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 the screen and colouring the Royal bride-groom's feet and hands with the henna. Next he was robed in the costly garments and sprinkled with perfume. Then the tiny hand of his sister Jahanara, Princess Royal, who had taken her mother s place since her death, placed a piece of sugarcandy on his lips to signify that she wished his life to be all sweetness from now onwards. Other ladies followed her example, and when this ceremony of wishing the bridegroom good luck was ended, there followed a banquet.

The next night, a few hours before the a dawn, the wedding was celebrated, and after several weeks of happiness in Agra the Prince, accompanied by his bride, returned to his duties as Viceroy of the Deccan.

A year later in the Fort of Daulatabad Princess Dilras Banu lay in travail, and Aurangzeb paced the ramparts praying fervently for the safety of her whom he loved so well. As the mosque bells were ringing for evening prayers, and he stood watching the setting sun tinting with rose colour the walled city at the foot of the ancient fortress, the news was brought to him that the Princess had given birth to a daughter.

When, later, he held the frail pledge of their union in his arms and looked into the