Chap 25Present time
'U know Mamma...next week mera maths test hai class me.' Rico uttered this while going through his homework book. Just like yesterday, today too he came with his mom to her home. Lil master was actually willing to spend the entire evening roaming around with his mom, but his much disciplined mom crushed his hope with the order to complete homework quickly. She didn't want to hamper her son's study at any cost.
For some reason his last words worried her to some extent. 'What! Maths test! But you didn't tell me earlier! Rico!'
'I forgot mom'
'How can you just...forget!' Jodha sounded clearly irritated here. Before he could utter anything she continued with her firing, 'You don't have all of your Math books here. How will you study now? How can you be so irresponsible Rico!'
'Mamma...I...'
'Shut up. Get ready, I will send you back to Imperial. Go and study there. That is your punishment.' With this Jodha started dragging Rico out of the couch.
'But mamma...you don't need to...'
'Don't utter a single word Rico otherwise you will see the hell in me'. This ultimatum silenced the boy... but it was Jodha who saw the hell...that too very soon!
Few moments later...
'Come...quickly!' Jodha dragged Rico out of the room. She was sending him back with his little bag and baggage. On the other hand Rico was helplessly staring at his mother, supressing something very important in his eyes. Something, if heard, could have saved Jodha from the embarrassment she was going to face now.
They were rushing through the hallway towards the portico. Busy in giving Rico angry looks, Jodha missed the fact that somebody entered the hallway and stood in her way. As a result she collided head on with that person. Due to the sudden impact of this clash, Jodha lost her balance and faltered. But that guy promptly encircled his arm around Jodha's waist and caught her in time. Before Jodha could settle her eyes to find out who that person was, it was his voice that made it clear!
'Careful jaan...'
It was Jalal! Holding her tight...looking straight into her eyes. For him, a little touch or even a mere scent of her was enough to give a call to his bloody senses! No round of martini could match up to the depth of intoxication her proximity churns in him! He could spend his whole life looking into those eyes...well off course...only if she allows! Which didn't seem possible any sooner.
No sooner Jodha found herself in Jalal's arms, she jerked out of his grip and bounced back to a safer distance. This unwarranted intimacy ruffled Jodha to the core. She opened her mouth to unleash her rage, 'How dare you!...' but before she could go any further, Jalal turned the tide and shifted his attention to his son standing aside. 'Hai mere lakhte jeegar...mere walihaad...mere jigar ka tukra...kaisa hai Salim Mohammad Mirza?'
This sudden turn of event by Jalal silenced both Jodha and her outburst. Though in her silence too, she didn't stop fuming. And this surely didn't escape Jalal's gaze. He deliberately ignored it to carry on with his way!
'How are you my dear?' Asked Jalal as he lifted Rico in his lap.
'Am cool dad. Why didn't you came yesterday?...I missed you.'
'Aww my baby...dad was busy love...and...' here Jalal paused to sneak a peek at Jodha, who was standing still and watching them.
'And what dad...' Rico asked Jalal. With this call Jalal turned his gaze back to Rico and uttered in a teasing voice, 'and...somebody stopped me from coming to you my son.'
'Who stopped you?'
'Hai ek Villain!' Uttering this much Jalal rolled his eyes at Jodha...enough to put her entire being on fire!
Jodha felt like snatching her son from his grip and running out of the house. She felt like running away to the farthest corner of the world where his hungry eyes won't be able to touch her! But she couldn't...it was her fate to find him around always. As if...they are God's favourite couple down here...He loves to see them together! Jodha wished ...someday God realises how much it takes on her part to bear his presence around.
'Take Rico with you. He hasn't brought his Math books...and...' before Jodha could finish in a stern voice, Jalal overruled her, 'I have brought the books...Salim's wish is my command!'
Now this sentence made the scene clear to Jodha...it explained the reason behind Jalal's arrival to her. And for the first time Jodha felt a slight disgust at her son...though for very short span of time. After all the lil soul was unaware of these complexities...he just asked his dad to bring the books...that's all! Hence Jodha had no other way but to carry on bearing this...at least for time being. She decided not to pay any attention to Jalal and directly talk to Rico. 'Come Rico...finish your homework. Fir sona bhi hai...come.'
'Let him spend some time with me. We men need space to hover upon our secrets...am I right Salim?' asked Jalal to a smiling Rico, who wasted no time to nod in affirmation. This raged Jodha to such an extent that she objected aloud. 'But he needs to finish his homework. It is supposed to be submitted in school tomorrow. Otherwise...'
'Nobody can dictate Jalaluddin Mohammad's son. He will do the homework only when he feels like...the school must be aware of this. If not, then I will arrange to make them aware of it.' With this Jalal left the hallway to enter the living area, carrying Rico along with him. Jodha stood still with a heavy heart and a bunch of worries. Heavy heart...to see her son moving away from herself and worries...for witnessing him slowly walking on his father's way.
Few hours later...
'Time for bed dear', Jalal uttered to a sleepy Rico, who was trying hard to keep his eyes open. They just finished their dinner. Three of them together. It was the first time Jodha had her food, sitting in the same table with Jalal. She tried to avoid initially but at the end had to bow down before Rico's nagging...who was determined to have his dinner with both of his parents.
Jodha was actually praying for this day to wrap up as soon as possible... she knew that then only she would get rid of this man. She was more or less certain of the fact that once Rico is asleep, Jalal will leave for his home. Hence she put in all her efforts to see to it that Rico reached his bed soon enough...and so he did in fact. Jalal himself took Rico to the bedroom. Now Jodha was counting her time down to the moment of peace...the moment of Jalal's departure. But she had no idea how big a shock was waiting her way!
Few moments later...
Jalal was still inside the room with Rico. There was no sign of him coming out yet. Left with no other option Jodha finally pushed the door and entered the room. What she saw was sharp enough to pinch her hard!
Rico was sleeping peacefully in Jalal's arms and Jalal himself was lying beside him...caressing his head. One was sleeping, another was watching him sleeping. And most importantly none of the father-son duo seemed to be in a mood or position to leave each other's place soon! What a shock to the mother!
Jodha couldn't hold herself back and hurled the question at Jalal, in a bit jittery voice, 'When are you leaving?'
A simple question. In no way the possible answer could be difficult. But with Jalal, even simplicity has its own complications! So could be seen in his answer to this simple question.
'I never hold to leave sweetheart. I will take my love to my grave.'
This line hit Jodha like a bucket of cold water. She knew what it meant. She knew what he meant. And above all she knew what she will have to go through to accompany his desire to his grave! She cursed her fate once again and moved her eyes from his thirsty gaze. After such a reply Jodha didn't have the enthusiasm to ask Jalal anything else. Hence she checked the duvet Rico was covered with, and turned to leave the room. A moment before she stepped out of the room she heard Jalal's voice, this time mixed with a pinch of tease, 'there's plenty of place in this king size bed. Salim will be happy to share his bed with BOTH of his pa...' before Jalal could complete his ambitious offer, Jodha shut the door with a thud and went away. Jalal was left with his unfinished offer. Not that he was expecting any acceptance to it...but it was always delightful on his part to see Jodha in front of him. Whatever might be the reason, whatever might be the situation. Earth is heaven if it has Jodha in it! At least for Jalal! But heaven was yet to be that much graceful to him. Hence he had no other option but to live on earth instead of full-fledged heaven.
In the middle of night...
Silence was prevailing over the dark night. Even a pin drop would have caused havoc. The world was wrapped with a thick duvet of sleep. Nobody awake, nobody moving. But there was one soul who was miles away from this peace...who was counting the hours of night with his open eyes. It was Jalal. A restless heart...an empty soul. Like other nights, this time also he was imagining Jodha in his mind...trying to envisage her before his eyes, so that it can douse his fire within...at least to some extent! His eyes were roaming inside the room when suddenly he heard the sound of door opening. He placed his gaze quickly to the direction and saw a figure entering the room. A lady it was.
Closer she came, better he got the idea who it was. Within few seconds she was standing right next to the bed. Jalal kept lying and watched in awe. It was Jodha!
Before Jalal could decipher the reason behind this surprise visit, something happened...something, so strong and so strange that it took the word away from his mouth!
Jodha caringly touched Jalal's forehead with her fingers. She let them linger over there for some time. Then with equally feathery touch she pushed them into his hair. During all this Jalal was lying still...totally thunderstruck. He wasn't getting a bit of it. The lady who despises him to death was soothing his pain! Such a scene was unaffordable even in dreams! Jalal rubbed his eyes to confirm the vision. But the result was same!
The effect of the touch... of her fingers was million times better than that of any soothing balm! It was rinsing Jalal off his anxieties and pushing him into peace...a peace, he was waiting since long...a peace which can only be given by his Jodha, nobody else.
But just as all say, no peace comes alone. Neither this one came alone! The feel of his lady swept a brush of desires through his veins. It was more like a shower of cool drops on a sun burnt body! It was dragging Jalal into the craving of pleasure...he was just playing along!
Jalal clutched Jodha's hand...her much known delicate presence. He took it to his lips and brushed it against it.
This wonderful feel of her skin, this untainted aroma of her body drugged Jalal with a killer desire...all over again. Without wasting any more moments Jalal pulled Jodha with a force. As a result she landed on him. Jalal quickly circled her with both of his arms...clutching her close to him.
Long wait, uncontrollable desire and Jodha in his arms...Jalal couldn't wait to taste his salvation! He held her tight and smashed his lips on hers. But strangely his lips couldn't reach its destination. The more he was pushing through, the farer her lips appeared to him. This failure was unnerving Jalal. He wanted her right now. This delay was raising his desire manifold!
He tightened his noose around her and grabbed her hair with one hand. Still...he couldn't reach her lips. This time it toppled the limit of his patience. Jalal roared in rage, 'why the hell...'
But before Jalal could end what he began, the jerk of his roar woke him up from his dream-fantasy...only to make him know that there was no Jodha around. It was his mind which beguiled him all over again! But this time what his mind did was enough to push his body to a point, where return was a difficult option to follow!
This almost intimacy left Jalal in total disaster. He was still trapped in that moment...in that frenzy. It was too desired to be just a dream for him! His entire body was trembling with unfinished arousal. His heart was beating wild...with the apprehension of something long awaited. He couldn't believe it just ended there! He couldn't believe it just ended with a blink! Jalal had no idea how he was going to cope with this unfinished pleasure hunt! He had no idea how he was going to bring peace to his heart and body. It was as if...he was shown food and left hungry!!!
In the midst of such restlessness, suddenly that pain recurred in Jalal's head. 'Ahh', Jalal clutched his head with both his hands. The pain was so awful that it felt like exploding his head into million pieces! He jerked up from the bed and started looking around the room for something.
He moved the artefacts, shoved the medicines but couldn't find any pain killer. As if all of them had disappeared suddenly from the face of earth. He kept looking for it for few more minutes. But luck didn't show up. A disheartened and dejected Jalal stopped for a while and then rushed out of the room.
Mughals are known for their lavish and luxurious lifestyle. Wherever they set their foot on, luxury prevails. Be it their palace or outhouse, everything has everything. A very important part of their expensive lifestyle is their love for exquisite liquors. Hence each one of their residences has an opulent cellar! This one also! But tonight Jalal visited that part of the house for a different reason altogether. He didn't go there to relish his martini but to get something that can free him from that killing ache.
Jalal hurriedly picked up a bottle of whisky and poured some into his mouth! Raw sting of alcohol almost burned his lung with its fiery spike! Jalal threw the bottle away with disgust.
'What the...who gets these shits!'
Annoying and burning taste of whisky ruffled Jalal's mood and headache even more. He looked for something familiar in the cellor...something that can soothe his pain. After spending some irritating moments trying to find that perfect drink, he finally zeroed upon a bottle of Bacardi. He wasted no time to grab it and drink!
After pouring some good amount in his belly, Jalal finally put the bottle to rest! But by then the punch of whisky and Rum has already started their magic! Jalal found his world revolving around his head, making his vision feasibly blur! He struggled to stay still for some moment but then hung the boot and threw his body on the couch. His world was too topsy to keep track off!
Some fight the battle to just fight it, some ...to win it. Jalal was one of those who belonged to the later part. He always believed in control and taking control. Be it his personal life or the professional one - the Mughal in him never choose the subordinate path. But when it came to Jodha, masochistic lion always takes the form of a hapless rabbit! Too scared to lose life! Only thing the rabbit desired was the help of his lioness to become the lion again! Difficulty in path was killing Jalal in doses!
The battle between alcohol and headache was full-on in Jalal's mind...irrespective of whoever wins it at the end...Jalal has been losing it from the very beginning! Peace seemed a foregone stuff! And just as always his difficult hours pulled him more towards Jodha. The thought that she was around pumped a thousand megawatt force to the pull. Without wasting anymore time Jalal stood up and stumbled his way ahead!
Few minutes later...
Soundless night was at the helm, when Jalal's unsteady feet entered Jodha's room. A thick and misty darkness greeted Jalal as he stepped inside the room. For the first few moments he could not see anything...but as time passed, the thickness of dark started weaning away...Jalal found what he was looking for.
Jalal's eyes travelled to the bed, lying far away...the glimpse of the person sleeping on it spread a smile across his face. Without giving much thought to it he started walking towards her!
Dark hair untied to rest freely...dupatta thrown away to heave a sigh...and eyes closed to find some peace. This sleeping beauty was far away to perceive the arrival of this visitor. But the awakening was just bump ahead!
Peace and sleep. Jalal had none. He couldn't remember the last time he slept so peacefully...so happily. His much affluent life had anything but peace. Anything but happiness. What he hadn't, Jodha had! She had it all whatever he wanted...ever! He needed her. Needed her to make his life worthy!
Jalal bent down a little to get a better glimpse of Jodha. Her rosy lips...her flawless skin...her intoxicating aroma...she was everything a man can ever wish for. Jalal's fingers itched to touch her, feel her, love her. He wanted to run his skilled fingers on her bare body and make her moan his name in pleasure...over and over again. Suddenly a thought came to his mind and he murmured with a smile, 'my wife...'
A besotted husband crawled down to the foot of the bed. With little balance he managed to adjust himself near Jodha's foot, but only after making sure that it doesn't hinder his love's slumber!
Jalal had no idea what he was up to...he was just following the wishes of his heart...which was lusting for some moments of peace in this whirlwind!
Jalal softly touched Jodha's foot...the feel of milky smoothness was like rain on a land that has dried million years ago! How he waited for this! How he misses this! And for the first time Jalal was not lusting for that one thing...he was actually lusting for a peaceful sleep. He knew he would get it with Jodha.
Jalal kept moving his fingers on her foot...without realising it was pulling the person out of her rest.
Initially Jodha was in deep slumber to realise who was around her. But his growing touch made her sense the wrong even in her sleep! Within minutes she was out of her slumber and found out...she was not alone in bed!
'Who are...!' Jodha tried to cry out in panic...but in no second Jalal turned on her, overpowered her by closing her mouth with his hand. 'Shhh...it's me. Jalal.' Well that was more of a reason to panic for Jodha, keeping his past records in mind! She tried to push off Jalal away from her...but he was too heavy a task for her to accomplish. Then she resorted to express her annoyance verbally, but due to closed mouth she was only left with a pair of eyes to vent her anger. So she did that with full force!
Jalal read the agitation in her eyes. He could perceive the amount of rejection that lied in it! In earlier days he could have driven past her annoyance...but nowadays he feels a strange urge to come to reason with her! 'I don't mean such thing. I just...just...want to sleep here. Few hours and I will be gone...trust me...nothing more than that.' Taking a pause he continued again, 'this...this headache is killing me...I...I just want some rest...please.' With this, Jalal weakly dropped his head to rest it on her shoulder. But for Jodha, Jalal and his problems, however serious it may be, were equally detestable. She pushed Jalal with full force. This jerked Jalal out of his momentary stupor. Jodha didn't stop here. She poured all her energy in a final and furious attempt to push the Man away. In doing so she turned quite roughly on Jalal...with lot of shoving and hitting! It took few minutes on Jalal's part to become fully aware of the intensity of defence he bumped into. Before he could catch up to her top two buttons of his linen shirt were already gone!
Jalal decided not to force her for anything when he stepped into the room but just as they say, never trust a man with desire! He tried to control her with words initially, but the chance of getting successful evaded with every single blow. Left with no other option Jalal finally resorted to the thing he is best with...force!
He got hold of Jodha's two striking hands and pinned them down on bed, pulling her actions to a halt. This made Jodha even more furious...'How dare you! How dare you touch me again! You rascal! Leave me now...or else I will...' Jalal's next action silenced Jodha in the middle. While Jodha was shouting with rage, Jalal dropped his head on her heaving breast and drifted into sleep, locking a furious Jodha under him!
Jodha tried to move once again but his enormous built had buried her under all his weight. In fact, apart from his mind nothing was in a condition to move! And to her annoyance her entire body could feel the presence of Jalal...he covered her in such a way. Heaven for Jalal and hell for Jodha. More she was thinking about this...the more furious she turned.
She couldn't tell whether it was her continuous struggle or his weight that was sucking her energy away with every passing moment...and it finally pushed a drained Jodha into slumber. She slept...in the most unlikely situation ever. She slept...without knowing that the next morning was going to usher a new ray on her...a new path which was going to take her even close to her fate...Imperial!
Edited by ppluvkuch - 9 years ago
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
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