Thank you all for bearing with me ... I had to rush through this chapter and did not want to waste much time with the accident and recovery ...and Salim's birth .., I tried my best to transistion a 3 and 1/2 years leap ...was wondering if I should change it but decided to post it anyways ... Just warning you may not like this chappy
Thanks for reading and supporting me with your likes and reviews 😊😊😊
Have a happy weekend ...more surprises coming up in the next chapter
Part 19
"Jodha leave before I call the police" Ruks whispered angrily, Jo glances inside the waiting area, Abdulbhai, Mirza, Surya, moti, HB were involved in deep conversation, they did not seem to notice Jo's arrival "what part of leave do you not understand" grabs her hand and pulls her out into the hallway, Bakshi walks towards them
"
"Bhabhi ...please ... don't get worked up over her, we'll take care of her ... bhaijaan life is in your hands and in your womb ... we don't anything to happen to both" Bakshi placing her arms around Ruks tries to calm her down
Ruks shakes Bakshi's hands away and marches straight into Jo's face "you've proved yourself ... I accepted you in mine and Jalal's life as the other woman who kept him happy in bed ...even knowing I was pregnant with his child" she hesitates, looks at Bakshi for support and continues "even when his mother and our whole family was against you, but you are so selfish and greedy ... you want me out of his life, you can't accept that Jalal would never divorce me" Jo gives her a puzzled look "don't pretend like you don't know what I am talking about, I heard him talking with you on the phone at Bakshi's wallima, he was tell you about ending his relationship with you ... he did not to marry you but would keep you on the sdie as his mistress ...what you did after shows us you are only after his money ... Get out now, you are not part of this family anymore"
Jo gives Ruks a clueless, puzzled look, "I don't know what you are talking about, you know that is not true ... he was going to divorce you" then tries to walk back into the waiting room, Ruks was crazy ...Jo needed to talk to Abdulbhai, Ruks stops her ...she tries to get their attention but Ruks grabs her instructs her bodyguard to shut the door and asks Bakshi to leave them alone ...Bakshi leaves
"I know he loves me Ruks and would want me by his side ... please let me just see him once" Jo she begs "let his mother and brother tell me to leave, then I'll leave"
Ruks comes close to Jo and whispers "Please? Remember when I asked you to stay away from Jalal, I told you he was mine, what did you do instead ...you wrapped your legs around his waist and stuck your boobs on his face and sucked him into your clutches ... so now stop singing the famous wh**e song he loves me more than you and get out because in the sight of law I am still his wife and you are nothing and look they don't even care, they are involved in their own problems"
Shaken by Ruks attitude Jo looks to his family for help, they seemed to be deep conversation ... arguement ... Jo was not sure ... and for the second time in a month ... she clearly saw where she stood in the eyes of his family ...as far as she was concerned she was nothing ...to them ...but she knew she could count on Mirza, Abdulbhai, Moti, Surya for support ... but to get to them was a problem in itself with Ruks, Bakshi and their bodyguards ...
"Do you even know what really happened? What your father did Rukiaya? I'll go to the police, I still have all the evidence Jalal gave me from the last time and now ...they can also pull up video footage from security videos to prove ...I narrowly escaped with my life ... I'll send your father to jail ..."
Ruks pulls her further away from the door and hisses "I don't care to know, I am sure he behaved like any father would to protect his daughter and grandchild's future ... you set the fire, that is arson, the police can put you in jail ... My father has burns but nothing that plastic surgery can't fix but on the flip side ... Jalal is fighting for his life, right now his life is in my hands. As his legal wife, I have all the rights to everything about Jalal that includes with wealth and life. The doctors tell me he might be paralysed and might never breathe on his own... If I tell the doctors Jalal never wanted to be on life support and would never be happy living a non productive life dependent on others, they will have to listen to me ...if you want him to live, I want you to leave, no, I actually want you to disappear from our lives, if you don't I'll have them take Jalal off the ventilator ...and end his life"
Jo's heart stopped as she stared at Ruks in disbelief ...not wanting to believe what she just heart "No, No, you did not just say that ...you would never do that ..you love him too..." Jo mutters shaking her head
Ruks laughs her voice a nasty frog like croak "Yes I would, by any means I am still his wife and have to power to make decisions for him regarding his life and finances ...I will explain to the doctors that Jalal had decided when he had his heart attack that a life through a machine was not worth living and did not to be placed on the ventilator and Jalal would never want a life of an invalid"
"His ammijaan, Mizra and Abdul bhai will fight you"
"Really, what can they do? See them there" Ruks laughs again "Friday before the court closed my legal team responded to Jalal's divorce petition by filing a response and request for stay in divorce proceedings until the completion of six months of mandatory counseling, so now as far as the legal systems are concerned I am Jalal's legal wife and his conservator ... he does not have a living will and the prenup is valid only when we separate, I have the most legal rights over him now"
Ruks looked serious as she continued "You walked in and out of the ICU lobby, Abdul, Mirza and ammijaan even your friends were busy talking, they did not even notice you, they did not care ...that's because they are engrossed deeply discussing the petition my legal team filed on Friday ... Jalal is no position to respond, so legally I can take over moghul dynasty, as his wife I can make all the financial decision on his behalf ... I can make all his personal decisions ... I am his sole conservator ... I can take Jalal off the ventilator and I will be the sole heir to the moghul wealth ... so now it is up to you ... If you want Jalal to remain on the ventilator I want you to disappear from the face of the earth ... if you don't my father will come after you and kill you and go after your parents and family, so if you know what is good for you will leave immediately ...and remember ...If you go to the police, if you go to the press, if you tell anyone about my father ...I'll have Jalal taken of the ventilator" she frowns, her eyes darken "by any means necessary .."
"How could you ...you are insane" Jo whispers still not sure what to believe ..her heart was breaking in chest hearing Ruks, her mind was reeling with the possibility of Jalal dying because of she did not listen to Ruks ...there was no doubt in her mind that Ruks would go through with what she said ...she had to stay quiet, she could not go to the police ...
"How could I?" Ruks laughs again "I can because I was the woman that stood and watched as he threatened me with divorce, threatened to take my baby away from once born, threatened to take away my rights to his weath ...and brought his mistress to my house and slept with her under my own roof...that why I can, I want revenge for what he did to me ... so, now that you know you decide if you want Jalal to live or die ... as far as I am concerned, whether living or dead, I have control of the mughal dynasty, tables are turned I am the most important person now, the press and the whole world feels bad for me ... I am poor pregnant wife that dealt with the agony of a cheating husband and now has to deal with the vengeance of an angry mistress"
"What if wakes up and asks for me? I know he will fine, deep down my heart tells me my Jalal will be fine, he will wake up, I feel it in my soul" Jo counters ...still in the process of trying to comprehend Ruks intention ... "Even if I go, you can't separate us, he is my soulmate." Jo whispers as tears surface realizing Ruks was serious with her threat
Ruks eyes narrowed as her lips twitched into an ugly smirk, the laughs again "funny how you say you are soul mates" laughs again "yet your soul did not know he was going to get into an accident ...he would be fighting for his life twice in the same month" Jo looks around to see if Mirza, HB, Abdulbhai ..Surya, Moti had noticed her, she hoped they would come out,
Ruks snaps her fingers to get her attention "Look here, this is the time for you to prove your love ...if you love and value Jalal's life, you'll get as far away from his life as possible ... you are the cause of so much pain in my life, if you don't leave, I will have them take him off the ventilator and your love will be dead"
"I hate you Ruks, I don't how I thought you had kindness in you ... you are as fake as your body, I hope you die" Jo screams ... "I really hope you die, you killed my baby, and now ... chii"
Ruks does not respond, through tears Jo realizes that the rest of the family was still engrossed in conversation ... Bakshi was the only one watching them ...
Baksi walks out and pushes her against the wall "Don't cus my bhabi ... I hope you die, because you messed my brother's life, it is because of you ... you called him and he drove like crazy ... he is fighting for his life, if you would have come for the walima you would not have been stuck at home alone and there would have been no need to call him after the fire started ... and why did you call my bhaijaan, why did you not call 911 for fire rescue, for the police ...if only... you did not call my bhaijaan, he would still be alive"
"Yes, if it was not for you ...my poor bhaijaan will not be going through ..." She sobs as Ruks bodyguard guides her away from Jo ...
Baksi smirks "You need to leave, you don't belong here ... Mrs Jalaluddin Mohammed his wife is here to take care of him" she pushes her out
Jo stood watching as she walked back in ...Ruks stops by Jo and whispers "don't forget what I told you, if you want to see him dead ...stay ...otherwise disappear and one more thing, don't try to contact Abdulbhai, Mirza, Surya, Moti or even your parents ..., don't come anywhere near us, it you tell your parents what happened and they come after me or my father ... my father's men will find you and kill you and destroy your family... you were my friend once, so I will help you...I will not give the police or the press information about you ...but if you even step anywhere close to this hospital, talk to the press or try to contact anyone connected with Jalal ... I will ...I will give them these" Ruks pulls out Jalal's phone from her pocket and shows her stored images ... Jo was shocked beyond imagination ...naked pictures of herself in bed, Jalal must have taken them while she was sleeping ... Jo had left her phone on Jalal's nightstand as well ... "don't even email them, because then we can track you IP address and track you ..."
Ruks laughs ... "I can make millions by just selling these pictures to the press ... And then there are videos of you and Jalal ..." she plays one, Jo instantly freezes shocked ...Ruks flicks her hand and the eerie voice of her laughters brings Jo out of her dazed shock "the sex and passion you both share is wilder than the po*n movies I have seen ...Just imagine if I sell these videos ...Right now the press is trying to figure what his mistress looks like ...If you walk out of his life, you secret will be safe ...we will not release your identity ...you can move away from here and roam around freely, no one will hound you ...but if you try to come back, I will release the pictures and videos which bring shame on you and your family and then the paparazzi will not leave you alone, naked images of you will be on the web ...so think before you decide to ever think about contacting Jalal, Abdul or Mirza again"
Jo wanted to believe Ruks threat was a bluff ...but knew deep down that Ruks meant every word she said ...she had to leave ...for the sake of Jalal's life, she had to leave and ...she had to do it for him, knowing when he came around he would not understand ...
As she walked out, she was a mess ...she avoids the press, pulls her hoodie over her head wears large shades and walks out quietly ...unnoticed ...
A month later
A very tired Jo waits for the next metro rail to take her work at 10pm, Jo begins working at the hospital as housekeeping staff ... this way she got to see Jalal from far as she was not allowed into the ICU unknown to Ruks and rest of the family ... peak hour crowds had died down...it had just started raining ...Jo pulls her jacket tighter around her slim body ... gets into the train, takes a corner seat for the 45 minute ride to the hospital, she leans against the seat to support her tired, aching body ... There were tears in her eyes, Jalal was still on the ventilator ... "we have done everything possible, there is nothing left to try, he is deteriorating fast" Jo recalls Jalal's doctor's voice as he spoke with Jalal's family over the phone ... hounds her thoughts...she had spent the day at the temple praying for Jalal...thats what the past month had been like ...all day spent at shri Durga temple ...went home briefly and then later at night went to work ...hoping for a chance to see Jalal ...to be near him
Later that night she gets an opportunity ... Jalal's nurse stepped away begins talking to the doctor at the nursing stationl Jo slips into Jalal's room ...knowing she would lose her job if she gets caught. Jo sit on the edge of the bed, head bowed low as tears rolled down her cheeks, eyes bouncing between the man lying on the bed, tubes coming out of his mouth, nose ...surrounded by monitors with a constant click and woosh of the respirator and beep followed by green line measuring the beats of his heart ...
"Jalal" she whispered amidst tears "oh Jalal, I can finally touch you ... why did this have to happen to us? when did you take so many naked pictures of me ...why did you take videos of us making love? now I know what you meant when you said, 'even when I'm away from you, you are with me stirring and easing my passion" running a finger along his chin "when you left, you promised you'll come back home early, I'm ready and still waiting" she sobbed softly, reaching up with her other hand, swept it across his forehead, her fingers lingered on the blood stained bandages ... "Jalal, please come back to me, don't leave me" she begs "can you hear me? Squeeze my hand if you can" No response "Jalal, do you remember what you said to me after Bakshi's wedding? You promised me that we would never be apart, I am counting on you to keep that promise Jalal," He did not respond, the only movement she could see was the rise and fall of his chest. Jo continued to talk to him, reminding him of the times they spent together "I've never been so happy" recalling the memories "you are the answer to my prayers ...I'll be waiting for you ...every day, I will not live my life without you"
Jo thinks about telling him all that happened ...but decides against it, she did not to add to his problems and tearfully continues "I cannot lose you Jalal, I cannot survive without you, our story is not over, and this cannot be the end" threading her fingers with his, squeezes them, leans over and kisses his bandaged forehead, Jo tears pool in on Jalal's taped eyes ... Jo hears footsteps and retreats away from him quickly ...as she steps out of the ICU her luck runs out, she runs right into Rukiaya and her bodyguard ...
"Bitch, I told you to stay away from him" she yells, looks at her ID "Divya Khan? Impersonating are you? ...I'll have you thrown in jail for this" Jo quickly runs away before the security staff arrive through the back halls and exits out, hears Ruks yelling "you'll pay for this, I'll release your identity to the press and the police, the media and paparazzi will take care of hounding you, destroy your life and your family's honor"
Jo rushes out ...Jo was prepared for something like this to happen ... jumps into a cab and flees away back to the tiny one bedroom studio apartment she shared with Divya Khan ... Once inside the apartment slumps on the couch ...that had been her bed for the past month, closing her eyes, memories flood her brain ...memories of the fateful night of the fire that changed her life ... after leaving running out of Jalal's house ...getting into the car ...
"Hi, I'm Divya Khan"
Jo was still in shock to speak, sits silently, her body shaking uncontrollably as thunder rolled in her mind assaulted with memories of events ...Jo lets out a loud sob, she had reached the end of her rope, couldn't take it anymore, was tired of battling within herself ...thought of the destruction, wanted to go back for Jalal's sake, he needed an explanation, battled with herself ..she was too shaken, she closes and hers ...passes out...
She wakes up on a couch and nervously looks around, an almost empty room ..a small table, two chairs, sink overflowing with dirty dishes, toys scattered around the room ... memories of the night before floods her thoughts ...tears take over
"Don't worry ... shit happens in life ...it will be okay" rough hands massaged her shoulders as a soft feminine voice comforted her
"hey, I'm Divya, I usually never stop and pick up hitch hikers, but something about you, in a robe ...made me ... you are an answer to my prayers"
Jo looks up and sees a frail young women ..just skin and bones ...eyes sunken in ... maybe in her 30's ..she had the warmest smile on her face
"Everything in life happens for a reason ... last night I got off work early ...the usual route I take was blocked off due to an accident and my GPS rerouted me off highways to side streets ...you came into my life ...I am so glad"
Jo listens as Divya explains "My parents died when I was a small girl I grew up in the orphanage in Sikkim and was adopted by an older Canadian couple who volunteered for the UN when I was 15 years old ... soon I met and married the love of my life, he was from Pakistan ...my son Rahim was born soon after ...5 yrs after my son was born I was diagnosed with breast cancer ... my life has gone down hill since, a year ago I lost my adoptive parents and husband, they were on a voluntary trip for the UN, on a mission to Somalia and their plane crashed ...I had to take a job as a housekeeper at the hospital to help me pay the bills ...the doctors told me last month I had less than a month to live ...I have been praying everyday since ... the social workers are trying to find a foster home for my son ...but I don't want him to go to foster care ... That's why I think you are an answer to my prayers, will you help me, you don't have to do anything but stay in the house with my son when I work ... last week I got the settlement from the UN and my husband's life insurance that will pay for you and my son"
Jo listened nervously ...her heart thumped, clenching her eyes shut a deep pain overtook her chest, rubs her chest to alleviate the pain ...but relief did not come ...images of the past evening kept hitting her head like a freight train, fast and hard ...
"I can't, my life is a mess now"
The lady walks away, turns the TV on ...
BREAKING NEWS ...
"Billionaire Jalaluddin Mohammed on life support ... fighting for his life after a head on collision ...alcohol and speed blamed on the incident...police investigating. Full details not available but tidbits of information has been dribbling in ...there was evidence of fire in his house where his mistress was left alone, from an unknown source we have information that there was a big fight between the two after Jalal informed her his decision to cut off ties with her since his wife was pregnant also that same evening he refused to allow her to attend a family reception, it has come to our knowledge that she lit his bedroom on fire to get back at him. Witnesses at the reception tell us Jalal was intoxicated when he received a call and left abruptly ...His pregnant wife has confirmed that Jalal did indeed have a mistress that he brought home last evening, she also confirmed the fight and that he left the reception hall after he got a panic call from his mistress, he also got into an argument with his chauffeur when he refused to hand him the keys as he was intoxicated ...Jalal punched and took the keys from the chauffeur and drove himself ... raced to his residence ...his car ran the red light and was struck by oncoming truck ...severe head injuries ...he might be brain dead ...firefighters were able to put out the fire at the residence but no body was found there, police and detectives trying to locate his mistress ...Rukiaya Jalal's pregnant wife refused to give the media any information regarding the billionaire's mistress except 'she is insignificant in our lives at this moment I have forgiven my husband ...
Jo looks up stunned ... Jalal in an accident ??? It cannot be true ... Jalal was a skillful driver ..Jo had seen him drive first hand ...
Deep rooted fears began to surface ... all worries and doubts crowded her thoughts making her fear the outcome ... what if Mr Sultan preplanned Jalal's accident ...? She stared at the television screen and wondered ...
"Are you the other woman ...? I picked you up from outside his residence?"
Jo nods ..."but my life is a mess now ...his uncle, I lit the fire to escape ...his family will hate me even more now" Jo whispers ..."I only wish"
"Don't wish ...its fate ...fate brought you to me ... I did not believe in fate ...but tonight I believe in fate ... now the social worker won't be able to take my son away from me" the woman's soft voice brings her to present.
Jo watches as she walks to the bed "This is my son Rahim ...he is 7 years old, he is all I have left ... I want to give my son to you ...after I die, I wish you to take him back to Pakistan to his father's hometown Kot Khan village his ancestors settled along the river Jhelum, he always told me being the only male heir he owns a lot of wealth ...after we married he got into a fight with his parents and alienated them from us ... I want my son to get to know his grandparents"
Jo was moved to tears as she listened to her forgetting her own problems ...
"Last month when the doctors told me I have less than a month to live, I wrote many letters to my husband's family ... but did not get any reply from them ...it's been a month and I am still alive and working, I feel weak and tired all the time, my neighbor takes care of my son when I am working"
Without going into details Jo tells her about her situation "I'm sorry, I have my own problems to deal with" her eyes glued to the TV "I have to go to Jalal, he needs me" ... Jo leaves immediately borrows yoga pants and hoddie from Divya ...
she returns discouraged and down hearted .and completely broken ... her life was stuck in a tough situation ... Ruks had exercised a lot of control ...Jo knew Ruks could ruin her life ... Jo was not much worried about her life, but was definitely worried about what her parents would have to go through ...
She tells Divya how Ruks threatened to take Jalal off the ventilator if Jo went anywhere near the hospital ... Divya steps in "see fate has other plans ...I work at that hospital ... I work there as a housekeeper ... you can use my ID and work there ...the guy that works the security office can change the picture for me, he is my husband's friend ... Jo agrees ..to help Divya in return, she would go and work at the hospital as a housekeeper in Divya's place ..."that way I can stay at home and enjoy more time with my son"
"You'll meet my boss who is a friend of mine I'll tell her I feel too weak to work and I am sending my sister in my place as I need the money ...she will agree because they all feel bad for me ..."
Jo ended up going everyday to the hospital, no one recognized her ... hung around the ICU during her breaks to get a glimpse of Jalal ... she watched from far as his family visited ... Jo was scared to reach out to them ... after the family left she tries to get into the ICU but fails on many occasions, but never gives up hope ...Ruks had a new bodyguard assigned for Jalal who stayed there all the time, Divya's health was deteriorating fast ... she refused to take further chemo therapy "I'll die anyway why suffer through the side effects of chemo ... Just let me enjoy the last days of my life with my son"
Jo confides in Divya, they become good friends, Jo tells her whole story ...her life with Jalal ... Jo join Divya's efforts to try and reach out to Rahim's grandparents ... without success ...
"Jodha, I have one last idea ... I know I will be dying soon ... since my adoptive parents had good connections with the UN, I can use the money I got from the settlement, I can arrange for us to be taken by a private cargo plane to Pakistan on an UN mission flight, I'll smuggle you in that way, you can go far away from the clutches"
Jo declines "I will take care of your son and do my best Divya to help your son but my priorities lie with Jalal and his recovery ... you know with the court battle going on, he needs me"
Ruks had filed a petition in court to have total control of Jalal's businesses ...
"Don't worry Jo ...you have a good heart, Jalal sounds like a good guy ...true love never fails, keep your faith" Divya encouraged ...
Jo wakes up recalling Ruks threat as she ran from the hospital ... she prayed Ruks would not release any her pictures and videos Jalal had taken and stored on his phone ... her parents would be devastated if they came across her pictures ... her mother was against her wearing even a onepiece swim suit ...
Her tears rock her to sleep ...
The next morning ...
"Jodha ...Jodha" Divya's voice panicking voice wakes her up forcing her to the present "look what's flashing on TV"
"after a many legal battles in courts Mrs Hamida Mohammed is given full control of Moghul Dynasty instead of Mrs Rukiaya Mohammed Jalaluddin Mohammed's wife ...Mrs Hamida Mohammed has expressed her happiness with the positive turnout of events ... she says she will continue to fight for her son under the guidance of Mirza and Abdul Jalal's leadership ...As we all know, it's been over a month Mr Jalaluddin the billionaire met with an accident leaving him in a coma. Doctors report today that his condition showed sudden positive changes, he stable now and early hours of this morning was taken off the ventilator ... he is breathing on his own, his vitals are stable and now just waiting for him to awaken"
Jo's hearts lightens with happiness ... she jumps up and hugs Divya ...pulls back when the next news flash destroys her completely ...Rukiaya had sent her a warning via news media "BREAKING NEWS ...WE HAVE A GLIMPSE OF THE BILLIONAIRE'S MISTRESS, AN IMAGE OF THE WOMAN THAT RUINED THE BILLIONAIRE -JALALUDDIN'S LIFE, this picture SURFACED ON THE INTERNET EARLY THIS MORNING TODAY, WE ARE PROFILING TO GET A GLIMPSE OF THE WOMAN THAT DESTROYED JALAL" Jo's heart sinks deep down again ...
Jo looks up and sees a picture of herself hugging Jalal in a swimsuit ... Jalal's lips on her shoulder, his hands grabbing her butt ... Jo's face not visible but Jo recognizes herself ...her body ...Jo could imagine Ruks smirking ...
"That bitch" Jo whispers under her breath ... " she caught me at the hospital and threatened to destroy me, seems like she is serious with her threat ... I have to get out of here quickly Divya ...now that they know I am here they will track me and kill me"
Divya tells her "my plan is the only one that will get you out of here ... I had my friend make a new passport for you under my name ... and make one for myself under my mother's name ... we can leave in 24 hrs on a cargo flight, we won't get caught"
Jo had no choice but to agree ...she had to leave the country without leaving any clues ...she regretted putting her parents with the torture of their missing daughter ... her father had warned her of Sultan's vengence ...they would think she was murdered ... her heart felt burdened ...but she had no choice ..
A week later they reached the village ... Divya's in law's Mr and Mrs Suleman Khan lived on a farm, the house almost in shambles ... they had 5 small kids "we run an orphanage, we can't give them much but we give them all we can ...these small children depend on us"... and within minutes welcomed her and their grandson into their house "our son used to send us money to run the orphanage when we lived in the city, then a year after he got married he stopped, if only we had known why ...we did not know his wife was suffering with cancer and could not ... if only he told us the truth ..." ...they had no received any letters ...they were shocked to know their son was no more ...later accepted it as fate ..."we live so far away from everyone, the postman comes once a month maybe ...no, internet, TV or phone here ..., we are happy he gave us the comfort of enjoying his son in our old age" they welcomed Jodha too...Divya introduced herself as Jo to her in laws and Jo as Divya as her sister ...Divya lived another 5 weeks before she died peacefully in her sleep ...surrounded by her in laws and Jo ...
"Divya beti, please don't leave us too" Suleman baba begged .. "it is too much for us to bear and it will be too much for Rahim to handle, that poor boy has lost too much in life" Jo was not planning on leaving, she had no where to go ...this was safe haven for her... "please stay here, you can help us in our farm and teach the little children to read and write" They knew there was more to Jo's story but they never asked her ... And Jo never offered to tell ... Jo makes a new life for herself in a short time after leaving Cananda ... lived as Divya Khan ...as far as the villagers were concerned she was Mr and Mrs Suleman's daughter in law ...
Jo agrees ...
4 months later ...
"Divya beti ...wake up, you passed out" Mrs Suleman's hands gently nudged her shoulders "lately you are looking very pale, not eating properly ..." Takes her hand, placing her fingers on her wrist feels for Jo's pulse "if my gut feeling are right, I would say you are pregnant"
The local midwife was called, Jo's pregnancy was confirmed ...Jo's heart leaped to mars in joy ...she was going to have Jalal's baby ... it was all the proof she had of the happy times with Jalal in her life ...a baby, a part of Jalal and her ... "thanks kahnaji" she breathes a quick prayers "this is proof that happiness exists in my life"
3 months later
"Beti, he is such a beautiful boy" Mrs Suleman gushed ... "he is big boy, his daddy must have been a big man"
Jo blushes and shakes her head "no his father is an inch taller than me" she reaches for him and carefully cradles him in her arms ...taking a deep breath thinks of Jalal, wonders if he was still on the ventilator ...being so far away from civilization ...she had no idea of what was going on in Jalal's life, Jo prayed for him everyday ... first thing when she woke up and last thing before she went to bed, she went to the river banks, looked up to the mountains and spoke with Jalal, her voice carried away by the winds ... hoping... praying ...Jo was happy the Suleman's did not ask Jo about the baby's father ...or try to pry into her life ... "my son Salim Mohammed ... the joy of my life" Soon Rahim and Salim become the Joy of her life
A year later ...
"beti, you tell stories so wonderfully, I can spend all day listening to you ...why don't you write a story for this competition, if you win, we'll get 10 lakhs, that will help us rebuild the orphanage, help us buy equipments to help with farming ..."
That's how ...Jo begins writing ... she writes the story of her friend Divya Khan life under pen name Mrs Suliman Khan...her story wins the first prize of 10 lakhs ...the money came in and disappeared quickly ... more and more children were added to the orphanage, soon 5 more older widows joined them ...together they grew vegetables, cooked, cleaned ...as the orphanage grew, the need for money grew as well ...
"Beti ... when I went to town, there was this man looking for you he said he was from Zee TV, some producer wants you to write a story ...for their show, they are willing to give lots of money, if you accept then our money problems will end ... we can buy the property adjacent to ours and we can expand, there are so many orphans and old folks left after the war"
Jo thinks about it ...a week goes by ... Mr and Mrs Suleman encourage Jo to write but don't force her, that night it rains heavily ...heavy winds destroy's part of the roof ...Jo stayed awake with Salim wrapped in her arms, his little body shivering in the cold, Jo could never be able to give him the life Jalal would have given him ...her son deserved better ..Jo always made sure he was safe and secure and comfortable, Jo continued to breast feed him, there were days Jo went without food sharing her share of food the hungry kids in the orphanage ...next morning they found the farm destroyed by the storm as well ... no matter how hard they worked, the orphanage would not be able to recover ...
A local construction company came by and offered their services ... Jo was not happy with the looks the owner gave her ... normally when Jo went out of the orphanage she always wore a burka ...so she could remain hidden ... this guy gave her the creeps ... just before he left he propositioned Jo ...winks "I can cut the estimate by half, if you agree to give your beautiful widowed daughter in law as my 3rd wife ..."
Mr Suleman chased him out ...later after dinner the older couple spoke to Jo again,
"we love you like our daughter ..." he stared ...almost in tears, but we are old ..."we can't protect you for ever ... but we know you will take care of heritage ...this orphanage for us"
" beti ..I don't know all of your life's story, I don't know and don't want to know about your relationship with your husband or parents, you are so kind hearted that tells me you have wonderful parents... I also do know you are an educated woman, I see you how you quickly helped me with keeping the accounts here ... your son deserves more ...you have been running away and down too long, now atleast for the sake of your son, you have to come up in life ... Life is hard, painful and scary ... you should never give up and accept fate ...as long as you have breath in your soul ...the love you have for your son can change your fate" Jo listens quietly as he continues "there will be other men like the contractor coming after you ... just think what will happen when this place crumbles down, you will be at the mercy of others for the upkeep of this place ...we don't have a set income, but if you write stories for the TV you could be independent ..."
Jo gives the conversation a lot of thought ... and finally his suggestions made sense ... decides to write ... she discusses her plans with Mr and Mrs Suleman and keeps the pen name Mrs Suleman Khan, they promise not to disclose her identity as the writer of the story ... That how the Jo begins writing her story ... Mr Suleman makes a deal with Zee TV tele serial producer Ms Akta Kepur and the story "MY STOLEN DREAMS" a fictional story by Suleman Bibi begins airing ... Jo changes the main characters ... writes it as a love story between a rich popular hindu tv actor Rajat and an smart but orthodox muslim girl Salima... The story becomes very popular TV serial in India ...and gets telecasted all over the world ... Soon is voted number 1 by the viewers around the world...
A year later
"Beti they want to interview the writer ..."
"No ... No interviews, please ... you promised me my name and face would never be attached to the story ...you promised me baba ... they can interview ammi and you, but promise me again you won't talk about me ... at all "
Jo's eyes wander to her son, she watches him playing on the floor with other older kids ... everyone loved Salim, being a 2 year toddler, he crawled quickly into everyone's hearts ... Once she started writing, life changed in the orphanage, they were able to expand ... now there were 23 children and 6 older couples ...and 7 widows. The money she was able to get from writing the story for Zee TV helped change the living condition ... Jo was able to start a small school for the children ...other local kids joined in ... in the evening ran an adult evening school for women ...
Another year pass by quickly ...
Jo's life gets into a routine ...keeps herself busy running the orphanage, writing her story "My Stolen Dreams" Jo had written upto her life at present ... Mr Suleman told her the story was a big hit TV show
"don't you ever want to watch the show?" Mrs Suleman asked
"No, I don't, I have no desire ... I don't want my son to ever know I wrote the story ... you promised me and I hope you will stay true to your promise ..."
Later that night she whispers to her sleeping son ... she does that a lot, talks to her sleeping son...
"I sold myself to your billionaire father by becoming his mistress ...now I am selling my life again by writing about my life with your father ... I don't want you to see that side of my life, I don't want you pick up who I used to be"
Jo thought about Jalal every day ...wondered how he was doing ...with no connection to the world Jo had no clue, she only hoped he recovered ...its been almost 3 years since the accident ...she hoped he was happy with his child ...wondered if Jalal and Ruks were proud parents to a boy or girl with a smile on her face ... thinks back to the time of her first pregnancy and the joy it brought to Jalal ...
"I've had my great love and it had been everything I thought love is all about ...I can live happily with those memories with you in my life beta" she whispers to a sleeping Salim "I thought I can never love anyone as much as I loved your father ... but I know I love you more in a different way ... I can give anything up for you my son ... I needed the money to help you grow to your full potential ... you are smart like your father in numbers ... your every smile and move reminds me more and more of your father beta... you are so smart, you are almost 3 yrs old but already reading, writing and doing math at grade 2 level, at this rate you will be in college before you become a teenager ... I may not be able to give you the wealth and comfort your father would have given you but I want to give more than that, the love and respect for knowledge"
Jo gets him admission at English convent in the city school that got many awards ...
A few months later
"He is such a gift and talented child" one of his teachers told Jo "he gets easily bored with students at his level ...he way above the other students ... you need to put him a school with advanced science and technology program .. I know of this private school... where his talents"
"No" Jo cuts her off ... "No, we are happy the way things are now"
Later that night
"Divya Beti ... I have been watching you with Salim ... do you think you doing right by keeping him away from his father?"
Jo shrugs and whispers "I have my reasons, I am doing my best" tears pool in her eyes recalling Jalal ... wonders again about his life ...her gut feeling told her he was alive and well wonders how recovered and how he was doing, was he still married, was he enjoying fatherhood ... if he was divorced Rukiaya ...
Lately she thought of Jalal had invaded her mind stirring up curiosity ... decides to go into town with Suleman baba tomorrow to visit an internet cafe ...she just needed to know how he was doing ... she had promised herself she would not care anymore but that promise did not matter anymore ...
The following day she goes into town ... goes to the internet cafe ... Googles "Jalaluddin mohammed"
Pages and pages of news popped up ... Tears ran down her cheek as she read ...
"Billionaire Jalaluddin regained consciousnes after being in a coma for 9 months ...a new unexpected problem diagnosed ... Jalal does not remember anything that occurred a year prior to accident ...there is no way to know if he'd ever remember the lost time ... also due to damage to the optic nerve he lost his vision"
"Billionaire Jalaluddin mohammed was discharged from the hospital today and taken directly home for his recovery ...his brother remodeled his home with a private hospital ICU suite ...private doctors and nurses and gym so he can have daily sessions of physical therapy ... there was paralysis to his legs but there was no nerve damage or muscle damage so the his doctors are confident he will regain full use of his extremities with extensive therapy"
"Billionaire goes through personality changes after his accident ... yesterday he fired his physical therapist who told us about Jalal's exacerbating problems with confusion and personality changes and anger due to blindness"
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Bade Achhe Lagte Hain
CID
999