Gazing out at the full moon, the young lady's thoughts travelled from him to the sight before her, and again to him. All that she had heard from the maids, all that he did yesterday night, wasn't leaving her mind.
Does he really care for me? Do I really mean something to him? Or...was it only out of guilt?
Many more questions like these wandered aimlessly in the depths of her mind. The optimist in her wanted to believe that she mattered to him as much as he did to her. But the realist in her had a much better argument - he cared and prayed for her life, because it was him who had put it at stake. All the care was borne out of guilt and nothing else. If he really ever cared for her, would he insult her the way he had been doing all last month? No!
...
The sound of footsteps brought her back from her reverie. Even before she had turned back, she had known the entrant - It was him.
If it had been someone else, she would have probably stayed a bit longer at the window, but it was this man, someone she couldn't afford not to look at!
She was about to lift her hand from the window sill, when the sight of another hand just beside hers made her stop.
Jalal was now standing just beside her, his eyes fixed on the moon above. As she kept looking at him, he slowly turned his gaze from the moon to her.
Realizing that he was now looking at her, she fumbled with her words, "Sheh..." But before the word could complete, Jalal had already begun, " Toh aap iss chaand ko dekh rahi thi, hai na?" ( So you were watching the moon, right?) Glancing once again at the celestial object, he asked her, looking straight in her eyes.
It had been almost a month since the last time he had spoken to her normally while also standing so close! This feeling, although peaceful, made a little nervous.
Jalal perhaps knew what was bothering his lady. He decided to wait instead of chiming into another conversation, straightaway.
An unusually long silence prevailed between the two of them. But the silence was only limited to the tongue, the eyes never failed to express how delighted they were to feel each other's presence after so long!
"Haan...bohot shaanti milti hai chandrama ko dekh kar..." ( Yes, it gives me immense peace to look at it!) Jodha began in a low voice.
"Tab toh lagta hai aapko kaafi shaanti mil chuki hai, chaliye baithkar baat karte hain ab!" ( It seems you've already got a lot of peace, let's sit and talk! )Jalal replied in his usual fun way, his eyes never leaving hers.
After both of them had taken their seats, Jalal began, " Hum aapko batane aaye the ki kal subah aap aur hum ek safar par ja rahe hain..." ( I had come to tell you that tomorrow morning you and I are leaving for a trip...)
He paused to gauge her expressions at this announcement, which seemed a bit of surprise, and a bit of something he couldn't recognize. Then continued, " Aapki Zindagi bakshne ke liye Allah ka shukriya Adaa karne hum Sheikh Salim Chisti ke yahaan dua maangne jayenge..." (We'll go to Sheikh Salim Chisti's place to thank Allah for returning your life...) His tone turned softer and eyes lowered as he spoke.
" Haan...humne suna tha ye sab toh...par humein laga tha aap humein nahi le jayenge..." ( Yes, I know that...but I thought you won't take me...) Her questioning eyes and somewhat puzzled expression made Jalal smile.
" Accha... toh agar hum aapko na le jaate, toh kya aap ye baat maan jaanti?" ( Oh...so would you agree if I didn't take you along?) A smirk slowly making it's way on his face, he replied to her question.
She hadn't expected this answer. For a while, she just stared at him, amazed at her man, and how much he knew her!
Grasping what exactly was going on in her mind, he continued, " Itna toh hum aapko jaan hi gaye hain Jodha Begum! Aur fir woh Baaghin hi kya, jo zidd na kare, hai na?!" ( I know you this much at least, Jodha Begum. And then again, what's a tigress who isn't stubborn?) He waited for a response, that innocent look perfectly placed on his face.
But the response never came. In place of an answer, a slight smile slowly spread across Jodha's face, turning into a giggle as he joined in.
As he paused for a while to have an intent look at her, Jalal realized how much he had missed this carefree chuckle of Jodha. And now when this smiling girl was back, he would make sure she never vanishes again!
"To iss baar aapke kehne se pehle hi humne aapki zidd maan li hai, par iska matlab ye nahi ki aap apna dhyaan na rakhein aur humein apni bahaduri dikhayein. Hum apne saath aapki saari dawayein lekar jayenge, samajh gayi aap?" ( So this time I have agreed to your demand even before you asked for it, but that doesn't mean you don't care for yourself and act brave. We'll take all your medicines along with us, okay?) To this, Jodha agreed like an obedient student.
Jalal smiled a little at her, and said, " Humein kal hi nikalna hai, toh ab aap aaraam farmaiye. Shabba Khair, Jodha Begum!" ( We have to leave tomorrow, you take rest. Good Night, Jodha Begum!)
At the exit, he turned back again, perhaps to collect the smile which she hadn't returned. And as if involuntarily, she smiled as soon as her eyes met his, making Jalal smile wider!
As he left the room, feeling more elated than he had expected to, she sunk in the couch...thinking of what magic this man does to her.
...
"Uff...kya Jaadu kar diya hai Shehenshah ne humari sakhi par...aajkal kahin aur hi khoi rehti hai..." ( Uff...What magic has the Emperor done to my friend, she always lost somewhere...) Moti remarked while adjusting the table.
Jodha looked up at her, while Moti just smiled meaningfully. She wanted to say something to her notorious words, but somehow, words were in no mood to express themselves.
She looked down again.
Moti laughed seeing the thoughtful Jodha, while she again was surrounded by a number of thoughts. And somewhere, between all those various kinds of questions and deductions, there was one particular word that stood apart - love.
...
The Next Morning.
Adjusting the veil of the simple commoner's dress that Jalal had sent for her, Jodha looked at herself in the mirror. The dark blue of the dress was a wonderful contrast to her milky white skin.
Being a royal by birth, she wasn't used to the sight in front of her. Almost all the time, she had those heavy neckpieces and other jewels all over her. It was on those rare occasions like this one that she realized the fact that beauty lies in simplicity.
And it wasn't entirely about beauty alone, it was about the inner calmness that came along with simplicity. She felt lighter today, for the burden of royalty was now off her shoulders, even though for a short while.
Her ears registered the announcement of his arrival, and she stood up to see him.
There he was, sure enough, looking even more charming as a typical, chubby Marwari. She couldn't help but smile at her man.
Catching her looking at him, Jalal instantly looked down for a moment. It was'nt less than a treat for him to see his very own Jodha Begum drooling over him! A slight blush and a tiny smile...any onlooker would describe his face this way!
Not that he was charmed by her any less. She looked exquisite in blue, and the minimal jewelry made her glow in the radiance of her natural beauty.
Another long silence between them in a day, this was! And like the last time, Jalal's voice brought it to an end.
"Mhaari Gharaali Sa toh aaj badi sundar laag ri hai!" ( My wife looks very beautiful today!) The mischievous Jalal with his charming smile was back with these words.
Jodha was taken aback by the fluency her dear husband had in Marwari. But it was only momentary surprise, for she continued to play along.
"Aaj toh mhaare bhartaar bhi kuchh kam saje dhaje na laag re...Kahin ghoomne ja rahe ho ke?" (Today even my husband looks quite good, you are going somewhere or what?) A grin spread across her face as said.
Now it was more fun than anything else. They were both loving this banter to no end.
"Ji Haan Sethani Sa, socha aaj apni beendni sang thodi sair kar lun..." ( Yes Miss, I thought to have a tour with my wife...) Jalal kept on looking at her, his expression still the same as before.
"Toh fir raah kiski taak re ho? Chaalo ji, kahin der na ho jaaye thane..." ( Then whom are you waiting for? Let's go, otherwise you'll be late...) She laughed as she pointed towards the door, and Jalal joined in the bunch of giggles echoing through the room!
...
All soldiers, maids, and the few healers had been strictly instructed to follow the royal couple, but always to maintain a significant distance from them. Any kind of caravan with the couple could be a giveaway of their identity.
...
The palace had been left far behind by the time of dusk. They were approaching a patch of not-so-dense woods now, after which lay the town they would spend the night in.
...
Peaceful. That was all the young Empress could describe her current situation with.
The four walls of the palace had made her love the blanket of nature. And this was one such day, when she wasn't a princess or queen, just a commoner, free to do what she wants to. This was a day, when she could feel the greens around her and enjoy the blows inflicted by the swift breeze. Above all, this was a day when she was enjoying all this - with him.
For Jalal, the situation wasn't a lot different, except for the fact that it was even more pleasant for him.
They had been walking quietly from long now. But that doesn't mean no conversations had taken place. For the two of them, often silence had spoken more than words ever will.
"Manne suna hai ki thane mhaaro bado dhyaan rakho Seth Ji?" ( I have heard you took care of me?) Jodha suddenly started while looking straight ahead.
The sudden query and it's nature surprised Jalal, but he was soon ready with an answer.
"Kyun Sethani Sa? Apni Gharaali ka dhyaan rakhno koi apraadh hai ke?" ( Why? To care for your own wife is no crime, right?)
She had been expecting this sort of an answer, and hence kept on looking ahead.
"Accha! Par thaari aur bhi toh gharaaliyan hai na, thane unko dhyaan toh kabhi raakhyo aise?" She said, her tone getting sharper. ( Oh! But you have other wives too right, I haven't seen you doing that to any of them before?)
This statement of Jodha made Jalal stop walking. He paused where he was and turned to look at her. Looking straight into those honey-colored eyes, he said, " Kyunki woh sab humesha Shehenshah ki Begum hi thin aur rahengi Jodha Begum...kabhi apne shauhar ki biwi nahi ban saktin..." ( Because they are all the King's queens Jodha Begum...they would never be their husband's wife...)
And he looked away after that. Jodha realized probably she shouldn't have said that. But then, how would she get a chance to hear so touching a comment from him?
Does that mean I do mean something to him?
She hadn't expected him to say what he just had, and Jalal knew this. He mentally cursed himself for getting so out-of-control in front of her. To ease things out, he again looked at her, a soft smile back.
"Ab kya sochan laagi Gharaali Sa? Woh dekh, gaaon aa gaya se, yahin koi saraai le leve hain..." ( Now what are you thinking? See there, that's the village we have to stay in...) And he simply looked ahead, trying not to meet her eyes.
Even Jodha thought it was best to stay away from the complicated matters of the heart for a while.
...
At The Rest House
The rest house in the village was a small set of huts built in an enclosed area. Though it wasn't lavish like the royal couple was used to, it made a nice, comfy, little room to rest in.
A thatch sheet lay in the middle of the hut. Jodha brushed it a little and signaled Jalal to lie down and rest.
"Pehle aap let jao Sethani Sa...itni yaatra karke aayi ho...thaak gi hogi..." ( First you take rest, Jodha Begum...you have been through such a long trip, must be tired...) Jalal said with concern reflecting in his eyes.
"Arrey na na Seth Ji...itna bhi na chaali se main...pehla aap vishraam kar lo, aap bhi toh thaak ge hoge na..." ( No Shehenshah...I haven't walked that much...you come rest first, you must be tired too...) She replied calmly, with no sign of the long walk's effect on her face.
A knock on the door interrupted the conversation of the couple. As Jodha opened it, an elderly lady made her way inside the room, placed the bowl in her hands on a table nearby, and said with a sweet smile, " Thaaro lep ban gayo se Bhaya...Kuchh aur kaam ho toh manne bol diyo...Shubh Raatri!" ( Your medicine is ready. If you need something else, do call me. Good night!)
Before she could leave, Jalal's voice entered her ears.
"Sethani Sa, Ye lep manne thaare liye mangvaayo hai, dekho toh, thaare pair kitne sooj gaye hain itni lambi yaatra se, ab tu wahaan baith, aur manne shaanti se lep lagaavann de..." ( Jodha Begum, I have ordered this medicine for you, just see, your legs have swelled up due to all the walking. Now you just sit there, and let me treat them...) Even through the Marwari accent, Jalal's commanding tone could easily be distinguished.
Jodha rose up in protest. " Kaisi baat kare ho Seth Ji? Aap mhaare pair na chhoo sako ho bass, woh lep manne do, main swayam laga sakun hun..." ( What are you saying Shehenshah? You can't touch my feet and that's it. Give me the medicine, I can apply it myself.)
Meanwhile, neither of them had paid much attention to their onlooker, who was much amazed by the conversation she had just heard. Before either of them could continue, she began, " Naya joda laago ho tum dono manne, Ghane chokho laago ho ek duje ke sang, kisi ki naza na lage! Ghana prem karo ho na ek duje se?" ( You seem like a newly-married couple to me. You took look perfect together! You both love each other a lot, right?) The lady smiled knowingly as she said those last words.
She had already got the attention of both Jodha and Jalal. By the time she had finished, both of them were almost red with embarrassment.
Realizing that the lady was still waiting for an answer, Jalal slowly looked up to her smiling face, and replied, " Ji Bilkul Sa...Main aur mhaari Gharaali ek duje se Ghana prem karein hain, kyun Sethani sa?" ( Yes...We do love each other a lot, right Jodha Begum?)
Jodha instantly looked up at Jalal, not able to believe what he had just so casually said!
Did he just say...?!!
Jalal's voice brought her back again. " Ke huvo Sethani Sa, Manne kuchh galat bol diyo ke?" ( What happened Jodha Begum, did I say something wrong?)
She just kept on staring at him, while words escaped on their own. " Na Na Seth Ji, Aapne bilkul chokhi baat kahi se..." ( No, Shehenshah...you said it perfectly right...) Now looking him straight in his eyes, she said, " Hun Bhi Apne Bhartaar se Ghana prem karun chhoon..." ( I too love my husband a lot...)
A long pause again, perhaps longer than ever before, with both of them lost somewhere in each other's glimmering eyes.
"Ghano hi chokho Jodo hai...Maa Ambe kripa karein! Shubh Ratri!" (What a lovely couple you two make! May Goddess Amba bless you...Good Night!) The old lady smiled her widest in recent times, and with one look at the two of them, left the room.
That night, neither of them could sleep. But then, an unusual and revealing night like this one deserves some pondering over, doesn't it?
...
Thank you for reading! 😃
CID
94