The morning sun shone brightly over the magnificent Maratha Kingdom as news spread like wildfire through every corner of the palace.

"Prince Yasin and Prince Ihan have returned from London!"

Servants hurried through the corridors, nobles gathered in the royal court, and the palace guards stood in perfect formation at the grand entrance.

King stood on the palace balcony with a proud smile while Queen wiped away tears of happiness.

It had been months since the princes had visited their homeland.

Soon, a convoy of royal cars entered the palace gates.

Prince Yasin stepped out first, calm and dignified as always.

The people greeted him with respect.

Beside him, Prince Ihan emerged with his usual confident grin.

The younger prince immediately waved at the gathered crowd, making the children cheer loudly.

"Welcome home, prince yasin and prince ihan," King said as he embraced them both.

"Thank you, king," Yasin replied respectfully.

Ihan smiled.

"I missed the kingdom... and most importantly, the royal kitchen."

Everyone burst into laughter.

The rest of the morning was spent in the royal court.

Yasin briefed the king about their business projects in London while Ihan presented reports regarding the Mirza Empire's international partnerships.

By afternoon, the palace was filled with celebration.

Special dishes were prepared, fountains were decorated with flowers, and the royal family gathered for lunch.

After dinner, Prince Ihan, Prince Yusuf, and Princess Saniya sat in the marble passage, a place filled with countless memories from their childhood.

"So, you finally remembered us, you stupid monkey?" Princess Saniya said to Prince Ihan.

"Aww, my chudail, you missed me?" Prince Ihan said.

"Why would I miss a stupid monkey who steals my snacks and annoys me all the time?" she said, making faces.

"Don't lie, my little princess. Admit you missed him," Prince Yasin spoke.

Princess Saniya looked at Ihan with tear-filled eyes and hugged him.

"Honestly, I missed this stupid monkey," she said as tears fell from her eyes.

A few tears slipped down her cheeks as she held onto her brother tightly. For all their constant fighting and teasing, she had missed him more than she would ever admit.

"I am gonna beat you so bad if leave us again like that" princess saniya spoke.

"Oo you will ?!"

Prince ihan replied with sarcasm.

"Wanna see?"

Princess saniya said her hand ready to start the war.

"No.no.you can't slap a prince I am grown now." Prince ihan said with proud.

"For the world, you might be a prince, but to me, you're still that five-year-old boy who used to call me for help with his homework," Princess Saniya said.

"Was that supposed to make me cry?" Prince Ihan asked.

"Still a dumb human," Princess Saniya replied, refusing to let go of his shirt or stop hugging him.

Prince Ihan chuckled softly and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"And you're still my annoying little chudail."

"Your chudail," she corrected immediately.

For a moment, the three siblings sat together in silence, surrounded by the memories of their childhood.

No titles, no responsibilities, no kingdoms-just a brother who had finally come home and a sister who had missed him more than words could ever express.

"Am I invisible?" Prince Yusuf asked

.

"Bro, you can go to your wife." 😁 Prince Ihan said, causing Princess Saniya to burst into laughter.

"Fine, I'm going," Prince Yusuf said dramatically.

"By the way, where is Prince Yasin?" Princess Saniya asked.

"I'm right here. You don't want me around, but you're asking about him, Saniya?"

Prince Yusuf said, pretending to be offended.

"You see, chudail, that's the problem with married men.

They're always following their wives around," Prince Ihan said.

Prince Yusuf immediately twisted Ihan's ear.

"Young man, one day you'll be in our place, and I'm damn sure you'll be following your wife around 24/7," he said.

"Of course he will," Princess Saniya agreed without hesitation.

"Traitor!" Prince Ihan gasped, placing a hand over his heart.

Princess Saniya and Prince Yusuf laughed loudly at his dramatic reaction.

Just then, Prince Yasin walked into the passage and raised an eyebrow at the scene before him.

"What happened here?" he asked.

"They're bullying me," Prince Ihan complained.

"Good," Prince Yasin replied calmly.

The three of them stared at him in disbelief before bursting into laughter.

The marble passage once again echoed with the same laughter it had heard throughout their childhood, as the siblings spent the evening teasing one another and making up for all the time they had spent apart...

........

Time skipped

At mughal kingdom

Another day began in the Mughal Kingdom.

The first rays of the morning sun filtered through the grand palace windows, painting the marble floors in shades of gold.

The palace slowly awakened from its slumber as servants hurried through the corridors, guards changed their shifts, and the aroma of freshly prepared breakfast spread throughout the royal residence.

Birds chirped in the palace gardens while fountains sparkled beneath the morning light.

Everything seemed peaceful and ordinary-a normal day in the Mughal Kingdom.

Princess Ayra's eyes slowly opened as she heard the soft sound of fazar azan.

For a moment, she lay beneath her blanket, feeling the comfort of her warm bed listening to azan.

A small smile appeared on her face.

"Alhamdulillah, Allah woke me up," she whispered softly.

She sat up, rubbed the sleep from her eyes.

After quietly making her bed, Ayra headed toward the washroom to perform wudu.

The cool water helped chase away the last traces of sleep, leaving her feeling refreshed and awake.

Once she had completed her wudu, she returned to her chamber and spread her prayer mat facing the qibla.

The room was peaceful.

No servants.

No royal duties.

No celebrations.

Just her and her Lord.

Princess Ayra raised her hands.

"Allahu Akbar."

She began her Fajr prayer with complete focus, reciting the verses calmly and carefully.

The palace outside remained silent while Ayra stood in prayer.

For those few moments, the worries of studies, responsibilities, and royal expectations disappeared.

When she finished praying, she remained seated on her prayer mat.

The first rays of dawn had not yet appeared.

Ayra raised her hands in dua.

"Ya Allah, guide me, protect my family, forgive my mistakes, and help me become a better Muslimah."

She spent a few moments remembering her loved ones in her prayers and asking Allah for goodness in this life and the next.

After finishing her dua, she quietly recited some dhikr and sat peacefully, watching the faint light of dawn begin to appear through her window.

A feeling of calm settled in her heart.

Many people were still asleep, but Ayra felt grateful that Allah had allowed her to begin her day with prayer.

As the kingdom slowly started to awaken outside her window, Princess Ayra remained seated on her prayer mat for a little longer, enjoying the peace of the early morning and thanking Allah for another day.

While the palace remained asleep and the corridors stood silent, another part of the royal residence was illuminated by a soft lamp.

Inside their private chambers, the King and Queen had also awakened for Fajr.

No royal attendants were present..

No guards stood nearby.

No one knew they were awake.

The King quietly performed wudu before returning to the prayer area of their chamber.

A few moments later, the Queen joined him after completing her own wudu.

The rulers of one of the greatest kingdoms stood not as a King and Queen, but simply as servants of Allah.

Without announcing it to anyone or seeking praise, they spread their prayer mats and began their prayers.

The room was completely silent except for the gentle recitation of Quranic verses.

Years of ruling a kingdom had brought them wealth, power, and respect, yet in those moments none of it mattered.

Before Allah, they were no different from any other believer.

After completing their Fajr prayer, both remained seated on their prayer mats.

The King raised his hands in dua.

"Ya Allah, guide me to rule with justice.

Forgive my mistakes and protect my people."

Beside him, the Queen silently made her own dua.

"Ya Allah, keep our children firm upon faith, bless them with goodness, and protect them from harm."

Neither knew exactly what the other was asking for, but both prayed sincerely for their family, their kingdom, and their people.

The Queen glanced toward the window, where the first signs of dawn were beginning to appear.

A gentle smile crossed her face.

"Alhamdulillah," she whispered.

The King nodded in agreement.

For a little while longer, they sat together in peaceful silence, reciting dhikr and reflecting on Allah's blessings.

Soon the palace would awaken.

Ministers would arrive.

Royal duties would begin.

The kingdom would once again demand their attention.

But for these quiet moments before sunrise, there were no crowns, no thrones, and no royal titles-only two believers praying in the stillness of the morning, seeking Allah's mercy and guidance while the rest of the world slept.

Time skipped

In mughal kingdom inside noor-e-ibadat

It was 6:30 p.m., and Princess Ayra was offering her Maghrib prayer.

Everyone in the palace knew that this was the one time of the day when she should never be disturbed.

Unless it was an emergency, no one called for her, as these moments were devoted entirely to the worship of Allah.

After completing her prayer, Ayra remained seated on her prayer mat.

With her Qur'an open before her, she began reciting its verses softly and attentively.

The evening sky outside was painted in shades of orange and gold as the sun slowly disappeared beyond the horizon.

For Princess Ayra, these quiet moments were more precious than royal gatherings or grand celebrations.

No matter how busy her schedule became, she never neglected her prayers or her daily recitation of the Qur'an.

It was during these moments that she found peace, gratitude, and strength.

Meanwhile, the palace continued with its usual activities, but everyone knew not to disturb the princess at 6:30 p.m. During that time, she would be in her prayer chamber, immersed in prayer and the recitation of the Holy Qur'an.

While Princess Ayra sat peacefully in her prayer chamber, reciting the Holy Qur'an after her Maghrib prayer, Princess Ruhana was in her royal chambers preparing to leave for her in-laws' kingdom with her husband.

The attendants carefully packed her belongings while Ruhana made sure that everything was in order before the journey.

Though she was accustomed to traveling between the two kingdoms, parting from her family was never easy.

She exchanged a few final words with her loved ones and offered a silent prayer for a safe journey.

Meanwhile, the palace was filled with two very different scenes.

In one corner, Princess Ayra was immersed in the verses of the Qur'an, her heart at peace in worship.

In another, Princess Ruhana was preparing for her departure, ready to fulfill her responsibilities as a daughter-in-law and princess of another kingdom.

As the evening progressed, the royal carriage stood ready in the palace courtyard, and the servants made the final arrangements.

With everything prepared, Princess Ruhana took a deep breath, ready to begin her journey alongside her husband to her in-laws' kingdom

After completing her recitation, Princess Ayra gently closed the Holy Qur'an and placed it on its stand.

The peaceful expression on her face suddenly changed as a thought crossed her mind.

Her eyes widened slightly.

"Oh no..."

She had just remembered something-something important.

Very important.

Without wasting another moment, Ayra rose from her prayer mat.

She carefully adjusted her abaya and hurried out of Noor-e-Ibadat, the royal prayer chamber.

As she walked through the palace corridors, she swiftly tied her niqab, her movements unusually rushed for someone who was normally so calm and composed.

Servants who passed by exchanged puzzled glances.

Princess Ayra was rarely seen hurrying anywhere.

What had she remembered?

Why was she so eager to find the King?

Ayra offered no explanation.

Her mind was focused on a single goal as she made her way through the palace, searching for her father before it was too late.

Whatever it was, it was important enough to pull her away from the peace of her Qur'an recitation-and that alone was enough to make anyone curious.

The Golden Hall was filled with a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

The golden chandeliers cast a soft glow across the room as King and Queen, Zeenat-ul-Nisa sat with the King and Queen of the Amber Kingdom.

Servants quietly served tea and refreshments while the four royals conversed.

"We are truly honored that you came personally to deliver the invitation," Queen Zeenat-ul-Nisa said with a gracious smile.

The Queen of Amber Kingdom smiled in return.

"How could we not? It is our son's wedding. Some invitations deserve to be delivered by hand."

King nodded approvingly.

"A wedding is one of life's greatest blessings. May Allah place barakah in the union."

"Ameen," replied the King of Amber Kingdom.

"The preparations have kept the entire kingdom busy. Every day, someone comes to me with a new suggestion."

That earned a small laugh from the others.

"I remember when Ruhana was married," Queen Zeenat-ul-Nisa said.

"The palace was in complete chaos for weeks."

"The bride's family always suffers the most," the Queen of Amber Kingdom teased.

"And the groom's family pretends they have everything under control," King replied with a chuckle.

The King of Amber Kingdom placed a hand over his heart dramatically.

"My king, I assure you we are nowhere near in control."

The hall filled with light laughter.

"So," Queen Zeenat-ul-Nisa asked, "how is the young prince feeling about the wedding?"

The Queen of Amber Kingdom smiled fondly.

"He is excited, though he tries very hard to appear calm and dignified."

"Just like every groom in history," King remarked.

"Exactly," the King of Amber Kingdom agreed. "They all act brave until the wedding day arrives."

As the conversation continued, the atmosphere remained cheerful and relaxed. None of them noticed the hurried footsteps approaching from the corridor outside.

A few moments later, the doors of the Golden Hall opened.

Princess Ayra stepped inside, her niqab neatly tied, her eyes carrying an unusual urgency.

King immediately noticed her expression.

"Ayra?" he asked, slightly surprised. "Is everything alright?"

The pleasant conversation came to a pause as everyone's attention shifted toward the princess.

Whatever had brought her here so quickly after her Qur'an recitation seemed important enough to interrupt a meeting between two royal families.

..........

To be continued....