Thread 3: Destined Love... (Chapter 61 updated) - Page 63

Originally posted by: Shinning_Stuti

Hello everyone...

I am dealing with some terrible news recently took place in my life and in a tough emotional phase right now. I might try updating in Puja week but you have to excuse me till then please😒

Hope you are doing well, will wait for it😳

Originally posted by: Shinning_Stuti

Hello everyone...

I am dealing with some terrible news recently took place in my life and in a tough emotional phase right now. I might try updating in Puja week but you have to excuse me till then please😒

Ok didi take ur time

And update soon😳

Stuti❤️

We are waitingggg...

Chapter 54

The blended tone of gold and rosy pink sprinkled on his face through the curtains of the tent. The soothingly cold breeze of dawn filled the air in a delightful comfort. In a blissful content Jalal rolled on the bed and wrapped himself with the quilt. He opened his eyes slowly and looked outside. The darkness scattered into silvery mist, the clouds in the sky blushed in pinkish glow. The dawn came riding the chariot of colourful rays, piercing through the dark black velvety cover of the East sky. As Jalal took a deep breath to inhale the freshness of the new day, a soft warmth of melody suddenly flowed in the air… as if someone was welcoming the morning sun with all her heart.

“Albela sajan aayo ri

Albela sajan aayo ri

Mora ati mann sukh paayo ri

Albela sajan aayo ri”

Cautiously Jalal sat on the bed before closing his eyes. Taking a deep breath in the morning air, he drowned in the sacred melody that filled his soul with a peaceful euphony. As the East sky turned more red, the darkness slowly being overpowered by the mighty sun, the clouds blushing like pink petals… and the first ray of the morning sun glimpsed out through the canopy of green. The birds started chattering in the tune of nature, the leaves in the woods became more lively with the touch of sun-rays… and the melody that was floating in the air suddenly became more vibrant as the darkness surrendered completely along with the rise of sun.

Jalal got up from the bed instantly. How could he lay down on the bed idle when the whole nature is celebrating arrival of the new morning? Draping himself in the royal robe and putting on his shoes he came out of his royal tent. The lights of the camps have already been extinguished. Even the security guards are drowsing at the end of their duty hours. But the whole environment is vigorously glowing as the soft and warm touch of the sun has merged it in enormous subtle hues of colours and life. Jalal took a deep breath in the fresh air, his soul soothed.

The euphony is more clear now, the perfect melody to wrap the soul with all the comfort and warmth in the glorious morning…

“Chanuk puraao mangal gaao

Ati mann sukh paayo ri

Albela sajan aayo ri

Mora ati mann sukh paayo ri

Albela sajan aayo ri”

Jalal kept on walking, his ears directed his path through the source of the melodious voice. He could not control his steps, the urge of call in the song pulled him spontaneously…

After a moment, he stood in front of the tent of one of the queens. In amazement he witnessed how the melody of nature can spontaneously mingle with the tune of heart; how a mellifluous tune can become the song of the soul in a moment…

“Ang sugandhit mann aanandit

Ang sugandhit mann aanandit

Chahun aur rang barsaayo

Chahun aur rang barsaayo ri

Albela sajan aayo ri…”

His automatic footsteps crossed the security barrier and entered right inside the tent. She was sitting on the floor on a carpet, a musical instrument in her hand. Her eyes were closed, as if her song is an offering to the deity of the dawn from her. There was an unseen glow in her face… a divine glow…

Jalal kept on staring in mesmerization as she kept on singing. The time seemed to stop and the earth stopped rotating as Jalal lost his entity in the melody of the song, in the divine glow of that face…

“Mangal gaawo chauk puraawo…

mangal gaawo chauk puraawo

man rang nisdin paayo re

albela saajan aayo re

Albelaaa…”

After completing her Aalap, Jodha opened her eyes slowly. And the first glimpse was sort of unexpected. She did not expect to see two mesmerized eyes staring silently to her face. So she was shocked for an instance. After that suddenly a sweep of blunt happiness ran through her heart. She could not hide the pure delight from her eyes as she stood up pulling the veil on her head fast.

“My Lord! Good Morning!”

Jalal’s mesmerized eyes had not moved from her face for a single moment. His lips curled in a warm smile as he murmured in a whispering tone…

“Subhan-Allah!”

Jodha smiled as a pinkish tone suddenly gleamed in her cheek. “Come, sit My Lord.” She offered him after a moment. Jalal did not sit on the couch though, instead he came closer to her. His eyes were still filled with amazement as he smiled heartily. “Thank you, Jodha Begam.”

“For what, My Lord?”

“For gifting me such a heavenly morning!”

Jodha kept her eyes on his eyes for a moment. Then she suddenly lowered her eyes. “Allow me, Majesty…” She murmured, and then she bent down to her knees, and before Jalal could understand her gesture, she touched his feet and sought his blessings… When she stood up again, and looked at the startled emperor, her heart was beating in an insane rate. Her eyes were slowly tearing up in an unsaid emotion.

“What was that, Jodha Begam?” Jalal asked surprisedly.

Jodha bit her lips before answering in a mild tone. “Bless me so that I would continue to be able to gift you such heavenly mornings forever for the rest of my life!”

Jalal smiled amusedly while his eyes were also touched with the similar emotion. Jodha has said, has admitted so many things through this single gesture that he did not expect for. He said nothing, just touched her palms very gently with his fingers. Jodha did not flinch, rather she entangled her fingers with him smiling.

“Have a sit, My Lord…” She guided him to the couch and sat beside him.

Both stared at each-other for some another moment. The air of the tent was getting heavy with awkward silence, Jalal cleared his voice to break that.

“So… are you enjoying our little trip?”

Jodha chuckled. “Having quite a new experience I must say…”

Jalal’s face suddenly darkened a bit. “That experience is not happy always, isn’t it?”

“Why are you saying this, Majesty? I am having a good time here.” Jodha asked.

Jalal smiled but his face was dimmed. “I am talking about the hunting expedition yesterday, Begam Sahiba.”

Jodha laughed. “What about that, My Lord?”

“You lost, Jodha Begam. Why?”

Jodha smiled. “It seems everyone cannot handle the firearm properly, Majesty.”

“Maybe, but you are not among that everyone…” Jalal countered. “You are a fiery woman, Jodha Begam. These firearms compliments your grace. It is highly unlikely for you to lose the competition, if not deliberately.”

Jodha chuckled again. “What do you recon, My Lord?”

Jalal looked outside with a little sigh. “You felt imprisoned among a flock of barbarians yesterday, isn’t it? You felt that you are trapped in hand of some inhumane mass-murderers, and you are forced to go by them, sacrificing your freedom of thought. Am I wrong, Begam Sahiba?”

Jodha stared at him for a moment, then she sighed. “Are you angry, My Lord?”

“No!” Jalal chuckled. “I just… I could not stop reminding something someone said to me a long time back, you know? That Mughals are heartless, brutal, savage and barber… and Jalaluddin Mohammad is the leader of them.”

“The world has changed after that naïve girl told these to you unknowingly, Shahenshah…” Jodha smiled.

“Has it?” Jalal uttered.

Jodha chuckled loudly all of a sudden. Then she got up. “It seems the air inside the tent is not going well with you My Lord. Let’s have a walk outside. What say?”

Jalal looked at her eyes for a moment, then nodded with a smile. Both of them got out together from the tent. The sun has risen now, though most of the people of the camp are not awake. They walked past through the outer security and started strolling in the woods. It is quite a sunny morning. The glimpses of sun glittering the dewdrops on the grass-bed. The air is moist, cold and refreshing. The birds are chirping happily, the nature is rejoicing the new morning in her own way. Jodha suddenly got excited when they are little far from the camp. She paced up and started running as happiness sparkled in her face. She looked like a wild doe roaming freely in woods.

“Jodha Begam?” Jalal called out with surprise in his eyes as he followed her. “Where are you going?”

“Shhh!”

Jalal saw Jodha under a big tree, her arms resting at the trunk, eyes closed in bliss as her ears eagerly following the consistent sound of the morning forest. The silence of the woods has mixed with the chirping of birds and occasional hymn of unknown insects which is collaborated with the gentle touch of wind through the leaves. Jodha gestured him to be closer. “Stand here My Lord. Close your eyes and hear…”

Smiling at her silliness Jalal did the same. The morning chorus of the nature soothed his ears. In content he opened his ears, Jodha was smiling at him.

“What did you hear, My Lord?” Jodha asked.

“The sound of life.” Jalal smiled back.

Jodha nodded. “The sound of life… Life is so beautiful, isn’t it?”

Jalal stared at her without any word. Jodha took a long breath in the fresh air again. “The nature has created her euphony through this sound of life, My Lord… Who am I to bring the silence of death here?”

“You despise everything that goes against the flow of life?” Jalal asked.

Jodha smiled. “I try to avoid being distracted from the rhythm of life.”

Jalal chuckled this time while shaking his head with little disapprove. “Your words are so beautiful, Begam Sahiba. Only if they could be really applicable in the real world! Begam Sahiba, in my world the rhythm of life is adjusted by the silence of death. Life is not full of melody and colour… it’s as cold and cruel as death, only you cannot see its real form.”

“Do you really believe that while standing under this vast sky?” Jodha asked.

“That’s the problem you know?” Jalal laughed. “I can absorb the essence of nature while standing under this beautiful sky of this beautiful morning. But this is not the only sky I have seen. I have seen the sky of the war-field, the sky full of smoke, blood and cry… the sky carrying the omen of death. I have seen that bloodthirsty sky so much more that I know that is real… this beautiful sky with the beautiful sound of nature is a mirage, you get distracted by it, you lose a step in the war of life. Yes that’s true; my life is not a simple harmony like this forest, Begam Sahiba. It’s a game of power. I have to establish power in order to stay strong and alive, and for that I have to welcome the silence of death with the clang of my weapons. There is only that cruel way and I have to accomplish it.” He took a little breath. “How I wished I could see the world like you, but alas I have seen too much! Maybe that difference of perception sometimes present me as someone brute and savage, but it’s my life and I have been taught to embrace it even before I started talking.”

Jodha was looking at his face without a blink. She sighed a little with his last word. “My Lord, I know how cruel and intolerant the life can be. I might not have seen as closely as you, but I understand. I am a Rajputani, Majesty. I have been trained to hold weapon from childhood, I have enjoyed war-skills, I have seen my family to fight, to take lives; I have not flinched when I have seen my enemies to be beheaded in front of me. I accept the existence of death’s silence beside the flow of life. But one thing I always believed… A warrior should raise his sword to protect the weak; his sword should only hurt those who are equal, or stronger. And his sword should certainly not hurt the defenseless for his entertainment.”

Jalal nodded with a smile. “Your principle is healthy for the ego of a warrior, Jodha. I would be proud to be that warrior. But you know…” He laughed suddenly. “When I killed for the first time? When I got blood on my hand for the first time… I was six years old. It was a deer, defenseless and silent eyes begging for mercy.” His eyes lost in a dark old memory all of a sudden. “My Khan Baba was beside me, encouraging me to kill it like a man. I killed it, but I could not do it like a man. I flinched, winced; I closed my eyes. That was the first time ever I let my hands shake. That was the last as well. I did not flinch again when I had to kill the innocent herbivorous again; because I could not afford to let that weakness to weigh on me… Now when I look at them with my eyes, they are just a wonderful creation of nature. When I look at them with weapon in my hand, they are nothing but moving targets and I have the urge of sharpening my aim. It’s funny how perspective and principles can change time-to-time. Ultimately power is more important than principles. Even in the world of nature power is the ultimate thing. A tiger has become the king of this jungle only because he has hunted down thousands of weaker animals and established his strength. An emperor’s life is not different than this.”

Jodha looked melancholic when she looked at Jalal. “Don’t you ever just want to run away? This tireless need of being powerful for sake of everyone, this constant urge of killing own soul in order to maintain a strong image, this quest of power- this burden of loneliness… why did not you escape, Majesty?”

Jalal laughed quaking the sky. “Who said I did not. I did run away once, I was able to run away… someone assured to keep my soul safe with her, and I surrendered myself to her, fled from my life, took refuge in a broken hut flooded with moonlight… God knows I succeeded.”

Jodha stared at him, her eyes being more intense… “And then?”

Jalal looked at her, there was something in those eyes which Jodha could not read. “The reality snapped and I was thrown down mercilessly. I understood the weight on my shoulder is too heavy to run away from it. I had to leave my heart, my soul behind and go back again.”

Jodha moved her eyes and looked down at the path. Her eyes were suddenly getting teary.

“You know what Jodha Begam?” Jalal said again after a little while. “Nowadays I feel I am blessed. Because I have got a second chance. Yeah, today it has been pretty clear to me that I cannot escape from this life of war, and I don’t want to run away anymore. But today I have got someone who will give me the shelter in this bloodthirsty battlefield. Very few people truly gets back the solace they leave back, Jodha Begam… I am among those fortunate fewest, and I am grateful for that!” He sighed a little. “Thank you Jodha Begam.”

“For what, My Lord?” Jodha murmured through her tears.

“For taking me away from the spell of bloodshed yesterday. For letting me stand for a moment, to stare to the beauty of life, for letting me witness how vivid, how magnificent the flow of life is!” Jalal uttered slowly. “Thank you for being my escape.”

Jodha hesitated for a moment, then she held his hands. “Let me be, My Lord! Let me be the window for you to breath and stare, to live the life… The purpose of my life will be fulfilled then!”

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When Jalal and Jodha got back to the imperial camp the sun was bright and shiny. The maids have served the breakfast under the velvet canopy. Ruqaiya Begam was supervising, she smiled at both of them.

“Good Morning Shahenshah. Good Morning Begam Jodha. How was the walk?”

“Good Morning. It was nice. I really wish you could grow the habit of get up early Ruqaiya. You are wasting two-third of your life with sleep. Just like you wasted today’s morning.” Jalal mocked in amused tone. Ruqaiya smiled back. However, the smile did not look much appealing to Jodha. Ruqaiya is trying to show herself indifferent and happy, and this particular effort is very much evident on her face. Jodha felt a pang of discomfort all of a sudden.

“Please have a seat.” Ruqaiya offered as the maids had started serving breakfast. “So you got no bird in the morning for hunt? I assumed you will return with a whole flock.” She said to Jalal, a smirk forming at the corner of her lips. “You know, provided how the whole hunt of yesterday was abruptly ruined all of a sudden due to some undesirable circumstances?”

Jodha looked at Ruqaiya. She noticed Ruqaiya’s stare was somehow also fixed at her. There was a call of war in those eyes.

However, Jalal answered casually. “I did not go for hunt in the morning, Ruqaiya.”

“Really…” Ruqaiya smiled. “Since when you started going out without firearm blazing when you are in a forest? Is it because Jodha Begam has not really grasped the concept of imperial hunting? Or because she has given up trying handling Mughal weaponries?”

Jodha smiled gently. “Weaponries are most useful when they protect us, Ruqaiya Begam. I hope I never have to face any situation to proof how much grasp I have acquired in Mughal arsenal.”

Ruqaiya chuckled. “You and your talks, Jodha Begam!”

Jodha nodded amusedly. “I was always a talker.”

“I kind of hoped that you are a person who tries to be truthful to their speech. I am disappointed Jodha Begam.”Ruqaiya shook her head with a smirk. “I also assumed that you would be honest enough to accept your defeat when you are unable to acquire the skill you had rooted for. This trick of not participating in the challenge after accepting it… too much childish for a queen, Jodha Begam!”

Jodha chuckled a little. “Well, what can I say, Ruqaiya Begam… I already told you I accepted my defeat. What else should I do so that it does not look childish?”

Ruqaiya Begam kept the smile intact but her eyes had the buried fury of defeat. The defeat Jodha gave her by accepting her defeat in hunting game… the defeat that did not let her sleep properly at night. She looked at Jodha’s eyes searching for a befitting reply, but frustratingly she could not. “What do you want, Jodha Begam? You want to demean us all by accepting the defeat with the glory of victory, is it?” She suddenly asked in a low voice with gritted teeth.

Jodha was going to say something, but Jalal suddenly raised his hand to stop her. He looked at Ruqaiya intensely. “What are you trying to do Ruqaiya? We are in public and there are maids around. Don’t demean yourself over a simple hunting game!” He said in a quiet tone.

Ruqaiya took a deep breath. “Sorry, Your Majesty!” She said apologetically. “It is my fault! Maybe I should not have pressed her to…”

“Let it go Ruqaiya…” Jalal cut her in the middle. “I know what you are possibly feeling. And I also know you are much of a larger person than this petty feeling. Everyone has different viewpoint, different approach to life. Maybe we should start accepting that with open heart, isn’t it?”

Ruqaiya stayed silent for a moment. Then when she looked up there was a calm and chilling smile in her lips. “I could have let it go, Jalal. But Jodha Begam cannot.”

“What do you mean, Ruqaiya Begam?” Jodha asked calmly.

“It’s easy… You had taken the challenge of hunting, Jodha Begam, with the intension of proving your weaponry skills. You cannot back off with some insincere acceptance of defeat. Might work in your place but Mughal Harem is much harder and merciless. We do not accept the defeated, Jodha Begam. Come on… You have the whole day today, show me that you can win.”

Jodha’s eyes became rigid. “Winning and losing is not more important than life and values, Ruqaiya Begam. Where my sense of good and evil can be compromised, I would rather choose to be defeated.”

“No Jodha Begam…” Ruqaiya’s voice lowered to a certain scale. “You are in Mughal Harem now, I think you have to sort of compromise your senses. You accepted the challenge in front of the whole Harem. If you deliberately want to get defeated, make sure you apologize for taking up the impossible challenge at the first place in front of everyone. Make sure that you would be able to tolerate the mockeries and taunts of all the women there for the rest of your life. And then think again, if you are ready to take another chance to win.”

Ruqaiya’s breakfast was complete, so she got up and headed to her tent. Jodha sat at her seat, stunned. Jalal sighed a little as their eyes met, and he followed Ruqaiya.

“I know why are you doing this Ruqaiya…” he caught her at the path and told in a low tone. “You cannot accept that she values her own choice more than the challenge you threw at her. It hurts that you are less important than herself in her mind. That’s why you want to win her the challenge by losing her wish, values; hence really accepting her defeat. But you cannot see that it’s not going to help, only increase the conflict” He sighed. “Why making simple things so complicated, Ruqaiya? Your intellectual ability is far more than inducing cat fights among queens!”

“Jalal…” Ruqaiya looked at him, her eyes looking quite disturbed. “Your world is different than the world of Harem. You won’t understand.” She sighed. “You cannot possibly understand how a woman’s heart think, Jalal… That’s why you won’t understand why I am doing this. Don’t worry, it will do good to Jodha Begam at the end. Because no matter how much tender her heart is, how much she roots for the ethics she carried from her land, at the end of the day she is a part of that Harem of yours, and she has to learn to accept and to be accepted. I adore you Jalal. But this is my territory, I cannot let Jodha Begam go ignoring me.”

Jalal stared with hurt eyes. “I don’t want to forcefully include myself in your way of managing your territory, Ruqaiya… Just… I don’t like it Ruqaiya. I would request you to drop the conflict because it will only escalate. You are the most important to me… That matters the most, nothing else.”

“I don’t know how that is relevant, but that’s sweet and not to be discussed in daylight.” Ruqaiya giggled a little. “However, the thought of conflict is bothering you because I am not the only important person associated with it, right?” her eyes suddenly pierced through Jalal’s eyes.

Being shocked Jalal was about to say something, but they got interrupted. Jashn Khan had sought their attention with a bow.

“Apologies, Majesty… There are some visitors for His Highness…”

“Visitors?” Jalal frowned at him. “What kind of visitors here?”

“Some people from the nearby village Majesty… Wishes to show some gesture of respect.” Jashn Khan pointed out.

“Okay… I am coming.” Jalal nodded. It is always important to maintain the image of the benevolent emperor to the mass, hence it is important to interact with subjects of different regions in person as much as possible. As the emperor he must grab this opportunity to know the mind and thoughts of the people living here.

His domestic disputes can be solved later anyways.

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“Pardon Your Majesty.” Fardeen Khan, in-charge of Jalal’s own security, spoke in a mild tone. “I was wondering if you could reconsider your decision of setting up the tiger hunting in core forest. We are travelling with the Honorable queens, there are also a lot of women in the group. I am not sure if we have enough force to secure them in this kind of expedition.”

“I can understand your concern, Fardeen Khan.” Jalal nodded. “I suggest the queens, the maids and the security force stay here in the camp. You stay here to cover them. I myself will go to the core forest along with huntsmen and hunt that man-eater down.”

“Your Majesty…” Fardeen Khan looked tensed. “It is too unsafe for you to trace that man-eater alone without any security.”

Jalal laughed. “Do you doubt my ability as a hunter, Fardeen Khan?”

“No Your Majesty!” Fardeen Khan looked slightly abashed. “I was only… I am only concerned about the safety My Lord…”

Jalal looked amused. “Fardeen Khan, I am concerned about my safety as well. That’s why I ordered to set the trap for the tiger instead of chasing it. You know how much I love to hunt the wild animals standing at the same level of them. Shooting from the high hunting blind is not my style anyway.”

The security officer had sought the Emperor’s attention in his tent at the afternoon, after His Majesty circulated his order of trapping the man-eater tiger in the dense forest so that His Majesty himself can go and kill him. The head of the nearby villagers had come to offer their wishes to the Emperor today morning. After the normal conversation, the context of hunting came up somehow. The villagers revealed they are living in scare for a long time due to a tiger who has suddenly became rouge. It frequently attacks the village at night. Before the attack was restricted to stealing cattle and farm animals, but from the last month even the humans are not spared. Generally these villages nearer to the forest have the equipment to fight against wild animals, but this rouge man-eater is way out of their league. Already two of local hunters have been found half-eaten in the dense forest. The villagers came to the Emperor with hearty request to eliminate that peril from their life. Jalal got excited. Not only as an Emperor it is his duty of save the subjects, but also the passionate hunter of his heart has risen again. Everyone knows the emperor loves to play the game of life with wild animals, he won’t ever leave the chance of hunting a man-eater down.

“I understand you are concerned about the villagers, Majesty. Let the professional huntsmen take care of it. They are perfectly able to hunt down a single tiger…” Fardeen Khan attempted for the last time.

“Enough…” Jalal raised one hand, looking a little annoyed. “What is your fear, Fardeen Khan? What makes you think I will not be able to shoot a trapped tiger from hunting blind? You know I have killed tiger while standing on ground without any huntsman guarding me. Then?”

Fardeen Khan looked uncomfortable for a moment. Then he spoke slowly. “Pardon Majesty, I did not want to spoil the vacation for you so I hid the information. I am not afraid for the man-eater, My Lord. I am afraid of the humans.”

Jalal crossed his arms. “What do you know?”

Fardeen Khan bit his lips once before saying. “There has been some baseless rumours flying around the spy network. There might be some attempt on your life very soon again. Adga Sahab has specially instructed me to protect you everywhere you go. I am afraid while hunting the tiger we won’t be able to provide you that kind of security.”

Jalal smiled a little. “Humans won’t leave me even in the forest. I am safer with the wild animals than them. What an irony! What information do you have, Fardeen?”

“Nothing solid, Majesty. But we all know that you are being a target the moment you are stepping out from the fort. We have still not found the root of the assassination while coming back from Malwa. After the alliance with Rajputs a lot of new enemies have been born. Anything can happen anytime.” Fardeen Khan answered.

“Hmm… Never mind Fardeen Khan. I will go and nothing will happen. If something happens by chance we might get a clue of who is behind these attacks.” Jalal said in a nonchalant voice. “Don’t stress on my security now, rather pay heed on the queens’ security.”

Fardeen Khan was shocked. Is the Emperor planning to use himself as a bait? “My Lord…” He started.

“Who has already planned to stay in the sea cannot afford to be afraid of sharks, Fardeen.” Jalal said. “You circulate my order to the huntsmen to set up the hunting ground. Taqliya…”

Before Fardeen Khan could bow down and leave, another visitor again sought the emperor’s attention. “Who is it?” Jalal annoyedly asked the guard who bought the news.

“Gulal Khan. Special eunuch of Queen Jodha.”

“Jodha Begam’s message?” Jalal frowned. “Call him in.”

Gulal Khan entered with trembling legs. “H..Heil to His Majesty! Heil to Mughal Empire…”

“Alright.” Jalal looked unamused. “Tell me why you wanted to see me.”

“Our honourable queen Jodha Begam has some request for you, Majesty.” Gulal Khan answered. “If you allow, she wish to join the tiger hunt with you.”

“What?” Jalal’s frown became intense. Fardeen Khan looked frustrated that ever.

“She would be able to explain herself more in person, but she would be extremely grateful if you grant this wish of hers.” Gulal recited word-to-word.

“Alright!” Jalal sighed. “I will meet her in person, but it does not look like I would be able to talk her out of it. Fardeen Khan, it seems you have to increase security with me. Also tell Jashn Khan to look into it. Maybe it is official that Jodha Begam will accompany me in the tiger hunt.”

Fardeen Khan bowed down as a sign of obedience but his face displayed his frustration of being the head of security loud. Logic and the mood of emperors and queens always go opposite. It is impossible to put some sense in them.

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It was only past evening, but inside the core forest it looked like as if the midnight have passed.

Jodha felt no difficulty while climbing on the hunting blind or the machan as it is called in term of hunt. But it was nevertheless a new experience for her. Two strong and high branches of a big tree has been selected to build the hunting platform. The temporary built made with woods, jute and bamboos is safe enough to hold two people’s weight. The hunting equipment are kept at hand, and the bait has been put just at the bottom of that machan. The person at the top of the hunting platform is easily able to target the animal from above when it will eat the bait. Two machans are built on one tree; the first one is closer to the bait and full of different equipment; the second one is just behind it, made and secured with extra safety guard and comparatively comfortable. The second of is for the queen of-course; though she is armed, still her security matters the most. The first machan belongs to the emperor, who is all set to shoot the tiger when it falls onto the trap. Both are conjoined, made in such a way so that both emperor and the queen can interact with each other in the long night while waiting for the prey. The other huntsmen and guards have their different machans on the nearer trees.

“Are you comfortable there, Begam Sahiba?” Jalal asked whispering while setting the musket when the air became more silent and the sound of crickets made the darkness more intense.

“Comfortable on this seat of jute and bamboo? Yeah I am good.” Jodha mildly chuckled.

“This is your first time on a hunting blind?” Jalal asked.

“Tiger hunting is regarded as an exotic sports in my maternal house. But I never fancied it. Well, I would not have given permission anyhow; it’s highly regarded as man’s sports.” Jodha said. “So yes, this is a completely new experience for me.”

“You never fancied hunting… So why you insisted to come?” Jalal looked at Jodha. His face was not very prominent in the very dim light of machan, but his calm voice had a touch of restlessness.

Jodha smiled mildly. “I told you before.”

“And I did not buy that. Why would you want to experience something you hate? The experience of deer hunt took a toll on you; why would you want to repeat that again? Why would you indulge yourself in meaningless violence again when you hate it from the core?”

“Maybe this particular hunt is not meaningless violence. You are here to protect those villagers from this beast. I am Kshatrayani, My Lord. I have sworn to raise my weapon to protect the weak; hence I am sustaining my Kshatradharm.” Jodha said.

“Kshatradharm! Duty of a protector? Principle of a warrior?” Jalal laughed. “Begam Sahiba, shooting a wild animal from top of a tree while it is eating does not qualify as a principle of warrior. You are so true to your morals and principles, I don’t believe that you really believe what you said.”

“So what? When a king gives death sentence to the culprit it is an act of justice, not an act of cowardice.” Jodha said mildly, her voice somehow lost in darkness.

Jalal chuckled. “You won’t get me there, Jodha Begam. I am here as a hunter, not as an emperor. I am in that tiger’s territory, not the other way around. I don’t get to act upon justice here.” He smiled a little. “That’s why I say principles are very tricky thing. It changes according to situation. Else we will be restrained from growth. But you are different, Jodha Begam… Your morals have shaped your personality, your thoughts, your character. Why would you deliberately neglect that?”

“Very tricky!” Jodha laughed. “Is it safer to say I wanted to spend time with you?”

“I will be very flattered if you say so.” Jalal smiled. “Still I would have doubt.” His voice became a little intense then. “Jodha Begam, you are not doing it because of Ruqaiya begam, right?”

Jodha’s face became rigid when she spoke in a low tone. “My Lord, I don’t do anything I don’t believe myself. I won’t be defeated in this war that has been waged against me. Perhaps I had to prove it to myself along with others. But that is not the reason.”

“Then what is the reason?” Jalal questioned.

Jodha smiled softly. “Today morning I promised someone to be the window of his life. I had to fulfil that promise. How could I leave you alone tonight, My Lord? I could not!”

“What?” Jalal sounded amused. “You really came here just to be with me? For being my escape?”

Jodha chuckled. “No, Majesty… I came here to keep you grounded. I…”

Jodha had to stop, because Jalal suddenly put a finger over his lips. The skillful ears of the expert hunter had caught some deviation in the perfectly silent dark night. He turned backward from Jodha constantly, the musket in his hand focused to the ground. Being caution with his actions Jodha loaded her musket swiftly, looked over Jalal to focus at the ground. In the very dim light on the machan and the pale moonlight her eyes caught a shadow slowly moving around at nearby bush.

Automatically she held her breath.

The shadow slowly moved forward, a sweep of hushed air flowed through the noiseless darkness. A very low groan brought chills in veins as suddenly a very strong smell hit the nose. The shadow slowly illuminated from darkness like a proud monarch. Everyone stared in awe to the heavenly beautiful animal of orange-gold skin with black-velvet stripes, golden eyes shining like stars in dark, slowly strolled towards the tree. The deer was already there as bait; the tiger started his diner quite amusedly.

Releasing her breath very slowly Jodha looked at the emperor. Jalal had leaned forward, the musket shining in his hand as he was targeting the skull of the maneater from the top of the machan, his eyes fixed on his target, adjusting his arm in the very dim light.

The air of the surrounding was strangulating and not even a leaf was moving. The breaths of the people were calm and calculative, trying to be invisible in the dark. The only noise was coming from the tiger at the beneath of the tree, groaning and roaring softly while relishing the fresh meat. All the concentration was gathered towards that single animal, whose existence mattered the most right now, and whose existence would become void in a moment…

Jalal fixed his target, held onto the trigger, and was about to set his position on the platform to get a proper view… It was just a matter of moment from this expedition to be over…

Suddenly a loud cracking sound broke the intensity of the surrounding. A loud cracking sound… Not a loud bang of the musket.

Then a loud roar! A frightened, crazy, violent roar of the man-eater tiger.

In a moment the whole situation changed in such a way that made everyone statue. Jodha froze as blood started chilling inside her vein. As she could clearly see the machan in front of her has broken and fallen down along with the man sitting on it. And Jalal had fallen on the ground, right in front of the blood-seeking beast!

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

Everything was going pre-planned, the target was set, the gun was about to be shot. But suddenly the scenario changed in a drastic way. Suddenly Jalal felt someone removed the platform from under his feet, and while the next moment a sharp pang of pain hit back and right hand, Jalal realized he is on the ground with his only weapon being flown off on a projectile from his hand to out of reach. Before he could process the horrific situation around him, the sight of two shining golden eyes just in front of his eyes temporarily froze his limbs.

Jalal had a few number of near-death experience in life. But it is perhaps the first time he witness death himself right in front of his eyes!

Then the loud roar of death scattered the silence of the forest as Jalal felt an immense pressure on his chest and a tear-jerking agony around one shoulder. Jalal could not stop yelping in pain as he felt the sharp claws of the vicious animal is ripping across the tender flesh. The claws dig in his right shoulder, coming down to the chest, tearing him in two pieces. Fresh blood flowed freely from the open wound. Jalal concentrated all his strength together, roared, tried to pull out the knife from his waistband and jerk off the immense pressure, but the position was too bad for him and the bloodthirsty man-eater was too much to handle. He tried probing the big wild cat with his sharp knife, stubbornly deciding not to go out without shedding a drop of blood of his attacker; the beast cried and howled in pain as the hot blood poured through his body, as a result the claws dug more deeply and Jalal felt his whole body is on fire. He screamed, tried to thrash on the ground whole digging the knife inside the tiger more desperately, but the pain and blood-loss was slowly grabbing him in the world of black. The gut-wrenching pain is ripping him apart, and he realized the sharp teeth of the tiger is slowly coming down at his neck. The right hand is numb in pain, he tried to shove the tiger with the knife in his left hand with all force he had, but the fight is too tough. Too tough to win! And he felt he was losing the battle.

He was able to sense the pandemonium near him though. His people were on the nearby machans, they are probably trying to shoo the tiger away by shooting fire, with the noise of cans and drums. But they did not shoot the tiger till now, or tried combatting with him in order to save Jalal’s life… Why? Maybe because Jalal is so much close to the tiger that they fear they will miss? Because coming down from the machan in this time could be proved as dangerous? Why care? He is dying and they have to save him! How much time has passed? One hour, two hours? No… maybe only some moments have passed… maybe two or three minutes… Jalal has lost his count of time. Is it the end for him? A sharp pang of humiliation and disgrace hit him harder that all the pain. He was not supposed to die in hand of a prey. The Emperor of Hindustan was not supposed to be eaten by a mere man-eater of the forest of North. He has works to do. A lot of works to do. But he is going to die. No one will be able to save him…

BANG!

Another sudden loud noise teared the sky. Another deadly loud roaring cry, then a thud. The hot red fluid flooded on the ground, the silence of death moved the whole surrounding. Jalal felt a massive pressure on his body as the dead weight of the bulk beast fell upon him. The claws released, the threat of the teeth disappeared, everything became silent for a moment.

Before closing his eyes in the most anticipated and awaited unconsciousness after the release of this restless turmoil, Jalal’s eyes stuck at the branch of his broken machan. Two beautiful teary eyes are staring at him; she has come forward from her place, the upper half of her body almost hanging from the broken machan, and the musket in her hand exhaling smoke. Kshatrayani raised her weapon to protect.

Jalal slipped into blissful unconsciousness…

Originally posted by: Germanina

Ich mag Ihre Erzählung sehr🤗. Jodha ist eine starke und naturverbunde Persönlichkeit, ich mag sie sehr.❤️

ich hoffe, daß sie den Begums zeigt, daß sie die wahre Königin ist. Sie verdient das Herz seiner Majestät.

ich warte auch sehr gespannt auf eine Fortsetzung.

Thank you so much for your review dear. I feel so happy to see you read and like the story 🤗

Sorry again people. I would have updated a week before but a sudden death of a very dear person to me had actually messed thing up.

Originally posted by: kriya_12

51...

queen ruqs puts everyone at place.....😃😛

>> EKDUM!😎

hoshiyaar not really fears her....😛 & maham uff those jilath ke laddoo ahha....what a smashing shot she received from ruqs , just loved this high warning & the insult , white witch needed it....😉😆

>> Hosiyaar is her eyes and ears. So he has no fear of her.

I like smashing Maham so much😆

then the harem scene jodha's interaction & facilitation the process of knowing the inmates as this is her place now her new home , adjustment & acceptance r the keys....

>> Yep!

but the entry of that item definitely scratched her joy as her mind begins to understand the ways of the emperor & his interests concerning that women something that is surely to bother her at this stage ....😭

>> She will get used to it.

Her longing....😒 ohh it was so beautifully addressed kudos to u dear 👏

>> Thank you. ❤️

offcourse our jodha is all about action so no wait & launches rahim again......😆

>> 🤣

am personally really loving this part the dilemma of our favorite pair , as a king there he is burning in his own yearning while she patiently tending her heart , savoring this time by themselves in the hope of their destiny to bind them in inseparable union .

>> Beautiful words dear....❤️

also abdul , my heart really went to him i wonder what destiny has store for him or i better say what r ur plans about abdul moti .

>> A lot of plans😆

Originally posted by: kriya_12

52...

How Dare You...Khwaja Moin 😡

>> Villains are most needed thing😆

this oldie is a danger for sure the way he is going can't be simply threatened or taught a lesson , hv to be played very cautiously i trust jalal but am worried , surely a new challenge & a consequential problem .

>> Let's see😛

what a beautiful extract on the quandary of jodha the lover 😳

very beautifully u hv conveyed what confuses her heart , stuck b/w can she really experience same things like in the previous moment & the presently real one...she is still reeling into his words which her heart immediately responds to but something still blocks but dear salima is here.....⭐️

as she takes jodha through all of jalal parts concerning purnima from her knowledge , also conveys her own life to give that better understanding of life & all of them . really good one dear....👏

>> Salima is always the star

Thank you dear...

poor jalal not getting his jodha....😆

first hoshiyaar , uff it really pinches him his eagerness & letting it out in public that too hoshiyaar who is too good in pushing buttons on his mistress but thankfully here she is smart one....😉

>>🤣

then salima , ohh artist of words can't fool her.....😆

& so many wisdom of words uff...no salim anytime soon....

>> R e let them enjoy honeymoon phase. Abhi kya Salim🤣

first time ever imagining irritated salima begum that too from jalal...😆 , but salima is salima gets something more best i.e. full moon night date ...big thanx to her .....🤗

>> 😎

ohh the target competition , good definitely came out of it but the humiliation came from it 😒 ohh new burning determination thus time for a new learning for jodha .

>> Jodha is also a star😆

nothing private , it is because they never made any conscious efforts everything just naturally went on occurring with them & the most cherished parts also came like this hence never the efforts nor the realization or if any never discussed in open , ruqs & jalal....the friend companions very understandably live their parts . as there convo goes one can see both of them comfortably in their worlds & the ending of scene with ruqaiya words definitely touches the heart .

>> Yeah... 😞

& the lovers meet , the beauty of the scene is so endearing the whole exchange is nothing short of lovely , desperate jodha got the right determination but not the teacher but when his majesty is there what to fear....as he comes like a wind catching her unaware but tightly gripping her & arranging her for right shot in b/w bringing the waves of passion as well....😎

>> Ekdum! 😎

thus filling her heart & his with new happiness....

everything is so beautiful in ur FF , ahha whichever part it is u're clearly acing...👏 my words i feel can't really do the justice for this writing ......👍🏼

>> Thank you for this beautiful review dear.

Baki kaha hay?🤣

HAPPY DASSEHRA TO ALL🤗