Tears of love.
Thewind blew through the desert makeing shrill sound. It was a desert storm, thewhole of the palace of Amer were in side there chambes except the lone figurestanding on the terrace oblivious to the sound all around her. Nothing seemedto reach her heart nothing seemed to effect her anymore. She had been this waysince she had returned from Agra. She was blank like a sheet, all tha she couldhear was his voice, angry and full of pain “ Humein aap se mohabbat ho gayi thiJodha begam.” He had said. She fell to the floor, “ Aap ki is Nakari ne humeinsharmsaar kar diya.” He had said. She lay down on the floor of the terrace asthe first drop of rain hit the earth, soon fat dops of rain started falling incascades, Jodha lay there in a wet light green lehenga, her orni laid on hercasually, hair open spread abiut her. She wanted the rain to sooth her pain butit wouldn’t, only he could.
“Jodha...Jodha...” her maasa cane looking for her on the tarrece “ Hey bhagwan kya halatkar rakhi hai tune laado, chal bhitar chal...” she pulled her up, arre chalna.” She pulled her with her downstairs to her chamber. “Reva iski madad kar.”Saying she left. All The maids worked around Jodha to get her ready. Jodha wasin an auto moton working with them without the wish of her own.
Themaids had just left, leaving Jodha alone, Jodha sat with her head on her knees.“Sahanshah, Sahanshah, aap ne eysa sochbhi kaise liya ke hum aapke elawa kisi aur se...”
Campednear tge outskirts of Amer, the young emporer sat by the fire looking into it,“ kaise itni badi galri mujhse ho gayi. Apni mohabbat par hum ne kaise shaq karliya. Ya alla humein maaf karde. Humein apni mohabbat se milla de.” Suddenly hefelt like someone was calling him. “ Sahanshah...” Jalal stood up and lookedaround. There was a weird pain in his heart, as if some where else the otherpart of it was hurting. He sat back down and looked at his hands , he hadpushed her man handeled her, he needed to punish his hand he picked up hisdagger and slit his palm, “ Mujhe mauf kar dijiye Jodha.” He wishpered. Abdulwho was watching his emperor from afar came running “ Sahanshah what have you done.” He asked . He called thehakim who came and dressed it.
Jodhalay on her bed but sleep evaded her. She just couldnt take it any more, it washurting too much.
Thenext day Jalal reached Amer. Everyone was present at the gates to greet him buthis Jodha. He looked around searching for her but no use. There was everyonehere but there was a strange silence in the air. After Jalal had settled in RaniSahiba Maina wati came to him “ Jawaisa kya hua hai Jodha ko? Jabse lauti haimano jaise but si ba gayi hai.” She inforhim. Jalal looked up in shock. “ Nahasti hai, Na roti hai. Kuch kaho to muh mod leti hai. Ayesa lagta hai jaisesirf sarir hai aatma kahi chut gaya hai.” She asked . Jalal closed his eyes inpain.A drop of tear rolled down his eyes. “ kaha hai abhiJodha?” He adked. “Pata nahi shayad chat par.” Rani Sahiba answered. He got up and ran to theterrace.
Thereshe sat on the parapet with her head on her knees. Jalal felt his heart reachhis mouth. She wore a white lehenga with silver work, hair open eyed closed.shejust sat there. Jalal slowly approached her and touched her shoulder “Jodha.” He called Jodha looked up at him, shelooked up at him and smiled “ Aap aa gaye Sahanshah... ab mera intezaar khatamhua.” Saying so she swayed a little and fell into his armsfainting. A bottleslip out of her hand. “ JODHAAAAAA.”. He picked her into his arms and ran downto her room, Mainavati saw them coming and ran upto them. “ Hakim ko bulaiyeJodhane zeher pi liya hai.” He informed. Revaran to call the hakim.
Oneof her hands were still fisted. He pried it open to find a note. He gave it tomoti to read it.
“Sahanshah,
Aapko ek nazar dekhne ke liye hi ab tak pran nahi tyage, nahi to aap ki nazron segir ke humein jevit nahi rehna. Aap ke bina kya lab is jeevan ka, jab aaphi nehum par vishwas nahi kiya, to kya kare hum jike. Ab aap ko dekh liya to aapsevida lete hai. Aap se bahut prem karte hai.
Aapkiaur sirf aapki Jodha.”
Jalalfell to his knees in front of Jodha “ Nahi aap humein chodke nahi jayengisamjhi aap. Humari ek galti ki intni badi saza nahi dengi. Hum mar jayengeJodha. Humein maaf kar dijiye. “ Jalalstarted crying. Abdul came and touched hia shoulders “ Sab thik ho jayegasamhaliye apne aap ko.”he said. The vaid arrived, and immediately started Jodha’s treatment.
Jalalsat next to Jodha continuously, the tears just wouldn’t stop, Kuwar Bhagwandas andRaja Bharmal also sat next to them, all of them felt equally helpless. “ Shahanshah humne ranisa ko vish kikat dediya hai. Ab humein kewal pratiksha karni hogi.” The vaid stated and left.“ Sahanshah thoda sa kuch kha lijiye.” Raja Bharmal requested. “ Nahi Raja sahab.Jab tak Jodha ko hosh nahi ata hum naa hi kuch khaenge, aur nahi soyenge.” Jalalstated. He picked up Jodha's hand and brought it to his mouth and kissed it.
Rajajiand kuwar had just left. “ Jodha humse galati ho gayi. Humein mauf karddijye. Agaraap nahi lauti to hum duniya tabah kardenge, aur khud ko bhi khatam kar lenge.”Jalal screamed. “Jodha... Jodha.” He puthis head on his hand and sat quitely.
Thewhole day had passed, it was midnight, Abdul had come several times to check on his Sahanshah and begam, butcouldn’t move Jalal from her side. “Jodha jab humein patachala, ke aap chali gayi to ayesa laga jaisehumari zindegi viraan ho gayi. Hum aapse behad mohabbat kartein hai. Aap ke binahum mar jayenge.” Jalal said.
Jodhafelt like she was floating in an abyss. It was dark all around. She kept lookingfor her Sahanshah. When she heard his voice. “ Laut aiye Jodha, humein chod karmat jayiye, ya fir humein apne saat le chaliye.” She heard his voice. “ NahiSahenshah ko dard ho raha hai, kanha humein unke paas laut na hai.”she prayed toher kanha.
Themorning rays fell on Jodha’s face, she stirred. Jalal felt her movement and satup he asked the maids to call Raja sahab and Rani Sahiba. Jodha opened her eyes to find Jalal sitting withher hand in his hand. She turned her face away from him. Tears rolled down her eyes“ Iti khafa hai aap humse ki humein jetejee maar ke jana chahate hai.” He asked. “ Hum aapki drishti se gir ke jeevit nahirehna chahte. Agar aap hum par vishwas hi nahi karte to kya lab is jeevan ka.” Jodhaanswered still looking away.
Justthen Raja Bharmal along with the rest of the family and Dadisa arrived. Jalal gotup to let her sit. She took Jodha’s hand in hers. “Yeh kya Jodha, aapni pida humsebaant nahi sakti thi.Ayesa kadam kiyun uthaya.” She scolded Jodha. “Agar tum kokuch hojata to hum sab kya karte. Mujhe nahi pata tha ki tum itni durbal ho.” Jodha’smother came and hugged her. “ kiyun laado kiyun kiya tume ayesa.”Mainavati kissedher head. The vaid was back to check on het. He gave instructions to Jalal for themedicines, after which everbody left. At last Jalal and Jodha was alone. Jalal stoodat the window, jodha had dozed off. Tears just wouldn’t stop flowing from his eyes.
Aftersometime he heard a sound of vessel falling,he turned arround to see Jodha reach for the water. He ran up and offered her water.She drank i, but looked away again. “ Aap humein mauf nahi karenge. Aapke bina hummar jayenge. Hum aapse beintehaa mohabbat kartein hai, isiliye jalan mein galtiho gayi. Aapko kishi aurke saath bardash nahi kar sakte.” Jalal said in a sad voice.Jodha looked at him there were tears in his eyes. Jodha wiped them away, “ Yeh antim baar hai Sahanshah agar phir kabhiaapne humein chot pahuchaya phir aap humein kho denge. Sada ke liye.” She said butJalal stopped her, Then he pulled her into a passionate hug. Jodha felt at peace in her Sahanshah's arms. Theybroke the hug and looked into each others eyes. Jalal looked at her lips touchedit gently, Jodha closed her eyes. Jalal capturedher lips in his, they slowly deepend the kiss.
Jodhahad atlast found her love, and Jalal his heart.
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