heels straightaway. His heartbeat drummed within his ears. The only thing that was of significance to him at the present was to ascertain that she is Jodha.
He followed her haltingly, ensuring that she doesn't apprehend him trailing her.
(Mera naam ishq...tera naam ishq..
Mera naam ishq...tera naam ishq..)
The next moment he was uncertain if he was on the right track. In a trice he heard a dulcet tune which made him stop
dead in his way at the concourse of a temple.
"He Manmohan.."
Jalal was awestruck. He stay put at the doorway of the shrine, straining his ears to the verse.
"He Murlidhar, He Damodar..
Krishnamurari, He Natnagar.."
A smile crept on Jalal's distressed face. He was transfixed and spellbound. Only Jodha's voice could do that to him.
" Bhul gaye kya vinati sunkar...
Bhul gaye kya vinati sunkar.."
Jodha sang her heart out with all her might.
"He Manmohan, he Karunakar..
He Murlidhar, He Damodar..
Krishnamurari, He Natnagar..
He Kanha...He Krishna..He Kanhaaa.."
Jalal was astray in his own utopia. All of a sudden, a redolent, scented breeze took over him.
A flaccid hand slighted brushed against his.
(Mera naam, Tera naam..
Mera naam ishq...)
He roved back into the real world.
______________**______**______________
Jodha felt as if it was someone she was quite familiar with but she didn't pay any heed to her thoughts and walked fleetly to the ashram she'd took shelter in.
She had been hallucinating a lot lately about Jalal. And that was enough for her.
______________**______**______________
Meantime, Jalal just peered at her, in a daze. He was uncertain whether his search for Jodha had ceased as he still hadn't caught even a glimpse of her face.
Maybe he was mistaken.
He resolved to delay his eggress and spend the night at the ashram.
The hermitage had a separate wing for men. He acquired a hut for himself and perched on the straw billet, recalling the poignant incidents of the past week.
______________**______**______________
Jodha had made it to her hovel, only a yard away from Jalal's shed. The happenings in the past few days had shook her gravely.
Her eyes began to fill, she felt the warmth of a sole tear trickle down her cheek.
She came down on her knees before Kanha's idol, and couldn't help breaking down.
" Ye laal ishq, ye malaal ishq
Ye aib ishq, ye bair ishq..."
Jalal, bereft of any countenance, deplored his inhumane demeanour that night and worried if he would find Jodha ever again.
"Tujh sang bair lagaya aisa..
Tujh sang bair lagaya aisa..
Raha na main phir apne jaisa..
Ho raha na main phir apne jaisa.."
______________**______**______________
The night, wide and hefty as velvet, took over the Sun and gave away the moon's hideout.
Jodha struggled as she tried her best to drive Jalal's thoughts from her mind. She lay on the hay, staring at the gleaming moon. She shut her eyes, longing for some
break from Jalal's thoughts deluging her mind.
______________**______**______________
Jalal laid on the bed in his shack, admiring the inviting sight of the shimmering moon. Whenever he glanced at the moon, he'd get reminded of Jodha, and
just after that the disturbing memory of the night he accused her.
His eyes flooded with tears.
______________**______**______________
Midnight showed up.
Clouds crept into the clear sky and seemed to expand their army.
Jalal had had anxious and sleepless nights ever since Jodha left.
This night added one more to them.
He stepped out of his shack and set off for a lonesome stroll.
______________**______**_____________
*He dismounted his horse to face his rival. His foe had arms. He struggled in the clash with bare hands.
But the brave warrior was thwacked on his back. He collapsed. His foe laughed wickedly.*
Jodha sweltered with agitation. She woke up with a start.
"Shahenshah!"
Her petrified voice called out his name.
All of a sudden, the clouds let out a thunderstorm.
Jodha sprang up to her feet and sat before Kanha's graven image.
______________**______**_____________
Luckily no hermitage inhabitant had heard her fearful shriek. But Jalal did.
"Jodha begum..yahan.."
He set off to hunt for her, trembling in the storm.
He passed by many a shed in the ashram, anticipating Jodha in one of them
Within seconds he was fully drenched.
He feared her being in danger.
He bellowed her name in agony.
"Jodha begum!"
He was disappointed and on finding no response, he thought that what he heard was another hallucination of his.
______________**______**_____________
Jodha was put at ease when she realised that it was a mere nightmare.
She beseeched Kanha for Shahenshah's well-being, wherever he was.
Little did she know that he was just a few yards away.
Suddenly, she heard hurried footsteps and shortly after, a voice dripping mischief, behind her.
"Kajri.."
In a trice, she turned to the frail door, only to find Shehnaz, one of her mates at the hermitage, who was autistic.
Her eyes widened in shock.
"Shehnaz...aap..aap andar aayiye, aap jwar se peedit ho jayengi..aap.."
Before she could say further, Shehnaz had already ran away, chuckling.
"Humein pakad ke dikhao, Kajri.."
Jodha sprang to her feet, raced out of her shed and ran behind Shehnaz with all her might, gasping to catch her breath.
The downpour doused her lehenga.
"Thehriye..Shehnaz..aap.."
______________**______**_____________
Jalal walked along the hermitage, deep in thought.
He heard a chuckle and the next thing he saw was a lady running towards him, being followed by another woman, tired of the long sprint.
"Shehnaz...Ruk jayiye.."
The second lady called out to the one who was leading her.
Wait.
Isn't that the lady he had seen in the Holi Utsav and later at the temple?
He put aside his thoughts for a moment and simply gazed at Jodha.
______________**______**_____________
"Ruk jayiye, Shehnaz.."
Jodha called out to her, panting, trying her best to catch her breath.
She tripped over a stone, and skidded on the wet path.
Jalal's eyes widened. He sprinted towards her and caught her in time.
He saw that her eyes were shut in anticipation of a fall.
He just stared at her in awe.
______________**______**_____________
Jodha opened her eyes, sensing the world around her stable.
Her eyes met Jalal's.
She forgot everything about Shehnaz and recognised him at once.
But she before she could utter a word, Jalal wrapped his arms around her, his head seeking some room on her shoulder.
The storm turned fierce.
His eyes flooded with tears of remorse.
"Hum..Hum..Humein muaf kar dijiye..Jodha..begum.."
Jodha was dumbstruck.
"Hum khud ko kabhi muaf nahin kar payenge..par..par aap toh humein muaf kar sakti hain..
Aap nahin jaantin ki humein kitni tanhai mahsus hui jab aap humein akela chhod kar chali gayin.
Hum aapko dhundne ke liye dar..dar bhatke..Jodha begum..
Humein kabhi..chhodkar mat jayiyega Jodha begum..Hum aapse.."
"Shaant ho jayiye...Sha..Shahenshah.."
Jodha choked on her words.
She held him close and caressed him, her tapering fingers running through his hair.
"Yeh kaali raat..jakad loon..
Yeh thanda chaand pakad loon.."
"Din-raat ke bairi..bhed ka..
Rukh mod ke main..rakh doon.."
__________________________________________________________________
Thanks for reading. 😃
Would try to update as quick as I can.
Cricket
Current Affairs
87