Recap -
Jalal, " I'll take your leave now.. Thank you so much for listening to my words..I have no words to express to you, how much relieved I am feeling after pouring out all my inner turmoil in front of you. But I have one question for you..
Jodha looked up at him with doubtful eyes.
Jalal , " Why did you lie to Ammi-Jaan about your fainting..You and me, both very well know, why you fainted..So why..? (Before he could complete his sentence, Jodha was up with an answer..
Jodha , " I need NOT tell you.."
Jalal was shocked and speechless. He slowly made his way out of her room. Both of them were in far better emotional states after this conversation.
Chapter 19-
Sometime later, Hameeda made her way into Jodha's room with the food that she had prepared herself with love. She was surprised to see Jodha sitting on bed, all lost somewhere. She noticed her teary eyes, but one thing shocked her. Jodha's face had a slight relief. Her face had a slender smile. Her eyes were moist, gleaming with a little glee. Also, Hameeda didn't find Jalal in the room. She had left both of them together some moments back, then where was Jalal? She was about to ask Jodha about him but she immediately changed her mind, because there was a possibility that Jodha might have asked him to leave.
Anyways, She moved towards Jodha and went and sat beside her. She kept her hand on Jodha's shoulder and only then, did Jodha come out of her thoughts. She smiled to Hameeda in surprise.
Jodha wiping her slight tears," Arrey Ammi Jaan..aap kab aayin?"..
Hameeda ,"Beta..hum abhi aaye..humnein kaha tha na ke hum apne haathon se aapke liye bhojan banayenge.. Ye lijiye..dekhiye humnein aapke liye banaya hai"..
Jodha was delighted to see the food that Hameeda had made. She thanked her Ammi Jaan for this gesture. Both Hameeda and Jodha shared a cozy hug and soon both of them started their lunch together. Jodha relished the lunch.
Jodha," Ammi Jaan.. Bhojan bahut hi swaadisht hai..humein bahut acha laga..dhanyavaad"..
Hameeda's happiness was beyond words. After so many days, Jodha had eaten happily and without any sorrow on her face. Though she would try to fake her smile in front of Hameeda sometimes, but it was easy for the latter to catch the former. But this time, it was all genuine..Hameeda could make out. She wondered for the reason behind this, but on the whole, she was happy to see Jodha happy. She kissed on Jodha's forehead and after sometime, both of them finished their lunch.
*****
It was evening. Since it was winter season, the sky had become dark on an early notice. Birds were returning to their nests. Everything in palace was slowly normalizing as everyone was happy that their King and Queen were expecting their first child. The environment was filled with joy. But the two souls were ridden off tranquility. Two souls were yet looking for peace. Both of these two souls, Jalal and Jodha, were lost in each others' thoughts.
Jodha was still lost in his words as she prepared to do her evening prayers.
" I am doing this because..because..I LOVE YOU JODHA BEGUM !! I have loved you from the moment I have realised my mistake, my crime. You need to know that I respect women. I myself, am surprised and shocked, so as to why did I at all commit that crime..And I will continue to curse me for it till my last breath.. You don't know, but Let me tell you, that I had gone all lifeless when I saw you shivering in pain after I had hurt you..My heart was going all comatose when I saw your condition after I had..I had molested you.." She recalled his words and closed her eyes..fighting with her inner conscience..whether to give him another chance or not. His words had touched her so much.
She lit up the diya in the Kanha's temple, joined her hands, closed her eyes and started her prayers..
Hey Manmohana...Hey manmohana..
Hey Murlidhar, Hey damodar
Krishnamurari, hey natnaagar
Hey Murlidhar, Hey damodar
Krishnamurari, hey natnaagar
Bhool gayi kya, binti sunkar
Bhool gayi kya, binti sunkar
Hey Manmohana, Hey Karunakar
Hey Murlidhar, Hey damodar
Krishnamurari, hey natnaagar
As she sang, She recalled his sorry state.. His tears, his pain revolved in front of her closed eyes as she sang her heart out. How he was ready to kill himself for his crime, how he was disgusted with himself, how badly he wanted her to come out of the pain he had given, if not for him, than for herself and their child's sake. As she retained his words in her mind, her eyes opened. They were again moist. She had never been in such a big dilemma ever before in her life, whether to forgive him or not. She looked at Kanha with soggy eyes, asking him to show her the right path in her life.
Andhiyaare mein, ghiri hui hoon
Hey Gopala
Jyotipunj bankar raah dikhao
Hey Nandlala
Kaise paar karungi tum bin
Kaise paar karungi tum bin
Jeevan saagar Hey karunakar
Hey Murlidhar, Hey damodar
Krishnamurari, hey natnaagar
Suddenly, the celestial marigold flower that was placed upon Kanha's idol's head fell down. She was stunned to see it falling. Though she didn't want, but her lips automatically gave out a smile. She had got her answer. Kanha had indicated her something. She understood his direction. She felt a relief in her heart. She wiped her eyes. She knew what she had to do. But before jumping to any decision, she decided to rethink and discuss her feelings with Ammi Jaan.
Hey Murlidhar, Hey damodar
Krishnamurari, hey natnaagar
Kanhaa...aa..aa..Krishnaa..aa..aa
Hey Kanhaaa...
She joined her hands and completed her prayers. She got up and turned to distribute the Prasad among her maids cum friends and Ammi Jaan. She knew they would be in the garden outside. She came out of her room and reached to the garden. The evening had almost turned into night. It was all dark outside. She saw her baandhis and Ammi Jaan and her other group ladies sitting in a circle, talking among themselves.
She reached to them and distributed the prasaad. They also took the aarti from the diya, which was placed in the plate. Jodha's face had a smile all along. Hameeda again noticed this and was thoughtful. Hameeda got up and asked everyone to go to their respective rooms as the night almost approached. Soon the baandhis left. Only Jodha and Hameeda were in the garden place.
Jodha ,"Ammi Jaan.. Raat ho aayi hai.. Humein lagta hai aapko bhi aaram kar lena chahiye.. Aap andar jakar aaram kar liye..."
Hameeda ,"Jodha Beta.. tum bhi aaram karlo..chalo..hum dono andar chalte hain.."
Jodha didn't want to go inside. She was fed up of that monotonous environment. Though she had grown usual to such solitude and lifelessness, but today she felt like breathing fresh air. She wanted to remove the burden of agony away from her heart.
Jodha said in a low and soft tone ,"Ammi Jaan..aap chailye hum abhi aate hain..Hum kuch der bahar khuli hava mein baithna chahte hain.. Pata nahi kyon, lekin aaj humein yahan baithne ka man kar raha hai.. Vaise bhi, andar ek hi jagah reh reh kar hum thak gaye hain..."
Hameeda was surprised and delighted to hear this. Surprised because, She was the same Jodha who had confined herself to that room. She was the one who liked the loneliness, for she feared that she'd be hurt again if she came out of that room. But today, She wanted to breathe fresh air. Hameeda was so happy to see Jodha changing her ways.
But She wouldn't allow her to be alone in the garden. She would rather give Jodha her company. As she was about to sit with her, She saw Jalal who was nearby garden and he was going towards his room. She knew what she had to do.
Hameeda said a little loudly,"Jaisa aap thik samjhe Jodha beta.. hum chalte hain.. vaise bhi humein thoda aaram karna hai..lekin aap apna dhyan rakhiyega.. aur thodi der mein andar aa jaiyega.."
Her tone was loud enough to catch Jalal's attention. Jalal looked at Jodha who was sitting on the grass, her back towards him.
Jodha smiled and nodded a yes and Hameeda left from there. She knew what she had done was right. Only this way, would Jalal and Jodha be able to spend some time alone, resolve their issues and move on in life. Moreover, this would have positive effects on the unborn baby.
Jodha sat alone on the grass, playing with the flowers' petals in the pooja plate. She felt so relaxed in the open air. Her mind was full of his words. She had so strongly determined that she would never ever be able to forgive him, but after thinking upon his words with a calmer mind, AND after asking the same questions to Kanha, and receiving his positive message, She was finally able to conclude that She would try' to give him another chance. But again, She knew she had to talk about this with Hameeda before she confirmed her decision. Moreover, the most important and most precious being to her was, their' child. Yes, finally she was able to call the child theirs; it had taken a lot of efforts to though, because she very well knew, the child was at no fault amongst this whole debacle.
As the chilly wind blew ferociously now, the diya in the plate was about to blow off. She immediately moved her one hand by its side to save it from the air. Suddenly there was another hand, at the other side of diya, for the same cause as Jodha's.
The diya didn't blow off as it was saved by two hands by its side..Soon, the gust of wind passed away. There was silence all over again.
She looked up in astonishment and was stunned to see him there. Whenever she saw him, her heart always cringed with soreness, but this time, the intensity was lesser. She didn't feel like chiding him away, but she was not at all ready to be in his vicinity.
Both of their eyes met with each others' and they shared an eye-lock. It was a strange mix of hatred and concern. Her conscience articulated to her ,"Give him aarti and Prasad and leave from here".. She decided to go with her conscience.
She moved her hand away from the diya. She slowly lifted the pooja plate, moved it near him and just looked at him once. Jalal knew she was asking him to do something, but he was absolutely clueless so as to what was he supposed to do. He continued to look at her but she looked away.
After realizing that he didn't know how to take aarti, she reluctantly looked at him, moved her right palm over the divine flame of diya and moved it over her head so that he can understand the way to do it. Jalal got it in an instant. He looked very sorry even now. He moved his palm over the diya and did the same thing as Jodha had done.
Now Jodha took the Prasad and gave it in his hands. Jalal took that and he knew it was Prasad. He consumed it.
Without wasting any more second, Jodha immediately got up from the grass and turned to move towards her room in a haste, when her left foot twisted due to her rush, and she was about to fall when he immediately caught her in his arms.
*Ishq hai Vo Ehsaas, Ishq hai Vo Juzbaat
Badal de ye duniya, Badal de ye haalaat* (background music)
She was shocked that she was in his arms. Both had an intense eye-lock. As she tried to come out of his hold, her mouth let out a low cry as her foot pained. Her hand gripped his biceps firmly. Jalal was worried. He didn't know whether she would forgive him or not, but her anger wouldn't stop him from caring for her health.
Jodha again tried to move away from him when he gently said ,"Shh!"
He held her gently by her shoulders and made her sit on the grass again. Jodha was furious at him. She sent fiery glares at him, whereas he wasn't even looking at her. He was busy checking out her feet. He got up and brought a muslin cloth from a nearby palatial room. Jodha knew that, that room was Shahi Shifaqhana.
Jalal tried to touch her feet to soothe her pain, when she backed off her feet. There were reasons behind it. First and the foremost, she didn't want to get touched by him in any manner and second, Rajvanshi wives would never let their husbands touch their feet.
Jalal was adamant here. He would tolerate anything but her pain. He now, with a gentle force, pulled her foot and soothed it with the muslin cloth.
Jodha was shocked to her core. How dare he to touch me?
"Shahenshah humara pair chodiye.." She said in a low and stern tone.
"Haan pehle humein aapki chot thik karne dijiye.." said an engrossed Jalal.
She pulled back her feet with force now. Her face was red with anger. He looked up at her. He knew how hurt she was, not only physically but mentally and emotionally as well.
"Chot thik karenge aap? Huh.. " She smirked and giggled frantically.. "Ye chot to kuch bhi nahi hai Shahenshah.." and she immediately got up, tolerating her pain.
Jalal's heart skipped a beat as she said those words. Her every agony and pain could be felt by him. He was so dejected from himself.
There was no way she was going to forgive him so easily, even if she had made a slight mind in a yes. She fumbled as she walked further.
This time Jalal held her firmly by her shoulders and said in a plain tone (since he didn't want to sound weaker or stronger) ,"Hum aapko aapke hojre tak chod dete hain.. chaliye".
Jodha wanted to argue with him but thought the other way. It would be better if she didn't talk to him at all.
Jalal supported her till they reached the room and made her lay on the bed, beside Hameeda. Jodha didn't utter any word and she silently closed her eyes. She didn't even look at him.
Jalal said in a softer tone ,"Shabba Khair Jodha Begum".. and left the room.
Precap - MA and Ruqaiya plot evil plans.
That's it for this chapter! I hope you guys like it..😳
I am so so so so so so overwhelmed with the response you guys give to this story. I am so happy that you like this story SO much. My dear Deepika (dkorumilli) and Sumeshni, Indu (indudolai), Rutu, Bhavs di, Tahni(thank you so much my love for honouring this story by mentioning it in your story) this chapter is for you guys..This chapter is also for all the lovely readers which always support and appreciate it. Trust me guys, I am so lucky and blessed to have received all those genuine comments and appreciation from you all. I am on cloud nine.
Thank you everyone..
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Edited by PrincessNancy - 11 years ago
Cricket
Indian Mythology
364