Chapter 10 (Part I: Wedding bells)
It had been a month since the royal flock of ladies had settled in Agra. Maham Angaa was too low in her spirits given the arrest of her son, but the daily chores of managing the political front of Agra, in Jalal’s absence had been keeping her too busy to ponder over any possible idea to figure a way out for Adham Khan’s release. He was still held captive in Malwa. Jalal wouldn't kill him, that much Maham was pretty sure of. The motherly affections Jalal had received from Maham, in place of his own mother, was like a debt to him that he would owe all his life. The hatred that Maham had instilled in his heart for his absentee birth mother, since he was just a toddler, was like an assurance for Maham, that she would always have a say in Jalal’s decisions, be it personal or political, as an elderly guardian. But who knew she was about to be proven wrong.
Guard: Letter from the king, huzoor.
Maham took the letter from the guard’s hand and waved him off. It was Jalal’s letter. A reassuring smirk tugged at her lips. Perhaps another issue he needs her say in. Maham opened the letter:
Dear Badi Ammi,
Jalal here. Hope you, Ruqaiyaa and everyone in the harem has settled in at the Agra fort. I thank you for all the efforts you’re putting in to convey me the important matters of the court. Not to mention, I deeply appreciate the counsel you offer, every time I’ve to make a decision afar from the actual proceedings of the court. However, I wrote this letter to let you know, that I’ve accepted a mutual treaty with Amer. In our efforts to deal with Rajputana, this alliance is no less than a stepping stone to curb the animosity between us, the Moghuls and Rajputs.
As our commitment towards establishment of this new peace pact, I’ve asked for their daughter’s, the crown princess of Amer- Harka Bai’s hand in marriage, to which they have agreed. . I’ll leave for Ajmer, to offer my prayers to Ajmer Sharif . The wedding is to be held at Sambhar while we’ll be on our route back to Agra. Given the state of Bakshi, Mariam Makani wouldn’t be able to attend the wedding. I can not entrust anyone but you to prepare the Agra fort for Mariam Makani and Bakshi’s arrival. Make sure the arrangement to look after Bakshi’s and child’s health are taken care of in the bestest way possible. Also, let Ruqaiyaa know that I’ve sent for some architects to reconstruct a portion of harem as to accommodate a hindu princess. Ruqaiyaa can have the assistance of Hidayat Bashir whom I’m sending along with this letter to take care of these matters and make sure everything is well dealt.
Untill I see you again.
Jalal….
For the first time, in so long, Maham felt the land underneath has slipped off her feet. The letter felt more like an verdict, than a request for counsel. He made such a huge political decision, or should she call a so very personal instead, without even asking her for once. A legal wedding that too with a hindu princess under the veil of a peace treaty, that too with the sworn enemies of Moghuls. What in God’s name all this means? And above all he has asked her to prepare for Mariam Makani’s arrival..When has he ever cared about Hamida Banoo’s arrival or departure. Probably he is just worried about bakshi and her child, but he has never been the one to show his concern so openly, so why now? What the hell is happening? He doesn’t even want her to come to the wedding, and what is with these changes in harem as to accommodate a hindu princess? Firstly this blasphemous preposterous wedding, and then an attempt to accommodate a hindu into a Moghul harem?
Nauseous Maham couldn’t stand any longer, and sat back to avoid a fall. It was like the wind of doom was wrecking her palace of aspirations. She will have to do something. This wedding can not happen. The king seemed just fine in his cold-brute self, the last time she saw him, so what happened in such a short time, as to bring about such a liberal change in his stringent ways of dealing. He didn’t even bother to ask her for once. THIS has NEVER happened before. With Bairam Khan gone, Jalal should be more in need of her as far the advisory in terms of political matters go, instead it appears that he has taken upon himself, solely, to make all the calls. This is not a good sign. Who the hell this witch princess is? Does she have anything to do with this change in Jalal’s demeanor?
Maham rose up, Ruqaiyaa had to be informed. How so much she hated the obnoxious chief queen of Jalal didn’t matter anymore. What Maham needed now were allies, and Ruqaiyaa was the only one who would understand this upcoming threat in the name of this Rajputani. The cogs in Maham’s mind twirked, Ruqaiyaa had to informed, perhaps way too thoroughly informed about this new bride, who would be next in line to be the crown empress…may be an “alarmed” Ruqaiyaa would be an asset than this “repugnant” one, who is nothing but a pain in Maham’s spine..
Maham paced up towards Ruqaiyaa’s room, and entered in a haste. Ruqaiyaa was getting ready for the day.
Ruqaiyaa: Haven’t I told you before to knock before you ever enter? Not that I should expect such mannerisms from a maid, but afterall the political advisor to a king should exhibit some common sense..Don’t you think..?
Maham fumed at the audacity of this young lass, but maintained her composure.
Maham: Forgive me my queen! The matter was of such ardent importance that I couldn’t hold back the urgency.
Ruqaiyaa: What matter?
Maham: Seems the king has found you a sister, who would share your burden of responsibilities, or who knows might free you off them, once and for all.
Ruqaiyaa (smirked): The old age is taking a toll on your guile wit woman. Do you really think that any new concubine can threaten me or my position? The harem is filled with thousands, they symbolize nothing more than Jalal’s conquest. And if you’ve nothing more important to say, better leave..
Maham (couldn’t contain the sly smile): A concubine? Ofcourse not my queen. But a second legally wedded wife, I think should wake you up from this daydream.
Ruqaiyaa sqinted her brows, trying to resolve in what Maham just said.
Maham: Let me help you out on this. Jalal is marrying, the one and only, Harka Bai of Amer. You must have heard some of the ballads, that the nomads of western deserts of Rajputana sing in her praise.
If at all Ruqaiyaa was shocked, she did a great job in concealing the same.
Ruqaiyaa: Really? That’s all, you call a threat to me. I thought you knew Jalal better than this..Its nothing new, he can go to any length to meet his political aspirations. But I’m impressed, swindling a princess from Rajputana, must be a hard blow to their pride. Might loses the impact once the pride is gone. Such an evil concoction of mind, so very like Jalal.
Maham: Are you really this naive, or just a blatant fool?
Ruqaiyaa fumed in anger, Watch your tongue woman, just because Jalal favours you doesn’t mean that I can’t wring that filthy throat of yours out.
Maham: Slicing my tongue won’t stop the impending doom, that is just about to wreck upon us. He is marrying a hindu princess, completely avoiding the unrest he would have to face amongst his own ministers and religious scholars at court. He has sent the architects to reframe a part of harem to accommodate a hindu princess. What does this mean? that he would allow her to practise her hindu customs in this very palace, amongst us..He is not marrying her to crush her or her clan’s pride rather he is ensuring that it stays intact even at the oddest of places, like this harem.. He could have easily annexed Amer, with combined troops of Nagaur and Malwa, but he left the city untouched just to have his hold on the princess..Nothing has ever been more important for him than sheer conquests. Do you not see how he traded such a crucial conquest for a woman? Never like this has happened before..and we would be nothing but fools to think otherwise.. This wedding has to be stopped. Do you understand?
Ruqaiyaa: Well! I’m not that insecure as you seem Maham. I know Jalal much intimately than you do. He has nothing to do with emotions or concerns. They make him sick to death. Anger, hatred and spite fuel his persona. I would rather feel pity for the girl, and her clan who fell for this treacherous facade Jalal is pulling off..You think Jalal is ensuring her honor. I rather think what an evil plot of him to bring a naive princess in here as to subject her to all the animosity that an entire palace filled with us, the Mogols, would drench her in. God knows how long will she able to survive? Its like stabbing the Rajputs where it would hurt the most.
Maham nodded her head, still unconviced, Just because you couldn’t crack through his cold heart, doesn’t mean someone else wouldn’t.
Ruqaiyaa lost the little ounce of patience that was left in her, the moment Maham pressed the aching nerve, “LEAVE YOU HAG AND DARE NOT SHOW ME YOUR CRONY FACE AGAIN”..
Fuming Maham left. There was nothing that could be done to stop the wedding. Not that she had any hopes from Ruqaiyaa, for even she couldn’t move a thought, if Jalal had already made up his mind. Yet, it could have been better to have an influential ally in her form, if at all what Maham dreaded was about to come true.
She sighed in defeat. Perhaps one day at a time is all she needs, she will deal with the issue when it surfaces. No reason to go insane with worry, for now. Then she recalled and scoffed at the the thought of her next task- preparing for the arrival of unwanted Hamida Banoo and Bakshi.
Maham (sighing): The things I've to do to stay in jalal’s good books better be worth it.
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