FF ~A Midsummer Night's Dream~epilogue pg 45 - Page 26

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Chapter 10

Deceit , Lies and Traps

PRESENT -PALACE OF AGRA

Tear drops, trickled, percolated and died on the parchment scrolls, the ink smudged and the words thought became faint but etched in her heart. Word by word ,she read and scanned those pages ,the breeze blew in and fluttered the letters ,the only medium which had kept Jalaal alive ,in hope all those years. Jodha could not believe herself ,the feelings ran deep ,the guilt had outpoured in the form of words, the undying vows ,the impatient cravings ,the lament of a lonely soul and their exclusive imaginary happy world, Jodha slowly became the witness to all as she sat on the floor reading them .He had left her question unanswered walking out of the room in frustration but she got more answers ,more than she had ever imagined and more than she could ever think off. Word by word, line by line, she kept on reading, there were hundreds of them, every day some new feeling every night the same dreams, all were right in front of her eyes. She felt as if she could just see his loneliness all through these years. Such immense love, such yearning for her. She felt a sharp stinging pain in her heart -shooting and unbearable .She felt herself trapped in a deep quagmire ,how could he love her the way he did ,how could he yearn for her so much ,when she barely gave him any reason to. Was all that attack and circumstances really some evil MU created by that monster Adham ?Her heart was now plunged in deep contemplation? The bright rays of the sun ,grew furious and later dampened and merged with the night .The whole day she did nothing but read and cry breathing every moment of his love for her. She lied on the floor lost in her thoughts, the tears now dried.

She had to speak to him and now she would find out what the real truth was? Was Jalaal really not guilty .Had they both been tricked and trapped to believe what was not real?She kept on thinking and everything, whatever happened between Jalaal and her in all those years kept haunting her. His uninhibited expression of his undying love echoed in her ears every second, quickening her heart beat. For Jodha there was no peace any more.

He walked through the corridor, the torches burned and the flames leapt high, the soul which had been deprived all those years burned too. His thoughts were cluttered and the words of Jodha kept on repeating itself in his subconscious mind. His mind was ready to believe her each and every word. Was it possible that they had been tricked ?Really? All these years she hated him for killing his father. All his dreams were shattered and broken into pieces. Why could he not read her heart? Why could he not speak to her? He had been selfish overlooking everything .He had failed to live up to his marriage vows and had tormented her. He loathed himself; he wanted to speak to her, find out the real truth .His demon brother -had he really tricked everyone? His heart was now ready to believe everything .With firm and resolute steps, he opened the door. The room was beautifully lit with candles, he saw her in front of the mirror, dressed beautifully combing her hairs.

He smiled and cleared his thought announcing his arrival, but before he could say anything, she rushed and hugged him.

He was shocked for a second but overwhelmed seeing her after so many days, "Bhabhi aap kab ayin aur humein yahan achanak kyun bulaya...",Uncomfortable with that hug ,he gently pushed her back parting from her.

"Kyun humein apne yaad nahi kiya Jalaal humne toh apko bahut kiya...",Anjuman looked into his eyes.

Jalaal lowered his gaze and nodded his head ,"Ji bhabhi..aap kaisi hain..apke Walid ki tabiyat kaisi hai ab...",he was uneasy ,Anjuman was behaving weirdly. He was not in mood of any conversation.After a whole day's thinking and evaluating facts ,he just wanted to speak to Jodha tell her that he believed and and together find out the root cause of all Misunderstanding .Had not a guard intervened and not conveyed Anjuman's urgency to meet him,he would have ran to his room and talk about whatever wrong he had done and clear things with Jodha .It was very likely that they had both been tricked.

"Yeh sab chhodiye..aap apani bataiye kuch humari suniye..",She hugged him again with deep yearning a caress which shocked Jalaal ,his unease grew as she hugged him even with more passion.

"bhabhi...Yeh aap kya kar rahi hai...",He tried to push her back but she hugged him even more tightly and mumbled, " Humne apko bahut jyada yaad kiya .. humein yun apne se alag mat kijiye..."

"Bhabhi ...Bhabhi...",He parted from her forcefully but she hugged him back again .This time Jalaal forced her back and yelled,"Bhabhi..aap ka dimag toh thikane par yeh kya kar rahi hain aap...Hosh mein toh hain aap ..."

"Hosh ..Huh..Hosh mein toh ab ayein hain..Kyun Jalaal aap humein pasand nahi karte...",Anjuman forcefully hugged him but Jalaal pushed her on the floor yelling ,shocked and flabbergasted, "Khabardar Bhabhi...Aap aisa kaise soch bhi sakti hain...humare barein mein.."

"Kyun",Anjuman got up hurt and screamed, "Hum khoobsurat nahi hain...apki us Rajkumari Jodha ki tarah isiliye..."

"Bas kijiye bas ...Bhabhi...humare rishtey ka khayal rakhiye bhabhi...aap bhabhi hain humari...dost hai...",His voice quivered in shock and shame he shivered in shame, "Hum jantey hain aap akeli hain par apne Jalaal k barein mein aisa socha bhi kaise..Humarey rishtey ke pak daman ka bhi apko khayal nahi aya...humne aaap par bharosa kiya..apni badi behan jaisa pyaar diya aapko aur aap... bhabhi..humein ghin aati hai...Apse nahi apne aap se ki humne hi zarur kuch galat kiya jisse yeh sab...",He yelled feeling disgusted and walked out of the room screaming ,"Nafrat hain humein aap se Bhabhi..."

Anjuman's mouth parted with horror , his words sunk inside her ears and she fell on the floor disgusted, "Yeh humne kya kar diya..."

Jalaal walked in the corridor. furious ,dejected and betrayed ; he rushed towards his room .He wanted to go and hug his wife and tell her everything that just happened.Never in his life he had felt so disgusted with himself .

The door of the room opened and the footsteps woke up Jodha,she realized that she had fallen asleep and the room was a bit dark as the lights had not been lighted, "AAp aa gaye ...Bas humari ankh lag gayi thi hum abhi...",There was desperation in her voice as she lighted the candle and walked towards his shadow...But to her horror ,the candle fell from her hand and she walked back a few steps and covered herself with her veil, "Aaap yahan ..apki himmat kaise hui humare kaksha mein yun bhitar ane ki...Bahar jayiye turant ...Warna kisi bhi kshan Humare pati aakar aapka woh haal karenge ki..."

Jodha froze with hatred and fear as she saw Adham's glimmering eyes with a strong whiff of alcohol seeping in the room.

"Hahahha" , He flung on her and throwing away her veil ,grabbed her wrist , "Apko kya lagta hai aapke us nanhe se Jalaal se hum darte hain...AAj apko koi bacha nahi sakta..."

Jodha was shocked ,her eyes widened in horror .

She slapped him hard yelling on top of her voice, "Khabardaar jo humse yun budtameezi ki toh..Nikal jajyiye yahan se warna wo apko jivit nahi chhodenge..."

He pounced on her back and she struggled in his grip , "Acha..Hum bhi toh dekhein apke Jalaal kya kar saktae hain..."

Jodha cried bitterly and yelled chhodiye chodiye humein..."

Adham cupped her face and was about to kiss her forcibly when suddenly the door opened once again and Jalaal stood there shocked and muttered, "Jodha"

Adham grinned and left Jodha who ran away and hugged Jalaal and wept bitterly , "Kahan they aap Dekhiye ..Yeh sab..."

Jalaal looked shocked as Jodha hid behind him.

Adham grinned and said ,"Dekha HONE waley Shehenshah..Dekha apki begum kitni behaya hai...Humein yahan akele mein bulaya inhone aur kehne lagi humse mohabbat karti hai..ab bataiye kaisi begum hai apki..."

Jalaal was appalled to hear such words from his mouth .Equally perturbed was Jodha who yelled still clutching Jalaal's sherwani ,pointing her fingers towards him ,"Jhooth Bikul jhooth..Ye zabardasti ghus aye humare kaksha aur humse zabardasti karni chahi ...humara vishwas kijiye..."

Jalaak looked at Jodah baffled and burning with rage. Jodha had a pleading look in her eyes, her frame was shivering as she hid behind him.

"hahahh bharosa Tera bharosa yeh humara khandaan hai..Yeh hum par bharosa karenge...aur tujh jaisi behuda aurat ko toh Utah kar bahar phenk dena chahaiye...",Adham rushed and clutched Jodha's wrist and was about to drag her way when suddenly a sharp piercing pain stabbed his arms ,blood spurted like a fountain and his ears encountered a hissing roar, " teri himmat kaise hui humare rehte he humari begum ko haath bhi lagane ki..Tujhe kya lagta hai..Hum apni begum par bharosa nahi karenge..chahe puri duniya bhi inke khilaf khadi hokar gawahi kyun na de... toh bhi nahi manenge samjhe...Hum har cheez maan sakte hain...Par yeh nahi ki inke daman main daag hain...Samjha tu...Tujhe toh hum...", Jalaal raised his sword and pulled Jodha back hiding her behind him ,standing as shield.

Jodha stared at him with respect as tears trickled down her cheeks ,her heart swelled with pride as he held his arm with confidence .

Jalaal was fuming and he yelled, "Sipahaiyon..jaldi aao..."

Marching footsteps followed and the soldiers stood at his command , Daaldo ise kalkothri mein ise kal hi maut ki saza hum khud denge...",Jalaal fumed .

The soldiers marched again but to his horror they captured Jalaal and he struggled, "Yeh kya kar rahe ho..."

Jodha's eyes popped in horror as she saw Jalaal captured and Adham's laughter echoed in the room ,"hah Kya socha tha Jalaal humse humari har cheez chinne k baad yun aram se rahoge...haha yeh sab kuch ab humara hoga...Apki riyasat ,yeh takht aur haan apki begum Jodha bhi ahhahah...'

"Khabardaar...Adham..agar Jodha ko tune haath bhi lagaya toh...",Jalaal struggled fought in the grip of almost 15 soldiers,blood oozed from the corner of lips as someone punched his cheeks.Jalaal realized that they were not his soldiers ,they were someone else.

Jodha ran towards Jalaal and hugged him trying to push away the soldiers, "Chhod do inhe..."

"Wah wah wah..",Adham clapped his hands , " Jisne tumhare rajya ko itni bedardi se roundh kar rakh diya ..jisne tumhara sab kuch cheen liya ...Aisa kya yarana hai isse tumhe Rajkumari...Ki apne walid k seene mein bhonka hua khanjar bhul gayi...Ki yun apne walid k qatil k saath kandhe se kandha milakar khadi ho..."

"Nahi...Humarey pita k qatil humare pati nahi hai..Humein inpar pura vishwas hai..Aisa kabhi ho hi nahi sakta ki humare pati apni Jodha ke saath aisa karein..",Jodha looked into Jalaal's eyes reassuring him. Jalaal was shocked and overwhelmed to be precise as he mumbled, "Jaldi jayiye bhagiye yahan se Rajkunari aur Shehenshah ko..."

"Par.",Suddenly Jodha stooped and stared at Adham, " Dushta paapi Tujhe kaise pata ki ...Wo khanjar ..Wo khanjar k barein mein toh...",Jodha muttered and Jalaal looked shocked too.

"Haha Ajeeb prem hai dono ka..Itna kuch kiya...Shehenshah ko badkaya jhooth bola ki Amer mein hui unki beizzati,pure hamle mein Jalaal ko agaey rakah..yahan tak ki tere walid k seene mein bhi Jalaal ka khanjar humne bhonkha taki sabko yeh khudkushi lagein aur kabhi raaz khuley bhi toh ilzam Jalaal par lagey par wah kya bharosa hai ek dusre par..Itna kuch hone k baad bhi...hahhaha Rajkumari..Jodha..Adham ko aurton ki kami nahi..par aaj tak use kisi ne mana nahi kiya..Teri itni himmat ki tune aur tere Walid ne mujhe chhodkar is Jalaal ko chuna...Ab tu dekh ..bahut kar liya intezzar...bahut ..Ab yeh sab kuch humara hai. Tu bhi...samjhi...".Adham clutched her wrist and pulled her dragging her away from Jalaal.Both Jalaal and Jodha felt as if someone had dropped a bombshell on them. Both stared at each other and Jodha squirmed in his grip. Everything was now crystal clear to them. Jodha was horrified and Jalaal felt as if his senses were paralyzed.

"Chhodo Rajkumari ko. Warna...humse bura koi nahi hoga...",Jalaal tried to rush towards them but a soldier kicked him and all other held him tightly ,he fought with all his might.Tears ran down Jodha's cheeks and she bit Adham's hand hard and was about to rush towards Jalaal when he yelled,"Bhagiye yahan se Rajkumari. Jaldi aur Shehenshah aur sainiko ko khabar kijiye jayiye..."

Jodha nodded her head and was about to run away when Adham roared in to a cynical laughter loudly ,"hahha Shehenshah zinda honge toh ayenge na...Unhe toh humne kab ka maar diya pade honge apne kahin mare hua..khoon se lathpath..."

There was silence for a few seconds as Jalaal fell on the floor and roared loudly crying bitterly, "Makkar Namurad kaminey tune Humarey Abba jaan ko", He could not speak any further as oner of the soldiers hit him with an iron rod on his head and his vision blurred and the last thing he could hear was the voice of Adham, "Le jao ise aur fansi laga do. Jaldi..."

Jodha wailed ,screaming out her lungs as she saw Jalaal being dragged away and Adham threw her on the bed .

She howled on the top of her voice as she saw Jalaal drenched in blood and the door closed behind him..

Jodha scratched and yelled ,but Adham overpowered her and smirked,"Kehte hain badi badi ladayiyan aurton ki wajah se hi hotein hai..Itna kuch karwaya humse Jodha tune...Pehle hi humse Niqahkar leti toh itna sab kuch shayad nahi hota ..khair ab tub hi humari aur yeh puri riyasat bhi humari..."

"nahi... ...",She grimaced as Adham caged her in his arms and screamed," hone walein Shehensha ji Bachayiye humein..."

"haha Aaj tujhe koi bhi nahi bacha sakta...dekhta hun kaun bachata hai tujhe...",Adham grinned.

"Chodiye inhe.." The metal pierced his back and Adham looked back perturbed ,the stab was mild but it hurt him as he turned around, "Anjuman ye ",he yelled as he saw her bloodshot eyes ,hair opened and tears rolling down her cheeks as she stabbed his chest again .The grip on Jodha loosened and she stood up in shock and wept .

"Jayiye Jodha Jaldi jayiye..Jalaal..Ko...bachaaiye...",Anjuman yelled .

"Par bhabhi..",Jodha was too confused to react .

"Jayiye. Humne sab sun liya hai. Waqt nahi hai. Sainiko ko khabar kijiye jayiye...",Anjuman yelled as she kicked an injured Adham on the floor.

Jodha pulled a sword hanging from the wall and ran away...

Adham grimaced in pain ,"Anjuman Dimag kharab ho gaya hai apka...Hum apke shauhar hai...",He got up still trying to stop the bleeding from his wounds.

"Kaisa shauhar..kaun sa shauhar...Shauhar woh hota hai..jo mohabbat karein ,hifazat karein ,izzat karein..Jo haiwan ki tarah apne hi bhai ki begumpar buri nazar dalein..Wo shauhar nahi janwar hai...",Anjuman hurled the dagger at him and cut open another wound near his chest .

She had come back to her senses when Jalaal had thrown her on the floor and was running towards the river to end her life when she had overheard some soldiers planning to kill Jalaal. She was shocked and when she came to his room she had seen everything but waited for the right opportunity to attack him.

"Shauhar woh nahi hota jo apne hi bache ko maar de,bhai wo nahi hota jo apne hi bhai ko riyasat k lalach mein mar de..aur admi wo nahi hota jo aurat par zabardasti karein",Anjuman furiously kept on stabbing him ,cutting open several wounds in Adham's chest.

Adham roared and grimaced in pain., "Napaak aurat Shauhar ko marne ki saza milegi tujhe jahannum mein bhi jagah nahi milegi tujhe...",Adham suddenly grabbed sword and stabbed her stomach.

Her breath ragged and she laughed hysterically touching her wound, " Jeete jee saath nahi ho sake toh kya..Dono jahannum mein toh saath hi jayene..akhir biwi jo hain apki..jahan aap wahan hum...",Saying this she pounced on him and stabbed his chest pushing him back toppling Adham near the jharonkha ,one last time she turned and looked at the portrait of Jalaal hanging on the wall, "Ho sake toh humein maaf kar dijiyega Jalaal...humse nafrat mat kijiyega...",She sighed heavily ,a tear escaped her eyes and jumped from the jharonkh pushing Adham along with her..

A loud thud and then a splatter of blood pooled on the hard marble floor beneath .Anjuman smiled and closed her eyes finally contended watching Adham breathing his last breath in her arms and she made it sure that she strangulated his neck hard enough .Both of them lied motionless in a pool of blood.

His knees bled profusely on being constantly dragged on the cobbled pavement through the gardens and suddenly he opened his eyes, his vision was hazy but he saw Bairam Khan coming his way, "Khan Baba...",Jalaal yelled for help his eyes brimmed with hope ,but instead he saw him laughing at him, "Ab Adham taqkht pe baithega samjha..sari zindagi tere baap k neeche humne kaam kiya ab aur nahi ...ab sab kuch humara...",He pulled Jalaal's hair harshly.Jalaal felt as if his heart has been wrung like a damp cloth, he felt nauseated and cried loudly. Betrayal at its best. He struggled to free himself and yelled ,"Hum apke liye jaan bhi de sakte the. Ek bar bas ek bar kaha toh hota ..."

"Bheekh nahi chaiye thi humein samjha tu...bheekh nahi chaiye thi...",Bairam Khan kicked him furiously and Jalaal yelped in pain.

"Ab tujhe iski saza milegi...",Bairam Khan raised his sword to kill him when suddenly the clicking of the metal stopped his blow and she screamed, "Khabardar agar humare pati ko kisi ne zara bhi aur taqleef pahunchayi...",Jodha pushed him back and the soldiers ran towards her one by and as she fought with all her might ,stabbing and slashing everyone.

When the grip of the soldiers loosened, Jalaal too pulled a sword from a soldier kicking him and both of them fought side by side, ducking blows, slaying the soldiers back to back face to face .Bairam Khan was about to hit Jodha from behind but Jalaal kicked him and yelled ,"Ap sab ne sab kuch cheen liya humse ab nahi..bas ab nahi...",Jalaal raised his sword and all other loyal soldiers came running in and captured the traitors .

Jalaal's sword stopped as Maham Anga came running and fell on his feet ,"Tujhe mere doodh ka vasta Beta..maaf kar de...apni Ammi Jaan...k liye..inki jaan mat le...Yeh tere hi Khan Baba hain",She cried and begged.

Jalaal fumed and tears rolled down his cheeks and he gritted his teeth and buried the sword throwing it away and turned his face around .Jodha ran towards him and hugged him crying bitterly ,"aap theek toh hain na.. ..."

"Jodha",His voice quivered as he cupped her face ,his feet dangling , "Jodha humarey Abbajaan...humarey Abba...",and His words now lost as he cried and wailed loudly in her arms..

Suddenly Maham Anga picked up a sword and hit Jalaal,"Tujhe Bach pan main hi maar dena chaiye tha jab gala ghonth kar teri Ammi ko mara tha. Maine..."

Badi Ammi ..",Jalaal yelled getting up in shock.

Bairam Khan also picked up a sword but Jodha defended his attack and killed him within seconds ,her eyes furious as he fumed ,the eyes became blood shot.

"Kaun si Ammi ...sari zindagi chati pe pathar rakhkar tujhe sincha...thu...Tujhe bachpan mein hi mar deti toh..aaj yeh...",Maham Anga fumed and hit another blow but this time Jalaal ducked and in his pursuit to defend himself ,he stabbed her and she fell on the floor ,lifeless on the floor.

The sword from Jalaal's hands fell ,rolling on the floor ,hundreds of soldiers marched towards them and were shocked to see everything. Jalaal slopped on the floor ,shivering looking around the pool of blood and the bodies being dragged leaving a trail of blood on the floor .

He sat numb ,he could not cry anymore ,he could hear nothing and see nothing now. His vision blurred and he could only hear Jodha patting his cheeks,"aap theek toh hai uthiye na ..."