Mansi, forgive me for the late reply. Here you go...
The anticipation of the both people were as good as of a student expecting his board exam results in the next morning and were too anxious that even the sleep didn't come anywhere near them.
Jodha's emotions were so expressive that she felt depressed on seeing Man Singh midway that too after he expressed that the arrangements were made for her to take rest for the night and they will start early next morning. Had she not spotted him there and had it not been for her Shehenshah's order's that her journey to be pleasant and stress less, she would not have agreed to spend the night in the tents. Given the opportunity, she would have urged her brothers on non-stop journey so that she can reach Agra at the dawn and meet her Suraj even before the Sun rises on the horizon. Now she can't show that resolution to Man Singh who was already suppressing his smile. How could she act like a lovesick teen in front of that adolescent boy? Though Mansingh wished her Shubhraatri, was she able to sleep? No, the anxiety to reach her home, to meet her people and to see her husband to her eyes content were driving her mad and she could not even wink an eye lash throughout the night fearing what if I over sleep and there by delay the journey by few more minutes or hours. She was visualizing her last meeting with jalal and how feeble he looked while asking her to join him back to Agra and how ruthless she acted and hurt him. She wanted to repay for all her fault and adamant decisions and urge him to forgive her.
Jalal's condition was no different from that of Jodha. He must be cursing time for not moving in line with his excitement. He was too eager to close his eyelids fearing he might miss the sun rays of the early dawn which will bring his Jodha back to him and she will be here in Agra for him and not for her father's honour, her praja's safety or due to the sacred bond of marital vows. She will be here in next few hours and then she will his Jodha , Jalaluddin Mohammed's Jodha and no longer the Rajvanshi princess but Jalal's wife. It was like a blind man feels before opening his bandage post operation, when he realizes that he will be able to see the nature for the first time and keep speculating it throughout the night. It was like what he will see first or to whom he will pray first? This is the first time he is going to meet his wife for whom he had been waiting for more than a year unknowingly and anxiously for the last few weeks. It was like person who see the shore after floating for numerous days and had lost all his hopes to reach the shore. Jalal was speculating what to talk, whether he should initiate the talk or wait for Jodha to start it?
Even the Sun could not wait longer than required as even he was waiting the earth and the sky to meet at the horizon, so it was dawn and the time went so fast that even before Jalal could wink, Jodha arrived at the threshold of Agra. Thanks to the gathering of the ladies in the first row who blocked his way and for the elderly men (Atgah Khan & Todarmal) on either side of Jalal who helped him to stay put in his position. Even otherwise, I am sure whether Jalal would have been able to take a step ahead as stood rooted to his position and his legs didn't support him to move further. His eyes were glued to the Palki which brought Jodha in it and slowly she stepped down from the doli leaving Jalal mesmerized by her beauty and even if someone offered him an Apsara from the heaven, he would have declined her without second thought. The breeze stopped there with a feeling of suffocation with the fragrance of Jodha made him heavy and immovable and the sun would have gone for a cover after seeing the brightness of Jodha's eyes and her face, if not he had promised Jalal that he will help Jalal to view his wife to his heart's content in the broad day light.
Jodha was eager to have a glimpse of her soul in the crowd and was waiting to hear his heart beats in that loud chant of people. The moment their eyes met, everything went to the background. The loud noise of Jaikar was no longer heard, the teasing smiles of the others went invisible, and the crowd went unnoticed. There stayed only 2 sets of eyes which communicated to each other whatever they wanted to ask, seek, respond and accept. Jodha with tearful eyes asked his permission to move ahead, like I have delayed beyond it was necessary and hurt your heart, soul & pride. Would still forgive me and accept me with your whole heart. I know what ever I did and said were not worth pardoning but still I earnestly seek your forgiveness, will you be kind enough to forget my folly and open your arms for me and lend your shoulder to release my stress as I cannot take this separation anymore and would like the strength of your strong shoulders to support me as my legs are no longer supporting me and are going weak. Am I welcomed to your heart in the same way I am being welcomed to my home.
Jalal without uttering a word heard all that she said and asked and with a small nod with the glee in his eyes and a crooked smile on the corner of his lips said, you are mine and we are one. There is no question of you are not being welcomed to my heart as you are already owning that and when we are one, there is no question of forgiveness. Who I am I to stop you from entering your home and yes, you can lean on my shoulder and take the support of my strong arms which will never ever fail to support you and when I am here with you, your legs will never feel the weakness as they will go in sync with my steps and I will never allow them to falter.
Like they say in Kannada " Maathu Belli, Mauna Bangara" means " if talking is Silver, Silence is Gold" You may falter with your choice of words but you can never miss any communication through silence as silence speaks volumes.
So when the two souls become one, does there any need for talk, do they really need any vocabulary to express their feelings?
Oh my how beautifully you have explained...This forum does have some very talented writers...I am hooked to this forum because of you all
Ishaani
Cricket
