Noor-e-Ishq
Part seven:
Jalal hurried along in the direction from where the voices were coming.
The lake? Did Jodha begum go there to quench her thirst? She should have woken him up. But no she had to go wandering like a fiery princess, his fiery queen she was.
"Jhansi Nahi.. shehenshaa!!"
Her shrill cry sent shivers down his spine and he shouted back.
"Hum aapko kuch nahi hone denge jodha begum..."
He went closer. He could see Jodha and Jhansi at a few feet. They were close to the lake Jodha tried to warn him again.
"Nahi shehenshaa.. chalejayiye!!"
Was she asking him to leave? But why? Before he could comprehend he was surrounded by twelve men who had drawn their swords, pointing them at him. Jodha was made to join him as she was threatened by a hooded soldier.
"Ithni gustaakhi.. hume- Hum par shamsheer chalaane ki, hum par hamla karne ki jurrat kisne ki?"
One of the soldiers laughed.
"Jaise hum aapko sab kuch bataadenge.. Aapki kahaani iss pahaadi ilaake mei khatm hojayegi. Kyu ki aap aur aapki begum khudaa ko pyaare hogaye hai!"
But before Jalal could do something, all of the soldiers surrounding him were attacked by another set of soldiers. Jalal took this moment to pull Jodha away to safety.
"Jodha begum! Aap- Aap thik hai na? Kahi chot tho nahi aayi aap ko? Huh?? Begum kuch boliye! Aap chup kyu hai? hum ne aap se kaha tha ki bahar khatra hai, lekin aap ne humari ek nahi suni. Ithni raat aap ko jungle mein nikalne ki kya zarurat-"
"Woh humne Jhansi ki awaz suni-"
"Hume jagaate! Hum chale aate aapke saat. Aap ne socha agar aap ko kuch hojata tho humara kya hog-"
She smiled a little and he seemed to be amazed how caring he sounded moments ago.
"Humara mutlab, Maharani se hum kya kehte? Ya aap k Aamir walon se-"
"Hume kuch nahi hua na. fir bhi dhanyawaad-"
"Yeh kisliye?"
"Aapne hume bachaane ki prayaas ki, isliye."
"Lekin- humne.. humne kuch-"
She nodded and before he could speak further he saw a figure approaching him. He quickly placed himself in front of her ready to face this new person.
"Badshaah ka iqbal buland ho.."
Both Jodha Jalal heaved a sigh of relief upon seeing the familiar soldier from Aghra.
"Adka saab aap yaha?"
"Shehensha.. hume mauf kijiye. Aap k manaa karne k bawajood hum yaha aap k peeche peeche chale aaye. Hume pehle se hi shak tha, ki iss safar pe aap ki aur Jodha begum ki jaan ko khatra ho sakta hai. lekin guna tho guna hotha hai na, hume shehensha ki di hui saza qubool hogi.."
"Nahi Adka saab, aapne aaj humari jaan bachayi hai aur Jodha begum ki bhi. Aur aise mein hum aap ko saza sunaate hue aap se gale milna chahte hai.."
Jalal hugged Adka Khan and thanked him. Jodha too thanked their savior.
They hurried along watching in despair as some of the attackers sped away from the Mughal soldier's hands. Some were slain. Jodha cringed upon seeing so much bloodshed.
A moment later~
Akdha walked back to their cave along with Jhansi. Jodha's leg got sprained. Jalal offered his hand and she took it after a moment's hesitation.
"Aap hi tho kehti thi na.. ki kisi ki madad lene se koi chota nahi hojata-"
"Aur naa hi kisi ki ek madad karne se koi bada!'
"Aap se tho baat nahi kiya jaa sakta Jodha begum.. Khair aap humara haat pakad k chal sakti hai."
"Dhanyawaad!"
~
Adka saab caught the only living soldier who was a member in the group that attacked him.
Both Adka and Jalal tried to get him to speak.
"Sach-sach kaho.. kisne kaha hum pe humla karne k liye?"
"Kisne??"
The soldier cringed then laughed.
"Jaise tum poochoge aur main bataadunga! Lekin haan woh aap k mulk mei se ek h-"
"Kaun hai woh gaddar?? Naam bataao!"
Jalal roared again.
"Naam bataao!"
"Sh- sha-"
And he couldn't speak further.
"Shehensha yeh tho margaya.."
They both looked at the lifeless body of the soldier now lying on the floor. Some of the Mughal soldiers came forward and it was decided that the body would be cremated with all due respect for a soldier.
Jodha was inside the cave. Jalal and Adka Khaan slipped into a conversation.
"koi baat nahi. Hum pataa lagaayenge ki humare peet peeche ithni ghiri hui harqat kaun kar raha hai!"
"shehensha ek mashwara hai.."
"Farmaayiye Adka saab.."
"aap Aamir wapis laut kyu nahi jaate?"
"hum ne Jodha begum ka saat dene ka wada kiya hai. aap fikr mat kijiye hum jald hi pohoch jayenge waha. Sab se yahi kahiyega ki hum aur Jodha begum iss safar mein wakkai bohot khush hai!"
"Lekin"
"Adka saab. Humne zubaan di hai- ab hum palat nahi sakte. Aur palatna nahi chahte. bohot bada ehsaan kar chuke hai aap, jo aapne humari Jodha begum ki jaan bachaayi. Ab jayiye aur humari taraf se Aamir k nikha mei tashrif layiye."
"Mauf karna huzur. Hum- humara ek aur mashwara hai. kyu na hum aap k isee tarah chup ke se peecha karte hue aap ki raksha karein? Iss tarah hum uss humlavar ko pakad bhi sakte hai. hum bhi aap k saat safar karenge aur humari sipaayiyon ki tukdi bhi.."
After much thinking Jalal gave his content and Adka saab went away to keep a watch on the cave from a safe distance.
Jalal sighed and went inside the cave.
xxx
Next Part: JaJo spend some time bonding in the jungle and reach a village which is their take off point to Prachand Parbat. Sharif has some more plans up his sleeve.
A/N: hey guys! I apologise for the delay in posting this chap. Exams, stress n now festive season. I was held up.
I thank all my lovely readers, specially shreshta who has always encouraged me. So yeah please review n lemme know what you liked or what you dint like.
Thanks for reading. A very merry Christmas to all.😊
Edited by -Priyam- - 11 years ago
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