Untold Secrets!!! Uptd Chap 11 Pg 134 22nd Nov!!! - Page 64

There was enormous noise from different quarters of the camps which had been pitched enclosing the deserted town of Surajgarh. The very magnificent military expedition that had been undertaken by the emperor himself had thousands of horses and elephants and camels with innumerable attendants running hither and thither to provide the weird news they had heard about, only had seemed to have led to more of a commotion among the campers.

All of a sudden the distraction that was happening a little while ago, vanished leading to a pin drop silence in the air, amidst the uproar, none could clearly understand what had transpired a few mins ago.

The emperor seemed to be frustrated with all those chaos taking place. Although, the natural commotion between the soldiers had only raised thousand folds due to the obvious reasons and the emperor looked to be troubled as he felt something unusual event might have led to this sudden outburst amongst his men but somehow he couldn't come to any conclusion.

Was there any sudden attack on our camp by the enemies? The gutsy mind of the emperor coaxed him to come out of his camp and find out the matter which is when he met Zaid Ali just at the entrance of his camp.

A sense of humiliation took over his countenance for his nervousness whilst regaining his self composure he settled on his royal seat, the emperor cast a grave look at Zaid Ali and asked, "Why so much of disturbance in the camp Zaid Ali?"

"Your Majesty..."

Zaid Ali looked baffled as he didn't know how to come up with the horrific news which he had heard from the camp and so he started scratching his head. The emperors temperament seemed to have only raised with this every minute of silence that prevailed in the air and in a vexed mood he roared, "Nonsense, will you just blurt out what it is, instead of remaining silent".

Zaid remained stupefied seeing this fury in the voice of the emperor as he had never seen him in such a furious state of mind. He knew the outcome if he dared to further delay in giving out the news that had created havoc in the minds of the mughal army and so in an apprehensive tone he said, "Your Majesty, very dreadful news is making rounds in the camp".

Hanging his head down Zaid continued further, "Jahapana..." And stopped only to reckon what effects this news would be fell upon the emperor.

The emperor couldn't wait anymore as Zaid's silence was only killing his patience and his tolerance limit was put to test, not being able to withstand his silence the emperor howled at him, "Since a long time I am just able to hear only one single word and that is jahapana will you speak further or is your tongue stuck in your throat?"

Zaid was profusely sweating, his hands and feet had turned cold and with a pale and frightful face he said, "Shehzaada... Shehzaada... is dead..."

The emperor in a shrill voice said, "I have already been updated with this piece of information and so do you, will you speak up about the recent ruckus happening in our camp? If you don't have anything to say on this, don't you waste my time, you may leave".

His cold rage made Zaid tremble in fear and he nervously said, "Pardon me Jahapana, I am not talking about Shehzaada Nazim".

The emperor stood still and aghast at this news and in a daze he asked, "What do you mean?"

Zaid folding his hands said, "I mean Shehzaada jalal"

The emperor's countenance conveyed the expressions of horror and in a slow voice he said, "Shehzaada jalal! It's a shocking news no doubt in this, tell me whatever you know in detail".

"Shehzaada jalal is dead"

"And how?"

Shehzaada jalal's dead body has been found at Agra's main gate".

"Who has provided you with this information?"

"Jahapana, the Subehdar of Agra has just now sent this piece of information".

"Do you have anything more to add on this?"

"The Subehdar has sent the body of the Shehzaada to Delhi to carry out his final ceremonial rites".

"Inform them that both the Shehzaadas has to be interred in one place".

One could make out from Zaid's facial expressions that he wanted to convey more than what he had revealed to the emperor but remained hesitant to speak anything further after watching the emperor's raising temper.

Zaid had till now been used to seeing the emperor as a pleasure seeking and whimsical kind of persona but today he had witnessed altogether a different persona of the emperor, which confounded him, determined not to waste any single moment here, lest he would have to further bear the wrath of the emperor he decided to leave.

The emperor was left all alone for a moment, sorrow and pain all spun into ache within his heart, as for now the only thing which could give him respite from his pain was his beverage and so he poured the wine into the goblet and gulped it down into his throat in a single sip.

The guilt made its way from his heart and out and in a depressed tone he spoke to himself, "I am the sole responsible for this mess, but now I am unable to decipher whether it's a dream or a nightmare. Having lost two sons at the same time sounds more like a nightmare to me".

The etchings of anguish and pain shown upon his face, he was drawn back from his reverie when a tall man with a medium built entered the camp even though he was a dark skinned person still his profile had radiant glow one could say he was a man with sharp features and a striking personality. No wonder that many would go on to say that Shehzaada jalal inherited his dynamic personality and chiseled looks while the skin tone he had inherited from his emperor father.

He advanced towards the emperor and greeted him, "Adab bhaijaan".

He was emperor's younger step brother Maqsood Mirza who did share a great bond with his elder brother emperor and stayed with him in Delhi itself. Though he was given Agra to rule but he used to frequently visit to Delhi to meet his brother and the emperor always had enjoyed his company sometimes Maqsood's advice would come out as a big solution for the emperor especially in complicated issues.

The emperor asked him, "Did you hear this news?"

Maqsood happened to overhear the conversation that had taken place between the emperor and Zaid Ali a few moments ago and so he was well aware of what news his brother was talking about.

Maqsood said, "I am yet to convince myself to believe on this news. After scrutinizing all the facts I believe that the Shehzaada jalal is not dead".

The emperor dint react a bit as he knew that his step brother was well informed about all the recent happenings and so he remained silent. At the same time he did believe on his step brother that he would never betray him and provide all the accurate information to him with full transparency.

But then, the emperor was undergoing an immense psychological trauma. The sudden death of two of his sons had brought a massive shock to him that had caused him an unbalance to his mental equilibrium due to the grief and sorrow that struck him.

Although, his brother's consoling words and morale support had given him a momentary solace to his heart and soul with a ray of hope that his younger son jalal was very much alive.

The emperor's thoughts and emotions collided within, as his heart still believed that his son jalal was alive but the news which he received from his men had masked his inner voice and so after few moments of internal turmoil, with a glint in his eyes he asked Maqsood "Do you have the accurate information on whatever you said a few while ago? Do you seriously believe that Shehzaada jalal is alive?"

Maqsood said, "I cannot totally confirm on what I say. But then seldom my information have proved spurious".

"So tell me on what basis you have to say that the Shehzaada was alive?"

"Bhaijaan, you know me very well that I have all my spies working efficiently and provide me details of each and everything".

The emperor impatiently said, "I very well know that".

"I shall surely communicate with you once I have been able to perceive on the evidence".

A moment of silence preceded Maqsood's response. After a long lull Maqsood spoke up, he narrated everything in detail about Ganga who had been working as a kaneez in harem. He revealed about Ganga's very first day of her acquaintance with his wife and also her mysterious death. He had told his brother emperor whatever his wife had told him.

He further went on to add how it was after all the maid Ganga's plan to place Shehzaada jalal on the throne with the obvious backing of Omar khan and Amar Singh.

The emperor silently listened to the narration right from the beginning till the end without having uttered anything to what his brother Maqsood Mirza had to say. He had been aware of this kaneez Ganga as sometime back his queen had revealed him about her disappearance out of blue from his harem, but then he had absolutely no idea of her being very much part of the ongoing conspiracy that was taking place for the throne in the palace.

With a feigned smile the emperor asked, "Do you still believe that Ganga is dead now? Mark my words before her assassination she had consumed the poison may be to deceive everyone. The effect of the poison is such that it gives an impression to the body of the consumer exactly like a corpse.

The people might have thought her to be dead but the poison had misled, which she had consumed not to destroy her life doesn't it? Only the body exhibits the symptoms of a corpse..."

Maqsood said, "Now even me wife has come up to this conclusion".

The emperor confidently spoke, "A little more of presence of mind would have let you to conclude that this self murder of Ganga had something more than it meets the eye. How could it be possible that everything was done so smoothly in such a short period of time that too without anyone having any iota of doubt on her?

He further continued, she was the daughter and wife of a respectable Brahmin and you might be aware of their customs as to how much they have high reverence for their husbands, their marriage ties which they consider it as eternal and indissoluble. If she was here that means she was with a mission behind her stay as a kaneez in my harem, working up for it continuously day and night till it was accomplished".

Maqsood said, "Now I know what a preplanned game it was".

"This ganga is not dead for sure she is very much alive. Did you get any clue about her whereabouts?"

"No, bhaijaan, I have engaged Mahajan as a spy who can provide me with all the correct information".

"How can you say that this Mahajan will not turn hostile and prove to be faithful one?"

"I never had any such bad experience with him so as to distrust him". He slightly paused and letting out a long sigh he asked, "Bhaijaan what you have to say, do you still want to believe now that the news of the Shehzaada jalal being dead is true?"

The emperor calmly said, "I cannot say anything at present but all the circumstances and evidences only proves that Shehzaada jalal is alive.

Whatever I have heard about ganga from you makes me believe that she will never allow anything to happen with jalal, she will protect him from all possible risks and dangers hovering over him which is I am sure of she being very much capable of doing so, for Shehzaada jalal's happiness she will go on to any level even if it meant risking her own life.

And so I have come up to a conclusion that this circulation of the death news of Shehzaada jalal is also very much part and parcel of her game, but then I only feel pity for my eldest son since he wasn't fortunate enough to have such person who could protect his life and so I felt that he was mercilessly been assassinated".

After saying so, his eyes welled up with tears, even though he was an emperor and might at some times look as hard as a stone but he had a very much soft heart within himself that had now struck with pangs of guilt and pain with the death of his eldest son Nazim whom he loved immensely.

Throughout this conversation Maqsood remained silent as he dint know how to console his brother emperor who was grieving on his dead son and so does Maqsood was undergoing almost similar pain though not more than his own brother as Nazim too was after all his nephew and he too loved him dearly.

The emperor took to drinking and said, "I feel that it's very likely that this ganga and her gang of supporters have remained concealed within the ruins of the deserted city since it's the best suitable place for them".

ok frnds i knw its quiet boring but i have wrtn all in a haste..😆so plz tolerate dis chap nxt chap will b pakka v intersting...😉waiting fr ur responses...😳btw d character sketch has been updted aftr 2dy's updte of chap 8...😃