammi Be, Zulekha and a few other wives of ministers who were guest of the royal family made their way towards the courts watching gallery to see the court proceedings.

Ammi Be kept praying, rotating her prayer beads and Zulekha kept praying for Meera to be proven guilty of whatever she was accused of.
As soon as they took place and peeped down the watch windows Meera's name was announced.

"Malika e Hindustan Meeera Haider Ali Khan is being accused of kidnapping and harassment by senior treasurer Bilal Ashraf." Ali Baksh announced.

"Would the defendant like to make a statement." He said looking at Meera.

"I'm not really sure what exactly I'm being accused of if Bilal sahab could clarify-."

"You don't know what you've done ? Drop the act Malika e Hindustan." Minister Bilal roared. "You forcefully took my wife from me, you humiliate me, you have hidden my youngest wife and you act innocent you-."

"Bilal Sahab." Haider roared, his hand fisted into a ball trying to control his anger. "Are you forgetting she is your queen and my wife, I will not anyone, anyone speak to her in that tone. You have accused Meera and she is innocent until proven guilty and if she is guilty she shall be punished like any other person but you or anyone else will not talk to be my begum in that manner."

"Apologies my king, I am just a little stressed and worried, my wife was taken away from me past midnight yesterday and it's mid day today and I have no clue where she is, if she is safe."

"She is safe as long as she is away from you." Meera spat venomously.
"I'd like to inform the court about what exactly happened yesterday. While I was returning to my chamber with my help and bodyguard we heard a woman cry and when traced back it was his wife crying for mercy when he was raping her-."

"Raping ? How disgusting of you to accuse me of something so vile, I was just making love to my wife is that a sin I-?"

"It is when she doesn't want you to touch her and you do in spite of being told no." Meera seethed in anger.

"If you would have been a Muslim you would know that when the marriage contract is signed between a husband and a wife, the husband has complete right on her heart, body and soul, you don't know how -."

"Bilal sahab if you have anything valid to say regarding the case you may instead of making pointless statements about the defendant." Haider said controlling his anger.

"My king, I just want my wife to be sent back to me -."

"NO !" Meera roared. "No Haider no please, you can't send her with this monster ple-."

"The court shall redress this in the Friday court, Malika e Hindustan you have three days to prove whatever valid reason you think it was to take his wife from under his custody, meanwhile the girl shall be taking shelter under the palace roof, after three days if Malika e Hindustan fails to put forth a solid reason, she shall be charged with the charges which best fit and Mr. Bilal shall take his wife home."  Haider announced and dismissed the court.

The sun had set behind the mountain and Meera was thinking how could she free Avantika from the devil who was her husband.

Avantika had told her the entire story leading up to her wedding, it wasn't much to work with, had this been a case presented back at home she knew her ways around their law, but the Mughal court followed the Sharia (the Islamic law) and Meera had no knowledge about it.

She was pacing in her chamber while Hania and Jamila sat on her bed looking at the queen confused and helpless.

"Malika, if you keep on pacing like this I'll faint keeping up with your motion." Jamila said making Hania chuckle but Meera had zoned out and kept walking the length of her room.

The door of her room opened and a maid brought in a huge tray of food.

"Keep it on the patio table in the balcony."

The voice made Jamila and Hania spring up from the bed and bow to the king.

Haider smiled at the two and asked them to retire for the night. The sound of doors being shut brought Meera to the present.

"Haider ?" She asked confused.
"How long have you been here." She asked watching him lean against the wall.

"You did not turn up for dinner so I thought I'd get dinner to you." He said with a smile.

"It's past dinner time ?" She asked surprised.

"Yes, now if you permit my queen we should eat something I had to skip my lunch as well and I'm damn hungry."

"You didn't eat?" Meera asked and cured herself for asking such a stupid question.

"Do you mind if I change ? I'll be back in a minute I've been in these clothes since morning." Meera asked.

"Be quick or I'll faint." Haider said and walked towards the balcony here the table was set for the two.

Meera changed into a mustard cotton Anarkali which coincidentally matched Haider's kurta again.
They had their dinner talking about little things, laughing and enjoying the occasional comfortable silence as well.

"So what are you going to do about the case ?" Haider asked Meera casually as they sat on her bed resting their back against the headboard.

"Honestly ? I don't know. All I know is that man is a monster and Avantika isn't happy with the marriage, with the way he treats her. What he said today was true, had I known the Sharia or little of it I could have found a way to save her but -."

"You didn't know the laws of the sharia, but you now can." Haider interrupted her.
"I'll tell you everything you need to know, I will not help you at all because that will make this a collusion but I'll tell you the laws related to marriage and then you can work your way though it."

"Really ?" Meera asked, her doe eyes shining.

"Of course." Haider laughed. "So I'll start with the basics, the moulvi or kazi is called and he reads the nikkah, once the nikkah nama is signed the couple is married, the nikk-."

"We didn't sign anything ?" Meera asked confused.

"That's because we had the verbal contract and both are equally considered." He explained.
"So a man is allowed to have four wives provided he is able to provide for them equally, although he can have n number concubines as many as he wishes." He said with a chuckle as he saw Meera scrunch up her face listening to the end.

"The wife however will not have more than one husband. The husband at any point can divorce the wife by just-." He stopped as he was rudely interrupted by a loud yawn that escaped from Meera.

"Sorry." Meera apologies and giggled and Haider joined in.

"You should sleep." He said but Meera had already fallen into the deep abyss of sleep.
Haider himself was drained, walking all the way to the other end of the palace did not appeal him much so he decided to lounge in Meera's room for the night, he know she wouldn't be too happy about it in the morning but he would deal with her tomorrow.

And so he slept.

AN: I'm so excited for you to read the next 4-5 chapter, so much is going to change omg, so much drama uff.