Dear Friends, this is my first attempt for this serial. Please give constructive comments and hit the like button. Not my best but will try again...
A BEGINNING...
She was so still with her eyes closed. One would wonder if she was still breathing. But there was a divinity in her calmness, as if she was so close to the almighty Himself. But Mothi knew better. Jodha was so restless today, it's very unlikely of her to dwell in uncertainty. Jodha the Amer Princess was an epitome of confidence and majesty. However, today the world was witnessing not Jodha the Princess or Begum but Jodha the woman in love. Mothi chuckled involuntarily; "The power of love..how the mighty has fallen! But Khana, please let these two poor souls understand their feelings soon" Mothi gave a quick prayer. Mothi could not help but to smile thinking about Jodha and her Shenshah, the whole world could see Jodha was in love expect her and her Shenshah. The irony of it all ! Their feelings were in havoc. Their attraction towards each other and the spark whenever they interact was palpable to everyone but them. It is true that Love is blind and can make fool of anyone otherwise how would one explain Jodha and Jalal's ignorance of their feelings, these two people who were very wise in every other matter. They were so unaware of what's happenings as if there was a strong tide pushing them around and the mayhem rendered them with something so magical that neither could they decipher the meaning of it nor believe the impact of this feeling.
Today, is going to be marked as something grand in their lives. Mothi could feel in the air around. It's Teej; the celebration of the ultimate lovers of the Universe, Shiv and Parvathi. And Jodha was fasting for her husband for the first time thus was so nervous. She had been sitting in front of Khana for hours contemplating on how to tell him to break her fast later in the evening. She felt very uncertain and maybe even shy to inform him, to show her right as a wife and to demand him to be her husband.
"Jodha.." Mothi touched her shoulder softly, waking her from the reverie. Jodha looked up and smiled softly. Mothi gave her hand and helped Jodha to stand. They were sitting together, Jodha was gripping her hand hard, Mothi was waiting patiently, holding her hand softly, encouraging her to speak.
"Mothi...woh hum.."
"Kya hai, Jodha...why are you so restless today?"
"It's just I am fasting..for him, and I don't know how to.." she sighed as if the burden of the world is on her shoulders.
"So..just go and tell him. Since when you find it difficult to talk to Shenshah. Normally you would just say whatever in your mind."
"I know..this is different. I have never asked anything for myself and this is so..personal. What if he laughed and taunt as usual...then..my heart.." she stopped abruptly as if she just realized the implications of what she uttered. Her heart thundered, eyes rounded she looked at smiling Mothi.
"What will happen to your heart Jodha? Finally, you realize..do you? You are falling in love with your husband."
Jodha closed her eyes, small shy smile adorning her lips. The myriad of everything happened so far between her and Jalal came in front of her eyes. Her eyes glistered with unshed tears, her smile grew and she laughed and cried holding on to Mothi.
"Yes...yes..Mothi. I love him. I thought I hated him. I thought he is a heartless monster but he is not at all like that.." she shook her head, smiling through tears.
"I know..I was waiting for you to realize.."
"There is so much of warmth in him, he doesn't know..he believes he doesn't have a heart but he has..he has..."
"Then why are you worried? Believe him, believe his heart. Can't you see the changes in him since you arrived? It's you who made him aware that he is a human too not only a Shenshah. And he is falling in love with you too. Don't you see? Tell him Jodha. Use your right as his wife, ask him to break your fast."
Jodha nodded her head smiling, suddenly she couldn't wait to tell him that she had been fasting for his well being, that she didn't hate him anymore and she was looking forward to giving him all her love and in return she hoped only to have small place in his heart and nothing else was mattered.
* * *
Ruqaiya would be damned before she let the Rajput princess control her Jalal. She saw everything, the budding of their so called friendship, Jalal's fascination towards her and they way they tend to speak through their eyes without uttering a word. Even a blind could see there's more than friendship between them. She may not have a romantic relationship with her husband, theirs was a marriage of children that grew into friendship and now a habit but that didn't mean she'll let Jalal to fall in love and that too with Jodha. But she would admit Jodha was a worthy opponent. The Hindu princesses had been defeating her in many ways, what annoyed her more was Jodha's insistence that she was not competing, she claimed she was not Ruqaiya's rival and she even blatantly said she wouldn't dream to take Ruqaiya's place in Jalal's life. Of course Jodha was not taking Ruqaiya's place in Jalal's life, she was being more than a friend to Jalal, a wife and lover. And innocently she has been winning over Jalal without he even realizes it. Ruqaiya was not fool. She wouldn't let them come closer and today she wouldn't let Jalal breaks Jodha's fast.
"Jodha..Jodha...such a fool you are! I told in this palace even walls have ears but you never listen! I will show your place today, I will show what Jalal and I have is something you can't even dream of!"
* * *
It was such a busy day at court for Jalal, there were so many problems too solve regarding his people and the ministers dragged the meeting and discussion for hours. He longed to see Jodha, he didn't get even a glimpse of her the whole day. He wanted to see her before the night. He never thought he would enjoying talking to someone but since his Jodha's arrival he realised many new things about him, he treasured their late evening talks. Once he finished his namaz he will wait in her chamber watching her pray then they will walk in the garden and talk to their heart content under the moonlight. And every time he needed to leave her in her chamber he had to control himself from gathering her in his arms, holding her close and kissing her senselessly. If only Jodha know what he felt maybe she wouldn't see him anymore but he was not very sure of it now. Because there was a change Jodha's demeanor lately. She blushed easily whenever he looked at her appreciatively and she was not shying from his touch anymore. She allowed him to hold her hand during their walk in the garden and sometimes she even let him play with her fingers while they sat idly watching the moon. And he even had dared to kiss her forehead one evening, wishing her good night and she just smiled shyly and sprinted to her chamber. He loved that he had an effect on her, it was so adorable to see her calmness erupted by passion once in a while. He longed to see how she would look in throes of passion. He couldn't decipher why but today his heart longed for her beautiful moonlike face.
"Heart?" he tells himself. The organ has been showing his existence since Jodha happened to him. She was creating an havoc in him, awakening so much emotions and longing that he never thought he had before. She made him realize that he didn't have everything, he didn't have love, Love was something he didn't believe in. He thought he didn't need it but now he realized he needed it the most and only from her, his Amer princess. As he folded his praying mat, ready to see his Jodha Ruqaiya barged into his chamber.
"Jalal, finally you are free. I want to play chess with you today!" she exclaimed happily, holding his arm. He couldn't deny his friend.
"One game Ruqaiya, I have to see Jodha tonight," he said smiling. As he was moving to leave his chamber, heading to their play room Ruqaiya held his arm.
"We can play here, Jalal."
"Here, in my chamber?" Jalal asked. They never spent time in his chamber. He would go to hers or they play in the play room. It was such an unexpected request from Ruqaiya but he didn't pay much heed and nodded. They started of the game while Ruqaiya kept filling his glass with sharbat.
Jodha willed herself the courage to see Shenshah. She would tell him that she was fasting for him and she wanted him to break her fast then maybe she could tell him she doesn't hate him anymore, during their walk in the garden. She dressed herself with care today, like a bride. She felt like a bride, she wanted this Teej to be an important occasion in her married life. She looked exquisite in her blood red lenga and her jewelry with matching red gem stones. She adorned her hands with mehendi and her lips with an adorable shy smile. As she walked towards his highness chamber, her heart fluttered so hard that she could heart it beating. She nodded graciously to the guard at the entrance, he smiled with admiration and respect. He liked this Begum of his Shenshah, such a pure heart with so much love for commoners. Few steps and she stopped dead at her track when she heard Ruqaiya's tinkering laugh. She turned to leave, didn't want to disturb them then she heard;
"I am going to win Jalal. I always win"
"You don't always win Ruqaiya, Jodha defeated you," Jalal smiled.
"Hmphh...Jodha Begum. She was just lucky that day. She must have felt so proud that she won, she is full of pride. She even denied your Shahi Farman, she is so proud when you agreed to attend her sister's wedding with so many valuable gifts she must have felt you were so crazy about her. Remember you even joked about doing all that out of love. The truth is she is just a means to end. You will never love her, you keep her only for political reasons, for Rajputans' support. I hope she is not dreaming to have you love her or maybe she thinks she loves you imagine..haha..Shenshah you the one without heart in love?"
Jodha didn't wait anymore. She couldn't listen further. Her eyes blurred with tears, she moved away quickly, her heart breaking. The guard noticed her crestfallen face, he couldn't comprehend what happened but the Begum was shattered, anyone could see that.
"Ruqaiya!" Ruqaiya was shocked to see Jalal's expression. His face was hardened with controlled temper. Jalal closed his eyes, took deep breath and calmed himself.
"Look here Ruqaiya Begum, I told you before and I am telling you again Jodha Begum is important to me. What happened in the past leave it there, I said many things that I didn't mean," he stood and walked towards the window.
"She is proud..yes but not arrogant. You say I don't have heart even I believed so but she proved me wrong she touched where no one has. She touched my heart and made me believe I am human. I feel so many things because of her, with her I am not Shenshah but just a man, Jalal and she doesn't need me to be to a King. I like that, I never had the opportunity to be myself. And I love.." he stopped and realized what he said. He turned around in shock, Ruqaiya's eyes rounded couldn't believe what she heard. Jalal's lips twitched and he smiled delightfully, "I love her..Ruqaiya. I love her. I need to see her, need to tell her."
He walked away leaving Ruqaiya dumbfounded. Jalal was in hurry, he needed to see Jodha immediately but the guard stopped him. He was going to give him a run down but the guard wanted to tell him his piece first even his head would beheaded for stopping the Shenshah. He needed to do this for his King and Queen, to unite a couple in love is equal to goodness of building 100 mosques.
"Gustaki Maaf Uzur, Jodha Begum came to see you but left abruptly."
"What? Jodha Begum..here? Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't dare to interrupt you Uzur, moreover she left immediately..,crying." he added softly.
"She was crying...". Jalal felt cold, a sense trepidation enveloped him. Did she hear Ruqaiya? Did she misunderstand about me. He was almost running to her chamber. Jodha was sobbing so hard by the moment she reached her chamber. Mothi ran after her to find Jodha curled herself in a tight ball and was crying her heart out.
"Jodha..Jodha what happened? Why are you crying? Did Shehshah say anything?
"Nothing..nothing..I am nothing," she cried harder. Mothi got more worried. She didn't know what happened.
"Shall I get Shenshah for you?"
"No..don't! Just leave me alone!"
"Jodha, at least eat something. If you continue to cry like this you'll fall sick."
"Leave me alone Mothi, I don't want to eat! Just leave! It's an order!"
What a fool she has been. How could she think there could be anything between them? He hated her maybe now he was being nice to her but that doesn't mean he felt anything towards her. She was just a trophy, a possession no one would love a possession. Mothi left reluctantly. Outside Jodha's chamber she saw Shehshah striding forward, his face was of pain and tension. She had to do something.
"Pranam Shehshah. Jodha is not...I mean she is not really well and not receiving.." You are going to be killed Mothi, she thought.
"Not well? What happened? My guard said she came to see me but left without meeting me."
"Oh she is fasting today..it's Teej." Mothi explained everything. She watched Shehshah's expressions to change from worry to joy and worrisome.
She kept fast for me. His heart fluttered with thousand butterflies. She wanted me to break her fast then why she left?
"Mothi Bhai I will see to Jodha Begum. You can leave. And..." he whispered in her ears.
"Ji Shehshah." Mothi left smiling. Jalal stopped the guard from announcing his arrival. He walked in slowly without making any noise. He stopped, Jodha was crying uncontrollably. Her shoulders were shaking violently, he voice muffled as if she tried so hard not to make any noise. He wanted to gather her and console her, "Jodha..." he called softly. She didn't hear him. He sat on the bed and touched her shoulder and she stiffed. She sat up straight and wiped her tears and walked away from her bed without looking at him.
"Shehshah...what are you doing here?'' she sniffed, her voice hoarse from crying.
"You went without seeing me.." he walked towards her, her head bowed.
"It's nothing important," she said.
"Jodha, why are not looking at me?"
"I told you it's nothing..why don't you leave?"
"I will leave when I want to," he turned her around. Her face was wet with tears, she still refused to look at him. Her eyes were downcast. He tilted her chin up. "Look at me Jodha," his voice soft and husky. She shook her head, tears streaming down her face. He wiped them softly and cupped her face. "Shhh...don't cry and tell me what happened?" She gripped his hands hard, trying to remove them. He didn't budge.
"Jaan.." She looked up. "Mothi said you are fasting for me and I should break it for you...then why didn't you tell about it?"
"Because I don't have any rights!" she pulled of his hands and tried to walk away but he grabbed her arm and pulled her close.
"Who said so? Begum hai aap humari"
"I am only a possession...to ensure a good relations between the Mughal Sultanate and Rajputs..nothing more and nothing else," she wept again. He couldn't see her crying anymore. He hugged her close, Jodha struggled but he didn't give up, he held her closer and she subsided.
"Don't cry anymore Jaan, I can't bear it. You heard Ruqaiya but you didn't wait to hear what I said in return? When we got married I admit I said many things. Even you said a lot, right Jaan?" she looked into his eyes. He touched her cheek softly, "do you still mean all that?"
"No," she denied and gripped his lapels.
"Then don't you trust me? I thought you are the only one who could see me for real. Am I wrong? Do you also like Ruqaiya think I am a heartless monster?"
"No! Don't say like that!" she put her fingers on his lips stopping him from further abusing himself. He kissed her little fingers one by one and held them close to his heart.
"Can you hear my heart beat? It's because of you I started to recognize it to be a part of myself. It's your name they call jaan. I thought my Begum is very intelligent. Don't you know by now that I can't live without you. I love you Jodha." Jodha smiled tremulously and burrowed herself into him. Jalal peppered small kisses on her hair and neck.
"Jodha..."
"Hmm..."
"I said I love you know..it's not everyday I go around and tell someone I love her,' he heard her small soft giggle. "You should say something in reply."
"I am hungry Shenshah, would you break my fast?" she asked softly.
"Hahaha...and that's your reply?" he laughed.
"I thought my Shehshah is very intelligent..do I have to tell you..don't you know already," she replied shyly.
"Yours am I?" as she nodded shyly he kissed her forehead. Together hand in hand they headed to the garden. As he flicked his fingers maids walked in with Jodha's arti tray and trays of food. Once they were left alone Jodha did the arti for Jalal and touched his feet lovingly for his blessing. He made her stand and gathered her close to his heart, "This is you place my beloved Begum." The moonlit together with blazing Ruqaiya witnessed the new lovers fed each other with adoration and as Jalal felt Jodha's weight on his side he realized she had fallen asleep. He picked her gently in his arms adorned her forehead with his kiss and headed to her chamber. This is just a beginning.
Another OS of mine
The Breakdown
https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/jodha-akbar/3862044/ja-the-breakdown-os-upd-2-29-12
Anupamaa
