SA - AAP WAALID BANNE WALE HAIN - EPILOGUE UPDATED ON PAGE 12 - Page 4

Yes 😊

PART 6

RECAP - JODHA DELIVERS A BABY BOY SURROUNDED BY HER FAMILY. JALAL THOUGH SCARED, HELPS HER DURING THIS TIME

JODHA WAS OVERWHELMED BY THE LITTLE THING IN HER ARMS. SHE KEPT HIM CLOSE AT ALL TIMES, EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS STILL AT THE ASHRAM. DURING THE BIRTH OF THE CHILD BABA SALIM CHISHTI HAD ADVISED JODHA TO STAY ON FOR A MONTH OR SO, SO THAT SHE COULD HEAL COMPLETELY. ALL ASHRAM INMATES HAD COME OVER TO BLESS THE CHILD. HAMIDA, SHIVANI AND SALIMA HAD LEFT WITHIN A FEW DAYS OF THE BABY'S BIRTH. SO NOW IT WAS JUST JALAL, JODHA AND THE BABY.

JALAL MARVELLED AT JODHA'S MATERNAL ABILITIES. JUST AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS OF REST SHE HAD RESUMED HER CHORES AND ALONGSIDE TOOK WONDERFUL CARE OF THE BABY AS WELL AS HIM. EVEN THOUGH JALAL HAD WISHED FOR A BABY GIRL, HE REALLY ENJOYED BEONG WITH HIS SON. IT WAS ALMOST LIKE A WIDE SMILE HAD PLASTERED ITSELF ONTO HIS FACE. JODHA, HOEVER, WAS BECOMING A LITTLE SAD TO BE LEAVING THE ASHRAM. IT WAS IN THIS PLACE THAT SHE HAD RECONNECTED WITH HER HUSBAND, HELPED HIM HEAL, CONCIEVED THEIR CHILD, DELIVERED HIM. SHE HAD GOT A LOT OF LOVE, PRAISE AND ADMIRATION FROM ALL THE INMATES OF THE ASHRAM. AND BABA WAS PARTICULARLY FOND OF HER. SHE WOULD BE SAD TO LEAVE THEM AND GO, AND THE PLACE TOO, WHICH HAD BECOME HER HOME FOR THE PAST YEAR.

" JODHA BEGUM, HUM YE SOCH RAHE THHEY KI AGLE HAFTE HAMEIN AGRA KE LIYE RAWAANA HONA CHAHIYE. AB AAPKI SEHAT BHI BEHTAR HAI AUR HIM YE CHAHTE HAIN KI AGRA MEIN BHI SHEHZAADE KE AANE KI KHUSHIYAAN MANAYI JAAYEIN. KYA KHAYAAL HAI AAPKA?

" SHAHENSAH JAISI AAPKI AAGYA. HUM YE SOCH RAHE THHE KI HAMEIN BACHCHE KA NAAMKARAN YAHIN KARNA CHAHIYE. AAKHIR YAHIN KE LOGON NE HAMARI SAHAAYATA KI HAI. AUR SHAHENSHAH HAMARI ICHHA HAI KI HUM BABA KE NAAM PAR HAMARE BACHHE KA NAAM SALIM RAKHEIN. AAP KYA SOCHTE HAIN?

" JODHA BEGUM AAPKA MASHVARA HAMEIN BEHAD PASAND AAYA. ISSE ACHHA NAAM KOI AUR NAHI HO SAKTA

SO WITH THEBLESSINGS OF BABA SALIM CHISHTI AND IN THE PRESENCE OF ALL THE ASHRAM MEMBERS, A SIMPLE NAMING CEREMONY WAS PERFORMED BY BABA HIMSELF AND JALAL AND JODHA'S SON WAS NAMED SALIM. EVERYONE GAVE THE CHILD THEIR BLESSINGS.

JODHA WRAPPED UP HER WORK EARLY FOR THE REST OF THE DAYS. SHE SPENT EVERY POSSIBLE MINUTE DOING THE THINGS SHE LOVED MOST - SHE VISITED BABA MORE OFTEN AND TOOK HIS BLESSINGS,SHE TOOK SALIM AND SPENT TIME VISITING THE RIVER BANK AND THE TEMPLES. SHE WAS KEEN TO SPEND HER LAST DAYS !AT THE ASHRAM IN THE BEST WAY POSSBLE.

FINALLY THE DAY OF THEIR DEPARTURE DAWNED. THE ENRIRE ASHRAM CAME TO BID THEM FAREWELL. FROM AGRA MAAN SINGH, TODERMAL AND SALIMA BEGUM HAD COME TO ESCORT THEM. JODHA REMOVED HER SIMPLE CLOTHING AND DONNED THE ROYAL APPAREL AND JEWELLERY, INCLUDING THE NECKLACE THAT HAMIDA BANO HAD GIVEN HER. SHE TOUCHED BABA'S FEET AND TOOK HIS BLESSINGS. BABA ALSO BLESSED SALIM AND JALAL.

WELCOME TO AGRA

THE ENTIRE ROUTE THAT THE ROYAL ENTOURAGE TOOK, FROM THE ASHRAM TO THE AGRA FORT WAS FILLED WITH PEOPLE THRONGING TO GET A GLIMPSE OF THE ROYAL HEIR AND TNE ROYAL COUPLE. HUGE CROWDS GATHERED EVRYWHERE. EVERYONE WANTED TO CONGRATULATE JODHA AND JALAL AND BLESS SALIM. SEVERAL TIMES THE PROCESSION HAD TO BE STOPPED SO THAT JODHA AND JALAL COULD WAVE AT THE CROWDS.

" SHAHENSHAH ZINDABAAD, JODHA BEGUM ZINDABAD

THE ENTIRE CITY OF AGRA HAD BEEN BEAUTIFULLY DECORATED AND THE PEOPLE WERE EAGERLY AWAITING THE RETURN OF THEIR SHAHENSHAH, JODHA BEGUM AND THE WALIAAHAD.

THE PALACE ITSELF WAS MOST CHARMINGLY DECORATED WITH THE FESHEST FLOWERS AND AN AMAZING MULTITUDE OF LIGHTS. EACH AND EVERY INMATE OF THE PALACE WAS OUT WELCOMING THE ROYAL FAMILY. SLOGANS OF ZINDABAAD ROARED EVERYWHERE. IT WAS A FESTIVE TIME. THEIR SHAHENSHAH WAS COMING BACK AFTER MORE THAN A YEAR AND THAT TOO WITH THE HEIR. THE JOY OF THE PEOPLE KNEW NO BOUNDS.

BOTH ISLAMIC AND HINDU RELIGIOUS STALWARTS WERE THERE AND IT WAS IN THE MIDST OF ISLAMIC CHANTS AND HINDU MANTRAS THAT SALIM ENTERED HIS PALACE FOR THE FIRST TIME. HE WAS LESS THAN 2 MONTHS OLD. AS SOON AS HE ENTERED THE ROYAL HAREM, HE WAS SURROUNDED BY THE WOMEN WHO JUST COULD NOT STOP COOING AND GUSHING OVER HIM.

CROWNING OF MARIAM UZ ZAMANI

JODHA RETURNED TO HER ONCE NORMAL ROUTINE AS SOON AS SHE GOT BACK TO THE PALACE, ADDITIONALLY HOWEVER, SHE TOOK COMPLETE CARE OF SALIM. SHE WAS NOT ABOUT TO GIVE ANY CHANCES TO ANY UNFORSEEN ENEMY THIS TIME AROUND. SHE MADE SURE SALIM WAS WELL PROTECTED AT ALL TIMES BY TRUSTED AND KNOWN PEOPLE. MOTI BAI, HOSHIYAAR KHAN, ZAKIRA, REVA WERE TO BE WITH HER IN SHIFTS. AN ARMY OF KHWAJA SERAAS WAS CHOSEN BY HOSHIAAR, SUPERVISED BY JALAL AND MAAN SINGH TO GUARD JODHA BEGUM'S HOJRA ROUND TE CLOCK. TODERMAL CAME UP WITH AN ALMOST PERFECT SECURITY ARRAGEMENT TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE HEIR AND ALL ALLIED SYSTEMS WERE MADE AIRTIGHT. ENTRY INTO THE HAREM FOR OUTSIDERS WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE AND EVEN WITHIN THE HAREM SECURITY WAS ALWAYS ALERT AND ON VIGIL. JODHA WAS CONSTANTLY THERE WITH SALIM, BUT AT TIMES WHEN SHE WASNT, SHE MADE COMPETELY SURE TO HAVE EITHER SALIMA, SHIVANI, JIJI ANGA, HAMIDA BEGUM OR GULBADAN BEGUM, APART FROM HER TRUSTED MAIDS. SO AT ANY GIVEN TIME SALIM HAD AT LEAST THREE PERSONS WITH HIM INSIDE THE ROOM AND SEVERAL OTHERS OUTSIDE.

" AADAAB AMMIJAAN. HUM AAPSE YE KEHNE AAYE THHE KI HUM CHAHTE HAIN KI JODHA BEGUM KO MARIAM UZ ZAMAANI KA AUDHA DIYA JAAYE AUR UNKE LIYE EK SHAANDAAR JASHN RAKHA JAAYE.

" YE TO BAHUT HI UNDA KHAYAAL HAI JALAL. HUM IS BAAT SE RAZAMAND HAIN. AAP FOREN TAYYARIYAAN KARVAIYE.

" MAAN SINGH AUR TODERMAL JI. HUM CHAHTE HAIN KI JODHA BEGUM KO MARIAM UZ ZAMAANI KA AUDHA DIYA JAAYE. IS RASM KO DIWAN E KHAS MEIN KIYA JAAYEGA. USKE BAAD HUM CHAHTE HAIN KI EK BAHUT HI AALISHAAN JASHN RAKHA JAAYE POORE AWAM KE LIYE. AAP DONO ISKI TAYYARIYAAN KARWAIYE. IS RASM KE LIYE HUM CHAHTE HAIN KI AAMER WALON KO KHAAS NYOTA BHEJA JAAYE. SAATH HI HAMARE SABHI SUBON KE RAAJAAON KO BHI NYOTA SIYA JAAYE. HIFAAZAT KE INTEZAAM BHI SAATH MEIN POORE HONE CHAHIYE.

" AAPKE AADESH KA PAALAN HOGA SHAHENSHAH

" JODHA BEGUM JAISA KI AAP JAANTI HI HONGI, HUM AAPKO MARIAM UZ ZAMAANI KA AUDHA DENA CHAHTE HAIN. IS RASM KE LIYE HUMNE AAMER SE SABKO AANE KE LIYE NYOTA BHEJA HAI. ISI BAHAANE SE AAPKI MAASA, BAPUSA AUR SABHI LOG SALIM SE BHI MIL LENGE.

" SHANYAVAAD SHAHENSHAH. HUM BHI SOCH RAHE THHE KI MASA BAPUSA KO YAHAN BULWAYEIN TAAKI WO BHI APNE NAATI SE MIL SAKEIN. SUKANYA KE PATRON SE BHI LAGTA HAI KI WO BHI TADAP RAHI HAI SALIM KO DEKHNE KE LIYE. AAPNE YE BAHUT ACHHA KIYA. AB AAP HAMEIN YE THEEK SE SAMJHAIYE KI MARIAM UZ ZAMAANI KE PAD KA MAHATVA KYA HAI, ISKI ZIMMEDARIYAAN KYA HAIN AUR HAQ KYA HAIN

" JODHA BEGUM MARIAM UZ ZAMAANI WO BEGUM HOTI HAI JO SALTANAT KO WAARIS DETI HAI. JAISA KI AAP JAANTI HAIN SALTANAT, MAHAL AUR HAREM KE SAARE FAISLE HUM KARTE HAIN. HAMARI AMMIJAAN MARIAM MAKANI KE PAAS YE HAQ HAI KI WO APNE HUKM KA FARMAAN JAARI KAR SAKEIN. IS RASM KE BAAD YE HAQ AAPKE PAAS BHI HOGA. AAP SALTANAT AUR HAREM SE JUDE FAISLEY LE SAKTI HAIN. AAP SHAHENSHAH KO BHI APNE FAISLE PAR DUBARA SOCHNE YA BADALNE KI DARKHWAAST KAR SAKTI HAIN. YE AAPKE HAQ HAIN. AAPKI ZIMMEDAARIYAAN HONGI KI AAP MAHAL HAREM AUR SALANAT KE LIYE KAAM KAREIN AUR HAR BAAT PAR HAMEIN APNI RAAY DEIN KI HUM APNE KAAM KO AUR BEHTAR KAISE BANA SAKTE HAIN. HAMARA TO ZYAADA TAR DHYAAN SARHASON AUR SUBON PAR HOTA HAI. AAP CHAHEIN TO RIYASAT KE BAAKI MASLON PAR KAAM KAR SAKTI HAIN. AAPKE HAR FAISLE MEIN SALTANAT KI BEHTARI HONI CHAHIYE

SOON THE DAY FOR JODA TO BE CROWNED MUZ ARRIVED. IT WS A GRAND AFFAIR. AFTER THE FORMALITIES WERE COMPLETED, HAMIDA BANO BEGUM PLACED A GRAND CROWN ON JODHA'S HEAD. JALAL PRSENTED HER WITH THE OFFICIAL SEAL AND STAMP OF THE MUZ POSITION. A GRAND CELEBRATORY FEAST FOLLOWED WHERE THE SUBJECTS WERE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO BLESS THEIR SHAHENSHAH AND MUZ.

AFTER THE CEREMONY AND THE FEAST JODHA RUSHED TO MEET HER PARENTS SISTER, BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN LAWS. HER ENTIRE FAMILY HAS COME TO CELEBRATE THE OCCASION WITH HER. THEY ALL SHOWERED HER WITH LOVE AND BLESSINGS AND GUSHED OVER SALIM. SALI M WAS SMOTHERED BY THE. LOVE OF NANI, NANA, MAUSI, MAMIS AND MAMAS. THEY ALL TOOK TURNS CUDDLING AND KISSING HIM. THEY ALSO GAVE HIM SEVERAL GIFTS OF CLOTHES, SILVERWARE, JEWELLERY, TOYS ETC SPECIALLY MADE FOR HIM. THE ENTIRE FAMILY WAS PROUD OF JODHA AND IN LOVE WITH SALIM. THEY ALSO MET WITH SHIVANI AND GREETED TEJWANT WITH RESPECT. IT WAS A GREAT TIME FOR JODHA.

COMING UP PART 7 JODHA THE POWER

Guys we have snuff negativity in the serial with Ruks. I want to focus on the positives. Hence no villains. Comments welcome

PART 7

RECAP - SALIM IS BORN. JODHA AND JALAL RETURN TO AGRA FROM BABA'S ASHRAM. JODHA IS CROWNED MUZ

AT THE INSISTENCE OF JODHA AND JALAL THE AAMER FAMILY SPENT TWO WEEKS WITH THEM AT AGRA. THEY ENJOYED BEING WITH SALIM AND JODHA. JALAL TOO SPENT TIME WITH RAJA BHARMAL AND BHAGWANDAS DISCUSSING VARIOUS POLITICAL MATTERS. THEY WERE OVERJOYED TO SEE THE LOVE, RESPECT AND ADORATION THAT WAS SHOWERED ON JODHA BY JALAL, MARIAM MAKANI AND ALL OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PALACE. IT GAVE THEM PEACE AND HAPPINESS TO SEE THEIR DAUGHTER SO HAPPY AND POWERFUL.

IN THE MEANWHILE SHIVAANI ALSO SHARED WITH EVERYONE THE GOOD NEWS THAT SHE WAS PREGNANT. THOUGH SHE WAS LIVING WITH TEJWANT IN SMALLER QUARTERS, BOTH JODHA AND JALAL INCLUDED HER AND TEJWANT IN ALL THEIR IMPORTANT AFFAIRS, AS THEY WOULD ANY OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS. JODHA VISITED HER OFTEN AND SPENT A LOT FO TIME WITH SHIVANI, AS DID SHIVANI. JALAL HAD APPOINTED TEJWANT AS THE HEAD OF HIS DEPARTMENT. IT WAS HE WHO OVERSAW ALL THE WORK AND OTHER WORKERS WORKING WITH HIM. ON HEARING THE GOOD NEWS, JALAL INSTRUCTED THE ROYAL HAKIMA SAHIBA TO TAKE CARE OF SHIVANI AND THE UNBORN CHILD. HE ALSO ASKED JODHA BEGUM TO PROVIDE MAIDS TO SHIVANI SO THAT SHE COULD BE MADE MORE COMFORTABLE. BUT SHIVANI REFUSED TO TAKE ON ANY ADDITIONAL HELP. SHE FELT THAT TEJWANT WOULD NOT LIKE TO TAKE ANY UNNECESSARY FAVORS, HENCE SHE DECIDED TO MANAGE EVERYTHING ON HER OWN.

MEANWHILE SALIM WAS AN EXTREMELY AMIABLE CHILD. HE WAS LOVED AND CHERISHED BY ALL AND WAS CONSTANTLY SMILING. HE NEVER TROUBLED ANYONE. JALAL LOVED SPENDING TIME WITH SALIM AND JODHA AND WAS OFTEN FOUND IN JODHA's HOJRA EITHER PLAYING WITH SALIM, TEASING JODHA, OR JUST QUIETLY SITTING THERE OBSERVING JODHA TAKING CARE OF SALIM. HE FELT EXTREMEM PEACE AND JOY THERE

MEANWHILE MIGHAL SALTANAT WAS GROWING. SEVERAL NEW KINGDOMS WERE BROUGT UNDER ITS AEGIS, SOME THROUGH WAR AND SOME WITHOUT WAR. JALAL'S STATURE AS A JUST, FAIR AND PEACE LOVING SHAHENSHAH WAS GROWING TOO. HIS ARMIES WERE CONSTANLY EXPANDING, ADDING MORE SOLDIERS, MORE EQUIPMENTS AND MORE CAPABLE GENERALS. THE COMMON MAN OR THE PRAJA WAS HAPPY.

TIME PASSED BY. SALIM WAS CLOSE TO A YEAR OLD NOW. JALAL WAS TRAVELLING QUITE A BIT FOR THE WORK OF THE SALTANAT. JODHA BEGUM WAS ALSO QUITE BUSY WITH HER WORK AS MUZ. SHE HAD TAKEN ON QUITE A FEW RESPONSIBILITIES. BUT SINCE SALIM WAS YOUNG SHE AVOIDED TRAVELLING OUTSIDE AGRA. RIGHT NOW HER WORK WAS CURTAILED TO YHE CAPITAL CITY AND A FEW ADJOINING VILLAGES AND TOWNS. SHE STARTED WORKING ON ISSUES LIKE EDUCATION, WOMEN'S ISSUES AND WELFARE.

SHE WOULD VISIT LOCALITIES, GET TO KNOW THE PROBLEMS THERE LIKE LACK OF WATER, LACK OF SANITATION, LACK OF SCHOOLS ETC AND SET ABOUT TO PLAN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THAT PARTICULAR AREA. SHE DISCUSSED EACH MATTER AT LENGTH WITH JALAL AND HIS OTHER MINISTERS, GOT REQUIRED APPROVALS AND BUDGETS, AND WORK ALONG WITH THE LOCAL PEOPLE TO DEVELOP EACH AREA. SHE TRIED TO PROMOTE LOCAL SELF GOVERNANCE IN EACH AREA. SHE WAS CONSTANTLY IN TOUCH WITH LOCAL LEADERS AND WORKED CLOSELY WITH THEM.

AFTER SALIM WAS A YEAR OLD SHE BEGAN TRAVELLING OUTSIDE AGRA FOR HER WORK, VISITING SEVERAL VILLAGES, TOWNS ANDCITIES, LIASONING WITH THE LOCAL LEADERS AND PLANNING DEVELOPMENT FOR THE AREA. SEVERAL TIMES WHEN SHE WAS TRAVELLING FOR LONG PERIODS SHE TOOK SALIM ALONG WITH HER.

SHE WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT HER WORK AND EXTREMELY CONSCIENTIOUS. SHE WAS METICULOUS IN PLANNING AND FOCUSSED IN THE IMPLEMENTATIONS. SHE PUT FORTH HER VIEWS TO JALAL AFTER CAREFUL RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS. JALAL MARVELLED AT HER ABILITIES AS SHE MARVELLED AT HIS. THEY WERE A WELL MATCHED TEAM AND THE PRAJA BENEFITTED IMMENSELY IN THEIR REIGN. MARIAM MAKANI AND SALIMA BEGUM WERE HER TRUSTED AIDES AND ALL THE WORK WAS CARRIED OUT AS A TEAM.

WHILE JALAL EXPANDED BOUNDARIES, BROUGHT GOOD GOVERNANCE, AND FINETUNED FINACIAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR EACH AREA, JODHA FOLLOWED UP WITH SOCIAL INITIATIVES LIK DRILLING WELLS, SANITATION, BUILDING SCHOOLS AND REST HOUSES ETC. BOTH SHAHENSHAH AND MUZ WERE IN TOUCH WITH THE GROUND REALITIES, ANDHENCE WERE ABLE TO PLAN BETTER GOVERNANCE ANDFACILITIES FOR THE SUBJECTS. AND SALIM, ALTHPUGH AN INFANT, WAS BENEFITTING FROM THEIR PROXIMITY.

ONE FINE DAY IN THE PALACE JALAL WAS SPENDING SOME TIME WITH SALIM IN JODHA 'S HOJRA. JODHA WAS OUT

" PRANAAM JIJASA. JODHA JIJI KAHAA HAI. HUM UNSE BAAT KARNA CHAAHTE HAIN

SHIVANI WAS NOW HEAVILY PREGNANT AND LOOKED BULKY. HER FACE SHOWED WORRY AND EXHAUSTION.

" YE KYA SHIVANI. AAPKO AISI HAALAT MEIN AARAM KARNA CHAHIYE. AAP KYON AAYI YAHAN? APNI JIJO KO APNE PAAS BULANA CHAHIYE THHA AAPKO. AB AAP YAHAN BAITHIYE AUR AARAM KEEJIYE. AUR YE KYA AAP AKELI AAYI HAIN? AAPKE SAATH KOI BAANDI KYON HAI HAI? AAP ZIDDI RAJVANSHI AURTON TO KOI KAISE SAMJHAAYE YA ALLAH!! MOTI BAI HAMARA HUKM HAI KI ABHI SHIVANI KO DO BANDIYAAN DE DO IS HIDAAYAT KE SAATH KI WO INHE KABHI AKELA NA CHHODEIN AUR HAMESHA INKE SAATH RAHEIN. JODHA BEGUM MANDIR GAYI HAIN. THODE DER MEIN AATI HONGI. AAP TAB TAK YAHI RAHIYE. TEJWANT TO AGRA SE BAAHAR GAYE HUE HAIN NA? HAMARA YE BHI HUKM HAI KI AAP UNKE AANE TAK JODHA BEGUM KE HOJRE MEIN RAHEIN.

HAVING RECOGNISED SHIVANI, SALIM IMMEDIATELY WALKED TOWARDS HER WANTING TO PLAY WITH HER. SEEING HER DELICATE CONDITION JALAL SFOPPED SALIM

" SHAIKHU BABA ABHI AAPKI MAUSI KI TABIYAT THEEK NAHI HAI. AAP UNHE TANG MAT KARIYE. HUM AAPKE SAATH KHELENGE.

AT THAT MOMENT JODHA BEFUM CAME BACK FROM THE TEMPLE.

" JODHA BEGUM AAP APNI BEHEN AUR HAMARI SAALI SAHIBA KA KHAYAAL THEEK SE NAHI RAKHI RAHI HAIN. DEKHIYE SHIVANI ISS HAALAT MEIN GHOOM RAHI HAIM AUR WHO BHI AKELI. HAMNE INHE BAA DI DENE KA HUKM SIYA HAI AUR YE BHI KI TEJWANT KE AANE TAK SHIVANI YAHAN AAPKE SAATH RAHENGI

JODHA LOOKED AT SHIVANI. SHE WAS LOOKING QUITE PALE AND EXHAUSTED. SHE IMMDIATELY FELT GUILTY. WITH ALL HER WORK AND TAKING CARE OF SALIM, SHE HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO FOCUS ON SHIVANI. BUT NOW SHE WOULD. SHE IMMEDIATELY CALLED FOR THE HAKIMA AND AKSED HER TO CHECK SHIVANI THOROUGHLY. HAKIMA INSTRUCTED SHIVANI TO TAKE COMPLETE REST , WORK LESS AND EAT HEALTHY FOOD. JODHA AND MOTIBAI ORGANIZED SHIVANI'S STAY. SHE DEPUTEDTWO BAANIDS TO BE WITH SHIVANI THE WHOLE TIME AND ALSO ASKED HAKIMA TO COME EVERYDAY TO CHECK ON HER. SHE THEN WENT TO THE KITCHEN TO INSTRUCT THE STAFF REGADRING SHIVANI's DIET.

JUST AFTER A WEEK, SHIVANI STARTED EXPERIENCING LABOR PAINS. SHE DELIVERED A BABY GIRL. JODHA WAS ECSTATIC WITH THE BIRTH OF HER NIECE. SALIM NOW ALMOST TWO YEARS OLD LOOKED AT HIS SISTER AND WAS DILLED WITH JOY. EVERYONE AT TE PALACE CAME OVER TO CONGRATULATE SHIVANI ANDBLESS THE BABY. THEY ALL SHOWERED HER WOTH GIFTS AND LOVE. TEJWANT RETURNED FROM HIS TRAVLES, HAPPY TO SEE HIS WIFE WELL TAKEN OF AND WAS REALLY HAPPY TO SEE HIS NEW BUNDLE OF JOY. HE EXPRESSED HEARTFELT THANKS TO JALAL AND JODHA FOR TAKING CARE OF SHIVANI SURING HIS ABSENCE. HE REQUESTED JALAL TO NAME THE BABY. JALAL ORGANIZED A HUGE JASHN FOR THE BABY AND NAMED HER RADHIKA, AFTER LORD KRISHNA'S BELOVED.

SO NOW SALIM HAD A PLAYMATE. HE LOVED SPENDING TIME WITH RADHIKA AND WAS OFTEN SAD TO LEAVE HER. RADHIKA USED SALIM'S OLD PAALNA, THE ONE THAT HAD BELLS, TRINKETS AND SMALL TOYS HUNG ON IT. SHE TOO RESPONDED TO SALIM COMPLETELY WITH SMILES AND CHUCKLES. SALIM WOULD FINISH HIS SESSIONS WITH HIS TUTORS AND JOSHA AND RUSH TO SHIVANI'S HOUSE TO BE WITH RADHIKA. WHEN RADIKA BEGAN CRAWLING AND SALIM WAS ABOUT FOUR YEARS OLD, HER BROUGHT HER TO HIS ROOM AND GAVE HER HIS TOYS. THEY BOTH SPENT A LOT OF THIME TOGETHER.

" SHAHENSHAH AAP KAHIN BAAHAR JAA RAHE HAIN KYA AAJ?

" HAAN JODHA BEGUM HUMEIN JAMUNA PAAR RAAMNAGAR MEIN KUCHH SUBON KE HUKMARANON SE KHAAS MASLAT KARNI HAI. HUM RAAT TAK WAPAS AA JAYENGE. AAP KAHIYE, KYA AAPKO KUCHH KAAM HAI HAMSE?

" NAHI SHAHENSHAN AAP JAAIYE. HUM TO BAS AISE HI AAYE THHE

IT WAS THE DAY OF KARVA CHAUTH AND JIDHA WAS A BIT SURPISED AS WELL AS UPSET THAT JALAL DID NOT KNOW ABOUT IT. SHE HAD BEEN OBSERVING THIS FASTING RITUAL FOR MANY YEARS. SO SHE DID HER CUSTOMARY POOJA AND STARTED HER FAST. SHE WOULD NOW ONLY EAT AFTER SHE SAW THE MOON AND TOOK HER HUSBAND's BLESSINGS. IT WAS FAST KEPT BY ALL HINDU WOMEN FOR THE LONG LIFE OF THEIR HUSBAND. SHE FINISHED HER WORK IN THE DAY AND THEN TOWARDS EVENING SHE PROCEEDED TO GET READY. SHE DECKED HERSELF IN BRIDAL FINER, LIKE A NEWLY WED, WEARING SEVERAL BANGLES, SINDOOR, AND OTHER ITEMS OF JEWELLERY. HER PALMS WERE DECORATED WITH HENNA. SHE WAITED FOR JALAL TO COME BACK. SALIM SAT WITH HER AND THEY BOTH TALKED ABOUT LOTS OF THINGS. HE LIKED TO ASK QUESTIONS AND WAS ALWAYS CURIOUS ABOUT EVERYTHING AD SHE LOVED TO SATISFY HIS QUERIES.

MEANWHILE JALAL WAS HAVING A BUSY DAY AT THE MEETING. THERE HAD BEEN NEWS OF SOME UPRISINGS IN THE KINGDOM AND THIS MEETING WAS THE DECIDE THEIR WAR STRATEGY. EACH ATTACK WAS ANYLYSED An PLAN WITH PERFECTION. GENERALS WERE DEPUTED FOR EACH WAR AND ARMY WAS ORDERED TO BE ON TE READY.

WHEN IT WAS DUSK A SENTRY ENTERED THE MEETING WITH APOLOGIES AND SAID THAT THERE WAS SOMEONE TO MEET KUNWAR MAAN SINGH. JALAL WAS SURPRISED AND WAS EVEN MORE ZAPPED WHEN HE SAW MAAN SNG BLUSHING AND EXCUSING HIMSELF FROM THE MEETING FOR A WHILE. MAANSING CAME BACK INTO THE MEETING IN FIFTEEN MINUTES AND WAS BLUSHING EVEN MORE. HIS FACE HAD A HUGE SMILE. JALAL WAS COMPLETELY FLABBERGASTED SEEING HIM. HE TOOK MAANSINGH ALONE ASIDE AND ASKED HIM WHAT THE HELL WAS THE MATTER. MAAN SINGH AVOIDED ANSWERING THE QUESTION AND KEPT SAYING THAT EVERYTHING WAS FINE. BUT JALL WANTED THE FULL INFO. WITH GREAT RELUCTANCE MAAN SINGH EXPLAINED TO JALAL THAT HIS VISITOR WAS RAJKUMARI MAYA OF THE PRINCELY STATE OF BHARATPUR, A SHORT DISTANCE AWAY FROM AGRA

" WO TO TEEK HAI MAAN SINGH. AAP HAMEIN YE BATAIYE KI WO IS TARAH AAPSE MILNE KYON AAYI?

MAAN SINGH WAS SILENT. AFTER MUCH COAXING HE REPLIED

" SHAHENSHAH RAJKUMARI MAYA AUR HUM EK DOOSRE SE PREM KARTE HAIN. HUM VIVAAH BHI KARNA CHAHTE HAIN. AAJ TO WO ACHANAK YAHAN ISSLIYE AAYI KYONKI WO HAMEIN YE BATANA CHAHTE THHI KI UNHONE AAJ HAMARE LIYE KARVA CHAUTH KA VRAT RAKHA HAI

MAAN SINGH'S FACE WAS COMPLETELY RED. JALAL, HOWEVER, WAS HAPPY TO HEAR AOF THIS ALLIANCE TO BE. SUDDENLY HIS SMILE VANISHED

" KYA ? AAJ KARVA CHAUT HAI? YA KHUDA HUM BHOOL KAISE GAYE? AAJ TO HAMARI KHAIR NAHI. JODHA BEGUM TO BHOOKI PYAASI AUR NARAAZ HAMARA INTEZAAR KAR RAHI HONGI

HE THEN WRAPPED THE MEETING UP FAST AND LEFT FOR THE PALACE. JODHA HAD JUST GIVEN SALIM HIS DINNER AND WAS MAKING HIM SLEEP BY TELLING HIM A STORY. SHE WAS HUZNGRY AND ANGRY. WHEN JALAL ENTERED HER HOJRA SHE TURNED HER FACE THE OTHER WAY, PRETENDING THAT SHE HAD NOT SEEN HIM. JALAL'S FACE FELL.

" JODHA BEGM HAMEIN MAAF KAR DEEJIYE. KAAM MEIN ISS KADR KHO GAYE KI YAAD NAHI RAHA KI AAJ KA DIN KAUN SA HAI...

" SHAHENSHA AAP HIMSE MAAFI KYON MAANG RAHE HAIN. AAP SHAHENSHAH HAIN. ITNI CHHOTI CHHOTI BAATEIN AAPKO THODI NA YAAD REHTI HONGI. SALTANAT KE KARYA Mein AAP ITNA VYAST HOTE HAIN KI AAPKO KISI KI PARVAAH KARNE KA SAMAY HI NAHI MILTA HOGA.

" AAP,E ROOTHNA JAAYAZ HAI PAR ZARA HAMARI TARAF EK BAAR TO DEKHIYE. MAANA KI HUMSE BHOOL HO GAYI PAR AAP HAMARI BEGUM HAIN. ISS BHOOL KO SUDHAARNE KA MAUKA TO DEEJIYE HAMEIN.

JALAL CAME NEAR HER AND SAT DOWN ON THE BED. SLOWLY HE TURNED HER FACE TOWARDS HIM. HE OPENED A BOX THAT HE HAD GOT ALONG AND SLIPPED THE TWO BEAUTIFUL KANGANS IN HER ARMS. THEY WERE MADE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE DIAMONDS.

". AAP KYA SAMAJHTE HAIN SHAHENSHAH. AAPNE YE KANGAN HAMEIN DIYE HAIN TO KYA HUM ROOTHNA BAND KAR DENGE? AAPKO LAJJA NAH AATI HAI? EK TO BHOOL KARTE HAIN AUR USSPAR RISHWAT DEKAR HAMEIN MANANE KI KOSHISH KAR RAHE HAIN.

" KAMAAL HAI JODHA BEGUM. YE RISHWAT THODI NA HAI. HUM To APNI KHOOBSOORAT BEGUM KE LIYE EK KHOOBSOORAT NAZRAANA LAYE HAIN.

SHE GOT UP AND MOVED AWAY FROM HIM. HE FOLLOWED AND TOOK HER IN HIS ARMS. SHE STUGFLED FOR A WHILE, BUT SOON MELTED IN HIS LOVE. BOTH OF THEM STOOD EMBRACING EACH OTHER FOR A LONG TIME. JALAL KISSED HER FOREHEAD.

" AAIYE JODHA BEGUM. AAP PEHLE APNA VRAT KHOLIYE AUR KUCHH KHA LIJIYE

THEY BOTH STEPPED INTO THE BALCONY. THE MOON WAS SHINING. SHE GOT HER POOJA THAALI, TOOK OUT THE KALSH AND THREW WATER ON THE GROUND. SHE THEN PICKED UP THE SIEVE AND WATCHED THE MOON THROUGH IT, KEEPING A DIYA INSIDE THE SIEVE. THEN SHE MOVED HER HEAD AND SAW JALAL IN THE SAME MANNER. THEN SHE DID HIS AARTI AND TUCHED HIS FEET TO TAKE HIS BLESSINGS. HE BLESSED HER, FILLED HER PART WITH SINDOOR AND GAVE HER WATER TO DRINK. AT FIRST WHEN JODHA BEGUM HAD STARTED FASTING FOR KARVA CHAUTH, JALAL HAD DISMISED TE IDEA AS FUNNY. BUT THROUGH TH YEARS HE SAW THE DEDICATION AND LOVE WITH WHICH SHE OBSERVED THE RITUAL, AND H WAS FILLED WITH HUMILIT, GRATITUDE AND LOVE.

HE THEN INSTRUCTED THE MAID TO LAY THEIR DINNER. HE FED HER WITH HIS ON HANDS. AFTER THIR MEAL THEY SAT ON THE BALCONY BENCH FOR A LONG TIME, SHARING THEIR DAY AND OTHER THOUGHTS. BOTH OF THEM CHERISHED SUCH MOMENS OF SOLITUDE THAT THEY SPENT WITH EACH OTHER. LATER BOTH OF THEM SLEPT PEACEFULLY IN HER ROOM TOGETHER.

COMING UP PART 8 MAAN SING's WEDDING AND SALIM