Akdha FF- A tale of ice and fire Chap 10: Part I 03/22/2020 - Page 22

Part III continued....

Jodha had left. The brothers were pushed out by Bashir, Mirza and other Mogul soldiers. Sharp calls of Sujamal and Bhagwant Das could still be heard, who were engaged in scuffle with the Mogul guards and commander to get back to their sister. Raja Bharmal was still standing in the same place, unmoved. His thoughts and emotions both beserk over what just happened. He is a king, a father, but right at this moment no sense of clarity could pierce through the veil of uncertainty that not only hung over the fate of Jodha but the fate of entire Amer as well.

The condition was absolutely impossible and for whatever sacrificial reason his daughter had agreed to this, was even more unbearable. He has a duty towards Amer but the father in him doesn’t have to pay the price at the cost of his daughter. He can not accept this even if she has. But what if, the father acts, will he be losing as a king? The Mogul forces will take down whatever military strength is left of Amer. There is noway that Kacchwahas in the current strength would be able to stand for long in front of this massive armed Mogul fleet. Exasperated Bharmal sighed as if the weight of decision was cutting his breath off. He looked back at the only person who was still standing in the room, watching him intently.

Jalal knew what an awful dilemma was eating the king of Amer. He had pushed Jodha into accepting what he had wanted, but it was impossible for a parent to let go his child unsafe, unguarded in the enemy territory, be it a king or a commoner. Deep down Jalal knew that even Jodha’s forced consent wouldn’t be enough to stop the Rajputs from retaliating. He could see the resolve brimming into Bharmal’s eyes.

Bharmal (snapped) : YOU CAN HAVE AMER, WITHOUT ANY BLOOD-SHED. I AND MY PEOPLE WILL RETREAT AND VACATE,THE FORT IS YOURS TO TAKE. BUT SHE GOES WITH ME.

Jalal (calmly): NO

The last thread of sanity was tugged and Bharmal lost it.

Bharmal (hissed): NO?? SHE IS MY DAUGHTER AND I’LL NOT LET YOUR FILTHY PAWS ANYWHERE NEAR HER. IF IT HAS COME TO THIS. SO BE IT. I REFUSE TO ACCEPT YOUR TERMS, AND I REFUSE TO HONOR ANY WORD THAT MY DAUGHTER HAS GIVEN YOU. LET US FINISH THIS MAN TO MAN. WHOEVER LIVES GETS TO HAVE HIS TERM AND CONDITIONS, FULFILLED.

Jalal (still calm): I have never liked Rajputs. You people are way too arrogant to reason with, but what I always had and will continue to have, is respect for your valor, honor,loyalty and RESILIENCE. But, for the last time, I DO NOT WANT AMER. At least not this strategically. I prefer to invade and annex. You should know this about me, by now. All I want is an allegiance of Amer to the Mogul empire, sealed with a marital alliance. And I personally take you as a wise king, who would want to consider my terms for the mutual benefits, be it political or military.

Bharmal : ALLEGIANCE OF RAJPUTS TOWARDS MOGULS?? MARITAL ALLIANCE?? ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND? WHAT MAKES YOU THINK I WOULD EVER SEE YOU AS AN ALLY? MY DAUGHTER IN MARRIAGE TO YOU? DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT FEELINGS DOES SHE HARBOR FOR MUGHALS?? OR THE PLANS YOU MOGHALS HAVE FOR RAJPUTANA. I NEVER TOOK YOU AS A FOOL TO EXPECT SUCH THINGS EVEN POSSIBLE BETWEEN US.

Jalal (glared back):CAREFUL KING OF AMER. I'M NOT A GREAT SIGHT WHEN OFFENDED. YOU’RE RIGHT, YOU COULD NEVER KNOW WHAT PLANS I HAVE FOR RAJPUTANA. AND JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN NEVER SEE ME AS AN ALLY, I HAVE TO TAKE THIS MEASURE OF BINDING YOUR DAUGHTER'S FATE TO THAT OF MINE TO ENSURE AMER’S LOYALTY. AS FAR THE WILL OF PRINCESS GOES SHE HAS ALREADY ACCEPTED HER FATE. YOU AND THE PEOPLE OF AMER CAN AGREE TO WHAT I HAVE PROPOSED AND THRIVE WITH NO THREAT EVER FROM MOGHALS OR I CAN VANQUISH YOU AND ALL OF AMER AND YET HAVE HER. THE CHOICE IS ALL YOURS TO MAKE.

Jalal left the stern voice and said his last words with all the politeness and honesty, he could.

SHE HAS BEEN YOUR HONOR AND AMER’S PRIDE, I KNOW THAT VERY WELL. AND SHE WILL BE MY HONOR AND AGRA’S PRIDE, ONCE AMER PLEDGES FIDELITY. I, JALAL’UD’DIN, THE MUGHUL EMPEROR GIVE YOU MY WORD ON THIS, AND HEREBY NOT ASK RATHER CLAIM YOUR DAUGHTER’S HAND IN MARRIAGE. YOUR PRINCESS WILL REIGN THE LAND OF MOGHUL DOMINION AS MY QUEEN. THE LION-CUB OF AMER, WILL BE THE LIONESS OF AGRA, THE EMPRESS OF HIND.

His final words left Bharmal speechless, he would have never expected such honorable verses for his daughter from a Mogul. Can he trust the brute?Could there be any truth behind what Mogul king just said or is it just a facade? Could there be ever any possibility of peace with Moguls? Could Jodha be a beacon of hope and secularism, instead of a sacrifice?

Leaving Bharmal to mull upon his thoughts, Jalal rose to leave.

Jalal (calmly): You can leave too. Take back your men, your princes, treat your wounded. I have no need to keep them captive. Once you have made up your mind, send me an official decree of acceptance of my terms, that I shall take upon, as your promise given. I shall then have the princess of Amer return to you for the wedding preparations to be made. On the contrary, if I receive your denial I shall see you in the battlefield, while your daughter stays here at Mogul post, safe and unharmed. Make sure to muster up all the strength you have, because I will see you in the battle with no holds barred.

With these final words, Jalal left.

Waaow waaow... I am speechless... 👏 not happy with the short update though... But something is better than nothing 😆.... Take your time to give us looonnnng updates ... Coming back to the update i loved how jalal handles the hot headed father of jodha... Putting him in dilemma with his stern & calm words ... Ohh this story is getting too interesting... Plz have mercy & bestow updates on us every week (short bhi chalega ab toh😆)

👍🏼👏Amazing chapter...Liked how Jalal is gaining confidence of Raja Bharmal..

Update soon

Originally posted by: PBDcrazy

Waaow waaow... I am speechless... 👏 not happy with the short update though... But something is better than nothing 😆.... Take your time to give us looonnnng updates ... Coming back to the update i loved how jalal handles the hot headed father of jodha... Putting him in dilemma with his stern & calm words ... Ohh this story is getting too interesting... Plz have mercy & bestow updates on us every week (short bhi chalega ab toh😆)

Dearest writer time to update 😎

Originally posted by: mirami

hey..y u have stopped ur story?

The empty room was still reverberating with the words of the emperor, but the proportion of threat, the void of fear in a father’s heart had been patched up by the reassurance of the emperor. The questions for the king of Amer were whether the infamous emperor was at all to be trusted? Was he actually capable of abiding by honor? Should Bharmal take his verses of assurance as his word, a promise he would lay his life for? Why a Mogul emperor be so hell bent on taking his daughter’s hand in marriage, or this alliance as a morsel of peace between two culturally different communities that are no more than sworn enemies? Why he would honor the daughter of his enemy as an empress to rule by his side? He must be wise enough to realize that what a backlash he would be facing as an emperor, marrying a woman of entirely different religion, something that had never happened before? And yet he was ready to risk it all. Could there be more behind what Bharmal’s senses could perceive?

There was no denying that king of Amer was taken aback at the Mogul emperor’s words. Confused and still in dilemma. He left the tent and came out to find his princes stranded and Abdul giving a curious glance as if trying to figure out the state of king of Amer’s mind.

Abdul: I apologize for the scruffle, king of Amer. If you could please take your princes back, I would be saved from using force, while we are negotiating.

Bharmal: I want to see Jodha. Let your emperor know.

Abdul hesitated for a moment but then left nodding to seek Jalal’s consent, if at all he was willing to give one.

It would be an understatement to say that Abdul was infuriated with the way Jalal was handling this situation, he was rather mad at his friend. It made no sense at all, the entire plot had change. He thought there was some sort of change in Jalal’s persona, the way he was talking about Amer, saving that so called girl, all that gibberish about how he wouldn’t let Sharif lay a hand on Amer or Amerians, all that sentimental talk before they had left Malwa. So much for saving Amer, when what Jalal did was exactly what that lecherous Sharif’ud’din would have done. Blackmailed Amer’s royalty that too using a woman like a pawn in an ugly game. This was a low, that Abdul would have never expected Jalal to be capable of reaching to. So, yes he was angry, but even if he doesn’t agree to Jalal’s ways there was noway he would go against him. Loyalty for Abdul had always been beyond reason.

Abdul entered the tent Jalal had moved onto (given Jalal’s tent was still being used as a captive site for Jodha). Jalal was sitting in his casual attire, disarmed, still smeared with dirt and pats of blood that had dried on his palm, looking out of the window. The day had passed and the dusk was spreading.

Abdul (reserved): The king of Amer wants to see his daughter.

Jalal sighed. Looked back at Abdul and nodded an affirmative Yes, without uttering a single syllable and reverted his gaze back out of window.

Seeing his friend that exhausted was acommon sight these days, emotionally drained and lost in thoughts. In any other circumstances he would have offered him some words of peace, warmth of his friendship, but today he was too irritated to give Jalal anything, not even a damn look of concern.

Abdul (with a curtnod): Your highness!

Jalal sensed the sarcasm but didn’t look back at Abdul. He knew Abdul had all the reason to be enraged, but Jalal couldn’t say anything unless his plans have worked. Unless the king of Amer agrees to what he has asked for.

Abdul returned back to where Raja Bharmal was still waiting.

Abdul (softly): This way Raja Bharmal. Let me guide you to where your daughter is.

Bharmal followed Abdul back to Jalal’s tent where Jodha was kept under watch.

Jodha looked at the intrusion with a scorn, but seeing Bharmal, the poor girl rushed and slumped into her father’s arm.

Bharmal (consoling): Its okay my child. Stay strong.

Jodha left her father, gathered her composure.

Jodha: Do not fight it father. Let me go.

Bharmal: Why did you say, that it was your fault, back there? Why do you think, you have anything to do with all this?

Jodha (reluctant): I, I... just know father.

Bharmal (impatient) : How? that's what I'm asking. You know you can tell me anything Jodha. Please be honest, my child.

Jodha (sighed): I..I had met him earlier father, long back. I was out before dawn, patrolling the borders in the forest with brothers. He protected me against a savage herd of Mogul soldiers, Sharif’s men at the border of Amer and Nagaur. (scorned) As if I needed any saving from the brute himself. I didn’t know then father, that he was the devil (whispering inaudibly) in the garb of an angel.

Bharmal (surprised): Saved you against his own men? Did he tell you, who he was?

Jodha: No

Bharmal: So he lied?

Jodha (winced in pain): No, it was the foolish me who stopped him from revealing his true identity.

Bharmal: Do you think if you hadn’t stopped him, he would have told you who he was.

Jodha (recalled): I hate to admit, but I do believe so. So now you see, its all my fault. I wouldn’t lie father, a part of me softened for him that fateful night. Only if I had known better, I would have acted otherwise. Back then I had thought, it was my destiny to have found him, now I see it was my doom.

The mist, the dilemma that had fogged Bharmal’s vision suddenly cleared. He could see the fact, had Jalal wanted to grab hold of his daughter,he could have done it that night itself. There was no one around to stop that from happening, but he didn’t. He went against his own soldiers to safeguard his daughter’s honor, even when he had no reason to. It was not he who attacked Amer, he came and pushed Sharif’s forces back, and that Sharif is nowhere insight now. There is quite a possibility that he could be standing as a line of defence against Amer and Sharif’ud’din’s vicious intent. Can the so called brute emperor have a soft spot for his daughter? Why not, if my ferocious daughter could feel for him..She must have seen something in the man, to have felt that way, if I've raised my child well. Is he trying to ensure her safety against his enemies?

Perhaps the emperor isn’t the devil that the folk lores have painted him to be. Perhaps he could be trusted. Could he be?

Bharmal left Jodha, who tried to stop her father but silenced herself.

Abdul was still waiting outside the tent to escort the king of Amer back to his men.

Bharmal (came out and asked): Where is Sharif’ud’din?

Abdul (surprised, but composed): He fled. But we’ll catch him soon Raja Bharmal. I assure you he’ll be charged with treason and punished under Mogul law for not only the ordeal he made Amer face, but also going against the royal decree issued by the emperor himself that states clearly to not annex any kingdom without his consent. It might seem unbelievable at this moment, but Jalal’s intentions were never to hurt. I do not know, what went wrong but believe me he came to stop..

Before Abdul could finish his sentence, Bharmal put a hand on Abdul’s shoulder in a reassuring way.

Bharmal: I understand. Tell your emperor that I’m taking not only my sons and men, but also my daughter back with me to Amer, and that he has my consent for his terms. Amer’s fidelity to Mogul regime sealed with marital alliance between my daughter and the emperor.My word need no written agreement. What I will send him from Amer is an invitation for the groom and his family to grace us with their presence at the wedding to be held at Sambhar, twenty days from now.

Abdul (gasped): MARITAL ALLIANCE?

Bharmal: Yes. If you could please excuse me now, I would be leaving. You can let him know what I just said. I’m sure, after my consent he wouldn’t have any problems with my daughter leaving with us.

Bharmal went back in to Jodha’s tent leaving a bewildered Abdul.

Bharmal: Jodha! We are leaving, but not without you. You’re coming back to Amer with us child.

Horrified Jodha opened her mouth to differ, but Bharmal stopped her.

Bharmal: No harm will come to Amer, and I’ll honor the word that my daughter gave to the Mogul emperor.

Jodha looked back at Bharmal. Drained out of all the energy to think, she simply nodded. As you say father.

Originally posted by: PBDcrazy

Waaow waaow... I am speechless... 👏 not happy with the short update though... But something is better than nothing 😆.... Take your time to give us looonnnng updates ... Coming back to the update i loved how jalal handles the hot headed father of jodha... Putting him in dilemma with his stern & calm words ... Ohh this story is getting too interesting... Plz have mercy & bestow updates on us every week (short bhi chalega ab toh😆)

Thankyou so much for you liked the last one. here is the fresh one. And yes, I'm taking a lot of time updating, but believe me I'm gonna try to update as soon as I can. We are gearing up towards the wedding , so stay tuned, n do pour down your lovely reviews. The only thing I cherish more than the story is what n how you amazing pals feel about it..

Thanks!

Originally posted by: mirami

👍🏼👏Amazing chapter...Liked how Jalal is gaining confidence of Raja Bharmal..

Update soon

Thankyou so much.

here is the fresh one..

enjoy

Originally posted by: divyaJA

Update soon.

here it is

thanks, n enjoy