"Are you okay ?" Haider asked entering Meera's chamber.

"I..I'm fine." Meera said, she sat on the bed, her hands fisted on her side as she stared into space.

"You know I'm the reason behind what happened today, she is in that state because of me."

"Meera are you crazy." Haider said pulling the kurta over his head as he walked towards her.

"Why would you blame yourself over something you had no control over." He said kneeling in front of her and taking her hands in his.

"I came in between Haider, she loves you, she has loved you since before truly understanding what love was."

Haider snapped at her words, he stood up and walked towards the bathroom.

"Why don't you give away your husband to her then, since she clearly loves me." He said and walked inside slamming the door behind him.

"How could I when I love you as well." Meera whispered.

.
.
.

When she woke up the next day, the other half of the bed was cold and empty.

Haider hadn't utter a word or acknowledged her after her statement yesterday.
'Was she with me because she was obligated to be.'
'Had I guilt tripped her into accepting this new relationship.'
'Did she feel responsible to repay me for what her father had done ? Was she only here to pay for his deeds ?'

He couldn't sleep a wink the entire night, he tossed and turned, he watched her next to him sleeping so unaware of the world.

It was an hour before dawn broke, Haider picked himself from the bed and walked out of Meera's chamber for sehri, leaving her alone.

Meera felt confused, never had Haider left her to wake up to an empty room all alone. Even if there was an emergency he always woke her up before he left.
Waking up in an empty room, without him, without his presence had made her heart heavy and made a chill run down her body, she felt alone and abandoned.

Meera proceeded with her day with a heavy heart and an unknown inkling in her belly, was it waking up to an empty bed or her sixth sense pointing her out about the difficulties to come.

Meera was sitting with her companions in the Royal garden, winters had come to an end, the warm rays of the sun hit her face and chirping birds made her heavy heart a little lighter.

"I feel so sad, it's the last roza for the year." Hania pouted.

"Me too, I mean it's difficult but the jaza for this small sacrifice makes it worth it." Jamila said.

"I can't imagine being hungry and thirsty for an entire month, I'd die." Avantika signed.

"Lucky you then." Hania said sticking her tongue out at Avantika.

Meera watched this friendly banter and smiled at them. She had grown fond of these girls so soon, now a day without their presence felt impossible.

"Avantika have you told Malika about your date today ?" Hania said with a sly smile.

"Hmm what date ?" Meera asked pulling Avantika's leg.

"It's nothing didi."

"Really ? Well then why were you fretting about your clothes, I mean if it's just lunch then-."

"Shut up Hania." Avantika hissed, her cheeks had flushed.

"Haan haan jao bibi, yaha hum bhooke honge, aur waha humari jaan apni jaan ke saath dawato par mohabatt ke do bol -."

"Jamila aapi." Avantika flushed further hiding her face behind her palms.

"Hania, Jamila bus ab. Both of them are getting engaged, Ammi Be has even set a date for it, let them go out, test waters." Meera smiled at Avantika.

"Chalo ab. Hania and I will collect clothes from Ammi be and Avantika and Jamila go see if the bag of grains and coins have been segregated for distributing among the needy and poor." Meera said and soon the congregation dispatched into two groups to fulfil their given agenda.

Ammi Be along with Nadia khala had already made bundles of sarees and kurtas to be distributed among the masses.
Meera sat on the bed, next to Ammi Be as they discussed about Eid which was probably the next day and about Abhishek and Avantika's Roka. (Engagement)

Meera had put forth the idea of doing Roka ceremony a week after Eid in front of Ammi be who was thrilled about it.

Abhishek had wormed his way into Inayat and Haider's heart and was now was a part of their family.

Meera along with Ammi be selected clothes and jewellery to wear to the Eid-al-Fitr Dawaat.

"Oh I'm so happy, after so long we are having a celebration, it's been a long time since Noor's wedding." Inayat smiles folding up a saree.

"Ammi jaan." Meera called sitting on Inayat's bed placing the gifts selected for the guests on the tray with Hania.

"Yes my dear ?"

"Ammi I know today is a happy day but feel so hollow, there is this feeling in my stomach which won't go, I feel unhappy, like nothing in the world is going right, like I'm going to loose everything I hold dear."

"Is it because of what happened yesterday ? Don't mind Zulekha she-."

"She wasn't wrong Ammi, had I not come in the middle she would be Haider's wife today, I can understand how difficult it is to forget your first love." She said with a sigh.

"So what do you suggest ? Are you planning on leaving Haider ? Are you going to give your husband away to her, she loves him so it makes sense that you-."

"I will never, I love him Ammi, as strange it may sound, I love him more than I have loved anyone in my life, I love him more than life itself, I'd die if someone was to separate him and I."

Inayat smiled, her eyes twinkled at the confession Meera had made, she knew that Meera cared deeply for her son and finally the right words had rolled from her tongue.

"Then meri jaan don't think much about it, when you have no control over a situation just let Allah take the reign."

"Ji Ammi jaan." Meera said. "I'll go look after the preparation for tomorrow ." She said and walked out of her room.
Inspite of talking to Inayat, Meera's heart felt heavy, she knew only Haider could make her feel herself again.

She decided to take a detour towards his chamber to talk to him, she hadn't seen him since yesterday. She knew fasting the entire day made him cranky and if not reminded he wouldn't take a break from his work.

As she approached his study she could hear loud voices from inside.

"-how can you all be so careless, find out who it is, I want all the gates sealed." Haider boomed. "How could someone enter our walls and you know nothing about it."

"I'll look into it sir."

"I want them in my court Daniaal before the celebration of my Eid ends, I want them." Haider roared.
Meera shuddered at Haider's angry voice.

The door of the study opened making Meera jump at the sheer suddenness.

"What are you doing here ?" Haider's cold voice made chills run down her spine.

"I.. I just.. I ju-."

"If you have no work and are just loitering find another corner of the palace to do so." He said and walked past her.

Meera's eyes moistened at his hostile behaviour, she had come to talk to him to see if he was still upset about the events of yesterday but instead of making the situation better, they had taken a turn for the worst.

The guard standing outside the room cleared his throat.

"Apologies Malaika e Hindustan, Badesha had asked not to let anyone in this section including you." he said with his eyes cast down. "I didn't know how to stop you."

"Oh no problem. Thank you." Meera said with a small smile and turned back and headed with a heavier heart.

Meera engaged herself with the decoration of the harem and the courtyard for the dawaat on the next day.

"Malika, the dancers have prepared their sets, the khansama is here to discuss about the food menu for tomorrow."

"Send him in." Meera said.
All the women had taken their parda as the khansama was announced in the harem courtyard.

"Assalam Walekum Malika e Hindustan." He greeted her.

"Namaste." She said with joined hands. "Ammi be has asked me to go over with the menu for tomorrow's Dawaat with you."

"Ji Malika, we have thought of keeping Sheer Khurma, Kimami sewaiya, Mutton Korma, Biryani, Nihari, Haleem, Sheermal, Naan , Phirni, Seekh Kabab, Galouti Kabab, Bhuni Raan and Shahi Tukda."

"It's quite an elaborate spread." Meera giggled. "But it seems like you want me to starve."

"Oh no your highness, we will have food prepared without gosht for you." The chief chef said with a smile.

"Great, I hope everyone likes what you serve tomorrow."

"Inshallah."

The rest of her day too passed with Meera running from one end of the palace to the other, although the responsibility of arranging the perfect dawaat maintaining the standard of Mughal empire was difficult Meera enjoyed herself and kept herself engaged the entire day.

As the day came to an end and when the sun made its way behind the mountain a number of people had placed themselves on the rooftop of the palace, watching the cloudy sky, looking out for the perfect crescent moon.

Meera and Inayat had placed themselves on the dining table waiting for the rest to join.

"Zulekha isn't going to join us my dear, she want to spend time alone." Ammi be informed Meera.

"Hmm." Meera hummed. "She needs time for herself it's underst-."

"Sorry I'm late." Abhishek said pulling out his chair and taking his place.

"Not more than Haider." Ammi be complained.

"Actually Ammi Be, Haider said that he won't be joining, he has already asked them to get his food in his room."

"What is wro-." Ammi Be was interrupted my Jamila's squeals.

"Chand nazar aa gaya ! Chand nazar aa gaya. Ammi Begum, Malika Chand nazar aa gaya."

AN: I'm just left with probably one or two chapter to write with this story. What a journey it had been honestly. I would have never thought i could do it, and I've done it because of you guys, you are way too good, so thank you so much.

90% of the readers don't vote and it sucks, it takes a lot to write so please all you have to do is hit the star, please do it.

Lots of love
xoxo