Chapter 11:
"Where are you taking me? A confused and worried Pragya blurted out when Rohan pulled her hand towards the dark and weedy hole of the old construction at a secluded corner of the debris of Akbari Mahal. Luckily for them, the tourists had mainly gathered at the frontal part of the palace and no guards were around, else they would have to face some unavoidable circumstances which might put a pause in front of Pragya's research immediately. The backward of the abandoned broken palace was dirty and messy like hell, the ground full mud, moss and wet weeds, the vision blocked by the darkness which seemed permanent, the canopy of spider-webs and a damp, weird, nasty smell in air which apparently took Pragya at an edge of nausea...it was for sure that no sane person would ever visit this haunted place.
"Don't you think we are taking unnecessary risk? This place is not somewhere people should visit... It seems it is a permanent address of the bats and owls and insects and snakes... We might indulge ourselves into problem... We might get hurt. Pragya tried to pursue Rohan in vein as he seemed to be lost in his own world, like he is been pulled towards the dark hole by some powerful invisible force... The force which is controlling Rohan's actions, his sanity, his senses and his life... Pragya's hand was strongly tucked in the palms of Rohan, and Pragya could feel a very little yet sharp tremor in his hands. He is taking longer breath, his pulse seems irregular as he was sweating unusually. For an instance Pragya felt scared for herself and felt like running away. But for an instance only... As she knows her fears do not have any value in front of the extreme stress and trauma under which Rohan is going through... He needs to find an answer to his questions. He must... Else he will sink into a black hole of despair and darkness forever- the hole which is even more frightful that this broken weedy one.
"Clam down Rohan... She muttered in a light voice and kindly caressed his palm which was holding her hand.
They were closer to the hole of broken bricks, and could see inside the palace through it. Though it will take a lot of imagination power to visualize a real palace in that damped dark debris which was blocking Pragya's view. Pragya gulped for a second... He is seriously planning to get in? Though she did not get much time to guess, as Rohan left her hand suddenly and started removing the spider-webs and the climbing weeds desperately... He then did not wait for a single moment and stepped inside... Pragya closed her eyes in worry then firmly followed him. It seemed like a narrow passage when they got in shooing the bunch of unknown insects trying to sting. The narrow dark hole looked nothing less than a black hole to Pragya... as if it is securing some secrets of the wheel of time inside its dark chest to hide it from the reality under the sun. Pragya blindly touched the dusty brick wall of the passage, while Rohan seemed completely lost in his another world when he vacantly stared at the damped bricks... "Where is that? It must be here... He muttered in a lost voice.
"What are you talking about? Pragya asked hesitatingly while switching on the torch of her smartphone.
"That... that... Rohan uttered desperately. "The door...
"Door? Pragya was utterly confused. "What are you talking about, Rohan?
"Door... the secret door of entrance... Rohan muttered as if he was talking to his own. "The wall over there... it is broken, completely... but it was not broken then... People could not get in through this passage; only could get out... Where is the door... Where is the lever... He started groping through the wall desperately, terrifying Pragya as it seemed he would crash the rest of the fragile bricks...
"We... we don't need to find the secret door... do we? She tried to stop Rohan's craziness.
"Yeah... we need! Else how would we get in? Rohan looked at Pragya... His eyes shone exceptionally brightly in flashlight of the phone. Pragya suddenly felt a shiver in her heart. There is a fierce desperation and an ice-like rigid stubbornness in his eyes... which spreads the aura of fear and passion at the same time. Pragya knows these eyes... she has seen them before... these eyes are not Rohan's eyes... they are different... different...
But where has she seen those eyes? How on earth it can be possible even?
Pragya closed her eyes to avoid distraction and gulped. "Where do you think we are going to get in, Rohan? She said a bit sternly. But it did not seem to touch Rohan a little bit. He looked extremely occupied with his act... he was calculating something in his deep mind...
"Rohan... Pragya repeated.
"Shhh! Rohan raised a hand to stop her and very calculatedly pressed a particular place of a corner. Nothing changed, though Pragya felt there was a slight tremor at the opposite wall.
"Here is it... jammed! Rohan sighed contently. "Maybe a bit manual effort will work... He did not wait for Pragya's response and proceeded to the opposite wall, slowly pressing against it with all efforts. And before Pragya could say anything, the wall was bifurcated from middle like a door with a very thin gap...
"O my God!! Pragya almost cried. "What is it?
"A secret hide-out... Rohan explained. "Which directly opens at the bedroom.
"Bedroom? Pragya uttered confusedly.
"Yes, my bedroom... In case of sudden enemy attack. He kept on talking on his own. "The other mouth of the passage was far from the fort, in a warehouse outside of Agra... It seems it is destroyed; naturally! Thank God I discovered the hole which gives access to this...
Pragya could not utter a single word as her mouth was left open... not only because of the amazement of witnessing such an enigmatic architecture of ancient Mughals, but seeing how a man standing at the same ground of her effortlessly finding out the hidden clues of this undiscovered treasure completely ignoring the gap of space and time. She kept on gazing numbly. Rohan's previous life is supposed to be an illusion of Rohan's subconscious mind... is the chemical reactions in the subconscious mind is really so strong that it has the ability to break the barrier of time, and to implant the whole life of a human which had ended years and years ago in the ground of today? How far can his subconscious mind go? When it will stop digging? When it will find the answers for which it is tormenting Rohan's soul every moment?
"We have to get in. Rohan suddenly said, while forcefully pressing the secret door. "This is the only way to get into my palace...
"It won't work this way! Pragya uttered in vein holding the flashlight towards Rohan. "There is no use of getting in... All are broken! She said.
"No no... You can't understand! Rohan looked at her. His eyes beamed tremendously in the flashlight. Pragya stared amazingly. There was an unseen happiness in both of those glowing eyes... The uncanny happiness of finding something which could link him to the root... the insane excitement of going closer to the destination... When he talked, his voice sounded different. Gasping, excited, a little hoarse, but touched with a stable regal aura... A normal man cannot talk in this tone when he is excited... At this particular moment Pragya felt as if Rohan is not a human anymore... as if he is possessed... possessed by a lost entity of ages ago who is desperate to find the answers through the physical entity of Rohan... Rohan's own brain and soul have no existence in front of that want... he is merely a carrier, a carrier which will be tormented till the last moment till the want is fulfilled! And Pragya can't help! She has to watch all this helplessly and to take notes... Pragya cannot reduce Rohan's agony... until the soul of the emperor seeks the source of peace to reduce the burn of his heart...
Maybe the empress, the lady of the dream of the emperor's soul has that source... and he must find her... he must find her... so that she can reduce the burn of his soul... so that Pragya can reduce Rohan's agony... How strangely the destiny has tied past and present together in a single string... 4 lives, and a single string... and a chase to find comfort and peace... When it will stop, who will win? They all must win the chase. They all must... For sake of Rohan's sanity!
Pragya did not understand when and why a drop of tear spontaneously dropped from her eyes...
"I have something to get... I have something to find... Rohan murmured. He gave up the idea of opening the door and instead started trying to make a hole by removing the broken damped bricks of the wall. The work was not easy, but not impossible though, going by the state of the place... Pragya stood alone behind for a moment, staring at Rohan's sweated face in blurred vision, then she came forward. Keeping the fear of being crashed under the broken building due to this act aside, she tried to help Rohan in his work. After moments of trial, they managed to remove a single brick... A very thin beam of light came through the small hole, but still too small to get in.
"Impossible! Pragya sighed deeply in tire. "It is not possible to break a wall by manual efforts of two people. The construction is not so fragile that it will take such minimal effort... She switched off the flashlight and looked at Rohan... Rohan had given up too, he just leaned against the wall beside the hole and took a long breath. Pragya too followed Rohan's step, leaned back the wall and gazed at Rohan. They were standing close, only the hole of the wall made by them right now made a small barricade. Thin ray of sun was coming from there, and the sweat of Rohan's face was shining like dew-drop in that soft beam. The excitement of his eyes was replaced by the expected pint of weary, but the vein effort did not erase the glow of glory from his face at all... God knows why, Pragya smiled looking at that face. Suddenly her heart had filled with a strange affection for him.
"So, what next? She asked softly, the affectionate and pampering smile still shining at her eyes. Rohan looked at her. His weary eyes reflected a beam of pure humour... "Absolutely no idea! He uttered, and then to much of Pragya's shock, he started giggling. As if someone has played a prank with them.
"Rohan... Pragya uttered confusedly... "What?
"Nice experience of a treasure hunt adventure for you... isn't it?Rohan said giggling in a normal humorous tone which anchored him with his real identity for a moment. His smile spontaneously infected Pragya as well as she could not stop herself joining him. "Would you mind me telling what treasure you are looking for in this haunted palace? She said light-heartedly while relaxing against the wall...
"A treasure that is worth of my life... Rohan smiled. His gleeful eyes suddenly touched with melancholy. "The hidden treasures from the chapter of past... He stopped and gazed at Pragya, as if he had lost himself in her eyes...
"That's not a proper answer Rohan... Pragya tried to dig a bit deep to understand the level of involvement of Rohan's subconscious. "What is that treasure? You have to tell me!
Rohan said nothing but stepped forward gazing statically at Pragya's eyes... The bright glow of his intense eyes penetrated through her eyes, and she could not remove her glare for a moment. She felt an existence of a force from inside which led her being drawn towards those deep eyes... She took a long breath, and spontaneously stepped back pressing herself against the brick-wall while putting her weight completely on that, and... suddenly the already half-broken structure gave in under this pressure and fell down. Pragya could not hold her balance and was almost going to fall and be injured badly, if not her arms and her waist were strongly caught at one by the man in front of her still gazing at her with lost, glowing eyes...
The wall was broken, the bright ray of sun of the daytime penetrated in the dark room without restriction and shamelessly wrapped the touch of warmth on both of them... Pragya stared at Rohan's eyes in astonished gasp, surrendering her complete body balance on the strong arms of Rohan. She felt her heart rate has increased twice, her breathing has become abrupt, and Rohan's deep eyes were pulling her soul with a powerful grip... Rohan had gripped her waist tightly, and they were in an uncomfortably intimate position, but for this single moment Pragya did not even realize it. Rohan's bent his face closer to her lips, she pulled herself a bit more and their bodies were even closer, and Pragya could now feel the heartbeats of Rohan. She inhaled a deep breath... a current of a deep and uncanny passion suddenly flowed through the nerves...
"You did not tell me... She could not even realize when she started talking in her shaking, choked, mesmerized voice... "What are you trying to find from the chapters of past? What is the treasure?
Rohan bent a little more, his eyes drowned in deep passion and melancholy at the same time... "You! He uttered in whisper...
Pragya's heart trembled uncannily as she tried to hold her breath and closed her eyes... The current was still flowing through her veins, playing with her senses, pulling and pushing her soul like a toy! She tried to regain her strength and pull herself together... and Rohan's palm touched her bare hands... The touch!
She was unconscious...But the touch had regained her consciousness... She felt someone slowly pulling her body from the scorching ground... Soon she felt soothing warmth wrapping her body, giving her comfort, warmth in this disaster... Who is he? An angel sent by God, coming from paradise to rescue her when there is no one around? He heart was assured, and she gripped the hand... A sudden current of sooth passed through her veins... She felt a gentle touch on her cheeks, she felt a tender comfort soothing her heart... She opened her eyes...And she saw two eyes... Two bright, intense, glowing eyes gazing at her... two eyes reflecting the ray of mesmerization, amazement and assurance...
Pragya fluttered opened her eyes... She was panting deeply and jolted out to stand on her own legs freeing herself from Rohan's clutch. Frantically she started rubbing her eyes, gasping deeply, trying hard to deny the fact what she hallucinated just now... the sand-storm, the scorching heat, the blurred vision and the touch! She felt restless and she clutched her hairs with hand in a helpless desperation. She was unable to fathom what is happening around her! She is closed inside a restricted debris of an old broken palace of 450 years ago far far away from her own home and her family with a man she hardly knows and who is acting more than a stranger now, her senses blurred and her normal sanity is not working properly... if she faces any danger here, none will even hear her scream!
Suddenly another touch brought her back from thoughts as she freaks out and trembled... Rohan was looking at her. His gaze was back to normal, and there was no sign of awkwardness in his behavior.
"Are you okay?
Pragya took a deep breath to compose herself. She was frightened to close her eyes again for that strange sensation she experienced just now! It was not normal! It was not good! What just happened to her? What is happening to her?
After a moment she looked straight to Rohan. "Get me out from here! Now! Right now!
"But now we can go in... Rohan smiled to convince and pointed to the broken wall... "Look, this hole is wide enough...
"I don't care I don't care! I just want to go back! Pragya yelled. "I have enough of your whimsical wishes, and I am not going to dance according to them anymore, understand??
"But... Rohan was hell confused... "What about... what about that? he was again looking lost. "I have to find that... I have to find them... all of them...
"I don't know what you need to find! I have enough!! Pragya shouted. "Don't dare you...
"Sorry... Rohan uttered suddenly... The expression of his voice had changed. "I am sorry for what I... He took a long breath... "You go back... Go...
"And you? Pragya frowned.
"Where will I go? Rohan smiled strangely. "This is the place! My place! He took a long breath... "You go...
"How can I leave you here? Pragya protested. "I have to stay with you.
"No! When you don't want to stay with me go! I have no right to stop you... I have no right to question anyone's individuality! I have no right to prevent anyone from going! I free you... Go! Rohan suddenly shouted out, as if he commanded. Pragya stared confusedly as she was unable to figure out this frequent transmigration of two personalities, and Rohan spoke out again. "Lives are not like two threads that you can tie them together anytime to form a bond... When there is individuality, there is always the scope of freedom! I free you from the bond!
"What are you saying Rohan? ROHAN? A horrified Pragya shouted out. Rohan looked startled and put himself together. Taking a deep breath he forcefully tried to hold his own personality when he talked. "You... go and wait... I just... I am coming...
"Where I will go leaving you? Pragya understood her tone was more emotional than need when she talked but did not care. Her eyes were filled with tears and her heart ached at her cruelty a moment back. She is a practiced psychologist and has knowledge about different hallucinations, still she got so scared and vacant when that strange thing happened to her. And Rohan is experiencing this each and every moment in his life, every moment he is toyed and torn between reality and hallucination, present and past... now Pragya is his last hope, so that he can find the answers and get out of this cursed gift that he has strangely got... And without being compassionate towards him Pragya is yelling at her like an idiot layman and breaking his self-confidence and self-defense even more? What kind of doctor is she? Shame on her!
She stepped forward and touched Rohan's shoulder. "I am your doctor, no? I am here to heal you... And I am not going to leave your side until you get your treasures... She smiled apologetically. "I am so so sorry!
Rohan stared at her vacantly and then suddenly squeezed her hand. Pragya felt how it feels to become the last source of hope for a completely broken, lost human being!
Rohan stood at the broken floor at the side of the heap of damped bricks. Pragya stood beside him. The roof of this particular room was completely broken and they were standing under the sky. This place might be a room once upon a time, but right now there was no sign of that, except small boxes made at the walls which were supposedly the places where lights were kept.
"This is the bedroom? Pragya asked smilingly, looking at Rohan.
Rohan nodded in silence. Pragya could see his pupils were diluted and he was taking deep breaths. His face was filled with melancholy... Of course, none will like to see their once beloved bedroom in this state!
"It's the restroom... There was a small window... A jharoka... The first ray of sun used to fell on the bed through that... And at night the cold breeze from river Yamuna used to swept inside, the collaborative sound of the leaves of the trees and the flow of water worked like a soothing lullaby... and the silvery touch of moonlight kissed goodnight on forehead... like the magical world of fairytale... Rohan said as a drop of tear suddenly fell from his eyes... "There were only some hours... barely 3-4 hours in a day to live a life in those moments of fairytale... and those moments were kept here as treasures... and all were lost in this debris now! He sighed deeply.
"Moments are never lost. Pragya walked forward and stood at the place from where Yamuna was seen. "Moments are stored somewhere, in some form... all you need is to find them by reliving it! She suddenly got excited discovering something... "Hey, Jodha Bai Mahal is directly seen from here... Look! It seems one can directly go to that palace from this place! She smiled and wondered. "They must be very close.
"You think so?
Pragya was a bit astonished to hear the sarcastic denial in Rohan's voice. "There is difference between staying close and being close... He smiled and came to Pragya... He looked at the glimpse of the other palace from the open hole in front which Pragya was standing... "When night grew darker, the euphony of the river and the trees was monotony, while lying on the bed alone enjoying the bliss of solitude, the tired and scattered heart used to seek a shelter... and then a thin source of light used to come through this window, and a sweet melancholy strain of sitar mingled with the breeze along with the euphony of the river... All the stress of the day dissolved in that tune of melancholy, and the bliss of peace swept out all the agony, all the despair... He took a long breath and closed his eyes... The beautiful melodious voice still ringing in her ears...
Ghari pala china dina, yugasi bitata...
Nisha dina chata pata laga rahata mohe...
Pragya was staring at his dreamy face without blink. She smiled unknowingly seeing the content in his eye. They stood there for a second, then Rohan moved from there, his eyes had again caught with restlessness... He started searching something in the blocks of the walls.
"What are you looking for? Pragya asked.
"That thing... it should have been here... I kept it... Rohan uttered in a lost tone.
"What thing?
"That... Rohan looked at her. "That box!
Pragya looked skeptically. "Rohan... even if there were any box you won't find it here! She tried to pursue and held his shoulder. "Ages have passed Rohan... Rohan... can you hear me?
Rohan did not listen, frantically he started meddling with the dust.
"Rohan... Pragya forcefully turned his face. "Rohan Sengupta! Look at me! Look at me...
"It was there. I kept it in a slot of a wall, secured... He was gasping a little. "I... I swear I... I... He started shaking his head. "I wanted to keep it with me. I wanted it to be secured forever... But then I forgot! I left it here and it is lost!
"Relax, Rohan, relax! Pragya pressed his shoulders and looked straightly at his eyes. "Look at me, and concentrate here... She slowly patted on his cheek to bring him back to sense.
Rohan calmed down and looked at her eyes. Then he took a long breath and tried to release himself. When he opened his eyes he looked like a different man; completely devastated.
"What was it, Rohan? Pragya asked calmly. "What is the thing which is pulling you like this? You have to open up!
"A gift... Rohan stated without looking directly.
"Gift? Pragya could not hide the surprise.
Rohan looked at her. His eyes were full of guilt. "I promised to keep that with me forever!
She was sitting on her bed, unmindfully staring out of the window. Her hairs were left open, flying over her shoulder and back like wave of an ocean, and the beautiful hands were kept on her lap casually. She looked tired and lost, her face was vacant, and the beautiful hazel eyes touched with the same strain of melancholy... By now he is quite used to this face of her... but today he expected something different. After all the news itself had a charm which automatically makes a man happy. He was happy... He had been so much happy after ages! There are different tastes of happiness in different occasions; the victory in war gives an insane current of happiness flooding though blood, a successful political negotiation gives the happiness of relief and peace; but neither of them gives him the feelings that he is complete as a human being...but this news did... this feelings was something unusual... something different... It is not that he did not expect this news recently. In fact, being a practical, responsible emperor, arrival of an heir was one of his most important plans. But when the maid brought the news to him, he could not believe for a moment. He was dumbstruck, his heart was racing with every emotion possible but his face was unable to catch them up.
He was going to be a father after all!
According to the customs he should have given a visit to the chief priest first to seek blessings for the heir. Then he had to meet queen mother and other officially engaged women for a discussion of safe arrival of the heir which includes required medical facilities and care for the mother of the child, after that special meeting with faithful officers of security service to provide the best security to the child. Then there are customs of officially announcing the great news in the empire, arrangements of celebration throughout the capital, a lot of charity, donations, going to the pilgrimages for blessings for the heir... the mother of the child hardly has an involvement in all these, most of the times unless she happens to be the chief consort; and he could not afford to wish seeing her first after getting the wonderful news as it is obviously a secondary work... but still, when the chief wet-nurse of the Harem confirmed the news and demanded for a huge amount of reward for being the bearer of the news, the first image came in his head was of her... of her rarely smiling face... He had so many works to do, but he wanted to see her. Hence, despite all his important works kept aside, he could not stop himself from coming to her. He was dying to know if he has at last won the contest with her, of seeing through her heart, breaking the enigma by cracking the coat of ice that she has wrapped around her soul forever. Days have passed; she has shelled herself more at a corner, the wall of ice became much harder, she remained cold, rigid, a secret... and kept on defeating him each and every moment... But motherhood is something different; which is warm by itself; which is supposed to melt every kind of ice... He wanted to witness this melting of ice. He wanted her to be defeated in front of him for once, by given in in front of her emotions- the natural emotion of a common woman... the emotions which could be deciphered easily by him; which would not leave him to feel defeated and humiliated...
How wrong he was. Of course, after all she is not common, like other women of his Harem... and he has known her this much at least...
She was still staring out of the window, not noticing him coming in. Her face dimmed, eyes lost in the kingdom of the clouds in the clear blue sky... she sat like a beautiful sculpture of stone... firm, hard, void of all emotions... And her emotionless posture, her melancholic eyes humiliated him again. The pure glee of fatherhood was crashed by the hurt ego. He was here to meet her just to see her smile... She was supposed to be happy, for once, as it was the reason to be happy... for her, for him, for both of them! Why can't she, for once?
He kept on standing near the door silently until she turned back and saw her. A courteous, fake smile appeared in her lips. She pulled her veil down, came to him and bowed.
"Long live, Majesty... She greeted with a smile. "How do you honour me today by visiting me in this busy hour? She asked. Maybe her question was straight and normal, but he felt a deep sting of taunt pricking in the heart. He took a breath and swallowed the anger, smiling courteously to her.
"I just wanted to know how you are.
Did she shiver a little hearing this? Or did her eyes just go through myriad of countless unknown emotions for a moment when she looked at his eyes suddenly? He could not understand like always. But after a moment she smiled, and her smile looked genuinely honest. She did not lose her composure or rigidity for once but when she talked, her voice seemed to be shaking.
"I am moved, majesty... It's very nice of you... She said.
"So... He had no idea how to continue after this, but he made an attempt. "You should take care of yourself these days. You need not to worry, there will be all kind of support and care for you, and there will be no chance of any compromising with your health. I myself will ensure that you get the best comfort and care from the best medical team... and you have to be very careful yourself as well. You have to be relaxed and happy... Everything is going to be alright.
He could not believe himself saying so many caring words together which directly show his concern towards her without any kind of masking; and she looked amused.
"Everything will be alright, I know... She said smilingly. "The queen mother already met me, she confirmed that her grandson and the heir of the empire will get the best care and comfort... She looked a bit unmindful. "I know Majesty, the queen mother, the royalty, the whole dynasty and you will never compromise with the future of the empire... The heir will be safe with me and the whole system will provide that security.
"Yes we will. He said confidently. "The whole system will protect the next protector of the empire till he gets strong enough to shield the empire with all his strength. He looked at her abdomen, which is still showing no sign of pregnancy, and smiled affectionately unmindfully. "He will make me proud! Won't he? He uttered in a deep emotion.
"I sincerely hope he will, Majesty... She smiled, but her smile had not touched that emotional range of him. There was a sudden flow of uneven emotional wave between both of them.
"So... He said again as he was not willing to go so soon. "There will be a grand celebration in the palace shortly. The whole empire would be honoured if you pay a visit...
"As you order, Majesty... She nodded.
"The future queen mothers of the dynasty are honoured with new status and some official responsibilities, which you must be knowing, mother must have told you... He said. "Your life will not be the same here as it used to be...
"Pardon, Majesty. This time her smile was a bit sarcastic. "Status and some pseudo responsibilities hardly can change a life. What will change?
"Well... He smiled a bit awkwardly. "I heard somewhere that being mother is a great transition in life...
She chuckled, making him confused. Then she looked at him, her eyes full in humour. "One cannot be mother just by giving birth to a baby... Raising a child, being witness of every moment of his growing, feeding him, making him sleep, teaching him to walk, giving him lessons of life... all a mother do! There is no scope of being a mother' of the heir, as queen mother told me...
"Well, it is important to give the best environment of growing to the heir, hence the prince are generally not kept to the mother throughout the childhood... He tried to defend. "But it is not that you will not get to see him, or touch him, or feed him. It is not that you will be completely abandoned from his childhood... He took a breath then spoke- "There are broader scopes of responsibility for a queen-mother, Begam Sahiba. And the future crown-prince has to be grown up in a much more responsible way. Raising a baby on own hands is just a small recreation which a royal person cannot afford. Mind it.
"I completely understand, Majesty. She smiled sadly. "A royal person is not allowed to live his life completely. A royal kid is not allowed to be brought up by the normal touch of his mother. And a royal mother is not allowed to take any decision of her child's life, and that void is tried to suppress under the load of new titles and duties and all, despite being the fact that the mother is treated like a baby-bearer only! She looked unmindful while her voice betrayed by trembling. "That's why she suddenly starts getting so much value after she gets pregnant. The woman who used to stay at a corner and none used to care if she is alive suddenly becomes the most important person. Everyone becomes concern, she starts getting all the respects all of a sudden; her mother-in-law visits her personally for the first time... just to make sure that the heir will be alright... to make sure that the carrier of the heir is okay. Then, after the work of the carrier is over after the baby is born, the importance wears out again, and before going to the same isolation she is given some titles... to make it sure that the child she bore 9 months inside her is not hers... She has to sacrifice her motherhood too, like always... to ensure the greater good of the empire. Well... She sighed. "I never wanted the titles, Majesty... but... I have to ensure the greater good!
"Yes. He stated in a rigid tone. "You have to. Because, you are the woman who are carrying the future of the empire; who are becoming the mother of someone who is going to be the destiny of your empire... Your sacrifice will ensure his victory, hence you have to sacrifice your little recreations. He toned down. "The prince will not be taken away from you forcefully. You will see him every day, will witness him growing up... His lips curled with a sad smile. "Do you know, Begam Sahiba, my mother left me when I was only some months old for safety of the empire, and I had seen her again only after growing up? He sighed and looked at her eyes. "She sacrificed that day; hence I have become a mighty and successful emperor today! Some greater goods always need sacrifice, and you cannot turn face from this fact.
"I know Majesty... She told and tiredly closed her eyes. "The history of the mankind is based on a lot and lot of sacrifice! Man creates History... but who cares for the tears behind which have paved the path of that History? None cares! The tears are dried in the heat of the triumph of mankind! She looked at him again, this time her eyes composed. "I have prepared myself for this sacrifice from the first day itself, Majesty... I will take the responsibility of carrying the heir inside me for 9 months, for greater good. His future will be no more my concern after that. Like a clear deal... She smiled at her own. "How my whole life has become a mere political deal, I notice!
He did not know what to say, or how to response. He only sighed a little, and turned to go back... Suddenly she called again. "Majesty...
"Yes... He turned.
"You... She smiled. This smile was not a courteous smile anymore, or not a smile of gratitude. It comes under the rare smiles which he expected to see before he came here. "You look so different today. So happy.
Perhaps it was the first time someone noticed that he was differently happy.
"Am I not supposed to be happy? He sniggered as his mind was bitter with the conversation.
She did something which even she must not have been expected to do in her dreams ever again. Coming closer to him, she lifted his hands and took his palms inside her hands, clasping them warmly.
"Congratulations, Majesty... Congratulation and best wishes for your fatherhood!
He took a moment to cope up with the surprise, then smiled sarcastically. "Thank you, Begam Sahiba...I don't know what you think about it, but I believe I should congrats you too, for your motherhood. Gradually his glare softens, as he slowly squeezes her hand. "Maybe the new motherhood will discover a new dimension of life for you...I have heard that motherhood opens the door of freedom for the women.
And also a new dimension of relationship as well... he wondered!
"For the women like me, who has been distanced from her life to sacrifice herself for greater good every moment, motherhood is a new chain of imprisonment, not freedom!
"So what do you want, Begam Sahiba, for your freedom?
"Who embraces the destiny of imprisonment as the motto of life, freedom is an impossible utopia for them. She sighed with a smile. "I want to do my duty...
"Well... He left her hand. "Allow me to leave now; I have some engagements...
"Thanks for coming, Majesty... It's so nice of you. Her voice was hearty. She hesitated a bit, then came a bit closer. "By the way, Majesty... Can you wait for a minute? I had something to give...
"Yes?
She opened her chest and took out a small box of wood with exquisite design. Then she lowered her eyes and gave that in his hand.
"Happy Birthday, Majesty... She uttered.
"But it is not my birthday... it was two days back. He said in an obviously flattered voice.
"I know... She said in a shy voice. "I was just waiting for a perfect time to give you this... I always wanted to gift you something... as gratitude... for whatever you have done for me and my honour...
He opened the box, there was nothing expensive inside... only a beautiful peacock feather, a small canister of Ittar, and a small scroll with golden embroidery. "It is written that Many happy returns of the day and congratulations for being the luckiest person to acquire the greatest blessings from God in the form of your fatherhood. She said.
"Thank you! He said in a mild and lost voice while caressing the gift box delicately. "Thank you for such a gift... such a beautiful gift! He took a long breath while his voice trembled in sentiment. "Thank you so much for gifting me the greatest blessings from the God, in the form of fatherhood!
"You are welcome. She said smiling courteously.
"This gift... I will keep it safe and will never let it go. He chuckled. "It will remind me the moment of this happiness every time I would see it! Thank you so much! He took a deep breath... "Allow me now...
"Good bye, Majesty... She smiled.
He turned back, but then again he looked at her. Then slowly he came closer and gazed at her eyes. His breaths were deep, and eyes reflecting an unknown emotion...
"You know, you were wrong about it. He said. "All the care, comfort, importance, it's not only about the heir. It's about you as well... At least for me... your wellbeing is equally important... He touched her chin delicately. "I want you to be happy... I wanted you to be happy after this...
"I am happy, Majesty... She smiled. "Seeing your happiness, I am happy!
"I never meant your motherhood to become another chain of imprisonment for you. I never want to snatch your freedom from you... He said with a sigh. "I promise you, Begam Sahiba.; let the child born, then if you want, I will free you forever. I have no right to imprison you against your wish!
"No Majesty! She smiled sadly. "I said you, my whole life is an imprisonment... There is no way to be free!
He hesitated a bit before cupping her face. She looked uncomfortable, but did not protest. Staring at her beautiful eyes he uttered in a regal and tender tone- "You owe me a present as well, Begam Sahiba. I have to give you a gift for the greatest happiness you gave me. Tell me Begam Sahiba, what do you want? Anything you want, I will give to you! Anything!
"I want to go to home! She uttered in a choked tone, her eyes filled with tears.
"You want to go back to Amer? Forever? He asked in a lower voice, feeling that his heart skipped a beat.
"Amer is not my home; not anymore! She smiled while a drop of tear fell from her eye. "Is there any home for me in this whole universe? Is there really any real home for a woman in this world? Don't know! Have to find one day!
He removed his palm from her cheek; then sighing deeply he left the room.
And then he had kept the box in a safe place, one of the safest places of his room... The first gift in celebration of his first fatherhood... the first gift from her... It was there for whole long year, regularly watched by him... Then again storms came one by one; life changed, situation changed; he got busy... and that first gift, the moment of that happiness was forgotten, buried under other moments... The small box was left there, alone, unattended for years and years... then it is lost forever!
But the moment is not lost! Moments can never be lost. Just as Pragya said- Moments are stored somewhere, in some form...
That's why after the gap of almost 450 years, he has to come back at the same place, in a hope to search that little memory; that little gift that celebrated the joy of fatherhood and love for him!
Edited by Shinning_Stuti - 6 years ago
Harry Potter
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
Shiv Shakti
498