Thread 2: Destined Love... (New thread created) - Page 85

Finally u updated...the story is really good... can't wait to read further and when will joja meet eagerly waiting for their meeting... try to update fast (not putting any pressure)

Amazing story🤗

loved it👍🏼🥳

superbbb updates👏👏

awesome work

looking foward to more updates

Originally posted by: zynahsiddiqi956

Update??

😭

Hi everyone...

I had planned to post the next chapter within this week. But my grandmother passed away suddenly leaving us mentally very upset. I will not be able to post it anytime sooner but will try to do it asap.

Thank you all for your patience on me...

Originally posted by: Shinning_Stuti

Hi everyone...

I had planned to post the next chapter within this week. But my grandmother passed away suddenly leaving us mentally very upset. I will not be able to post it anytime sooner but will try to do it asap.

Thank you all for your patience on me...

May her soul rest in peace. Be strong and no need to hurry. Take ur time.

Just caught up with the updates. It was very well written and you had me completely hooked.

I found it very hard to put it down really even though I was sleepy at midnight

Hope you can continue soon but totally understand if you take your time. I pray that you will get strength to go through this difficult time

Originally posted by: Shinning_Stuti

Hi everyone...

I had planned to post the next chapter within this week. But my grandmother passed away suddenly leaving us mentally very upset. I will not be able to post it anytime sooner but will try to do it asap.

Thank you all for your patience on me...

truly sorry for your loss. I would like to offer you and your family my deepest and sincere condolences and may the soul of your grandmother rest in peace.

I am unable to post!🥺😭💔

Originally posted by: Shinning_Stuti

I am unable to post!🥺😭💔

💔

CHAPTER - 38

So, it went like this then…

After the final conflict between Jalal and Bairam Khan that burnt the last straw of the bond of their relationship, there was nothing that could hold back bairam Khan from wedging a direct war against the emperor himself. The most honorable,most valuable asset of the Mughal dynasty was not hesitating anymore to start a rebellion against the Mughal empire, against the man whom he has practically raised. Perhaps he himself knew what he was doing was wrong, was against his own morality and ethics… but his blind ego had clouded the little conscience he had left, and the extreme need of showing-off his own superiority was making him mad. He believed he was meant to create a perfect emperor for the empire, a king who will rule on his ways… he failed once, so he will start again after ending the trace of Jalaluddin’s kingship.

Salima Begam did not know these things. She was extremely worried about the last conflict between the duo which resulted her to leave everything behind and shift to a new place. Moreover, the constant visit of those suspicious faces to her husband, those instigating people constantly travelling Agra to Delhi for no reason, and the sudden enthusiasm and cheerfulness in her husband’s attitude made her skeptical. She was trying to find a single hole to penetrate in the secret wall Bairam Khan and his followers had built, the last chance to save her family and to do her duty to her emperor.

The situation of Agra was strangely stable after Bairam Khan’s departure. The troop and the other followers of Bairam Khan did not utter a single word after this incident. Partly because perhaps Bairam Khan’s popularity was not that high now as he thought it was, and partly because Jalal handled the situation most perfectly. The whole news of the attack and the confession of Bairam Khan never came out of the four wall of Jalal’s private conference room, everyone knows Bairam Khan has been shifted in his new property just for personal reasons. Maybe there are some whispers about the conflicts between the emperor and his mentor in the capital,but those whispers never got the courage of becoming voice… due to the emperor’s personality. No matter what Jalal said to Bairam Khan or what he said to Jalal inside the room, Jalal did take care of his Khan Baba’s image.

But was Khan Baba intending to do the same for him?

However, the external situation of the empire was stable. Those who were sure about Jalal’s dependency on Bairam Khan’s existence, Jalal started proving them wrong. Everyone was at peace apparently.

But, in reality, they hardly found enough peace to close their eyes at night. The emperor, his very faithful Atgah Khan, his own group of attendants, security network- those whom he believes like his shadow… because, they could sense the fire… the fire of upcoming danger.

And they were being ready for that. None of the associates of the system could know this, except those very close shadows of the emperor, that how the political situation of Mughal empire is changing vastly. And how the enemies are going to get the biggest shock of their life if they believes in the apparent external peace of the empire.

So, one day…

Salima Begam was just passing through the passage in front of Bairam Khan’s study, she heard some whispers… She eavesdropped.

“It’s the perfect time. Before sunset we will imprison the emperor and others.”

“The borders are highly secured.But not the secret passages. Khan-E-Khana will lead us…”

“The ant is flying too high. Now it’s the time, its wings to break!”

Last one was from her husband! She could exactly understand what are they talking about.

Salima made up her mind… She knew it might be her biggest mistake in the path of saving her marriage. She knew Bairam Khan will not take a moment to disown her after all these. She knew if she gets caught, not only she will be punished in the justice of Bairam Khan’sown rule, but the society will force her to take own life out of disgrace…

But she had to do this, because her nation is important. The justice is important. The grace of the emperor is important. And, Jalal is important… her only friend, the only man of this world who was able to respect her for what she is, is the most important matter right now. She cannot let him lose, she had to make him win on the cost of her own life, to let her virtue, her respect win!

She disguised herself in a male dress, took a horse from the stable and ran towards Agra…

It was at the mid of the night. Suddenly there was a small pandemonium in Harem. Someone had come inside the royal women quarter through a secret passage…

Jalal was with some other queen in the Harem. The queen was more than elated to be honored to serve the emper or for a night after years of longing… But her dreams took no time to crush when the door banged, when the messenger told that Ruqaiya Begam is asking for the emperor and the emperor took only a moment to put on his robe and go out of the room, murmuring a small ‘excuse me, Begam,’ to her… However, this is the life of the common queens of the emperor, isn’t it?

Ruqaiya Begam was waiting right at the door of her room. She excitedly held her husband’s hand and escorted him inside. “What happened, Ruqaiya? What made you so worried? Who penetrated inside the harem?” A confused emperor asked the chief queen.

“They haven’t penetrated in,Shahenshah! But they will… for sure! She told me everything!” Ruqaiya panted worriedly while guiding to the couch. Someone was half-lying on that with a goblet in her hand. The maids and eunuchs were serving her.

Jalal came in front, and got astonished when she released her veil.

“Salima Begam!”

Salima Begam was completely worn out, almost on the verge of consciousness. She looked at him with two most exhausted eyes, and uttered slowly…

“I couldn’t Shahenshah! I could not hold him back! They succeeded in brain-washing him completely. He is coming, Majesty! He is coming for you! For all of you!”

Jalal’s worried eyes became rigid slowly. His jaws tightened, his fists clenched.

“I think they will be attacking by tomorrow, through the secret passages! He knows each and every corner of this palace, by a surprise attack, they will win the war in half a day!” Salima Begam teared up while talking in broken voice. “I beg you, Majesty! Save your throne… Save this empire… save the morality of my husband… before he destroys everything completely! I beg you, my lord!”

“Thank you so much for risking your life for us… Salima Begam! You are save under Ruqaiya’s shelter.” Jalal uttered in a warm voice while his eyes got colder. “You had an exhausted journey. Have complete rest and don’t worry about anything!”

“He would never do this,Shahenshah!” Salima Begam cried. “He would never go against the empire this way! I swear someone is brain-washing him. I don’t know who… but…”

“I know who.” Jalal said in almost a whisper before he got out to call the army.

And before next sunset, the whole troop of Bairam Khan along with the commander himself was made stood in front of the emperor at Diwan-E-Khas without a single drop of blood. They army of the emperor imprisoned the whole troop of the rebels right inside the camp. The whole operation went so smoothly that the common people got no trace of it. Bairam Khan saw in surprise that not only he and his troop, also the rebel officers,most of the priests who were directly involved in the conspiracy, and the people who were lately not very fond of the emperor, was standing at one like with shackles in hand.

Then the emperor came, the justice started…Bairam Khan watched with awe how strong Jalal has built up his network.How he stepped ways ahead to the rebels. And he saw how a seed of rebellion can be crushed under the feet without a single blood-shed.

Not only the rebellion. Jalal pointed out everyone… everyone who was in the conspiracy… conspiracy of turning the shield of the emperor into the weapon against the throne… the conspiracy of manipulating the most powerful man of the empire after the emperor with his own urge of power. Every single plots were revealed, including the last letter fiasco. Bairam Khan listened with shock how one of his most faithful followers putthat letter in his desk just to malign him in front of the emperor and to nail the last nail of the coffin. Everyone got their punishment in the long trial procedure, and Bairam Khan kept on standing without listening to anything else,measuring in mind that how much Jalal was right. How much he has pulled himself down from the respectful position once he had in this court. He cared so much for his hard ego that he did not understand when he sold his honesty in front of his never-ending greed of power. Today Jalal opened the cover of his eyes and made him stand in front of the light of reality and truth so harshly, and now he could hear the shatter of his pride that he has budded so carefully inside. Now Bairam Khan could not live with the debris of his own wall of pride anymore.

“Khan-E-Khana Bairam Khan…” The emperor announced at the last moments of the trial, his voice held the same baritone but his eyes were clouded in despair, and he was not hiding that pain anymore. “You yourself should have no doubt anymore on how much you ditched your empire and played with the trust of the great emperor who had given you once the responsibility of protecting the throne. You have leaded the rebellion, so as per the law of Mughal dynasty you should get sentence of death or life-imprisonment as a punishment.” He took a break… “However, since it is cleared from the trial that you were clearly manipulated, and also the whole Mughal dynasty is very much in debt to him, I wish to give him one last chance to redeem himself.” He took a long breath before coming down from the throne and stood in front of Bairam Khan. Bairam Khan looked at his eyes, the eyes full of empathy. He could not look at his eyes anymore.

“Khan-E-Khana Bairam Khan is the reason that Mughal dynasty is still standing with its head high in the map of world.” Jalal spoke in his majestic tone. “Without his devotion, his valiance and his undoubted dedication towards his duty as the officer of this dynasty,we won’t survive the path of thorns which we had to pass through to come to this throne. No matter whatever crime he does, no matter how much he is been manipulated, the truth will never change… the truth that Bairam Khan is the pride of this empire, and Mughal Empire cannot exist without the name of Bairam Khan. Jalaluddin Mohammad cannot exist without the name of Bairam Khan. Bairam Khan is my mentor, my guide, the light of my life… this is the truth, this will be the truth for the eternity; even if my Khan-Baba lose his powers, even if I lose my throne tomorrow and become a beggar of street; this truth will never alter!”

Bairam Khan flinched while he looked at Jalal’s face. Jalal was staring at him with calm and satisfying smile. “The pride of being powerful becomes dull in front of the pride of love and respect,Khan Baba. The urge of power leads to destruction. The thirst of love has the power to build. I believe in the power of love, respect and compassion.” He uttered in a mild tone. “I forgive you for everything, Khan Baba. And I sincerely hope you will be able to forgive yourself one day!”

With a round of applause in the courtroom, Jalal get back to his pedestal and announced again… “Khan-E-Khana Bairam Khan, I give you two choices. First, you take a voluntary retirement and stay here with us as my well-wisher and adviser. Second, you enjoy your retired life and as a religious man that you are, set out for hajj in Mecca. It is the time you set yourself free from all your responsibilities and burden of powe ryou had and think for yourself, a trip to purify your soul.”

“Hail to your Majesty!” Bairam Khan uttered in a broken voice. “I am proud that I am still able to get mercy from your grace… This is the greatest honour I have ever got from this empire, and I will respect that with all my life. I will leave for Mecca, with my wife and my son, like a common pilgrim… And I will pray to God so that this trip to Mecca would become my last journey of this life!”

The royal family went to meet Bairam Khan’s family before they set out for their journey . Bairam Khan was unable to meet the eyes with Marium Makani, but she eased his hesitation with a single word, ‘Thank you for building my son as such a great emperor.’ Bairam Khan could not hold his tears back… He has taught Jalal how to fight, how to ride horse, how to cut off the head of the enemies. But did he ever have the capacity of building a great emperor? How can one, who has no control over his own mind can even demand that he has been the mentor of the emperor,he is the reason of the rise of this dynasty! Jalal was bright with the light of the greatness from inside, and today the light of his compassion has dimmed the false pride of this small negligible warrior rebel-leader Bairam Khan even more. Bairam Khan does not deserve the honour he gets. He never did deserve this! And this self-realization makes him to loathe himself even more…

Rahim was sitting with a pout, tears dried on his cheeks. He was not at all interested in going, and above this he was rebuked by his mother just some minutes back as he was being stubborn. Suddenly someone touched his shoulder and he turned. It was Shahenshah. He was smiling at him but was certainly looking sad.

“It seems someone has upset my Khan-E-Khana?”

“Shahenshah…”Rahim almost cried and hugged Jalal like a life-line. “Tell Ammijaan… I don’t want to go. I will here! Please Shahenshah… Abbajaan and Ammijaan do not listento me, but they will listen to you! Please please please!”

And the tears of that little boy did what the weeks of stress and despair could not do to Jalal. He could not hold the drops of tears any more. Rahim was still clinging to him, crying ardently. “We are leaving everyone here Shahenshah…I don’t wan tto leave all! Please…”

“Okay…listen to me!” Jalal sniffled and took him into his arms. “You are only going temporarily, right? Your father really need a break, and you should stay like a good boy with him.”

“But I don’t like my father! I want to stay here!” Rahim snapped. “I don’t want to go there… I will stay in Hindustan… Please…”

“You will!” Jalal stroked his hairs. “I promise you, I will bring you back, okay!You have to come back. Else who will be the next Khan-E-Khana in my court?”

“Promise?”Rahim looked suspiciously at him and Jalal smiled. “Yes!”

“Why making false promises to a child, Majesty…”

Jala llooked back, Salima Begam was standing along with Ruqaiya Begam.

“Who said it’s a false promise?” Jalal smiled. “Let some days go, I myself will ask for the responsibility of my little Khan-E-Khana from his father and bring him herewith me! My court will never complete without him in future…”

Salima Begam smiled. Jalal kept on staring at her… “The committee of my advisers also cannot be complete without you in it, Salima Begam. I so wished I could get you as well!”

“You are funny, Shahenshah!” Salima Begam laughed. But Jalal did not.

“There is none like you, Salima Begam. I would never ever get a friend, a well-wisher of mine like you. It’s my misfortune that I have to distance my friend forever…But you promise something to me…” He came closer and held her hands ignoring Ruqaiya’s suspicious glare. “Ever in your life, if you ever feel insecure or unsafe, just remember that there is one of your friend in Agra. A friend who will do anything to secure you and your respect. I owe you, Salima Begam. And will always!”

The last moments had come, Bairam Khan stood in front of Jalal. Jalal smiled at him.

“B ecareful, Khan Baba!” He uttered, his voice quivering in emotion.

“Good Bye Jalal… God bless you!” Bairam Khan nodded.

“I will send you letters and messages, Khan Baba.” Jalal said, desperately in a sudden need to lend some normalcy between their tangled up relationship. “I will seek for your help whenever my nation will need you!”

“Your nation will never need me, Jalal! It never did.” Bairam Khan suddenly laughed out. “I was in a wrong impression, you opened my eyes.”

“Khan baba…”

“I will give you one advise only, Jalal… A last advise.” Bairam Khan kept on speaking. “You have everything to be a great king, Jalal! Everything but the numb ruthlessness that the greatest emperors have needed every time. I was never able to touch the height of your compassion Jalal, but you need to adapt that numb ruthlessness from me. It’s needed!” He paused for a moment then smiled. “You must not keep a trace of a potential enemy, Jalal. An enemy must be ended, he does not deserve mercy no matter whatever he has done for you in past. An untreated wound is always dangerous. No matter how much time passes, it will never heal!”

Jalal stared at him blankly, completely absorbing what he wants to tell. “I believe you.” He managed to utter at last.

“Well I don’t. Not anymore…” Bairam Khan smiled. “I sincerely hope you will pay heed to my one last advice, Jalal. I will be grateful if you do! Good bye my son!”

The caravan of Bairam Khan headed towards Mecca… Jalal could not sleep for a momentthat night.

“You must not keep a trace of a potential enemy.”

The news of the death of Bairam Khan was as sudden as a thunder. He could not even cross the border of Hindustan when he was murdered by an old enemy, Haji Khan near Anhilwad Patan. Though he was in disguise, some Lohani Pashtun had still recognised him and informed the group of assassins. The greatest soldier of Mughal dynasty died on a lonely desert defencelessly, when there was none even to give the last drop of water in his mouth.

The whole thing cannot be a mere coincidence, the wise men of the empire had suspected. Moreover it was found that Hayat Khan, the brother of Jafar whom Bairam Khan had murdered, has been disappeared since Bairam Khan has left Agra. The scope of assumption increased, and soon it was found that Hayat was killed by some unknown attacker in the desert as well. The courtiers got tired while using their grey matters behind this event, but no further investigation was made from the emperor’s part regarding this. The emperor was extremely calm regarding the death of his mentor.

In an fine night, Abdul at last gained the courage to confront the emperor himself about this. The emperor was alone on the roof, enjoying a couple of glasses of wine. Abdul could not stop himself from quenching his curiosity.

“Pardon,your Majesty… As a chief of your undercover service, something has come into my attention. If you promise me to spare my life I want to ask a question to your grace.”

Jalal had smiled dazedly, as if he already knew what he was going to ask. “Ask whatever you want, Abdul.”

“Hayat Khan had left just after Bairam Khan set off, and this news had reached to you sooner enough though the spies.”

Jalal looked at him amusedly.

“You also knew that Hayat Khan was having connection with Haji Khan, who was an old enemy of Khan-E-Khana.”

“Yes… I was quite sure that Jafar’s brother will not accept the judgement of the empire and will try to avenge his brother.”

“Still you did nothing to save Bairam Khan Sahib?” Abdul’s voice trembled in shock. “You let him to just kill Khan-E-Khana…”

“Sending message to Khan-E-Khana would not work, Hayat Khan was anyways faster than us.”Jalal’s voice did not flinched. “Besides, Hayat Khan owed a justice. If the empire was unable to do justice to Jafar, the emperor of the emperors would ensure it. Who am I to stop that?”

“So you…you just… Shahenshah you indirectly just…” Abdul was stammering out of disbelief.

“I ensured the death of Khan-E-Khana Bairam Khan, that you want to tell?” Jalal laughed faintly. “And then killed Hayat off to clean up the last proof?” He shook his head while chuckling. “No Abdul. I was more like a mere spectator,watching everything from far… helplessly, doing nothing to stop. I watched from far how the ego of a man pulls his down to the cliff, how the small spark of revenge of a common man can burn the highest pillar of the greatest dynasty of the world. I watched helplessly how karma laughs the hardest, I watched with awe that what goes around, comes around… and there is no way back.” He took along sip from the goblet and looked at the sky. “Now I look at the sky and take a long breath, realizing the justice is done. The guilt that I had for not giving Jafar what he deserves is nullified by this justice of karma. It had to happen, Abdul. Who am I to stop?”

“B…b…but…how could you… Shahenshah! How could you see all this so calmly!” Abdul could not hide his emotions anymore.

“I don’t know how, Abdul!” Jalal uttered in an almost silent voice. “But one thing I know now, being a spectator is much more painful experience than being a victim,being a destroyer. And the face of justice of an empire must acquire the skills of being a spectator- who can do nothing, speak nothing, feel nothing…who can only note the incident inside his head and follow the next step of duty allotted for him accordingly for a better future. I did it too. With the death of Khan-E-Khana, the last chance of reviving the revolution again is completely crushed. The face of the rebels is no more, now we can easily work on the other rebels who are still behind the curtain and punish them… no one will get to stand against it.”

“Maybe…maybe it could have a positive effect, my lord but!” Abdul could not still believe… “What about… what about…”

“What about me?” Jalal laughed. “My personal feelings towards my mentor? Does not matter, Abdul… does not matter! The empire comes first. The enemy of the throne, the hazards for the empire should be treated first.” He looked lost at the sky… “A potential enemy must not be set free, he should be uprooted! My mentor, my teacher, my Khan Baba taught me this… and this was his last order for me!” He chuckled which sounded like a heart-wrenching wailing to Abdul’sears. “I have hurt him the most, I could not insult him anymore by ignoring this! Maybe it was the most prestigious death he could get!”

“By dying like a common man in a lonely desert helplessly?” Abdul’s voice trembled.

“By accepting the truth of life, by accepting the judgement of his destiny, by purifying his soul which got contaminated in the pit of false pride and, and by getting the most needed peace in that solitude of death…” Jalal uttered as if he was talking to his own. “By ensuring to this world that he will never be known as the leader of rebel in this History… He will be known as the great warrior Bairam Khan, who taught the emperor how to reign a kingdom. He will be my Khan-Baba…always!”

Abdul could hear promptly how his voice broke at the end, and drowned in a sudden solitude. He could not see, but he imagined the drops of tears falling from his eyes… Perhaps the first tear he dropped for his Khan Baba.

“You know Abdul…” Jalal suddenly spoke; his husky voice in the darkness seemed like the voice of destiny all of a sudden… “There is an unwritten rule in the heredity of this dynasty… that the emperor can be the perfect one only after drinking the poison of destruction… by having the blood of the most trusted one on the hands. My grandfather did it… my father had to do it as well- after a lot of pain and agony! And today I drank that poison too. I drank that poison of power; I drank that poison of hell… Now I will be immune; I will be worthy!” He laughed in his broken voice.“Now I will be the emperor… the great emperor!”

Not much later than this incident, Jalal married Salima Begam. The empire got shuttled.None would have dreamt that the emperor will marry the widow of his foster father. But the impossible became possible. Salima Begam became the honorary empress of the Mughal empire. Some objection must have come from his personal circle, but Jalal had to protect Salima Begam and her kid from the whole array of enemies of late Bairam Khan. People expected that he will give Salima Begam shelter in the royal harem to give her security, but Jalal did not want to give her refuge, he wanted to give her right… the right of a queen, the right of an advisor, the right of the chief consort of the emperor. The incomplete life o fthe righteous woman who craved for the respect she deserved, was completed…

Sooner after that, whispers about Salima and Jalal’s relationship before their marriage started spreading like hotcakes. From the lanes of the town to the rooms of the Harem, delicious forbidden stories started roaming, which finally went to Jalal’s ears through the sources of Ruqaiya Begam. He said nothing… but after 3-4 days Maksud Khan and some other old alleys of Bairam Khan was brought to the palace with handcuffs at the dark night.

“We are innocents…” Maksud Khan argued.

“No you are not.” Jalal smirked. “You did the most gruesome crime by trying to scandalize the character of an empress.”

“We…we did nothing… my lord…”

“All rumours have a source, Maksud Khan… And I know very well how to reach to the root.” Jalal had said in a chilled voice. “You are trying to play this like your trump card for a long time, don’t you? Trying to manipulate Khan-Baba,trying to play with his sanity by reaping the seed of doubt in his mind? I had doubts on you… and you confirmed it by trying to play this dirty card across the country. You should not have, Maksud Khan… you should have known your limits!”

“You… you have no evidence…” Maksud Khan stammered.

“My dear Maksud…” Jalal had smirked cruelly. “I am the emperor… who said I need an evidence?”

Maksud Khan could read the language of his chilled eyes. He could understand the sign of the court… he could understand what is going to happen to him…

“You… you can’t do this… You… you can’t arrest a Mughal nobleman without any evidence!It’s a condemn of the great Mughal justice system…”

Jalal laughed out loud. “You are not a Mughal nobleman, Maksud Khan… hell you are not even a civilian; the great Mughal justice system won’t apply on you! You are a pile of dirt, a nasty insect, an ever-changing ugly chameleon of a filthy forest. Your crime is too nasty to bring you in front of the great justice system. And secondly,” He smiled darkly. “Who said I am going to get you arrested?”

Maksud Khan and his other companions had been vanished all of a sudden. So did the others, who were suspected to be there in conspiracy but nothing got proved,one by one… day by day… None could know where are they, none dared to ask where they have gone… Only the servants of the palace used to discuss among themselves,that how some of them has seen a dark caravan coming out from the back-gate of the dark prison and running towards the mysterious barren land of death at the south of Yamuna bank, which is known as the graveyard of the wild animals and the homeless souls… and sometimes for the unauthorized, lethal criminals…

The rumours stopped spreading eventually. People forgot about Bairam Khan, his associates and the disappeared people. They loved the emperor, they respected their emperor; and that was the ultimate truth which eradicated the last trace of the budding rebellion from the empire.

The closer associates knew everything, of-course. So did Maham-Anga… the wet-nurse and present adviser of the emperor. She witnessed everything, and chill ran through her spine thinking about some other consequence… “The suspected rebels are vanishing one by one Jalal… Do you think this is ethical to…” She had started once…

“Yeah, it is rather a sorrowful incident.” Jalal had shook his head slightly, smirking…

“What do you think, none understands what is going on?” Maham stated agitatedly. “This way, without any evidence…”

“Exactly…”Jalal laughed. “Everyone understands everything… but evidence is vital, right?Just like very sadly we are getting no evidences of these disappearances. We only can draw a pattern between the incidents, and think…” His voice became exceptionally calm as he had came closer to her. “Beware, Badi Ammi… There is an extended list of suspects of this rebellion in my mind… Obviously there is no evidence, and without that I can’t proof a thing… but still, beware…”

“What do you mean Jalal?” Maham said nervously.

“You know what I mean.” Jalal smiled. “I know how much your son means for you, Badi Ammi…And you know how much you mean to me. I don’t want to hurt you. So ensure my suspicions do not cross the line of confirmation. Else you know… evidences are not really necessary to punish someone.”

He left after greeting her, leaving her speechless…

So, this way Jalal’s days kept on spending. Every next day busier than the previous one…Every next night lonelier that the previous one… The young emperor really started being the full-grown mature ruler of the empire… and the little bit colour of dream that was there in his eyes were fading every single day…

Only, sometimes at midnight, while staring at the moonlight of the sky, a deep sigh automatically used to come out from his chest. His heart used to fill with a strong melancholic urge… “O Purnima!” He stared at the moon and sighed…

All were going like this, Jalal had almost stopped wishing to find Purnima despite all the searches he was still continuing, a news came from Amer through his spy network…

A news which changed the life of Jalal forever.

And the destiny of Hindustan as well…

Let’s take a look into the lives of Amer as well now…

Moti was literally burning after her meeting with her lover Vijay Singh. Her moral torn between her commitment towards her relationship and her motherland. Vijay Singh had indicated the dark cloud shadowing Amer’s fate, the desperation in his voice stated clearly that the destruction is too close. Moti is innocent, but she is not an idiot to foresee the obvious future that Vijay had showed her. Vijay insisted that his loyalty rests on Moti’s final decision… of whether she is going to choose her love or her own loyalty. Keeping quiet means to let Amer be destructed, and after that to depart for a new secure life with her love of life, crossing the debris of her motherland… opening up means to betray Vijay’s trust on her, to deceive her love of life, to shut the door of future completely. What was she supposed to do? To end the dreams in a moment and convert the whole life in a misery by deceiving the love?

Or to betray her motherland?

Moti was standing at the dark corner of the royal corridor at night, thinking her brains out. The festival of Ganghur has started, the whole fort is floating in the glee of the fest. None can even imagine what is going to happen to their well-settled, loving life!

Except her. And will she be destroying all those lives, for sake of settling her own dreams? Will she be ever happy after that?

But what will she do? Will go to the king and inform him? Will help them to eradicate all the enemies coming towards the land? The army of enemies… including Vijay Singh! The princes of Amer would effortlessly cut his head off his body as a punishment of betrayal against motherland… and Moti will witness that on her own eyes while pretending to be the proud rescuer of the fort in front of everyone!

Moti wanted to scream suddenly imagining the scene. She cannot do this! She is not that strong! She is too simple, she wants a normal life! And Vijay Singh is not a betrayer of his motherland. Vijay Singh is not a traitor. Vijay Singh is doing his duty, being loyal to his superior. It is not his fault that being loyal to his superior would mean to become the enemy of Amer one day… It is not their fault that their loyalty towards their lords would force them to stand against each-other one day. Why would she and Vijay Singh will become the sacrifice of the family feud of the royal family?

But… even after all the reasons justifying her silence regarding this incident, the biggest pain was swirling inside her heart, increasing in every single moment… Someone was screaming inside her head… You are a coward Moti Bai. You are a selfish, coward,betrayer of your motherland. For the own sake of happiness you are betraying your motherland, you are betraying the faith of your princess and her family!You are pathetic Moti Bai… You will rot in hell!

And she could not overhear it. Not anymore…

And at the middle of the night she rushed into Jodha’s room, wake her up from sleep, and broke into tears before telling everything about Vijay’s meeting with her… stabbing own future with own hand.

Jodha heard everything breathlessly. She could understand the unanswered questions which had been pooping inside her head from a long time. Sujamal Bhaisa is going to attack Amer with the help of Sonargarh. How the hell she could not understand this.

She rushed to her father, and got surprised to see him awake, planning something with her brother Bhagwant Das at the middle of the night.

“I know this, Jodha… I had suspected this from a long time ago and had sent a spy as well. I got the news from him.” Bhagwant Das told.

Jodha remembered her brother’s conversation with the mysterious man at the day of Holi, and flinched to remind the kind of hatred she had witnessed in her brother while talking about Sujamal.

“What are you going to do then?”She asked controlling her emotions.

“Let him come closer. He will be shocked as hell when he will see a troop seeing his path.” King Bharmal said in a grave tone. “He will get arrested, so his revel army. Is everything done as plan, Bhagwant?”

“Yes, Babusa…” Bhagwant Das answered with a bit of hesitation which kind of confused Jodha. “What are you hiding , Bhaisa?” She pressed. “Are you afraid that we cannot win?”

“Not that… Only something is poking me, about what the spy told me…” Bhagwant Das said.

“What?”

“That the king of Sonargarh has also send a troop to Bhangarh. And Sujamal is not going to attack us before Bhangarh is defeated.” Bhagwant Das said thoughtfully.

“What?” Jodha stated in confusion,ignoring the pinch of irritation at the mention of Bhangarh. “That only means they want the troop of Bhangarh to join them against Amer as well. How can…”She stopped forcefully and looked at her father. “Or maybe they want to fight against Bhangarh to defeat them… Just a strategy of war or…”

“Whatever it maybe, we are ready to face them.. Are we, Bhagwant Das?” King Bharmal told.

“We are, Babusa… But it’s not why I am worried about. I just have a bad feeling that…”

“What?” Both Bharmal and Jodha asked.

“That whoever was helping me these days from behind… by giving me all the information of Sujamal, by directing him according to my wish and promised me to give Sujamal alive to me… I suspect if he is doing the same with Bhangarh and other states as well, and he is playing me for own good!” Bhagwant Das stared helplessly at Jodha. “I had dilemmas , Jodha. That’s why I installed spies as well… but…” He sighed. “That man says he hates Sujamal more than I do. If I stay with him he will give him alive to me…and I could not resist! But with every passing days I had doubts… I got to understand he is blocking the way of conversation between Sujamal and us. He is not helpful, rather he is playing some bigger games… And Suddenly I got to know about Bhangarh thing…”

“You took help from some internal traitor to defeat Sujamal Bhaisa?” Jodha almost screamed of surprise. “Don’t you know Bhaisa that these internal traitors are dangerous for everyone? The tension between you and Sujamal Bhaisa could be sorted out by sitting together and talking properly a couple of times. Why you let a third party to enter,Bhaisa ? Why you let a war happen? You know what is the situation of the state…then why?” She almost wailed.

“I just wanted to see the end of this feud! I was afraid that Sujamal will rebel for the throne so when I sensed it I tried to stop it by hook or crook but… there is something else going to under the water which I understood later!” Bhagwant Das covered his have in weary and guilt. “I just want it to be over as soon as possible… I have enough force to track down Bhangarh as well and I just hope everything goes as per plan…”

“I am sorry, Bhaisa…” Jodha said wearily.“But it won’t end here… It is just the beginning.” Her eyes started glowing like fire. “You let a traitor in, Bhaisa, you opened the politics of Amer in front of a traitor like an open book… A traitor of motherland is the greatest traitor. He is like a mole… the most unpredictable. Bhaisa…” Her voice trembled. “We have enough force to fight back Sonargarh or Bhangarh. But do we have that power to sustain any attack from Mughal army?”

“What are you saying, Jodha…” King Bharmal wailed. “No no… this won’t happen!”

“You can’t be so sure…” Jodha said coldly. “A traitor of his motherland is the traitor for everybody… Who is this man, Bhaisa?”

“We all know him…” Bhagwant Das sighed. “The right hand of Sagarmal Singh. The second-in-command of the fort of Sonargarh!”

The army had reached to the border of Amer and waiting for the right time under the supervision of Sujamal Singh. Another troop has gone to attack Bhangarh. King Sagarmal was in his fort finalizing the strategies. The messengers are coming with new information every moment and he needs to compile all of them together to strategize the whole war. He has taken up a great mission, and he cannot sleep for a moment before accomplishing it.

“My Lord…” He heard a woman’s voice from behind and nodded to acknowledge her. The maid came in and bowed.

“Ranisa has remembered you,Majesty…” The maid recited. “Rajkunwarisa’s pain has started. The baby can be born at any time.”

Sagarmal smiled naturally while the happy face of his dear sister flashing in front of his eyes. “I cannot wait for it.” He said. “Tell Ranisa that I am coming as soon as possible.”

The maid bowed and went away.“Poor Sujamal could not stay here today in the birth of his first-born!”Sagarmal sighed a bit sadly and gulped the rest of the drink to get up. Suddenly a shadow was shown on the curtain behind his back.

“You’re going somewhere?”

“You?” Sagarmal frowned. “You are not supposed to be here right now… What are you doing here?”

“Had to come back from midway.”The shadow became more visible as he came forward. “Some important discussions were left off.”

“So much important that you had to come back from the ground of war?” Sagarmal smiled a bit. “You could have send a message…”

“When I have come myself you should understand its very confidential.”

“I see…” Sagarmal nodded. “We need to give it a time. Just wait for a second. Ranisa is calling me, I am coming in a moment.”

The sudden laughter embarrassed Sagarmal.“What happened to you, Sagar? A confidential news waiting, and you are more eager to obey your wife?”

“Not like that…” Sagarmal smiled shyly. “Lila can give birth to the baby anytime soon. So you know, it must be important…”

“Sure… Lila’s child, Sujamal’s child is important…” The man looked lost for a moment and sat on a couch. “But do you know, Mirza Sarifuddin has headed towards Sonargarh?”

“What?” Sagarmal sat down immediately and looked panicked. “What are you telling Jaswant, what happened?”

“Apparently he has gone for a hunting adventure, but you know, I don’t think so…” Jaswant said with nonchalance. “I think someone has given him all our information, based on which he started action. Maybe he has send troops towards Amer as well.”

“Jashwant… what are you…” Sagarmal stammered. “How can be you so cool? What are we going to do? Who did this?”

“Apparently whom you believed the most…” Jashwant laughed lazily and took a sip from the nearby goblet. “Ahhh nice wine!”

“Don’t act like over smart, Jashwant…”Sagarmal got irritated. “Let’s think what we do…”

“Don’t panic, Rajasa!” Jashwant laughed. “You are too tensed. Let’s do one thing, let’s talk about something else. About Lilavati, about her child…about Sujamal’s first-born.”

“Are you kidding me?”

“No!” Jashwant had a strange smile in his face. “You remember Sagar, when we were child, you me and Lila used to play together. Lila loved to play mother of her doll and we were the protector of the doll. You had a constant role of playing an uncle of the doll, where I had only one role left, that was the role of the father… Huh! And then while playing together you had given your sister’s hand to me… And then suddenly you got a new friend…”

Sagarmal wanted to speak something, but he stopped… He could see the burning tears in Jashwant’s eyes…

“There was always you and me…always! From where did Sujamal came from, Sagar?”Jashwant uttered in a wet,chocked voice.

“Jashwant…” Sagarmal pleaded in an earnest voice. “Sujamal was my friend… But you were always more than that… You were like a brother to me… you still are!”

“So you took me as granted!”Jashwant laughed brokenly. “I kept on serving you as your right-hand and you gave Sujamal everything I deserved? Your sister, the honour of your brother-in-law even the crown of your half-kingdom… why? Because he is a prince and I am the son of a homeless refugee? Because I am not up-to your standard?”

“Don’t ever say that Jashwant…”Sagarmal clenched Jashwant’s shoulders. “Jashwant, you are a brother to me… I swear to God if I ever thought you anything else that that… Lila’s marriage…”He sighed. “I know I… I promised you her hand once; and you had your dreams for her… But Lila was interested in Sujamal, she was never interested on you, she took you as her brother… How could I give you her hands after knowing this,tell me? We…” He took a pause and breathed. “We talked about this. I was sorry for this you know that then why…”

“Because that was not the end…”Jashwant smiled distantly. “All I wanted from you was the destruction of Amer…and you promised the crown of Amer to your brother-in-law?”

“We are doing what we need to… But you have to understand the situation…” Sagarmal sighed. “At this moment we cannot waste our energy on some stupid revenge-game. What we are doing is much bigger!”

“You are going to reign the whole Hindustan. It’s big for you. Your brother-in-law is getting the Rajputana. It’s big for him. What am I going to get, Sagar? Apart from getting an appraisal from you?” Jashwant uttered in a cold voice.

“What do you want Jashwant?”Sagarmal asked with plea. “Rajputana? The half of the land we win? Or the whole of it?”

“None of this. I want revenge. A complete destruction of Amer. Complete destruction of its honour and urge of living.” Jashwant uttered in icy voice. “Amer was supposed to be ours. We were the old resident of that land. But those Kanchhwara Rajputs had attacked on us secretly like cowards and murdered our ancestors, drove us out like dogs to claim our land as theirs! From that day every child of our clan has only one aim in life… to avenge their ancestors. By hook or crook… I wanted my best friend’s help to get my aim. But he deceived me and befriended another Ameri…So I need to take the crook-way. I have to take the revenge in my own way. No matter how much it takes!”

“Those are the incidents of ages ago. We should live for our future, Jashwant…” Sagarmal said.

“One cannot live for the future if his past is a black hole, Sagar. Moreover, I wanted to have a future… you took that from me and gave that to the Amer prince! That bull-headed short-tampered Amer prince who always pretended to be a friend but treated me like a servant! I have enough of it. I bore too much of it for this day only!” Jashwant took a big sip now.

Sagarmal sighed deeply. “Okay… you want to punish me for everything I did to you, go ahead. But not now. That Mughal monster is coming towards our fort. They also know our plan about Amer. First let us do something about it then…”

A hue and cry of pandemonium along with war cries penetrated in the hard-rock walls of the room .

“Nothing can be done right now.”Jashwant got up and came closer to Sagarmal. “I think they have already come. Listen to the noise outside.”

Sagarmal gazed at his friend’s face for a long time. “Jashwant… my friend… why!” He could only mutter.

“I am sorry, Sagar. I am very sorry.” Jashwant came forward and embraced the king. “I really wished I won’t have to do this!” He took out his sharp dagger and stabbed it behind his back. Sagarmal collapsed on Jashwant’s shoulder, listlessly.

A sharp wail whipped the air from behind. Jashwant heard the sound of a woman falling down unconscious from behind. A maid of the queen, probably with some good news, Jashwant unmindfully thought. The poor queen was waiting for the king. Poor Lila is giving birth to her child, waiting for her Kunwarsa… Who had imagined that their story will end this way?

A dark smile corrupted Jashwant’s handsome face. The Mughal war-cry and chants were getting prompter now. They have already surrounded the fort…

Everything was going on as per plan. But everything changed at an instance like a lightening bolt. Sujamal was waiting at the border of Amer, when the spy brought the news that Amer is completely ready for the attack. Sujamal had no choice other than changing the strategy and opening the secret doors of Amer fort in front of the troop of Jashwant.

They were waiting for the troop of soldiers to join them after winning Bhangarh. But no news came… Not a single news from Bhangarh. Instead of that another horrific news came.

King Sagarmal is dead. Mughal armies have surrounded Sonargarh fort; Jashwant Singh had no choice but to surrender… The Mughal army has vandalized inside the fort. The queen along with her mates have committed Jauhar… All the glory of the little fort of Sonargarh is burning in the fire of devastation…

The army that Sujamal was leading gave a strange reaction to this news. A part of the troop was terrified, they scattered and ran away… another part was devastated, lost every hope and ran…And the rest of the soldiers were…

Well, Sujamal had no strength to think about these… He was dying to get a single word about his wife. His wife and his unborn kid… where are they… what were they doing? Are they even alive?? No…no…They have to be alive… they have to be…

“Kunwarsa…” Someone had dropped in his thoughts... someone whom he did not expect at all. The man with his flawless black skin can be mistaken as a sculpture on a black rock… Ujal- the tribal friend of Sujamal sneaked in his camp.

“You have been tricked, Kunwarsa…”He had whispered before Sujamal could ask anything. “Your whole troop has been arrested in Bhangarh; someone had already gave them the information. So is in Amer, they are ready for your attack… Sonargarh is under captivation of Mughal force; and they are coming towards Amer now… According to my sources they have already penetrated in.”

“Wh… what…” Sujamal could only mutter.

“You did a blunder, Kunwarsa…”Ujal said. “You gave the information about the secret passages to your army officials. It is obvious that they have joined hand with the Mughals! With these information Mughal army will win Amer at a blink of an eye!”

“Who did these! Jashwant??? Why!!”Sujamal wailed.

“Hurry up, Kunwarsa… You have to escape right now… Come with me!” Ujal, the faithful tribal leader held his hand. “They will kill you right now, Kunwarsa… You have to go!”

“I will not flee, Ujal!” Sujamal roared. “I will fight till my last breath! I have dishonored my motherland infront of these intruders! At least I have to repay!”

“Kunwarsa… Think about your wife!Think about your kid! They are alive, Kunwarsa. They are under the clutch of that Mughal Monster! You have to save them, and for that you have to be alive!”

Sujamal’s lips trembled in both guilt and gratitude. Ujal almost dragged him out of his tent and both got lost in the darkness outside.

Amer was ready for all types of attack from Sujamal. Bhagwant Das had arranged his soldiers accordingly. But they were never expected a sudden Mughal seize.

Even the secret doors of the fort were seized… the weakest parts of the forts were covered by the enemy soldiers…the soldiers of Sonargarh!

“Sujamal joined hand with Mughals?” Bharmal could not believe his own eyes.

“No Baapusa…” Bhagwant Das uttered in shady face. “It’s the man whom I believed as my friend and wanted to use him against my brother! He used our personal fights and played both of us! I told him secrets of Sujamal’s army, Sujamal told him the vulnerabilities of Amer…And he played both of us!”

“What do we do now?” Bharmal asked in panicked voice.

“Only one thing that we can do… To go to Sonargarh, to meet Jashwant, to obey there all demands… Mirza Sarifuddin is also there… No matter what, we have to save Amer… We have to save the honour of Sujamal’s wife and kid… They are kept hostage in Sonargarh!” Bhagwant said…

“No, Bhagwant! They are savages…They will kill you right there!” Bharmal told in horror. “We have to wait, we will try to negotiate with them by sending messengers and will try to bring Lilavati and her child back by any means… But you will not go there!”

“Then, what now!”

Both of them drowned in deep tension.

“You know Jashwant Singh, you are one little devil!” Sarifuddin laughed out loud as the drink he was taking had started showing its effects… “And I used to think only I am the mean one!”

“Why don’t you keep your rubbish talks aside so that we can talk about something important?” Jashwant Singh told in the same uninterested voice.

“Oh I am impressed!” Sharifuddin laughed. “Tell, what were you going to tell…”

“Bharmal has agreed to negotiate,but has denied to come to Sonargarh… Both him and the crown-prince will not be able to come.”

“Ok. So?”

“Are you kidding me?” Jashwant’s eyes burned. “I told you… I want them in front of my feet, and now they are not ready to come!”

“Offo! They are already at your feet, my dear friend!” Sharifuddin smiled. “They don’t want to come because they already know that you will not let them come out of this fort in one piece. I mean…” he giggled. “You literally destructed everything only because your ancestors had once taken vow that someone from his clan will bathe in the blood of the king of Amer? What a…”

“Don’t laugh at the only mission of my life, Sharifuddin Sahab!” Jashwant uttered in chilled voice.

“God I am dealing with a crazy man!” Sharifuddin yawned. “Don’t worry my friend… If Bharmal does not come to you Mughal army will enter inside the fort, okay. Write the letter to them with ultimatum. Both of the father-son will rush on your feet! Now chill, and bring me someone.”

“What?” Jashwant frowned.

“I heard the queen and the other widows have committed suicide after learning that I am coming? What a pity!”Sharifuddin tried hard to suppress laughter. “But one of the women is still alive right? The queen of your enemy Sujamal?” His eyes shined in lust and Jashwant roared in rage… “Don’t even dare!!”

“What! This fort belongs to me and so she is mine now… Isn’t it? Or you want a share?” Sharifuddin looked amused.“However… Write to your dear Bharmal as well… If he does not want a royal lady of his family to end up in a bed with Mirza Sharifuddin, he must surrender under Mughal force, and come to Sonargarh… Else first this poor Lilavati… then all the women of Amer palace… one by one…” He winked most devilishly while kissing the goblet of wine. “Oh I so wish he does not obey the order. I like spending time with ladies, but to tame the wild ones in the bed has its own thrill,right…”

“Mind your language!” Jashwant roared.

“Oh! I am so scared!” Sharifuddin mimicked. “Hey, Jashwant Singh… Let me tell you one thing.” He suddenly sounded serious. “Don’t forget who brought me here. You brought me because you needed me. I can crush you under my shoe anytime I want, so don’t try to show me your angry eyes, get it? There is nothing in this world… Not a damn thing, which intimidates this Sharifuddin, understood?”

“Mirza Sahab!” Someone asked from outside.

“What??” Sharifuddin shouted angrily.

“A… a message has come Huzur… A very important one…”

“Who the hell is sending message to me in this damn time?” Sharifuddin asked annoyedly.

“T… the… the emperor, my lord!”

Sarifuddin suddenly chocked on his drinks. “Who? What? Why?”

“Yes, my lord. He was on a sudden surprise visit at Ajmer, and he wants to see you as soon as possible.” The messenger said.

“How the hell did he know where am I… I…” Sarifuddin stammered. “Now why suddenly he is asking for me? What does he want?”