Deewani

بارواں باب

Rahila Begum sat in her room. The chilly winds blew strong and high. Threatning the burning lamps. Her maids were standing infront of her with heads bowed down low that they almost touched their chests. The sky was a dark orange and bright pink. The blend of colours so immaculate that one could never dream of doing it on paper. Maghrib azan had just been  given and all birds chirped loudly as they flew towards their homes. The regal woman, wrapped her shawl around herself tighter, it could protect her from the cold winter eve. Yet the true question was what would save her from her cold heart that had not even been moved by the tears of an innocent woman.

"I ASKED YOU TO BRING RANI SA. WHERE IS SHE? NAWAB OF BENGAL IS HE JERE? SEND THEM BOTH IN"
Rahila spoke in a chilly tone. Her face burnes with anger at the incompetence of her workers. They had one job and clearly they were not capable of doing it. Lately, it seemed every minuscule task was impossible to complete.

The maids kept silent as the door was thrown open. They feard that the door would fall from its hinges with the amount of pressure and force that had been used.

"Phopho you called for me"
The queen said in a calm and composed tone.

"Han beta. I needed to talk about the plan"
Rahila replied with softness and nodded for her maids to leave as soon as the Nawab of Bengal entered.

" My love. Safa has been thrown out of our lives. Your desired person is now the Queen. I think we should get married now. It is easy for me to get rid of my wife."
Kashif, the Nawab of Bengal said with pride in his eyes before taking Rahila's lips under his own and sucking them hard not caring about the presence of others.

"Kashif ji that is alright. But the question is how did you throw Safa in the dungeon?"
Haya questioned the man.

Kashif passed a small smile before revealing his plan
"I had fed poison to the oldest advisor of Aahil. The man served the late king too. I had Safa give him the glass and so she had to accept she was the one who gave him his last cup of wine."

The trio smiled as if they had done something very important. They had forgotten that Allah was watching their actions and would serve justice.

○●○●○●○●○

Aahil was rushing towards the room of his mother. He had an urgent question regarding the mid-wife that would be helping in giving birth to his child. Seeing the door open he decided to step inside and see who his mother was laughing with. What he saw shocked him to the core.

His wife was sitting in the room drinking tea while his mother was locked in a passionate embrace with Kashif, a man his father loved like a brother. He then proceeded to listen to the entire conversation. 

Aahil's world slipped from under his feet. He had hurt, battered and abused the feelings of a woman so innocent. What wrong had she done to all these people that time and time again exploited her happiness? She had been accused of zina and then murder and yet she faced everything with a smile. Even now his people reported she prayed and danced all day. And fasted most of the days. Had her faith in Allah been so strong that it never waivered? Was his faith in His Creator not as strong?

Aahil felt ashamed and wished to kill himself. But he knew his duty as king was to serve justice to the people.

"Guards arrest these three. These traitors. How dare they lie in my court?"
Aahil raged. Rahila, Kashif and Haya were shocked.

"Aahil listen I am about to be a mother. I will not be able to face the trauma. I will die. Our child will die. I am extremely sorry. Please forgive me. These people took advantage of my feelings and forced me to do this all in order to marry you"
Haya spoke with tears in her eyes. She clasped his arm and pushed her body onto him. Aahil looked in her eyes and saw the tears and pain. Gently wiping her face he nodded his head and ordered for Kashif to be taken away. He wished to talk to his mother alone.

"Mama what is your reason?"
Seeing Aahil so helpless Rahila fell on the floor and cried crocodile tears.

"Beta Im sorry. I am your mother. I did not eant you to ruin your future. The people would've never seen her a sa queen. Im sorry forgive me beta"

Aahil sighed and nodded his head in assurance.

"Tomorrow in court you and Haya will ask Safa for forgiveness. Kashif will be hung to death."

"No beta. Please forgive Kashif I love him. PLEASE"
Aahil for the sake of his mother agreed to let him go if he were to marry her and take her to Bengal and not return for 20 years.

○●○●○●○●○

The guards barged inside the small cottage of Safa. The inside of the house was in pristine condition. The air smelt of roses and yet none were in sight. The headed a bit further only to find Safa fallen on the floor. They shook her but try as they might she would not wake up. Her smile was breathtaking and her heart was still. There was no sound of beating or breathing. The gaurds took her body with respect and headed to the palace.

[ Safa had woken up to a very cheery atmosphere. After having done her breakfast she wore her ghungru. The day seemed serene and peaceful and the same could be said about the state of her heart.

Smiling Safa began to dance the dance she twirled and twirled until her foot tangled amongst themselves and she fell on the floor. She closed her eyes and the vision she saw was so beautiful. Reciting the kalimah she closed her and whispered
" Shukar Allah. I am finally returing to my Lord." And with a bright smile on her face she closed her eyes forver]

Aahil was shocked to see Safa lay lifelessly on the groung infront of him. Grabbing her body he cried so much that the entire crowd was moved into tears. Looking at his mother and wife with teary eyes he nodded at them.

As his wife and mother narrated all that they had done to the poor woman the crowd let the water fall from their eyes freely. All of them knew it was late to ask for forgiveness.

At the time of the funeral a huge crowd had gathered to attend. Not a single eye was dry. And yet there was a huk of celebration in the air. The birds danced and the winds and trees exchanged secrets in soft whispers.

Safa's body radiated a noor that told the people she was pakeeza, naik and for sure a jannati. Oh how wrong had they all been about her. May Allah forgive them all.

Aisha Begum stood apart from the crowd and cried so hard she felt she could not breathe. She wanted Safa to wake so she could take her in her arms and love her like a mother. All her life her daughter had suffered for her mistakes. And in the end Allah had awarded her a peaceful end. Leaving the kingdom of Lahore shook in its wake.

The end.