Thread 2: Destined Love... (New thread created) - Page 102

Hi everyone...

Sorry for the late as I was occupied with some personal works. Asking for an apology for the short length and bad writing in this chapter.🥱

Thank u everyone... 🤗

Chapter 43

“What the hell are you talking about?” King Bharmal almost shouted. “That spy was the emperor himself? What type of joke is this?”

“Baapusa, Maan…”

“Maan is a child, Ratan! He might imagine things or…”Bharmal tried to be affirmative.

“Maan is not that young, Baapusa. If he says something, he says with full responsibility.” Bhagwant Das told. “And moreover, he has gone to the emperor to talk about this.”

“I don’t understand! Is this a fairy-tell story or what?” Bharmal said agitatedly.

“Baapu-sa, we should think about our next step!” Ratan Singh, Jodha’s step brother said in a tensed voice. “What if after knowing everything he wants to take revenge? I have heard these Mughals are very revengeful!”

“Or worse…” Said another prince. “Maybe the whole thing was a conspiracy. Right from the start the man has manipulated us so that we submit ourselves under his power and give our sister’s hand to him? Maybe Jodha also had a part in…”

“What are telling?” Bhagwant Das looked annoyed. “Jodha was completely under house-arrest. It is not possible for her to do anything about it. And she won’t do anything which affect the dignity of Amer, we all know that!”

“The question is not about Jodha’s hand in all of these!” Bharmal snapped. “And whatever happened in past is no more a concern. Let’s forget everything and start fresh.”

“No Baapusa…”Ratan Singh said in a nervous voice. “If the emperor is revengeful, he will make us dancing like puppets from now. If he has really manipulated us all along, I am sure he has done all these to smash our self-respects. He spared our lives and legacies only to kill our respect every day, Baapusa!”

Bharmal sighed.

“And if the rumour of the affair between him and Jodha is true… then…” The prince continued. “Baapu-sa, unintentionally we all have hurt Jodha’s respect in many ways. If he knows that Jodha was in house-arrest, if he feels her insult was actually his insult, then… What will happen to us, Baapusa?” The prince looked terrified.

Bharmal kept quiet while an uncanny, calm smile reflected in his face.

“You are smiling?” Bhagwant Das was surprised.

“I don’t know, Bhagwant!” The king said. “I was supposed to be worried, I know! But I am feeling relieved!” He smiled. “The fact that I am sending my daughter as a deal to my enemy in order to save the throne was killing me every day! Now maybe the guilt will reduce knowing for sure that she will be alright there! And Ratan…”He looked at Ratan Singh. “If he really feels her insult as his own and wants to take revenge for that; if he really gives such an honour and importance to my daughter, I will be grateful to my son-in-law! what more a father can desire for his daughter than her husband will protect her honour more than her father could ever do!”

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“Greetings, Raja Sahab. How is the princess’s health?”

King Bharmal nodded in courtesy in Adga Sahab’s question. “She is feeling better now, Samsuddin Ji.”

“It’s good to hear.” Adga Sahab said in a detached professional voice. “Raja Sahab, if you don’t mind, we would like to set out for Agra right now. There is a whole desert to go through, and we would like to pass that before the sun goes over the head.”

“Yeah… right…” bharmal uttered confusedly. “I am sending messages to ladies; they will complete the rituals and…”

“Pardon, Majesty…”

Bharmal looked around, clearly annoyed with the distraction. Adga Sahab looked too. A maid has sought the attention of the king.

“I carry a message from the queen.” She announced. “The princess has denied to sit for anymore rituals. She wants to leave right now.”

Adga Sahab frowned at king Bharmal. It is clearly not a normal attitude of a princess. Bharmal tried to dilute the tension by smiling. “Maybe she is too tired for the rituals now… I… I am going to…”

“It’s alright, Raja Sahab.” Adga Sahab said. “Let your daughter get ready, I am going to order the caravan to take off. And by the way,” He smiled. “His Majesty has given me the honour to convey his message to you. Before leaving he wants to address you and your family.”

“Sure, Samsuddin Ji!”

Bharmal quickly moved towards the inner palace to see the queen. Mainabati was sitting in the temple surrounded by the others, her face crooked with helplessness.

“What happened, Mainabati?” Bharmal asked. “What about the…”

“Raja Sa…” Mainabati looked at him. “Is this true? The man with whom Jodha… that…” She choked. “I mean the man who was caught at the border, is he really the…”

“That’s what Maan said.” Bharmal sighed.

“Is this good or bad for us, Raja sa?” Mainabati asked in fear.

“Let’s pretend we know nothing!” Bharmal said in a mild tone. “Get Jodha ready for the rituals…”

Mainabati looked distressed. “Jodha is not getting ready to…”

“Baapusa?”

Both of then turned. Jodha was standing at the door. Alone. Still in the same bridal costume. The kohl under her eyes has scattered; dark circles have left patches in her spotless beauty. She looked worn out, but extremely bright with the touch of that red vermillion in her parting. How a pinch of vermillion changes a life.

“Jodha, I heard you are not ready to perform the rituals…”

“I don’t want to perform any. Rituals of vidaai are time-consuming, and Mughal caravan has a long way to go. The deserts are not a very comfortable place to pass through at the middle of the day; so it’s better to leave right now.” Jodha said in a blunt voice. “Please send a message to the emperor with an apology from me for creating an embarrassing situation there by fainting all of a sudden. I am feeling better now, I am ready to leave.”

“But at least the ritual of paying debt to father and motherland is needed to take place…” One of the queens argued. “And the daughter has to leave her mark before leaving as well…”

“Baapu sa!”Jodha looked straight at Bharmal’s face. “Tell everyone that no ritual is needed. I have got too much from this house to pay the debts.” Her lips bent sarcastically. “And I don’t feel it necessary to leave my handprints as a mark in this house; the stigma of your family will leave to trail behind her before leaving forever, Baapusa!”

“No dear… Don’t you say these!” Bharmal readily touched Jodha’s cheeks. He could feel the rock of tears breaking in his heart. He let two drops fell. “Jodha, I know I am worthless as a father. Someone who is not able to protect his daughter’s respect is not called a man! I was supposed to protect you, and instead of that you had to come forward in order to save my honour! I understand all your reasons of fury, all your anger on me! But for God’s sake believe me once, my dear…” His voice broke completely. “No matter what I did, I have never stopped loving you! No matter whatever this world say, Jodha… You are my greatest child and I am proud of you!”

“There is no meaning of these words now, Baapu sa!” Jodha exclaimed in the same firm voice though her eyes had clouded.

“Maybe… maybe not…” Bharmal kept her shaking hands on Jodha’s head. “I don’t have the right to bless you maybe, after what I have done! Still, as a father this is the only thing I can give you. If I was ever honest with my intensions, if I have ever done any good act in my whole life, then my blessing will come true in your life… You will live as the empress of the heart of the man who will reign not only on the land, but will remain the emperor of the thousands of heart for every soul of this whole country. I don’t know if the History will remember you or not, but your past will bless you with all the happiness and satisfaction that you deserve in your whole life, your present will be proud of you to accept you as the empress, and the future will be grateful to your sacrifice.

A drop of tear shed from Jodha’ eyes as she touched his father’s hand.

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It was the time of vidaai, but not a single ritual was getting done. The princess came in the same bridal attire surrounded by her maids; the other ladies of the royal families with her, the eyes filled with tears, the air heavy with melancholy. Along with the agony of cutting the bond the fear of uncertainty was making the air more suffocating. Amer’s future was safe now, but what is written in the princess’s future, only time will tell. But no one will be there in Agra to see the play of destiny. All the faces in the palace were curved with absolute worry and distress; the ladies mostly thinking about the future of the princess in the hell of the Harem, the royal males were worried mostly after knowing the secret of the emperor that Maan Singh revealed; only there was no sign of worry in the face of the princess. Her face was blank, her eyes vacant of any expression; only the sharp jaw was clenched with firmness. She took a last look of the palace and the people, then pulled the veil on her face before bending to touch the elders feet and embracing the youngers. Her mother pulled her into a fierce embracement, mourning and cursing her own luck, but not a single tear dropped from her eyes. “Don’t shed tears in this holy moment, Maa-Sa, just bless me.” She said in a mechanical tone.

The Mughal caravan was all set to depart, the royal palanquin curved with gorgeous gems had already came to the gate. Jodha slowly walked towards the palanquin escorted by her brothers. Taking the warmth of her oldest brother’s embrace for the last time, she stepped inside the Mughal palanquin; her first step in the Mughal dynasty.

“Heil to The Majesty! Heil to the emperor!”

Everyone automatically became concerned when the emperor walked towards the gate surrounded by his group of followers chanting his name like a storm in a peaceful ocean. King Bharmal greeted warmly. The emperor returned a warm smile.

“I apologize sincerely to make such a hurry in starting the journey, Raja Sahab; You might have expected a little more time to spend with your daughter before leaving, but the weather in desert is unpredictable, so we decided it is better to set out earliest possible.”

“His Majesty has taken the right decision.” King Bharmal smiled. “It’s better to leave the earliest. However, I have a little regret that I could not get your Majesty as a guest in Amer, in our ancestors’ fort and our family residence. I sincerely wish that I will be granted with that fortune the next time and His Majesty will be my guest in the capital in Amer.”

“Of course, Raja Sahab…” The emperor smiled. For a while, his unmindful eyes wandered though the royal palanquin where Jodha was sitting, then he chuckled unmindfully. “By the way, Raja-Sahab… I must tell you now, that I had already been in Amer before. Though I did not have the fortune of visiting the royal palace, but I have felt the purity of the soil of Amer in my heart already.”

“Ahh…” King Bharmal tried to smile nervously while the other princes got stunned; even Jodha peeped out a little from the curtain of palanquin.

“I know confessing this might catch me with the accusation of breaking the royal norms which is a lethal crime for an emperor; but since we are allies now, I must tell this.” Jalal continued. “Months ago, I had come to Amer in disguise. I had no bad intension, I just wanted to see the real beauty of Amer with my own eyes… Which I did…” His voice touched a strange emotional cord. “The beauty of your Amer lies in her heart, Raja-Sahab; I felt that with all my core. When in a life-threating situation, the ray of hope came from a complete unexpected side, making me believe once again that humanity still exists; exists right in the heart of Amer.” He sighed. “I am grateful, Raja-Sahab, that I am able to take the treasure of your Amer with me in my Agra, with the hope that she will fill the core of Agra with the same love and humanity of Amer, and make my Agra as beautiful as her Amer with all her grace…”

His eyes suddenly met with a pair of eyes from behind the curtain of the palanquin. The distance was too far to see anything in those eyes, but he could felt the moist of those beautiful orbs in his own eyes.

“Shahenshah…” After a moment of pin-drop silence the king cleared his throat and proceeded. “I might have guessed about what incident you are talking and…” He looked nervous. “Believe me, Shahenshah, whatever we did, the soldiers of Amer did to you, was not intentional… we did not know that… we actually thought that may be a spy or…”

“I know, Raja Sahab…” Jalal laughed. “You did exactly what a king, a functional monarchy is expected to do. A spy must be killed, that’s the rule; and even if you found my actual identity, I won’t expect a real respectable greeting from an enemy land; we were enemy lands back then. That’s the real beauty…” His voice was husky and lower. “She saved me despite knowing I might be from enemy land; she saved me because she respected humanity before the endless dispute between humans for the lands. Raja Sahab…” He raised his voice a bit, like making an announcement. “When I had been here, in a small hut just outside the fort, injured, ailing; the respectable princess made sure that I was treated, healed and fed; made sure that I don’t die alone in a stranger land; she used her resources to save me, she gave me a new life! And while doing this she did not think a bit of herself. I don’t know how her benevolent act would be categorized in law; maybe it would accuse her for helping out an enemy. But in the broader law of the universe, which is written by HIM, she saved a life of a human!” He sighed for a moment, and looked at the eyes of king Bharmal. “Raja-Sahab, I don’t know what punishment exactly she had to face for saving a human’s life; and what worse disgrace she had to carry afterwards… But as the emperor of the Mughal Empire, I request you to free her from any charges she has been accused with.” His tone was low but rigid; so rigid that her humble request sounded like an order.

“Your Majesty…” King Bharmal said in a tearful voice. “Whatever charges she had been accused with is already cleared the moment you took her hands. You are the emperor, I have accepted your supremacy. You are the one who protect Amer; when you are there as the protector of her honour, nothing in this world can harm her.”

“No Raja-Sahab… You are wrong.” Jalal smiled. “We are often wrong when we decide to keep the women at the receiving side always; we are wrong to picture them as vulnerable one, who needs safety, needs protection. But the reality is, behind a success of a man there are the sacrifice of thousands of women unseen. They are the giver always, Rajasahab. They save the humanity at the cost of their safety; they save the honour of the lord at the cost of own freedom. It is so easy to blame a woman for anything; it is so easy to put the burden on a woman for anything; because at the end she saves the day by sacrificing her own entity. No matter what happens to herself, she does not refuse. Is not it, Raja Sahab?”

King Bharmal stood in silence; the other princes lowered their head in embarrassment.

“Just like what the princess did;” Jalal continued. “She saved me. She saved the honour of her motherland. She saved the integrity of her family, her clan by losing her own… Raja-Sahab, if your daughter deserves anything, that is a heartfelt gratitude from her land; that gratitude should be her gift when she leaves her motherland forever- not the memories of the disgrace she had to receive because of situation. Can you give her that?”

There was a dead silence in the air while everyone was looking at the ground. After a moment, Jalal again spoke up.

“I understand that everything cannot be expressed in words. It takes time. Take that time Raja-Sahab. Maybe your silence also speak for you! You all are heartfully welcome to my place in Agra. After you sort out everything in Amer and take a grip on your new reign under Mughal territory, I will look forward to your visit in your daughter’s new house. Now allow us, we have to start the journey.” He signed Adga Sahab to announce the departure and rode on his own elephant after taking a last adieu.

The caravan sat out hoisting the proud flag of Mughal dynasty with sign of fierce and boldness. For the last time Jodha stared to the yellow dust of the sandy roads, asking for the blessing of the motherland… Then slowly she closed her eyes, leaned her head against the comfortable cushion of the palanquin…

“Raj-Kunwari Sa?” Moti Bai was beside her, who asked a question after a long time. “May I ask something?”

Jodha nodded.

“Is it true, Raj-Kunwari Sa?” Moti’s voice was still in shock. “Is he really the man whom you had saved in the temple, the man whom you loved… Kunwari Sa, is he really Chandrajeet Rathore?”

“No Moti…”Jodha uttered in a stoned voice. “He is Jalaluddin Mohammad. The Emperor of Mughals!”

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The nights in deserts are usually colder than normal. Jalal unmindfully pulled the velvet robe which he was carrying over the shoulders while sipping the goblet of wine. It was night time, the journey towards Agra is paused for a while. The camps have been settled. Jalal has amusedly watched how the colours and grace of the camps have been emphasised this time. Everyone is strictly aware that the new queen of the emperor, the prestigiously wedded queen of the emperor is travelling with them. There should not be any slightest hole in any of the arrangements. The queen’s tent had been set at the most guarded portion of the camp, that is the nearest of the emperor’s tent. Jalal could see the flag of the queen’s tent right from where he was standing. Among all the colour and gay, the queen’s portion was dim. The place where all the darkness has gathered together.

A sudden thunder bolt slashed the chest of the night sky unexpectedly. Jalal looked at the sky. A bunch of black cloud has enveloped the twinkling stars at a corner of the sky out of no-where. The rains of a deserts are unforeseen, devastating. Comes all of a sudden and goes suddenly after flooding everything. Maybe this night is going to be a calamitous stormy one. Jalal smiled in his own mind thinking about the storm. It seems the nature is deliberately acting as the metaphor of his life nowadays!

“Heil to the emperor.” Adga Sahab sought his attention from behind. “All the arrangements have been done, My Lord. Though it seems a storm is going to strike, we have enough arrangements to face it. We will have rest for the night here, tomorrow we can set out early unless the rain damages the place badly.”

“Thanks, Adga Sahab…” Jalal smiled as he approached to the jug of wine standing next to him. “I was wondering if you can join me…” He asked while pouring another glass.

Adga Sahab laughed. “It would be an honour, Majesty. But don’t you think this is not the right time to sit and drink? My Lord, the Princess of Amer might be waiting for you in her restroom.”

“Huh!” Jalal chuckled awkwardly while passing him the goblet. “I am not quite sure about it.”

“Pardon me for my big mouth Majesty, but why do I feel you are actually afraid of facing her?” Adga Sahab smiled while scrutinizing his face.

“It’s not about fear, Adga Sahab…” Jalal laughed. “Ever wonder how it feels when the known face becomes unknown in a single moment?”

“I am sure My Lord has faced worse difficult situations than this.” Adga Sahab smiled. “This is life, Your Majesty… And I have experienced it three decade more than yours. Believe me, after a decade, when you will sit together with the same face for having a light chat after a busy day, this moment will become a memorable topic of smiling over it.” He came a bit closer. “My Lord, I don’t know what happened before with you in Amer; I don’t know how much you knew the princess before this. What I know is, you are now with a new life with her, so forget every hesitation and begin fresh.”

Jalal looked fondly at him. “Adga Sahab, you are a treasure in my life! I always consider myself unfortunate to not having my father in the crucial moments in my life; but I am so lucky that I have people like you around me… to fill that gap!”

Adga Sahab looked at his eyes gratefully, then chuckled. “I can never explain how much your words mean to me, Majesty… However, really appreciate your emotional moments, My Lord… but this is the moment you should try to fetch the most precious treasure of your life.”

“Yeah…” Jalal took a deep breath. “Allow me, Adga Sahab…” He clapped on his shoulder and moved out.

“May God bless you, My son!” Adga Sahab murmured while his eyes shined in emotion.

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The ambience of Mughal camp is different. Too much organised, too much disciplined, way too articulated than it used to be for the small state in Amer. Even the birds do not chipper here without order, the greeneries around grows in an organised way, every stone, every pebble on the path follow the sequence. Air is stuck here under the strict security vigilance, so are the people of the camp. Jodha’s tent was stirring in silence at the night. Moti Bai and Leela Bai both were there, stuck by the silence, barely uttering any words. Jodha sat in front of the mirror, gazing at the pinch of vermillion on her parting. A beautiful, organized tune of sarod was floating in the air, melting in the silence with all its melody.

‘Suna hai manzil milte hi, uski chahat mar jaati hai

Gar ye sach hai to phir hum, nakaam rahein to accha hai

Kucch rishtey taa-umra agar benaam rahe to accha hai’

Moti Bai silently stood by Jodha and placed a hand on her shoulder. Jodha did not stir, only smiled.

“Is it time, Moti?”

Moti flinched and closed her eyes. “Rajkunwari Sa!”

Jodha smiled looking at her. “This is my first night with my husband after marriage. I am supposed to wait in anticipation. If the husband does not meet his wife at the first night, it means he is deliberately ignoring her. There is nothing more insulting, more cursing to a married woman than this… I am sure, whatever happens, the emperor will not do that to me!”

Moti sighed deeply. “A messenger has come with a news. The emperor wishes to spend his night in this tent.”

“Tell him that the Princess is honoured and she is waiting for her arrival.” Jodha said in an authoritative tone. “Make my hair, Moti. Leela, arrange the bed, take care of the lamp and the fragrance.” She ordered in a mechanical voice. “The emperor of Mughals might be coming soon.”

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A sweet fragrance of flower and perfumed joss-sticks had covered the dark tent in an enchanting spell. The tent was comparatively dark; the dim lamps near the bed that were brightening up the place with their delightful, soothing light are now trembling because of the rattling wind outside. Jalal slowly moved forward, near the bed… nearer to her…

She was sitting on the bed, mingled in the dark, unmoving. The dim light of the lamp was falling on the golden veil on her head, she was shining like a precious gem even in this dark. Like an isolated source of lustre, like a soft gleam of loneliness… He slowly sat at the side of the bed; igniting the lamp with quivering hands, he slowly touched her hand at her side. The light was brighter in the room now, and in that gleam she slowly picked up her face, and looked at his eyes…

If there had been any magic of stopping the flow of time anyways, it is written in the eyes of the beloved. After months of separation, after months of longing, every moment of agony and tear, when the eyes at last meets, even the destiny smiles, hides her eyes for a moment blushing… He gazed and gazed; drowned in the melody of her beautiful orbs, floated in the ocean of her eyes, and lost in the deep of it… so much of tears, so much of eagerness, so much of love is stores in the deep of those eyes, perhaps even she does not know!

But time does flow; despite of all urges of a lover’s heart, time flows… and the reality strikes back hard… She looked at his eyes, her eyes spoke a thousand words of love, pain, tears and resentment… then in a moment she again lowered her eyes, and she took back her hand from her touch, joined them together near her knees.

Jalal took a long breath, gathered his emotions together… When the moment of dream strikes with reality, maybe this is how every thought gets disoriented. Just like now, when he forgot his identity as the emperor; when he forgot about how their relationship is tangled strangely; when he forgot about the months of longing… He only saw that night in front of his eyes… that was also a stormy night, just like today… he was sitting lonely in that broken hut, drenched in rain, and she had come… She had held his hands, her lips almost touching his and the warmth radiating from her body… she had uttered only a simple word… “Take me along with you…”

He could not take her along with him. But today she is here, for him… He stared at the golden bangles in her wrists for a moment, he stared at the beautiful toe-rings for a while… Then he slowly touched her hands again. He came closer to her as his hands raised to her arms, his eyes seeking shelter in her lowered gaze… In an almost muted voice, mingled in agony and happiness, he uttered in a whisper…

“Purnima!”

A whirl of wind swept the room through the curtain, the lamp beside the curtain extinguished as the darkness prevailed the room. In an instant, she raised her eyes, her eyes met his eyes… Her eyes were not telling the story of tears and longing anymore. Those are the eyes of a tigress… There was fire in those eyes… There was thunder in those eyes… The same eyes he had witnessed long back, when he had been indulged with the stranger fighter at the riverbank in Amer, when he had uncovered her identity, when he got surprised by the warrior instinct in a woman, and when he ignited the passion of fire in the heart of that warrior…

She picked up her face, her jawlines firm, her eyes radiating fire… but there was no extra excitement in her voice. In a calm voice worth of a princess, in a melodious yet authoritative voice, she spoke to the love of her life for the first time…

“Not Purnima, Your Majesty, I am Princess Jodha Bai. Princess of Amer.”

A lightening bolt again struck outside, and Jalal’s hold on her arms automatically got loose. He gazed at the fire in her eyes for a while, too stuck to utter anything.

The princess took a breath. Then she continued, in a more mild, calmer tone… “There is no Purnima, Your Majesty… Purnima is lost the moment ‘Chandrajeet Rathore’ stopped existing. Purnima Bai does not exist anymore. Princess Jodha does.”

The words hurt like an arrow in the heart. He sat straight, gripped his emotions like an emperor should, and took a breath.

“There might be a lot of explanation about…” He tried.

“Perhaps there is no need of explaining anything, Your Majesty.” She hit again. “There has been a political negotiation between Amer and the Mughals. The princess of Amer has been married to the emperor as a sign of political bonding between both forces. There is no explanation between this.”

“Yes. The whole treaty is as clear as a day. I wished everything were as clear as this. But it is not.” Jalal said in a pace. “I regret that our meeting had to have in this way, but perhaps this is the play of the destiny.”

“I am tired of being a pawn of play, Your Majesty…” The princess smiled forcefully. “Play of love, play of politics and play of destiny! I am the princess of Amer, and now I am your wedded wife. Let me live with this truth now! There was no Purnima, no Chandrajeet ever! Purnima has died the moment she has understood Chandrajeet was a lie!”

Something suddenly broke into Jalal. He realised the calm composure he has gripped so tactfully for so long, is falling apart… Each of the moment of these months, the unimaginable agony of losing Purnima pushed him inside the heart, and he felt a fire of rage is erupting inside his head.

“I am sorry, My queen!” He stood up, commenting in a bitter tone. “You are completely responsible about what you comment of Purnima Bai’s existence. But how can you imply the fact on my face that Chandrajeet was a lie all along?”

“Because Purnima Bai had loved Chandrajeet!” Jodha’s voice broke the dignity of the princess, tears started streaming from eyes… “Purnima had loved Chandrajeet so much that Purnima could spend the rest of her life in isolation just with his thoughts! Purnima has loved Chandrajeet so much that she would wait for him even after her death despite knowing the union is impossible! Because Purnima had given her everything to Chandrajeet! She wanted to become his, forever… she had dreamed that he will come as a valiant warrior, will take her along with him in the land of love, rescuing her from the hell of humiliation and agony! She never ever had dreamt instead; she never ever had thought that she has to become a token of a political ploy, that she has to sacrifice her entity, her freedom, her wishes, her respect, her honour… everything to support her land’s integrity in a cowardly political game played by her father and her love!! She had never ever thought that she will be deceived by her own Chandrajeet; that the man who has initiated the political game in which she has become a mere pawn, will come with the same face of the man she has desired all along! Chandrajeet knew his Purnima is afraid of betrayal… And yet she got the biggest betrayal from him!” She covered her face with her hands as she wept profusely. “Purnima is dead! Purnima is dead forever!”

“Excellent my queen!” Jalal spoke; his voice had broken in urge of suppressed emotion but it did not lose the dignity of an emperor. “If Purnima had loved Chandrajeet so much then how a thrush of truth could break the base of love and trust so easily? If her love is so strong, Princess, then how could she decided his existence as a lie, how could she deny the existence of Chandrajeet at the blink of an eye? She has lived all those months of longing in isolation with the thoughts of her love, she waited for him every moment even when she knew the union is impossible; but why she could not see the heart of Chandrajeet then? How can she cruelly decide that Chandrajeet is a lie, all these months of his profound pain is a lie; all of his lonely days, his lonelier nights; his dried tears, his suppressed screams, his desperate searches, his slow immersing in the dark of depression only with Purnima’s thoughts, everything was lie? Where is the truth in your love, Purnima Bai, when you are too blind to see the same pain that you have gone through is curved in the face of your lover?”

Jodha looked at him in the eyes. In the dim light of the lamp, she could see the flaming eyes burning like forest-fire… Her lips trembled in desperation, in despair… but she could utter nothing!

“Let me tell you something, Princess!” Jalal said in a commanding tone now. “I do not like the circumstances in which we had to marry. I can understand your reservations on this political marriage, and I respect that. I really had wished our meeting to take place differently. But…” His voice became huskier. “If your Chandrajeet could know the real name behind Purnima even a week before, then he would go to her father’s on his own, would kneel down before him and ask her hand… there would be no need of any political negotiation, any bond-document, any political strategy! But maybe it is my misfortune; the emperor of Hindustan could not find Purnima Bai among the crowd of Amer! I had only a name with me, that too a fake one.” He smiled sarcastically. “Princess Jodha Bai can hide her identity under the name of Purnima for her royal honour, but Jalaluddin Muhammad cannot do the same for own safety, he is a betrayer for the same reason? Because he is the Mughal emperor, he cannot love someone! His love will be tainted as a strategy, he will be tainted as a deceiver. Why? Just because he is Mughal? Just because he is not from your race, his ancestors lived in a different land, because he is an outsider? No matter what he does, how much he loves, how much does he accept this land as his motherland, everyone just happen to believe that he is a betrayer? Everyone including the woman whom he has loved with everything he has, who was supposed know him better than anyone else? Why I…” His voice had raised, which suddenly broke after a point as he stopped abruptly, pinching his closed eyes.

“I…” Jodha stood up while wiping her tears… “I did not mean…”

She had to stop as he had already raised a hand to stop her. His eyes were shining in a unseen firmness.

“I have promised you to protect you and the freedom of your beliefs. I have vowed to treat you with all respect and honour that you deserve as an empress. I never break my vows. You won’t have to sacrifice your integrity, honour and wishes for being my wife! You will live in my Harem with way more respect than what you got in your father’s house last months, I assure you that.” He uttered in an excessively calm voice. “And you need not be embarrassed for tonight as well. I had once vowed not to let a drop of tear shed from your eyes, and I will keep my promise. Have a nice sleep, Begam Sahiba!” And he was about to leave the tent.

“Whe…where are you going!” An overwhelmed Jodha asked.

Jalal smiled the saddest smile. “I think we both need a space between us, Begam Sahiba. I am going to give us that space…”

Another lightening struct the earth. The emperor got out of the tent without wasting a moment.

Jodha sat on the floor, completely worn out. She could not stop herself anymore, the rock of tears that have been solidified in her heart from such a long time, burst out like a volcano as she started sobbing violently. She had no sense until another lightening stuck. She jumped up suddenly. He was outside, alone… in this destructing weather!

She could not hold herself anymore. Forgetting all her egos, all her guilts, even forgetting that she is the newly wedded wife of an emperor, she ran out of the tent. There was no one outside the tent, probably to give solace to the emperor and the empress. Only The emperor was standing outside, facing at the showering sky, his eyes closed. He was completely drenched, but he had no clue of it. He looked so little in the rain, so helpless, so despaired. Jodha’s heart suddenly burned with extreme guilt.

Jodha moved towards him. After a moment of hesitation, she placed her hand lightly on his shoulder. She had a confusion in mind about what she should address him; but when she talked, it came to her automatically out of habit… She swallowed once before she uttered… “Ch..Chandra…”

“Not Chandrajeet, Begam Sahiba!” The reply came in an extremely cold and raging voice. “I am Abu'l-Fath Jalal-ud-din Muhammad, your emperor. Address me as Shahenshah from now on…”

Jodha stared speechless. She did not know what to say anymore…

“Get inside, Begam Sahiba. I gave you your space, I would expect a little privacy from you now!” Came an extremely strong order.

Jodha got into the tent like a mechanical doll, clasped a pillow on the bed and suddenly burst into tears.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Rajkunwari Sa! Rajkunwari Sa!”

Jodha jumped up. Moti bai was stirring her. It was already day. The desert sun was shinning brightly over the head.

“Moti!” She gasped. “What happened?”

“You are asking me that?” Moti smiled dryly. “You were sleeping like unconscious so I did not wake you up. It is already late. The journey is about to start. I have got your breakfast, get prepared.”

“Hmm!” Jodha clutched her head and sighed.

“What happened last night, Rajkunwari Sa?” Moti sat beside her and asked. “It looks like you cried yourself to sleep?”

Jodha nodded. She herself did not know when she fell asleep while crying her emotions out. Now she feels free, her heart not aching anymore, but a harder pang of guilt was chocking her constantly.

Moti came closer and touched her hand. “Did he tell you something?”

“Moti…”Jodha looked at her. “I want to meet the emperor. Right now.”

“But Rajkunwari Sa…”

“I know Moti this is not the time. We are going to set out in minutes… But Moti, you have to arrange something. Please go to him with my message, he will understand!” Jodha pleaded in a desperate voice. “I don’t know what is there in my fate. But I have to fix as much as I can! Please listen to me Moti…”

“I wished I could carry out your order, but Rajkunwari Sa…” Moti hesitated.

“What, Moti?”

Moti paused for a moment before breaking the silence. “The emperor is no more here, Rajkunwari Sa. He has gone.”

“What do you mean?” Jodha stood up.

“Yes, Rajkunwari Sa. He has set out in early morning, even before the sunrise. There were Adga Sahab, couple of generals and a small troop of soldiers with him.” Moti informed. “He has sought apology from you for not joining you in the rest of the journey and ordered the caravan to reach you Agra safely. Maybe there is some gravely important work…”

A deep sigh released from the deep of Jodha’s heart.

“Won’t you tell me what happened last night, Rajkunwari Sa?” Moti said in a hearty voice.

Jodha smiled sadly. “The last piece of my dream scattered last night Moti.”

Originally posted by: Jjlove

U r an amazing writter but as for the ideas i think u should not end the story as the characters of the stories like Jodha r strong and i think if she simply take in whole the truth then it will not do justice to the story

Like Jalal have mixed emotions but i think instead of sadness he should have more positive emotions aftey talking to man singh he should think that now he can keep Jodha happy and he can be with love of his life

As for Jodha she should be angry with him and she should show him by reminding him that he is the mighty king but at the same time should have a soft corner for Jalal

the story should take a happy yet dramatic turn rest u know better what u planned beforehand

Thank you dear... I too think the same as you. Now see if you like the way I played the incident.

Originally posted by: PBDcrazy

Hi... Koi nahi... Dono ko milake story khatam kardo yaar... It's high time they get a happy ending... Bechare bahaut ladayi lade akele... I think jodha should accept n anyways she has fallen in love with jalal... Do I think they both deserve a happy ending after a long separation... Just my suggestion.... Good luck though 👍🏼

Yes they would get a happy ending, but should I end the story so quickly? 😛

Awesome chappy Di

What the hell

Thought they will sort out

But this is 😡

Update soon Di

Thanks for Pm Di

Originally posted by: Shinning_Stuti

Thank you dear... I too think the same as you. Now see if you like the way I played the incident.

I LOVED the way u Played the situation..the update was amazing..i liked how Jalal handled the situation in amer..and also their first night Jodha said what she wanted and Jalal confessed his love...lets see what r the situations in Agra.. exicted to know whether the people of Agra will know joja love story before marriage or not...but i hope they come to know..also i want mischievous Jalal who will tease Jodha

Originally posted by: Shinning_Stuti

Hi everyone...

Sorry for the late as I was occupied with some personal works. Asking for an apology for the short length and bad writing in this chapter.🥱

Thank u everyone... 🤗

Believe me the writing is not bad anywhere.. don't ask for apology give long update next time..u know we r very greedy😉

Wow! Wow! Wow! , simply wow!. What an amazing chapter. The whole time my heart was beating fast while reading the chapter. Poor jo ja, both have suffered enough. Hope they end their misunderstanding soon. Hope this momentary seperation makes their heart more fond for each others company. Hope both accept thier destiny and not let ego or anger takeover their love for each other and dont waste any more of the precious time of their togetherness. Hope jalal understands jodhas mental state. She has already gone through a lot in amer. And there is nothing wrong in her getting angry as she has been used as a pawn in a political game. Hope no one even dares (especially hukka begum) to put down dear jo in Agra.

Last and foremost, hope hukka begum dosent take over much of your next chapter😆😆. We have already had enough of her in the show😆. I would really love to read ja jo craving for each others company in agra.😳

Amazing chapter.....Wonderfully written.....

The way you wrote their inner turmoil is excellent....

Your are a brilliant writer......

Please don't end the story.....story is very interesting.....want to read how they clear the differences, Jodha's interaction with people of Agra and her steps towards becoming Malika-e-hind....

Eager to read next chapter....

Please update soon......

Originally posted by: Shinning_Stuti

Yes they would get a happy ending, but should I end the story so quickly? 😛

nahiiiiii...........😭