Amir's POV

The way he stormed to his room with dragging Begum Sahiba by his side. I don't think anything good is going to happen in that room. I have a bad feeling about this overall.

I know how emotional he gets for his family but Rashid should've listened to me when I told him he should oust his step mother out of the palace, even sultanate after doing that heinous deed. But no he went ahead and thought about Shehzadi Sahiba, thinking she was too little to live without her mother. As he should have. Honestly I can't even blame him for this entirely. But that has escalated into this and that woman has done several more crimes since then.

I also know he should've told Begum Sahiba about his mothers because it's not even her fault that she went to meet them. Ever since she came here as his wife she didn't meet any of them even after knowing about their existence.

"Are you going back to the study Amir Bhaijaan?" Kahir who saw the whole drama by staying right beside me finally spoke. I still don't trust him, I think no sane person would after the stunt he pulled in the past. I know I am in no place to judge him but I can't help but be aware of this presence every time.

"I should as Sultan isn't present there." I replied curtly. He still is a prince while I am just someone working for his family.

"Then I will go and check upon Bhaijaan and Bhabijaan." He said with a concerned tone. Even though I didn't think Rashid would really appreciate someone invading his privacy right now but as I said, who am I to stop a prince. With a swift nod I walked away from him leaving him a lot him.

The piece of paper in my hands burn a hole through my hands as I held them in despair. Each of these letter have been bringing more disturbance than warmth these days.

"Is there something to be worried about Amir Saheb?" The messenger, who has been waiting patiently for me to say something as I starred at the letter longer than I was supposed to, looked at me with a worried expression. I must be zoning out for a very long time for him to look at me lie that.

"No Iftekhar, you can leave now." I dismissed him.

I again started reading the letter word by word as if reading it for the third time will replace the words with ones. This is the fourth letter my mother has sent me this month. She usually doesn't sends me so many even two-three months let alone in one. But she has been oddly pressing about this one silly issue, asking my response to her letter that I have been ignoring.

I pinched my forehead with my thumb and forefinger. Even though my life doesn't often allow me, I don't like to be forced into something. I like to think through my decisions, weigh my options and consequences they carry. Jumping into settlement has never been me.

I need to go out and get some fresh air. And as I did so, soft and distant giggles were audible. They felt like melody, like listening to ghazal and just so naturally I became curious to know whom they belonged to. As my eyes searched for the said person from the small balcony of the study chamber, it stopped at the flow of chestnut hairs, so carefree, just like the person it belonged to.

The same person who let out the similar carefree giggles.

She looked as if she had no tension, no weight on her shoulders. She probably didn't, unaware of every other thing happening at the palace. Sat down in the grass with her dress scattered, white roses in her hands probably fresh picked from the garden in contrast of her pale pink dress, bangles clinking with every movement of her hands, her hairs dancing with the wind as if she was commanding them to, the same dimples just like her brother making appearance as she smiled on and off.

There was no denying that Shezadi Sahiba was one of the most gorgeous woman I have ever seen or even the most gorgeous.

I don't know what is making me stand here and stare at her like a creep. Something is very wrong with me. If someone were to see me like this only Allah knows what they would think. Not anything good at least. Another soft giggle disrupted my thoughts. I wonder what is making her so happy? Her smiles were so contagious that it made me want to busk in that warmth of it too, something told me it would make all my worries go away in an instance if I stared a little longer.

Well it was a nice distraction while it lasted. I turned my sight away from that scene. I was honestly feeling bad about my behavior about that day. I thought I made her upset with my sternness. That flicker of sadness before she masked it with a smile made me feel a tightness in my chest. I remember her doing it even as a child. That's what Princess Aaliyah does, mask her sadness.

But seeing how happy she is now I think she already forgot all about it. And I should too.

But what I should be worried about instead is my mother's growing obsession with my life. I want to tell her to stop but I can't. I might call Rashid a hypocrite but I am no different too. Anything that would upset my mother, upsets me too. Even if it causes me distress. After my father passed away, my mother was and is my only remaining family. I didn't have siblings or many relatives like most others where I could seek comfort from resulting me to keep my head buried in work most of the time or more like all the time.

Sure I considered people in this palace my family, especially Rashid, the only one person who trusts me this much except my mother but at the end of the there is  a thin line between being his advisor and his friend. And I am always anxious of that line blurring sooner than I anticipate. My thoughts blurred my mind so much that as I started walking I didn't even notice the person walking in opposite of me resulting us to collide together.

My instincts worked faster than my brain as I caught them, my both hand clasping their forearms to protect them from failing. A glimpse of pink came into my sight and I looked up to see it was Shehzadi Sahiba. Realizing what I did, I let her go immediately after making her steady. It was as if my touch somehow scared her perfect pale skin?

"Are you okay?" I asked taking a step back.

As if she was the happiest person right now, she gave me the most genuine smile. Princess Aaliyah smiles a lot, more than all her siblings even. So it's not weird to see her smile at all. But what people doesn't know is most of her smiles are fakes. So her smile being genuine right now made it strange.

"I am fine. Were you busy?" She fixed her faintly fallen veil.

"Oh I-"

"You were?" She made a disappointed face.

That face, that exact face has made her get many things. From her brothers, her relatives and as much as I hate to admit me too. It's not like she isn't aware of her expressions, she is and she makes them intentionally knowing she is to gain anything she wants.

She does.

"I am not. Please tell me if you have any orders."

"Not order but request. I have a request for you. I could never give you orders." She took a step forward as I took one backward. Why is she inching closer!

"And what request?"

'I have practiced all problems you have given me, memorized them or even say aced them if I dare to."

"And?" I dreaded this whole conversation as much as I dreaded the letters from my mother.

"I am ready to give the test you said you would take." She smiled while tilting her head as if to prove a point. I see, princess is seeking validation from me. After all, the princess likes being praised and validated.

It pains me to acknowledge that I know her this well. That every expression on her face has a meaning or hidden meaning if I say so.

It's probably because she spent most of the time with me as she grew up, I made a note to myself. Probably.

"Are you sure? The last time I checked you weren't doing so well with your progression." I was hoping she would get discouraged and give up on this whole charade all together. But I forgot how stubborn she is. Her smile flattered for a spare second before she masked it with another one.

"Of course. You see I make myself determined to the things I really, really want."  Her bangles clinked as she crossed her arms together.

"I am not going to easy on you Shehzadi Sahiba." I looked at her with a stern expression.

"Why?" She took another step forward while poking her inner cheeks with her tongue. "I was hopping you would go as hard as you feel content." She gave smug smirk. I took another step backwards as if her proximity burned me. I wasn't the biggest admirer of her presence around of me.

I didn't like it. I didn't like how overconfident she was, I didn't like how she had everything in the brink off her fingertips as she pleased, I didn't like how she faked her smiles unlike the one in garden today, I didn't like how easily she could show her dominance over me and I definitely didn't like how all the time while doing these she looked pr- ya Allah I sound so pathetic right now.

This is absolutely not me.

"Don't think otherwise. The harder you make it the more it shapes me right?"

"Phir toh hum ummed karte hain aap is imtehaan ke liye taiyaar hain, Shezadi Sahiba."

(Then I hope you are ready for the test, Princess.)