Chapter 2
Mewat February 1561 CE.
“Khan Baba, Mujhe mukammal hindustanapne muthi mein chahiye. Aur uske liye Rajputana ka jhukna bahut zaruri hai.”Jalal said as he stood looking at the setting sun in his camp near mewat. “ Jalalkhayal to tumhara acha hai par tum yeh karoge kaise.” Bairam Khan asked. “ InRajputon ko jhukana bahut mushkil hai Jahapanah.” Sarifuddin stated. “ Zindagiasan kab hoti hai Sarifuddin, humari tokabhi bhi nahi thi. Par jab Jalal apni samseer uthata hai to muskilein apnekadam piche hata lete hai.” As Jalal spoke he heard sound of music floating inwith the desert winds. He walked up to the edge of his camp to look for thesource. At a distance he could see a fliker of light it seemed to be calling to him. He called forhis horse, “ Kaha ja rahen ho Jalal?” Khan baba asked. The Adhali brought inhis horse, he mounted it, “ bas abhi atein hai.” He answered. Sarifuddin hadalso mounted his horse and followed. Onreachin the spot they saw that it was a gypsy camp. The women were dancing andsinging.
They were singing about a girl whowas an epitome of beauty, a girl whoese lips were like the petals of a rosebud,hair dark as the clouds, when she spoke it felt like petal showers and shewalked with the grace of a peacock. “yeh kiski baat kar rahein hai Sarifuddin? Tumheepata hai?” Jalal asked.” Aur kiski Sahanshah, pure Rajputana mein ek hi to hai ayesi Registhan ka gulab, Amer kiSehzadi Jodha bai.” Sarifuddin answered. Though he had heard the name for thefirst time his heart started beating faster. He looked into the desert “ Jodha.” He sighed.
The map of Rajputana was laid on thetable and Jalal, Bairam Khan, andShariffuddin stood maround it. “Amerdikhne mein chota hai, paur bahut hi takqatwar Rajvanshi rajya hai. Humeinpehle isi par dhyan dena chahiye.” Jalal stated, “ Jahanpanha l, is waqt Gangurka jashn Amer mein chaluhai, is tyohar ko bade dhum se manaya jata hai Amermein. Sar Rajput Subon ki raja yeha maujud hai.” Sarifuddin informed Jalal. “ Humle se pwhele hum Amer kamuayena karenge.” Jalal stated. “ Hum chahenge ki aap wk bar apne faisle parsochen.” Bairam Khan stated.” Kiyu Khan baba aap ko hum par bharosa nahi?”Jalal asked . “ Ayesi baat nahi hai. Bashum chahte hai ki tum thoda intezar karo.” Baba said.
But something seemed to be callinghim to Amer, he just couldn’t wait. In the cover of the
night he left for Amer along with his mateabdul.
By mis day they had entered Amer. Thewhole place was decorated for the festival. Jalal and abdul were both dressedup as Rajputs. He looked around taking in the colourful atmosphere of the city.As he walk around the market place the beauty of Amer seemed to touch him somewherein his heart. There seemed to be fairgoing on. Jalal looked around at times stepping back or moving forward. Therewhere colourful stalls selling artefacts, jewellery, sweets. There were men dressedas horses dancing around, women wereperforming different acrobatics. Therewere archery compititions going on in one corner andsword fight in the other.He was quite engrossed in his surroundings when he heard laughter behind him,the sound was so beautiful it felt like a twinkling of a windchime, it wasfollowed by the sound of ankelets. He turned around to see a group of girls,surrounded by soilders running from stall to stall, one of them whose back wasturned to him seemed to be teasing the other girls. She laughed again the soundseemed to draw Jalal towards them, as he walked towards them the girl steppedback laughing, suddenly she lost her balance and collided with Jalal, Jalalimmediately had his arms around her to hold her steady, she turned look at him,as their eyes met wind seemed to be punched out of him. She was the mostbeautiful girl Jalal had ever seen . Big beautiful doe shaped caramel eyes,flawless complexion, skin seemed to be as soft as silk. She looked innocentand untouched. Jalal was a gonner.
Jodha was in a good mood since themorning.Gangur was here the fair had started she was egar to enjoy herself. Sukanya and Shivani were busy, eyeing thetrail of princes who were arriving to Amer. When they reached the fair, Jodhastole a glance at Sukanya to find her eyeing someone “ Kise tak rahi hai marilado,” she asked pulling Sukanya’s cheeks. “ Konhi ko nahi Jijisa.” She triedhiding her blush, “ Jhooth ... Jhooth bole hai Jiji yeh. “ Shivani chiped inwith Radha laughing in the back. Sukanya tried to stop Shivani by putting herpalm on her mouth, But Radha answered “ Bhangarh ke Raja Suryabhan. “ “ Acha jito Sukanya ko prem ho gaya hai.” Jodha chirped and started laughing, she waswalking backwards as she teased her sister, “ chalo humein bhi to dikhao.” Sherequested teasing her again “ Jiji mat na" Sukanya whined and Jodhalaughed again stepping back. Suddenly she lost her balance and would havefallen if she had not collided with someone at the back. She felt a pair ofstrong hands hold her close to them, her heart was beating fast, ahe heard hersisters and Radha gasp at the audacity of the person to touch a RajvanshiPeincess. She slowly turned arround to see who it was and her eyes met with apair of dark mysterious pair of eyes. The man in frontof her was justbreathtaking. Fair complexion, thinaristrocratic nose, pink lips and a thin moustache above it, shoulder length lightbrown hair made him look divine. There was light smirk on his lips that tookher breath away. She was lost. Her breath hitched, and her heart startwdbeating faster. “ Jodha chalo yehase.” Radha said pulling her away.
Jalal heard one of the other girlscall her Jodha. “ Jodha ...” he wishpered. “ Kuwari Jodha... thare liye. Thiriiti himmat ke Ek Rajvanshi Rajkumari ko haat lagaye.” Radha retorted. “ Hummeshama kariyo Baisa, Manne na pata tha je koun se. Hum Naye hai yeha.” Jalalanswered “ Manne to madda karne ki koshis kiyo.” Jalal stated. He saw thesoilders had also surrounded him. “ Jane do unhe , qoh thik keh rahe hai, wohnaa hote to hum gir jate. Aapke madad ke liye dhanyawad.” Jodha answered shyly,Jalal smirked. As they walked away Jalal stood watching them go, as Jodhaturned secretly to look at him. Jalal felt something change within him butwhat?
Jodha stood at her window , she couldstill feel his eyes on her, she felt her cheeks turn warm, who was he. No manhad ever effected her so much. She just couldn’t forget those eyes. Her fatherhad announced her wedding the day before. Sujamal bhaisa had also revolted abdlwft, she did not know whom she was to marry yet. Soon her maasa was announced.“ Jodha yeha ao. Beto. Tumhari vivah te ho gayi hai.” Champavati stated. “Kisse masa.” She asked looking down. “ Bhanpur ke Raja Suryabhan. “Par unhe toShivani ne chuna hai.” She stated in surprise, “ Par unhone tumhw chuna hai. Tohim kuch nahi kar sakte.” Hee masa said. She got up then stated “ Bawri meindiya bahane jana hai to Jaldi karo.” She said as she left. Jodha looked out ofhwr window a face floated in front of her eyes “ Kaun ho tum, kiyun mer maan pechayw huye ho.” She said to herself.
Jalal had heard the people in the market say that the women in the royal family would come to the bawri tocelebrate gangaur, so he waited egarly. “ Kya hua Jahanpanha wapas nahi jana,”Abdulasked. “ Nahi ... rukna hai.” Jalal answered, they sat at a sarai having lunch.Jalal was lost in her thoughts. He could still smell her in his hand, “ Jodha...”he sighed again. Abdul smiled, “ Kya baat hai Jahanpanha, kya Sahanshah ka dil a gaya us Sahzadi par.” Abdulasked in a teasing voice. Jalal laughed, “ Ha ha ha ha Dil nahi hai hamare paas.”Jalal said, but then there was a weird feeling in the organ that lay dormant in his chest, as if it had woken up. Jalal shook his head.
Jodhaand her maasa were near the temple in the bawri. After they finished the puja Theywent to the bawri to finish the deep daan. They were returning from the bawri, she felt someone pull her backtowards the back of the temple. She turned aroubd shocked to find the same mysteriousdark eyes staring down at her, “Aap,” Jodha looked surprised, she pushed her self free, “ Aap ki yeh dussahas,kya aap ko apni jaan ki parwah nahi. Aap jasnte nahi sipahiyo ne dekh liya aap koto mare jayenge.” Jodha retorted. Jalal came forward touched her cheek with hisfinger “ Humein maarne ke liye sipahiyo ki kya zarurat aap ki nigahein hi kafi hai.”Jalalwishpered. Jodha blushed “ Aap humse chaahteinkya hai,” Jodha asked “ Aapko aapna banana.” Jalal stated Jodha turned away “ asambhav,humara vivah taye hochka hai.” Jodha answered. “ Hua to nahi na.” Jalal stated.He held both her hands and pulled her back towards him. “hum jo chahte hai woh hasilkarke rahte hai.” He wishpered into her ears. “ hum ek Rajvanshi Rajkumari hai humeinpaana itna asan nahi.” She answered angrily, pulling herself away frim him. “ Aap ko hasil karne le liye hum kisi bhihad tak jayenge. Hona to aap ko humarahi hai.” With that Jalal left her staringat his wake. “Jodha... Jodha. “ she was broughtback to her sense by Radha
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