Recap -
Jalal shook her away and said in the loudest tone - You know what ! I would have beheaded you for the crime you have done.. You already knew the truth, yet you enjoyed my vulnerable, fragile state..
You made that woman(looking at Jodha) suffer to hell.. But My wife had asked me to respect you and not punish you...because she believes that, no matter what you have done, you still have
done many sacrifices for me in the past.. You still are elder to me..
Only because of her, I am not punishing you..But get me clear.. I will NEVER EVER forgive you in my life..Never..
Now get up and get ready to leave for Mecca right now.. You don't deserve a single moment in this palace.. GET OUT NOW!!! Even if you have little shame, go and worship to allah..!
Maham got up with her eyes lowered and moved out of the court with the guards.. Jalal looked at Jodha and thanked her from her eyes.. Jodha was all teary-eyed..
*Flash back*
Before they entered the DEK...
Jodha - Shahenshah! I know that you will be punishing your Badi-Ammi..And I also know that She's unaware of this all.. But please Shahenshah..I request you to not punish her severely..
After all, She had worked for you for so many years.. I know You will expose her and it will be really painful for you..But I request you to not discuss all our private matter in court..She'll be hurt too
when she'll come to know that you know her reality..
Jalal - but Jodha... She has hurt me and you to extremes.. How can I not punish her..
Jodha - Have you ever wondered why she did all this? Because of me..She would have not hurt you if I was not there in your life.. Shahenshah try to understand please.. I really don't have
any grudge for her.. If she wants me to be away from you, I'll be away..But She has been serving you all of her life.. you cannot punish her severely only for me..
Jalal looked at her with painful and teary eyes.. Jalal - Ok! I won't punish her..But I won't leave her as well..
Jodha could only give an assuring teary smile..
*Flash back ends*
Part 11 -
Jalal knew that everyone wanted answers. But he had had enough of that woman whom he had trusted the most in whole of his life. He didn't want anymore talks about her.
Jalal without anymore questions, dismissed the DEK . Everyone followed his order and slowly started leaving the court. But Jodha still sat there on the throne.
***
Three people were most affected after this decision by Jalal. One, Hameeda Bano. She could not believe that Jalal had actually asked Maham to leave for mecca. She immediately understood that
the matter was really a serious one. She had to talk to both, Jodha and Jalal, about this as soon as possible.
He knew Maham was faulty, but he never thought that she would be insulted and punished like this. "This is all because of Jodha Begum " He gritted. His rage was beyond words.
He had never cried genuinely but today a tear had escaped from his eyes, which was full of pain and vengeance. He would not leave the person behind all this.
Jalal was always preoccupied with Jodha's thoughts even when he was with her. But the way he had punished Maham in the court today, his pain, his feelings and his love for Jodha was so
evident. She was immensely shocked. She had never seen a man going through so much of turmoil because of his love.
But at the end of the day, this was not her aim. Her work was to kill the Shahenshah-e-Hind.. And she had to complete her job successfully as soon as possible.
She knew that, now, it would be very difficult for her to carry out her plan. Jodha Begum, who was already an obstacle in her way, was now no more alone. She had her husband by her side.
Her mind was continuously thinking of some or the other plan that would help her to finish her assigned job as soon as possible.
Benazir thought of an evil plan and gave a wicked smile to Zakira when they reached to their room. She somewhere knew a better way of how she would accomplish her task.
***
Jodha was still in a trance. She still could not believe that he had done so much for her. This was such a soothening feeling for her. He had hurt her by insulting her, but the way he made up for it
removed all her mere grudges for him. He had been absolutely wise in making the decision while punishing his Badi-Ammi. But She could feel his pain. "It must have been so difficult for him to
first get to know that his own close people were the cause of his worries, and then punishing them "She thought.
Finally she got up and started to move to go to her chamber, when Jalal stopped her.. Everyone had left the court by now..
Both of them were alone in the court. Both looked into each others' eyes. They were not teary but moist. Jodha's eyes carried no more pain in them. Infact,they gleamed with happiness.
Jalal just looked at her without a blink.
Jodha with a genuine teary smile, " Dhanyavaad Shahenshah..".. Jalal had a smile too. No doubt, he was so shattered and broken after punishing that woman, whom he held so close to him, but
the smile that he saw on Jodha's face, worked like a magical medicine to him. Her smile assured that he was right.
Jalal, " Shukriya to humein aapka karna chahiye Jodha Begum.. Hum jaante hain ki hum apne gusse mei naa jaane kya kar baith te..lekin itni mushkil waqt mei bhi aapne thande dimaag se
sochkar humein sahi rasta dikhaya.. Shukriya.."
Jodha's smile grew wider. "No SHahenshah ! I could only advise, but you were the one who had to decide everything..I am so happy that you were very very wise and justified..Thank you for
listening to my words.."
Jalal, " Aap khush to hain na Jodha Begum.."
Jodha willingly took Jalal's hand in her hand and said, " Ofcourse.. I am more than happy.." Jalal was so delighted to hear that.
Both of them were so relieved at this moment. Finally all the misunderstandings had been cleared out. Not only Jalal had seeked apology from her, but also had rectified his mistake.
Now, Jodha tried to lighten his mood.
Jodha, " Par Shahenshah.. Kya saari baatein yahin khade khade hi karenge.. " She signalled him that her leg was still hurt and that she needed to sit..
Jalal could not help but a smile crept on his face. Each word from this woman was capable enough of having an effect on him.
Jalal, " Thik hai phir.. chaliye bahar bagiche mei jaakar thoda waqt saath mei bitaate hain.."
Jodha could not help but a light blush appeared on her cheek. She said , " Jee..chaliye"..
***
From the moment Maham Anga was out of the palace, a strange silence had took over the whole palace. Most people were trying to reason this act of Shahenshah in their own ways.
It was not something whatever. It was his Badi-Ammi that had been punished all of a sudden. The chilly wind blew all over the palace. Some were happy, some were sad.. but the
fact couldnt be denied that Jalal had done this all for Jodha Begum.. Most people decided to stay away from this issue for they had seen Jalal's concern for Jodha in the DEK today.
If he could banish Maham Anga because of Jodha, the matter would have been hell-serious..and therefore, the best thing would be to not to gossip about this issue.. They decided to not make
this issue the reason for unnecessary commotion in the palace.
So, most of the people normalised after sometime..and they were back to their daily routined work..
**Royal Garden**
It was nearly late afternoon by now. Jodha and Jalal sat in the royal garden, with obviously no one around, for Jalal had already asked everyone to leave them alone.
After so many days, they were there together.. They were finally back to their old budding friendship..which had been temporarily hampered by Maham and Benazir..
Both looked away from each other.. both having a kind of strange embarrasing smile on their faces..
Jalal initiated the conversation..
Jalal, " Jodha Begum.. Do you remember the last time we had talked normally, we were here in this garden..when you taught me about the various kinds of music..all the natural music..
the music which could be found in various natural things.."
Jodha was delighted.. She was excited by his talk.. She started talking..
Jodha (with a smile) , " Yes.. But Shahenshah.. You also taught me alot that day .. The way you described how music could be found in the slash of swords..the sounds of running horses,
the clashes of weapons.. I was really impressed.. (With this she looked away from him, giving a smile)
Jalal was back in mood..She sounded so free of worries.. Even he felt light-hearted.
Jalal, "Oh...So you were impressed hun! Let me tell you Jodha Begum that I dont seem to know alot things..But I definitely know them.." (He smirked saying this..)
Jodha giggled at his answer.. Jodha, " Arrey Humare kehne ka wo arth nahi tha Shahenshah.. Hum to bas keh rahe the, ki humnein aapko kabhi aisi baatein karte nahi suna tha na..
isliye jab apko us din sangeet ke baare mein kehte hue suna, to hum kaafi prabhavit huye the..(Jalal smiled at her smile..She looked so happy and ethereal..).. lekin, aapko yaad hai
ki usi raat.. (her voice suddenly turned a little lower..and sad)..
Jalal was hurt. He knew, if only that night could be removed from both of their lives, they would have not have gone through all these hell days..
Jalal was serious now.. Jalal (looking down at ground) ," Hum jaante hain ki aap kitni dar gayin hongi us raat.. Keval humare unpadh hone ke kaaran aapko itna kuch sehna pada..
Hum sach mein bahut Sharminda hain Jodha Begum.. Sharm aati hai khud par.. Agar aapne humein dhakka nahi diya hota, to humein dar hain ki kahin..." He couldn't speak further..
Jodha was immensely shocked.. Jodha, " No SHahenshah.. In whole of this issue, you are nowhere, I repeat, Nowhere at fault.. Please do not blame yourself..atleast not about the letter thingy..
I understand that you must be illiterate because of some serious reason, But Shahenshah..(She took a pause and then said with pride) As far as I know you, YOU ARE FAR FAR EDUCATED AND
WISER THAN the people who claim to be literate. I have seen you taking wise decisions..I have seen you giving whole of yourself, just to bring out the justice in its best way..
And as for the things that followed after that night, both of us have to blamed for that.. You didn't come to clear out things with me and I didn't come to you to cross-question you about the same..
So, SHahenshah, please do not blame yourself..
Jalal was utterly shocked by these words of his Begum.. "How is she so selfless..How is she so pure.. How does she do it?".. he thought! She respected him so much..He felt so contented and pleased
with her words..Never had he felt so relieved..
Jalal, " Magar Jodha Begum.. is baat ko aap nahi jhuth laa sakti ki humari hi wajah se aapko itna kuch sehna pada.." He was still sad..
Jodha, " Jee.. ye to aapne bilkul sahi kaha.. Kya pehle hi aapne humein kam sataya tha..Jo us benazir ko humare beech mei lekar aaye.." Now She actually sounded low and gloomy..
Jalal knew that he had gone too far to jealousify Jodha..but little did he know, that he had been more insulting and hurting in this supposed "Jealousify " process..
Jalal with a regret, " Sorry Jodha begum.. I am really sorry for that..I know I am solely responsible for all your worries.. I don't know how will I ever make up for my follies..
I should have been a little sensible atleast.. My khaas begum takes me to be a better fellow than literate people, and I absolutely act brainless and senseless..." He blabbered out of sadness and
shame.
Jodha was taken aback. So he held her Khaas? A little blush again crept on her cheeks..
Jodha immediately answered, " Shahenshah.. I think we have wasted a lot of time upon all this.. Not only time, we have wasted a lot of tears as well..We both deserve some peace now..
These things will cause nothing but more of worry and problems.. SO better we stop talking about this..And okay.. I don't want to talk about Benazir anymore.." She heaved a sigh!
Jalal was happy. "She always handles everything with so much care and sense".. He self thought..
Jalal, " Right Jodha Begum..Lets try to forget these bitter moments of our lives.. WHy don't we start a friendship again?"
Jodha, " Sorry I cant.."
Jalal, " Why?"
Jodha, " Because we already are.."
Both of them smiled and smiled.. The moment was so relieving, soothening and cheerful..
Precap - Benazir bites Jodha...😛
I hope you people will like this..Thank you for reading the story..😳
Please do leave your valuale comments! I would so much appreciate it.. 😃
Cricket
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
Bigg Boss 19
29