Aaliyah's POV 

"I hope I am not overwhelming you Baccha, you can tell me if I am." Bhaijaan caressed my head affectionately. 

And so he came, he did came bearing the news I hoped he would never come with. News I avoided for the longest time. But I guess somethings are inevitable. He didn't come the next morning like Dewaan Saheb said he would. He came a few days later. 

How late I don't know but all I know is I have preparing myself thoroughly, all this time to tell him I can't get married to the Prince he choose for me, or any other man for the matter of fact. That I am in love with the man he never expected to me even look in that way, his best friend. 

But as he sat in front of me with the look of tenderness in his eyes, I couldn't bring myself to. I screamed at myself internally, telling myself that he is my Bhaijaan after all. The one who fulfilled every wish, even the unsaid ones, from the smallest to the biggest. 

"Zid chhod dijiye Baji, ye namumkin hai!" Humayra almost shouted from behind as I walked no actually nearly ran towards Bhaijaan's chamber.

(Please don't stubborn Baji, this is impossible.)

I didn't listen to her. I started walking towards his chamber a little faster than before making sure she couldn't come catch up to me so soon. 

"Humein Bhaijaan chahiye, milna hai unse. Unhe ittila karein ke hum aaye hai." I said with urgency. 

( I want Bhaijaan, I need to meet him. Inform him that I have come.) 

He looked at me for a few second as if to debate if he should actually inform him or not. I raised my brows at him daring him to say anything to me. He was literally several feets taller than me, could throw me around with one arm of his yet I looked at him like he should be intimidated by me. 

He probably even was. And I almost grinned at the thought breaking my character. Focus Aaliyah, focus! 

"Well?" I pressed him. He gulped before walking in the inner skirts of Bhaijaan's chamber. Few minutes later he came back ushering me to go inside. 

"Bhaijaan!" I ran towards his as he caught me swiftly is his arms. He sat at the edge of his bed, his room too dim for this time of the day. He put me on his lap with one of his arms while the other rubbed his forehead in a rough manner. 

'Are you not feeling well?" I tugged on his sleeves. 

"It's just a headache Baccha, nothing that major. Tell me what brought you here with such urgency hmm?"

I smiled immediately remembering what I was about to ask him right now. My tiny hand which contrasted with his rather vast forehead, started working on his forehead, massaging the pain away. 

"Aap ko kuch chahiye, hai na?" He chuckled. 

(You want something, don't you?) 

I grinned still walking with my fingers. "Sitare, humein sitare chahiye Bhaijaan." 

( Stars, I want stars Bhaijaan.) 

"And from where did you get this idea from?" He left out a hearty laugh. 

"Kahi se bhi nahi. Bas sitare chahiye humein. Woh dur falak pe kyun chamkata hai? Unhe humare pas hona chahiye, hamare kamre mein, baki sare zaiwaro ke sath, hai na?" I looked at him with my big doe eyes, that worked every single time. 

( From nowhere. I just want the stars. Why do they shine far in the sky? They should be with me, in my chamber, with rest of my jewellery, right? )

"Hamari pyaari si Shehzadi Sahiba, esa nahi hota-" He cupped my cheeks but I didn't let me complete. 

( My adorable princess, that's not how it works-)

"Please Bhaijaan?" I blinked at him. He didn't say anything and just agreed with me. 

The very same night, I did get stars, hundreds of them. I could touch them, play with them. To my five years old self it really looked life stars. But it wasn't until few years later when I got yo know they were actually fireflies. Little stars that could fly. 

And even though Bhaijaan didn't even have to agree with my stupid demand, he still did. He always brought everything I wanted or even didn't want at my door stake. 

"You aren't overwhelming me at all," I feel so bad, the worst actually. How can I lie to this man! To my father-like brother who did more than my father would have done. "I know what is expected of me and the man you have chosen must be someone really good. I trust you wholeheartedly." My eyes almost teared.

Ya Allah, how can I ever ask for forgiveness from you, from my Bhaijaan. 

"I know you have grown up to be a sensible girl, everything I had wished you to be. But if I am being honest with you, I would hate to see you going, to see you wedded off and live so far away from me. Is it bad that I am secretly hoping you would say no?" 

We both laughed together. "No, it's not bad. But I would do anything you would want me to do. I will marry if you want me and I won't if you don't want me to." Even though I wish he would want the later one. 

"I know you would, but know this I would never force you into anything. You can say no if you aren't ready yet."

Oh Bhaijaan, how do I tell you I have been ready for years, but not for some prince you have chosen for me. Will you even look at me like this, like the same loving way when you get know all about these? Will you stop talking to me? Will you cast me out of the palace? 

"I will never say no to you, because you never said no to me Bhaijaan." How do I tell you I am worse than that! 

"Aaliyah, I want you to know something. Every time you say yes to something, say it because you mean it not because you feel entitled to me, yes?" 

My eyes widened, should I just say it? He is the same Bhaijaan after all. What if he just agrees and convinces Deewan Sahab to marry me?!

"Bhaijaan I-"

No! Have you gone mad you stupid girl! He will freaking hate you if you say that to him. And God forbids if Ammi happens to know, my skin will be ripped of my body. I don't care about my reputation but if all the other advisor and ministers get know about it, eventually Bhaijaan would be blamed for everything. 

"Yes, what is it?" 

"I agree with the alliance, please proceed with it." I smiled through the pain in my chest. Because that's what Princess Aaliyah does. 

I am sorry that I have to choose this way, I am sorry you have me as your sister. 

"My precious little sister, I didn't even realize when you grew up so much. I will make sure that you will be treated the same in their palace like you were treated here. Loved and pampered." I nod as he placed a kiss on my forehead and left me alone with heavy burdens on my shoulder, burden so heavy that I felt the earth will swallow me whole. 

I paced around my chamber as sun was began to set. I sat my prayer mat on the ground for the Maghrib prayer, just like every other time, my eyes began to water as I forwarded my hands to seek shelter in my God's mercy. 

"Ya Allah, agar jo unke na ho sake toh phir kisi aur ka bhi mat banana. Yeh phir woh yeh phir kuch bhi nehi." I exhaled shakily. 

( Ya Allah, if I can't become his then don't make me someone else's too. Either him or either nothing.) 

He is known to be the most merciful after all, then why am I to go through so many tests? Why time and time again my patience and faith is being tested? Where have I have lacked? I never missed any prayers, even prayed specifically at nights where the whole palace was stunned by silence. Fasted, tried to be the kind and cheerful princess everyone expected me to be! Then why am going through this for so many years? Am I ever going to get the fruit of my ultimate sabr? 

"Baji! Baji!" Humayra chirped from behind. I got alerted instantly wiping my tears quickly. 

"Kya ho gaya hai Humayra?" I folded my prayer mat, standing up to face her. 

( What has happened Humayra?)

She looked at me with questioning eyes, as if knowing I have been crying. I smiled instantly pulling her by her wrist, "Bataye na Humayra, kya hua hai?"

( Tell me Humayra, what happened?)

"Begum Sahiba-"

"Kya hua Bhabijaan ko!!"

( What happened to Bhabijaan!!)

"Kuch nahi hua hai! Matlab hua hai lekin aap jaisa soch rahi hain waisa kuch nahi." 

( Nothing has happened to her. I mean something did happen but its nothing like what you are thinking.) 

"Stop playing around and tell me what happened!"

"Aap bolne degi tab toh bolenge. Aap phuppo banne wali hai! Begum Sahiba ummed se hain!"

( I will only say if you let me. You are going to be an aunt! Begum Sahiba is pregnant!)

"Ya Allah! Really? I am going to be an aunt?! There's going to be a mini Bhaijaan here soon? Or even Bhabijaan! Even better a mini me! If its going to be a girl I will make her grow up to be just like me, my replica!" I jumped in excitement making other attendees rushing inside too. 

"Look at you all excited Baji!"

"Woh toh honge hi na! Jab se unki nikah hua hai, tab se besabri se intezar kar rahe hain ke kab ye wali khush khabri mili gi!" I finally sobered up a bit. 

( Of course I would be! Ever since they got married, I have been waiting impatiently to receive this good news!)

Oh I can't believe, Allah has finally something good arrive in my life. I should pray to show him my gratitude. 

"Let me go meet her once." I walked a bit but stopped immediately. "Wait, no I shouldn't. This must be a very precious moment for Bhaijaan and Bhabijaan. I shouldn't interrupt their privacy right now." I turned back to my chamber.

"Humayra, what do you think it will be? A girl? A boy? Even better, twins?" I asked her with utter curiosity as if she will have the answer to my question.

"Mmm..." She played along. "I think it's going to be a boy! A strong and brilliant one, just like Sultan, destined to inherit the throne!" 

"You think so? I mean I would pamper them anyway but I wish it to be a girl! Imagine a small little girl, dominating Bhaijaan. Running around the palace with her small little feets adorned with anklets and their bell jingling through the palace, imagine how nice it would be."

"Woh to hogi hi, Baji. Par ab yaha rehne kaha wali hain!" She chuckled. 

( That would most certainly be it. But you aren't going to be here either.) 

"Haan? Kya matlab? Kaha jaane wale hain hum?"

( What? What does that mean? Where would I go?) 

"Kya baji aap bhi! Tamam zindagi yehi thodi rahengi aap? Akhir me nikah kar ne ek din jana toh haina aap ko!"

( Baji! You are not going to stay here for you whole life, are you? At the end you have to go away when you get married!)

All the smile and cheerfulness vanished in a second. Of course I had to be reminded of my miseries. 

But I am not going to bow down and accept defeat. That stubborn and annoying man was written to be mine. And since he isn't coming to me willingly, I am going to start working on making him mine. 

My husband, my man.