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Noor's POV : 

The evening sun cast a golden hue through the intricately designed windows of my chamber. My room was locked — secure and silent. The maids had left hours ago, leaving me alone in this vast space that somehow felt smaller with every passing day.

I sat in front of the dressing table, staring at my reflection. Slowly, I began removing the heavy golden jewelry that adorned me during the day. One by one, the necklaces, bangles, earrings, and anklets were placed neatly on the table, their metallic shine dull compared to the weight they carried in my life.

There I was, stripped of the royal embellishments that defined me to the world.

 No crown, no silk, no ornate embroidery. Just me, Noor Jahan, in a plain dress — one that any commoner might wear. 

The simplicity of it brought a strange sense of relief.

I ran a comb through my hair, letting the long locks fall loosely around my shoulders. My fingers traced the soft waves, free from the confines of pins and veils. 

The girl in the mirror looked different — unburdened yet unfamiliar.

For a moment, I closed my eyes, letting the quiet consume me. This was the only time I felt I could truly breathe, away from the court, away from the expectations, away from the watchful eyes of the kingdom.

"It's time to go now," I whispered to myself, the words barely audible in the silence of my chamber. My eyes opened, meeting my reflection once more. There was no trace of the princess everyone revered. 

This was just me. 

A simple girl yearning for a moment of freedom and... the feeling of... belonging.

I stood up, smoothing down the plain fabric of my dress. It was unassuming, blending perfectly with the common folk. The weight of my royal identity seemed to fall away with every step I took toward the hidden passageway in my room.

Reaching the ornate mirror on the far wall, I pressed a small, almost invisible notch behind its frame. With a faint creak, the hidden door slid open, revealing a narrow, dimly lit staircase. I stepped through without hesitation, my bare feet making soft, deliberate sounds against the cold stone steps.

This was my escape — a secret passage that led away from the palace walls and into the heart of the kingdom. A place where I wasn't Noor Jahan, the princess of Roshanabad, but just another face in the crowd.

I draped a simple dupatta around my face, ensuring it covered most of my features. The familiar cloth was my shield, my veil of anonymity in the bustling streets of Roshanabad. With quiet determination, I stepped into the lively market, weaving through the crowd.

The air was filled with chatter, the scent of spices, and the distant melody of a street musician playing a flute. I kept my head low, moving purposefully past vendors and townsfolk who paid no attention to the lone figure in plain attire.

After what felt like an eternity of walking, the crowd began to thin. The vibrant noises of the market faded, replaced by the serene sounds of nature. Before me stretched a field of green crops swaying gently in the evening breeze. Flower beds painted the landscape in soft colors, and in the distance, the river glimmered like liquid gold under the setting sun.

I made my way to the riverbank, the familiar scent of water and earth calming my restless heart. Sitting down on the soft grass, I let the dupatta fall slightly, the cool air kissing my face.

And then I waited.

As I sat there, gazing at the rippling water and lost in the soft melody of the evening breeze, a shadow fell over me. My lips curled into a small smile, though I didn't turn around.

"So, you came finally, Rayaan?" I said softly, my voice carrying just enough warmth to show I had been expecting him.

There was a pause, followed by the faint sound of footsteps approaching from behind. "You doubted I would?" came his familiar voice, deep and steady, tinged with a hint of amusement.

I turned my head slightly, catching a glimpse of him standing there. Dressed in simple clothes like me, Rayaan looked every bit as ordinary as I did. But his presence was far from ordinary.

"No," I replied, my gaze returning to the river. "I didn't doubt you. I just thought you might have forgotten the way."

He chuckled, a sound that always seemed to carry a sense of reassurance. "Even if I lost my way, Noor, I'd find it again if it meant reaching here. Reaching you."

I shook my head, unable to suppress a smile, but I didn't respond. Instead, I patted the ground beside me. "Sit. It's peaceful today."

Rayaan lowered himself to the ground beside me, stretching his legs out as he looked at the river with a soft smile. "So, you waited for me?" he asked, his voice teasing but warm.

"Of course, I was," I answered without hesitation, keeping my gaze fixed on the shimmering water.

Rayaan leaned back on his hands, tilting his head to look at me. A playful smile danced on his lips. "Oh, how lucky I am," he said dramatically, "the princess of Roshanabad, waiting for a mere commoner like me."

I glanced at him, raising an eyebrow. "A mere commoner?" I repeated, the corners of my lips twitching into a smirk. "Last I checked, this 'mere commoner' makes a habit of being late. Should I take back my patience next time, Rayaan?"

He laughed, a sound so light and genuine that it melted away the stress lingering in my heart. "If you did, Noor, I'd spend the rest of my days making up for it," he said, his tone half-jesting, half-serious.

I shook my head, looking away to hide the faint smile his words brought. "You're insufferable sometimes," I muttered, though my voice lacked any real annoyance.

Rayaan chuckled, his laughter echoing softly against the gentle rustle of the water. "Insufferable? You wound me, princess."

I rolled my eyes, pulling my knees to my chest and resting my chin on them. "Stop calling me that here. You know I hate it."

He turned to face me, his expression softening. "I know," he said simply, "but it's hard to forget who you are. Even when you're like this — plain clothes, no jewelry. You still carry the air of a princess. It's not just in the crown, Noor. It's in you."

I let out a small sigh, shaking my head. "I don't want to carry that here, Rayaan. Here, I just want to be... me. No titles, no duties. Just Noor."

Rayaan nodded, understanding in his eyes. "And here, you are just Noor," he said softly. "At least to me."

I glanced at him, my lips curving into a faint smile. "Good. Then stop teasing me like I'm some royal figure you're trying to flatter."

He laughed again, leaning back on his hands. "Alright, alright. No more teasing... for now."

Rayaan's smile faltered slightly as he gazed at the river. His tone grew more serious, his playful demeanor replaced with quiet sincerity. "But Noor," he began, his voice soft yet firm, "at the end of the day, you are a princess. You have responsibilities, and one of those is marrying into royalty. You know that."

I turned sharply to face him, my brows furrowing. "I don't want to," I said, my voice filled with defiance. "This so-called royal princess life... it sucks, Rayaan. Do you know what it's like? To live every moment for someone else's expectations? To have my future decided by what's best for the kingdom and not for me?"

He didn't reply, but his eyes betrayed a mixture of sadness and understanding.

"And how can you say that I have to marry someone else?" I continued, my voice trembling slightly. "I will only marry the one I love.... I will marry you,  Rayaan.  Because I love you, and I'm happy with you.... I don't care if you're royal or not."

Rayaan froze, his eyes wide with shock. He opened his mouth to speak but closed it again, as if searching for the right words. "Noor..." he finally managed, his voice barely above a whisper.

I leaned closer, my gaze unwavering. "Why does it matter, Rayaan? Why can't love be enough?  You've always been enough for me.... I just want you. "

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To be continued... 

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