OS - Raabta

Another writing on ongoing track plus my imagination and ideas.

DISCLAIMER - No resemblance to real history and/or historical characters. Just a fictional work by me.

Jodha was shattered beyond repair. She dropped in front of Kanha's murti asking him thousands of questions though knowing that its of no use.

Her eyes had turned red and swollen due to immense crying and she had lost all her smile which she had, moments before.

The lines "Mubarak Ho Jodha Begum! Aap maa bane wali hain" echoed in her ears and were not less than acid to the skin.

She broke down - Kanha! Ye kaisi pariksha hai?Ye aapne kya kar diya? HUm maa? maa bane wale hain? A smile crept on her face,
tears still rolling down. Yehi to sabse badi bhet hoti hai..aur aapne humein ye bhet is prakaar di?? Kyon Kanha?
Humnein Shahenshah ka kya bigaada tha Kanha? Kyon unhone humara vishwaas toda, kyon apna vachan nahi nibhaya? KYON?

Now her voice turned incredibly angry and loud - Kyon humein apni vaasna ka shikaar banaya unhone? Aur ye khabar janane ke baad bhi humein
aise ghoor rahe the jaise humnein koi gunaah kiya ho! Kanha hum unse ghrina karte hain..Hum unhe kabhi maaf nahi karenge! Kabhi nahi..
Unhone humare marzi ke bagair humari asmita par humla kiya..Iske liye hum unhe marte dum tak maaf nahi karenge..
Zindagi bhar ghrina karenge..Humein aisa dard dene ke baad vo kabhi chain se nahi jeeyenge..

And she cried inconsolably..cursing her luck for always deceiving her whenever she started believing it.

** Diwaan-e-Khaas **

The arrival of Shahenshah-e-hind Jalalludin Mohammad was proclaimed.

His face was red hot burning with anger. He rushed to his throne and sat there, finally he had made up his mind by boggling with it for a whole lot of time.

All the ministers, Hameeda Bano and gang ladies had a genuine smile on their faces. Their happiness knew bounds when they got to know that Jalal is going to be
a father. Ruqaiya also sat in the court, much pissed off with Jalal's ingenuinity towards her. Maham Anga was working up a plan to anyhow kill this baby.

Everyone looked at him with enormous hopes as He had called for Begum Jodha in the court.
They thought he is upto doing something special. He would definitely honour her or gift her. They thanked to Allah!

But the truth was a contrast...a Stark Contrast!

He had thought enough on this, and his nerves had only gone burning. He still couldnt believe that Jodha betrayed him so badly..so terribly..
He didnt love Jodha. But she did matter to him. How could she do this to her husband, especially when he had kept all his promises?
After a lot of inner-turmoiling discussions with himself, he had concluded..SHe would never change! She had given him the most painful wound.
ANd that, she would have to pay for this..pay with her life! SHe had acted all these days so brilliantly, that she actually had an effect on him!
But no more would be tolerated! She'll pay for this cheating,this betraying and this heinous crime!
He had always supported her though both of them did not like each other, but today she had killed the very trust that was in its "budding" stage between them.

The guards proclaimed - Begum Jodha padhar rahi hain!!

Everyone saluted her but she didnt budge. Her face had gone all red with anger.

Jalal looked fiery and Jodha looked at him with disgust. WHile all were busy in their happiness, Maham tried to understand what was actually going on!

Jodha stood in the center of Court, looking at Jalal with anger, disgust and tears asking him why did he do this?

Jalal could not control anymore.

He ordered loudly - Get a pyre ready! Jodha Begum has betrayed me! This baby is not mine! I have not touched her till now!
She has not only betrayed and insulted me but the whole Mughal Sultanate as well ! FOr this heinous crime, she deserves DEATH!
No more punishment than death can undo her grave sin! His voice glitched..and finally he said with a roar..GET THE PYRE READY !!!

Everyone was SHOCKED TO CORE, including Jodha! A bombshell fell upon everyone.
Jodha was most affected by this. SHe dropped down on ground looking at him plainly without any expression.

Hameeda was flabbergasted. She raised her voice - Ye aap kya keh rahe hain Jalal?

Before she could say anything further, Jalal shushed everyone and roared again - This is the bitter truth and I want no more discussions!
Jodha Begum needs to die, for this unforgiveable offence and sin.

Hameeda collapsed and others present in the court were shocked as well.

Jalal said with a final firm tone to guards - Suna nahi humnein kya kaha??

Guards immediately went to arrange for the pyre.

Jodha remained numbed and suddenly after sometime, she gave a feeble smile. Her inner conscious said to her - Hey! This is not a surprise!
If he can break his promise and stain you, this lying in front of all and punishing her to death is much less surprising! Infact..This is much better!
He has done something good to you finally! Death is better than living with the "nasoor".. You will die now and finally you'll be free of his
stains and taints. His doings would be undone! And she closed her eyes and gave a divine smile to Kanha.

Everyone looked at Statued Jodha and mistook her smile to be a YES to Jalal's accusations and allegations.

Guards entered the court and said - Pyre is ready Shahenshah!

Jalal ordered the lady guards to carry her onto pyre and put her to fire.

Jodha got up with her eyes closed , turned away from the court and slowly moved out of the court with the ladies.

Jalal felt a heart stab in his heart. Why did you do this to me Jodha? Why? Why did you kill my trust?

Hameeda pleaded with anger - Jalal! Ruk jaiye! Rokiye unhe! Ye kya anap shanap baatein ho rahi hain!
Rokiye unhe! Jodha Begum...ruk jaiye... and she fainted.

Jalal was about to raise his hand to dismiss the court when Moti came and fell on his feet.

Moti - Shahenshah! Aisa mat kijiye! Jodha begum to khud andar se tuti hui hain.. Unhone aapko dhokha nahi diya hai.
Kripya rok lijiye unhe.. Hum mar jayenge.. ROk lijiye..

Jalal was in no mood to listen. He knew everyone would later respect his decision.

He got up from the throne and was about to leave when Suddenly Khwaja Sera came running to court.

Everyone was still stunned and shocked with all things going on in the court.

Khwaja Sera came and fell on Jalal's feet - Huzoor! Humein muaf kar dijiye! Jodha Begum pet se nahi hain..
Humse jaanch padtaal mein galti ho gayi.. Muaf kar dijiye Huzoor! Vo pet se nahi hain..
Unhe aisa kuch diya gaya tha, jiske karan vo behosh ho gayin thi.. (lol guys don kill me for this horrible story.. :P)

A total pin-drop silence covered the whole Court. Jalal fell on his throne, all stunned and shocked.
His mind stopped working and his head throbbed. WHat?? SHe is not pregnant?
A sudden flash of all the moments that he spent with Jodha..be them The Ajmer sharif journey, Sukanya's marriage, forest night, lunch with her, night with her, her melodious song,
her divinity, her voice and most importantly her birthday today,, flooded through his mind!! He felt numbed !

Moti suddenly shaked his feet ..pleading - Shahenshah humnein kaha tha..kripya ab to rok lijiye! Jodha mar jayegi!(She forgot that she addressed her directly with name)

Jalal immediately got up, gave a killer angry glare to Khwaja Sera and immediately left the court..running towards "his" Jodha.

Everyone in the court were too shocked to gulp down the current run of events. They followed him too..

Jalal reached the ground where pyre was already sat up. He was around hundred meters away from pyre.
Jodha sat in the center of pyre woods...A divine smile on her face proclaimed her purity.

He looked at her. Her bewitching eyes, her purity,her selflessness..all mocked at him.

"Hmm...Meherbani..Jaate Jaate Mujh pe kar gaya..
Guzarta sa Lamha ek daaman bhar gaya..
Tera nazara mila..Roshan Sitara mila..
Taqdeer ka ..Jaise Koi..Ishara mila"...

The pyre had already been put to fire..

Jalal without wasting any further second, reached to Jodha and lifted up a semi-conscious Jodha in his arms..

His eyes were already filled with tears. He had done something, which cannot be ever undone! He had not trusted her.. He had insulted her in front of
whole court. He had done the worst thing he could do to an innocent woman!

He took Jodha to her room and called for all "reliable" Hakims to start her treatment! He frowned - Agar Jodha Begum ko kuch hua, to hum ek-ek ki jaan le lenge!!

He was not able to face her and he left her room immediately.

**Present**

Jodha woke up after 2 days of this incident.
It wasn't the physical injury that affected her much, rather it didnt affect her at all.
It was the heavy weight of mental thoughts that kept haunting her! WHy did he save her now when he had insulted and broken her beyond repair!
First, he quenched his "vaasna" from her, then he publicly condemned her and now this new action, saved her!
Was she a joke to him? Was she merely a toy?

As she wept in her thoughts, Hakims entered and said - Jodha Begum! Humein behad dukh hai..aapke saath jo hua..lekin..
Hum aapko kuch satya batana chahte hain.. Aap pet se nahin hain..Aap maa nahi bane wali hai..

These words sounded like honey to Jodha's ears! Such a great Irony it was!

Hakims told her further of How Shahenshah was greatly ashamed of his actions and he couldnt meet eyes with her.
When you were unconscious, he apologised in front of whole court and He is really very angry with himself.
He just wants your wellness! And he is really sorry for he had done!

Jodha was already lost in "She is not pregnant"... That was the most wonderful time for her.

Jodha questioned Hakim Sahiba further - To phir us din??

Hakim Sahiba - Khwaja Sera se galti ho gayi thi! Isi liye ye sab hua.. Hum muafi chahte hain Mallika!

Jodha understood everything with a second. She was not upset with him anymore.

She would have cursed him more, but she understood that it was both of theirs fault.So he had "not" broken her trust!
She smiled and laughed! She was pure! He didnt betray her! What he did was justified then!
Both of had been at fault! Both didnt sort out earlier and hence suffered the deadly consequences!

She said to herself - I can understand your point of View Shahenshah! If I were at your place, I would have done the same!
Both of us had been wrong and now that you repented your actions, I am not at all angry..

FOr me, most important thing is you didnt betray my trust! I felt the same stab in my heart that you must have felt!
Oh no! You must have gone through so much turmoils! EVen I cursed you from my direct heart!

As she got up from her bed, to go and meet him, he himself had come to meet her.

Jalal could not meet eyes with Jodha! He had done a grave and deadly deed, which was unforgiveable!
But to his amazement, Jodha looked at him and smiled!

"Faili thi siyaah raatein...
Aya tu subah leke..
Bewajah si zindagi mein..
jeene ki wajah leke...
Khoya tha samundaron mein..
Tanha safeena mera..
Saahilon pe aaya hai tu..
Jaane kis tarah leke.. }2

Kuch to hai tujhse raabta..
Kuch to hai tujhse raabta..
Kaise hum jaane humein kya pata..
Kuch to hai tujhse raabta..

Ab kya hai kehna..
Humko hai rehna..
janatein bhulake teri bahon mein panah leke..

Faili thi siyaah raatein... "

Jalal and Jodha both looked into each others' eyes, guilt-struck and asking apologies to each other.
Their trust in each other was now somewhat more than "budding stage"...for from now on, they would start believing each other...

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Sorry for a totally illogical and dramatic OS ! Constructive criticism Welcomed !!