In the upcoming months, Noor felt herself beginning to slip into a depression. The state she had lived in for two long years after she and Prem got married and were separated was returning to her. At the time, she was convinced that she was fated to spend the rest of her life in that condition but Prem came out of nowhere and took her over like a storm. He eliminated all her misery and lit up her entire life with one kiss without once worrying about the consequences. Per usual however, their happiness didn't last very long. It seemed destiny didn't believe in leaving them alone and in peace for too long.
Now once again, she was starting to lose interest in most activities of her life. She began avoiding most social gatherings though she was disciplined enough to never delay a court session. Basher was a prosperous state that deserved a competent leader so she did her best to do justice to her position. However, beginning to find herself constantly exhausted, she no longer had the motivation or the drive to do anything extraordinary for her people. Her life had become monotonous. She did her chiefly duties to the best of her abilities and spent the rest of the time alone either in her quarters or in her private garden staring at the various water fountains surrounded by rows of colorful flowers.
Having experienced a complete change in her state of mind, it was no surprise then that Noor Dhaliwal showed up at the next assembly looking just as she did in her very first. She wore all white, her hair parted in the middle and tied in lose bun at the back of her head. Nothing but a pair of small pearl earrings sat on her earlobes. Her expression was firm and the laugh lines that resided around her usually vibrant smile were now nearly invisible indicating in every way possible she had given up on life.
As Noor got settled into her throne, Prem too entered with his ministers. His mere presence seemed to have woken her entire existence up after a three month long slumber. After his routinely greetings to the court, he took the throne right across Noor as usual. Only this time, Noor didn't rush to look up, nor did she wait desperately for his eyes to find her. Instead, she simply shifted their attention to the speaker and listened in. She was a politician and politics she would do.
The assembly went through its agenda and eventually concluded. Noor did not bother glancing in Prem's direction to see if he had noticed the change in his wife. She did, however, struggle to understand her own stance in that moment. Why this sudden cold shoulder towards him? Was it anger? Or perhaps payback for his behavior at the previous assembly? Or was she simply trying to convince herself that she had grown indifferent, not just to her life and its cruel plays, but perhaps to Prem as well? Maybe she was trying to convince herself to accept their separation as destiny. Perhaps they were just not meant to be. Perhaps this was for the best. She was half dead without him anyway. What good would speaking to him through her eyes accomplish after all? She would only be left begging for more.
Still deep in her thoughts, she walked along with the Prince and company to the grand hall where the feast would be held. She could hear Prem speaking to another Chief about some trade matter on the other side of the Prince.
"Nooreh..." Prince Udam called her name affectionately in a lowered tone as if not to call anyone else's attention to them. Snapping out of her thoughts, Noor looked at him. "You okay?" He asked softly.
She immediately called on the best smile she could manage in that moment and nodded her head rather vigorously, almost as if the stronger head movement would increase the chances of him believing her. He didn't reply. Instead, he simply scanned her face for a moment and then proceeded to focus his attention on preventing the grief that automatically descended onto his face from being so obvious. They were silent the rest of the way to the feast hall.
At the royal feast, Noor ate mostly in silence and kept her eyes primarily to herself. A voice that seemed to belong to Chand pulled her attention towards the entrance of the hall at the end of the meal. Noor watched her enter the hall and greet the Prince before making her way over to her father and whispering something in his ear. She eventually rose to her feet and headed towards Prem. Noor refocused her attention to the Prince, unwilling to bother herself with the sight.
"Noor, you must try the sugar cane juice. It's phenomenal this year." Prince Udam, understanding the intention of his best friend, instantly stated diverting the topic.
"Absolutely. Let's do it." Noor agreed in a smile.
"I'm done. Should we head over then?" Prince Udam asked looking around at the other guests as well. "Feel free to join us Chiefs." He told them. The maids brought them fresh water and a piece of silk cloth to wash and dry their hands. Noor walked next to the Prince making small conversation as they headed behind the royal kitchen where the sugarcane juice was being made. They discussed the change in growth strategy of the sugarcane that resulted in a larger quantity being produced and how they can begin trading it if they get such a surplus the following year as well. Behind them, Noor could hear Chand teasing Prem as they walked between a small group of friends comprised of the children of a couple other Chiefs and ministers from the Sauli side.
"You guys might as well get married now." One of the girls, clearly a close friend of Chand's, told them. Noor felt her cheeks beginning to blaze.
"Please." Chand's voice entered Noor's ears. "Prem doesn't deserve me." She stated.
"Yeah, I'm not her type..." Prem responded. "She's more into Ramu." He then burst out laughing at the inside joke.
"Prem!" Noor could see Chand hit his forearm from the corner of her eye. "How dare you!" She whined before ultimately laughing. "I hate you!"
Suppressing every violent emotion inside her, Noor faced the Prince with a smile once they arrived at the station where the sugarcane was being produced. A few servants worked on squeezing the sugarcanes through a large metal apparatus and it produced juice that was then served to the guests. Prince Udam gestured for his guests to be served and they were immediately presented with glasses full of juice. Noor took a sip and instantly faced the Prince with raised eyebrows.
"This is delicious." She told him at once. "Send us a batch as well!" She pointed to the pile of sugar canes laying at the side.
"Of course. I'll send you two." Prince Udam told Noor warmly before turning towards his other best friend. The warmth in his smile had disappeared by the time he asked for Prem's opinion on the juice.
"It's good." Prem replied. "I quite like it."
"Good." Prince Udam nodded before shifting his attention back to Noor. A few moments ticked by in small conversation between them before they were interrupted by Chand.
"Excuse me, Your Grace." She smiled at the Prince before eyeing Noor in a conceited expression. "Prem and I would like refills." Her eyes remained on Noor as she handed the server the empty glasses. "How are you, Noor?"
"I'm well. Thank you for asking." Noor kept her expression neutral as she replied to Chand.
"Are you sure?" Chand asked. "You don't look too well. You seem...paler than usual." She said pointing to Noor's face.
"I'm okay. Thank you for your concern." Noor managed in her politest tone.
"Really. You must take care of yourself." She insisted. "We care about you."
"I appreciate it." Noor once again repeated her gracious tone.
The group around them had watched this interaction in curious silence. After all, it was between the woman Prem had declared war on the entire kingdom for and the woman his family had confirmed his marriage alliance with just a few months ago. Having watched Chand at Prem's side for the past two assemblies, people wondered whether the alliance Prem had called off so aggressively would eventually work itself out now. The air of superiority that Chand had spoken to Noor with had not been missed by any of the onlookers. Prem's welcoming behavior towards her and his outright ignoring of Noor had inspired her openly condescending tone towards Noor.
As the server handed Chand two glasses of juice, the sugarcanes he had pushed into the metal opening suddenly became free and swung hazardously towards the women in front of it.
Noticing the sticks of thick sugarcane aiming towards Noor, it took Prem less than a fraction of a moment to act. "Noor!" His lips rebelliously let out in a warning tone as he reached forward at once and pulled her towards him. Electricity ran through his body at their touch as she landed against him. She steadily lifted her dark eyes from his chest up to his face. Their eyes met. "Noor..." His entire existence seemed to vibrate behind his low husky voice as he repeated her name one more time to ensure she truly was in his arms, safe and away from danger. He had spoken and acted way before his mind had the chance to comprehend or reject what he was up to.
As she peered into his concerned brown eyes, Noor was suddenly breathless. Prem. A call originating in her very soul seemed to pierce outwards through her heart, her body in response to his desperation. Though her lips remained sealed, her uneven breathing and rebellious eyes gave her stance away. The time seemed to have frozen for a few moment as everything in the background from the people to the noise all faded away. His eyes were looking into Noor's after five whole months and that's all it took – one look from him for Noor to forget all her rage, all her grief. It took one look from him to reignite her will to live again. One single look. Before she realized it, her lips had surrendered into a smile. It wasn't the widest or the liveliest smile anyone had ever seen on Noor. It was rather subtle, but there was an undeniable spark in her eyes. A spark that had been missing for months now. Aware he had blown his cover, Prem stared at her smile utterly mesmerized.
"Noor, are you okay?" Prince Udam placed a hand on Noor's shoulder to ask. His words brought both of them out of the trance and they were abruptly hit with reality.
Every single person in the room stood watching them cautiously as the withdrew from one another. Having been hit by the sugarcanes, Chand now sat on the floor soaked in two glasses of juice. The entire room watched the scene unfold in wide eyes and dropped jaws. And that moment was all it took. That one moment to provide indisputable clarity about who ruled Prem's heart. The woman Prem would reach for instinctively would forever be Noor. It took that one simple moment to dispel any doubts cropping up in people's mind regarding Noor's position in Prem's life and for the invisible crown on her head to be rearranged and straightened as the Queen. It was the moment that declared loud and clear that there may be many Chand's eyeing Prem but his eyes will forever be for Noor. It took a couple moments for Chand's friends to reach down and help her to her feet again. A few others scolded the servants. Wiping the concern off his face, Prem finally took a step back from Noor.
"I'm okay." Noor nodded at Prince Udam as she looked behind her at Chand who was now upright.
"Don't fucking touch me." She yelled as a servant tried to wipe off the sugarcane juice that had spilled all over her as she fell. The room grew silent as she looked at the unscathed Noor and then Prem behind her.
With the smile on her face very must still intact, Noor scanned Chand up and down before speaking, "you must take of yourself, Chand. We care about you." Pausing for a few moments, Noor purposefully let her words linger in the heavy silence engulfing them. Then, she slowly threw the loose end of her shawl over her shoulder and gestured at Sevak to follow her. Speechless, every single pair of eyes in the room watched her majestic gait outwards until she was no longer visible.
That's my lioness! Prince Udam thought proudly as he worked on hiding the overwhelming smile his little Noor had summoned onto his lips.
Taking a step towards Prem, Chand shook her head at him. "It'll always be her, isn't it? You will always choose her."
"Chand..." Prem was at a loss of words. "You...should get cleaned up." He managed before swiftly motioning at Hakam and beginning on his way out.
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PRECAP - And when she did turn, her dagger flew out of her hand at the speed of lightening towards him. Missing him by inches, it dug itself into the wooden closet door behind him. Having been caught completely off guard, Prem paused in his tracks for a second to study the path of the dagger then the fire in the eyes of woman who had released it.
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