The Two Kingdoms (Completed)

41.

It had been two days since Meera's world had upturned.

Meera was held captive inside her chamber with guards placed outside her room every minute of the day.
No one was to visit her and neither was she allowed to step out, these were the orders of the king.

Two days Meera had spent on the floor, crying till she lost consciousness. She hadn't touched food or water, all she wanted was Haider, for him to touch her, to talk to her, to tell her that he knew she was innocent.

No one knew why was the queen inside her chamber since the past two days, why was the king in such a sour mood, no one knew except the family and Abhishek and Avantika .

Inayat stood at the base of the stairs leading to Meera's room, it was the closest she could go.

She looked at the maid who descended down carrying the tray she herself had sent for Meera yesterday.

"She hasn't touched yesterday's food either queen mother." The maid said and left with her head bowed.

"Ya Allah rehem." Inayat prayed as a tear slipped out of her eye. Why was god testing her children, everything was perfect, everyone was so happy till a week back, who had cast an evil eye on her happiness.

"You should talk to Haider, begum sahiba." Nadiya khala said placing her hand on Inayat's shoulder, trying to pacify the queen mother, who had never been so helpless in all her years.

"He won't listen to me Nadia, but I'll try, for my kids I will ." Ammi be said wiping the tear with the corner of her dupatta.

Ammi Begum made her way towards Haider's section of the palace. The atmosphere looked mournful, there wasn't a single soul in this part of the palace except the guards guarding their stations. The guards informed her that Haider had been cooped up since morning in his study.

She marched inside his study, to find him sitting on his chair with a book open in his hand, however his eyes remained focused on a point, not moving.

The dark circles under his eyes were the evidence of his sleepless nights, his featured contoured and face sullen.

"Hadi ?" Ammi be called out to him gently.

He snapped out of his daze and looked at his mother, his eyes still like glass beads, emotionless.

"Bacche, sab khair toh hai na ?" She asked him even though she knew nothing in her children's life was alright.

"Yes, apart from the fact that my wife invited a na-mehram (unrelated man) in my absence, cheated on me emotionally for as long as she has been married to me and wanted to elope with her .. her—." He sighed and closed his eyes pinching his forehead.

"I'm sorry Ammi Be, did you want something." He said dryly, although he did not want to sound rude, he didn't care at this point all he wanted was to stay alone.

"She hasn't eaten anything Hadi, not a morsel in the past two days. The maid who goes to check on her said she keeps crying till she faints and when she gains consciousness she cries again, she'll die Hadi, just go talk to her."

"If she dies, let her. I don't have time to waste on women who don't matter to me anymore." He said turning away from his mother.

"Stop this Haider you are hurting her and yourself as well, just go talk to her, I can't loose another daughter Haider, I'm begging you." Inayat said and broke into sobs.

"Ammi don't -."

"Hadi tujhe khuda ka wasta hai, meri bacchi ko ek baar mil le."

Haider took in a deep breath trying to control his anger. He didn't want to lash out at his mother but he didn't want to see the woman who had cheated him, all he wanted was to turn back time and go back to the woman whom he loved even if her love had been a lie.