a midsummer nights dream

King Hakim looked here and there and asked his sentinels, "Ye wazir malik Khan kahan hai'.?"

Strong winds blowing around the palace were mixed with the tapping of a horse running and coming towards the palace. A silhouette of a strong man riding the horse was seen. His royal clothes, the sword tied around his waist, and the turban he wore were representing his importance in the royal family. The rider was now close to the main gates of the palace, as soon as his horse reached the gates, guards rushed towards him to open the gates. He gave then an angry glare n the men bowed their heads down. The horse entered the palace and reached inside. He jumps off from the horse and lands his feet on the red carpet, few other palace guards rushed forward to bow down before him and to take the reins from his hand, his hairs flowing due to the effect of wind blowing around and eyes red from anger and hatred.

Guard: "Wazir-e-ala qilein men Sultan aur sab aap ka intezar kar rahay hen, jashan kahtam ho chukka hai"

malik Khan stared at him with a condescending look: "Toh main kya karun" n he pushes the guard away and walks inside the palace with anger and hatred in his eyes.

King Hakim was looking more worried than ever.Crippled and confined on crutches after spending a major part of his life in war and then recuperating , he had learnt all the major lessons of his life. If he could only rewind the one mistake of adopting mirza's dai ma nadarad's son years ago when his own wife pinaz Begum and other minor trophy wives were struggling to give him an heir .nadarad had always been his trusted aide and had a complete hold on Hakim.Faithful that she was ,widowed with a child malik Khan ,she had dreams to make her son adopted by the king as the undisputed king of the entire empire. Unaware of her real motives Hakim had raised malik khan as his own son but 15 years later he had been blessed by a miracle child mirza who grew up with his mother pinaz Begum . With the death of pinaz Banu Begum when mirza was 5. nadarad took charge again and had been a complete dominating women with major holds of the reign with her.

While mirza grew up to be the better person , malik Khan was becoming a trouble .Since mirza had been announced the future heir to the throne .He had become bitter and elusive.The jealousy did not go unnoticed by King hakim and ever since the bitter incident that took 5 years ago,his doubts had been confirmed.

There was hint of of worry and anger in his voice when he spotted malik Khan ."Ruk jayiye malik !!",his voice stopped him from stepping forward towards his own room. malik knew to whom this voice belonged to. He turned around being least concerned but he had to, as the person standing in front of him was the Sultan Hakim.

malik Khan: "Sulatan ji"

Sulatn Hakim: "Kahan thay aap malik? Kya aap bhool chukay hen ke aaj is quiley men kya mahaul hai? Aap k bhai ki zindagi ke is kitna khaas mauka hai per aap ka na hona'.. hamen bohot afsos hai yeh daikh kar"

malik Khan: "Sultan, riyasat k kaam k liye hamen zaroori jana pada, hum maafi chahte hen"

Sultan Hakim: "Aap mirza k baday bhai hen malik, riyasati kaamon men aap kitna masroof rhtain hai woh hum achi tarah jantay hen, ab toh ap ko apni zimedariyon ko samajh jana chahiye, hum chahtey haink aap is baat ka khayal rakhen ge"

malik Khan: "Sulatn, hamare kamon pe nazar rakhne se acha hai ke aap mirza balkay yeh kehna zyada sahi hoga k is mulk ke honay waale Sultan mirza ki Talim pe dhayan den, hum se jo hoga who hum apnay bhai ko tayar karne k liye karen ge lekin jo kuch unho ne pichlay 5 saalon men Jung ki talim men sikha, us ko azmanay ka waqt agaya hai"

Sulatan Hakim: "Hamen mirza ki qabiliyat pe poora bharosa hai mallik lekin yeh aap bhi achi tarah jantay hen aur hum bhi ke kis ko talim ki zyada zaroorat hai" with that Sulatn Hakim turned around with his helpers and left the palace's corridor leaving behind malik sulking and banging his fist on the nearby wall.

malik Khan: "Hamari Talim kaisi hai aur kya hai, yeh toh aap ko jald hi pata chal jayega Sulatn, aap ka taqth, app ka taaj, aur app ka yeh mulq, bohot jald hamari muthi men hoga" an evil smile crept on his lips with determination in his eyes, "Hamari talim azmanay ka samay bhi toh ab aa chukka hai, bohot jald hamaray mathay pe jeet ka taaj sajayga aur ap k seenay pe haar ki chaap hogi hahaha"

With this he stormed towards his own chamber and opened the door n closed it with a loud bang. Twinkling of payals echoing in his ears and an image of a beautiful girl capturing his mind, he threw away the vase at the wall which was placed on the table near him. Anger capturing his mind and the pain of defeat visible in his eyes. He went towards the cupboard and took out a glass n a bottle of alcohol; quickly filled the glass up to the brim and drank it . ---Then second and then went for the third glass , he was feeling still very parched, his anger grew some more while having a hazy vision of a girl surrendering herself in the arms of a man. He yelled and with a loud bang threw the bottle n glass on the floor. Small pieces of glass were scattered around the room and he looked at them like they were the pieces of someone's life destroyed by him

"Hum kabhi haartay nahi mirza, kabhi nahi !! Aj ka din khushi manao, jashan manao, kyun ke yeh jashan yeh khushiyan bas kuch hi waqt tak hen tumharay paas'. Bohot jald hum tumhen tumhari asli jagah dikhayen ge, phir fateh humari hogi mirza, , sab kuch hamaray paas hoga aur tum'.. kuch nahi bachega tumharay paas'. Apnay har beizzati ka badla lenge hum, har aik zillat ka !!!"

The heated sand dunes from the faraway deserts had cooled down due to the stillness that night brought with it.But someone burned with anxiety. His senses seemed to be restless and set on fire. The cold soothing winds and the serene rays of the faint moonlight did little to his respite. mirza paced to and fro in the balcony near the fountains. The soft gentle breeze wafted his hair over his broad shoulders as he leaned on the fine jaalidar wooden railings sometimes looking down at the gorgeous stretch of gardens beneath alternated with fountains whose fine mist glistened in the silvery sheen of the moonlight and sometimes towards the moon which stole his peace of mind. Why was he angry? He did not know why he was restless? Was it her indifference or was it his apprehensions. There were talks in hushed tones all over the palace which never failed to reach his ears. The princess was the most beautiful one ever heard off'!! All these words which he heard almost every day compounded his anxiety manifold. What if she does not find him good enough? What if she does not recognize him? After all he was teen when he had left her but now he was a man ,strong enough to carry her in his arms? What if she finds him rough ?He was a tender prince years ago. What if she is repulsed by his now tanned skin? What if her tender skin gets pricked by his coarse hands? He rubbed the bridge of his of his nose and unbuttoned his collar trying to breathe. The last day had been a roller coaster ride for him. Ever since the announcement by the royal Qazi about the exact auspicious hour for the arrival of his bride for five years, He had been dolling between anxiety, nervousness and excitement. And yesterday was the climax to his peaking exuberance. He had set out to her land, to get her back, to claim what was rightfully his. He still remembered how the whole place including the dadi,mami,chachi and her salis had surrounded him, how the entire clan was at his service feeding him with the finest of exquisite dishes including spicy afgan dishes which were his favourite. He still remembered everyone showering love for him except that what he never got to see what his eyes had yearned for ?Where was she ,he had wondered the whole day while eating the handmade laddooss while his Mother-in law fanned him. He wanted to stomp his feet in anger. Wasn't it his wife's duty to fan him while he ate? He remembered how his mother used to sit and feed Sultan with her own hands fanning him all the while. Why the hell only he had been deprived of the privilege ,he was unable to fathom. Night had come ,but still no sign of her. He had restlessly paced to and fro in an alien room waiting to at least catch a glimpse of her but in vain as his dear MIL had come announcing that razia slept early .He wanted to scream out loud. Wasn't it his wife's duty to lull him to sleep. How could the stone heart sleep without him. He had only smiled breathing a huge sigh slyly thinking that he had the whole life to come and many more nights.Ahh!! razia what a beautiful name it was!!Princess for the whole world and razia for her family and now for him his beloved wife. A sudden swell of pride filled his chest.Ahh!! He was her everything now , her life and her family.

FLASHBACK

The 5 year old mirza looked with beady eyes sitting on the lap of his mother watching his much elder 20 year old adopted brother malik taking wedding vows accepting with the beautiful 14 year old Anjuman ,daughter of a nobel Arab.He asked curiously sucking his thumb holding on to her mother's pallu

mirza:Ammi..Ye kya ho raha hai

pinaz Banu Begum:Beta ye Niqah ho raha hai..apke bhai aur bhabhi ka..

mirza: ye Niqah kya hota hai Ammi'

pinaz Banu Begum:beta Niqha wo hota hai jismein Shauhar aur Biwi ek duje ko qubool karte hain

mirza:Ye Qubool hai kya hota hai

pinaz Banu Begum: Hahaha Abhi aap chote hai na..Jab bade ho jayenge..tab samjha jayenge jab apka Niqah hoga

mirza: humara bhi Niqah hoga

pinaz Banu Begum: haan aur jaise apki bhabhi apke Bhaiji k saath ab sari zindagi rahengi..unhi k saath unhi k rihayishgah main

mirza: nahiii hum apne rihayishgah main kisi ko nahi rehne denge kabhi nahi'

Litte mirza made a sallow face.

pinaz Banu Begum: 'Aw Beta aise nahi kehte..Shauhar apni biwi k saath hi rehte hai humesha ..warana chudail uski naak kaat leti hai..

"sachi",He squeezed his eyes

"Haan'",She caressed his dimpled cheeks

"nahi nahi..Mujhe apni naak nahi katwani'hum apni biwi k saath humesha rahenge par humari biwi kaun hai ?,He hugged his mother innocently

A huge smile and tug in his heart melted him as his eyes misted with tears in remembrance of his mother. He touched his nose and giggled, "Ammi hum apni naak nahi katne denge '"

A melancholy gripped his heart ,how he so wished his mother could come back from the heavens above to answer all his queries but sadly he was nowhere near her. His Badi Ammi had kept him warm all his life near her bosom ,and his Bhabhi Anjuman was always his playmate and confidante but today he missed his mother.

He suddenly recalled something and took out a red sequined wallet from the pocket of his sherwani. Pulling back the strings ,he held it in between his fingers, the slender stained tiny glass bottle of the exotic perfume which he had specially brought for his wife .He still remembered when he had seen her for the first time. She was like the fresh Juhi flowers .Sometimes during his lonely years that fragrance used to still linger in his mind. He recalled how he had held his hand close to his face after their wedding He looked at perfume 'the attar and smiled imagining what will be her reaction on seeing this. Will she allow his fingers to dab on a little streak behind her ears. Normally a wife would sprinkle it.He had seen many of the women in the harem including his Bhabhi using them but he thought of getting something special for her after all these years.A rush of adrenaline made him quiver in excitement. As if she needed any of this .She was fragrant and he knew that.

But suddenly his face turned into a frown remembering how she had openly snubbed him early morning. With bated breath he had waited for her near the doli.She had walked out covered in a veil. He had extended his hands to help her climb the doli placed on a elephant's back but she had walked past him ,without even looking at his hand which he had extended with much anticipation .Anger and humiliation just emerged on his face again and he was about to throw the bottle away ,when suddenly a hand on his shoulder stopped him.

"Sultan",He turned around .

"Sulatn nahi Abba jaan kahiye 'aaj ek baap apne bete k samne khada hai'",He ruffled his hair

"Par Abba",his voice choked with the love he offered.It was new to him .It was ages that his father had talked to him like this.

"Hum jantey hain yeh shaadi ek samjhauta hai par Par shehzadi apni nayi zindagi mein sirf apke bahrose pe ayi hain'.Unke liye yeh asan nahi hoga par..apko unke dil ko samajhna hoga...",He held his shoulders.

"Hum koshish karenge unhe samajhne ki",he tried regaining his lost confidence and his father embraced him .mirza was 21 now beginning his new life. 5 years had passed since his wedding to razia but he knew things had been bitter .But now with the homecoming King Hakim just wished all the bitterness would vanish in thin air.He was happy for mirza.

From far way corner , Anjuman peeped eavesdropping the whole conversation .An evil grin spread across her face.

The royal prince room was bustling with activity as the ladies giggled and teased her. razia glanced at her reflection in the mirror as her SISTER 'IN LAW ,Husna along with the other women dressed her up.Mangtika,bangles ,bindi, everything was replaced and placed afresh .Someone fumigated her long tresses with the fragrance of Juhi and Mogra,while someone giggled.It was to the amazement and amusement to every women in the harem.Normally prince and the other men used to retire to the harem in the respective ladies chamber to seek pleasure ,but for the princess seems like the rules had been somehow changed ,on the specific instructions of the the Prince she was to be housed in his own huge palatial room.

"Hai Bhabhi. Aaj to Bhaijaan apko dekhkar kahin palkein jhapkana hi bhul na jaye'",She placed a kajal ka teeka near her ears , "Par haan Bhabhi Bhaijaan dikhte thode sakht hain par dil unka bikul mom jaise hai'.Unhe apne kaboo mein karna bahut hi asan hai'.",She giggled.razia gulped a huge lump in her throat s she clutched her haar in her hand ,her eyes blankly staring and her mind completely incoherent with the proceedings.

"Hahaha Asan kahan'",Anjuman walked inside the room with the glass of milk in her hands.

She came close to razia and speculated her from tip to toe. Holding her chin ,she whispered near her ears, "Khoobsurat to aap behad hi ho'Lekin mirza ufff'Unki zaruraton ka khayal humare alawa aur kaun rakh sakta hai'aaj tak hum hi kahan unhe kaboo mein kar paye hain'",She smirked leaving razia confused.

Husna gave a sly smile, "Kya Badi Bhabhi'ab apke din gaye. Bhaijaan ab to sirf apni Dulhan k isharon pe nachenge'"

Anjuman's face reddened with humiliation, she bit her bottom lips chewing away the urge to give it back to her but she smiled and said placing the glass of milk near the bed, "mirza ko kaboo mein karne ka nuskha phunk diya hay humne ismein..",Her eyes turned signalling towards the milk, " ate hi pila dijiyega'."

He drank another Chalice, gulping down the bitter liquid in a go and threw the glass bottle in anger again. The whole room had turned upside down.malik Khan's nostrils flared with anger and his eyes burned with absolute rage. He walked towards the cupboard to find another bottle when his feet pierced the fine glass piece hurting him badly and the blood from his frozen veins spurted out making him yelp in pain. He kicked the vase near him in anger when she walked in, "Tch tch tch'",Her demeaning voice and her condescending look piercing him, "Phool to aap humse haseen is angan mein le hi aye..par afsos hai ki use apne agosh mein saja na sake '.",She giggled in her evil tone.

"Anjuman",his voice roared in anger as she held his hand and made him sit on the bed removing his mojri and wiping away the blood with her silken pallu and continued , "Aur pool bhi aisa jiski khushboo koi aur lega 'aur aap yahan kanton par bekar mein hi chal rahe hain'"

"Anjuman'",He screamed clutching her neck and shoving her to the wall, his grip tightened around her neck, " Lagta hai aap apani jagah bhul gayi'."

"HAHA",she grinned looking straight into his eyes, "jagah Tch etch etch'Humari jagah to apke paron ki mitti thi humesha se ..par apki chahat..haan apki chahat ki jagah kahin aur hai'Aap hi ke muh bole chote bhai ki bahon mein'.",She squeezed her eyes.

"Anjuman'",He gritted his teeth as she continued, "Aur shehzadi honth mirza k honthon par'.aur'."

malik Khan could not take it anymore and slapped her right across her face. She fell on the ground with a loud thud and burst into a cynical laughter, "Aur mirza k hath'unki gesuyon ke ghane sayein mein'"

Bas Kijiye Anjuman humne kaha bas'",He grabbed her shoulders clutching her .

She laughed hard and gave him a menacing look, "Apke armanon ki chita jalne ki raat hai aaj'.",She grinned like a maniac.

malik Khan grew cold feet as his grip loosened on her shoulders. His mouth parted , body burned with rage as he took a few steps backwards .

"Kya hua..'Kyun chhod diya humein'gusse mein hi sahi, isi bahane aap humein chuenge to sahi'.Humein bhi kuch sukoon mil hi jata pal bhar k liye hi sahi'"

malik Khan gritted his teeth in anger and threw her on the bed and smashed his lips against hers. Anjuman quivered in excitement snaking her arms around his neck.

He suddenly parted from her and had an evil grin on his face, "Wo kya hai na'App mein wo baat hai hi nahi'jise dekhkar humein apko chune ka man karein'.",Shaking her badly he walked out in anger leaving Anjuman humiliated with tears trickling down her cheeks as she wept bitterly trying to tame her throbbing desires.

In another part of the palace, a game of destiny was played.A dim moon light was coming inside from the window, fierce winds were blowing outside. Here malik Khan was sitting with his game board in front of him, playing with the pair of dice in his hand, his head hung down, the dice were rolled in his hands for the umpteenth time n finally he looked up in the darkness of the room which was dimly lighted with the moon light only, the determined n fierce look in his eyes while an evil smile was playing on his lips. He looked down at the game n while smiling, threw the dices on it. The dice rolled n his eyes were placed on them like they r going to change the world today, it was like the dice will tell him the future now. Finally the dices stopped and the smile on his face grew wider. He had won the game'.. the game which he was playing alone.

malik Khan: "Sitaron ki chaal badal bhi jaati hai, zindagi bhi toh aik khel hi hai, khel'. Shay aur maat ka'. Aaj tumhari jeet hui ha lekin kal'. Hahaha'. Hamari chaal abhi baqi hai mirza'. Aur zindagi ke is khel men maat tumhari hi hogi"