~Destined Love~ Thread closed - Page 83

Originally posted by: Shinning_Stuti

All the best!👍🏼 Padhai karo.🤓😆

allah ke naam pe update de de baabaaa...😃

I was out of station. After going back home I am ggoing to write day and night and conplete all the chapters. So please please have patience guys.😆 I will update both of the stories before February promise😳

Originally posted by: Shinning_Stuti

I was out of station. After going back home I am ggoing to write day and night and conplete all the chapters. So please please have patience guys.😆 I will update both of the stories before February promise😳

Eagerly waiting for your update...

Originally posted by: pandrangijyothi

Eagerly waiting for your update...

CHAPTER 14:

"Over there, Kunwar..." The princess pointed on a couple of rocks at the back of the lake with a dignified courtesy smile fixed in her lips. Kunwar Suryabaan Singh breathed deeply. Well, this aloof place in the lap of nature just near the border of the fort looks very safe for a secret meeting before marriage, but even the overall romantic environment could not make Suryabaan enough relaxed and less nervous; he was strangely feeling uncomfortable with the smart, spontaneous and righteous attitude of his would-be-wife. In his imagination he always dreamt of a shy, blushing, completely veiled beautiful woman unable to even meet her eyes with him, he never knew that one girl can be so initiating and spontaneous in her first meeting with her husband that too secretly... but Jodha Bai appears to be too much advanced than his thoughts! She is wearing a white sherwani-kurta, with a white turban with golden embroidery perfectly tying her hair on the head. No ornaments have adorned her body except couple of royal rings and bracelets in hand; and her attitude is as manly as her dress. Suryabaan's awkwardness was increasing. He is not at all used to this type of woman, and the first experience had to happen with his to-be-wife only!

"What happened, Kunwar? Come fast." The princess told while directing her horse towards the rocks. Suryabaan followed her quickly with the same feelings in mind. Jodha chose a good place to sit on the rock and tied her horse with a nearby tree. Suryabaan had planned a lot before to impress her with extreme chivalry like helping her to come down from horse and handle her horse on behalf of her, but alas he could not! "You may tie your horse here, Kunwar... Don't worry, none will see us here." Jodha smiled looking his disappointed expression. She showed him the big and best rock just at the side of the lake and bowed her head with royal courtesy. "Please take your seat prince."

"H...here?" Suryabaan involuntarily made a face.

"It seems Kunwar is not used to with the habit of sitting on ground." Jodha smiled mild. "I am so sorry , I should have arranged something better in your honour but if anyone doubted, I would be in problem. So I had to meet you here out of the palace secretly... but... I should have at least borne a cushion for you but how could I forget!" She looked here and there with a concerned hurry. Suryabaan became nervous in embracement. "N...noon nooo I am alright. Don't worry about that... I am... hehe... I am quite used to with these... ehhmm... Actually..." He kept on stammering while thrashing himself down on the rock.

"Ohh that's good!" Jodha smiled amusedly. "I thought so. Life of a Rajput prince spends less in palace and more in war-field. They need to mingle themselves with each grain of soil of this nature. You must be very much close to the nature. Isn't it? That's why I thought that this place will be the best place for us to meet."

"Yes... yes..." Suryabaan chuckled. "You too looks like, are a very fond of nature?"

"Yes I am! This place is being my favourite place since childhood." Jodha looked a bit lost while staring at the water. "The ambience of palace strangulates me; I love living in the lap of nature, to play with soil, to feel the happiness and agony of the people of my motherland from all of my heart... Well, leave it..." she controlled herself immediately keeping her dignity in mind, "You wanted to meet me in private. May I ask the reason?"

"No... I mean not any particular reason..." Suryabaan realized his nervousness is increasing rapidly. Despite being quite a smart personality overall he is not able to be free with her. The main reason of this is obviously her spontaneity which is completely unexpected from his place. And secondly, and quite importantly, he is actually spellbound. Jodha is wearing no gorgeous outfit, no make-over, no ornaments, still, when the rays of the sun is silently kissing the twigs of the hairs in her cheeks, she is actually looking like a pure divine ray coming from the deity of Sun. The eyes, the nose, the lips, all ware just as perfect as they can be, but there is something more hidden in her beauty that cannot be defined... but it can sink a young heart in the sea of mesmerisation. He had seen her portrait before, but perhaps the painter was not efficient enough to capture that mesmerizing factor in the canvas. He has seen her only once by own, that too from the restriction of the veil covering half of her eyes, but that one glimpse has stolen his sleep of nights. Though this marriage is nothing but a political alliance but still, since he is young and this one is his first marriage, he can take all liberty to weave the web of romantic dreams surrounding her. Today is the first step of his dreamy moments, and in the first sight only half of his imaginations regarding her nature have gone into drain, but he has discovered her beauty more properly and as the combinational result of both he is dumbstruck right now.

"I hope you're enjoying your days in our kingdom, Kunwar..." Jodha hence proceeded the conversation. "How is Amer?"

"She is as heavenly as you are..." He tried to tell, but not a single word came from his throat. "Amazing..." He said instead while trying to search what should be his next words to impress Jodha Bai.

"Amer was heavenly beautiful a year back. But recently due to some financial constraints we are facing a lot of problems. You know about the vandalism took place in border areas recently. The refugee problem is still hanging as a live challenge in front of Amer's Majesty. The draught has come up like a curse on us, actually breaking the backbone of the agricultural structure. The poor people are literally dying and we are witnessing this sitting numb!" She sighed. "And above all these, the neighbour states are trying to attack on Amer behind back. When it is much needed to stay united and try to face the vandal Mughals together, they are fighting between them only! What to say..." She looked at Suryabaan for his opinion but got no response from there. With a little disappointment she lowered her eyes again. "Amer is going through such a critical state. Maybe one can't understand from outside but..." She sighed. "Thank you so much Kunwar for standing by Amer now. I am sure this relation of Bhangarh and Amer will be an example to the future of Rajputana. I, from all the dwellers of Amer, am conveying my gratitude to you and your land for all your help and promise of friendship!"

A very politically correct behaviour with royal dignity maintained, and somehow is not matched in this ambience. Suryabaan wear a courtesy smile on his face immediately as a royal person, but his heart kept on finding a hole to take out all the dreamy thoughts he was having regarding today's meet.

"We are so sorry that you have to face a tragic accident just the day you arrived, Kunwar. The sudden fire in the market place was totally unexpected actually... Though the Majesty has taken all possible steps to recover the situation, but still... many people have become homeless, so many lives are destroyed... In the auspicious days coming around such a tragic incident, I was truly upset!" Jodha felt her voice was trembling with emotion.

"No need to sorry Rajkunwarisa. Accident may happen any time, at any place; we don't have any hand on that..." Suryabaan could speak this time. "Rather I am surprised to see that how swiftly the authority of Amer has cleaned all the debris and Amer is again shining like a new bride!"

His concern was the debris on the main-road and not the people of slums who have become homeless! Jodha could not be happy with this pathetic mind set, and so she did not speak about her refugee-camp remembering the words of her father. "I am talking from a long time." She smiled gently. "Sorry if I making you bore. I want to hear from you too. You wanted to ask me something?"

"No I just..." Suryabaan gulped. "I just wanted to talk to you... I mean..." He cleared his voice. "I think it's very important for a couple to know each other, so I just want to know you."

"Oh!" Perhaps it was the first time, Suryabaan thought, Jodha's blushing smile actually looked like a maiden. Then she picked up her eyes again, with a spark of naughtiness beaming in those. "Do you think that a small conversation can help you to know someone whom you don't know? It takes the whole life to know someone sometimes..."

"Emmm... Yes..." Suryabaan was totally confused, hence started fetching words again to start the conversation. Jodha sighed of disappointment hiding from Suryabaan. She had expected a witty reply at once... like she has been used to get nowadays. He has become a habit for her within two days only!

"Well, what do you want to hear from me?" Jodha asked with a wholehearted smile.

Her question made Suryabaan more confused. He actually had expected that it will be him only who is going to talk and his would-be-wife will keep on answering in a muted voice from under her veil. This girl's counter questions are making him nervous! Strange woman she is! Don't even feeling shy in front of would-be-husband?? "Well, let me explore you... What's your favourite refreshment?" Anyhow he managed to put the question very smartly.

"My favourite refreshment?"

"Like what you like to do in your pass-time?" Suryabaan detailed.

Jodha tried to hide her laughter with trial. "My whole life is full of pass-time, Kunwar. I am tired of my joblessness, and so my favourite refreshment is to seek job for mine."

"What? I mean, sorry, I could not get you!" Again a phase of being confused started.

"Well!" Jodha laughed. "I love doing social works for the poor people of Amer, sometimes listening to and discussing the political situations with my brothers, reading a lot of books on economics, naturopathy, plays and poetries, singing songs, trying to write poems and..." she giggled. "What I love doing most is sword-fighting!"

"Sword fighting?!"

"Yes! Though I always wanted to try fighting with different weapons but due to some reasons I could not learn all. I know archery too, but sword is my passion!" Her eyes sparked like the water in sun.

"Oh! Yeah!" Suryabaan chuckled whole confusedly. "I too like sword-fighting. I am a good sword-man too."

"I know! You are one of the most valiant princes in our land." Though there was nothing noteworthy is Jodha's voice Suryabaan found himself in seventh heaven after this appreciation. But next proposal again moved him from core. "Will you practice sword with me?" Jodha asked in a bit childlike eagerness.

"Sword practice? Now? Here? With you?"

"No... I mean..." Jodha bit her lip for her childishness. "Not now... Any other day... Maybe after our marriage..." She uttered.

"Well, in our place, men do not fight with women!" Suryabaan announced in a usual manly pride in his tone.

"Is it?!" Jodha uttered and turned back to the water of the lake. Suryabaan felt he has said something that he should not have said; he immediately started finding a solution. "Actually... I mean, if you want you are all free to practice sword in Bhargarh too! We, we all appreciate a valiant warrior woman always! Rajput women should know how to hold sword before knowing how to hold kitchen knife, else how they will give birth to valiant warriors? I... I have two sisters who are lethargic in learning sword-fighting. I will send them to you, you will teach them."

"I am honoured that you respected my wish, Kunwar." Jodha smiled gently. She gazed at the water again. The memory of that mesmerizing night flashed in front of her. He was drinking water; and she had seen his face in the water. She had put sword on his throat, he had answered back in his signature style, then his sword started talking on his behalf. What a great fighter he is! As if he does not handle the sword, he himself is the blade of the sword! What a great duel it was in the moonlight. Even he did not hesitated a bit after her identity of being a woman getting disclosed. How wonderfully he had told- you are in the disguise of woman... you are a warrior. Your sword is your identity. Your gender is just a disguise... Has ever anyone given her the respect of a warrior overlooking her identity as a woman?

"Will not you ask me anything?" Suryabaan, at last getting a scope of expressing his lover-side in Jodha's silence, asked in a forcefully husky tone. "Don't you want to know me?"

"It's not necessary to ask question to know anyone Kunwar, one-two glimpses are sometimes enough to know someone; and sometimes togetherness of whole life too becomes short to know someone..." Jodha smiled diligently. "I am honoured that you tried to know me before we take seven vows of togetherness; and I will always be grateful to you for standing by my motherland when she needs friendship the most. You may proceed with your questions, I am ready to let you to know me as you want!"

In between Suryabaan's stammering with the stupid questions for Jodha, Jodha smiled sarcastically for once. I had only one question from you and my life, Kunwar Suryabaan Singh that, will you be able to understand me ever? Will you be able to love me the way how I am? I know you will love me Kunwar, I have that confidence on myself that I can win the part of the love I deserve from anyone. But will that love have the magic to rediscover the meaning of life from different perspective every day? Or your love will be just as stagnant as an old regular practice essential for the human kind? Will I be able to love you from my all devotion of heart? Or it will always be a detached string of affection bounded with a lot of pity with a light coat of disappointment and annoyance covering that, just as I am feeling for you today? Can love happen without any mutual respect for each other?

But truth is, this man is her fortune. She is going to devote her body and mind in his name after some days, and he will be the deciding factor of her life. He is the reality of her life. The fictional love dreams are bound to be broken any day. Fairy tales cannot be true!

Still why did the dream of fairy tales came down from the land of moon to her own world? Why her destiny chose to meet her with the prince of her fairy-tales just before to bind herself forever with a hard reality?

Jodha suddenly stood up! What the hell is she thinking! How can she let her thoughts to stoop so low from the dignity of a princess?

"I think we should go now." She told Suryabaan. "It has been late."

"Yes, we should." Suryabaan stood up. "Let's go..."

"Kunwarisa Kunwarisa Kunwarisa..." Moti Bai was unable to control her excitement in front of Jodha Bai. "How was the meeting? How was he? What did he tell you?" She jumped beside Jodha and tried to snatch the book of her hand. "Come on Kunwari sa... Tell me..."

"Nothing special!" Jodha did not pick her eyes up from the book.

"You need not to shy from me. Come-on... " Moti nudged her. "Look, I have something for you." She pointed at the plate of flower garlands brought by her, and picked up one of them. "It's not easy to get such beautiful Rajanigandha in this dessert land. I had collected them with a lot of difficulties." She smelt the fragrance. "Ahhh! What a beautiful fragrance... It spreads the aura of love. I brought them to adorn your bun." She tried to fix a garland on her stylish bun. "You will look heavenly..."

"Mori please... I don't want this now..." Jodha moved her head away from her.

"What happened Jodha? Why are you so off?" Moti tried to pull her up from the bed.

"Please Moti! Let me to read book." Jodha frowned with full of annoyance in her eyes. "If you have some work, then tell me, else you may leave."

Normally Jodha does not talk to her like this, and her mood is looking completely ruined unlike today's morning when she seemed to be floating in a sea of dreamy happiness. Moti got worried. What can happen in the meeting with Suryabaan Singh that spoilt her mood so badly!

"Kunwarisa! Please... I beg you. Please tell me what happened??" Moti wailed worriedly while gripping her palms. "Is Suryabaan Singh a bad person? Did he do anything wrong to you?"

"No no Moti absolutely not. He is a very nice man!" Jodha tried to smile wearing a mask of happiness at once.

"Don't you trust me, Kunwarisa!" Moti uttered in a hurt tone.

"Of course I do Moti!" Jodha sat beside her and patted her shoulder with affection. "O my God! Our Moti Bai is about to shed tears! How I will face Vijay Singh now? How will I tell him that I could not take care of the tears of his fianc in his absence?" She tried to cheer up. "Okay okay I am very very sorry! Give me the flowers; where are they? I need to decorate my bun!" She pulled her cheeks. "Moti Bai!!"

"Do you think I am so stupid that I will not understand your acting? Here is none in this Amer who knows you better than me!" Moti told in a serious tone. "Why are you hiding the truth from me? What is wrong with you?"

"Nothing is wrong Moti! I told you, Suryabaan Singh is a very nice man, you need not to worry about me!" Jodha smiled. "My baapusa has fixed the marriage. He will not take any wrong decision regarding my future! I know him."

"Then why are you sad? Why aren't you smiling?" Moti asked impatiently.

"Nothing Moti! I think I am fretting to much about my future... Everything will be alright along with time!" Jodha sighed.

"That means... that means you don't like him?? Why??"

"There's no reason to dislike him though Moti, every girl will be eager to get him as life-partner." Jodha smiled. "It's my own problem that I am not like such girls. But I will be used to with it!"

"But Kunwari Sa!!" Moti looked restless... But she was cut by Jodha.

"You don't know how much lucky you are Moti! That you have got the man whom you have wanted from all of your heart! I am jealous of you!"

Moti touched Jodha's shoulder... "What is the problem in him; tell me please!"

"He is absolutely fine Moti... Maybe he will be a perfect husband. But not my soul mate whom I desire in my dreams..." She smiled sadly. "Leave it. Tomorrow is the engagement ceremony. My motherland will get a lot of benefit from this marriage. Who cares about the childish dreams of a single girl here? Even I do not care about all these!" She winked positively. "Jodha Bai knows how to be happy and she will get her share of happiness."

Moti touched Jodha's shoulder. "Are you serious?"

"Come on Moti!" Jodha laughed. "Now you are being babyish. Tomorrow is my engagement ceremony, and today you are worried about if I like Suryabaan Singh or not? How many girl of our land gets chance to marry the man of their heart Moti? Each marriage is a marriage of negotiation which slowly converts into love... You yourself told me, remember? Now don't make faces and put the flower on my bun."

Moti listened to her order unmindfully. Jodha continued talking... "With this negotiation Amer and Bhangarh will be considered as one single power. Both the lands will be stronger. We will get enough strength to combat Mughal force. If whole Rajputana can stand together like this maybe we will chase them off from our land! Maybe after this marriage the chance of uniting Rajputana will increase! Isn't it, Moti?"

"Whom are you assuring, Kunwarisa?" Moti asked in a stern voice...

"No no Moti; I am telling truth! Do it fast na..." Jodha told in hurry.

Moti stared at Jodha's face in the mirror. She is very different. Naughty, fearless, nonchalant, crazy... she was never ready for her marriage from heart, but Moti thought that this disinterest is only from her immaturity. But today she is acting different. From last some days she is acting too much weird! Something is happening to her for sure! But is there time to fix everything? They do not even have a day in hand. And what can she do about this? Maybe all are happening because of Jodha's own complexity in mind. Maybe her heart is fastened in between the tangle of conflicting thoughts about love and life after feeling the warmth of upcoming marriage; she will come out of this very soon, she will take no time to solve the riddle in her heart. Maybe she looks childish in her actions, but she is matured enough to understand the need of situation. Moti assured herself!

"Complete?"Jodha touched her bun and smiled. "Nice!!"

"You are looking beautiful!" Moti touched her chin. "Don't fret too much! Everything will be alright after marriage!"

"I know!" Jodha smiled sadly and unmindfully. "Moti... if Vijay Singh would not dare to intervene in our relation and steal your heart away, I would have kidnapped you to Bhangarh!"

"If you want, I will go with you, will stay with you forever without caring of Vijay. From childhood my world only has revolved around you; and I will never leave you..." And she started sobbing.

"Areee What are you doing?" Jodha laughed... "Vijay will kill me now! Wipe out the tears..." While saying these suddenly her voice became gloomy... "Do you want me to cry before my engagement?" She pouted.

Moti rubbed her eyes quickly and smiled brightly. "When you will come Amer after marriage, we will enjoy very much. We will not allow our husbands to come in between us, okay Kunwarisa? Meanwhile I will stay in our new house after our marriage is done, and I will invite you there and we will spend the nights together... Okay?"

"Hail to your imagination Moti Bai!" Jodha popped her eyes. "Still Vijay Singh is gathering money for new house, your marriage is hanging and still now you have to meet him secretly, even my engagement has not taken place and here you have already planned about what we are going to do after our marriage?"

Moti was elated to see Jodha back in her own joyous mood. There was still a shade of gloom in her eyes, and she was to wipe that out. "You wait for a moment Kunwarisa... I am coming with something..." She whispered.

"Where are you going?"

"Coming soon..." Moti looked at the grand window with the touch of the cold wind outside. "It's cold tonight. Should I shut that?"

"No it's okay..." Jodha came at the side of window. Moti ran outside.

Jodha's eyes gazed at the slivery sky outside. The joyous moon is floating around the sea of darkness with covering her face with a resplendent veil of soothing light. She gazed and gazed, her lips filled with a smitten smile suddenly. Perhaps she was finding the deity of moon in the river of moonlight in the sky...

"Chandrika dekh chhayi... Chandra se milke man hi man muskayi..."

What is Chandra doing now? How that valiant warrior with sharp spontaneity spends his whole lonely day in the hut all alone? The time of meeting him is passing fast. Will he wait for her today? Will he miss her?

What is she thinking! She must not go to meet him tonight. Tomorrow is her engagement... She should not break the norms of a princess at least tonight! She has broken the barrier of the dignity of a princess already, now she has to control her illogical wants! No matter how much her heart calls, she will not go to meet Chandrajeet!

But Chandrajeet will wait for her... He is hungry the whole day. There is none around even to give him a drop of water to drink in his thirst. It's so cold tonight and he does not even have extra sheet of cloth to save himself from the bite of dessert wind. She herself has given him the assurance of friendship yesterday night; how can she call off without notification?

The clash between rules v/s humanity, rationality v/s dreaminess, mind v/s heart went on in her heart, in the meantime Moti came inside with something hiding in her pallu.

"Open your mouth Kunwarisa!" she whispered and Jodha carried out her order. Moti put a laddu in her mouth!

"Rajmata had made them herself! Where's a lot in the kitchen, I have stolen a full bowl from there... only for you; they are your favourite, aren't they?" She winked cheerfully. "Now your mood will be fine!"

"Thank you sooo much Moti!" Hugging her, Jodha ate another piece of sweet. But again a sting pinched inside... Chandrajeet is waiting for her hungry and thirsty... The laddus did not seem that tasty anymore.

It's only the matter of tonight. Jodha thought in her mind. What extra will happen if she goes to him for an hour? Her heart knows she is not doing anything wrong, then why is she fearing of consequence? He is not going to stay here for the rest of his life and she is not going to meet her each and every night... Tonight is the last, she should go and at least bid him a good bye! He is a wonderful man after all...

Alas! Perhaps this is the way moth gets attracted towards the flame of fire and hugs the flame to death! Moth's destiny is to burn itself in the urge of desiring the flame of fire!

Jalal was gazing at the soothing shine of the moon from the hole of the hut. Time is passing... She still did not come!

He put another piece of wood in the fire that he has managed to light tonight and rubbed the hands together. In winter season is coming soon and also the nights in desserts are colder than the plains. The extra water of the pitcher is finished and he is thirsty. And hungry too. But all the physical agonies actually were not suffering him much. His eyes were only yearning for her...

What if she does not come today?

A strange curtain of gloomy dropped in Jalal's inner soul. As if someone has snatched the most important thing from his life. He does not know her. Still she has become such an important part in his life... not because she supplies him food and water... because of her company, her friendly assurance, her smile, and her eyes...

With a light sigh he casually looked at the sketch that he had made on the ground in the whole day. A mixed smile played in his eyes all of a sudden. He is not efficient enough to capture the enigma of her eyes through the lines of a portrait. Maybe she is not the most beautiful woman of the world, but she is the most complete woman undoubtedly. She is saturated in her own glory!

Where are you Purnima! He lied on the floor putting his arm under the head.

"Sorry I am late..."

He sat up suddenly. The brightest smile of the world beamed in his face hearing her voice! "I was waiting for you!" He uttered in a lost voice.

Purnima sat beside him. She was looking tired today. And gloomy too... "It's cold tonight. I brought a blanket for you. You will need it..." She told, but her usual charm was missing.

"What happened to you? You are looking unhappy?"

"No!" She tried to smile. "It's just, I am a bit tired..." She sighed.

"Do you think I am blind?" He frowned.

She smiled in response. "How can you read whether I am sad or happy? Do you know me?"

"Who said I don't?" He winked naughtily. "Okay, let me revive your mood. Look at this."

Jodha looked. She gazed and gazed. It was exactly her face perfectly imprinted on the hard ground of the hut by two-three scratches of charcoal and a whole-hearted passion of the creator... The sketch depicts her perfectly... in this yellow ray of fire mixed with pale moonlight outside she discovered how much heavenly beautiful she is through the simple casual portrait drawn on floor. All the gloom in her heart vanished like magic, her lips reflected a delightful smile.

"What do you think?"

Jodha could not hide her immense delight from him. "You made it?" Her eyes sprinkled the fountain of joy while her smile spread a pleasant delight in the whole hut.

"It's not so good. Actually, it is very bad. It hardly looks like you." He told in a bit dissatisfied tone. "It had been years since I sketched something. I hardly get time!" he sighed.

"It's amazing! I felt I am gazing at a mirror!" Jodha exclaimed in an amazed tone.

"You are saying too much." He giggled.

"I am serious. For the first time I understood that someone can describe me so perfectly with some small scratches on the floor only!" Her smile broadened. "You truly make me speechless in every moment, Chandrajeet! You are an artist too?"

"Is it unbelievable that the same hand which is used to hold sword can have the equal hold on the brushes too?" Jalal laughed. "Well, I am not any artist. Playing with paints and colours is like my childish hobby, and I can hardly get time to nurture that skill in my tough life nowadays! But one thing is obvious." He winked. "That you can't accuse me of not knowing you anymore; for I took only a noon to complete the sketch of the girl whom I have seen only for two-three times that also in pale light of lamp. Tell me, is this possible to do such a tough task without knowing someone from a long time?"

"So what do you recon?" Jodha too joined in his light-heartedness.

"Maybe... We both have met before. In some different birth, in some different era, in some different place, in some different name and disguise; what say?" His tone was totally mischievous while telling so, but somehow his words vibrated Jodha's heart without any reason... Can it be a reason? For this she always feels to be connected to this stranger person?

"Are you trying to woo me?" She laughed in pure fun wiping out the trace of the previous thought from her face. "Don't even try to do that! Purnima Bai is not a very innocent girl as you can see. One mistake, and this dagger will perch your belly!"

"No way! How dare I? For I can see the beautiful white flowers in your bun spreading the aura of love everywhere... Must be given by someone special, and is being worn for someone special; what say?" He pointed to the flowers in her bun.

"These flowers?" Jodha laughed out again. "Yeah, right! They are given by someone very special to me!!"

"Hmm... I guessed right." Jalal pouted. "So, you are all set to make your lover mad by showing this bun decorated with these flowers?"

"Lover??" Jodha's laugh was too loud this time. "O my God! As if a girl cannot tie a flower garland in her bun out of own joy; she needs a man to own that little reason of merry too! These flowers are gifted by my best friend so I wore them."

"Oh it was not meant for any man according to you?" Though he did not show, but in mind he was somehow feeling happy to know that her dress-up is not for alluring any lover. God knows why he felt somehow a bit possessive about her. Maybe Purnima Bai has a different life which is not at all related to him; but these one-two hours in night are only for him, and he will not let anyone to take share of these, not even a petal of flower with remembrance of any other special' person!

"Today you're talking too much. Aren't you hungry?" Jodha picked one brow.

"Obviously I am! I am actually dying out of hunger. But... " He shockingly checked the accessories brought by her. "You did not bring any food?"

Jodha smiled looking his response. "Here is it." She took out a little bowl from her shawl. "Churma laddu made by my Dadisa!"

5-6 big size of laddus were peeping from the bowl. Jalal could not hold his saliva secretion looking those. "Sweets that too made by Dadi! Delicious!!" And without wasting a moment he poured one in his mouth! "It's heavenly!" He uttered in dreamy eyes while swallowing that! "You know, the most I miss here is a delicious dinner ending with different sweet dishes! I am a foodie!"

"You are saying as if you used to have a grand delicious dinner with a lot of deserts every day in your house?" She was amused to see his excitement, but his last sentence hit her ears unusually. "Haven't you come here to fetch some work for living as you need to put two grains of rice in the mouth of your family?"

"Yeah! I mean... I was fond of sweet dishes once upon a time. But, it had been a long long time since I ate them. I miss the taste so much!" Jalal composed himself very smartly and put another laddu in his mouth! "Thank you so much Purnima for this one! I would like to share it with you."

"No you eat. You are hungry the whole day and there are only 5 sweets..." Jodha smiled with hesitation.

"I believe if you want to relish any good thing, share it." Jalal picked one laddu in hand. "You know the saying, that sharing increases happiness and reduces sorrow? Now take it." He took the laddu in front of her month. Jodha, who was giggling with his words, instantly opened her mouth and he poured the laddu inside. "Nice!" He laughed. "It seems these are your favourite dish too?"

"Ummm... I am crazy about churma laddu. I used to steal the whole plate from kitchen in my childhood." Jodha made a strange sound while talking, giggling and chewing simultaneously.

"It looks like our likes and dislikes are very much alike?" Jalal stated amusedly. "Today you came here with all my favourite things... I love these beautiful white Rajanigandhas!" Unmindfully he caught a flower which fell from her bun all of a sudden. Jodha looked at that flower in his hand and smiled mildly. Jalal closed his eyes and took a long breath to smell the enchanting fragrance... Jodha gazed at him with a gentle soft smile. "Tonight is extraordinarily enthralling... the mesmerizing floral fragrance all over the air, the cold breeze and the silvery moonlight outside... It feels like heaven!" He murmured...

"Do you think this garland of tuberose is looking good in my bun?" Jodha asked with a bit childish eagerness...

"Who am I to comment on this? I can only see and lose in mesmerisation... " Jalal smiled smitten and murmured "...A bunch of tuberoses in the bun of the rose of dessert..."

Jodha blushed for once. She lowered her eyes and hid smile in her lips...

"O my God! You feel shy too?" Jalal laughed out loudly. "I did not expect that you too will melt hearing a man's praise!"

"What do you mean?" She frowned. Jalal laughed again... "No nothing! I think it is a basic characteristic of women. There is no girl in this world who does not blush hearing the praise of her beauty from a man."

"Don't talk gibberish. How many women have you seen, Chandrajeet Rathore?" Jodha frowned.

"Enough to come to this conclusion, Punima Bai!" Jalal smiled broad.

"Really?" Jodha frowned deeply.

"Of course... well, to draw this conclusion I even need not to go far... My wife is enough as an example; no matter how much great offence you do to her, just gift a precious gift to her and say that is unique, and praise her beauty for a long time; she will forget everything..." He chuckled delightfully, perhaps with the remembrance of his wife. Ruqaiya Begam does not come in his dreams or memories; neither in his happy times nor in the tough times... But the moments spent with her are some light-hearted tension-free moments in his life full of tension, which automatically gives him smile while recalling.

"Wife??"

The sudden shocked question helped to bring Jalal down in the rational world and felt to slap himself. How on earth can he commit such a mistake! How he became so casual with this clever girl in this enemy land? He messed up everything today! While blabbering limitlessly he had forgotten his disguise for a moment and made a grave mistake. He tried to recall how much damage is made. Thank God he did not utter a Masahallah!' as per his habit or mention the name of his wife unmindfully, it would have been an unmanageable damage! This can be managed at least.

"Yes... Wife. Why??" He grinned. "Can't I have a wife or what?"

"You're married?" Another shocked question was triggered. Purnima Bai was looking at him with utter surprise and doubt.

"Y...yes.. Why? Is it a punishable offence in Amer to be married?" Jalal tried to light the situation.

Jodha was staring at him in a numb glare. It was quite an unexpected discovery for her! Rajputs often get married in a tender age, but still for any unknown reason she did not expect him to be married... He looks very young in age, like a teenager, maybe equal to her age only. In his story which he told her there was hardly any mention of his wife! Though, he always referred to a family, and did not detail about the family members... It is very natural to have a wife in the age of 18-19 in Rajputana, nothing uncanny about it...

But why did Jodha feel that her heart drowned in despair after hearing this!

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Originally posted by: cute.manasi

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Originally posted by: Shinning_Stuti

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