SS:'Because I Don't Actually Hate Him!'Pt13-SR+Epilogue - Page 2

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Part 1- Page 1

https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/105722997

Part 2

Banner Credits by Tahniat

In The Royal Garden

Suddenly, the queen snapped back to reality. She was forced to by a noise. The noise of something breaking... She looked around to find her beautiful vase shattered into a thousand pieces lying on the ground. The lovely flowers that adorned the vase were crumpled and petals strewn everywhere... now covered with mud and dirt.

This infuriated the already angered queen . She looked up, only to find Benazir's maid, Zakira trembling in front of her. The already terrified maid shuddered when she met the queen's reddened eyes.

"I am... sorr... sorry... Jodh... Jodha Begum... I ... It was an... acci... accident..." the frightened bandhi fumbled with her apology. Even an excellent apology would not have calmed Jodha but the stammering just irritated her further and she found herself summoning the guards...

"Arrest this insolent maid and put her in jail. Iske apradh ka dand hai, ek sahasra kode ek saptah tak. Let her be whipped a thousand times just after sunrise every morning for the next one week. And she will not be given any food for the same duration. She will be provided only with water."

The guards bowed before the queen and arrested Zakira who was now desperately pleading for mercy thus creating a huge hue and cry.

Jodha's rage hadn't subsided still. Just as a maid came to clean up the broken pieces, she waved her away. "Ekanth".

She bent down and held a small piece in her hand sadly remembering the story behind it that made it so special...

Flashback: Sometime Ago...

In The Royal Garden

"These flowers are really beautiful, aren't they Ranisa?"

Jodha looked around only to be awestruck by the beauty of those rare flowers that her maid had plucked. Taking them in her hand, she continued to admire them until a very familiar voice interrupted her reverie...

"I think these flowers would look even more beautiful if you have a beautiful vase to keep them in, Jodha Begum."

She turned around expecting the ceremonial 'Adaap' to come and it did...

Having responded with a Namaskaar, she continued, a faint hint of a smile now appearing on her beautiful face... "I guess, you are absolutely right, Shehenshah. But, unfortunately, neither do I own such a vase nor have I ever set eyes on one that befits to be decorated by these wonderful flowers."

"This is Shehenshah Jalal's palace, Jodha Begum. Nothing is impossible here. I am sure you will find the requisite one somewhere... Anyways, if you are done admiring Jalaluddin Mohammed's exquisite gardens, I would gladly look forward to a sword fighting duel with you. It's been a while that you honoured me with your remarkable skills with the sword."

"Why don't you just admit that this is a revenge match for last time's, Shehenshah?" the smile now broadened to a considerable extent, the bemused queen asked. She had realized that her husband wasn't one to forget defeat easily. This idea only amused her further that the Shehenshah of the Mughal Sultanate was actually spending his scarce time, planning to settle scores with his Hindu wife.

This idea also gave her an inkling that, this time around, the competition would not only be tougher, but Jalal would also have some bombshell up his sleeve to throw her off her feet.

Caught unawares by Jodha's quick guesswork, he instantly erased the signs of guilt now forming on his handsomely rugged face, and continued nonchalantly 'My dear Begum, so you have been wanting that, is it? I had forgotten about it till you just reminded me. I think you are haunted with dreams of me, Begum Saheba, aren't you? That is nice. Very nice."

Taken aback by his accusations, the bewildered Begum couldn't find words for a few seconds. However she made a quick comeback " I really think it is yourself you are talking about. Anyways, I will be unable to make time for the duel today due to some other necessary commitments. But I will be honoured if you could take some time out of your busy schedule tomorrow for the match."

"Very well, Begum. See you tomorrow right after sunrise in the grounds." And then the King continued albeit in a whisper which the alert ears of Jodha heard "We will have fun tomorrow, my dear. Eagerly waiting for the duel..."

These words reconfirmed Jodha's suspicions that Jalal indeed was going to take his revenge tomorrow. "I better be prepared to expect the unexpected."

Two Days Later

In The Royal Gardens At Night

As Jodha made her way to her favourite place, she noticed something new. Just close to her couch there was a splendid vase with the same flowers she had been admiring the previous day. While the thoroughly pleased queen stood gazing at the rare vase with its beautiful flowers, he crept behind her noiselessly.

"I told you Jodha Begum. Nothing is impossible for me. I had told myself that I will render you speechless by getting such a vase that will be fit for those flowers and here it is. Humne ise khaas AAPKE liye mangvaya hai. Do you like it?" The now happy Shehenshah questioned his dumbfounded queen.

"Of course Shehenshah, I love it." She replied while marveling at the simplicity yet rare beauty of the vase. Somehow, it went with everything. The couch, the flowers, her mood- it was the prettiest vase she had ever seen.

"Let us keep this as a symbol of our newfound friendship." Jalal broke her reverie with yet another surprise. This time, the ecstatic queen responded with just a smile. The exhilarated Emperor returned the smile. No words were exchanged just then. Yet the smiles conveyed everything. Her acceptance of the new friendship, his joy, an end to their old rivalry and A NEW BEGINNING...

Present

In The Royal Garden

"Aaah..." Jodha looked down to see blood oozing from the cut on her palm as a result of careless play with the broken pieces. Sighing, the fatigued queen stood up to have some first aid done on the wound and also to retire for the night with the hope that everything will be back to normal by the magical swish of Nature's wand that ends the vile darkness and lights up the entire universe. Oh! Only if problems could be solved like that...

The Next Morning Just Before Sunrise

In Shehenshah Jalal's chambers

"I beg you Shehenshah, please revoke the punishment. Zakira did not defy Jodha Begum purposely. It was an accident. I am very well aware that Begum Jodha is upset. But, please just think about poor Zakira. She will die with severity of the punishment. I am ready to accept the punishment on her behalf. She is not my maid; she is my only companion in this alien palace ... Please, Shehenshah, I was even ready to fall at Jodha Begum's feet to ask for forgiveness. His Majesty is so kind and generous. Please bestow your grace and pity on this worthless." Benazir begged.

Having been refused admission by Jodha Begum, the distressed courtesan had no go but to plead with the Shehenshah himself in the wee hours of morning. Having narrated the entire incident to the Badshaah, she had resorted to begging now.

Jalal though initially aloof, became serious. This was not a petty matter to ignore more so as it concerned his Theeki Mirchi. He dismissed Benazir promising to look into the matter. He called the guard but on second thoughts, dismissed him and went out himself.

In The Square In The Harem

Zakira was tied to a post who was wailing uncontrollably. An equally grieved Benazir was trying in vain to console her.

"Please move aside, Mohtarma. The sun has risen. And as per Jodha Begum's orders, we have to start the whipping." A guard addressed Benazir. Having failed in his purpose, a few female guards had to forcefully drag Benazir away while other maids and slaves on early duty stood watching and of course talking about Jodha Begum's sudden cruelty.

The assigned guard went towards Zakira with a whip in hand. She lifted the whip to bring it down on Zakira's back with the necessary force and was just lowering it when a strong hand held the whip just before it touched Zakira's back. The infuriated guard turned around to lambast the source of interruption. She stood shocked.

The assembled crowd gasped. Benazir sighed with relief. The other guards looked too dumfounded to get out a coherent response. Zakira who had her eyes shut in anticipation of the pain opened her eyes in surprise due to its conspicuous absence.

There stood the Shehenshah with his one hand still clutching the whip- as resplendent as always with a satisfied smile on his ever so handsome face...

Part 3 - Page 5

https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/106264844

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