"Hurry up Hania." Kanika snapped at the petit 17 year old as she was drying Meera's hair.

"Relax Kanika." Meera smiles at her best friend through the mirror. "I still have an hour before the hearing starts." Meera placed the bindi on her forehead and then with Hania's help secured her mathapatti.

"I know but you don't want to be late, in fact shouldn't you be present fifteen minutes before the hearing."

"Yes, I'm all done, I'm just going to take Ammi's blessing and then I'm off the court." Meera pinned her dupatta on her head and took off.

Her first stop was Ammi Be's room, Inayat had just finished her prayer, she closed her eyes and prayed a little and blew all over Meera, caressing her cheek.

"We'll celebrate tonight." She said and patter Meera's shoulder lovingly.
"I'll be watching you my daughter from the gallery, know that I'm with you in every step of the way."

Meera swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded before bending down to touch Inayat's feet.
Ammi be pulled her close and kissed her forehead before shooing her off to the court to prevent her from being late to her own hearing.

To say that Meera was composed and controlled and in check of her emotions would be a false statement. She was worried, for if she didn't somehow manage to prove that her actions were justified she would be disappointing not only herself but Avantika and her husband too and her entire family here.

She was pacing outside the courtroom where she had been asked to wait till it was her turn.

"Stop pacing and panicking, watching you so disoriented is going to make me sick." Jamila said supporting her head on her palm.

"Jamila not now." Hania hissed.

"Malika e alam, you've got this. You know you are right and you have the facts and arguments to prove the same, don't let the nerves get better if you, we all are counting on you, all of us." Hania said offering a small smile at the end.

"Yes Hania thank you I jus-."

"Malika e Hindustan, you have been summoned." The guard announced cutting Meera mid way.
Her heart thudded, her palms were clammy and cold. Adrenaline was pumping through her veins.

"You've got this." She felt a warm body latched to hers, she looked down to see Hania had wrapped her small frame around hers. Meera smiled and returned the gesture.

It was time to get done with this .

When Meera entered the court, voices echoed from every corner of the court. Meera was nervous but kept a strong facade. She was gonna win this for Avantika, for herself and for her husband's reputation.

"Last hearing, the defendant was given time to prepare a defence and argument against the accusations on her, are you prepared ?" Ali Baksh asked.

"Yes Wazir e azam." Meera replied.

"Then please proceed."

Meera narrated the incident which took place five days ago, again, being interrupted by Bilal Ashraf.
"So mr Ashraf has accused me of kidnapping his wife, we all know what kidnapping means, so will I still be punished if his wife willingly came with me, because she wanted to escape his-."

"How convenient of you to say that my wife willingly walked away from me with you."

"Avantika is right outside the court, why don't we call her in and she can testify for herself." Meera said looking at Haider who just gave a nod of approval.

Avantika was brought in, scared she was of the crowd and of her husband. She looked at Meera, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, Meera gave her an encouraging smile and a nod.

"Tell them Avantika." Meera whispered.

"I.. I." She looked at Haider and then immediately down not able to meet his eyes, her fingers turning cold. "Your majesty, I was n..not forced." She struggled. "I followed our queen willingly."

"Of course she would say that." Bilal roared. "The queen must have threatened my poor innocent wife."

"No no no." Avantika panicked. "Please Raja sa please believe me. I went with the queen willingly, she protected me for him, please don't send me back please." Avantika joined her hands in front of Haider and sobbed.

"You ungrateful bitch." Bilal spat.

"Why would she want to go back to a man who raped her, a sixty year old man forced himself on a 17 year old girl, this is inhuman and shameful." Meera said disgustingly.

"I forced myself on her ? She is my wife, her body is mine to please myself with, however I like whenever I like." Bilal Ashraf seethed.

"Haider this man is nothing but a pig, he divorced his first wife so he could marry Avantika three years ago, he has three more wives, seven children two of whom are of Avantika's age. He tried to buy her from her family like a commodity but when they refused he threatens to kill her father, he made her sign the nikkah documents with a sword on her father's neck. She was just fourteen Haider just a child."

"I am married to her, the facts don't change queen."

"You will not have her." Meera hissed in anger. "Correct me if I'm wrong but if the lady is pressured or threatened into signing the nikkah documents or agreeing to the sacred vow, technically the nikkah is not valid, so how is she your wife." Meera said.

Haider looked at the woman standing in front of him, fighting for the right of another, fighting to get the lady out of a marriage which would be nullified because of the lack of consent, he looked at the woman whom he called his wife, didn't they get married in the similar circumstances, so what if she demanded the same for herself, how would he let her go?

"- no proof that such a thing happened." Bilal's loud voice made Haider push aside her concern for now. "Who was there to see if I threatened her father were you Queen."

"As much as I hate to tell you Malika e Hindustan, he is right, there no evidence to prove that Avantika here was forced." Haider said cleaning his throat looking at his wife who looked completely defeated.

"The court thus after hearing Avantika, dismisses the charges of kidnapping against Meera Haider Ali Khan however Mrs Avantika Bilal Ashraf will have to return -."

"No she will not." Meera interrupter. "So what if I couldn't dismiss their wedding, if in the eyes of law they are married, they can always be divorced." She said looking determined towards Haider.

Haider's heart clenched, he fister his hand, digging his nails into his palm, his throat felt like sand and cold sweat covered his forehead.
What if Meera wanted to separate for him too ?

"Divorce ?" The treasurer laughed. "You think I'm going to divorce her ?"

"I know a pig like you can never do anything right, if he will not give her a divorce, I on behalf of Avantika would request the king to apply for a khula* ."

"Khula ?" Haider asked surprised.

"It's her right my King, she won't be staying in an unwanted marriage anymore, please-."

"Avantika may apply for a khula, till the proceeding of her khula she is free to choose where she would want to stay, with her husband or at the palace. The court is dismissed."

Haider's mind was clouded, he couldn't think straight. He had to talk to Meera. He was going to tell her the truth and he was going to give her the right to free herself from this marriage if she chose to in the end.

Meera however was swept away by Ammi Be and taken to the harem for celebrating her victory.
The harem celebrates their queens victory, she had risen in the eyes of everyone, taking a stand for a women against one of the most powerful man in the Mughal court was commendable.

Meera had exhausted herself. Laughing, talking and mingling with all the women. She made sure Avantika was settled in her new home and had appointed one of the maids to look after her needs till she was self reliant.

It was already night time and she was late for dinner, Avantika was given the room next to Kanika to help her adjust better.

"You are free to do whatever you want, nobody will touch you or trouble you, this your safe haven Avantika." Meera said touching her cheeks lovingly.

"Meera didi I can't even thank you enough, you have given me another life freeing me from him, I would have died, I would have killed myself soon if I was married to him any longer." Avantika flung herself on the queen and cried. Meera patted her back, calming the crying teen.
She pulled from the embrace and wiped the tears off her cheeks.

"Meera didi huh ?" Meera said cocking her eyebrow.

"I..I'm so sorry mali-."

"You better not go back to calling me Malika e Hindustan now that you have called me your sister." Meera said smiling at her.

"Malika, Ammi be has sent someone twice to call you down for dinner." Hania informed interrupting the two.

"Oh yes, I've got to go now. Avantika you are staying right next to Kanika she is always going to be there for you and Hania I'm sure she is going to be the friend you never had so anything you can ask these two or else you know where I am lodged right ?" Meera said with a smile and Avantika nodded.

"Good now keep that pretty smile on your face." She said and left for meeting her family for dinner.

"Sorry sorry Ammi jaan, I was getting Avantika settled." Meera said plopping on the seat next to Ammi Be as Zulekha had taken her seat next to Haider.

"No it's fine my dear, I'm so glad it's you Meera." Ammi Be said placing her hand over Meera's.

"It's me ?"

"Haider's wife, the Queen. I don't think anyone would be as compassionate as you are." Ammi Be said.

"Dhanyavad Ammi jaan, ek taraf aap hai who hasn't stopped praising me since morning and on the other hand aapka ye beta, aap janti hai inhone ek baar mujhse nahi kaha ki Meera shabash bohot accha kaam kiya, lagta hai inhe voh Bilal Ahmed ke nikale jaane ka zada dukh hai." Meera ranted pouting.

"Ashraf."

"Huh ?"

"His name is Bilal Ashraf not Ahmed." Haider said playing with the food on his plate, not meeting her eyes. He knew everything was going to change after tonight and tomorrow she might not even be his wife.

"Vaise Meera, I too haven't congratulated you yet." Zulekha said smirking. "I agree that we disagree on most of the issues but I am with you on this one. There is no point in being in an loveless and forced marriage. I mean what did they have in common ? They even belonged to different religions." Zulekha laughed humourlessly. "Aisi shaadi koi shaadi hoti hai ? Isse accha talaq le le and apne raste alag kar le." She smirked looking at Meera.

Meera and Inayat were aware of the dual meaning behind her words. Yet chose to kept quite.

The clatter of spoon broke the thick silence. Haider had pushed his chair and gotten up.

"Excuse me I'm full." He said forcing a smile. "Meera I'm in your chamber, I need to talk to you so I'll be waiting there." He said and left.

Meera was left confused, in the past month and half every day that Meera was here Haider had walked her to her room, even when they weren't on the best terms.

She finished her dinner in silence and bid farewell to Ammi Be and head back up to her room, to her husband.

AN: Some steamy chapter coming up next. There are going to be content which may not settle with a few, skip the chapter if you want, although you'll miss on a chunk if you do but ugh idk.
I hope you like it. Hit that vote button to make a happy author.
Lots of love xoxo

Ps: Next update within the next 24 hours.
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