TS: ||My Mother|| part 3 updated

Part 2:

"Ghrina bhi aapke liye bohot kam hay Shahenshah!" The words had entered in his ears like molten lead, and his heart was still burning in the heat of that! So much hatred! So much hatred for him!

What was the basis of this hatred? How can she hate him? Because he did not go to his mother? Because she thinks he hates his mother? What does she know? What does she know about him and his mother? How can she judge him only on the basis of his one word? Did she ever think to have a drastic childhood like him- without a shadow of mother?

FLASHBACK

"Mere ammijaan kaisi dikhti hay?"[How does my mother look?] The little boy of merely 3 years old asked the question to his Badi Ammi in the time of his bed-time stories. "Bohot khub surat hay o. Hay na?"[She is very much beautiful. Isn't it?]

"O to hoga hi... Akhir Mughal Saltanant ki mallika hay o. Shahenshah Humayun ke Khas Begam hay! Or humare nanhe shahezade ki Ammijaan hay!!"[Obviously. At last she is the empress of Mughal dynasty. The chief consort of Shahenshah Humayun and the mother of our little prince] The rigid and hardcore lady ran her fingers in the boy's silky hairs with a lot of affection. But the boy was not satisfied with this poor description. He went on... "Thik se kahiye na badi ammi... Kaisi dikhti hay o?" [Tell me clearly. How does she look like?]

"Ummm Chandni ki tarha!"[Ummm.. Like moonlight.] The poor nanny did not have much sense of literature than this to describe the beauty of a lady. But this description is not enough to describe his mother to a little heart of 3 years who has never seen his mother. Mother is a vast imagination in his eyes. Mother is a dream for him!

"Koi chandni ki tarha kaise dikh sakti hay! Thik se bolie na!!"[How can anyone look like moonlight? Say properly!!]

"Jalal! Tum to!!" [Jalal you are!] The nanny was going to scold her but could not. She only sighed! "Jab ammijaan ayenge to jee varke dekh lena!"[You will be able to see her with all of your attention when she will come!] She said to cheer him up.

"Accha? Ammijaan sach me ayenge??"[Really? Mother will really come?] The little kid almost jumped up. "Kab ayenge? Bolie na..." [When? Say me...]

"Pata nehi beta!!"[Don't know my son!] The lady again sighed! "Ayenge bhi yeah nehi!"[Whether she will come or not!]

"Ammijaan humare sath kyu nehi rahete hay?"[Why my mother does not live with me?] The boy asked innocently. "Sab ke ammijaan sath rahete hay. Srif humare ammijaan hi humare paas nehi rahete!" [Everyone's mother stays with them, except my mother!]

"Hum hay na?"[I am here!] The lady kissed his forehead. "Hum aapke ammijaan nehi hay kya?" [Am not I your mother?]

"Aapto meri Badi Ammi hay! Adham Bhaijaan ki ammijaan hay."[But you are my Badi Ammi... Adham Bhaijaan's mother...] He said immediately. But after realizing that it can hurt his badi ammi he again spoke out. "Aap bhi acchi hay, par humare apni ek ammijaan bhi to hayna? O kab ayenge?" [You are good too; but I have my own mother isn't it? When will she come? ]

"Ayenge! Zarur ayenge! Aab aap sone ayiye beta..."[She will definitely come! You sleep my dear.] His badi ammi tried to pacify him.

"Ammijaan ko meri yaad nehi ati hay?" [Mother does not remember me?] he asked.

"Khuda jane!"[God knows!] She uttered in her own, but not too low to go out from his ears. But she managed the situation readily. "Yaad karte hay na!! Bohot yaad karte hay! Aap so jaiye Jalal, hum aapko lori sunate hay. Aap aankhe bandh karke ammijaan ki bare me sochie... Khowab me o aapse milne ayenge..." [Remembers. She misses you a lot! You sleep Jalal, I am singing lullaby. You close your eyes and think about your mother... She will come to meet you in your dream.]

His Badi Ammi started to sing lullaby for him; he closed his eyes readily to think about his mother... Mother- how is his mother? How she looks like? He does not know anything about her. How will he remember her in his dreams? Badi Ammi knows so many things but does not know this?!

He opened his eyes and gazed over the window. The moonlight was sprinkling silver all over the world. The moon was smiling at him. Does his mother really look like moonlight?

The little boy of merely 3 years old, who has a larger and heavier name than his own body, and a too heavier status to be carried by his little shoulders, Shahezada Abu'l Fath Jalal-Ud-din Muhammad, hence spent his rest of the night starring out of the window keenly, to find the face of her mother in moonlight, to shape the face of her mother with the help of the beautiful moonlight and the tune of lullaby and by mixing his vast imagination in that face... He has to dream his mother. He has to talk with her mother... When is she going to come? Does she remember him? He has many things to ask... Only he wants his mother to come to him!

FLASHBACK ENDS

Jalal gulped a full glass of water suddenly- in a trial to melt the rock of stupid emotions in his throat; which strangulates him from inside; chocks him; everything becomes blur in front of eyes!

That little boy slowly grew up while starring at the moon, while waiting for his mother... But still he has not got his mother till now! How is his mother; does he know that even now?

Jalaluddin Muhammad, the young hot-blooded emperor of the Mughal dynasty, with lots of ambitions in his eyes, lots of dreams to touch the highest peak of success, had only one ambition in his childhood...One dream to touch... That little boy of 3 years only wanted to see his mother... to touch his mother... to hug his mother and whisper in her ears- I will not let you go anywhere leaving me! That first and most strong zeal has been burdened under a heap of ambitions, still untouched. He cannot reach to his mother even now; cannot hug her and say- I love you mother! I LOVE YOU!

The little boy has lost forever. The outer world did not let him to survive. A high-nose, cruel, ambitious man has reborn in his place... A man who is even not worth of your hatred Jodha Begam! But if you ever had met that little boy waiting for his mother, you would have surely dropped a tear for him!

Jalal shook his head to free the cloud of grief that was overpowering him slowly. Why will he be angry with Jodha? Rather he was feeling grateful to her as she had conveyed the news of his mother's health. What a strange thing! No one of the palace bothered to let him know? He really had no clue about it when he first got the message from his mother's special maid that she wants to see him. She sends this type of messages sometimes; Jalal goes to her according to his time, continues a respectful conversation, bids her and went away... It always becomes a meeting of the emperor and the queen mother! Jalal does not let his mother to come out from the shell of the courtesy of Marium Makani- Never!

But this time the situation was different. Jalal's mother had called him... Jalal's mother- for whom he used to be awaken at mid nights, whose face he used to find in moonlight, that mother, Jalal's own' ammijaan was dying to see her son's face for once. How could Jalal go to any other work leaving her behind? Yes, for his hard, fool ego he cannot show his weakness for his mother to anyone, especially not to that over-smart and over-talkative rajputani princess so he needed that stupid, lame and as well as cruel excuse to stay back, but he was staying for his mother... He cannot pay heed to any work till he hears that his mother is doing well now! How can he refuse to believe that just when he heard that his mother is seriously ill, he in his mind wanted to rush to her. But! She does not need Jalal. Nothing matters to her with his presence or absence. Nothing!

Now what kind of madness is this??Jalal was now feeling disgusted to himself. It is his responsibility to be his mother's side when she is ill. It is his responsibility to meet her in this condition much before than someone comes to plead him for that... How can the emperor Jalal forget his responsibilities to his mother? Childhood grievance? O silly! Jalal is no more that little kid of 3 years old. He knows what the reason that his mother was not with him in his childhood. He knows the helplessness of his parents. He can understand how it felt to his mother when she had to leave her 1 month baby behind in the name of her duty as an empress. But still, still when it comes to his mother why his heart starts paining? Why the old sting of childhood starts to haunt him? Why he becomes an emotional fool when it comes to his mother? He will obviously go to his mother now, will talk with doctor, will ask about her recovery, will consult with other better doctors; he will do everything a son should do when mothers get ill...

Just when Jalal determined to go out from the room, he felt an invisible internal force is not letting him to go. No he cannot face this situation. When he will rush to her mother, when she will try to open her eyes to see him, when she will give her all forces to touch her son, to talk with him, Jalal knows he will not be able to response to her love... He knows that he will just keep his palms on her hand and then will turn back his face, will show himself as busy to talk with the doctors, to order the nurses to take extra care for her; and then he will leave the room bidding her a courtesy-full Salaam, with a wish of recovering early with a sweet smile, as he does every time... He will become too normal in front of others. No one will feel any abnormality in his behavior; no one will understand his hypocrisy of controlling the emotions; except the woman who is craving for his touch... Will she be able to take that shock?!

An old memory suddenly flashed out in Jalal's mind. The day after his father's death!

His mother was mourning like a common lady forgetting her status, her dignity and all. She was unable to control her cry, and none was able to control her outburst when Jalal came to meet her first. The death of Jalal's father was itself so sudden and shocking that even Jalal, who was only a kid of 13 years then, was yet to believe the fact that his father is no more and from now he has to take the charge of this vast empire. But he was unable to cry for his father. In such a tender age a boy does not learn the tactics of controlling tears, but he had to learn that very fast. After all, his mentor had not permitted him. An emperor cannot shed tears.

But what about a son; a fatherless son, who has come to his mother?

Jalal still remembers how his mother had tried to control her tears after seeing him but could not. How she was looking to his face, with a hope that her 13 years child will now jump to her mother's lap and cry all his heart out for his father... But pity to her child! He could not. He could not. He was now an emperor!! No matter how much his heart was craving for hugging his distressed mother now, wiping out her tears and say -I am here with you mother., he could do nothing but to bid her formally, to express the formal words of mourning and went off from the room.

How shockingly his mother was starring to him that day! As if she was unable to believe that her son is no more her son! He has become an emperor, a robot without any emotions... He was never her, will never be her! The greatest attachment of her life, her own son, is too much distant from her!

Thoughts always fly from here to there. With the memory of the funeral of his father, a fearful thought suddenly grabbed Jalal. What if mother also dies really?

If he takes Jodha Begam's words in account then she is in her death-bed... Yes she had told that. "Kyuki ho sakta hay ki jabtak aap laute o aapse itna dur chali jaye ki aap unse mil hi nehi paye!" Will really his mother go to that far leaving him?

How far can she go? Was she ever with him? Or she was always there, only he was unable to see her!

FLASHBACK

"Kaise pahechanenge hum humari ammijaan ko?"[How I will know my mother?] The little prince was in a great thought while waiting for his mother in the gate of women's quarter... After a long long time his wish has been fulfilled, his ammijaan is coming to him! But he had never seen his Ammijaan; not even had he seen any of her portraits. To him mother is a vast dream, the most beautiful dream of ever, which can be achieved by lots of dedication. How the real mother of flesh and blood can be, his little brain has no idea about that.

But he did not have do think for much long. When the announcement of the entry of her highness had been done, Jalal, with all his enthusiasm jumped in front of the door, from where the team of the royal ladies was going to take entrance... Lots of ladies of the same age and same types of outfits, but what a surprise! He did not take much time to point out his mother among all of them is. The tallest, the most beautiful woman and the most elegant among all; who has a keen urge of meeting someone special in her eyes, is his mother. She has to be... She is the same woman who comes in his dream...

"Ammijaan!!" Jalal did not hesitate a bit to run to her and hug her waist, without giving her a chance to understand what is happening. "Aap mere ammijaan hay... Hay na? mere aapni ammijaan?? Aap kabhi mujhe chorke nehi jayenge na? Aap abase mere sath rahenge na??" [You are my mother- my own mother. Isn't it? Promise me you will never go anywhere leaving me. You will live with me...] The very naughty and very talkative little boy had no hesitation to the new acquaintance; as he knows she is his own. His mother!

"Jalal!! Mera Jalal!! Mera beta!!!" The most elegant lady forgot all her status and took the little boy in her arms, showering lots and lots of kisses in his face, and wetting him with the rain of her tears as well...

The whole day little Jalal was with his mother. His mother is much more beautiful than his imagination. She is so soft, so lovely, so warm... His badi ammi also takes him in her lap but he does not feel this warmth ever. And there is a beautiful aroma in his mother's body... perhaps it is the perfume of a mother... She cries too much; when he kissed her checks to wipe out her tears she broke down in crying much hugging him. She is tender, so sweet. He has the best mother of the world...

At night, when she was humming lullaby to make him sleep, Jalal opened his eyes suddenly and hugged her neck.

"Kya hua beta?" [What happened my son?] His mother asked...

Jalal told nothing, as he was busy to fasten the edge of his mother's dopatta with the edge of his upper garment. She again asked "Kya kar rahe ho beta?" [What are you doing my son?]

"Aapko hum kahi jane nehi denge..." He told. "Aap humesa mere sath hi rahenge na? Ammijaan?" [I will not let you to go anywhere. Are not you going to stay with me from now on Ammijaan?]

"Tumhe chorke kaha jayenge beta! Tumhare sath hi to rahete hay hum... Humesha!!"[Where else I will go leaving you! I am with you always!] The beautiful lady kissed his head more than once to pour all her motherhood that was craving for her little son. "So jao..." [Sleep!]

Jalal went to sleep while mumbling "Mujhe chorke maat jana! Kabhi maat jana!" [Don't leave me ever!] And the next morning, when he opened his eyes, he saw...

He saw that his mother is no where! The bind that he had fastened is opened...Mother is nowhere. Not by his side, neither in the palace, nor in the garden... She has left again. She had to leave the place at dawn due to safety reason. She left her son again, forgetting the promise!

FLASHBACK ENDS

That time his mother could not be at his side due to adverse circumstances, and today he is unable to face her mother when she needs him the most, due to his silly resentment...his silly anger!

Jalal clutched the hand of the seat; he closed his eyes tightly to control over his tears... No no no! An emperor cannot shed tear! Don't dare to roll down from the eyes of the heartless emperor, tear! Don't dare to drop... don't!!

But the drop of the tear was too adamant to carry out the order of the emperor... It could not be resisted from falling down... It fell down, rolled down from the cheeks of the young son... And like the little boy of three years, almost 19-20 years back, he kept on murmuring... "Ammijaan... Mere ammijaan! Maat jana mujhe chorke! Maat jana!!" [Mother..My mother!! Don't go anywhere leaving me! Don't go!]

Part: 3

Jodha was trying hard to sleep at night, but due to the anxiety sleep was not coming in her eyes. She was sitting beside Ammijaan for the whole evening, but at night she was forced by all to go to own room to have rest. She could not refuse all of them, but now she is feeling much more restless. There will be no one by her side in the night. Yes, there are enough of nurses and maids who are giving night-duty for the patient, but none of her family members will bother to ruin their one night's sleep for her. All can show their real concern to the queen mother of the nation at daytime, but that concern is not too strong to sit beside of the ailing lady for the whole night. Jodha has understood one thing very much in those days after her marriage, that the bonding between the family members of the mughal family is not so very tight... It is not that they do not love each-other, but that love is mostly formal. While thinking these, Jodha could not help but to smile sadly. Why would the distant relatives of the family care to have sleepless night sitting by her side, where her own son does not even bother to have a look to his mother?

Jodha got up from the bed, adjusted her dress and put the veil over her face. She will not get to sleep before she does not see her Ammijaan is doing well in her own eyes...

She slowly walked towards the apartment of the Marium Makani. It was quite late of night. All were sleeping peacefully; even the guards were drowsing resting their backs on the walls... The beautiful moonlight had touched the magical stick of sleep on the head of all over the world; all the peace of heaven had come down to the earth today. And in this peaceful night, none was there to think about that ailing lady, who is dying every moment to have a touch of peace from her son! Jodha sighed... She can do everything for her recovery. But she can never take place of her son! Hey Kaanha! Cannot you do such a miracle so that that arrogant emperor has to fall in front of his mother's feet, and to say her that your son is beside you?

Just before entering into the room, she could guess that none of the nurses were doing their works, as there was an extra silence inside the room. She entered, and saw there is no nurse in the room; Ammijaan is lying in the bed like before, and someone is beside her... Someone!

Oh! God! Jodha pinched herself. Is she watching a dream? How is this possible? Is not he the same man who had shouted to her ferociously only because she had pleaded to meet his mother for once? Is not he the same man whose voice did not tremble for once while pronouncing that he cannot go anywhere as he will face problem if his mother dies in midway? Is he really the same man, who is now not only just sitting at the bed of his mother, but also caring her hairs with all of his affection, while whispering something to her ear? Jodha could see in the dim light of the room, how the heartless devil is smiling like an innocent child while kissing the palms of his mother, how the corner of his eyes are shining, partly due to tear, partly in innocent happiness! She could see her Ammijaan to smile again with the touch of life in her pale, weak, colourless face, while being half-sat with the full support on her son...And that smile is the most content and beautiful smile of the world... Is it really possible in reality?

Jodha sighed and hid herself behind the curtain to confirm it that both of them will not sense her presence. She was even now unable to believe that she is witnessing the one of the most beautiful scene of the world now! Had she ever thought that her God will hear her wish so quickly? Or she is dreaming? One pinch is perhaps not enough to break the dream!!

Jodha was not dreaming. Really Kanha listened to her much before when she had wished for it. Or the God had finally decided to declare Jalal winner in his painful inner conflict... Jalal was unable to think or decide anything the whole day! He was lost in his inner fight of emotions, the stupid emotions those have no meaning... He had cancelled his trip, he had cancelled all the meetings he had, he could not take a grain of food, he could not take rest; he was unable to get rid of the restlessness of meeting his mother in his heart, but his legs were not moving! Anyone will say this is stupid! But it is true! The mighty emperor was unable to fight with that force which was prohibiting him to step forward... he was unable to order that- I am the owner of my wish! I will go to my mother and none can prevent me from that!

But when the big clock rang 12, and there became a pin drop silence outside of his room; he could not lie vacantly anymore. He got up from his bed, came out of his chamber and moved towards his mother's room; secretly, hiding himself, making sure that no one will see him! Why? Whom does he fear? He is answerable to no one. Still he hesitates. Perhaps as it is the first time of his life he was listening to his own heart...

He peeped inside the room...to have only a glimpse of his mother. His own' Ammijaan... the dream of his childhood- the only wish of his childhood! He had thought to take a glimpse only before returning back to his own room... He had not that confidence in his wish that he would enter the room...But he could not prevent himself from rushing towards his mother... A sudden chocking wheezing cough came out from the throat of her mother breaking the silence of the peaceful night; Jalal suddenly felt as she is coughing her lungs out!

"Ammijaan!!!" Jalal ran to her, to hold her and give her support instantaneously! Damn! The nurse who has been kept for her care is sleeping so deeply that even after this her sleep does not bother to break! Sighing disgust Jalal held his mother's head a bit higher to give her comfort. He knows how to give water to a half-conscious coughing person, and in that process he made her to drink water that had been kept aside, to stop the sudden force of coughing. The nurse had opened her eyes midway and was stunned to see the emperor. Jalal ordered her to get lost from the room immediately with the unsaid warning of suspending her from her job... She got out at once, leaving Jalal with his Ammijaan...

She was feeling better after drinking water. Jalal carefully again placed her head on the pillow. His hand slightly touched her mother's skin. He felt the body temperature. She is still having fever... The full remission of fever is not happening! And perhaps there is congestion in her chest also... The infection is still not been captured! Jalal made out all these things with his negligible medical knowledge, and for this lack of knowledge his anxiety was doubled... Is she still unconscious? Or she is in the sense of recognizing him? Jalal took his lips towards her ears to make her hear- "Ammijaan..."

"J...ja..jalal!!" A weak, feeble voice came out from the throat of the middle-aged lady; and Jalal sighed of relief! At least she has recognized him. But the second sentence put him in confusion. "Ab..Abhi bhi...naraaz ho...gussa ho aapni ammijaan se!! "[Are you still angry with me?] She uttered with a lot of difficulty, trying hard to open the eyes...

Jalal had no clue about the delirium of his fevered mother... But, he had to answer her. And he himself could not believe his ears when he heard his own reply! Can Jalal, Emperor Jalaluddin Mohammad talk this way also with his mother?

"Nehi gussa kyu honge? Gussa hone wale hum kyon hote hay! Aap kuch bhi karke aapni sehad ka yeh haal karenge fir bhi hum aapse naraaz nehi honge! Huhh!!" He went on in an angry tone. "Aapni tabiyaat ki halat khud nehi samajhti hay aap? Aisa kaise ho gaya ki mamuli sa zukham barte barte itna bar gaya or aapne kisise kuch nehi kaha??" [No why should I be angry? Who am I to get angry! You can do anything with your health and then also I should not be angry with you!! Don't you understand the condition of own health? How can you lead a little cough and cold to become such a serious one??]

Hamida Begam could say nothing, but she clenched the right hand of her son which was near of her hand... "Maat jao Jalal!! Maat jaoo...ohh!!ahhh!!"[Don't go Jalal. Don't go...] She could not continue her words; the affliction overpowered her strength of speaking... She started rubbing her head on pillow, while making meaningless sounds of expressing sufferings... Jalal felt that the rock of grief will again strangulate him. He has seen lots and lots of people to die in much more pain than this in front of his eyes, but he will not be able to bear his mother's pain with his eyes... If! If he could do anything to reduce the pain!!

"Aap unki sar pe haat rakhenge to unhe shanti milegi!" Was she telling truth? Jalal immediately kept his hand on her head, while coming more close towards her... "Taklif ho raha hay Ammijaan? Kya hua bataiye hume? Sar dard ho raha hay Ammijaan?"[Are you having pain Ammijaan? Tell me? Is your head paining?] Jalal kept on talking, while pressing her forehead with all the affection he has. "Abhi bhi taklif ho raha hay? Hakima sahiba ko bulaye?"[It is paining still now? Should I call doctor?]

Hamida shook her head with all the strength she had; as she was trying to absorb all the affection of the touch and the voice of her son... Perhaps this is the first time in her life when her son is talking so dearly with her! She again tried to reach Jalal's hand to touch them, to feel his presence; as her sight was not clear enough to see him clearly... Jalal! Her son Jalal has come to her!!

"Ammijaan!!" Now when Jalal spoke again, his voice was chocking too... "Aap thik ho jayenge ammijaan!! Hum hay na!" He did not hesitate to go even closer to his mother and took her head on his lap. He bent his head and kissed her forehead... "Aab sone ki kosish kijie...Hum hay aapki paas! Hay hum!! Yehi hay!"[Ammijaan! You will be alright! I am here with you! Now try to sleep...I am here with you. Right here!] He took her palms in his hand too, so that she could feel his touch; he started rubbing her hands to give her comfort... Perhaps she was feeling cold- she was shivering. He covered her properly with the blanket... And she, in her half-sense, almost hugged her son the much she could... Jalal now felt a little awkward; but for a moment only. He almost lay down, pulled the body of his mother with sheer affection to his chest, and embraced her to give her more comfort and temperature...

His mother was getting comfort. She was feeling secured in her son's embracement. Jalal suddenly felt a strange happiness in his heart. This happiness was so sharp that it was piercing his heart...

"Ammijaan!! Aab accha mahesoos ho raha hay na?" [Mother, are you feeling good now?] Jalal talked after a long time, when he felt the sweat coming out from her mother's body, and understood that the temperature is reducing...

Hamida did not answer, but started coughing again. Jalal got up and supported her again to drink her water... After drinking, when she opened her eyes, it was looking like she had gained a little strength within her... She held Jalal's hands and tried to say something, but was stopped by Jalal...

"Nehi Ammijaan... Kuch kahene ki zarurat nehi. So jaiye... Fir se bukhar char jaye to?" [No mother... No need to talk now. Sleep now. What if the fever increases again?]

"T..tu..tum nehi soyoge?" [Will you not sleep?] Hamida uttered, while gasping and stammering...

"Soyenge na? Humari Ammi pahele chain ki nind so jaye, fir hum bhi chain se soyenge!!" [I will! First let my mom to sleep peacefully, then I will sleep too...] Jalal replied sweetly, while kissing her palms. He never would knew if he would not come in this room tonight, that there can have so much peace and happiness in uttering a very simple sentence to a particular person!

"Tum pahele a.a..aa..aye kyu nehi!!! Jab hum..." [Why did not you come first, when I...] Hamida again said, with a feeble voice. But Jalal did not let her to finish by putting his hand on her lips. He started to care her hair unmindfully. What excuse he has actually to give!

"Bohot masroof the aapne kaam me!!"[You were very busy!] Hamida thought one for him, and shut her eyes again!

"Masroof the! Par humne humara safar ko taal diye, sare ke sare kam multavi kar diye the ammijaan... Aapke liye!!" [I was busy! But I had postponed the journey, all the works ammijaan, only for you!!] Jalal told like a baby boy, as if he had to prove her mother that his love for her is not less than anyone! "Nind bhi nehi aa raha tha aapko dekhe bagyar..."[I was not able to sleep without having a glimpse of you!!] He at last told innocently... he could simplify all the emotional fights within him in these small sentences... And that confession gave him the peace of heaven!

Hamida did not tell anything more, as she was starring at her son with a content tear at the corner of her eyes. She could never has the chance of seeing her son from this close; her motherhood still weeps within her heart for the her little naughty talkative son whom she had deprived from her affection for the sake of duty, whenever she sees her young gallant, very efficient son rising at the top of success, and deliberately trying ignoring her love to show her how much he had missed her in childhood. But tonight, in between all her physical suffering she had found the greatest dream in her hand... Today her tiny son was talking with her from the form of that adult, young successful son... A drop of tear rolled down from her eyes expressing all her content.

Jalal perhaps had understood the language of that tear. He at once wiped that tear that was rolling down in her cheek, tenderly smiling... "Kitni roti hay aap ammijaan!!"[How much you cry mother!!] He said, floating on the stream of nostalgia. "Abhi bhi itni roti hay aap! Or koi aansu poch de to or bhi jyada rone lagti hay! Aise hi!"[You cry too much even now! And if anyone wipe your tear you start crying even more for no reason!!]

Hamida tried to hide her tears with the beautiful smile in her lips... Jalal took her hands on his chest, wiped her cheek with his hand and started to talk; with the same eagerness of the innocent Jalal of 3 years... "Aapko yaad hay ammijaan, jab hum pahele baar aapse mile the, aapko kitni tang kar rahe the hum! Or aap to tab bhi baas chalta to mujhe aapni aansu se nehela de rahe the...yaad hay aapko?..." [You remember mother you much I was disturbing you when I met you for the first time? And you only left to bath me with your tears...You remember?...] ...

All are being witnessed by only one soul of the palace. Jodha... The new wife of emperor Jalal, the first Hindu queen of Mughal Harem; and the Daughter of Hamida Banu Begam... Her eyes were too filled with the tears of happiness. Not the happiness for her promise has been kept at last; not for her God had granted her wish; not also for seeing her ammijaan in the greatest joy... She was happy for the man sitting next to her ammijaan. Strange, but true! She was happy to see that at last his burning heart was able to fetch the peace from the love of his mother. And more than that, she was happy for herself. She was happy to know that her husband', who is a live image of terror and cruelty, is not a hard rock of hatred and fear... He was a human- human of blood and flesh, who, no matter how many times he says that he does not care for his mother, cannot prevent himself from coming to his mother at the middle of night, cannot stop his tears to fall when he sits beside him! No matter how much bad and cruel man he be in front of outer world; but in this room he is no one but a son of a mother!

The night was almost over; the golden line of dawn was being visible slowly in the east sky. Jodha was standing in the varanda in front of Marium Makani's room, starring at the beautiful sky...The sky which was reflecting the ray of hope...

"Jodha Begam aap yeaha?" [Jodha Begam you here?] Jodha suddenly turned back hearing the familiar voice. His majesty was standing behind her... The dim light of the rising sun was falling on his face. Jodha noticed surprisingly that today there was no sign of any distortion in his face. His eyes was not full with the normal stratagem, his lip was not holding that disgusting smile which makes her to hate him even more; his voice had no touch of that natural tone of taunt...He was abnormally normal today, and that normalcy had added a extraordinary glow in his face. He was looking as pure as the ray of morning light.

"Ammijaan kaise hay?"[How is ammijaan?] Jodha questioned in the answer of his question. Jalal's eyes shone a bit in shock, but he did not let that come in his face. "Thik hay. So rahe hay!" [She is alright. Sleeping.] He smiled. "Baas dua kijie aapni khuda se ki o jald se jald thik ho jaye!" [Only pray to God that she gets well soon.]

"Bohot jald thik ho jayenge o shahenshah!" Jodha said. "Akhir kar jivan ki sabse bari khusi ki khoj jo mil gaya unhe!"[After all she had find out the source of all happiness of her life!]