There was a noise outside the room. Shahzain carefully laid Seher on her bed. The first time, there were beads of sweat on his forehead. If someone finds him, the girl will be taken away from him. It would be a disaster to lose after coming so close to his destination. He was just hoping whoever it was would go away soon.

It was Fakhr. He was restless because his most precious daughter was getting married. He was walking outside his daughter's room. Just then Nur Jahan came.

"Hayat, please check on her"

" Seher is not going far away, she is getting married to your nephew Fakhr. She will be just around the corner. You are overreacting. Every father goes through this phase. You are turning into a grumpy old man".

" I don't know love, just my heart is at unrest. Maybe I am a very overprotective father."

"Fakhr let her sleep, both Ayat and Seher just went to bed and you also take rest we have a lot of things to do first thing in the morning. " she dragged him to their room.

Shahzain heard the noise outside. He subsided, he relaxed, he gently lifted his soon-to-be bride in his strong arms, his men were outside. His initial plan was to drop the girl and follow, but now the idea of his men touching her did not sit well with him. He took a bedspread and tied Sleeping Seher on his back. He carefully lowered himself down. He used to jump far more, on higher ground, as part of his military training, but because of the girl on his back, he was extra careful.

He and his men kept their horses a little far away to hide any suspicion. He quickly walked at a fast pace and rushed towards his horses. He carefully handled Seher. One of his men came forward to help Shahzain and yelled in anger.

"I will chop your hands if anyone touches her."

It was a clear warning. He and his men camped near the border of Fakhr and Samad's kingdom. He brought a few women along with him, especially Rabia, one of his female doctors. She was an aged lady and used to serve his mother. He carefully put Seher down in his tent and called for Rabia.

"Aunty Rabia, it's two hours when will she wake up?"

"Sultan, don't worry, I will check on her"

She turned to look at the girl whom her sultan had abducted.

She was stunned to see a tiny little girl sleeping. She was an enthralling beauty. She heard about her mother, Nur Jahan, in the shah Palace. She knew Sultan Shazain's objective of marrying her. Her heart went out to this little girl.

"MashaAllah, Sultan, she is very beautiful and very young."

Shahzain did not reply, he was cold like always.

"Aunty Rabia, please make sure she wakes up soon. It won't be long before her family will realize that she is missing. I need to hurry"

Shahzain went out and called for Utbah. He was Shazain's most trusted advisor and a companion just like Ahmed was to his father.

"Utbah, did you make all the arrangements? Is the priest ready? I don't want to delay the wedding"

"Shahzain, everything is ready, but do you think the girl will agree? The priest clearly said the girl should accept this marriage by her free will, otherwise, there would be no Nikah"

"You don't worry about her, I will handle her"

************************************************************************************

Seher slowly opened her eyes and looked around, it took time for her to register everything. Last night she was in her room when that man... she was trembling in fear and crying. Rabia was observing her with curiosity.

" Princess, don't cry " Seher looked at the woman sitting in the corner.

"Where am I? Is this any supernatural world?" Rabia smiled.

"Do I not look like a human to you?"

Seher observed the woman in front of her. She was of her mother's age. She went and hugged her, still crying.

"I was in my room. Then a Djinn came. I didn't know how I am here. Please can you take me back to my baba and Ummi?"

Rabia wanted to laugh at this little girl's words.

"That man was not Djinn and don't worry, you are safe. Just stop crying" She consoled Seher, slowly patting her back.

" Who is that man who brought me here and where am I?"

Just then Shazain entered.

"That man is your would-be husband and you are getting married to me now."

Seher was trembling in fear. Her face went pale and her cheeks and nose had a tint of redness because of crying.

Shahzain gestured Rabia to leave. She reluctantly left.

"Please take me back home. It is my wedding today. My Ummi and Baba must be worried". Seher wrapped the bedspread around her tightly covering herself. Her eyes were looking at the ground.

"Look here " Shazain came in front of her and ordered.

Seher did not lift her head, but instead grabbed the dragger around his waist.

"Stay where you are and take me home", with trembling hands she was pointing the dragger at Shahzain.

Shazain got closer to her and snatched the dagger from her. In that small scuffle, Seher's sleeve was torn. She gave up the struggle and quickly wrapped herself up and again started crying.

"Stop crying, you little bird, and listen carefully. We are getting married now."

"I will never marry you. Just drop me home. You don't know my Baba and my brothers will kill you."

"I don't care and yes, if you don't agree to marry me I will kill myself" Shahzain knew this girl was faint-hearted and knew how to play his cards.

Seher opened her eyes wide and looked at him.

"Do whatever you want but first take me home," Seher said those words with a lot of courage.

Shahzain looked at her, took out the small dagger, and gave himself a cut on his wrist. Blood was oozing out. Seher was terrified and she quickly rushed to him. And held his hand tightly trying to stop the bleeding.

" Please don't do this. You are a handsome man, trust me. Any girl would be happy to marry you."

" Then why are you denying it?"

" I am already engaged, I belong to someone else. Please let me go", she was begging him.

" Listen, Seher, you will only be Shazain's wife and forget about everyone else".

" Sultan Shahzain!" Seher was familiar with this name. He was her brother's biggest rival.

"You can't force me. Please let me go."

"Fine, don't accept me. I will kill myself and you will be responsible." He again made a deeper cut on his wrist.

" Think again. Next time I will cut my neck in front of your eyes. "

Seher saw the madness in his eyes." It is a sin to commit suicide, you will be burned in hellfire if you kill yourself."

" Who said it would be suicide? It's murder and you will be responsible.

Tell me your answer now or else I won't hesitate to kill myself this time", he put the knife near his throat.

" OK, OK, please don't do anything irrational."

Seher was unable to say anything. Her baba and ummi's faces flashed in front of her. She again looked at blood coming out of Shazain's hand.

" Utbah, Princess is ready to marry. Make the preparations for Nikah. There is just half an hour left for the dawn prayer. The priest can perform the marriage soon after the prayer, "

Seher also did her prayers and was praying hard that her Baba and Ummi should come to her rescue soon.

What kind of situation am I stuck in? Oh Lord, please help me out. Why am I so stupid and cowardly? Please send me home safely. I won't open my window ever again.

After prayer, Shahzain came inside accompanied by a few men and the priest. Seher was sitting in the corner. A thin sheer curtain separated them and Rabia was sitting next to her.

Rabia was surprised to know that this girl agreed to marry Shahzain.

The Lord knows what Shazain did to make her agree. She is the princess of an equally strong kingdom. I hope Shahzain forgets his revenge and keeps her happy. Oh Lord, please bless this union and make them a source of each other's happiness.

Rabia had known Shazain since he was a baby and saw how he transformed overnight after his father's death and his mother's death turned him more mature than his age. She never saw him smile after that and Najma begum's poisonous influence turned him into a tyrant, heartless man. She had just seen Nur Jahan once and came to know about her through Afshan. She knew what Shahzeb had done to her. She tried once to explain Shahzain but was sharply cut down and asked her to be within her limits. Seher was just looking like a sacrificial lamb and Shazain the hungry lion.

When the priest asked Seher if she agreed to this Nikah, Seher just kept quiet. She had so many dreams; her Ummi and baba, her brothers and sister. She then thought of Murad. She felt like betraying them all. Shahzain made a noise. The priest stopped him.

"Sultan, you can not force her and I won't perform Nikah when it is forced. It is a sin and I can't be a part of it.

" Seher Uzbek daughter of Falhruddin Uzbek, do you accept Sultan Shazain meer Afdali as your husband" he repeated.

" Please, daughter, there is no pressure, say whatever you feel like," the priest said to her.

Shahzain was gritting his teeth. Seher looked at him through the curtain and he saw the dagger clutched in his hands and blood coming out because of the grip.

She accepted the marriage, binding herself with Shahzain for this lifetime.

Shazain accepted her as his wife, completing the marriage. He was congratulated by all his men.

**************************************************************************

In the morning in the Uzbek household, everyone woke up for the dawn prayer. Salahuddin and Shamsuddin used to stay in Marchand, their new capital, but they came down here for their sister's wedding. The boys, along with their father, returned from the prayers

"Ayat, where is Seher?" Shamsuddin questioned her.

It was Seher who used to be the first one to get up in the morning. No matter how late she slept, she never missed her morning prayer.

"I did not see her, Abi. Maybe she is sleeping."

"Ummi, please wake her up," he said.

Nur Jahan went inside the room but Seher was not there.

"Seher is not in her room. Where did she go? Seher Seher" Nur Jahan was screaming.

Everyone was looking around for her. Murad and his family came running.

Queen Nur Jahan, who was strong, was worried about her daughter.

"It is my fault, Fakhr, I should have checked her when you asked me last night". Nur was in tears.

Shamsuddin sends his men around. " I always told you guys to keep guard around the house, but you guys never listened."

Murad was very worried just yesterday. She was smiling sitting there in this house. Unknown fear crept into his heart.

"Aunty Nur, please don't cry, we will find her". He tried consoling his aunt. Shireen hugged Nur Jahan and was consoling her.

Just then, when they were about to leave, a few men with decorated trays and gifts went into Fakhruddin's house.

"What is all this?" Fakhruddin roared in anger.

The man in front of him was trembling in fear and he forwarded a message, decorated on a platter with rose petals.

Salahuddin came forward and grabbed the message. His face was read in anger reading the message. That bastard, Shahzain, I will kill him this time.

Shamsuddin took the paper from his elder brother's hand. He had directly called for war this time.

"Please can someone tell me what is going on and where is my Seher?" Nur Jahan asked.

"That Shazain has abducted her," Fakhruddin said in a slow voice.

Nur Jahan slumped to the ground. " Fakhr My Seher is very naive, my baby will not be able to endure all this. " Nur Jahan was inconsolable.

"Ummi, please don't cry, we will bring her back soon" Shamsuddin hugged his mother and turned towards the man who brought the message.

"Where is your Sultan now?" He raised his hand to hit him but was stopped.

"Shams, calm down. It is not his fault, he is just following orders. That Shazain wouldn't have gone far away. Let's go first". Salahuddin stopped his brother.

All this time Fakhruddin was very quiet. Shahzeb's dying face flashed in front of his eyes. He quietly followed his sons.

"Ayat, please take care of you Ummi , we will be back soon. " he hugged Nur.

"Everything will be fine. Just stay calm," Fakhr said to her.

Murad's condition was the worst. His love was in danger. He just prayed for her safety and left with his cousins.

Salahuddin was the first one to reach Shazain's camp and angrily shouted.

"Shahzain, come out, you coward. You don't have the courage to fight directly. That's why you used this cheap method. Come out you bastard", he was screaming in anger.

Just then, a shirtless Shazain stretching his hands came out of his tent.

"Why are you barking so loudly, illiterate mountain dog? My wife doesn't like loud noises. " he winked at him.

"Where is my sister? What did you do to her?" Salahuddin punched him and entered the tent. He was shocked to see a crying Seher wearing Shahzain's clothes sitting in the corner. Before he could reach her, Shahzain pushed him out.

"Don't you have manners? My wife is very shy and does not like intruders," he roared.

Salahuddin raised his hand to punch him but was stopped by Shahzain.

"Don't you dare? By the way, your sister is really good in bed, " Shahzain smirked.