"Noori this is Avantika, Avantika this is Mahnoor."

"It's so nice to meet you, I've heard so much about you from everyone in the palace." Avantika said with a faint blush tinting her cheeks.

"Masallah you're are so beautiful." Noor said touching Avantika's chin.
"She's so beautiful Meera." Noor repeated looking at Meera.

"She is." Meera laughed. "And the extra glow is probably because she is a bride to be."

"OMG really ?" Noor squealed.

"Yes she is to get engaged to Abhishek Bhaisa in five days." Meera said placing the bowl of fruits in front of Noor.

It had been two days since Noor had returned to Agra bringing along with her all the mischief and liveliness.
Also the joy and happiness due to her pregnancy had soared the spirits of the family.

Meera had taken upon herself the duty to look after Noor, she would shadow Noor and make sure Noor was fed and rested.

"Hey then I must say welcome into the family." Noor smiled at her.

"Thank you Shehzad-."

"Oye!" Noor interrupted Avantika. "Drop the formalities, we don't do that within the family, you can call me Baaji or Aapi or just Noor would do too, I'm not that old." She said with a playful wink.

"Ji Noor Baaji." Avantika flushed.

"Meera can we go to-."

"Go alone." Haider's voice interrupted them. They turned around to see Haider enter the Royal garden where they lounged comfortably.

"Go alone you pest, it's been two days since you have come and you haven't left my wife alone." Haider grumbled.

"Oh shut up! You've had her to yourself for months in my absence. Don't complain."

"So ? She is my wife, she's mine. " Haider said stressing on the mine.

"What a cry baby, you've always been like that." Noor said rolling her eyes, she turned around to face Meera who watched the siblings in amusement.

"You know then he was 10 and I was just three, just three, this guy pushed me for-."

"It was an accident." Haider said flustered.

"Oh I'm sure it was." Noor rolled her eyes.

"Stop blaming me for an accident Noor and you don't even remember it."

"That because I hit my head and lost my memories."

"What a liar, Meera I swear I didn't do it on purpose." Haider whined like a child. "And you little demon it was a small graze on your forehead."

"Sure, if you say so."

"I swear I'm going to hit you -."

"You are threatening to hit me again." Noor dramatised. "Look at him Meera, that's what you are good at Hadi, harming your small sister."

"You are impossible."

"I'm impossible you are impossible you..you big giant toad."

"Toad ? You are a lizard, an ugly, creepy slythering lizard."

"Hadi you-."

"Stop!" Meera yelled, looking between the two of them bantering.

"What are you 5 ? You are a king and you are going to be a mother, I can't believe you two idiots."

"It's not my fault it's he-."

"Oh shush Haider." Meera hushed him and he grumbled like a little boy.
"By the way what are you doing here ?"

"Why ? Can't I come see my wif.. wonderful garden ?" He said scratching his neck.

"Of course your garden, wonderful garden." Noor giggled.

"Stop giggling, go to Ammi Be's room, she had asked me to send you to her."

"Really Haider ?" Noor said rolling her eyes. "Find a better excuse next time." She said making Meera blush and Avantika mask her laughter behind fake coughs.

"What ?"

"Ammi Jaan has gone to the Mazar." Meera said looking at the ground, flushed.

"Yes, ugh I know I just-."

"Allah maaf kare, let's go Avantika before Hadi bhai has to lie again." Noor said playfully and walked slowly with Avantika out of the the garden.

"Why did you have to lie and embarrass both of us ?" Meera whisper yelled at him.

"How would I know Ammi he isn't home ?"

"Forget it now, what are doing here during the day time ?"Meera asked Haider looking towards him, craning her neck.

"Why can't I come see my wife if I miss her." Haider said bunching her in his arms.

"Accha, ab koi zan mureed nahi kaheyga ?" Meera said hiding her smile.

"Well now that they know how good their queen is with her sword, I doubt anyone has the courage to insult the queens husband." He said placing his chin on her head.
"I wanted to inform about my trip to the city."

"Hmm." She hummed enjoying the warmth of his embrace.

"I'll be going with Tahir and Ali to the city, stay there as a common man for four days, talk to people and see how things run for myself."

"You are joking right ?" Meera asked pulling herself from him.

"No ?"

"Why would you .. I .. no Haider." Meera said scrunching her face.
"What if someone recognises you, what if something, no."

"Meera please don't be impossible, no one will recognise me because no one knows me, they've hardly seen my face. And I've been doing this since the past 7 years, trust me -."

"I trust you okay, I don't trust others, what if someone came to know, what if they plot.. please Haider don't -."

"Relax, nobody will know. Apart from our family and Ali Baksh's nobody will know." He said cupping her face.

"Just promise me you'll be okay Haider." She said, her eyes moistening.

"I will my queen." He said kissing her on her forehead, wrapping his arms around her.

"I'm sorry Badesha, Zulekha Bibi is here, she has asked for your audience." The soldier said interrupting the two.

"Send her." Haider said, he kissed her forehead again and pulled away from the embrace.

The two of them looked at each other confused as to why Zulekha wanted to see them.

When Zulekha entered, she looked as if she had shed some weight in just two days, her eyes had bags under them.

"Assalam Walekum." She greeted the two.

"Walekum Assalam Zulekha." Haider said softly. "How are you now ?"

"In my senses." She said with a small smile.

"I'm really sorry Haider.. Meera, for what I did the other day." She said looking down at her feet. "It was totally uncalled for."

"It's fine Zulekha Bi you do-."

"I have to." Zulekha interrupted Meera. "I won't deny the fact that what i said were in fact my true feelings, I won't say I like you Meera, it's going to be difficult even excepting you to be honest, but I can promise that I'll try." She said looking up at Haider.
"It's not easy to forget your first love, someone you've loved more than you have yourself, you know that Meera, don't you ?" Zulekha said looking at Meera.

"Kanika told me about your engagement with the prince of Amer, so I know that you'll understand." She said.

Zulekha mentally patted herself for successfully doing what she had planned on. She had done her part now Kanika had to do hers.

"I hope you forgive me for my behaviour Meera and I promise to come to terms with your existence in our lives. But I won't lie to you and I can't, I'll always love Haider, more than anyone. You can never stop loving your first love can you." She said with a small smile.

"I hope you keep him happy Meera." Zulekha said and left the couple wondering.

"I don't understand why this sudden apology." Haider said looking at Zulekha's retreating figure.

"Yes me too, however I'm glad that there won't be any more bad blood and awkwardness." She said

"Agreed." Haider put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer to him, he placed his lips on her forehead.

Meera closed her eyes to savour the warmth from his touch. She looked at him and smiled.

The depth of her love for this man was even unknown to her.

AN: Savour this chapter guys because shit is going down hill from the next.

I did my first round of editing for the last few chapters and wrote the end as well, it's currently 4 am and I feel so emotional.
Please don't ask me how many chapters are there makes me feel like you aren't enjoying the story enough and want it to end.

I hope I've done justice to Meera and Haider and you guys, I hope I have.

Thank you for being such amazing people, like I have said earlier I wish I knew you call personally.

Lots of love
xoxo