JA FF : Warriors in LoveCHAPTER TWO - PART 2
Karva Chauth was coming nearer, along with Hira Kunwari's 17th birthday.
The Rajkumari had finished the daily Pooja but was anxious about the absence of her sister Shivani who was usually always there during Pooja with the rest of the family.
Hira was currently distributing Prasad to some servants with Moti Bai & asked her : "Moti, where's Shivani? I didn't see her since yesterday."
"I heard she has an archery test with Prince Bhagwant Das today."
Hira replied with a smile. "The poor thing, she's no good at archery, I'll go help her." And so, Hira walked towards the large yard used for training, carrying between her hands the Aarti plate to give her sister Prasad before helping her.
However, Rajkumari Shivani was already getting help from someone else when her sister arrived.
Hira recognized him from the sight of these dark brown eyes focusing on the arrow's aim, which he hit perfectly in just a few seconds before explaining to the Rajkumari in a serious tone : "It's like this, Rajkumari Sahiba. Make the aim your only thought. Imagine it an enemy if you must. And think of your bow as the only way to beat that enemy."
Hira was fascinated as she listened & looked at Muhammad, curiousness awakening in her thoughts towards him : Is he really an average soldier? I don't think so. And why did he not say anything about the place he came from?
Rajkumari Shivani had felt happy when the soldier had come to help her, but felt even happier upon seeing her sister.
She greeted her with a wide smile.
"Pranam Rajkumari Sahiba." This time, the disguised Shahenshah didn't look at Hira for long, not wanting to embarrass her in front of her sister and her friend Moti Bai.
He had waited for her to all day yesterday with the ointment she had said she'd prepare for him. But she hadn't come, disappointing him. The salve wasn't what he cared about, of course. What he wanted was to see her again and to enjoy her care once more.
He didn't understand why her absence bothered him. He left the yard while she was still there, talking to her younger sister, thinking confusedly : I came here with the intention to conquer Amer after spying on it, but it is as though I forgot all about it after meeting Hira Kunwari and having her care for me. Bring me back towards the purpose, Ya Khuda.
Little did he know, the purpose of this trip would be much greater than a land's conquest...
Rani Manvati called her three daughters into her presence, and they were curious as to why.
Sukanya was, as per usual, very enthusiastic and once again bringing up her favourite subject : "Maybe one of us got chosen by a handsome Prince and she'll talk to us about the proposal?"
Hira laughed as she replied. "Do you ever think about anything else?"
"Haan Haan of course I do. About a handsome faced dark eyed soldier who made you forget our kingdom's rule and welcome him in our castle although he isn't a Rajvanshi."
Hira's cheeks went red as she whispered. "Shut up, Pagal, someone will hear you. Stop thinking about things that aren't even there."
"Of course, there's nothing as of yet, but Destiny will reveal things."
Hira got angry and gripped her sister's ear. "Did Destiny reveal this too?"
The Queen coincidently heard her granddaughters' conversation but said nothing about it, asking them to go quickly to their mother's chambers.
When they got there, Rani Manvati was standing in front of a table filled with gorgeous dresses and bright jewellery. Sukanya practically bolted towards the table.
"They're so beautiful, can I choose some ?!" But the Queen mother intervened.
"Not so fast, your mother has news for you first."
"This year, all the royal Rajvanshi families will reunite in our palace for the Ranis to celebrate Karva Chauth together. And at the celebration, your father will announce Hira and Sukanya's engagements to Rajvanshi Princes. You girls will be responsible for the preparations."
While Sukanya was almost bouncing with joy, Hira felt a discomfort she couldn't understand about the matter.
But Rajkumari Shivani's worry was another.
"Mother, can you ask Bhagwant Das Bhaisa to postpone my archery test? Not to avoid it, I want to help with the preparations."
The mother agreed to her daughter's request.
When the Rajkumaris left, the Queen Mother confronted her daughter. "What is this you're trying to do, Manvati? How will Hira be betrothed to a Rajvanshi prince? Have you forgotten Shagoni Bai's predictions."
"No mother, I didn't. But I can't let my daughter's future be destroyed as I watch with my arms crossed."
The Queen Mother sighed and replied sternly.
"Do as you wish. But do not regretfully cry when you see her hating the life she might lead after you manipulate the journey of her Destiny."
Meanwhile, as the girls tried on their new dresses and jewels...
"Sukanya, focus on what you're doing or you'll wear your sari upside down while you're daydreaming."
"You're such a pessimist, Hira! You should be happy, we're going to get married!"
"I pray to Ishwar that your marriage will be the cure to your craziness."
When she said the word cure, the Rajkumari remembered that she had yet to prepare a salve for the soldier and started doing so immediately after she got the necessary ingredients from the Physicians' Wing in the palace.
Moti asked in a whisper, for Shivani not to hear her. "Why're you busying yourself with this, Hira? The physician could've made it."
"I brought this soldier here Moti. Caring for him is my responsibility."
As soon as she finished making the salve. Hira Kunwari went to the servants' floor, but was surprised to see the soldier wasn't in his room.
"What is this now? Where will I find him?"
Without thinking, Hira went around the castle running, looking for him, which was tough since he wore the same uniform as all guards and soldiers. She thought to herself :I guess I'll have to count on his eyes to recognise him...
And that was exactly what happened.
Once again, he was in the yard. But this time, doing something different.
The soldiers were practicing fencing, and he had joined
Hira was amazed. "Hey Bhagwan..." He was good, very good.
Hira Kunwari's nephew, Man Singh, arrived suddenly, greeting her and taking her attention away from the duel. From his expression, she seemed realised she must look weird, still dressed in the festive dress she had tried on, holding a container that had a viscous salve in it.
The innocent Rajkumari had to lie again. "This is for a wounded bird I found in the garden yesterday."
As soon as she spoke, Muhammad's attention was completely stolen away from the duel he was busy with. He looked up and was struck by just how beautiful she looked in her colourful lehenga, and saw she was looking at him too.
Moti almost felt embarrassed to interrupt the eye contact between the two when she arrived.
Although she didn't seem too keen on walking away without having done what she wanted, Hira understood that Moti Bai had something important to tell her and they went back to her room.
"Rani Manvati wants you to supervise the Mandir decorations."
"Why are you smiling at me like that, Sukanya?"
Sukanya who was was trying emerald earrings on giggled before explaining . "That same Mandir you met Mr. The soldier at, my dear sister."
And Mr. Soldier went with her, along with the guards accompanying her palanquin.
Hira's mind had dived into deep thought since Moti Bai told her things she didn't really want to hear during the journey towards the Mandir.
"I know you did itBut this is too dangerous. Not only is it against Amer's rules but the way he looks at you..."
"What way?"
Moti Bai sighed. "Never mind. Just take care of him so he can go."
Hira said nothing & was thinking: But I don't want him to go...Why?
Upon arriving to the Mandir, Hira was surprised to hear a mantra coming from inside, sung by a beautiful voice.
A young woman was standing there,, absorbed in prayer. Her face was covered up in a black dupatta, and only her green eyes showed.
When she finished, she saw the Princess and greeted her nervously before leaving.
Hira, once again, was curious, about this girl. So, after giving the servants directions as to how they should decorate the place, she went after her outside.
And there was a surprise. The woman was standing with Muhammad near the lake, where they were whispering to one another.
"Roshni, this is dangerous!"
" If this is dangerous, then your safety matters more than mine."
Hira didn't understand why, but she felt angry to see them together and asked loudly, interrupting the secret conversation.
"What's dangerous? You should also tell me!"
As if they were caught red handed, the man and the woman looked tensely at one another.
But before either of them could answer, screams coming from inside the Mandir had their attention taken. Hira walked away from them to ask one of the soldiers. "What's going on?"
"There are some Mughals trying to burn the Mandir, Rajkumari Sahiba."
Jalal felt rage and he immediately reached for his sword, which he thought had been asleep for too long.
"Shahenshah, she doesn't know..."
"I have no choice. The honour of the Empire comes first, Roshni."
"Ji Shahenshah."
Just when Hira had managed to set herself free from the warnings of the guards in charge of her protection and managed to get a sword from one of them to fight, she found someone else was already taking care of the intruders. The Mandir was intact, except for its entrance where ashes had already piled up.
He was holding 2 of them under the tip of his sword while the veiled woman fought with the third one until she threw him on the ground to join the other two. They were all still breathing, and terrified under the threat of the sword.
"How dare you try to blame this on the Mughal Sultanate?! Who sent you to play this filthy game?"
Hira's head was spinning with the repetition of one thought : A Mughal. The man I saved is a Mughal!
TBC...
* * *
Hi there fellow Jodha Akbar fans!
This is the 2nd part of Chapter Two.
Introducing a new , mysterious character named Roshni that's my own addition to the show's characters. 😊How do you feel about her? I really want to know. (I like her so I hope you guys do too!)
Also, part of Jalal's truth is now OUT.
What do you think about the chapter? Comment below. And please like if you enjoyed!
Edited by M_Y10 - 8 years ago
Cricket
Anupamaa
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