Thread 2: Destined Love... (New thread created) - Page 90

Just started reading this story.

A fantastic story. Loved it. The songs, the emotions.

I hope Leela and the baby are fine.

PL no problem between jalal and jodha. Already they faced so much.

Waiting eagerly for both of them to meet.

It's refreshing to see you back Stuti!

Congratulations on the job👍

After HBAS is done, this is the first time I'm logging in here due to personal commitments. N I'm happy to see updates for this story.

Two painful souls longing for each other. Hope they get to see each other soon with the proposition from Bharmal.

Amazing story n writing dear🤗

Aparna

One of the most beautiful ak

dha story

Chapter 40…

“I propose you her hand for the marriage.”

Jalal kept on staring at the elderly king, carefully watching the lines of his vulnerable face. In his mind he was still trying to measure the weight of the king’s proposal.

A Rajput king is proposing his daughter’s hand to the Mughal emperor! Jalal knew he had the upper-hand in this scenario, he knew he would convince the king to become a free governance under Mughal empire anyway; he knew he would win in his strategy of turning Rajputs on his side. But this, this he never expected…

And this seems to be a golden opportunity to him. Marriages can do wonder; it can create an unbreakable bond forever, not only on pen-and-paper; but it will bind the Rajputs along with the Mughals by blood. The peace-treaties can break anytime; the bond of relationship cannot. If it can truly happen, none can stop the Mughal emperor to win the heart of whole Rajputana, and eventually Hindustan…

If this truly happens!

There Bhagwant Das had already forgotten the place he is standing right now, and expectedly shouted against his father. “Have you gone mad, Bapusa? Do you have any sense at all?”

“I have given it a lot of thought, Bhagwant…” The king told in the same hopeless voice. “At this situation, we only have this choice.”

“This is an insane choice!” Bhagwant Das shouted. “We will buy our respect from these Mughals by trading our daughter? I will send my little sister in the den of Mughal Harem? How can you even think this? I will rather die!”

There was such a hatred against Mughals in Bhagwant Das’s voice that the other officers were pulling out their swords, but Jalal raised his hand to stop them.

“I don’t want any chaos is this court.” He told in a very calm and cold voice. “Rajasahab, if you could keep your personal discussions away and maintain the etiquette of the court, it would be very appreciable.”

Bharmal lowered his head, Bhagwant Das tried to calm himself down.

“Your family matter is completely yours. Whom you would want your sister to marry is your problem, not mine.” Jalal told in a cold voice to Bhagwant Das. “We are here to talk about a political problem, let us finish that. Rajasahab…” He looked at the king. “Are you sure the proposal you are giving right now is decided after giving it required thoughts, not driven by all the pressures you are facing here right now?”

“Majesty, I…” Bharmal gulped. “I am proposing this with all my senses and thoughts.”

“Then you are taking the whole responsibility of this proposal as a king? A sudden decision taken by the king at the court of negotiation, will it be granted by your advisors and ministers in Amer? Can you seal this proposal as a statement right now without any consent of your court? Can you give me that assurance that I will not face any more adversity from your side if I accept your proposal?”

“I am sure they will understand if I make them understand, Your Majesty…” Bharmal said in a mild voice. “And as a father I have complete right to decide whom I will give my daughter’s hand… it should not create any problem in the court.”

“About that, Rajasahab…”Jalal smiled. “Have you considered talking to your daughter about this marriage?”

“She will not deny, Majesty…” Bharmal said in hurry with trembling voice. “I know she can go to any extent for protecting the honour of her clan.”

“So you think it is alright for you to handle her the burden that she has to protect for the rest of her life without consulting her?” Jalal’s smile did not fade. “And what about you, Rajasahab? Are you sure you really want me as your son-in-law? Are you ready to establish relationship with a family against which you have such strong prejudices that you refuse drinking water offered by me a moment ago?”

Bharmal sighed deeply before embracing himself and looked at the eyes of the emperor. “Majesty, I have taken the decision as the king of Amer, and I hereby take all the responsibility of this. I ensure you, this proposal will not create any problem from my side afterwards. A strong relationship is always welcomed in our culture; from the very antient days we have embraced everyone from various culture and upbringing and given them place in our heart. This has enriched our culture even more… I am sure if this proposal is accepted, and the relationship is proceeded, it will be good for us…”

“Indeed!” Jalal chuckled and looked very satisfied. “I am impressed with your speech, Rajasahab. If you, the antient Rajputs can have the big heart of embracing the Mughals as family and give us the place in your heart, I am sure we together could make a better place.” He quickly scanned the expression of the people of the room before proceeding, and looked at king Bharmal with smile. “I like your proposal, Rajasahab… I would like to accept it. But as the protocol suggests I need to discuss with my advisors. So do you…” He quickly looked at Bhagwant Das who was fuming in rage. “I think there will be a lot of people in your family who will not agree with your sudden decision… It’s not only about the politics anymore, it is a family matter. So better you discuss with everyone before any formal communication. Especially…” He paused to scrutinize the lines of worry on the king’s face. “Your daughter, Rajasahab… It is the decision of her life, you can’t take this on behalf of her. This relation can only happen if the princess herself agrees to it, and I will wait till I get her acceptance.” He got up from the seat. “Let us hang the discussion here… You go back to your kingdom and discuss with everyone. I will be expecting a formal proposal from your side by this weekend. Don’t worry about the rest of the problems; your daughter-in-law and your fort both will be freed before you reach Amer… I am sure Rajasahab you will keep your promise and won’t break my trust after this.”

“That’s very kind of you, your Majesty. I would not forget your kind gesture. We are Rajputs; we know how to keep promises. I will send you a reply by this week. If my daughter refuses to marry you, then Amer is yours. I myself will come and submit my kingdom on your feet!” Bharmal uttered in a heavy voice.

“Now I suppose we can call it a day.” Jalal announced. “Good Bye, Rajasahab… Wish you a safe journey. My people will escort you to the border of Amer…”

Both king Bhrmal and Bhagwant Das bid goodbye and was about to leave, Jalal suddenly called back.

“Shahzada Sahab…”

Bhagwant Das looked at him, the rage and hatred was lying naked in his handsome face.

“Before you leave, I would like to tell you one thing, Shahzada Sahab.” Jalal said in his calm and firm voice. “You are not trading your sister to anyone. You are not sending your sister to hell. Your sister is being married to an emperor, who can respect his queen. I would be bringing my wife home, I would be bringing the queen of the empire in my palace – by marrying her with all due respect, not buying her honour with the price of my power. As a human, this is my assurance to a brother. You have to accept it!”

Bhagwant Das kept on gazing at his face for a long time, his expressions quite unreadable. Then he sighed deeply, bid him, and left the court.

“What do you think about the proposal, Adga Sahab?” Jalal asked his prime advisor after the king and the prince reached out-of-sight.

“Quite unexpected.” Adga Sahab replied. “However, I don’t understand why you let them leave without any proper paperwork? You just listened to their demand and let them leave?”

“To ensure they feel in debt.” Jalal smiled. “These people have a load of self-respect they are tired of carrying. Once you owe them anything, by listening to all their demands and asking nothing, they will surely give their everything to pay this. I am more than sure that after a week we are getting Amer; directly or indirectly, but we are getting the fort. And the king will be tied in a bond of gratitude to me for the rest of his life, and after generations… You saw how quickly he came with the marriage proposal?”

“About that, I think the king is not that fool as he looks.” One of the associate laughed. “Your Majesty had pressed him from all side, and he found a way to save his back by bringing his daughter at front…”

“The king is diplomatic, opportunist and afraid; and he does have a bunch of fearless warrior followers behind- like his elder son… Definitely a good ally.” Jalal murmured. “To be honest, I was never thinking to develop a family relation with these people. But if this could happen…” A slight smirk appeared at the side of his lips. “None can stop me anymore… Hindustan will have to accept us; not as imposters, but as the sons of her soil.”

“Are you seriously considering the chance of marrying a Hindu princess, my lord?” An officer asked with denial.

“Right now I am just waiting for the final proposal letter from the king to accept it.” Jalal replied. “Adga Sahab, it seems the duration of our stay in Rajputana needs to get stretched. Postpone the other works and send a mail to Agra. Also, a special letter to Sharifuddin asking him to show cause about the imprisonment of the Rajput queen without any information to me.”

“As you wish, My lord.” Adga Sahab said. “But I was wondering, won’t you sit with the other advisors before taking any final decision about Amer?”

“I will definitely ask for my mother’s permission once the marriage is fixed, Adga Sahab. And I am sure she will permit me.” Jalal smiled.

“Of course, your grace…” Adga Sahab nodded. “But what about the other big personalities associated with the throne? Like Kaji Sahab, Maulavi Sahab, the religious priests…”

“A deal about a common land invasion does not require their opinions, Adga Sahab… ” Jalal smiled in a meaningful way.

“Yes, but when the deal involves marrying a Hindu Princess, the religious angle comes.” Adga Sahab said in a thoughtful voice. “This decision will bring a storm in religious community, most of the people will stand against the alliance directly. It will be not easy to handle.”

“Just say one thing…” Jalal looked amused. “Are you people standing with me? Or anyone has any doubt about this alliance. Keep aside all your prejudices and judgmental thoughts, and think from your political sense… is there politically any harm we can face from this alliance with Rajputs?”

“Politically this deal is all good, My lord. Mughals are in win-win situation…” One of the officer said. “But when it comes to the religious views…”

“The view gets broader when you open the broader window of your mind. Lets’ not captivate our own views of religion in some narrow dark alley of our mind; and lets’ not mingle our political benefits with those views… Religious beliefs are something greater, those cannot be discussed along with mere political issues… About the priests whom you people were so concerned, they also care more about politics that religion.” Jalal sat back on his throne. “I won’t discuss with any priest or religious leader about this marriage alliance. It is a complete political decision which is also a very personal matter to me. This is the time we have to show the distinct limit between religious and political fundamentals in front of everyone. To centralize the full control internally. I was thinking about it from a long time, now this alliance will give me a chance to implement it.”

“Shahenshah,” Adga Sahab said. “You have gave it so much thought in a small time. Your reasons are valid as well… Then why did you hang the proposal for one week? You could have just taken their words officially. Anyways, the king was all set to give a written statement. Why you are waiting for the princess’s word?”

“Because it is she who is marrying, and she might have something to say.” Jalal said.

“Pardon me Your Majesty, I don’t believe in the thoughts of a woman. They are too much emotional, they cannot be believed in case of such important political decisions. It is obvious a religious Hindu princess won’t want to marry in Mughal family. What if the Ameris deny to give their daughter later? All these plans will not work?”

“Yes, if the princess does not want to marry, I cannot force her to because of my political benefits.” Jalal said thoughtfully. “But you know what, I somewhat believe she won’t deny. She is a royal blood, a woman with political sense. She understands the situation of her state, she understands it is the only way her father could save the throne’s honour. She will not reject the alliance for her own selfish emotional reasons. It is not like her.”

“Pardon your Majesty…” Adga Sahab smiled. “It sounds like you know her very well. But you haven’t even seen her ever!”

“Yeah… I….” Jalal was lost for a moment. Lost in that tune of the old country song which had pulled him towards the land of desert alone long ago… The lyrics those compelled him to forget everything and set off at the quest of seeing the honourable lady’s face for once…

“Ameeri Rajkumari Jodha sab jag se albeli; rup dekhke chand lajaye, suraj chupe adri badri…”

No, he could not see her face for once. Seeing her face was equivalent to touching the moon of the night sky. But he met someone who changed his life; who brought the sooth of moonlight in his life, who curved such a mark in his heart that would fulfil him for all his life…

How strange; that time having once glimpse of the princess was impossible for him, but his heart was full, as he had Purnima with him. And today, the princess herself is coming to him to become her own, still he is such vacant inside; cause he has lost Purnima… Purnima is lost from his life like the moon of a new moon’s night; taking away all the light from him again!

None can fill that vacancy ever… not even the princess, once for one glimpse of her, he had taken one of the greatest risk of his life…

Jalal forcefully caught back the ache of his heart which had started tearing him apart, and cleared his voice… Then remembering something, he smiled.

“I have heard of her, Adga Sahab.” He said then. “From someone, who is very special… I don’t need anything more to know her more…”

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They had almost came towards the border of Amer. The Mughal guard escorting them was intentionally going at the least speed, hence giving the prince and the king much space to talk privately. Bhagwant Das had no intension to chat with his father though; he was almost running his horse, still trying to consume the incident back there in front of the emperor, how his father made an impossible deal to save Amer’s throne from Mughal clutch.

“Bhagwant… Bhagwant stop!” King Bharmal was too running behind him; Bhagwant Das noticed that when the old king had almost caught his pace. An agitated Bhagwant Das pulled the rein of the horse with full force, causing the poor horse to wince and stop. He turned back to his father, his face red in anger.

“What else do you have to save, Bapusa? Is there anything in this world which could fix whatever mess you created in that court?” He almost shouted, forgetting about the presence of the escort.

“Bhagwant I know you are angry but…”

“But what? What are you going to say? That was the only chance to save us?” Bhagwant shot angrily to his father. “If that so, then I wish you would not even try to save us, Baapusa! You would let the whole Amer die! The people of Amer would embrace that death if their life and well-being would cost the whole life and honour of their princess! But you chose a life of a coward than a death of a brave! You bargained the daughter of the soil in exchange of a secured and wealthy life of ours! How could you do that, Baapusa! How could you even put that proposal!”

“What you are saying are good to hear only, Bhagwant! Would you ever get to forgive yourself when you could see thousands of people of Amer burning alive in front of you just because you chose that? Or what do you think, how would Jodha forgive herself if she knew the whole Amer is burning only because we chose her life over thousand lives of our kingdom?” Bharmal also raised his voice. “You are thinking about Jodha… but what about Lilavati and her son? They need an action quickly… their lives are hanging on a small decision from us! What should I do, you tell me!”

“The emperor had already spared the and Amer, Baapusa!” Bhagwant Das screamed.

“Not without a cost!” Bharmal shouted too. “He had listened to our condition, we had to agree to him eventually! He wanted the freedom of Amer from me! He wanted the soil of our motherland from me!”

“To save the soil you bargained your daughter, Baapusa!” Bhagwant almost wailed. “Do you understand what you did? Just because you wanted the throne to remain officially as our throne, just because you did not want the Mughal flag to wave on our palace, you gave him your own daughter in exchange of your own crown!”

“Yes I did!” Bharmal cried. “It broke my heart to put my daughter in front to save the throne, still I did it. Because it was the only choice to save us! Not only our throne and our integrity! But also to save my family from breaking!”

“Oh! So now you want to throw Jodha away as because of her the brothers are fighting among themselves?” Bhagwant shouted in anger again.

“I am not throwing her away, Bhagwant!” Bharmal cried in rage again. “I don’t want her to get blamed for the rest of her life. I don’t want her to hear for the whole life that because of her the Mughals have captured our throne. I don’t want people to blame her for the crime she never committed. I am her father! It hurts me the most when I see her to get humiliated, and I find myself too weak to defend my daughter! My daughter has tolerated more than what she deserves. People has blamed her for everything till today, has even dared to question her morality. Enough of it! Now they have to respect her. They have to be in debt to her because she will be the reason of their survival. Jodha will be remembered as the saviour of the kingdom in Amer’s History… not as the reason of her destruction!”

“No no no Bapusa!” Bhagwant Das could not held back the tear of anger and emotion anymore. “We cannot do it! Jodha… she is my little sister Bapusa! How can I send her to the Mughal Harem! How can I see her life being destroyed like this??”

“Is there anything left to her life now?” Bharmal snapped again, his eyes were wet as well. “Look at the situation of Rajputana. None of the kingdoms will make an alliance to Amer because of the rumour on her. She will never get to marry. For the rest of her life she is destined to live a life like a prisoner, without claiming any right as a princess. Already most of the family members think her as a burden. I wanted her to live at any ashram as a jogan but that also did not happen. Is there any honour left in her life? Won’t it be better if she could…”

“If you could utilize her for better purpose, isn’t it Baapusa!” Bhagwant Das spitted out in rage. “Being a father, you did not even think about your daughter’s future? How she is going to endure the harsh life of those butcher Mughals? How will she even manage to adjust there?”

“She has the capacity to adapt any situation!” Bharmal took a long breath. “Bhagwant, don’t get that much emotional. Think about the situation. Think about the family. Think about your own son! We have a legacy, we have to carry that, we have to hand the legacy to the next generation. What would I give to my next generation if my legacy is taken away by those Mughals? A broken throne of a ruined kingdom so that my descendants will sit on that to bow in front of the Mughal kings like a slave throughout their life? Would you like that future for your successors, son? Or would you prefer a healthy relationship with the Mughals, a more constructive kingdom with their health, a relationship of mutual respect and understanding?”

Bhagwant Das was going to answer, but suddenly he could not. The face of Maan Singh, his very talented warrior son flashed in front of his eyes.

Then he sighed, and nodded.

“Our legacy, the future of our descendants, with the cost of Jodha’s life then, Baapusa!” He tried to smile sadly.

“No Bhagwant no!” Bharmal shook his head in denial. “I am marrying off my daughter to a superior king, let’s think in that way! I tried to do it before, with the prince of Bhangarh. That alliance got cancelled for whatever reason. This time it would not!”

“Both are not same… You know that, right!” Bhagwant Das sighed.

“Or who knows, it might be better!” Bharmal looked at his son with the ray of hope in eyes, the hope of a father’s heart. “You saw the emperor? The way he talked, the way he behaved… Did you ever feel for a moment that he belongs to such a clan whom we know as beasts?”

“He looked like a gentleman…” Bhagwant Das nodded. “But…”

“We have no scope of thinking about ‘but’s… Bhgwant. We can only hope! Hope that the emperor is really a gentleman, who is going to respect my daughter as a queen, love her as a wife. And also we can dare to hope again… that might be this time, my Jodha will be happy!” The king took a long breath again, and looked at the sky, perhaps to pray to the lord of the universe, to make everything as simple as he dared to imagine!

Both of the horses then again started their journey towards Amer.

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Amer is only some feet away.

The place where Purnima stays is only a journey of a half night if he runs his horse at highest speed.

He can see Purnima right now… only a matter of moments…

Jalal took a large draught of wine at one swig and closed his eyes, his lips curved in smile imagining the situation…

The dark night sky stood as an inky canopy of blackness curved with fewest of the bright stars, the silver crescent of the slice of the moon is shining in her pale demeanour among all. He ran his horse at the highest speed, slicing the chest of wind like a storm-breaker, the moon also walks with him, perhaps to guide him towards his destination… and he came to the place… the broken hut beside the broken temple; the place where they met, where they fell in love… He looked at the pale moon, the moon smiled naughtily before hiding her face under the veil of the cloud. He came down from his horse, he walked towards the door of the hut, and he knocked.

“My valiant warrior, have you found your way back to your heart, at last?” The response came in a very sweet voice, the very known voice, and he felt how much his ears were craving to hear that…

“Open the door, Purnima…” He pressed his lips against the door and whispered. “I was lost in the desert, I had gone through a thunderstorm. I have endured the scorching heat of sun, the tormenting whip of the desert wind… They could not kill me, and hence they made me strong. I have gone through everything, in order to search you, in order to achieve the right of your love. Today I stand in front of your door stronger, ready to face the world in order to protect our love from the strike of the destiny.”

“I was waiting for you, Chandrajeet… I knew you will come to me; you will lift me in your horse and we will be lost together to the land of the moonlight, where no one will dare to come; no storm would dare to stump our lives again; where the destiny will accept its defeat in front of love… Are you ready to leave everything behind to take me to that place, my love?”

“I have been ready from my several births; ready to lose myself along with you to the land of love… I was only in search of you, I was trying to find you… I turned every possible stone in this earth to find you…”

“I was here only, Chandrajeet, waiting for you… The darkness outside was preventing you from seeing me… Now look, I am here… only a small wooden door is us apart…”

“Break that wall, Purnima! Open the door!”

“I fear, Chandra… What if we cannot reach our destination? What if we lose ourselves in storm before we reach to the land of moon? Maybe this longing is better than achieving what we want? Maybe this little distance is better than being together?”

“No Purnima… No matter where we reach at last; be it at the land of moon or lost in storm, if we are together, we can create the land of love amidst the hell as well… Open the door, Purnima… Let me in!”

The door slowly opened, and she came out. The dark sky got illuminated. Slowly she came closer, her lowered eyes at last made his eyes… The trial of longing formed within a tear that dropped from those beautiful eyes. He leaned forward, and kissed those tears… She picked up her arms and embraced his necks lovingly. His lips were pressed against her lips as he held her waist and gently picked her up… The crescent moon peeped again from the veil of clouds… A gentle breeze started flowing and they started flowing with it… towards the land of love… forever…

“DONGGG… DONGGGG….”

The night-watchman of the camp rang the bell of midnight cracking the silence of the dark night. Jalal startled as the slumber was broken. It took a while to rediscovering himself again in the royal tent, wearing a royal robe, holding a royal goblet of wine on a royal couch, back again in the hardcore reality…

Jalal laughed out in frustration while taking another sip of the intoxicating wine.

“Oh a dream of a drunk!” He looked at the goblet smiling. “Jalaluddin Mohammad, a drunk emperor is never good for his empire. Let’s bid a happy goodbye to your wine for now…” And he kept the goblet on the table. Slowly he stood up and walked to the window. The Mughal camp is cautious at the night, but still a peaceful quietness is filled all over. The torches and the fires are burning alone, the guards are roaming around quietly. Not even a horse is making noise. Only a very beautiful melody is floating in the air…The royal singer must be practicing the song of the night. Jalal closed his eyes and concentrated to the song…

Kuch ristey taa-umar agar be-naam rahe to accha hay,

Aankho aankho mein hi kuch paigaam rahe to accha hay…

Jalal opened his eyes and looked at the pale moon of the sky. Only some hours left of the night. Tomorrow it will be again a new day, a new life with new hope… A new day in the life of Jalaluddin Mohammad, a start of a new horizon of his political career; Chandrajeet will again get lost in the shadow of Jalaluddin Mohammad… Again, like every day. Still why the hell does he come back in him in every lonely night, dares to dream of Purnima, to compel Jalal to hope again, to search her again in order to find her, get her, to win her love? Does not Jalal know that who is lost in her own wish, is never found?

Yes, Jalal knows. Jalal understands. But the heart of Chandrajeet in him does not. He keeps on crying inside, screaming in vein to get back his love, to lose in the land of love along with her. The cry for his love is much more greater, much more passionate than the urge of power of an emperor.

Was not it also a reason for him to handle the matter of Amer so delicately? Was not there a slightest hope of finding Purnima inside his heart when he was talking with the king of Amer? When he told he is ready to marry the princess, was not there a wish building inside him, that once he gets close to the princess, he will automatically get close to the real identity of Purnima?

Jalaluddin Mohammad, the emperor of Mughals will marry the princess of Amer Jodha Bai as a political alliance; while the lover inside his heart, Chandrajeet, will turn every possible stone of the kingdom see Purnima for the last time… God, he knows there is some connection between Purnima and the royal family. Purnima knew the princess too well. She had said that the princess will save her if she gets into a problem. The princess knows where Purnima is. Once he strengthen his hold in Amer, he can find Purnima, and once he does, he…

Jalal laughed out again, thinking about the level of his thoughts. Then he took a long breath to melt the rock of grief that was forming inside his chest.

Even if he finds Purnima, there is no way he can get her back. Not anymore, not after a political alliance with the family of the king. It will affect his status, the status of an emperor. And even if he does, without thinking about anything else, Purnima is not going to come back happily to her Chandrajeet anymore. As the earth is not a dreamland, and there is nothing called a land of love. They all dwell in a hardcore reality, and they all have to live with that only.

Just like how princess Jodha Bai is his reality for now, and he needs to think about her only.

Let Chandrajeet be cry inside, eventually the reality of emperor Jalal will make him stop. Let Purnima come in his drunk-dreams at the middle of night, to steal him some moments for himself; Purnima will always be alive in his dream, let her be a pure happy dream only…

Why to contaminate the pure dreams by mixing the hard tough realities with them?

Jalal closed his eyes again and his mind kept floating with the song flowing in the air…

Suna hay manjil milte hi uski chahat mar jate hay,

Agar yeh saach hay to fir hum naakam rahe to accha hay!

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The Mughal soldiers capturing the fort had miraculously retreated back right at the day her father and brother returned after meeting the Mughal emperor. Lilavati Bhabi was returned with all honour from Sonargarh fort along with the little baby. Jodha did not know what happened back there, what discussion did they have with the emperor, what cost Amer had to pay for this grand favour from the Mughals; but she could not help but thanking God and the supremo of Mughals for helping them out.

However, her gratitude did not shadowed the thought which was building tension everyday in the palace. Bapusa and Bhaisa has not talked to a single soul of the fort about the deals made it the meeting. Bapusa has not sit in the court for last two days since he has come back. Bhaisa is busy in other formal works, as lot of things are to be done after this retreating of the Mughals; but he is also trying to avoid everyone directly, especially Jodha, as if he is hiding from any type of question about the meeting. Jodha also tried to catch up with Maan Singh, but he is as much as in dark as Jodha. The other brothers might have known something, but after the humiliation Jodha has no wish to go to them. She had nothing to do except imagining things before her father or brother says her anything. But it only boils up the tension inside. As she is intelligent enough to understand that when everyone is so hesitant to talk about the negotiation, the cost of their freedom is certainly too high to endure. Mughals have not returned them their defeated land back with the heart of charity.

But never had she thought that the price would be so high that will tangle her complicated life again in a different direction.

It was a lazy afternoon; she was sitting at Lilavati’s room, watching over the baby as a worn out Lilavati had fallen asleep on her bed. The corner room of Lilavati and her son is nowadays a place of solace for Jodha other than her own room. The sharp taunting pair of eyes do not pierce Jodha here in this room, as Lilavati is right now the point of concern for everybody. The trauma and the agony which Lilavati is dealing with is much more tormenting than what Jodha has suffered throughout days. She does not talk, neither does she shed tears; she does not even bother about the curious eyes full of pity always scanning and judging her. All what she does is to clutch her son strongly in her arms so that none can ever touch him, and sometimes holding Jodha’s hands with all force and looking at her eyes with all urge, perhaps to seek the solace or compassion from her broken, wounded heart which is able to understand the pain of the broken soul of a woman. Jodha holds her hands to give her as much as insurance and comfort as she can, and thinks in her mind that why does the woman have to bear the first direct strike of every mess done by a man? What is the fault of Lilavati? Or what is the fault of Moti Bai? What was the fault of those widows who had to commit jauhar for a war made up by men? The society can easily label a woman as pure or unchaste judging by her behaviour; but it has no power to protect the dignity and respect of a woman when it is needed? If it cannot protect the woman, who gives it the right of judging her and defaming her?

However, her thought broke when someone called her from behind. “Jodha?”

She looked back. It was Bhagwati Bhabi, her elder daughter-in-law. She was looking hesitantly to her, there was a sign of discomfort in her expression.

“Yes, Bhabisa?”

“Bapusa is calling you.” She told in hurry. “He is in Maasa’s room. You must go. Your brother is also there.”

“Bhabisa, has something happened? Anything bad?” Jodha sensed an alarm of omen in her voice. “Why you are looking so nervous?”

Bhabisa tried to smile but it seemed she will burst into tears if Jodha presses her more. “You go fast, Jodha… See if you can do anything to save it… else…”

“Save what, Bhabisa?” Jodha held her hand. “You are scaring me!”

“You should be scared!” Bhagwati Bai uttered in a grave voice and took a long breath. “Go now!”

While she was almost at the doorstep of her mother’s room, she suddenly heard the whiny voice of her mother. Her mother was almost wailing, as if someone has destroyed her world.

“You can’t do this, Raja sa! You just can’t! No no I would never ever let it happen! You kill me before you do this! You have to go through my dead body before you do this!”

“Try to understand, Mainabati… This is the last hope of ours…” Came her father’s broken voice.

“No! Not with that cost! That can’t be a hope! How could you even do this? What had gotten inside you? Bhagwant, what were you doing there? Could not put any sense inside your father?”

Nothing came from Bhagwant Das. Mainabati shouted again. “I will never let this happen! Never! If you even try to reach to my daughter I promise I will kill myself.”

“Mainabati believe me, it is for her own good!” Bharmal tried to convince. “She will get married, will have a life!”

“She would better be unmarried for the coming seven births, but I won’t let you to send her to hell after knowing everything!” Mainabati yelled.

Jodha could not hear anymore. She came inside the room shell-shocked.

“Bapusa? Maasa? What happened?”

“Jodha! Jodha my dear!” Her devastated mother ran towards her and broke in crying in her arms. “I won’t let anyone to harm you my dear! Not in my life!”

“I promise you, Mainabati. Jodha will not be harmed!” Bharmal also shouted.

“How can you tell that? Do you know what you are doing?” Mainabati yelled. “Did you even think about her while talking about that alliance? All you thought was that she is a burden, throw her away to anywhere and save my back. You can do it, you are the king; your daughter might matter the least to you. But I am the mother. I won’t let you to ruin her forever!”

“What are you saying, Mainabati? Jodha does not matter to me? I treat her like burden?”

“Yes you do! I understand…” Mainabati sniffled. “I know… there are other daughters in the house who are not getting married; I also have to hear a lot from other queens regarding this. Okay… If you think throwing my Jodha away will solve every problem then give me the sword, I myself will kill her being a mother. Or I myself will hand her the bowl of poison to consume. But your Majesty…” She cried. “I beg you, don’t give her such a punishment that she has to bear for the rest of her life. They will snatch everything from her… her honour, her belief, her religion, her God, her life… everything! They will torture her… You can’t do it, Majesty!”

“No they won’t!” Bharmal screamed. “It is just a marriage, Mainabati… Just a marriage! I am not throwing her away! I am giving her hand to an eligible man!”

“Eligible man? Your eligible man is a slaughterer! Don’t try to convince me otherwise!” Mainabati looked at a confused Jodha with mad eyes. “Jodha! You escape from here. Go anywhere you can! If you can’t find a shelter just drown yourself in the river or sacrifice yourself in fire! Don’t even let these heartless people to get the trace of your body, my dear. They will kill you for their sake!”

“Are you mad Mainabati? What are you saying??”

“Stop it!”Jodha shouted at the top of her voice. “Stop it at once and tell me what is going on!”

Both of them stopped. Mainabati broke down on the floor and started sobbing mutely. Bharmal covered his face in distress.

“What happened, Bhaisa…” Jodha took a breath and went to the mute prince who was standing at a corner with lowered face. “What is the alliance? What are they talking about?”

“Jodha…” Bhagwant could not even look at her eyes when he talked. “You know we had gone to talk to the Mughal emperor, and he has agreed to all our conditions without any further dispute…”

“What does he want, Bhaisa?” Jodha uttered in a calm but trembling voice, feeling the darkness of uncertainty clouding her sense.

“Jodha… Let me explain!” Bhagwant Das took a glimpse to the hesitant king and then looked back at Jodha. “We were very sure what would he want from us, and that would certainly wipe out the existence of Amer as a free kingdom. He wanted Bapusa to surrender and accept the subordination. You can understand what that means, Jodha… In a few year the name of Amer would have lost. Amer would be left as a destroyed state after the Mughals exploit its resources completely. We would lose everything, Jodha… lose our freedom, our integrity, our rights, our legacy… everything!”

“Bhaisa… I don’t want to hear any excuse…” Jodha uttered in a calm and sterned voice. “What did you do to prevent it? How much did it cost to save the integrity of Amer?”

“Jodha…” Bhagwant Das almost drowned in the burden of embarrassment. “Bapusa proposed your hand to the emperor, Jodha. And the emperor is ready to make the alliance.” He uttered in a chocked voice.

Jodha should have shown some reaction. She should have been shocked, surprised; her world should have broken apart, she should have buckled on her knees, trembling and shocked, too traumatized to say anything. Everyone had expected that. Jodha might also have expected this. This is normal. This is what a normal reaction of a girl should be when she hears her father has sold her to a blasphemous race in order to save his kingship and legacy. But when anything is normal when it comes to Jodha anyway? She herself was surprised when the earth beneath her feet did not quiver, the surroundings did not get blur, and she did not lose the strengths to hold up her limbs straight. All she felt is a great release of burden from her chest. The burden of uncertainty, that had clouded her existence in these days and slowly swallowing her up entity, was slowly getting cleared out. The load of her chest was gone, and she felt empty. Completely vacant from inside, numb from her emotions…

“Jodha… say something, sister.” Bhagwant Das held her hands. “I know what we did is sheer injustice to you. But you tell me, what could we do?”

“The future of Amer depends on you, my dear!” Her father was telling from a distance. “If the marriage can happen, Amer will get back her old heritage and respect. Jodha you yourself told me that Amer must be saved; the honour of Amer must be saved, be it at any cose… I know the cost is too much to bear, but as the head of Amer, the decision maker of Amer’s future, what else could I do, tell me? Everything depends on you, Jodha… everything! Jodha say something please! Don’t stay quiet… Jodha…”

“Yeah…” Jodha looked at her father’s eyes numbly. “So… when is the wedding?”

“Jodha!” She could here her mother wailing but did not seem to care.

“Is there any official wedding to happen or I am just going to be dispatched to Mughal camp?” She asked expressionlessly.

Bhagwant Das and Bharmal shared a look, then Bharmal cupped her face.

“Jodha, I know you are misunderstanding me…”

“There is nothing to understand, Bapusa,” Jodha uttered in the same calm voice. “What is needed has to be done. The priority of Amer comes first. I will be happy if my useless life can meet something.” She said coldly while her eyes pierced through Bharmal’s heart. She recited exactly what Bharmal wanted to here in this situation. But that does not mean she is speaking from her heart.

“Don’t cry, Maasa. Amer’s History is going to witness the greatest alliance of all time ever, which will pull Amer back from her straight downfall. History will only remember the success of it, Maasa. No one will give a damn thought about how much tears fell from your eyes, how much blood has bled from your heart. Sacrificing is written in the destiny of the womanhood, Maasa. There is no reason of wasting your tears over something you are destined to do.” Jodha said in a quiet voice. “Baapusa, when I have to leave Amer, then?”

“No…not like that…” Bharmal tried to compose himself. “No official statement has been made. The emperor has told us to send him an official proposal only after you accept the relationship. He won’t accept the proposal until and unless you are okay with it!”

“The Mughal emperor also cares about the opinion of a negligible entity like me! Huh!” Jodha chuckled sadly and turned to leave.

“You did not tell me, Jodha… What is your reply?”Bharmal asked impatiently.

“Is there any need of my own reply, Bapusa?” Jodha turned and smiled. “Everything is prefixed. Nothing will change depending on my words.”

“The emperor has particularly asked for your confirmation, Jodha. We will only send the proposal if you say you agree to the alliance.”

Jodha smiled. “If the emperor particularly wants my opinion I will give a reply to him only. Let me know before you send the official proposal letter. I will send my reply to the emperor.”

“You yourself will write letter to him?” Bharmal could not believe his ears.

“Yes. Is there an alliance forming between both of us, he has to listen to my demands as well.” Jodha said firmly. “He has shown me the respect by giving my decision priority over everything. I will give him the honour back by replying him from my heart. And none of you are allowed to know what I reply back.”

She turned her back and left the room with firm footsteps.

--------------------------------------------

It was the middle of the night. Jodha was still sitting on the floor of her dark room, her eyes still on the idol of Krishna at the corner of her room. She has not let her gaze leave for a moment from the God she believes.

“I have gone through the hardest trials in my life; I am going through hell right from the day I have broken the rules of society for my love. But I never have lost my faith on you. But today I am unable to understand your play, My Lord! What do you want from me? Why are you snatching the last bit of the driving force of my life… my childhood beliefs, my faith on you? Why are you uprooting me from the root of my existence and sending me to somewhere I can’t even dare to have faith? Why!”

The silent cries did not reach to the God of stone. Jodha kept on staring with dull eyes.

Right in front of her the scroll of a letter was left open. Her reply to the emperor. The final seal to the ultimate game with her destiny. She knows what she has dared to do is unthinkable, and she has no idea if this letter will affect the future of Amer or not. But she had to do it. As she knows, right from now on, she is the only one to protect herself from all kind of humiliations and attacks. None is going to protect her. Her family, who were supposed to save her, right now are hiding behind her shadow. There is only one thing that can save her honour, her faith and her existence from falling apart and getting scattered forever, and that is her courage; her courage to raise her voice for her own. She is not sure if the person to whom she is demanding her integrity is deaf or not; but since he has shown her the gesture of respecting her opinion, she had to take this shot. A lot of rumours always floats in the air of Rajputana about the cruelty of Jalaluddin Mohammad. Jodha cannot disbelieve all of them. Jodha’s upbringing has taught her to hate Mughals, she cannot ignore that teaching from heart. But still right now she wants to believe that the emperor of those beasts have a greater heart to listen to her. As her whole fate rests on how the emperor will react to this letter.

While staring at the scrolls, she suddenly covered her face with her palm. Warm tears started falling from her eyes which she could not control; her whole body started trembling in the jerk of sobs, and she could not control her composure anymore. Till the day she was living a lonely, abandoned life… there was loneliness, depression, pain, humiliation… but there was also a bliss of solitude; there was a freedom in her solitary, the freedom of being with herself, to nurture her memories, to feel the beauty of the longing for her lover. She knew Chandrajeet will never come back, she herself has closed that door long ago… but still from the deep in her heart she dreamt of him every night, spent all her lonely moments with his memories… and she had convinced herself that she is going to spend her rest of life with those memories only. There will be no conflict, no hesitation anymore… Chandrajeet had written his name in her heart and won her hand by presenting his dagger to her, and that dagger is the ultimate truth of their love, their existence. But after today, everything changed. Again she is being thrown in another sea of uncertainty… in a life which is completely dark… None knows what is waiting there for her, and how she will spend her whole life now, without the memories of her love? Or maybe the existence of Chandrajeet will be destroyed as well with the existence of princess Jodha Bai herself. Maybe Jodha Bai will lose forever in that darkness of uncertainty… Where the future is leading her, she had no idea. But all her few happy memories, all her dreams, all the truth of her love has been crushed, and the destruction is inevitable!

“Forgive me Chandrajeet! Forgive me! I could not! I could not!” Jodha broke down into violent sobs on the floor.

Originally posted by: pari0706

Can’t wait for both Jodha and Jalal to meet each other and find out who they are destined to marry

It's going to happen at last [LOL]

Sorry for late reply dear. Got busy with life these days

Originally posted by: binduprasad41

Amazing chapter, stuti!👏

>> Thank you diii [:D] And sorry for replying so lately.

Game changing update..... from now everything is going to change in everyone life.... might be this is right time for Jodha and jalal......finally god twist everything in their favor and going to end their misery. 😒

>> Yes, everything is going to change now.

Jalal entry was too good .... he is going to save so many things.😳

>> He has a good timing. [;)]

He shows sarifuddin place ..... like their conversations ....it shows how much jalal keep eyes on everyone moments....like a true emperor. ⭐️

>> He has several eyes behind his head. [LOL]

He has every information about everything ......👍🏼

Thank god.... he himself wanted to meet Amer king for negotiation .

Jashwant singh ....such a fool he is.... he is so blind by his own anger that he didn’t see he join hands with devil like sarifuddin.....

>> He destroyed everything in order to fulfill his stupid aim.

Now he will pay for his deeds ....he betrayed his own people than how can sarifuddin not going to betrayed him.

>> Sharifuddin put him in his proper place. [:D]

Jodha .....poor girl.....always suffering. 😭

Everyone is so blind by their false beliefs and ego....they failed to understand Jodha views .😔

>> Yeah... and at the end of the day it is only Jodha who can save them.

Oh my the way her step brother insult her...I felt like crying....if her own family members think so low of her than what other people will think of her.😒

>> I was feeling like slapping that brother while writing. I am cruel. [:P]

One small mistake they forgotten her good deeds....she will die for her people how can they forget that so easily. 😭

>> It is the sad reality... And also, all of the family members are selfish.

It’s show women situation in that era.😭

>> Yeah... even today the situation has not changed much.

Finally bharmal and jalal met..... one negotiation going to happen which change Jodha and jalal life.

>> Bharmal being cupid. [LOL] kidding...

How easily bharmal offers her hand to jalal..... how sad ....they gonna sacrifice her for their own benefits.

>> Yes. [:(]

Waiting for jalal and other reaction on it.

Please update soon. 🤗

>> Already did. Now waiting for your response. [;)]

Originally posted by: Insaneniyu

Eagerly waiting for them to know true

Pls update soon

🤗 They are going to face the truth very soon....

Originally posted by: Unbeknown

It's refreshing to see you back Stuti!

Congratulations on the job👍

After HBAS is done, this is the first time I'm logging in here due to personal commitments. N I'm happy to see updates for this story.

Two painful souls longing for each other. Hope they get to see each other soon with the proposition from Bharmal.

Amazing story n writing dear🤗

Aparna

Hiiiii! After such a long time seeing you again! [:D]

It's like my old days in forum are back. 🤗

Thank you so much for continuing reading this story. Will be looking forward to your response for this chapter as well. [:D]

Originally posted by: shruti_luvs_msk

Just started reading this story.

A fantastic story. Loved it. The songs, the emotions.

I hope Leela and the baby are fine.

PL no problem between jalal and jodha. Already they faced so much.

Waiting eagerly for both of them to meet.

Hello Sruti. Welcome to the story. [LOL]

Thank you so much for choosing this one to read. It is always refreshing to know there are so many people to appreciate whatever silly things I try to write for sheer happiness. Thank you so much. [:)]

Waiting for your review in this chapter as well.