~THE HAREM~

"Walida - i - nawab, see what I got!", screamed Nigaar kalfa as she entered the personal room of Majida begum, without notice.

"Stop! Let us first inform begum. You cannot enter the room without permission.", rebuked the chief guard of the harem, Siraj aga, an eunuch.

"Oh! So don't you know that I am the royal apprentice of the harem?", retorted Nigaar with a smirk on her face.

"Oh! So if your the chief kalfa, even I am the chief guard, so mind you..", the eunuch's sentence was cut short by the Walida herself.

"Ah what is this noise about, Nigaar what do you have to say now, come on in quick.", ordered Majida begum.

Nigaar entered the largest room of the harem, showing an inverted thumb to the aga, signifying her victory. Siraj aga derisively smiled back.

"What is it? Be fast, I have to look over the preparations going on for the welcome of some Maratha ambassador."

"The matter is I got this from Mahashweta's room.", kalfa showed a shiny, silver anklet.

"Call her begum, she is still Amir's wife and your superior."

"Please forgive me."

"Why did you enter her room?"

"I went to supervise the cleaning of the room. Did I forget to tell you that Nusrat begum wants the room for herself, she says she is the mother of two children, and so she needs space."

"Yah Allah, why did you give my Amir so many nutty women in his life? First Mahashweta, Allah knows what she is upto at the moment. Roshana was a woman of questionable character and now Nusrat, who now seeks an opportunity to rise in the harem, she has a chance now, she has no rivals now. Leave, what about the anklet?"

"It is that anklet which she always wears on her ankles, so I do believe that she took that with herself when she left the harem."

"So do you mean that she was here?"

"That could be possible."

"Yah Allah, Amir should not get to know about this. Nobody should get to know. This is only between you and me. Remember.", ordered the Walida nervously.

"Of course, your Highness."

"If you get any further information, tell only me. Is that clear?"

"As you order Walida."

"Before you leave, tell me how many people belong to the entourage of the Maratha, that arrived last week?"

"There were fifteen men and eleven women."

"Fine. You may leave now, but remember what I said and forget what you said."

"Of course.", Nigaar left the room.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~ IDRIS' ROOM~

"Shehzaade Idris, I have a message for you.", muttered a messenger, wearing a loose white kaftan.

"What is it?", asked Idris.

"Your coronation has been postponed for the time being.", said the messenger nervously.

"What?! Why?", shouted Idris.

"It is heard that some letter from the British has terrified the nawab, also the Marathas arrive today. All this is keeping the nawab on his heels."

"But why is he putting my coronation at hold. Aaah! I'll get sick of all this. You may leave now and report me as soon as you get to know something. Leave."

"As you order, your Highness.", the messenger gave the typical muslim salute and left.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~BENGAL PROVINCE~

~ "Nimisher dekha jodi paye tomarei Aankhite muchai joto balai tomarei Laaj noyone chhokhito chahni she je bishom daye, Joibon bodhe ba praan, dohaai tomaarei, Aar koro shob bolo, tomaarei birohaanol, Kotodin bhaalobasha, lukaai tomaarei, Nimishe dekha jodi paye tomaarei." ~

The famous courtesan Ruksana jaan softly swayed her torso as she sung. Here was Mahashweta, in the palace of the Bengali zamindaar, Raja Ravi Roychoudhary in a discussion with Sir Edward Law and the zamindaar. Intricately designed facades, and curved rooftops gave a rustic ambience to the glistening marble palace. Carefully designed terracotta sculptures dominated the walls. There was celebration taking place in the adjacent hall for the British. The zamindaars those days were staunch supporters of the British.

Mahashweta, sat in a dignified manner wearing a brocaded silk sari, concealing her visage with a net cover.

"I hope I was clear enough in the dealing. Wasn't I?", asked Mr. Law.

"What if the plan backfires?", asked Ravi Roychoudhary.

"It won't. Even if it did I will be the one losing the most. You need not worry.", said Mahashweta.

"It is not just about monetary loss. I have a public image which I need to maintain."

"Please confirm fast. I do not have much time.", declared Mr. Law with force.

"I shouldn't be thinking of opposing the British, should I?", rebuked the zamindaar.

"You should know that better, isn't it?", mocked the British.

"Well yes I do agree. I will grant all what is required if that makes you happy."

"Thank you for agreeing. I will never forget your help.", acknowledged Mahashweta gratefully.

"Now that's good. Cheers.", asserted Mr. Law.

As Mahashweta bent forward to take her glass of sherbet, something hit her on her feet, and the glass crashed down.

"Oh! I am sorry."

"That's fine. Need any help?", the host volunteered.

"No, I am fine.", saying so she bent down to check her foot for any
bruises.

But neither did she find any bruise nor did she find her anklet...

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Please vote if you liked and comment your feedback because I really value them.
*In case you dont get it - this chapter is called The Beginning because this is were the actual vengeance starts.*
*Some information :
The song in my chapter is an actual song sung by a famous tawaif Gauhar jaan.*