JA FF : Warriors in Love
Chapter Three
CHAPTER THREE
Dizziness made the Rajkumari's frail body sway back and forth, and if it wasn't for strong arms holding her at the right time, she'd have fallen to the floor.
She was in shock, and because of him. She had fainted upon hearing him claim loyalty to the Mughal Sultanate. Not that what he had just learned wasn't a shock to him.
He recalled the traitor's words. "Kunwar Pratap ordered us to do this."
A Rajvanshi Kunwar that he had never met or been in a war with had come up with this plan to do his Empire's reputation harm.
Of course, he was used to plots from his enemies, but this was a new enemy to him.
"Please go away from here Huzur, you've seen the danger with your own eyes."
"But I can't just go like this, ungratefully after all the Shahzadi has done for me. I have to explain to her what can be explained!"
"I will explain to her what can be explained, Huzur. Just please go."
Jalal sighed. "Alright, I will go. But you, be careful, I don't want anything else to happen to you because of them."
"Do not worry about me, Huzur."
He had in mind to leave without looking back at the Rajkumari, to avoid the annoying burn that he felt in his chest when he looked at her, but that didn't happen. The golden, pearl inlaid maang tikka that she had onto her hairline had fallen when he caught her in his arms, and hung onto the handle of his sword, taking his attention back to its owner.
He sighed deeply & stole a glance at her that he hadn't wanted to. A glance that had come to him like a surprising gift.
He hid the maang tikka with his few belongings before leaving, hoping to give it back to its owner, and to see her smiling...
"Hira, Hira can you hear me?" Moti asked, sprinkling her friend's face with water.
Hira's body begun to respond and she opened her eyes.
"Moti, where is that traitor?"
"All the traitors that tried to burn the Mandir got killed."
Hira let out a loud, disturbed laugh. "No, Moti Bai. He isn't dead. I felt the breath still coming up from his chest when we first met. I wiped the blood off his wound with these same hands. I prayed for Gana to cure him. Muhammad is a Mughal traitor!"
Sobs & laughter mixed in Hira's throat in one same scary sound & she got up from her laying position.
She saw the green eyed woman in front of her & aimed her anger at her.
"You...who are you? From where do you know that traitor? Why did you fight by his side? Speak up!"
However, she didn't give her any time to reply and angrily continued.
"Why am I even asking? You're his wife that he probably humiliates, and you love him, right?"
The Rajkumari was surprised to hear a calm laugh as a first response to her tirade of angry questions.
"Forgive me, Rajkumari Sahiba. But what do you said is a supposition many make. Although a big part of it is wrong."
Confusion came to join anger in Hira's mind. "Speak clearly!"
"I love him, the love of a loyal servant, no more. The one you've called a Mughal traitor I've served for 6 years. He hasn't humiliated me once. In fact, he respected me in a way that would surprise other men if they heard of it. He isn't bad, nor are Mughals. He's only a soldier who went away from the army after going through a real treachery."
Meanwhile, Jalal was recalling that same betrayl & thinking : Why? What mistake did I make to be punished with treachery from Khan Baba then with the pain of his death? Was this a test to my fairness as a Ruler, or is it a test for my Patience from Allah, a warning so that I no longer trust even the closest people? Ya Khuda, whatever it is, please help me with it.
"What're you saying? What treachery?"
"That's milord's secret. If you so decide, I will take you to him so he can answer your question. But not now. You must rest, Rajkumari Sahiba."
Moti Bai intervened. "She's right, Hira."
"Theek hai. But where will I find you? And how will I recognize you if I haven't seen your face?"
Roshni sighed quietly. "Forgive me, Rajkumari Sahiba, for what you're going to see now."
And she took the dupatta off her face.
She was beautiful. Very beautiful. However, an old yet terrible scar was on her face, starting from her right cheek and extending till her neck.
Hira was shocked. "Hey Bhagwan... Who did this to you?!"
"One of the Rajputs that are trying to make everybody hate Mughals, and it seems to me he is succeeding. Please, Rajkumari Sahiba. Donn't hate a whole nation because of preconceived ideas."
The Rajkumari got angry again. "Don't cross the line! Where will I find you?"
"I'm in the Amer palace, Rajkumari Sahiba."
"What? I've never seen you there."
"I'm a secretly imprisoned there."
"Are you making fun of me?! How can you be imprisoned if you're here talking to me?"
But Hira got no reply, because Roshni left, running towards the palace.
And she was indeed imprisoned there, which the Rajkumari found out in a very odd way.
Upon arriving to the palace, she was very absentminded and instead of going to the Wing where her room was, she went towards the Wing that had her brothers' rooms & she was now standing in front of Kunwar Sujamal's room.
"Hira, why're we here?"
"Shh!"
The conversation that could be heard from inside the room was filled with emotion & anger.
"I hate you! I hate your cowardice. I want to help you, yet you run away from me even though we're from the same nation!" Never before had Hira heard her brother Sujamal sounding this angry.
Upon hearing Roshni's voice replying, she realized she hadn't lied to her. She was really imprisoned here, in a Rajkumar's chambers!
"And who said that I need your help? That's only an illusion drawn by your arrogance."
Sujamal held her neck tightly, and although it hurt, she wasn't scared of him, and spoke to him while looking into his eyes.
"Do it. Kill me to prove your strength."
He let go of her, disturbed by the fact she remained calm although she had her hands tied & was under his mercy.
"Why did you leave your house & your mother here in Amer to go find shelter in the Mughals?"
"If you hate me, why did you try to see my face while I was sleeping?"
"What does my question have to do with that?!"
"If you answer me honestly, then I will do the same."
The Rajkumar turned his back to her, to hide the reddening of his face.
"Hatred is not natural, it has reasons. But a man's interest in a woman is natural. I want to know why you hide your features. Is the reason beauty or ugliness?"
She got up from the ground where he had pushed her in a moment of anger & uncovered her face.
"Beauty. Beauty which I've hated ever since it was the reason for my honor's theft by a Rajvanshi Yujrav who pretends to be honorable."
Hira had now gone back to her room, still in shock from what she had heard.
"How can a Rajvanshi man do that? And a Rajkumar, on top of that!"
"The position, and the nationality don't stop the person from making mistakes. Roshni was right about preconceived ideas."
"Hira, where's your maang tikka?"
"I don't know..."
In that moment, she remembered the feeling of strong arms catching her, and how the maang tikka had slipped out of her hair.
She blushed profusely & her heartbeat quickened.
"Muhammad...he has it."
AT THE AGRA PALACE...
Salima Begum was trying to get Khan-I-Kana to sleep.
"Ammi Jaan, did Shahenshah get my letter?"
"He probably did, Beta. Roshni is the fastest messenger of the Empire."
"Ammi, does she fly?"
Salima Begum smiled. "Why're you asking me that?"
"I want to fly, Ammi Jaan."
Salima Begum made Rahim jump up in the air then caught him.
Although she stayed strong for her son's sake, Salima Begum was the most worried about Jalal leaving Agra, after he married her to assure hers & Rahim's protection.
After Rahim fell asleep, Ruqaiyah Begum & Mariam Makani arrived.
"Salaam Ammi Jaan, Salam Begum Ruqaiyah."
"Salaam Salima Begum."
"Are there any news about Shahenshah?"
"Shahenshah was attacked by some traitors in Amer."
Salima Begum got scared. "Kya?! Is he all right?"
Ruqaiyah Begum smiled proudly. "Haan, he is in good health. And soon, he will make Amer a part of the Mughal Sultanate."
AT THE AMER PALACE, NEXT MORNING...
Moti Bai had failed at convincing Hira to send Roshni to return her favourite maang tikka.
"I can't do that, Moti Bai. Or else there will be a problem between the love birds."
"Love birds? What're you talking about?"
"Sujamal Bhaisa loves Roshni, but that's a conversation for another time. I need one of your outfits to leave the palace."
Moti sighed. "As you wish, but we need to be back quickly."
After Hira got disguised, she went to Sujamal's room, entering silently.
Roshni was asleep on a chair, but woke up as soon as the Rajkumari approached her, greeting her silently. She wasted no time to tell her what she had come to know.
"Milord is in the big forest bordering Amer. Be careful, Rajkumari Sahiba."
Luck was on Hira Kunwari's side, as she managed to find a place in a trader's carriage to shorten the long distance between the Palace & the forest.
When she got there, she took a deep breath & started to search around.
When she saw the sleeping soldier, she couldn't help but blush.
He was laying under the shade of a tree, his horse tied beside him. She slowly approached him, but he suddenly woke up, with his dagger raised in her face. She did the same with her own out of reflex.
"Can I tell you something, Rajkumari Sahiba?"
"Say anything you want."
"I'm aged 21 now. And I begun to learn how to use a sword when I was 5. Yet you're the first woman that's ever raised one in my face."
Hira's face felt to her as though it was in flames, and she stuttered out shyly. "I-I..."
"No need to be shy about it, Rajkumari Sahiba. I'd like to give you something."
Hira replied, thinking he'd give her back her maang tikka. "Go ahead."
"I will give you a name to fit your courage & uniqueness.
Aapke naam Hira Kunwari nahi hai. Ab se apane naam Jodha hai." (Your name isn't Hira Kunwari anymore. From now on, your name is Jodha.)
TBC...
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Hello there!
Here is Chapter 3
To be honest, due to the disappointing lack of feedback on the latest update, it was hard write this one.
PLEASE like & comment, it does wonders in guaranteeing frequent, quick updates.
If you're not being notified of updates, just add me to your friends list.
.Our favourite Rajkumari's name has finally become Jodha. I loved writing that scene!
I've chosen the beautiful actress Anushka Sharma to put a face on Roshni's character, who I've given more info about in this chapter. What do you think of her character & interaction with Sujamal? (I was excited for his appearence hehe)
Thanks for reading!
Cricket
Anupamaa
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