Sultan says, "Daughter, I did not expect this from you."
Sheer-Gul says, "Father, I don't know how this came to me."
Sheer-Dil, in a mocking tone, repeatedly says, "Sister, it's okay, everyone makes mistakes. You like this jewelry, but stealing is the wrong way."
Sheer-Gul says, "Brother, do you think I stole it? I could never do such a thing. Father, you have to trust me."
Sultan says, "Daughter, I love you very much, but you made a mistake, and every mistake deserves a punishment. If I don't punish my daughter for her mistake, I won't be worthy of being called a Sultan."
Tears roll down Sheer-Gul's eyes as she says, "Father, you don't trust me?"
Just then, a maid arrives and says, "Sultan, forgive my boldness, but I myself saw the princess taking the jewelry."
Hearing this, the Sultan walks over to his throne, sits down, and declares, "As the Sultan of Iran, today I pronounce this judgment — that we exile our daughter, Sheer-Gul, also known as the princess, from the palace for one year for the crime of theft. For one year, you shall not set foot in the palace. And no one else must find out about this matter."
Sheer-Gul is completely shattered and says, "Father, was your trust in me so fragile? I never knew. And today, I too make a vow — that I, the Princess of Iran, will not step foot in this palace until I prove my innocence."
Saying this, Sheer-Gul turns her face away and begins to walk off. Everything happens in slow motion, and just like that, Sheer-Gul leaves the place — while tears begin to well up in the Sultan's eyes as well.
A little girl, while eating something, suddenly falls and faints. People gather around, but no one steps forward to help.
Seeing all this, a young man dressed in white arrives, checks the girl's pulse, and takes out some medicine from his pocket to give her. The girl starts coughing. Everyone claps. That young man is Armaghan.
Just then, the girl's mother arrives. Armaghan says, "Did you not feed your daughter properly? Did she faint because of hunger?"
The mother, crying, says, "We are very poor. I haven't eaten anything either."
Armaghan takes some money out of his pocket and says, "Feed your daughter something, and eat something yourself too. And try to find a job as soon as possible."
The girl's mother says, "Thank you. Your mother raised you very well. Thank you!"
Armaghan replies, "It was my duty."
And then he walks away.
Sheer-Gul leaves the palace with nothing — no place to stay, no food or water. She speaks to herself:
"What should I do now? I have to prove my innocence first, but how? For now, I need to find a place to stay."
She walks ahead and sees a water tap in the distance. She runs toward it and starts drinking water. Just then, a man comes and pushes her. Sheer-Gul falls to the ground and cries out in pain,
"Why did you do that?"
The man replies harshly,
"Pay first — if you want to drink water — then drink!"
Sheer-Gul, with trembling lips, asks,
"What money?"
The man angrily says,
"Are you crazy? If you don't have money, then get lost! Don't waste my time!"
Sheer-Gul gets up. Blood is dripping from her hand, and she's in a lot of pain. Night has already fallen. She walks away and reaches a nearby shop where a young man named Mohammad is working. Standing by the roadside outside the shop, she speaks helplessly,
"Where will I stay now? I'm so hungry… I haven't even had a sip of water in two days…"