Chapter 45
The moment the caravan walked pass the main gate of Agra fort, only one word could get released from the dumbstruck Rajput maids…
“It’s heavenly!”
Amer was beautiful, in her own way. The small state in the great desert, full of lives and prosperity, and the proud flag from the roof of the fort upholding the legacy of the Rajputs, Amer was like the diamond nose-pin among the precious ornaments of their motherland Rajputana with her grace and glory shining always… Agra, on the other hand, seemed to be magical. Land of Amer was rough, dry, rocky and ruthless. Agra is greener, colder, delightful… soothing breeze sweeping through the vast paddy-fields, the carpet of green under the feet, wave of Yamuna river slowly kissing the bank and the birds chirping happily on the branches of the big trees… she is as beautiful as a painted landscape. The great fort is situated beside the bank of Yamuna, the beautiful architecture on the ravishing red sandstone proudly declaring the glory of the dynasty; the well-built roads, concrete pavements, solid architecture of each and every house inside the city advertising the prosperity of the newly made capital. The soldiers standing on the road bowed in a complete disciplined way, the gate of the palace unlatched, and another gateway of heaven opened in front.
“Magnificent!” Moti and the other maids stared with awe… “I never ever had thought Agra palace is so so beautiful! I always have kind of a dark image of this place in my imagination.” One of them whispered.
“Just look at the gardens! There is so much of green! And the flowers!”
“You talking about garden? Look at the sculptures! Look at the walls! The buildings!”
“Even the gates are so magnificent! Noticed the carvings on the walls? I bet those are real priceless gems!”
“We are seriously going to live here! Oh I cannot imagine!”
Moti suddenly gestured them to keep silence. They had already headed towards the section of women quarter. They fretfully watched how perfectly the guards covering them till now handled their responsibility to the guards right at the front of women quarter, how the security became extra vigilant; how they slowly crossed though a barrier special security force and got into a more protected area under the vigilance of extra security.
“Great!” Leela whispered. “Seems like we are special guests!”
“Or prisoners!” Moti sighed lowly.
This section of the fort was probably the most beautiful part. Situated nearest of the river, it is surrounded by beautiful gardens and lakes… There is a beautiful vast garden just beside the path, also beautiful water-tanks with lots of lotus and sweet fragrance situated here and there. The emperor’s section is visible from there, just opposite of the vast garden, opposite front of the women quarters. Maybe that is another reason of the security being too tight here.
The line of the palanquins stopped at the ward in front of the quarters. Some armed guards, probably eunuchs, covered them. The procedures were getting done in a sophisticated way.
“Hmm… very interesting. I wished the guards of our Amer had half of their discipline!” Leela joked light-heartedly.
“Our soldiers fight from heart. They do not need these show-off!” Reva, another accompanying maid commented. “Anyhow, very impressive paper works and all taking place; but where are the family members? Who will welcome the bride?”
Moti peeped out a little more from the curtain of their palanquin. Among the line of uniformed eunuchs and properly trained maids, not a single face from royal family was there. Moti sighed a little. This is the great Agra fort, a beautifully organized place without the touch of heart… this is where Jodha is going to spend the rest of her lives?
A uniformed guard came in front and bowed. “May I speak to someone in-charge?”
Moti pulled her veil and got out of her palanquin to stand beside Jodha’s royal one. She knew she had to work as an interpreter for the princess. The soldier nodded and bowed again.
“Welcome to Agra, My Lady. I am the second in-command of second line security force of Mughal zenana.” The eunuch guard told with a measured respect. “From now-on, you are under the complete security of Harem, you can walk freely here without any fear. Now I request you all to get out of the palanquin, my men and girls will be escorting you inside the Harem. The Padshah Begam, Empress Ruqaiya Begam is seeing your path.”
Moti disappointedly looked at the curtain of Jodha’s palanquin. She could not say anything. The elder princess of Amer, the apple of the eyes for all the citizens of Amer fort will take the first step in her marital house escorted by some unknown eunuch soldiers like a mere refugee, not a single soul from the family of the groom will stand beside to welcome her in the new house? What kind of treatment is this! What can she say!
“Moti…”
Moti bent to the curtain. The calm and composed voice of the dignified princess were also heard by the commanding officer. “Tell him that I greatly appreciate his effort to escort us safely here. I express my gratitude to him for carrying out his duty so perfectly. However, before I go to the quarter, I really expect to get acquainted to the family members of the emperor. If he could arrange that for me, I would be grateful.”
There was suddenly an extra silence in the air. The soldier stood stunned, unable to decide his next step. Reva and Leela rolled their eyes, Moti gulped for once.
“Jashn Khan…”
The authoritative voice of a lady made everyone present extra cautious. The people bent and bowed down with all the respects they have, and Jashn Khan saluted in military way. The owner of the voice came closer, and Moti could see her face. She was a middle-aged woman with strong build and rigid demeanour; wearing a white dress and head covered with a white hijab, as if she was a live example of class and purity mingled together. Her eyes shows authority, and her personality radiates the strength of power that she beholds. In a regal way she bypassed everyone and stood in front of Jashn Khan, and completely ignoring the presence of Moti and the royal palanquins, she asked in a very sharp tone. “What is going on here, Jashn? What is this pandemonium about?”
“Pardon, Maham Anga…” Jashn Khan bent his head. “The caravan of Mughals from Amer has reached. Padshah Begam has given me the order to escort them properly.”
“I see…”Maham Anga carefully swept her eyes through each and every palanquins and carts full of precious artefacts. A sarcastic smile suddenly projected cruelly at the side of her lips.
“So the king of Amer has paid the price of his submission under Mughal force. Good. Why are you waiting then? Go and dump all of these in some corner of Harem.”
Moti felt someone poured melted lead in her ears. So did Leela and Reva.
“I don’t want any crowd in such an important place because of some cheap revenue from some nameless, stateless king.” The lady continued in the same tone. “Clear this mess as soon as possible.”
“Wazir-E-Alia…”Jashn Khan said. “The new queen of our Emperor has come with the caravan. Padshah Begam has instructed to take proper care of her welcome.”
“Padshah Begam is kind-hearted.” Maham Anga told in a nonchalant voice. “When does the girls sent to Harem as special gifts from defeated kings get such special treatments! However…” She now casted a impertinent look on Moti. “Jashn Khan, you don’t forget to teach these uncivilised Hindu girls the lessons of living in imperial Harem; get all of them out from the palanquin and stock them in Harem.”
She was about to pass, when Jashn Khan dared to stop her again. “Wazir-E-Alia, the Princess of Amer herself has come… I…”
Maham Anga could have been angry, but instead she chuckled seeing the definite hesitation in Jashn Khan’s face. “She maybe was a princess in her poor landless father’s home once; but now his father has sent her along with the revenues of defeat. Just like this pile of garbage in these carts. You, the second-in-command of Harem security have come to receive her yourself, this is already too much of respect given to her. I am sure she does not expect anything more than this.”
A silence filled in again when Maham Anga stopped talking. A slight sound of knocking pierced through that. The princess had knocked the wall of palanquin in order to call Moti. Moti bent. The princess whispered something from behind the curtain. Moti’s shadowed face suddenly filled with light.
“Pardon, My Lady…” She said. “My princess wants to put her opinion regarding this. She says, sensible people set their expectations depending on their self-respect and eligibility; whether they get it or not, depends on the upbringing, culture, civics and sense of those people who are entitled to fulfil that expectations. It is heart-breaking for the princess to see that the greatly cultural Mughals do not have the ethics of how to welcome the new guests, rather they do not have the basic sense of respect to talk to people; as she did not expect this type of insensible behaviour from here at all.”
The blow was actually unexpected, so Maham Anga could not quite catch it. “What… what did you say?”
Again a knock, again some whispers, then again Moti worked as an interpreter; her face glittering in pride…
“My Princess says that with due respect she wants to rectify the misunderstanding of the lady… The king of Amer did not send her daughter as a mark of defeat, he has given away his daughter’s hand to another man as a daan; the emperor of great Mughals himself had come down to her father, took her hand along with the responsibility of her honour. Thus, the woman sitting in the palanquin is not a revenue of defeat from a nameless king; she is the wife of the great emperor, carrying the emblem of Mughal Empire. Disrespecting her is like disrespecting the emperor himself. The artefacts on those carts are not revenues… they are the gifts along with best-wishes from a father to her daughter’s respectable family. It is very disappointing to see someone from Mughal empire is too blind to see the difference between gifts and revenue, slaves and maid-in-honours and most importantly, a random defeated woman and a queen of the emperor. She must understand that no matter what great place she acquires in the court, no one has given her the authority to disrespect a queen because it is equivalent to dishonouring the emperor himself!”
“Battamiz!!” The younger and cunning-looking eunuch standing just behind Maham-Anga shouted out. “Do you even know with whom you are talking to?? She is Maham-Anga! The Wazir-E-Alia of the court. Foster mother of the Emperor. She beholds the place just next to the Marium-Makani in the imperial palace. You imprudent little girl, do you know we can cut your tongue out for uttering such words against her?”
“Calm down Resham…” Maham Anga uttered in a chilled voice while her eyes pierced Moti’s. “She is just an interpreter. These are not her words.” She smiled coldly. “It seems the new queen of ours does not have the idea where she is standing and with whom she is talking to. She does not know that her foolish father who has sold her is not going to save her here in Agra. Does not matter, she will slowly learn the ethics of Harem, which would be in a hard way for her it seems!” She looked at Jashn Khan… “Get them in.”
Jashn Khan was startled and more hesitant, and was about to order the soldiers, just when another voice spoke up. The voice behind the curtain of the palanquin… sweet, modest and full of authority.
“Pardon me, My Lady… I really did not understand to whom I was addressing. I clearly had some better expectations from the foster mother of the emperor; I thought she is a respectable lady, she knows how to earn respect. I expected she knows that only respect can acquire respect. Hatred and insult bounces back to the source itself.”
“Really!” Maham Anga scoffed sarcastically. “You have some dreamy expectations, young lady! What else did you expect, let me know?”
“What a lawfully wedded bride should expect from her groom’s family, my lady.” Came the clear voice of the princess. “And no matter who is in front of me right now, I won’t leave the palanquin until I get the treatment I deserve.”
“The treatment you deserve?” Even the ever-calm Maham Anga was reaching to her breaking point now. “It seems you suffer delusions of own importance! What special treatment do you think you deserve from the great Mughal Empire being a sold-out token of a poor Hindu king?”
“Like I said… what a lawfully wedded wife deserves. I don’t know what your culture have taught you; whether your great Mughal Empire really approve treating a queen like a cheap revenue from a defeated king or not; in our culture, new brides are welcomed as Goddess Laxmi in the house- as the sign of the prosperity and new hopes being welcomed with her.” The voice of the princess was not trembling a bit. “I have not come here as a token of defeat of Amer; rather I have come as the sign of new hope and prosperity for both Amer and Mughals. I won’t go inside your house until I am welcomed.” Maham Anga watched with shock how the princess addressed directly to Jashn Khan with the commanding voice she should not use, ignoring her completely. “Jashn Khan, in our custom, the Mother-in-Law welcomes the Laxmi of the house on her own… Don’t know about the rituals here, but I would really appreciate if I could get her blessings before I set out for the new life here. I don’t want my first day in this new life to be tainted by some unwanted insults I was not ready to face.”
“Did not you listen that I am next to the emperor’s mother??” Maham Anga now broke the barrier of patience and shouted. “Jalal gives me the same respect as his mother if not more! You want the queen-mother to come on herself to meet you here, that too by disregarding my presence? Do you know for this audacity you will be hanged till death.”
“The emperor must have his own personal reasons to respect you like mother; I don’t see those for myself.” The voice behind the curtain was still firm. “You were ought to be like my mother-in-law, and I would happily accepted to be welcomed by you, if I could see those reasons. I don’t show my respect to the place where it won’t be honoured. It takes more than just power and position to acquire respect, Maham-Anga.”
“You will have to pay for your audacity!” Maham Anga gritted his teeth being unable to process her unbinding rage now. “Resham!” She shouted suddenly.
“Keep your cool, Maham.” Another voice of a woman interrupted, forcing her to control her rage and keep her composure.
Marium Makani was standing nearby, followed by her companions.
“Assalum Aleikum, My Lady!” Maham Anga greeted her with due respect, trying hard to control herself. “The princess of Amer has arrived with the gifts from the king; but I have got it covered. You did not need to show up.”
Hamida Banu smiled warmly, but the gaze in her eyes were commanding. “I appreciate your efforts Maham; but the Princess is the part of the Mughal royal family now. My son has married her, has given her all the rights of the queen. It is my duty to welcome her in the house, in the family being the eldest.” She looked at Jashn Khan, “Jashn Khan, you take care of the gifts that Raja Bharmal has sent to us with so much of honour, I myself will escort my daughter-in-law to the palace.”
The silence of the place broke along with this, and Marium Makani proceeded to the palanquin ignoring the pandemonium. Maham Anga stood at her path with bent head. “Pardon My Lady! Why are you coming down from your position in order to welcome a random wife of the Emperor? Is she really worth of it?” She whispered.
“All I know is sometimes to get the respect back you need to show respect. And, in case of winning Rajputana, Jalal has to win the respect of Rajputs first. I am helping him to gain it; that’s all.” Hamida Banu murmured smilingly. “I would appreciate if you help him the same, Maham.”
The Queen Mother moved towards the palanquin and bent down, giving a hand. “It is an honour that you have come to Agra as my daughter-in-law, Princess. I am sure the land of Agra will shine in your glory from today.”
A beautiful fair hand with various ornaments came out of the palanquin and held the hand of the queen mother, and the Princess came out of the palanquin. The eunuch guards became dumb-stuck as the grace of the whole place seemed to increase as she pulled up her veil. She lowered her eyes, bent down and touched Hamida Banu’s feet.
Hamida Banu was a bit confused with the unfamiliar gesture at first, then after realising the meaning of it she lovingly touched her chin. “I had heard about the beauty along with fire in Rajput women; today got to know about the truth of it. Princess Jodha, if I can read a human in a glance, I can say that you are a rightful young woman to become an empress!”
“Please call me Jodha, Your Highness.” Jodha said in a modest but clear tone. “I am like your daughter.”
“Alright. I would like you to call me Ammijaan and not by my title.” Hamida Banu said lovingly. “Jodha, I have heard that in your place many grand rituals are done to welcome the new bride in house. But I don’t know about the rituals. I am sorry for not being able to arrange anything in this short time. I am also sorry for keeping you in wait for a long time. I received the message of your arrival late, causing all the inconveniences.”
“No problem, Ammijaan. Lady Maham-Anga took good care of us” Jodha said in a hidden sarcasm while glancing at Maham Anga with the corner of her eyes.
“Maham Anga is like Jalal’s mother, Jodha. She means a lot of us.” Hamida Banu said awkwardly. “However… Come with me dear; let me introduce you with other elders of the Zenana.”
The royal lady left along with the new queen, followed by the escorts. Maham Anga kept starring at the path.
“Things are not looking good, Your Highness!” Resham uttered from behind. “A random Hindu princess talked to you with such audacity! And Marium Makani started oiling her!”
Maham Anga was rewinding the image of the face of the princess in her memory. She is beautiful. May not be the most beautiful woman of this universe; may not be the most attracting one in this Harem; but she has her charms. But the beauty is not the thing that makes her special. The young girl is blazing like the desert sun, fierce like a tigress… her eyes shining with sharpness and majestic aura, her demeanour radiating glory of a royal blood. She is strong, she is pride and she is quick-witted; she has beauty with brains… something the men like Jalal would like… Maham Anga would not have worried much about her if Jalal was like a random emperor. She would be sure that the pride of this girl was to go on waste in a lone chamber of Harem after two years when the charm of her beauty would worn out. But Jalal is not a random emperor. Maham Anga cannot read Jalal anymore. But she can sense his instincts…
She has to chop out the wing of the insect before she learns to fly.
-------------------------------------------------------
“So this is the Harem!” Reva uttered mutedly while walking through the narrow passages of the palace. “The living hell for the women!”
The place did not look like that though. Maybe the passages are narrower, the walls are less sculptured that the palace of Marium Makani or Gulbadan Begam or the other senior ladies, but the quarter for Mughal queens have its own ravishing beauty. The whole place is cocooned in wealth and comfort, the gorgeousness of royal lives is floating in the air. The place is not quiet, the sound of chattering of various women, their laugh, giggle or quarrel has mingled in the disciplined ambience like music. The whole place is safeguarded… three circles of security force is especially guarding the ladies. The outer force- based on the most skilled and faithful soldiers of the empire. The second circle consists of the valiant eunuchs, who have double of strength than any of man-warriors… and the inner circle is built with the most valiant, most fierce troop of Tatar women, who watch over every movements in Harem like black cat, protect every hole in Harem like fierce leopard, and shield the whole place every day and night like machines with superhuman energy. In between such a tight security, there are hundreds of ladies living here, creating and breaking dreams, living through those scattered pieces of dream and eventually being happy… every day.
“A golden cage!” Jodha murmured in her own mind.
Passing through the alley they came in a hall escorted by the Tatar guards. Jashn Khan lead them. It was afternoon, so most of the women must had been in their rooms. Some of them were in the hall, spending time together lazily, playing dices, quarrelling or giggling about the jewelleries. They all looked at them when Jashn made the entry. The curious eyes were scrutinizing Jodha.
“Where is Hosiyaar Khan?” Jashn Khan asked an eunuch who was staring curiously. “Find him and notify him that the Hindu Begam has come.”
The eunuch went off. The curious women crowd came closer and one of them moved forward straight to Jodha. “Oh, so you are that Hindu Princess…” Her attention was clearly on the attire of Jodha. “I must say your outfit is good-looking…”
“But not up-to mark.” Another one from behind giggled.
“But the ornaments are shinier than it was supposed to be. Are they real gems or coloured pebbles?”
“Alright, I had heard a lot about Rajputani beauties, but now I am sure they are kind of exaggerated.” Another one twisted her lips. “Sorry girl, but with this kind of dress and make-over, you won’t get a single night with the emperor ever!”
“Says who! How many nights did the emperor stay with you Gulrakh? The last one I remember where you just started to show your charms while he left because he got a call from his beloved Salima Begam.” Someone commented and the others burst into laughter.
“Come on, that was an important matter and Salima Begam is not his sweetheart. Everyone knows that…”
“Come on, everyone knows the real story behind those, only none admits! You see, even Ruqaiya Begam does not mess with her.”
“Just shut up Nazma, if Ruqaiya Begam ever hears that you are spreading those baseless rumours again she will hang you.” Another woman shut them all and come to Jodha. “So, my name is Ruksana Banu Begam. And you?”
“My name is Jodha Bai.” Jodha smiled. “It is so nice to meet you all. I would like to know all of your names.”
“What would you do knowing everyone’s name, girl?” The woman named Gulrakh laughed. “Better you know the name of those who are useful. Go to their feet and oil them. Ask Ruksana, how many night she has got with the emperor just by buttering Ruqaiya Begam.”
Ruksana looked clearly offended. “Yeah the Emperor has stayed a couple of days in my room last time. That does not mean I have oiled Ruqaiya Begam… Maybe His Majesty has some…”
“Feelings for you???” Everyone mocked and giggled together. “Come on, dear little Ruksana, everyone here knows how it works with the emperor. It is better for the Hindu Begam to know the number one rule. Want a night with the emperor, butter Ruqaiya Begam. Want to gift something to the emperor, oil Ruqaiya Begam with every good adjective you know. Unless you have the charm to get caught on his sight in Meena-Bazar, Ruqaiya Begam is the only medium… Uhh, wait… have you met her yet?”
Jodha was feeling uncomfortable with the whole conversation. So many women together, trying to seek attention to get a single night from a man and then throwing mud on each-other out of frustration… the scenario is so so unfamiliar to her that it made her startled. Not everyone of them are the lawfully wedded wife, even the wives do not get their rights… All the rights, the self-respect and the dreams of these women have lost in this strangled air of this grand palace; maybe they had felt the pain long ago, they had despised this life… but today all have forgotten who they are, what did they want… and in a sick swirl of destiny everyone is running behind a single man for some physical happiness… the man who does not love them, whom they do not love!
The face of the emperor flashed in front of eyes. The face of the emperor… the face of Chandrajeet… the nights in the hut with Chandrajeet… his words of love, his smile of submission…
Who is real! Chandrajeet Rathore? Or the emperor who is the owner of all these women’s fate in this Harem!
“Silence!!” A manly voice suddenly dropped a complete silence in the hall. Jodha turned back to see a stony-faced eunuch coming. Behind him there is a line of women, escorting someone very important. Jashn Khan saluted and went off after getting the instruction.
“Here comes Hosiyaar Khan.” Ruksana Begam whispered. “The head eunuch of our Harem, special attendant of Ruqaiya Begam! And this is Ruqaiya Begam… Before she gets to you, go and bow down in front of her, apologize for not meeting her earlier! She will like you!”
Jodha stood straight, not moving a little. Hosiyaar Khan came in front and bent his head with absolutely no respect. “Welcome to the Harem, Hindu Begam. I am Hosiyaar Khan, head eunuch. Expected you a bit earlier.”
“Nice to meet you, Hosiyaar Khan.” Jodha said. “You people misspelled my name- It is not Hindu Begam; I am Jodha Bai. I was with Marium Makani so it is a bit late here.”
Nothing changed in Hosiyaar’s expression. “Padshah Begam was looking forward to you…”
“I was just going to meet her.”
“No need…” The very important lady front behind now came in front. “I have heard that the new Begam refused to move before the Marium Makani herself came to request her to come in. I felt it would be better to meet her on my own, else she might think this as her great insult.” Sarcasm was clear at her face. Jodha gazed at her face. The woman is young, but the excessive rudeness and lack of smile has made her face looking too much older. She has a pretty face with sharp features; but there is nothing superlative about her beauty. She would look dull in front of this room full of heavenly beautiful and attractive women, but she is not. She has a strangely compelling personality, a head-strong majestic attitude carved in every single step, which evidences loudly that she is the empress. With the most ordinary look, minimal make-over, the young empress looked the most graceful one in the whole room.
“Welcome to Agra, Jodha Begam.” She addressed Jodha with an articulated smile. “Hope you are liking this place, and feeling at home. Let me introduce myself. I am Padhshah Begam of the empire, the first consort of the emperor. I am the Malika-E-Harem, that is, I rule here. From now on, your comfort and safety both are my responsibility. My maids will show you your chamber, and the maids of yours can live in the special quarters near you. Also, he will make you aware of the rules and regulations. You are requested to abide by them, as violation of the rules of Harem can become a serious crime in Mughal law, and can end up with a trial in front of the emperor in Diwan-E-Khas which is not very respectful for any of us.”
“Thank you so much, Ruqaiya Begam…” Jodha smiled. “Now allow me to leave…”
Everyone suddenly became conscious as Ruqaiya Begam frowned.
“Aren’t you forgetting something, Jodha Begam?”
“I am afraid I cannot quite understand, Ruqaiya Begam?” Jodha confusedly answered.
“As I said, I am the ruler of Harem. The Malika of everyone living here…” Ruqaiya Begam’s eyes shined in pride. “Don’t you think I owe some respect from a new resident?”
“Bow down in front of her and kiss her feet.” Hosiyaar Khan interpreted.
The instruction was so sudden that even Jodha was at loss for a moment. Getting her composure back, she smiled. “I am so sorry, Ruqaiya Begam… You are a sister to me… maybe like an older sister in relationship. I should have sought for your blessings…”She came closer, joint her hands together and bent her head… “I show my respect to you. Now can I leave?”
Ruqaiya Begam gazed at her face for a moment. Then she started chuckling. “It seems you have not learnt how to bow down, Begam Jodha?”
“Princesses do not bow down in front of anyone. When they bend head, they bend it out of respect, not out of submission. You are a princess too, you will understand what I am trying to say.” Jodha smiled back. “Allow me Ruqaiya Begam; I have travelled a long path, I am tired.”
Jodha got out of the sight. The other queens sighed heavily. “What an imprudent! What an idiot! Got into Ruqaiya Begam’s bad-list for no reason!” They whispered to each other.
“What do you think, Begam Sahiba!” Hosiyaar Khan asked in Ruqaiya Begam’s ears. The Padshah Begam smiled amusedly. “She is proud! Relatable. I like this pride. It will be fun to deal with her.”
“You don’t think she is a threat then?” Hosiyaar said.
“Don’t overthink, Hosiyaar.” Ruqaiya Begam laughed. “Well, something I remember just now. Where is that foolish eunuch? What was his name?”
“You mean Gulal Khan? He is probably suffering from stomach bug, Malika!” Hosiyar Khan suppressed his laughter.
“Right. Kind of remembered a promise I did to him.” Ruqaiya said. “Assign Gulal Khan as Jodha Begam’s special attendant, Hosiyaar. It would be fun to see.”
“As you wish, My Lady…” Hosiyaar Khan bowed.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
“Oh! What a day! What a weird place, so many weird people together!” Leela commented while arranging the room for Jodha. “What do you think, Moti?”
Moti was a bit unmindful. She sighed only. Then she looked at Jodha. Jodha was standing by the small window. The garden is fully visible from this part of the palace. She got up and went by her.
“What are you thinking, Raj-Kunwari sa?” She asked.
“Just what you people are thinking!” Jodha laughed looking at Leela. “It seems this fort is full of megalomaniacs! But they don’t know me!”
Moti smiled looking at Jodha’s amused face. For a moment she saw a glimpse of that same old mischievous Jodha who was buried a long time ago.
“That woman named Maham Anga really made me mad.” Jodha continued. “I just hope she does not visit this portion of Harem much. The women of Harem are irritating, but understandable. However… I really liked the queen-mother. Such a personality! Affectionate, full of compassion, and full of regal personality at the same time!”
“Yeah…” Moti suddenly held Jodha’s hand. “Maybe the emperor has inherited all her natures!”
A cloud of sadness suddenly played through Jodha’s face. She stared out of the window. The garden, the lake and the breeze of Yamuna river… and the window of the opposite palace is just in front. Whose apartment was it supposed to be? The emperor’s?
“May I say you something, Jodha?” Moti came more closer, touching her shoulders intimately.
“Say anything you want, Moti…” Jodha smiled.
“Everyone does not get a second chance in love, Jodha…” Moti said in a low voice, her eyes trembling. “Love is very important. Without it, the life seems meaningless! I have lost mine, forever! You have got back yours… Don’t let your ego to lose it again… Please Jodha! I beg you!”
“Moti…” Jodha’s voice quivered suddenly.
“I know Jodha… I know everything! I know everything you told me; I know everything you did not tell me!” Moti said in teary voice. “I know what you are going through! It is tough to find the trace of the very known man in a complete different personality, especially when the reality becomes so far from the dreams! But believe me, this is much much better than to live your life in uncertainty, knowing nothing about where your love is… knowing that he will never return but longing his path forever. Jodha, you have got the chance in love! Everyone does not. Don’t lose it! Find your old love in this new man, Jodha! Don’t let it to bury under resentments and ego!”
Jodha held both of Moti’s hands in her palms and pressed her head on them. “I won’t, Moti! I won’t!” She murmured softly…
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