(It was a very bright sunny morning...The whole Agra palace was glowing immensely with beautiful flower decorations...as the Shenshah Jalalluddin Mohammad himself had announced that he will be going to celebrate a very popular and joyful festival of hindus i.e. HOLI...as he knew very well...how much his dear wife Jodha loved this festival of colors...but the preparations were going on very secretly...as Jalal wanted to give Jodha a surprise...It has been one year now since they had get married...though they have admitted their feelings to themselves...but the actual confession was yet to come...Jalal still remembered what happened at the HOLI event last time...how Jodha got accused of throwing color on his Badi Ammi...then her attempt of committing sucide...He had very well noticed the sadness over her face the day before...when he had gone to see her...though she tried to hide her sorrow her level best...saying that the cause of dullness is because of tiredness as she was engaged solving harem problems all day...but yet she couldn't be able to deceive his eyes...he came to know by Moti that tomorrow is Holi...and it's the most favorite festival of Jodha...but she denied to ask you about it...because she was not willing to ask for your permission remembering the incidents happened at the previous Holi celebration...she doesn't want to hurt anyone's feeling..Thus suppressing her wish to play holi...)
(That was the time...when Jalal decided to give his Jodha Begum a grand surprise...so he instructed everyone immediately to start the preparations for the festival but in a very secret manner so that Jodha doesn't get to know about it...taking Moti's help...and ordered to decorate the palace in the same way...it would have been done in the Amer palace...Moti helped him wholeheartedly and told him about all the details...such as...how the decorations were done in Amer palace...and all the things that Jodha loved about Holi...she also told Jalal about the custom of drinking thandaai...and that Jodha loved it the most...she told him..."SHE REALLY LOVES THANDAAI SHENSHAH...BUT MAKE SURE THAT IT SHOULDN'T CONTAIN BHAANG..."...Jalal asked her with curiosity..."WHAT IS THIS BHAANG THING MOTI??"...Moti smiled and said..."SHENSHAH...ITS A KIND OF INTOXICATING DRUG THAT CAN DRIVE ANY ONE LOOSE THEIR SENSES...I REMEMBER ONE INCIDENT WHEN REVA PLAYED A MISCHIEF AND MIXED BHAANG IN JODHA'S THANDAAI...AND YOU WONT BELIEVE BUT JODHA WAS COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL AFTER THAT...WE HAD A VERY TOUGH TIME HANDLING HER TACTICS...ITS SAID THAT PEOPLE ALWAYS SPEAK TRUTH WHEN THEY ARE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ANY DRUG...AND IT BECAME TRUE IN HER CASE ALSO...SHE REVEALED ALL OUR SECRETS AND WE WERE REALLY TROUBLED..."...Jalal smiled playfully...and nodded that he will take care of it...but they were unaware that someone was listening to their conversation...hiding behind the pillar...the person smiled wittily listening to the important information...)
(On the other hand...Jodha kept herself extra busy in work...so that she could ignore thinking about Holi...she dint even noticed the palace happening much...once or twice she noticed the arrangements and asked moti about it...but she lied that it's for some special guests arriving in some days...for welcoming them...Jodha dint even cross questioned her as she was very much busy and had to solve other matters...)
(Finally the day arrived...the preparations and arrangements for the festival had been done with utmost perfection...Jalal got up early morning that day and dressed himself in a white robe with light pink overcoat...with a thin necklace adorning his neck...he specially mentioned that the theme of the function will be pink...as he got to know from moti that Pink is jodha's favorite color...he decided to take a tour of the palace so as to check out everything is up to mark or not...as he walked through the garden where the main event had been set up for Holi celebrations with all the colors and other things...he became more than delighted to see the arrangements...He praised Salima and Moti...as they were given the main responsibilities for this event...He asked Moti..."WHERE IS THE STAR OF THE DAY...?? I HOPE SHE DOESN'T KNOW ABOUT ALL THIS..."...Moti replied with a wide smile on her face..."DUN WORRY SHENSHAH...SHE DOESN'T KNOW ANYTHING...AND SO FAR AS HER WHEREABOUTS ARE CONCERNED...SHE IS STILL IN HER DREAM LAND...SLEEPING "...Jalal got amazed..."WHAT??...SHE IS SLEEPING? THAT TOO THIS LATE...SHE NEVER DID THAT BEFORE..." Moti: "ACTUALLY SHE WAS CHECKING HAREM ACCOUNTS TILL LATE NIGHT ...AND WAS EXTREMELY TIRED...WAIT...LET ME GO AND WAKE HER UP..."...she turned around to go...but Jalal stopped her..."WAIT MOTI...I MYSELF WILL BRING HER HERE...I M DYING TO SEE THAT SPARK OF HAPPINESS IN HER EYES WHEN SHE COMES TO KNOW ABOUT THIS SURPRISE..."...and he left from there for Jodha's room)
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(Scene shifts to a huge chamber that was having two living souls in it...discussing about the upcoming Holi event with some mischief going on in their minds...)
Man Singh: - kintu aap ye itne vishwas ke saath kaise keh sakte hai Mirza...hume to ye theek nahi lagta...kahin kisi ko pata chal gaya to...
Mirza: - hum kabhi hawa me teer nahi chalate maan singh...jis tarah bhai jaan humse baat kar rahe the us din...hume shaq nahi balki pura yakin hai...are puri zindagi beet gayi humari...kai baar esa hua hai jab bhai jaan ne humse salah maangi ho...magar ye pehli baar tha maan singh...jab unhone humse mashwara maanga aur wo bhi mohabbat ko lekar...aur unki baato se lag raha tha ke unhone pehle bhi bhabhi jaan se kehne ki koshish ki thi...magar baat nahi bani...tum khud hi socho...jo insaan apne dil ke wajood ko manne tak se inkaar karta aaya ho...achanak humse mohabbat aur jazbaat ki baaten kyu karega...
Maan singh: - wo to theek hai mirza...kintu Jodha bua saa...unka kya...kya unke man me bhi bhavnaye hai shenshah ke liye...ye to hum nahi jante na...
Mirza: - wo hume nahi maloom maan singh...magar jis tarah wo dono ek dusre ko dekhte hai...ek ke samne dusre ki baat karo to Sharma jaate hai...pata nhi kyu per humara dil kehta hai...ke Jodha bhabhi jaan bhi bhai jaan ko chahti hai...magar keh nahi paa rahi...ab hum dono ko hi kuch karna hoga inhe milane ke liye...
Maan singh: - hum aapki baat samajh rahe hai Mirza...kintu bhaang...kya ye tarika sahi hoga...shenshah ne sakht hidayat di hai ke utsav me bhang ka prayog varjit(restricted) hai...kahin unhe pata chal gaya to...kahin koi samasya...
Mirza (cutting him short):- offo Maan singh...Rajwanshi hoker bhi kitna darte hai aap...ab do dilo ko milana hai to itna Jokhim to uthana hi padega na...aur waise bhi...humne kal hi Moti Bai ko Bhai jaan se kehte hue suna tha...ke Bhaang ke nashe me aksar log sach hi bolte hai...unke dil me chupi hui baaten samne aa jati hai...aur phir ek baar koshish karne me harz hi kya hai...
Maan singh: - kintu ye sab karege kaise hum...mehel me bhang layege kahan se...wo bhi shenshah se chupakar...
(Then only Mirza took out a packet from his Pocket ...and smirked at Maan singh...)
Maan singh: - (shocked) hey ambe maa...ye...aapke paas...kahan se aaya...
Mirza: - (smiling) humne kaha tha na...hawa me teer nahi chalate hum...humne to kal raat hi sare intezam kar liye the...ab ise bhabhi jaan ki thandaai tak kaise pahuchana hai...wo aapka kaam hai maan singh...
Maan singh: - (scared) humara??...nahi mirza...agar bua saa ko pata chal gaya to...nahi nahi...hum nahi kar paayege ye...
Mirza: - offo...darpok ladke...lagta hai ab ye kaam bhi hume hi karna padega...chalo theek hai...lekin dhyaan rahe kisi ko shaq na ho iski zimmedari tumhari hogi...
Maan Singh: - theek hai...to phir chale...niche...
Mirza: - (smirking widely) muaaf kijiyega bhabhi jaan...magar hum apne bhai jaan ko ab aur uljhan me nahi dekh sakte...ab to ye bhang hi sach bulwayegi aapse...
(And both of them headed towards the garden...to execute the first step of their cupid mission...)
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(Jalal reached to Jodha's room and entered without any announcement...she was still in bed...sleeping peacefully...looking like a little tired baby...with divine innocence crept over her face...Jalal wondered how come this girl never fail in mesmerizing him...he stared at her innocent face with lost smile on his face...He slowly moved towards her bed and sat down beside her...and cleared his throat..."AHEM AHEM"...but Jodha kept sleeping like a stubborn baby...mumbling in her sleep..."JAO NA MOTI...THODI DER AUR SONE DO BUS..."...Jalal smiled wholeheartedly at his princess...and said softly..."UTH JAYIYE JODHA BEGUM...SAVERA HO GAYA..."...Jodha with annoyed tone..."AB SHENSHAH KI AVAAZ NIKALKER MURKH MAT BANAO HUME...CHALO JAO YAHA SE..."...and with it she put the pillow over her face...and moved to the other side...Jalal grinned mischievously and moved close to her ear and stopped at almost an inch distance from her face...whispered in her ear..."HUME NAHI PATA THA KE AAPKE SAATH SAATH MOTI BHI HUMARI NAKAL UTARNE KA HUNAR JANTI HAI..."...feeling his proximity...Jodha slowly moved her eyes...and turned towards him...and opened her eyes slowly...as soon as she realized Jalal's closeness...she got up with a startle...all shocked...Jalal moved back rapidly realizing what he was doing...looked away...)
Jodha: - (flabbergasted) aap...??...yahan...?? is samay...??
Jalal: - (smiling...gazing at her) haan Jodha begum...ab kya kare...jab humari khaas begum itni der der tak sapno me khoyi rahegi to unhe jagane ki zimmedari bhi to hume hi uthani padegi na...(Jodha stared at him all annoyed...Jalal smirked widely...enjoying her irritation...)...waise aaj khwaab me kya dekha aapne Jodha Begum...kahin phir se humse juda koi khwaab to nahi dekh liya aapne jo itni der tak soyi hui thi aap...
Jodha: - (irritated) hum bhala aapke swapn kyu dekhne lage...wo to bus kal hum kaafi thak gaye the...isliye aankh lag gayi...
Jalal: - (in a taunting tone...) oh...acha...nahi jahan tak hume yaad hai...pichli baar khwaab me humne aapka haath pakda hua tha...hum to bus itna janna chahte the ke is baar baat kuch aage badhi ya phir...
Jodha: - (all annoyed...cutting him) aap kya hume taane marne ke liye padhare hai yaha itni subah...
Jalal: - (amazed) subah??...khwabo ki duniya se bahar aayiye begum sahiba...aur dekhiye...dophar hone ko hai ab to...
Jodha: -theek hai...theek hai...aap ye batayiye aapko humari yaad kaise aayi...
Jalal: - are haan...wo kya hai na Jodha begum...aaj humare kuch khaas mehmaan Agra tashrif laa rahe hai...to hum chahte the ki unka istekbaal apni teeno khaas begumo ke saath kare...to aap jaldi se taiyaar ho jayiye...aur haan... (he clapped his hands twice...a baandhi came in with a big thaal in her hands...he took the plate from her hands...and handed it over to Jodha) hum chahte hai ke aap is libaaz me humare saath chale...
(Jodha removed the cloth from the plate...and was surprised to see a White rajputani lehga with pink border around it...somewhat similar to what jalal was wearing in color...she remembered how her maasa always gave her beautiful white cloths to wear on the occasion of holi with beautiful flower jewelry...it was very much similar to that one...it brought tears in her eyes...Jalal noticed the tears and pain on her face...it gave him sting too...)
Jodha: - (with surprise) ye vastra...??
Jalal: - (in a casual tone) haan...kyu kuch kharabi hai kya is libaz me...(but before she could speak further...jalal interrupted her) acha chaliye...ab der mat kijiye...pehle hi kaafi der ho chuki hai...hum bahar aapka intezaar kar rahe hai...jaldi se taiyaar hoker aayiye...theek hai...(and he got up from the bed...and moved out from the room...without looking at her...as her big innocent eyes were making him week...and he couldn't be able to lie to her anymore...so he preferred leaving for the moment...)
(Jodha went to washroom...freshen up...and adorn herself with the beautiful attire...jalal just instructed her to wear...she looked at herself in the mirror...she was still clueless about all this...why this outfit at once...but she put aside all the thoughts and wear the flower jewelry quickly as till now Jalal had started calling out her name loud..."JODHA BEGUM KYA KAR RAHI HAI AAP??...JALDI CHALIYE...DER HO RAHI HAI...")
(Unable to control himself anymore...he entered in the hojra to have a look at why his begum is taking so much time...but as soon as his eyes caught sight of jodha...he forgot everything in a flick of second...mesmerized by the beauty standing in front of him...he couldn't be able to take his eyes off her...he knew that he was gazing at her like an idiot and she must be feeling uncomfortable...but it was too hard for him to move his eyes from his gorgeous wife...as his eyes denied to accept his order...she was indeed looking divinely beautiful in that white angelic attire with light pink tulip and lily flower jewelry around her neck and hands...Jodha was feeling her eyelids too heavy to lift due to a pair of eyes that were glued over her face...finally after gathering courage...she looked up and spoke in a very soft tone..."CHALE SHENSHAH..."...Jalal snapped out from his daydreaming with a jerk...and moved his head away...and said in a hasty tone..."ji??...haan...humara matlab ha...chaliye..."...Jodha stepped forward but stopped thinking something...she went back to the mirror...saying..."zara ek pal rukiye..."...and she held her hairs and tend to fold them so as to make a bun of them...but jalal stopped her unknowingly... )
Jalal: - (in a lost tone) rehne dijiye na...ese hi khubsurat lag rahe hai...
(Jodha blushed really heavily at this unexpected sudden compliment...Jalal too realized what he just said...he looked at Jodha all confused...and spoke out at once..."agar aap khule nahi rakhna chahti hai to theek hai...muaff kijiyega ...wo hum..."...Jodha interrupting him midways..."nahi ...theek hai...hum nahi baandhege...ese hi rehne dete hai..."...and she took out her pallu and put it over her head and gestured him to walk...Jalal smiled like a little kid with his teeth almost pounding out his lips...as Jodha accepted his suggestion...and Both of them moved out from the room...)
(As soon as they came out...Jalal immediately put his hand over her eyes...Jodha got astonished with his sudden move and as an automatic reply..."SHENSHAH...YE AAP KYA...??")
Jalal: -shhh... (Shushing her up...)...pareshan mat hoyiye jodha begum...bus kuch der apni aankho ko aaram dijiye...aur jab tak hum na kahen inhe kholne ki gustaakhi mat kariyega...
(Jalal took her to the garden...all the way covering her eyes with his hand...Jodha was getting so restless to know... about what he is up to now...as soon as they reached the garden...Jalal slowly removed his hand from her eyes and whispered softly in her ears..."AB AGAR AAP CHAHE TO APNI AANKHEN KHOL SAKTI HAI JODHA BEGUM..."...Jodha slowly opened her eyes...and the first scene that came in front of her eyes...surprised her to the core...)
(The whole garden was decorated with pink and red rose flowers and beautiful transparent pink and white curtains...with long tables having different color Gulals decorated over them...not even a single color was left...every color gulal was present there...the garden even has a separate corner that was only meant for the thandaai and holi drinks stall...It looked as if each and every detail was planned out ...keeping her choice and favorites in consideration...she felt like she was in Amer for a moment...she glanced at the scenario and the grand arrangements...with her eyes gleaming with immense happiness...she looked at Jalal all surprised and amazed...and asked in excitement..."ye sab kya hai shenshah??...")
Jalal: - (in a soft voice...his eyes filled with utmost affection for her...) HOLI MUBAARAK HO JODHA BEGUM...
P.S.:- esp. thanks to Rishbala AKA Preet dear...for saving this update and sending me this chapter...love u lots buddy😃🤗
INDEX:-
CHAPTER 1:- ABOVE
CHAPTER 2:- PAGE 4
CHAPTER 3:- PAGE 7
CHAPTER 4:- PAGE 15
CHAPTER 5:- PAGE 20
CHAPTER 6:- PAGE 28
CHAPTER 7:- PAGE 35
ESP UPDATE:- PAGE 38
Shiv Shakti
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