~Destined Love~ Thread closed - Page 49

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The sudden inflammation on the injured feet suddenly opened Jalal's eyes. The first thing he saw was an old man applying ointment on his right foot. "Who are you??" Jalal shouted out with a vain trial to get up and strangle him. But the old man was least bothered with his vicious excitement. He kept on putting the paste on his wounds with a calm and happy smile in lips.

"Who are you?" Jalal shouted again holding his hands. The old man smiled looking at him.

"The same question is in my mind also my son. However, don't shout this way. This paste is only for your betterment. You need rest so lie down."

His voice had such a touch of assurance and affection that compelled Jalal to calm down and observe the whole scenario. He is lying on the wet soil-floor of a hut, without a bed, or even a pillow, and an irritating blanket covering him. The roof of the hut is broken and sunlight is directly coming from there. Where is he?

"Is it your house?" He asked the old man.

"No."

"Then... How I reached here? Did you save me from..."

"I am none to save you my Son. All are the blessings of Devi Maa!" The old man joined his hand over head. "We are the most fortunate people of the world that Devi Maa herself has come into the land of Amer in the form of the daughter of our land... to save us from all the evils, to secure us from all kinds of calamities..." He looked at him. "You were saved by the Devi only..."

"Devi Maa... Daughter of your land... you mean..." Jalal uttered with astonishment. "Princess of Amer..."

"Yes...Princess Jodha Bai!" He smiled again and started his work.

"What... you mean she saved me??"

"One of her maid had informed me about you." Vaiyd Ji stated.

"But... how she...Ahhh!" the confused voice of Jalal suddenly converted into a painful cry. "It's inflaming too much!" He exclaimed while biting his lips to control the pain.

"It is showing effect." The doctor told with all his energy.

"Are you sure? Is if effective!" Jalal asked with worry and hidden panic. "I would not have to lose my leg forever na?"

"You are under Vaiyd Sadanand. You need not to worry about the effectiveness of the ointments now..." The innocent old man started appreciating himself with a proud smile. "The paste is made of Alou Vera, seed of..."

Now who is interested to listen to the name of the ingredients of a medical ointment...Jalal turned his head to see the whole room. This old man looks very simple, innocent and affectionate... also he seems to be passionate with work- else he would not have started to recite the names of ingredients suddenly. If the face-value of any man really has any effectiveness, then this man can never harm anyone. He can be believed... But how the princess of this fort showed her concern on him? Is not it funny? Even 24 hour before he was suffering with a strange craziness of seeing the princess's face for once, his luck was so bad that his wish was not fulfilled for a glimpse, and instead of that he got fastened into such a risky situation; and now this old doctor is saying that she has saved his life? Is it a good sign? Or is it a signal of greater danger? If anyone even doubts about his true identity in this land of enemies then...

Suddenly Jalal got excited and sat up... "Where is my waistband?" He uttered!

The piece of cotton cloth was tightly tied round his waist like a waistband even at last night... but that is not there now!

"Why are you getting excited?" Vaiyd Sadanand showed him the cloth which was lying beside him. "Here is it. Don't worry, he has not touched any of your belongings..." He suddenly laughed out. "You are acting like as if you were having any great property inside of that waistband! It was empty! Not even a single penny was there! Only a rusted knife without even a cover, that's also kept aside."

"Who... who opened my waistband..."

"You were ought to be searched; sadly he was impatient and started that when you were senseless. It should not be done- none should touch anyone's belonging without his permission...be it a soldier or an emperor." The old man chuckled. "What was his name- o yeah, Vijay Singh. He used to live at my neighbourhood before... now works at internal security force...Why are you getting so hyper?"

"Not for that but..." Jalal punched on own lap being unable to express his anxiety. That means he had been searched thoroughly by a royal guard! Now the question is how much the guard has got to know! He looked at the waistband beside him and started listing in mind. He had nothing with him that could tell his identity... he had even left his sword with Tufan... the only valuable thing that he had is his personal knife, which, when uncovered, apparently looks like an ordinary knife... so hopefully no danger for now... but...

"I need to get away from here fast..." Jalal murmured, but somehow it reached to the physician's ear.

"You are not going anywhere before this wound recovers completely! You need full rest. Otherwise it would become life-risking..." He told in hurry to his patient in a concerned voice. "I am giving you medicine, the wound will be recovered within 3-4 days, you may go anywhere you like after that!"

"I mean..." Jalal started making half-real story to justify his sudden weird behaviour. He did not take a moment to change his voice into a pitiful one, "Actually I had befooled the security and had entered inside the fort without any official documents last night; then had stuck into the fire of market place and... I know I have broken laws by trespassing this way but I had no choice! I am coming from far- only to get some work here... Now if the royal force sticks behind me then... I am a poor man..."

"Don't worry. The army of Amer never tortures the innocents." The vaiyd assured. "And this place is beyond the territory of Amer fort. None will charge you for trespassing here. You can stay here without any tension till your wound recovers. I am always here to help you."

Jalal smiled while giving a casual look to the bandage of his right leg. He has no option but to depend on this old naturopath completely till he regains his normal health. He has to wait here till Abdul comes back with help... This treatment from this experienced doctor is like a boon to him now!

"Okay son, now I have to go..." Vaiyd Sadanand got up. "You take a nap, I will come tomorrow..."

"Tomorrow...but!" Jalal gulped the sentence and smiled decently instead of it. "I have really no words to thank you Vaiyd Ji!"

"It was my duty my son!" He smiled and went off. To very much of Jalal's surprise, he even did not ask his name! And again Jalal was left alone, in a completely unknown place, with a lot of uncertainty surrounding him!

With the restlessness along with so many tensions on head, he slowly got into slept, perhaps due to the effects of the medicines...

...

"Why the hell did you send the troops back?"

"I felt I don't need the whole troop to protect me. So I sent them back so that they can help the girls in the work of donations." Jodha's excuse was ready on her tongue.

"Now you will decide what is required for your protection and what is not?" The angry tone of the angry brother jolted her ear harshly.

"Why can't I decide that, Bhaisaa? I am sensitive enough to understand the need of situation and so..."

"Enough!" Bhagwant Das shouted. "What do you think of yourself?"

"Sorry Bhaisaa!!" Jodha sighed! "I had thought that being a princess I have the right and freedom to order my security guards according to my wish! I had thought that I am a princess... not a prisoner."

"You know Jodha, you have got a very bad habit of taking all the words in other way!!" Her angry brother busted in rage. "You have a hard belief that your whole family- your brothers- all are your enemies and..."

"No... I know you are concerned for me! I am sorry Bhaisaa..." Jodha held his hand. "But believe me... I am capable enough to protect myself! Do you and other brothers need a whole troop of armies while going out of the palace? Then why you shall waste them behind me for no reason especially when they are needed here inside the fort?" She paused for a while and then uttered- "Because I am a woman?"

"Because you are our pride Jodha! You are the pride of our land, our clan, our entity!" Her brother held her shoulder. "People can afford to lose their strength and life; but not their pride...ever!"

"And I believe from my heart that..." Jodha smiled, "I know to secure that pride very well! And I promise you, I will never let anyone to touch your pride and honour!"

"Don't underestimate our Jodha Bai, Bhagwant Bhaisaa!!" A very dear voice came from behind. It was Kunwar Sujamal in warrior's outfit- Jodha's elder cousin, the commander of Amer's army as well as the rising star in the sky of Amer's politics...one of the most important racer in the race of the throne!

"Sujamal! You are the culprit!" Bhagwant Das grinned. "Due to your pamper Jodha is going out of control..."

"It's natural." Sujamal patted on Jodha's back and smiled to Bhagwant Das. "Can anyone ever control the flame of fire?"

Jodha gave a proud look to her brother getting the support from Sujamal. Bhagwant Das sneered with a dissatisfactory glance. "Carry on Sujamal! Spoil my little sister more and more with your buttery words!"

"You are too much!" Sujamal commented.

"No I am not! I am practical unlike you!" he lashed out. "You know best how much delicate is the situation of our state is. There are lots of enemies outside the wall of the fort targeting Amer... Can you imagine what can exactly happen if somehow any of them trap Jodha?? Maybe she has learnt to hold sword, but she is a woman!"

"Maa Bhawani, whom you worship before going to war, is also a woman, Bhaisaa..." Jodha cast a naughty smile which angered him even more.

"Stop being non-sense Jodha! You are not too young to fathom what I mean..." He groaned. "Come out from the world of utopia now, be practical! You are going to be married."

Rather, going to be caged... Thought Jodha, though did not exclaim. "If you really believe that Jodha is your pride, then you have to believe it also that she is capable to secure that pride."

"And a lioness is never frightened of the herd of foxes." Sujamal added. "She is able to fight with 100 of foxes if given a sharp blade..."

"Sujamal please!" The protective brother sighed hopelessly. "You're still living in your dream world. God forbid, if really something like this takes place ever then..."

"Then Bhaisa," Jodha smiled proudly. "This lioness will fight; will fight till her last breath; and after that, if she loses her weapon, her strength and her battle," she came closer to him and kept her right hand on his hand, pointing the gem-ring of the middle finger, "she will secure her and her clan's pride... with this!"

Bhagwant Das touched the ring- rather the container of deadly poison in the disguise of the innocent ring, and then moved his eyes on Jodha's fearless face, smiling palely. "And how can you expect me to allow you to take such a step? I will protect you till my last breath..."

"By imprisoning my freedom?" Jodha suddenly laughed out and kept head on her brother's chest. "Love is such a weird thing, isn't it Bhaisa? It binds the freedom with the chain of protectiveness!"

"Jodha..."

"Don't worry for me Bhaisaa..." Jodha picked up her face. "I have my Bhaisaas behind me, nothing of this world can dare to harm me... I know it! "

"Mad girl!" Bhagwant Das smiled and Sujamal controlled his laughter by placing palm on lips. "Now Bhaisaa, if your scolding session is over may I tell something important before the pampering session starts?" He told with a light impatience in voice.

"Not so soon. Wait." Jodha demanded. "Bhaisaa, I want something from you."

"What my dear wants now?" He asked with sheer affection.

"Permission of..." Jodha took a long breath before she completes. "Permission of doing something for the dwellers of the affected slum... Please Bhaisaa. They are literally living in a hell! They need help and care Bhaisaa, we have to give them that..."

"Everything will be alright Jodha... the army is doing their job..." Bhagwant Das tried to assure her but she didn't listen that. "I will not spend a penny from the royal treasury Bhaisaa, I will not demand anything, will not intervene into the royal works... Only grant me the permission... I know Baapusa was angry on me yesterday, he will not listen to me; but he will listen to you. Please Bhaisaa!"

"But you need not to worry about this. State will take the charge!" Bharmal told. "The problem is deeply rooted Jodha; your little charity work can do nothing!"

"A candle can never ever give light as Sun," Jodha smiled. "But at night, when Sun is not there, it is the one who removes the darkness... Bhaisaa, I cannot become the sun for those people... it will always be the majesty of Amer! But I can at least lit a candle in their dark life!"

"Oh...Okay I will try. Now go and rest."

Jodha hugged Bhagwant Das once and started running towards her room, but her Sujamal Bhaisa caught her by hand and drew her close, whispering in her ears in naughty tone- "Too smart haa? You know the art of convincing people well. 2-3 sentimental dialogues, hug and a puppy-look, Bhaisaa will listen to anything! Such an opportunist you are!"

"O shut up Sujamal Bhaisa." Jodha gave a naughty smile. "Well both in politics and business, one have to be opportunist."

"And none of them falls in your category my dear." He smiled.

"Who said?" She giggled and started running again. Her yellow veil was lolling behind, hardly covering her irresistible curly hairs forcefully imprisoned in the braid, the anklet of her feet was dancing, the bangles was clanging with each-other; sunbeam had fallen on the ruby of maangtika' that she had been wearing, adding the extra glow in her face... Her beauty can be compared with many beautiful things of the world; but right now, Sujamal could only compare her spontaneous speed with one mere thing- an arrow just being freed from bow... spontaneous, eager, piercing, gorgeous in own sharpness...

"What were you going to say Sujamal?" Bhagwant Das asked him, and he moved his eyes from Jodha to answer him.

"I was right. The incident of fire was planned by our enemies. My spies have confirmed this!"

"Your spies! Have they ever given any news in time till date?" Bhagwant Das mocked. Sujamal ignored the mockery forcefully, and told "But they are not Mughals... The oldest enemies of Amer, Ajabgadh's clan..."

"Huh!" Bhagwant Das gave a sarcastic smile. "These Ajabgadh peoples need to show their place. First let Jodha's marriage happen; Ajabgadh will not be able to stand in front of duel force of Bhangadh and Amer."

"And what about Mughals?" Sujamal asked. "I heard that a fat portion of Jalaluddin's army have camped somewhere near the border of Rajputana. Though the place is under Mughal territory, but..."

"Do you think that barber emperor himself will come to attack Amer?" Bhagwant smiled. "I don't think that is a risk factor. Let's concentrate on Ajabgadh now!"

...

Jodha was sitting on the floor of her vast room with a lot of papers and inkpad; her jewellery box and the storage of coins were kept inattentively beside her, she was lost in her calculations of the estimations for the ideas of rescue-camp with her own afford, and it was subsequently toiling her head up! A community kitchen system will less the cost and will effectively prevent the curse of hunger; the medical camp needs a lot of trained volunteers, and also a supervision of an experienced doctor... Other than that, some small but important expenses are there... She has to keep in mind that the estimation should not cross her own budget...

"Kunwari Saa..."

"Hey Moti... I was looking for you only." Jodha looked at her. "Present all my personal maids before me. I will break them into some sub-groups, and tomorrow we all will be working as volunteers in the rescue-camp."

"Are you sure! Tomorrow? How will you arrange everything so soon?" Moti was surprised.

"If there is a will, there is a way Moti." She was swiftly counting the numerical. "I just need to talk with Vaidji, and the chief of builders. All we need is a temporary roof to accommodate all... what more?"

Moti smiled looking at the busy princess. She is really like a pure bliss of God... epitome of love, selflessness and at the same time dignity and valour!

"You had something to tell?" Jodha asked suddenly.

"Yes... I mean..." She gulped. "Vijay Singh was seeking your attention. And Vaid Sadanand also has come to meet you."

"Oh!" Jodha got up and arranged her dress, put the veil on face. "Tell Vijay to wait, I am coming after talking with Vaidji." She ordered.

...

"I hope you have understood what I exactly want to do in medical camp Vaidji?" The princess told in a low but dignified voice. "I really need someone like you as shelter- under whose supervision I can conduct the whole plan into success. Please don't say no to me!" She pleaded.

"I understand Bitiya." The old man answered in his usual affectionate voice. "How can I say no to you? But I was thinking anything else..."

"What Vaid Ji?"Jodha tried to read the old doctor's mind from inside the curtain.

"Why don't you take help from royal physician? He and his medical team are supposed to be appointed in these works first, and also with his help your work will move much smoothly- they are more practiced in handling these..."

"Let the royal physicians to treat the royal people Vaidji," Jodha smiled sarcastically. "The poor slum dwellers will not be able to bear their pity! They need love from someone like you Vaidji, not hypocrite care from great royal doctors!"

"When you are going to involve me in such a sacred mission, refusing that will be an unforgivable sin." Vaidji smiled. "I am there for you Kunwari saa... always..." he got up from seat. "Now allow me to leave, I have to prepare for tomorrow..."

"Thanks Vaidji!" Jodha bid him. He was about to leave, she suddenly called him back.

"Vaidji... I had called you in a hut near the temple... to heal an unconscious man... He... how is he?"

"He has got back sense, but I gave him tranquilizer to get him rid of the pain. He looks like quite a strong man; his wound will take no time to heal!" He smiled in his own mind. "He is a nice young man. Charming, decent, attractive... and his style of talking are also very nice..."

A ray of smile touched Jodha's corner of lips... all of a sudden... unknowingly...

...

"Only a knife? Are you sure?"

"Yes Kunwari Sa." Vijay Singh reported. "Only an old knife; the blade of the knife was very sharp though; however, not a single penny was there with him."

"How it can be possible!" Jodha uttered, but Vijay could not hear. "Apparently he does not seem suspicious Kunwari Sa, but nothing can be told!" He put his point. "I think I should keep an eye on him!"

"You may. But don't say anything about this to any one!" Jodha warned him. "Though," suddenly she gave a broad smile as a mischievous idea tinkled inside her brain suddenly. "You need not to be worry about him much. He is beyond fort's territory, can harm us least even if he is an enemy. Meanwhile you concentrate on my friend..."

"Yes Kunwari Sa..." Vijay was about to give a content smile but readily controlled him and started trying hard to hide the blush. "I mean... no Kunwari Saa!"

"What?" Jodha smiled. "Moti... Moti Bai..." She called out till Moti presented herself in front of her. Jodha ran her eyes from Moti to Vijay, observed them minutely and nodded. "Hmmm!!! You both have quarrelled."

"Kunwari Sa allow me to leave. I have to present myself in front of Kunwarsa." Vijay pronounced in one breath to flee from the weird situation.

"You may leave..." Jodha ordered with a fake seriousness. "And don't forget to be present at the bank of the lake near fort-gate at the middle of night. I will come with your lady and hence give you enough time to both quarrel and patch up..."

"What? No... I mean... Why... I am..." Vijay, unable to continue, bid her with all his respect and almost ran away from the place.

"Kunwari Saa! You should not do all these!" Moti gulped.

"You just shut up! And get ready for tonight!" She smiled and murmured. "I too have to go... to explore someone..."

Manasi...🤗

tanx for the update dear...😳

u're so fast...😆