The news spread like a wild fire throughout the imperial city of Delhi, trepidation and fear setting in, they could feel the black clouds of uncertainty looming over them.
It had hardly taken any time for the people to know about the verdict that was passed for Pasha who worked as Baksi of the Sultanate as well the confidential spy of Maqsood Mirza, Mahajan.
The citizens were accustomed to such horrific punishments given to the offenders as it was nothing new to them, but what had managed to grab their eyeballs was, the harsh penalty passed upon the men who worked for the Imperial Majesties.
The fact that any minister or for that matter a confidential and loyal personnel would dare to throw dust in the eyes of the emperor was something that had come out as a surprise or precisely these things were beyond one's imagination and logical thinking.
In the most of the cases trials would b kept under wrap as mystery till the end and so this case too was similar just like any other trials, had been veiled since not a single soul knew nothing about their crimes and the reasons for what they were so ruthless.
As per the orders both, Pasha and Mahajan were supposed to be taken to the execution ground the next morning and there they would brace with their deaths.
This penance was considered one of the terrible ones for the criminal was placed under the foot of the elephant and if proven guilty that would simply mean, it would be slice off the person into pieces and then if needed further he would be flogged off his skin and would be stuffed with hay.
The mere mention of such death would send cold shivers through one's spines and witnessing it with one's eyes would raise their heart beats faster. Yet there was a sense of being overstrung that gripped the minds and hearts of the people in witnessing such awful occurrences.
Execution ground...
It was early wee hours of dawn where the execution ground was thronged with on lookers belonging to different age groups, both male and female arrived from far distant towns and villages had made their presence.
A sense of inquisitiveness aroused in the minds of the people about the penance the offenders would suffer on. For that matter even the aristocrats were part of the audience to witness such a hair rising penalty.
The executioner elephant was present in the rim of the ground where its tusks were fitted with pointed blades on the mahout's order or more to say on the emperor's order these blades were used to slice the criminals.
To witness such a gruesome scene which was too terrifying, too spine chilling that would drain out the blood of one's body only brave hearted souls could be amused with.
One could sense the growing impatient in the elephant but the mahout every now and then kept the elephant under check.
The upheaval aroused was put to sudden silence and all the people in the audience had their eyes set upon two individuals, Pasha and Mahajan who were dressed in black cloaks from top to feet, manacled and chained at the waist were surrounded by the group of armed soldiers and led by a few of the musketeers were slowly proceeding towards the execution point.
The audience looked quiet curious to have a glimpse of these felons and so every person did their best to elbow out one's way and see for themselves, this lead to tremendous uproar that needed the armed guards to take them under control.
Amidst this ruckus however still there stood thousands of guards clad in steel and fully armed who managed to bring about peace and the situation was curbed.
The mere thought of facing a gruesome death sucked all the lives from the offenders. Their throats turned parched, the vital fluid drained out of their bodies, their faces turned blanched and lifeless, cold sweat began to drip off from the sides of their of faces.
They were finally thrown right before the elephant that had been well trained by the mahout only to carry out such acts, its hoof was casted with iron and its edges were like sharp knives.
Pasha and Mahajan both screamed pouring their hearts out but their screeching only went to fell on deaf ears.
Pasha was first put to death, the elephant wrapped his trunk about him and tossed him as it pleased, after which he was taken in between its huge tusks and brought right under its forefeet, where as per the emperor's orders, the mahout did what exactly he was told to so, the elephant cut him with its sharp iron knives at its edges.
At once, Pasha screeched out loud but this did not end here since Pasha dint die instantly a part of him was still alive and was struggling and suffering in agony and pain, with mahout's another hint the elephant continued with last strike and Pasha was silenced to his brutal death.
Finally Mahajan too met with the same fate which Pasha had to go sealing the fates of two criminals who had betrayed the Mughal Emperor.
After a month...Palampur...
The curved bamboo poles that formed the palanquin on which hung beautiful pink brocade curtains fluttered in the soft breeze whilst the horse meant for jalal was well caparisoned.
All the necessary accessories were packed off and well arranged, in short the caravan of well armed men were readied for the Shehzaade Jalal and his wife jodha to embark on their long journey.
Jalal hugged Maharana Gopal Singh where the latter returned it with a tight embrace. Gopal Singh patted his back and parting the hug, "I shall always be grateful for your help if not for your timely help I wouldn't have been here alive standing in front of you but would have been by now landed up in some unknown place god knows where" jalal said while putting up a proud smile on his lips.
Gopal Singh grinned, letting his large dimple below his eye appear, "No need to be so formal Shehzaade we both are close friends since our childhood days and being thankful to me you are simply making me feel embarrassed bringing disgrace upon our long friendship, whenever you need this friend I am always there to serve you just remember that".
...
Jalal turned emotional with those words coming from Gopal Singh, a soft smile escaped her lips which dint go unnoticed by Gopal Singh but he chose to say nothing.
After exchange of the parting words, jodha stepped into her palanquin while jalal mounted on the horse letting the caravan move ahead.
...
By now they had covered almost half of the distance yet there was a long course to complete and this would take another days. They were making quiet a good progress though.
Throughout the journey she often brood over her fond memories that she shared with her grandpa and her guardians, she had those loving moments when she was taken to the Delhi and Agra like places, it's marvelous hurly burly streets and colorful markets...
In a split second everything flashed like a picturesque frame in front of her eyes. Jodha lay back on her palanquin as the men carried the palanquin bamboo poles on their huge shoulders. The brocade curtains flickered in the cool breeze allowing her to have a glimpse of that beautiful countryside.
The wooshing of the swords and the cries of the men broke her chain of thoughts.
The palanquin began to sway violently and abruptly as if the bearers were picking up with the speed. She pulled aside the curtains to peek out but to her dismay she couldn't see anything except for the huge boulders that stood atall.
All the while she could only hear the yells and shouts of the men who were fighting in the backdrop.
Unexpectedly, a rider passed by her palanquin so close that the sweat of the horse reached her nose and the dust raised by its hooves stung her eyes making her instantly cough, closing her eyes in reflex.
The rider yelled out, "There are dacoits who have attacked us be ready with your weapons".
Hearing these words jodha rubbed her eyes and peered out again to see for herself. She had known about the dacoits attacking the caravan during the journey but to attack a royal caravan with fully armed men was something she felt it quiet rash.
On the other hand jalal was up on his feet once he sensed the danger looming from the dacoits, he ordered his men to protect jodha's palanquin while he would fight against these bandits.
As per the order from the Shehzaade, one of the men shouted to halt the palanquin and in doing so, the bearers brought an abrupt halt of the palanquin making her topple forward.
Jodha lost her balance and bumped her forehead on one of the bamboo loop that formed the frame of the palanquin.
It had been with such a force that for a moment she felt knocked out. She peeked out yet again for the third time and found the entire caravan had stopped.
The men were dismounting whilst their weapons were slung across their back.
Squinting her eyes, she realized that one of the young men mounted on a black caparisoned horse, his sword unsheathed from the scabbard and the face bore the marks of anxiousness and fury.
He was none other than Shehzaade jalal, watching him fight alone she pondered over the idea of fighting beside him, but soon dismissed the notion as she found that a few of the men were surrounded by her palanquin, could be the orders of jalal to give her all the protection, thought jodha.
With a long sigh, she closed the curtains as it was no point in making any move lest she would have to bear the anger of jalal.
As the time passed by she was conscious about the fights going on the slashing of the swords the curt shouts of the soldiers and in between she could hear the loud thundering voice of her jalal.
The bandits stood encircling him having their swords glinting in the harsh rays of the sun. jalal made a passing eye contact with his opponents.
They smirked at him as if heaving a pitiful act at his situation. Most of them looked young muscular and had masked their faces.
One of them advanced towards him and charged at him with the sword upheld swinging it in forefront and then following it with the back swing.
Jalal immediately dodged the first attack and instantly met the second with his sword. This was enough for the blade of the opponent's to swing such that it sliced the tissue of the bandit's sleeves, slighting cutting through the flesh of the bandit.
The bandit staggered but jalal swung and his sword just missed, it was a close enough not to cut through the skin of the bandit. This made him smirk evilly.
The mere sight of the bandits winning jalal couldn't hold his anger and it only raised many folds.
He glared through his eyes, sweat dripping from his temples, he held his sword tightly and yet again jalal swung and this time it was harder than before as his sword got to taste the blood from the bigger chunks of the flesh of his opponent as it pierced through the midsection of the man.
One by one, jalal slay all the dacoits a few getting terribly injured and falling on their knees.
It had been ages long that jalal had managed to unsheathe his sword whereas, his sword had finally got to taste the blood of his enemies.
Jodha who was caught unaware of ongoing scenario realized that the cries and shouting of the soldiers had subsided. It gave her an impression that everything had been settled down.
The dacoits might have been beaten black and blue, she pondered. She heard the advancing hoof beats and hoots of the victorious men and the hollers of the bearers of the palanquin.
Jodha pulled her curtains and watched the victorious men returning back as well as saw a charming young man approaching towards her. She could intently guessed that he was her jalal.
Watching him drenched in sweat, those ruffled hairs where a slight breeze had manage to lift one of his tresses made her heart skip a beat since she found him more handsome than ever.
She was busy admiring him, when jalal jumped down from his horse and advanced close to her. Snapping back at her he asked, "Jodha, are you okay? Hope the dacoits dint cause you any harm?"
His breath warmed her cheeks. She was pulled from her reverie as she realized what she was doing. Immediately in a stumbling voice, "Y..yes nothing... I mean My Lord! I am absolutely fine n...othinnng nothing w..rrong..."
A mischievous smirk danced on his lips, he said nothing but simply kissed her forehead and mounted back on his horse.
She blushed and ducked her gaze. Moving ahead he turned back for one last time to check her and winked at her. He proceeded further ordering all to carry on to their journey.
Imperial Capital Delhi...
A pool of orange light oozed over the rim of the world fetching its warmth and renewal. This sunrise had something unusual to offer than its usual brightness, something which had brought along with it a new ray of hope that would change the phase of this Mughal Sultanate forever.
The Imperial Capital Delhi that stood tall majestically was now all the way looked more dazzling and drenched in the different colors, the colors of happiness and excitement.
After a long time, the Capital had seen such peace and enthusiasm flooding in and the reasons were quiet obvious being, the crown Shehzaade was going to finally come back home after ages and so on the emperor's orders the city was festooned that seemed to look nothing sort of a bride, the security was tightened, every lane every nook and corner of the city was decked up nothing was left to its dullness.
The emperor took care personally to see that his orders were followed religiously and no stone was left unturned to have a grand welcoming done of his beloved son, Shehzaade Jalal and his wife Jodha.
The emperor got the message from his spies about his son and daughter in law heading towards the Capital, his happiness knew no bounds, everyone looked amused seeing the emperor in so much of happiness as they had solemnly seen him excited in past few months especially after his eldest son Nazim's death.
But things were gradually changing and for the betterment of the Sultanate.
All could now see was the eagerness in emperor's eyes to see his son whom he loved deep within his heart but always superficially morphed it as hatred so that people especially his brother Mirza dint consider it as his weakness.
The paths right from the main gates till the interior of the fort was covered with flowers, the nagadhkhana too were well informed so as to start with the beating of their drums once jalal had entered the fort.
...
In few hours of time, the emperor was ardently waiting to give a warm and wholehearted welcome to his son at the main gate with everything well prepared in advance.
One could easily sense the yearning and the zeal with which the emperor had been waiting to meet his son and take him into his embrace in his arms affectionately.
His wait had soon come to end as the trumpets burst out officially declaring the arrival of jalal and jodha.
The emperor saw jalal approaching him as he stood gazing into his father's eyes.
He could see unspoken emotions and the innumerable as well as unanswerable questions brimming in those experienced eyes.
He slowly advanced towards his father while jodha rolled the brocade curtains and for few moments she took a glance of everything that was surrounding and seemed so new to her, stepping out of palanquin she slowly took small steps when the emperor saw her, jalal turned his gaze towards her and blinked his eyes to come.
Jodha glanced back at him and smiled warmly and advanced to join jalal.
The emperor immediately took him into his tight embrace whilst caressed his back and kissed his forehead. The emotions that had been hidden for so long within his heart had now rolled out in the form of tears that seemed to flow freely.
Breaking the hug the emperor grabbed jalal by his shoulder, "I am so happy to see you my son, it's been so long that I have seen you properly lastly, I cannot so even remember even though it might have taken only few months or so but I feel its been ages past that I have spoken to my son, come on let us go in and you take rest as later on I shall want to discuss about a lot of things with you".
It had come as an eye opener for all to see the father and son bonding so affectionately since they were never accustomed to such affection, owing to the fact that both were at loggerheads or it seemed to be as if they had immense hatred for each other, but truth was altogether different and so it wasn't big deal for the people who were present for the grand reception of Shehzaade to be taken by surprise.
One among them who looked little perturbed yet seemed or chose to pretend to look calm and pleasantly happy was Maqsood Mirza, the Chachajaan of jalal.
The emperor's eyes turned towards jodha who had her face covered with naqaab.
She smiled through her eyes and greeted her father in law who looked utterly pleased to see such a beautiful daughter in law, having blessed her he addressed jalal and jodha to meet Mirza and greet him as well.
Both jodha and jalal were eager especially jodha since she had known a lot about this infamous or precisely notorious uncle of his.
Mirza who was jarred from his thoughts with the sudden voice of jalal greeted him, Mirza as well took him into his embrace.
Jodha smiled through her eyes as she returned her gaze. Having such a grand reception in such a pomp and splendor especially after all those unpleasant incidences jalal felt touched by this gesture.
Jodha saw the changing expressions on his face, a contented smile played on his lips whilst his eyes brimmed with radiance.
Moreover, she could sense uneasiness within her since a part of her was happy that she was finally in her husband's house but her mind had made all possible assumptions so to whether she would be accepted wholeheartedly by the emperor and others in his family.
But the way she was welcomed and had received the blessings of both, her father in law as well as Mirza her heart felt at peace.
Jalal too was somewhat going through similar phase, he too seemed restless not knowing so as to how his father would take it specially his marriage with jodha where he had not even bothered to leave a word with his father before entering into a wedlock.
The fact that jodha was accepted by his father; the blessings that he had showered upon both assured him completely.
Dinner time...
It was late evening, the place chosen for the feast was an open area just beneath the full moonlight where the place was lit by mellow brilliance of thousands of diyas freely floating in a huge pool.
The danseuses seemed to swirl their slender waist on the tunes of the music being played.
The drinks were served and each and every person present there seemed to enjoy this merriment. The atmosphere smelled the aroma of Shirazi wine, scents of the sandalwood and the aroma of the delicious food being served on the dining plate that formed the delicacies from the different part of the Sultanate.
People seemed too drowned in the oceans of merrymaking and pleasures. Jalal and his father as well were part of this luxurious celebration however jalal refrained himself from having excess of wine just to give a company to his father he did take the wine but he knew he the limitations of it.
Amidst all the merriment, jalal was missing someone since the time they had reached their palace, he had barely got any time to spend with his ladylove jodha, as his father wanted to spend time with him and he couldn't deny this since after so many months he had seen those eyes of his father twinkling in happiness and he dint wanted to make his father upset and so he chose to spend the time with his father.
He could feel the flurry of air across those exotic features of his, fondling with his tender memories.
The emperor put an arm around him snapping jalal out of his stupor. He looked at jalal with wondering eyes; gently smiling he pulled jalal in a side hug. In a loud yet proudly voice the emperor declared bringing everyone's attention to him and ceasing the ongoing dance and merrymaking.
"All the people present here as you all already know that I have already issued a farman declaring my beloved son, Shehzaade Jalal, the successor to the throne, yet I want to declare it again right before all my loyal personnel and since my son wasn't present at the time of issuance of the farman so I herby once again declare that my son Shehzaade Jalal shall be enthroned as the future emperor of this glorious Mughal Empire".
Hearing these words jalal was immensely happy as his face glowed with happiness and enchanting smile crept on his lips. Jalal hugged his father where he was returned with the caring hug by the emperor.
The ambiance echoed with the hails and praises of Shehzaade Jalal bringing another dawn on the majestic Mughal Empire.
Jalal's harem...
Jodha was taken immediately into the separate apartment meant for the crown Shehzaade, she was taken by the khawajasehra who held a welcoming smile on her face.
As and when she entered jalal's harem it was a rare experience for her, she saw a few people guarding the main entrance of the harem on a closer look she realized that these were neither men nor women but were the eunuchs strangely with smooth faces and eyes rimmed with khol.
She looked perplexed on seeing the eunuchs guarding the harem with the swords in their hands something which she had never seen in her life before.
Everything seemed to be new and strange for her eyes. She was taken to her room which was spacious enough and richly beautified with ornate furniture of rosewood while the windows that stood tall facing the Yamuna River on the other side gave a naturist view to the eyes.
Jalal stealthily entered into his room and advancing stood right besides her. He observed her glancing at the clear sky that showed the motifs of bright twinkling stars splashed across its ebony depths.
He snapped his fingers right in front her eyes stirring her back from the reverie. She looked up at him, lifting her chin he stared into her eyes, "You seemed to be lost somewhere? What happened jodha? Are you not happy that we are in our own palace?"
Jodha turned towards him and returned his query with a broad smile as she stood staring at the sky, "My Lord! Do not misunderstand anything for I am extremely happy that we have finally been to our palace and this makes me feel so happy to say that the doubts the questions for so long that was lingering in my mind had put to end, knowing that your father, His Majesty has whole heartedly accepted me as your wife and his daughter in law but what if I do not justify the expectations set by His Majesty and..."
Jalal looked at her and smiled lovingly; he grabbed her waist and pulled her into his arms. This sudden act shocked her, "Whattt..."
She sighed when he placed his thumb on her lips. Leaning towards her he whispered huskily in her ear, "Do you doubt yourself my love?
I am sure even if now he wouldn't have accepted you but in near future he would definitely accept you as your goodness along with innocence and intelligence would definitely compel him to accept you and there is no doubt that you would be able to do justice to your position. But why bother yourself which such things when my father has already considered you as his daughter in law?
Now, erase all those worries from your forehead and let me just..." He kissed her long and gently, savoring those sensations in her as she became aroused.
Deriving the obvious pleasures both broke the kiss; jodha blushed and glanced at him shyly. She leaned against his chest letting in those precious moments as he wrapped her into his cozy embrace.
waiting peeps...😉
CID
20