Recap -
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.
Chapter 20 -
As midnight arrived, Jodha opened her eyes and all she could see was darkness in the room. Though the diyas in the corners of the room flickered low twinkling lights, yet her vision was overpowered by the darkness of the room. So, she was sleepless.
She turned her side towards Hameeda and saw her sleeping peacefully. A small smile crept on her face. She was delighted, that at least there was someone whom she could genuinely love beyond words, there was someone whom she could trust beyond belief, and there was someone who always stood by her side in the darkest of dark iniquity and malevolence. She saw a mother in Hameeda. "She has always supported and held me with paramount care." mumbled Jodha softly.
"She is his mother, She is The Mariam-Makani, yet she spends her time with me, for me. She worries for me. How can she be so selfless and noble.. Thank you so much Kanha for sending Ammi Jaan in my life, otherwise I would have died on that very atrocious and terrible night." She thought.
Her mind, time and again, went back to that terrible and horrifying night. Whenever she thought she would not forgive him, his words, his care' and his promises would come in front of her eyes. Her Ammi-Jaan's softening behavior towards him would come in front of her eyes. She would recall his poor state. Try as she might to curse him for the dreadful crime he had done, she just could not forget his innocent and childlike condition when he had asked for the apology. And ultimately, she now had her Kanha's consent too. And above all, was the welfare and well-being of her child that mattered most to her. She would never let any of her sorrows affect her baby.
She remained in a constant dilemma of what to do until her eye-lids started getting heavy. Sleep was taking over her bit by bit. She embraced her tummy with her hand and slowly went into sleep's arms.
*Morning*
As the soothing sunrays, passing through the satin curtains, fell on her soft skin, she rolled her eyes in her sleep. She could hear some murmurs that were worrying her peaceful sleep. Yes, she was finally sleeping peacefully when some mutters annoyed her.
She leisurely opened her eyes to witness her Ammi-Jaan offering her namaz in the corner of the room. Her half awake-half asleep state could make out that Hameeda was praying and saying her prayers. She gradually realized that it was morning and she decided to get up immediately. She already had a lot of thoughts running in her mind.
Her thoughts were brought to a stand-still when she heard Hameeda's words. She moved a little closer to her side and tried to figure out what she was saying.
"Ya Allah.. Ab aur nahi saha jaata..ab to humare dono bachon par raham karo.. ab to un dono par apni meher karo.. Hum maante hain ki humare hi bte ne humari bahu ko itna dard pahuchaya ki humari aankhein sharm se niche jhuk gayin hain ..lekin aye parvardigaar.. humnein dekha hai unki aankhon mein..vo apne kiye ke liye bahut sharminda hain..humnein unhe dard mein jhulaste hue dekha hai (burning in pain)..Humnein dekha hai unhe pal pal tadapte hue..Humnein Jodha beta ko bhi har waqt saza kaat te hue dekha hai..Unhe apni aankhon ke saamne bikharte hue dekha hai.. Kyon humare dono bachon ki zindagi mein itna dard hai Aye Maula.." wept Hameeda in her prayers while conversing with The Almighty.
"Hum chahte hain ki Jodha Begum, Jalal aur un dono ka bacha humesha khush rahein..Ab is dard bhare jeevan se bahar niklein.. ab aap hi kuch karo allah..humse aur nahi saha jaata..ya phir humein utha lo".. cried Hameeda miserably.
Jodha was flabbergasted. Her eyes were already teary after listening to her Ammi-Jaan's words. She absolutely understood how her Ammi-Jaan was going through so much pain and depression. She knew that Hameeda cared for her and loved her more than her own son, but her natural motherly love for her changing and repenting in penance son didn't go unnoticed by Jodha. The sight before Jodha melted her heart. She got her answers even before she had asked her questions. She made up her mind. She knew now, what she had to do. Hameeda's heart-felt tears and prayers moved Jodha's heart. She couldn't see her Ammi-Jaan in any more pain.
She had had enough of painful sufferings. She had many a things that favoured his side, which she had listed the night before. But today, she had got her Ammi-Jaan's opinion.
Clenching the bed-sheet with her fist and closing her eyes the tightest, so tight that a tear rolled out vulnerably, her mind said ,"FINE! Give him another chance. But don't forgive him effortlessly." Jodha very well knew that stretching the matters would only cause her more grievance and pain. She still didn't have any soft corner for him, nor was she ready to start everything normally with him. But she was ready to give him the second and the last chance, because she has seen those innocent eyes crying out of guilt. She had realized that even he was shattered beyond repair. But it was his entire fault that had led both of them here in this hell.
Anyways, she wiped off her tears, got up from her bed and went to freshen up. Finally, this morning had brought something different. This morning had brought something fortunate. She had finally decided to make her life better.
*Ruqaiya's Chamber*
As the Begum-e-Khaas Ruqaiya Begum completed her namaz and got up, she was interrupted by Maham Anga who had just entered her chamber.
Both of them greeted each other. Maham Anga was in a foul mood. She was so heated and annoyed with Jodha Begum that she could not help but make her way to Ruqaiya.
"Kya aapko zara bhi andaaza hai..ki kal ki aayi Begum aaj Mariam-uz-Zamani bane jaa rahi hain..Kya aapko zara bhi fark nahi padta Ruqaiya begum ki Shahenshah kis tarah apne mei hi khoye rehte hain.. kya aapne nahi dekha hai ki wo kiye ke liye had se zyada hi pachta rahe hain jabki unki koi galti hai hi nahi.. Lekin hum aapko bata dete hain Ruqaiya begum ki Hum ek Rajvanshi Begum ko Mughal Sultanate ke waaris ko janm dete hue nahi dekh sakte..ye humein manzoor nahi.. Humara to khoon khaulta hai ye sochkar ki vo Mariam-uz-Zamani bane walin hain.. Hum sirf aur sirf aapko ye auhda milta hua dekhna chahte hain.. Humein dar hai Ruqaiya Begum.. ki abhi to Shahenshah aur Jodha Begum ke beech sab thik nahi hai..par unka ye aane wala bacha beshak unhe kareeb le aayega.. isse pehle ki baat bigde..humein kuch karna hoga Ruqaiya begum..Hum kisi bhi keemat par us Rajvanshi Begum ko ye auhda nahi milne denge." Maham retorted and burst out her feelings in a go.
Ruqaiya was not shocked. She herself was gnashing her teeth against the Rajput Begum. She didn't know her, nor did she want to know her. But definitely, Ruqaiya could NOT bear the fact that Jodha Begum was soon going to be Mariam-uz-Zamani. She would go to any length to gain that title and witnessing any other begum winning it was almost a death for her.
She gritted her teeth and looked at Maham Anga and gave her a devilish smirk. Maham Anga was somewhat relieved to see her reaction.
"Humein koi farak nahi padta Maham Anga ki Shahenshah kiske saath waqt bita rahein hain.. lekin hum sirf itna jaante hain ki Mariam-Uz-Zamani to HUM hi banenge.. Hum ye auhda kisi ko milte hue nahi dekh sakte..hargiz nahi..kisi bhi keemat par nahi.. (She clenched her fist as she said that.) Hum jaante hain ki Shahenshah bahut khush hain is khabar se.. Lekin humein unki khushi se zyada us Auhde ki fikar hai.. Ek baar hum Mariam-uz-Zamani ban jayein..uske baad humein kisi se shikwa nahi hogi.. lekin tab tak..(she raised her eye-brows in an evil manner).tab tak koi bhi Begum maa nahi ban sakti.. Kya aap samajh rahin hain hum kya kehna chah rahe hain Maham Anga.." Ruqaiya scorned.
Maham Anga smirked and grinned wickedly after getting that response from Ruqaiya begum.
"Jee..Hum achi tarah se samajh gaye hain ki aap kya kehna chahti hain.." said Maham in a supporting tone.
"Shabash Maham Anga.. Isliye..is kaam ka zimma (responsibility) hum aapko saunpte hain..Humein yakeen hai ke aap humara kaam ache se karengi." smirked Ruqaiya.
"Lekin Ruqaiya begum.. Shahenshah ko agar zara bhi khabar hui toh humein dar hai ke..." Maham tried to say something when Ruqaiya cut her in between.
"Pehli baat to Shahenshah ko kuch pata nahi chalega.. aur doosri baat ki hum jo than lete hain vo karke hi rehte hain.. ab aur waqt zaaya mat kijiye Maham Anga.. Kaam hoshiyaari se kijiyega.. Hum nahi chahte ki koi bhi galti ho.." said Ruqaiya confidently.
Maham and Ruqaiya exchanged fiendish glances and Maham took her leave and left her chamber.
*Jalal's Chamber*
She cried inconsolably in front of him. She was weeping hard and profusely crying her heart out. Her eyes were puffy and red. Her face had gone all pale due to her miseries. His eyes were swelling with tears while witnessing her heartrending state. She dropped down on her knees cursing her luck for all the miseries she had got from him. His heart bled as he saw her eyes flooding with tears. His heart stopped beating when she looked with those sniveled eyes towards him. He moved towards her and dropped down in front of her. He looked into her eyes and slowly raised his palm towards her face to wipe off her tears. His throat was already choking as he did that. He had given her those tears. As he touched her soft pale cheek, a thunder ran down his spine. She was so pure. Why the hell did he taint a pure soul like her? He cursed himself. He felt her pearl like tear burning on his hand like acid. Her eyes had unbelievable pain. He wanted to take away all her pain. He wanted to wipe each and every tear of her. As he proceeded to caress her cheek further, within a flick of second, she jerked off his hand and backed off herself from him.
THERE! There his eyes opened to the real world. His heart was beating fast. He immediately got up and looked for her but she was not there. Poor him. It was all a mere dream. How much he wished he could comfort her for real. He knew he had given her innumerable pain, but somewhere in his heart, he had hopes that she would not let her life spoil because of him.
He prayed to Allah to bless his love and their child.
***
*Afternoon*
The wintery afternoon brought with it a lively gush of wind which made the atmosphere of garden vivacious. She sat there with her friend Moti and chatted with her.
She was enjoying the atmosphere for the second time, the first being the night before. She asked Moti to bring some fruits for her as she was feeling to have some. Moti was happy to see Jodha finally recovering from her monotonous life and melancholy.
Jodha sat there alone looking at the flowers. She smiled at the various colors of flowers. They looked so striking.
"Pata hai aapko.. humein ye pushp (flowers) bahut pasand hain.. kitne sundar hain ye pushp.. aur kitne khush bhi hain.. inhe dekhkar kisi ka bhi man prafullit (cheerful) ho jaaye.. acha khair inhe chodiye.. aap bataiye aapko kya pasand hai.." She talked to her baby.
She tried to listen to the baby's voice and then chuckled out a little. Her smile was a million dollar one. She had never smiled so genuinely for a long time.
"Acha to aapko gulaab pasand hai.. humein bhi gulaab ka phool bahut acha lagta hai.." She smiled happily. She felt so eternal as she talked her baby. It seemed to heal her wounds drastically.
His face was delighted to heaven when he saw her talking and smiling. As if her smile was not enough to cure his sadness, witnessing her talking with their child gave him goose bumps. He felt so exhilarated and delighted seeing her. She looked like an angel and he couldn't even dare to imagine how much pure his child would be, since the mother was pure and adorable Jodha Begum.
He had been suffocating with his own deeds but her smile seemed to put off his guilt. He felt so lively and energetic. How much he wished that they would spend a happy and merry life, if only she forgave him.
She plucked one rose and playfully offered it to her belly, asking her child to have it. She no more giggled for she was smiling her heart out. She felt so ecstatic at this moment.
Jalal's eyes were full of tears. These tears were of joy. He was overjoyed. He felt as if Allah had listened to his prayers and blessed upon Jodha and their baby. His eyes were brimming with love for both of them and he so much wanted to go near her and share these lovely moments with her.
He could have easily gone and do what he wished. After all, he was the Shahenshah. But NO. He dared not to hurt her again with his presence. She was enjoying some moments of her life and he didn't want to spoil them by showing her his face. He just stood there gazing at the beautiful would be mother of his child.
He imagined the upheaval that would be caused out of joy, when their child would come into this world and bring happiness in everyone's life.
~The more you wait for something, the lesser the chances it would come. - Me 😛
This chapter goes out to each and every reader of this story. I am so happy I cant tell you. With each chapter I post, I realize 6-7 new readers join in.😲😃😃 How lucky I am..Thank you so much everyone. 😳😃Thanks for the comments you all gave on the last chapter.
Sorry for this chap. I don't know you'll like it or not.😆🤢
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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