Chapter 10

Chapter 10

            In agra the news about jalal marriage to hindu rajkumari spreads like a fire and it’s become hot news amongs people and begum,  hindu people pray that this is will become a good fortune for them since now mughal have hindu begum so may be shehenshah jalal will pay attention more to his hindu people and what they hope same like what hindu maids inside palace especially harem, hindu maids been very suffers through years and they hope this hindu begum can make some change but they are still worry since ruqaiya begum is the chief of harem and so far no one dare to go against her or even just to argue with her no one dare to do that, ruqaiya begum is shehenshah jalal first beguim and his dosti and she is not a common begum , she is too shehenshah khass begim and as if that is not enough she have absolute power in harem but there is only two people that ruqaiya begum can not rule and that is mariam makani hamida bano and selima begum shehenshah second begum whose the widow of bairam khan, mariam makani and selima begum always try to help and protect hindu maid but they can’t help and protect them because there are lots of old rule that couldn’t change and for years maid inside palace especially hindu maids must suffer a lot but they never lost hope and keep pray so miracle can come one day.

Ruqaiya begum got report from her spy that jalal and his new begum on the way back to agra and they will arrive tomorrow, and she got letter from jalal before the wedding that he ask her to prepare one very small room for his new begum and ruqaiya laugh that it seems there is nothing special bout this hindu begum since jalal asking her to give his new begum smallest room for her, ruqaiya heard about the incident with rajkumari sukanya and how this rajkumari jodha become replacement bride for her sister, she is very happy to heard that and from what she head it seems like that jalal hate this rajkumari so ruqaiya feel excited because she no need to worry bout this new begum, she ask hoshiyar to prepare the room, this amer kingdom already make jalal’s name bad with rajkumari sukanya runaway and ruqaiya promise herself to make this rajkumari jodha pay for what her sister did to jalal.

Meanwhile mariam makani hamida bano too feel offended when she heard that jalal must marry rajkumari jodha since rajkumari sukanya runaway, she think how can this rajkumari sukanya humiliate shehenshah e hindustan like that, no one dare to humiliate her son, and hamida feel angry bout how amer seems like playing with mughal honor, and she heard too that jalal asking ruqaiya begum to prepare the smallest room for his new begum and she couldn’t agree more, at least amer must pay for what rajkumari sukanya did to jalal, it turns out ruqaiya begum and mariam makani hamida begum only heard half of the real story and not knowing that shehenshah e hindustan himself demanding to marry angel of amer who none other that rajkumari heer kunwari now call rajkumari jodha.

Selima just finish her namaz and she thank to Allah for sending this amazing woman into jalal’s life, selima got the detailed what really happened in amer so she know bout jodha is angel of amer and how she with brave fight in war against adham khan and his soldiers and how she is rescued rajkumar bhagwan das, selima smile and amaze listening story about this jodha angel of amer who turn out is rajkumari heen kunwari the first of rajkumari of amer but now she calling by rajkumari jodha, selima feel that shehenshah and rajkumari jodha have lots in common and selima think it will be interesting to see what kind relationship between jalal and jodha but selima know that eventhough rajkumari jodha the new begum of shehenshah jalal already have a lot enemy and ruqaiya begum will be her number one enemy because she always jealous over new begum and selima too hear that jodha will give then smallest room in this harem, selima will see how jodha will react bout this matter, she will see if jodha could be a hot temper enemy for ruqaiya begum or she will become the silent yet deadly enemy.

Meanwhile jalal who tell his soldiers to camp and rest just finish his namaz when he hear jodha sing pooja in her camp, jalal come out from his camp and he see lot people looking at jodha camp, abdul and maham anga come to him.

“ shehenshah . . you must stop her doin that . . this is not good, everyone here very disturb with her keep doin pooja and singing like that “ complain maham anga

Abdul smile “ nah maham anga they all just curious that’s it . . no one disturb by jodha begum . . . . . “

“ hah what begum . . even shehnshah hasn’t nikaah with her “ protest maham anga

“ ooh my bad then . . .  no one feel disturb by rajkumari jodha doin pooja, they all mesmerize by her angelic voice “ praise abdul, he know that maham anga don’t like jodha and he intention praise jodha to defend her.

“ let her be baddi ammi  . . . . . “

“ but . . .  “ maham anga want to protest but jalal stop her

“ we will set a rule for her when we arrive at agra . .  my kingdom . . my palace . . my harem . . my rule “ said jalal and maham anga smile with happy and she smirk with evil, then abdul and maham anga leave, jalal then look at jodha camp and he notice that jodha, bhagwan das and man singh didn’t eat anything since they leave amer, he chuckled and he think may be she angry to  him for what he said to her in their supposed their wedding night , but he will see how long she will survive not eat for couple days can make her weak and he will laugh at her when she couldn’t take it anymore.

In the morning jodha already prepare for the journey, eventhough she didn’t eat since they leave amer because all the food that served contain meat while jodha and her family pure vegetarian, but she believe bhagwan das and man singh will just fine,and she still have strength to continue the journey, she’s been in worst than this before, she seen soo much people in poverty and sometimes they cant eat for couple days and once she fasting almost one week only drink and eat fruits and since that day she can understand their feeling, and after that once in every two months she will fasting for four day so she always blessed for what she had, jodha then hear jalal shouting to continue their journey, jodha enter her palaqin and she hold kahna statue with her and she keep pray that kahna will give her strength.

The journey seem very long and far until after mid day they reach agra and everyone curious want to see the hindu begum of shehenshah, hamida bano, bakhsi bano, ruqaiya begum and selim begum waiting for jalal in front of palace, they are welcoming jalal and his new hindu begum, lots maids waiting for their shehenshah but they want to see the new begum of shehenshah, then they hear the announcement that jalal reach palace, hamida bano smile when she look at her son, her heart stil hurt from his rejection the last time but she wont give up, selima begum, ruqaiya begum, bakhsi bano  along with maids with curious waiting for jodha come out from her palaqin, they see two rajput man and that is bhagwan das and man singh help her out from palaqin, reva hold kahna statue, jodha use her dupatta to close her face so people couldn’t see her face, then she follow jalal and his people follow them from behind, jalal arrive in front of hamida bano.

“ welcome back shehenshah “ greet hamida bado

“ thank you mariam makani “ reply jalal with cold and jodha notice that and she know now that the beautiful older woman is the mother of shehenshah e hindustan.

Then ruqaiya begum come forward “ adaab shehenshah “ she greet him with happy

“ adaab ruqaiya begum “ reply jalal

“ how is the journey ? do you miss me ? “ ask ruqaiya

Jalal chuckled “ it’s a very fine journey . . and of course I miss you ruqaiya especially playing chest with you “ said jalal and ruqaiya smile with happiness, then jalal smile to selima “ adaab selima begum “

“ adaab shehenshah “ reply selima then she look at jodha and she smile “ so I guess this is rajkumari jodha . . your new begum . . . “ said selima

“ yes . . this is jodha begum and that one rajkumar bhagwan das and that young man is man singh, from now on man singh will stay with us “ announce jalal make everyone shock

Ruqaiya looking at jodha with arrogant “ so this is the replacement bride for you shehenshah ? “ ask ruqaiya

“ I still can’t believe that amer humiliate you like that . . you are shehenshah e hindustand and no one have right to make you shame like that “ said hamida and everyone can feel the anger in her voice and jalal feel shock thak his ammijan feel angry for her, bhagwan das about to say something but man singh hold his hands and shake his head, man singh will let his buasa to deal with this.

“ on behalf of my sister rajkumari sukanya I apologise . . . I assure you that it was never our intention to humiliate shehenshah e hindustan and mughal sultanat “ said jodha suddenly make everyone surprise

“ ooh it’s good then you realise what your sister done really humiliate shehenshah .. but more pity he must marry a replacement . . you are fake rajkumari “ said ruqaiya with smirk, abdul and atgah really want to see this, the moment angel of amer spit her venom to ruqaiya begum, bhagwan das angry that his sister call as fake rajkumari and he just about to say something but man singh hold him and shake his head.

Jodha smile to ruqaiya “ I’m sorry begum sahiba but you’ve mistaken . . I’m not fake rajkumari  . . as a matter of fact I’m the first rajkumari of amer, yes I left palace long time a go but still I’m the eldest daughter of raja bharmal and I’m the first rajkumari of amer “ announce jodha and selima almost laugh looking at ruqaiya face.

“ nothing special bout being first rajkumari when you here are just a new begum “ reply ruqaiya

“ I’m not saying that I’m special I just corrected your words . . new or old begum all are the same that we all shehenshah begum and shehenshah now my pati “ reply jodha with cool, ruqaiya looking at her with sharp eyes because no one ever dare to talk balk to her like that, and she just about to say something when selima cut her,

“ jodha begum can you open your dupatta . .i guess it’s alright to show your face here “ said selima then jodha nod and slowly she open her dupatta and everyone hold their breath looking at the beauty there, even ruqaiya shock looking at her beauty, hamida and bakhsi too feel shock while selima smile because she already guess that jodha really beautiful from people describe her beauty, hamida can’t believe that such a beauty exist but she still angry with her for her sister done to jalal.

“ ok I will make quick introduction . . jodha begum this is mariam makani hamida bano my ammijan, that is my sister bakhsi bano, that is ruqaiya begum my first begum and the chief of harem and that is selima begum my second begum . . and this is rajkumari jodha my new begum . . . “ jalal introduce them all

“ pranaam “ greet jodha and they all just nod

“ now badi ammi you take rest first . .atgah, abdul and cugtai khan I want to talk to everyone in dewan e khaas tomorrow morning, now you of you go home and rest “ said jalal and then they all leave “ adham khan take bhagwan das and man singh to their room and sharifuddin I want to talk with you tomorrow “ he told adham and sharifuddin then the four of them leave.

“ I think it’s time to show rajkumari her room “ said ruqaiya while she wink to jalal and jalal nod “ come let’s go “ she add and they all leave, jodha already got feeling that jalal plan something evil and she already prepare for the worst, they arrive at one room, it’s very small room , moti and reva look shock to see how small the room and they just about to protest when jodha looking at them and shake her head slowly and quick that nobody notice that but selima notice that.

“ this is your room jodha “ said hamida, jalal already can imagine that jodha will refuse but he just got surprise.

“ thank you ruqaiya begum . . you must be working hard to prepare this room “ said jodha and with happy jodha see a small mandir and she ask moti and reva to put kahna statue there then they pray for awhile, jalal feel disappointing that she accept everything with a smile.

“ I heard you doin wedding in hindu ceremony in amer so we must do nikaah here for you and jodha “ said hamida

“ yes and if you want you can arrange that tomorrow “ reply jalal

Hamida look very happy “ no problem jalal I will arrange this for you “

Reva and moti come to jalal with fear and bow their head “ hmm shehenshah with your permission can we cook something for rajkumari jodha ? since she hasn’t eat since we leave amer “ ask reva

“ and whose fault is that ?  there are lots food and jodha begum just refused to eat them “ scold jalal

Jodha turn around looking at him “ I’m sorry shehenshah but I couldn’t eat those food “ said jodha

“ she didn’t want to eat our food ? who do you think you are ? you want to be treat special ? “ ask ruqaiya angry

Jodha just smile eventhough she is boiling inside “ again you mistaken ruqaiya begum . . I’m pure vegetarian so I can’t ate all those food because all contain with meat, if you notice shehenshah bhaisa and man singh didn’t eat too so if you let moti and reva to cook they will make food for them too “ selima really like this jodha, she know that she is angry but she can look so cool

Hamida looking at jodha with disbelief “ you haven’t eat for three days ? but you looks very healthy and fresh eventhough you’ve been through long journey but you seems ok “ ask hamida, she doubt how on earth jodha can survive not eating for three days and that too in long journey.

“ oooh she is been practicing . . . . “ moti stop talking when jodha give her a warning glare

Selima feel curious bout what moti want to say “ practicing what ? “ she ask

“ yes please tell . . what kind practice you do jodha begum “ said jalal

Jodha take a deep breath “ ooh it’s nothing . . just that once every two month I will fasting in four day only drink and eat fruits “ reply jodha and the four peple in front of them looking at her with surprise

“ why the hell are you doin that ? are you crazy or something ? “ ask ruqaiya

Jodha chuckled “ no ruqaiya begum I’m not crazy . . I’m fasting so I can always remember that there are still lots of people who live in poverty and parents willing to not eat food so their kids can eat, I want to make my self always bless for what I have because there are lots people who have less than me “ she said, selima come to jodha and touch her cheeks

“ you are a good human being and I believe we can be a good friend “ said selima and jodha nod then smile with happy, meanwhile jalal, ruqaiya and hamida still doubt that jodha can do that kind fasting but they are about to witness that very soon.

“ ok now it’s time to go . . tomorrow we will have nikaah ceremony and some ritual “ said jalal to jodha

“ I’ll remember that shehenshah “ reply jodha, then jalal leave follow my ruqaiya, hamida and selima, before leave jalal turn around and see jodha with her maids open her luggage, jodha look up and their eyes meet and they send very clear message, jalal said I will crush you and jodha answer I will not break then jalal leave.

The moment jalal and all leave moti and reva start to complain “ how can they give you this kind room jodha ? “ ask moti

Jodha smile “ this is jalal way to break me . . but I wont give him that satisfaction so from now on you two wont complain and we will show them that rajut woman are not easy to break “ said jodha, moti and reva just nod because they know jodha is very smart so whatever she think she migh already think bout is first “ now go make some food . . bhaisa and man singh might be feel hungry by now “ she add then moti and reave leave, jodha look at kahna statue and pray “ kahna I know the road for me here very rough and you know I can deal with everything just give me strength kahna “ pray jodha and she feel that kahna will answering her pray.

Meanwile in his room bhagwan das feel angry and offended of what jalal and his family done to his little sister, moti and reva told him everything.

“ why you stop me when ruqaiya begum said that jodha is second class of rajkumari ? “ ask bhagwan das to man singh

“ that is buasa figh baapusa . . I’ve got feeling that she will got hard time here so better let her deal from the very beginning “ said man singh and he is right that his buasa can fight with her own even showing to them how sharp her claws.

“ if I know that jalal will treat her like this I rather see amer slaughter by him rathen than see my baby sister’s honor and respect being shattred like this “ bhagwan das feel want to punch someone/

“ don’t worry baapusa . . jodha buasa wont easy to break. . I think this shehehnshah jalal and all people in this mughal sultanat don’t know who is they mess with and jodha buasa will show them what made of she is, we talk bout jodha buasa who with fearless fighting in battlefield to defend amer fort, who with brave help me to rescue you and in process she fight with shehenshah  . . . these people underestimate jodha buasa so they wont know what will hit them “ explain man singh

Bhagwan das think what his son is right “ I’m glad that you are here with jodha . . you two can protect each other . . . I wont stay long here . . may be tomorrow after jodha and shehenshah nikaah I will go back to amer, please taking care of jodha buasa , she is very smart and patient but you know how she like when she loose her patienf “ said bhagwan das

Man singh laugh “ I know baapusa . . who will ever forget the moment jodha buasa lost her cool “ and bahgwan das laugh too, he pray to bhagwan to always protect jodha and man singh, they are his dear sister and son, and actually they have the same nature, too straight towards, fearless, honest and innocent which make him worry bout them most of the time, he just hope both will learn how to deal with people around this palace and he will try to believe in them because they are smart too, bhagwan das cross his finger for jodha future here in mughal sultanat.