~~Part3~~
For some two minutes, he stared at the letter. Yes, he was illiterate and could not understand what was written, but suddenly he remembered that the language symbols were same as that of previous letter from her. His anger and curiousity, both were rising by each passing second.
"Cant she just tell me whats in her mind instead of writing letters to me?!", he frowned.
Suddenly, something struck his mind. "Wait a sec..hold on" he said to himself alarmingly.
Is this letter meant for me? He doubted. He never wanted to allege her for something wrong..but the things have turned out really worse. From the moment she had lied to him, he couldnt help but react like this.
"Zaroori nahin hai ki ye khat humaare liye hi ho... Kahin us gair insaan ke liye to nahi likha hai Jodha Begum ne ye khat.. Pehle chip chip kar milti thin.. Ab khat bhi likh rahi hain.." He crushed the letter in his anguish but didnt tear it. He wanted to know the content of the letter.
With much difficulty he got up from the bed, all stumbling. He folded the letter in a better way and made his way towards his Hojraa. As he was about to leave Jodha's chamber, Moti entered in and saw the letter in his hand. From a corner of the letter, she could recognise that it was Jodha's handwriting. She greeted the Shahenshah and he returned the greetings with a faint smile.
Moti immediately blabbered out ,"Ye to Jodha Begum ki likhaawat hai.. ".
Jalal's eyes gleamed in hope.
He was about to go to his Badi-Ammi to get her to read the letter for him for he trusted her beyond words. But, for the first time today, he felt that he should keep the things between him and his Begum only. He didnt want to insult Jodha in front of anyone unless he knew full truth. Only he had the right to be upset and angry with her. Also he wanted to know the content of the letter immediately. Within a flick of second, he handed over the letter to Moti for he knew she would not dare to refuse his order.
"Haan humein pata hai ye Jodha Begum ne likha hai.. Tum humein ye khat padhkar sunaao Moti Bai"..he said in a stern yet calm tone.
Moti was surprised. "Lekin Shahenshah.. Hum kaise aapke liye likhe gaye patra ko padh sakte hain.."..said Moti in a little embarrased tone.
Jalal was losing him cool by now. He said in a louder voice "humnein kahaa na humein ye khat padhke sunaao.. Pata nahi humare liye hai bhi yaa nahi.." distress and anger evident in his voice.
Now Moti was confused. If he wanted to know the content of letter, he would have read it by now by himself,right? Anyways, seeing his red eyes, she didnt dare to raise any other question. It was her duty to complete the task given by the king. She opened the letter and read it out aloud to him.
The letter read...
Pranaam Shahenshah,
Hum aapse apni galtiyon ki kshama maangnaa chahte hain. Humse bahut badi bhool ho gayi hai. Hum aapko batana chahte hain ki hum aapki jaankaari ke bina pichli kuch raaton se ek "gair purush" se mil rahe the. Hum jaante hain ki aapke mutaabik humnein Mughal Sultanate ke niyamon ko toda hai.
Isliye hum aapke kisi bhi dand ke liye taiyaar hain. Humein bahut khed hai ke hum aapko ye baat pehle nahi bataa sake. Aur shaayad bata bhi nahi paate kyonki humein us "gair purush" ne hi vachan diya tha ki hum ye baat kisi ko bhi na bataayein. Hum unka vachan nahin tod sakte the.
Lekin jab kal raat aapne hum par aarop lagaya ki humnein aapko dhokhaa diya hai..kisi aur purush se milte hain hum... To humnein socha ki hum apni galti maan lete hain.
Shahenshah humnein kal raat aapki aankhon mein bahut dard dekha.. Jo ki sirf humaari wajah se thaa.. Hum khud se bahut naaraz hain ki humaari wajah se aapko itni takleef hui. Isliye.. Apni galti ki sazaa hum khud ko de rahe hain. Hum aapka Mahal aur aapki zindagi chod kar jaa rahe hain.
Shahenshah ek ilteja (request) hai aapse.. Ho sake to humein kshama kar dijiyegaa... Hum aapko kabhi bhi dukh nahi pahuchaana chahte the...
Aakhiri baat ye kehna chahenge ki aapke Mahal mei koi aapka apna hi aapki jaan ka dushman hai.. Apni raksha kijiyega Shahenshah...
Isi ke saath aapse vida lete hain...
Jodha Begum
Both Moti and Jalal were SHOCKED beyond belief.
Pati Patni Aur Panga
Jaane Anjaane Hum Mile
Tum Se Tum Tak
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
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