In An Unknown Era : Part 5
"She's beautiful, isn't she?", murmured Ruqaiya while pausing after a puff of her huqqa.
Hoshiyar rushed over to his mistress' side, assuming she had another order for him to work upon.
"Kuchh kaha aapne Begum Sahiba?" (Did you say something, Begum Sahiba? ) He asked in an anxious tone.
"Shehenshah ki nayi Begum kaafi khoobsurat hain na Hoshiyaar?" ( Shehenshah's new Begum is quite beautiful, isn't she Hoshiyaar? ) She said in a very low tone, her eyes fixed on the wall pointlessly.
The servant was appalled at the question of hers. He wasn't used to hearing such a thing. Not sure about how to reply...he nervously said..." Ye aap kya keh rahi hain Begum Sahiba? Aapse khoobsurat bhi koi ho sakta hai bhala?" ( What are you saying mistress? Can anyone be as beautiful as you are? )
Ruqaiya turned and stared at him darkly for a moment... and just seconds later, burst out in laughter.
Hoshiyar looked at her...confused like never before. His expressions only increased her laugh.
She responded after a while. "Kaafi dino se iss haram mein koi muqaabla nahi hua. Soch rahe hain hain ki teerandaazi ka ek muqaabla rakhwaaya jaaye..." ( There hasn't been a competition in this Harem since ages. I am thinking to organize an archery competition...)
Hoshiyar quickly took the opportunity to bid farewell to the confusing previous topic. " Umda khayaal hai ye Begum Sahiba! Lekin aap ye muqaabla kiske saath karengi? Humein nahi lagta iss harem mein koi bhi aapke saamne tik paayega..." ( Great idea it is! But whom will you compete with? I don't think anyone here can match your brilliance...)
Ruqaiya smiled slightly at his statement. "Jodha Begum ke saath" She replied, her expression unfathomable. ( With Jodha Begum...)
Before Hoshiyar could drop in with anymore doubts, she began, "Woh ek Rajvanshi hain, aur humein poora yakeen hai ki iss muqaable mein woh hi humare saath khadi ho sakti hain..." ( She's a Rajvanshi, and I believe that she is the one who can stand up to me in this competition...)
"Harem mein sabko paigaam bhijwa do ki kal Shaahi maidaan mein teerandaazi ka muqaabla hoga. Aur haan... Jodha Begum aur Jalal ko khaas taur par bata dena..." ( Inform everyone in the Harem that an archery event will be held in the royal ground tomorrow... and Jalal and Jodha Begum should be informed specially...)
It will be so much fun to defeat that Rajvanshi in front of all. There's not a better way to let the new inmate know her position here in Agra. The glee of such thoughts filled Ruqaiya's mind as she took another sip of her huqqa.
...
A large map of Hindustan was spread across the area of a table in the emperor's room.
Jalal was keenly looking into it, studying the present boundaries of the Sultanate, and how far they can be expanded at present.
The nascent Mughal Sultanate was gradually firming its hold on Northern India. And it was entirely on Jalal to spread its roots, since he hadn't inherited anything from his father.
It was due to Jalal's ability as a conqueror that had made the Sultanate what it today was. It was no stopping him when it came to expansion.
It was then that a maid entered to inform him of Atgah Sahab's presence. He called him in.
Atgah Sahab's face revealed that there was something important he wanted to discuss with Jalal.
He asked him to take his seat, and in a firm tone, said, "taqhliya." (Leave us alone.)
Turning to Atgah Sahab, he continued, " Aapke chehra bata raha ki koi khaas baat hi hai jo aapko yahaan lekar aayi hai... bataiye Atgah Sahab, kya baat hai?" ( Your face tells that there's some important news that has brought you here. What happened Atgah Sahab?)
"Huzoor, Ajmer ke as paas ke Rajput ilaakon se humare jasoos ki do mahino se koi khabar nahi aayi hai. Wahaan par humne apne sabse kaabil jaasoos ko bheja tha, Rajputana ki har chhoti se chhoti harqat par nazar rakhna humare liye behad zaroori hai..." ( Your Majesty, we haven't received any news from our spy near Ajmer from about two months. We had placed our most efficient spy there, as it is very important for us to keep track of every little movement of the Rajput states. )
Jalal heard each and every word keenly. After a while he responded, " Magar iski zimmedaari toh Ajmer ke subedar ki hai na? Kya jawaab diya unhone?" ( But the responsibility of this goes to the state official of Ajmer...what did he say?)
"Huzoor unka kehna hai ki Unhe iss bare mein koi maalumaat nahi hai..." ( He said that he knows absolutely nothing about this, Shehenshah. )
This was highly unusual. Jalal had a very efficient network of highly trained spies across the kingdoms not under Mughal Sultanate. They were the ones who circulated the valuable information about the state's political condition to Jalal.
And it was very unusual for a spy to vanish like this. If, by chance, he was caught by the ruler, the ruler would have sent some sort of message to him, or at least his officials at Ajmer must have been knowing about it.
He had planned to capture the entire Rajputana one-by-one. And it was very important for him to get all the inside info.
A new spy cannot be sent there before determining what happened to the previous one.
Atgah Sahab's voice brought Jalal back from his trail of thoughts. "Shehenshah, humein lagta hai ki aapko kisi bharosemand mulaazim ko jald se jald Ajmer bhejna chahiye...wahaan ke haalaat jaan ne ke liye..." ( Shehenshah, I think you should send some trustworthy person to Ajmer as soon as possible...to know the conditions there...)
Jalal thought for a second, a slight smile slowly playing across his lips. " Kitna waqt ho gaya humein Ajmer Sharif gaye huye! Hai na Atgah Sahab?" ( It has been so long since I last went to Ajmer Sharif... isn't it Atgah Sahab?)
Atgah Sahab was surprised by this sudden change of Jalal's mood, and consequently the topic. He simply repied, "Ji huzoor, andaazan chaar paanch saal ho gaye honge..." ( Yes your majesty, it has been about four to five years...)
Jalal looked and Atgah Sahab and grinned..."Toh kyun na hum khud hi Ajmer chale jayein? Ye sabse maaqool waqt hai jaane ka... Agra aur uske aas paas ke ilaakon mein abhi shaanti hai. Aur agar Rajputana ko haasil karna hai, toh uski kuchh parakh bhi rakhni padegi humein..." ( Then what if I myself go to Ajmer? This is the best time to go... Agra and its neighbors are in peace. And if I have to get the Rajput states, I have to get some knowledge about them...)
Atgah Khan smiled at Jalal's answer. "Jaisi aapki marzi Shehenshah. Ijaazat dijiye. Kuchh hi dino mein aapki ravaangi ki taiyyari karwate hain." ( As you wish, Shehenshah. I take your leave. Preparations for your departure in a few days will be done. )
It wasn't long after Atgah Khan's departure, that a maid came in with Ruqaiya's message.
...
Back in Jodha's chambers, Jodha had just returned from her tulsi pooja, and was busy in reading some book.
In the far corner of the room, sat Radha. After a long time, she had finally got some time to be calm, and just think.
Every time she thought about her present, it seemed to her a dream all over again. With each passing day, she realized how difficult it is to live without your family!
There were times she had been very sad recalling her mom, and Jo would calm her down assuming she was missing her family back in Amer.
But no matter how much she missed being at home, there was something which never let her even think of going back there. It's true she was an ordinary person here, nobody cared for her, she was no one in this vast world of the royalty, but still, she loved the feeling of being at a place no one else can.
Slowly, she was adjusting to this lifestyle. The language, the weirdo clothes, and of course the no electricity and gadgets thing! Radhika did not remember even spending an hour without checking her mobile once, and here she was, away from the very existence of something even remotely similar to a telephone!
But she still admired this place. She considered the people of this age to be far more intelligent than anyone in her times was. For instance, though they did not have electric lighting, it never was too dark even in the blackest of nights. This was due to the amazing fire lighting system the Agra Fort had!
And people were much more hard working here. Everything was to be done manually, since there were NO machines, and yet, the buildings, clothes, jewellery, everything was so perfect, so magnificent. Even books had to be written by hand! Radhika could never imagine the amount of patience it required!
More than anything else perhaps, she loved the fresh air of Agra. Fresher than any in the 21st century. No, wait, she loved something more than this! Yes, of course, seeing the picture perfect couple together! Seeing the mightiest of the Mughal Emperors alive in front of her eyes. Weren't these beyond anyone's wildest dreams?
She smiled as she remembered yesterday's AkDha moment. Wish that happens more often! She murmured to herself.
Just then, a maid entered with Ruqaiya's message, telling Jodha about the upcoming competition. She left after reading the letter, and Radha got up and came to Jodha to grasp her reaction to it.
Radhika was sure Jo was going to deny the proposal. That was the kind of Jodha she had been seeing in TV shows. 😉😆 Mentally, she was preparing points to convince Jodha to compete with Ruqaiya.
But to her surprise, Jo seemed elated by the event. "Radha, tumne patra suna na? Kitna accha vichaar hai Ruqaiya Begum ka... iss pratiyogita se itne dino baad humein dhanush chalane ka avsar bhi mil jayega...aur thoda manoranjan bhi ho jayega...Hai na?" ( Radha, did you hear what the letter said? Ruqaiya Begum has an excellent idea. I would be able to perform archery after so long, and this competition would be entertaining as well. ) She said, her happiness evident from her tone.
Radhika was surprised by her reaction. But she quickly hid that, and with an equally vibrant smile, nodded her head in agreement.
Seeing Radha's smiling response, Jodha recalled the past in Amer. Her face lit up, as she remembered how she used to practice archery with Radha. She thought it would be best to practice here in Agra also, since Radha would also get a chance to reminisce the old days and adjust in Agra.
"Radha, chalo hum aaj teerandaazi ka abhyaas karte hain! Tumhe yaad hai na hum Amer mein saare yuddhaabhyaas saath mein hi karte the?" ( Radha, let's practice archery today. You remember how we used to practice warfare in Amer? ) Jodha stated in an exciting a tone as she could manage.
Radhika was hell shocked with Jodha's words. She knew absolutely nothing about archery. Forget practicing it with a warrior princess like Jodha!
She fumbled with her words, managing only a faint yes.
Jodha was confused by this grim reaction of Radha. She had always known Radha as a girl who was extremely enthusiastic about weapons and warfare, just like Jodha herself. This sudden change was unknown to her.
She thought maybe Radha was hesitant because of the time lapse in the practice. She tried to convince her. " Arrey kya hua Radha? Agar nahi bhi yaad hai toh koi baat nahi. Hum hain na? Hum tumhe fir se sab kuchh sikha denge. Ab khush?" ( What happened Radha? It's okay if you don't remember. I'll teach you everything again. Happy now? )She smiled at Radha, trying to make her comfortable.
By now, Radhika had absorbed all the shocks, and was able to think clearly. Perhaps archery wasn't that difficult after all. If Ruqaiya ( whom she obviously considered a dumbo 😆) could do that, why can't I? And anyway, Jodha is only teaching, not aiming the arrow at me. These thoughts calmed her down a bit.
Finally, she replied back with a smile. "Bohot khush!" ( Very happy! )
...
Meanwhile, Jalal had also got the news of this competition.
Ruqaiya had also asked him in her letter for a suitable prize to the winner.
Jalal couldn't help but laugh at his friend's antics. Will she ever think beyond gifts and wishes and awards?
This apart, it seemed a very interesting proposal to Jalal, since both the competitors were quite interesting, and he was sure it was going to be an intriguing one, since both the competitors were amusing personalities to him. He wanted to see who wins this time, and of course the aftermath of the win.
As for the prize, his over-active mind had already thought of an incredible prize for the winner, and his smirk conveyed that it wasn't an ordinary one.
...
Naagin 7
Health and Fitness
Anupamaa
Bade Acche Lagte Hai 3
55