"May I go to that side Ammi? The little boy of 6 years whispered as his hand was strongly held by his mother in the crowd of the fair. The graceful lady, who was somehow lost in the spontaneous zeal and glee of this very ordinary carnival of common people, looked at her little son with a smile in her face. "What dear?
"Please Ammi, I want to go there... The boy's keen eyes were directing to another corner of the vast ground, where a vendor was sitting with a lot of colourful toys surrounded by all the kids of the town. "You want a toy my son? She pressed his chubby cheeks and profoundly ruffled his hairs which were flying in the breeze. "Okay, let's go there! She doubled the little boy's enthusiasm and simultaneously nudged the gentleman beside him, who was busy in observing the each and every details of the fair with his very experienced and sharp eyes. "Aau! What? He yelped in shock lowly as his concentration was distracted suddenly. "I was observing something and you...
"Aren't your spies enough to sneak on each and every detail of your empire? She yelled in almost muted voice. "Today you have come to visit a fair with your wife and son. Not to keep an eye on your empire in disguise as you use to do in your every free hour!
"Come on dear, nowadays it seems quarrelling with me has become your best hobby! You just seek a chance to fight with me? He winked in a naughty way. She frowned with a fake anger in her eyes. He laughed out looking her face. "Ok darling. From now on my eyes will not move a bit from your face. Happy? Now say what were you going to tell?
"Ammi please, there... The little boy was too eager to go there, and he was not ready even to waste a moment here hearing his father and mother's useless talks. He pulled the corner of her veil... "Come Ammi...
"Your son wants to go to that toyshop... Come fast... She told while managing her veil anyway from the enthusiasm of her child. He tittered looking at his 6 years old son, and followed them.
The vender had a bunch of toys with him. From the little animals made of clay, colourful king and queen made of cloths, miniature of utensils for little girls who are eager to set their own household from now on to the bats and balls for the boys- the store has everything that can be said as the treasure for all the common children. "Which one do you want beta? His mother asked him affectionately while caressing his hair while the little kid was examining each of the toys with great eagerness in eyes... "I want alll... He answered in his melodious way at last. "Pleaseee Ammi!
His mother picked one brow suppressing the giggle while his father laughed out loudly looking at his dear son's face. The quality of these toys is mediocre, and the looks of them are also penny plain. The amount of toys in the prince of Hindustan's own toy-house is larger than the collection of this whole shop. Prince Salim owns the best toys of all the countries- from the bronze and silver-made horses and elephants to the pricey balls made of silk ribbons and velvet- he has played with so many precious and attractive toys that these simple rural toys should not have attracted him from any angle. But perhaps it's the beautiful nature of childhood- that a child cannot discriminate the class of his playthings, and his playmates...
"But what will you do with all of these, Beta? You have plenty of toys in home... His mother tried to pursue him.
"No! I want all these! He pouted, then looked at his father gathering some courage from his heart. The personality of his father fears him without any reason, but he knows it well that this man will never leave his any wish unfulfilled.
"You want all these Sekhu Baba? A husky and masterful voice came out from his father. But there was a good amount of affection too mingled with it.
"Y..yes... Salim, the little prince stammered for no reason.
"Then with what the other kids will play? He smiled in a fatherly way. "You will not get all the toys. You have to choose the best among them so that it becomes special to you and you can take care of that. His voice had a grave authority... "Learn to choose the best among all, my son! You have to know how to choose the brightest gem among all the colourful stones...
Though his father's words made sense to him, still he looked unpleased looking at all the toys. Is it so easy to make choice in so many things? After some time he again pulled his mother. "Ask Abbu if I can choose more than one toy or not!
"But what will you do with all these? His mother giggled.
"I have to take for all na? Salim started counting in his little fingers. "This elephant is for Murad; this ball is for Daniyel; these utensils for Khanum; that black elephant for Kutub... and that rattle for baby Sakhrunissa...
The proud parents looked at each other with pride for their son's large heart, then she patted his cheeks. "Nothing for you, Salim?
"You said that I have a plenty in home... He told innocently. "So let the kids have all these who do not have toys to play!
"I told you Jodha! My Sekhu Baba is indeed a gem! The proud father almost shouted forgetting about his disguise; but simultaneously controlled himself with the pinch of Jodha, and kissed on Salim's head before going to the vendor for payment. Salim kept on looking keenly at the toys he has just bought for his siblings with happy eyes. The toys made a huge packet to carry; Salim was having difficulty in carrying that. "Give it to me, Sekhu Baba. His father asked him. "This load is too heavy for you.
"But Ammi says that we should carry our load on our own, Abbujaan! The little boy looked at his mother saying this. Her Highness looked meaningfully to His Majesty's eyes. Both talked through their eyes for a moment and then looked at Salim together with sheer affectionate smile in their lips. Then the emperor of Hindustan, in his disguise of a common middle-class businessman in this crowded fair of township, readily took up his little piece of heart in his arms, and made him sit on his shoulder. "Now it is alright. Isn't it Sekhu Baba? He kissed his cheek. "You carry your things, and let me carry my most special belonging of this earth that I could have got ever!
Salim pouted shyly in his father's gesture. Hasn't he grown up too elder to sit on father's shoulder- that too in a public place? Today is his 6 years birthday- he is the eldest among all his brothers and sisters, but his parents still treats him as little baby! But yes, he loves to get on his father's arms. The great and rigid personality of his father, the profound authority in his face, the regal eyes shining with a grand mystique surrounding him always, automatically dominates the people in front of him just by a glimpse of appearance. His majestic aura is something which gives birth to respect and fear both in mind at the same time... and his own children are also not able to overcome that aura. Even his smile too contains such a serious gravity that it cannot be spread to others lips so easily. Salim hardly sees his father to laugh- rather in his memory his father only laughs when he is with Ammi. His father hardly scolds him or any of his siblings still he fears of him and tries to keep distance from him... But his father attracts him a lot too. His father is the real image of extraordinariness for him, and it is the reason that he actually wants his father's company always from his heart, no matter how much he stammers in front of him! His father's love and affection is very evident to him, though hidden, and so when the spontaneous flow of affection starts flowing freely like this sometimes Salim relishes the pampering and overloaded love of his father from the core of his heart!
But Salim's mother is far different from his father. She is the most beautiful and elegant lady of the world, and the aura of authority always surrounds her too, but that is also coated with a fat layer of softness and love- which makes to fall in love with her, not to fear her. People also spontaneously bow down in front of her due to respect, she also has a strong dominating power, but that is far different from his father. She knows the art of commanding in requesting tone with gentle smile in lips, in such a way that the man before her is compelled to carry out her order happily! And moreover that, what Salim feels is, his mother is even more superior to his father! His father becomes a changed man when he is with his mother- always laughing and teasing- he has witnessed it many times. And also he has noticed sometimes that his father actually fears from his mother; he has caught his father more than one times to pamper her angry mother with nervous eyes- so it is evident that mother is powerful and father though it does not look apparently... But the most important thing is Salim's mother is Salim's best friend. Salim loves his Ammi most in this world. She knows magic... otherwise how she gets to know all the wishes of Salim long before he knows himself?
Like the incident of morning... Today is Salim's 6th birthday- one of the most special day of celebration in this huge empire, and all had expected to have a grand celebration this year also like each and every year. But when he went to his mother for gift after giving away the charities, he was quite surprised.
"This one is your gift from your Ammi, my son! She had kissed his forehead after showing him the new outfit in a golden plate. Salim was hell surprised to see the ordinary attire without any golden and silver embroidery in that, but was more surprised to hear the words of his mother after that... "We are going to visit the fair of the nearby town my dear. She said. "As you had wished that day!
That day! But that was a long ago... the imperial caravan was returning to Fatehpur Sikri from the mausoleum of Emperor Humayun after offering prayer on is death anniversary. In the township nearby the imperial fort there was a colourful gathering of people... a festival... a fair! The free bird within Salim's heart was dying to go there, to fly in that sky of glee but... a prince can go nowhere without permission and security! He could not tell anyone about his wish but his glare was steady on the colourful ground till the caravan passed the place...
And his mother planned to give him a surprise in his birthday. A little trip in that fair... as a common boy- with no security only with father and mother. Though his majesty does not show his excitement in front of anyone, yet Salim felt his father was much enthusiastic than him about this visit. "Can you understand the importance of our surprise gift to Sekhu, Jodha? This is our Sekhu's first visit of empire as a commoner. Jodha! He is going to get the first experience of the most important task of an emperor today! He is going to see the common people of his empire from the shoe of common people! He was telling to her!
And as per the plan, now Emperor Akbar, the destiny of the vast land of Hindustan is walking on the roads of the common locality of Fatehpur in the dress of a common lather merchant with holding his wife's hand and carrying his son, carefully observing each and every person around, and the Marium Zamani, the empress of Hindustan Jodha Begam is accompanying him in her burka, her eyes are glowing in pure happiness seeing the wonder and smile in her little prince's eyes.
"I will eat that! Salim cried suddenly pointing at a vendor nearby. The vendor is making various sweets and salty snacks and a crowd has surrounded him. The empress looked there and then forbade him. "No no Salim. No food from outside!
"But everyone is eating... Salim pursued but the appeal was rejected readily. "No Beta. You're not habituated!
A cloud of sadness enveloped Salim's happy face. But His Majesty appeared as his rescuer... "What Jodha! Nothing will happen. Let my Sekhu Baba enjoy his birthday! And he took him down from his shoulder. "Ok my dear, let's go there. But you'd not get more than one... Looking at the concerned and angry face of Jodha he smiled- "Let him taste the food of his own soil too. The flavour of this will not be found in the grand cuisines of palace! It will be good for his immunity!
She sighed with a hopeless smile in lips. Salim chose only one Jalevi at last after rejecting all the tasty dishes. But suddenly he noticed two greedy eyes looking at his plate silently. The assistant of the vendor, merely of 9-10 years old he was, perhaps never got to taste the sweet which he helps to be created! Salim's smile dimmed, he was getting no taste of his sweet. Jodha noticed his dilemma and looked at her husband.
"Give one more Jalevi... The disguised emperor handed another penny to the vendor. The boy came with another plate. "It's for you. Today is my son's birthday, and so he wants to gift you this. He smiled and patted on his back. A ray of real joy reflected from both the faces- of Salim and the boy. He bit the sweet with relish, and some more poor boys with hungry eyes ran towards them. The emperor hesitated for once, his eyes shivered, and then he took out a gold coin and ordered the vender to give them all the sweets they want. The chatters of the boys became louder and Salim's smile became boarder. Jodha's eyes sparkled with proud happiness but she could not stop herself from pulling her husband's leg. "Don't start charity this way; else all will recognise us. She told in his ears. "Thank God that we chose the disguise of businessman's family and not of poor workers!
He tried to smile but his eyes had touched with a cloud of gloom. And the empress can understand his majesty's heart by seeing his eyes. "You are not happy? What are you thinking?
"So many hungry eyes Jodha... so many children with hungry eyes are working as labours! His voice trembled. "I have tried so many policies to eradicate poverty for always from my empire... but still the curse of hunger has shadowed the glee of this festival!
Jodha cast a sad smile to him. "You are doing everything that situation wants Majesty; you have lessened the load of poverty such a way that no one could have done! But it is not possible to eradicate something enrooted deeply Majesty...it will take time, some more time... but she looked around. "Look at the smiles of the other poor commoners. Look, some years ago they had to think hard what to eat next day, and today they are enjoying this colourful festival! This is your achievement Your Majesty! Not your failure... She chuckled seeing his majesty's smile. "Now feed me a jalevi too.
"Open your mouth. He ordered her after buying another. Jodha protested. "No, give it to me.
"No open your mouth! He insisted noticing Salim was not looking at them. Jodha gave a hopeless smile and removed the veil from face opening the mouth. He affectionately feed her the sweet, and two drops of juice dropped from her lips.
"Delicious! Exclaimed his majesty with drooling eyes. "How I wish to eat that...
"Who has stopped you?She told casually, but at the next moment got the meaning. "Hey!!
"Seriously! I can't resist myself!He naughtily came closer. "I just... just want to... to lick that one drop of sweet juice from those juicy lips... that will be much delicious than nectar- I swear!
"Stop it! She frowned and was going to wipe that out, he resisted. With a gentle yet naughty smile in lips he took out his handkerchief and wiped that out with own hands relishing the touch of her skin as much as he could. "What type of spell do you use on me Jodha? A moment before everything was alright and now suddenly I am dying to get you inside my arms? He whispered in sensual tone. "So many years have passed after our marriage, still I am unable to unsolve the enigma of that spell! How come I fall in love with you in each and every moment?
"Is it the effect of this jalevi? Suddenly overflow of so much love? That too in this public place?? Jodha giggled out. "Stay far from me Sheikh Sahib! The place is too crowded to tell the words of hearts!
"Hmm! He gazed at her eyes intensely while wiping her lips and her giggling glare slowly converted into a deep mesmerisation, and most probably they would continue remaining in the same posture if Salim had not come with his next obstinate demand.
"I will go to that merry-go-round! He shouted suddenly pulling his mother's hand which brought them back in the real world. "Merry-Go-Round??? No no it's scary beta! The concerned mother cried. "Rather let's watch the dancing dolls.
"No I will not watch dolls. I will go to Merry-Go-Round! I don't fear from anyone!
"Really Sekhu Baba? His father peeped in suddenly which increased his heartbeat again for no reason. "N...nn..o I mean! he was about to cry now. "I will ride that!!! At last he could plead in front of the majesty. And as expected his wish was granted! "Go. We are coming. He ordered.
"You gave the permission? Jodha was about to burst. "Now what if he starts crying out of fright?
"Let him win his fear! What is the problem? His majesty smiled. "My dear, childhood is the blessings of God, the Mughal princes get no time to cherish this. So let him cherish his childhood fully in this little scope he has got. Let him know his world on his own; don't stop him!
"You too! Jodha smiled. "So now? He is riding Merry-Go-Round so what will we do?
"Why you don't like walking with me? He nudged and wink. She smiled and gripped his arm tightly with her hand. "Now I want something! She pouted like a kid!
"What?
"Glass-bangles! She chuckled!
"These red bangles will be best for Bhabijaan, Sahib! The smart shopkeeper was promoting his bangles very efficiently. Jodha was testing all the bangles with eager eyes. Jalal was amused to see the enthusiasm in Jodha's eyes! She looked at him. "Tell me which one I should take-red ones or green ones?
"The Empress of Hindustan is buying glass-bangles? So should I cancel the order of the naolakha necklace which you had wanted from me? he whispered in teasing tone. Jodha frowned looking at him. "I want both of them! Now say which one?
"None of them. That blue ones... He pointed another set from show-case. "How much is that one, Bhaijaan?He asked.
The beautiful blue bangles filled up Jodha's face with merry. "Perfect. Jalal commented looking at those bangles. "They will look more beautiful if you wear them. Let me try. He took her hand to make her wear those. Jodha did not protest, with loving eyes she kept on staring at him. The gorgeous bangles made her beautiful hands more beautiful, and he kissed her hand very fast confirming that none will watch them.
"Hey?Jodha frowned.
"What? Jalal retorted. Then they started laughing together. "Okay let's see what our Salim is doing now! Jalal said then.
"How was the ride Salim? His mother asked. Though Salim was really frightened when the ride was going round and round, and his head is spinning too, but how could he confess that to his mother? "Nothing special! Let's go to the dance of dolls. Answering very smartly he readily headed towards the tent of dancing dolls. Jodha and Jalal smiled looking at each other, and proceeded forward. The tent was the most colourful in the whole place. A small stage of wood and a miniature of a small locality have been designed in a very creative way on that. The viewers sat at their places before the program starts. Salim was keen to watch the dancing dolls... "How can the dolls dance, Ammi? Can they talk too? He whispered.
"Shhh!!!
The show began. "This is a story of a beautiful princess and a king... destiny smiled when their eyes met, and they fall in love for each other... The announcer sang in a distinguished manner...
All the lights were on the wooden stage, little palanquins are going in a row on the sample road, the king doll came down and stood aside of the palanquins... There is the princess of his dreams in one of those palanquins... The energetic music started playing, the king started moving along with the palanquins... slowly, slowly and slowly...
"Subhan Allah! His majesty exclaimed in wonder and fascination... "How did they know this story?
"Which story my lord? Jodha murmured...
"Our story... He whispered!
The princess-doll is dancing in joy...the fragrance of love in the air has suddenly touched her cheeks... Days pass, night pass... they feels attracted towards each other... they realise their love for each other...
Jodha blushed suddenly looking at the emperor...
"Perhaps all the love stories are same, Majesty!
The king has loved the princess; the princess loves the king too... But the father of the princess does not want her to marry that king. He arranges Sayamvar, everyone is invited except the king of the princess's heart... A clay-statue of the king is standing at the door, an arrangement of the princess's father to mock the king. The princess came, went to the statue, garlanded the statue without any hesitation... and the real king came out from behind, and escaped together on their horse...
His Majesty smirked. "Alas! We could have such an adventurous turn of our love story!
"Our adventures were even greater Majesty! She whispered... "And none knows about that...
"But now I really want to do this stunt! He smiled. "To win you, to snatch you from the eyes of all, and flee far far away riding on my horse... to such a place where none will be able to find us... where only love exists, and nothing else!! He touched her hand. "Will you come with me, Your Highness?
"I will go anywhere with you... She smiled naughtily. "But what about your Sekhu Baba?
"Ammi, have you watched how the dolls were dancing? Actually there was someone behind. He was pulling the threads and the dolls were dancing... He was excited with his discovery... "Ammi, I want to learn this one! Please. Please.
"Okay Okay. Now let's go... Now we have to leave. They took him out of the tent and they started walking. Salim was disheartened. "Let's stay here some more hours please? Please Ammi! Please Abbujaan! He started pleading.
"We have to reach to the palace my son. You cannot miss your birthday celebration there... all your friends and siblings are waiting for you... His Majesty reminded him.
"But... but... Salim could not deny his father's logic. But he spent the best birthday of his life among the common people of this simple fair, and the brightness of this pure joy is enough to dim hundreds of the glamorous celebration that would be taken place in the palace... "Can we come to this fair again in my next birthday Abbujaan? Salim whispered.
"Of course my dear. He again took up him in his arms. "Why to wait for another one year? We will come outside of the palace again very soon. We will visit all the lanes and roads of Fatehpur Sikri on own feet. We will know the people of our empire, will try to understand their pain, will try to feel their happiness...Unless you know your soil, unless you attach your heart with the heart of the soil, unless you know how the people of your soil live, how would you rule it?
"Really Abbujaan? Salim, forgetting his dilemma, hugged the neck of his father. His mother ruffled his hairs...
And then the Emperor and Empress headed towards to the magnificent imperial palace... with the future of the empire happily sitting on His Majesty's arms- after completing his first experience of knowing the common people of his ground...
And it was the best birthday celebration for Salim!
Sports
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Members Lounge
Cricket
