Hamida Bano entered her hojra,where she saw Jodha sitting beside the Jharoka,who was looking at her hands.They were worried. Moti bai came and greeted them.
''Mallika-e-Aazam,Jodha bohut toot chuki hai... Andar hi andar ro rahi hai... Kisise bhi baat nahi karna chahrahi hai... Aap samjhaengi usse,toh,samajh aajaye unhe...'' Moti said,being worried for her sakhi.
Hamida Bano nodded.
Hamida Bano went near her.She kept her hand and carressed her head with her loving and caring touch... Jodha turned around to see Ammijaan there.. With much effort,she folded her hands and greeted her. Hamida also greeted her by doing Aadaab...
Hamida didnt know what to do.. She didnt know how she will console Jodha,whom she considered her daughter. She had no words left to console..
''Ya Parwardigaar.. Yeh kya hogaya hai humari Jodha ko... Kaunsi gunaah ki saza isse derahe hai aap? Ek Maa ki pukar ko suniye,mere Maula... Jalal ne jo zakhm Jodha ko diya hai,usse Jodha ko nijaat dilwaiye,mere Maula... Aise usse ghut ghut ke jeete huye usse nahi dekhsakte hai... Mere iss ilteja ko puri kardijiye,mere Maula...'' She silently prayed for Jodha.
''Mujhe ishq se rehna tha door,
Gham isske bare jo hai mashhoor,
Par yeh,dil hai ki bilkul mana nahi,
Mujhe khichkar dekho le aaya yahi,
Haan ishq hai,
Bas ishq hai...
Iss dard-e-dil ki sifaarish,
Ab karde koi yahaan,
Ki,
Mil jaaye isse woh baarish,
Jo bhiga de puri tarha..''
Jodha sang,to let out her feelings..Hamida felt the pain through her singing... She could feel that Jodha was terribly hurt. She couldnt believe that this was the same Jodha who used to help her Ammijaan in all work,used to keep people around her happy,used to care for everyone.
Tears formed in Hamida's eyes seeing Jodha's condition. She wanted to ease Jodha from all her pains,but,nothing was at her hand.. All she could do is to pray for Jodha.
''Ammijaan,hum aapke goudh sar rakh sakte hai? Aaj aap humein sula dijiye...'' Jodha pleaded..
''Zarur,beta...'' Hamida replied,through her tears...
Jodha kept her head on Hamida's lap and closed her eyes to get some sleep. Hamida stroked her head fondly and sang a lori for her. As she sang the lori,Jodha remembered how she used to place her head on her Maasa's lap and fall in sleep. A faint smile appeared on her face,thinking about the past.
''Allah se dua karungi ki tumhe sab dard aur dkho se nijaat de de aur tum humesha hasti raho.. Hum aapke dard ko samajh sakte hai,beta,aur yeh bhi jaante hai ki aapko iss dard se ubharne mein waqt lagega... Par,hum aapko bata de ki hum,apaki Ammijaan aur iss saltanat ke Mallika-e-Aazam humeshaaapke saath rahenge aur koi bhi dukh aapko nahi pohuchegi... Mera wada raha aapse,Jodha...''
The End...
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