Chapter 19

Chapter 19

          Maham anga just got news that jalal is no where to be find at palace and no one know where is he going, maham anga told her spy to find out where is shehenshah, it’s impossble that jalal as shehenshah just missing like that someone must seen him, then maham anga looking for hamida, eventhough they never in good term but may be hamida know that she doesn’t know, maham anga find hamida checking every people got what they deserve.

“ mariam makani “ call maham anga

Hamida look at maham anga “ oooh you maham anga . . what’s wrong ? “ ask hamida

“ I need to speak to you if you don’t mind “ reply maham anga then both move aside little bit

 “ what you want to talk maham anga ? “ ask hamida

“ I want ask did you meet shehenshah this morning ? “ ask maham anga

Hamida look confuse “ no maham anga I didn’t see or meer jalal this morning why ? “

“ because I’ve just got news that he is missing . . no one see shehenshah since morning and atgah looking for him but shehenshah no where to be found “ said maham anga and hamida really shock to hear that.

“ what ? how come shehenshah missing ? how come he just disappear like that ? “ ask hamida, she really confuse how can jalal missing.

“ I don’t how something like this happening . . you think we must going back to palace since sheheshah missing ? “ ask maham anga

Hamida thinking a while “ ok . . . . come with me we will tell others that we will goin back to palace soon “ said hamida then she leave following by maham anga, hamida call ruqaiya, selima and jodha.

 “ what’s wrong ammijan ? “ ask ruqaiya

“we must going back to palace “ answer hamida

“ oooh ya khuda thank you “ said ruqaiya with happy

“ what’s wrong ammijan ? something happen ? why we must goin back to palace now ? “ ask selima

“ shehenshah missing . . . no one see him since morning so I’m worry something happen to him sowe better going back now “ reply hamida, everyone very shock to hear that including jalal himself, he don’t know when people not seeing him all day they think he is missing, jalal looking at jodha and both confuse what to do because it’s impossible for jalal to confess that he is there with them not missing.

“ what ???? how can that happening ammijan ? how on earth jalal is missing ? “ ask ruqaiya, she is angry and worry in the same time.

“  I don’t know how this happening ruqaiya begum but we will find out when we are back “ reply hamida, then jodha looking at jalal and give him a sign that she got an idea.

“ ammijan . . shehenshah is not missing “ said jodha suddenly making everyone surprise

“ what you said jodha begum ? “ ask ruqaiya

“ I said shehesha is not missing ruqaiya begum “ reply jodha

“ how it possible that you know where shehenshah is “ said maham anga, she cant believe this is happening.

“ yes maham anga ji . . I don’t know where shehensah but I know who is with him “ said jodha, maham anga and ruqaiya looking at jodha with skeptical because they don’t believe jodha know whereabout shehenshah.

“ how you know where is shehenshah jodha begum ? “ ask selima

“ well last night shehensha told me that today he want to have sword practice and achery with man singh “ told jodha everyone.

Hamida looking at jodha with suspicious “ are you telling the truth jodha begum ? “ she ask

“ yes ammijan  . . last night shehenshah and me talk and he told me that he want to practice with man singh, he is very exciting bout this because he want to learn special technique from man singh “ jodha explain and jalal smile listening to jodha explanation, she is very smart and quick thinking.

Ruqaiya and maham anga laugh “ learning something from your nephew ? you are joking right ? “ ask ruqaiya

“ no ruqaiya begum I’m not joking, it’s up to you if you want to believe it or not, as a warrior it’s not strange if we want to learn other’s warrior technique “ said jodha, and jalal know that jodha not telling the truth that she is the one who will train him so he guess jodha don’t want others know her sword fighting skill.

Selima staring at jodha with amusement “ oohh so you and shehenshah talking almost all night just the two of you . . there is must be an amazing conversation “ tease selima making jodha’s face blush, jalal who see that very curious why jodha blushing when selima tease her.

“ nothing special really . . .  we were just talking “ said jodha with little bit nervous but selima chuckled looking at nervous jodha, maham anga notice what happen to jodha and she wonder too why she behave like that.

“ oooh ok if that the case that we wont need to be worry . .  jalal really like to practice whenever he got time so I think this is not a big problem .. we better back to serve people “ announce hamida, before maham anga and ruqaiya can protest hamida leave with selima, maham anga and ruqaiya looking at each other with disbelief face expression then they look at jodha and leave, jalal come to jodha’s side.

“ you owe me .  . big time “ she said

Jalal looking at her with amusement “right . . right begum sahiba and I will pay you back full with interest “ said jalal.

Jodha looking at him and smile “ good then if you realize that . . now let’s go back to work “ she said and jalal smile because this is the first time someone give him an order, he following jodha and think that he will have amazing life ahead with his new begum, she is like a puzzle to him and he want to solve her puzzle.

Hamida, jodha, selima, ruqaiya and others working really hard to serve their people and thorugh this special occation for the first time jalal know what his people think about him and most of them thinking him in negative way and have bad image bout him in their mind, and jalal don’t know if he like what he just seen and heard about his people, and that make him thinking if he is blind all these years because he can’t see what’s happeing in hiw own sultanat, and jalal need to talk about this with the people he really trust and he definitely need to jodha since she is outsider so her opinion still pure from hear her hard.

It’s afternoon when everyone back to palace and they meet atgah and man singh, jodha really hope that no one will ask man singh about jalal but it’s not her lucky day.

“ oohh man singh . . how is the sword fighting and achery training man singh ? “ask hamida

“ aaah it’s amazing like usual mariam makani “ reply man singh, he really confuse why hamida asking about that all of sudden, then he see jodha wink to him to give him a sign, atgah notice jodha try to give man singh a code.

“ where is shehenshah ? jodha begum said you and shehenshah practice together “ ask ruqaiya, man singh and atgah start to understand everything and they both looking at the man behind jodha who wearing a disguse as guards but man singh and atgah recognize him as jalal since he look at them and wink to them, atgah and man singh don’t know why jalal wear a disguise but they guess he must be had strong reason to do that.

“ yes ruqaiya begum me and shehenshah practice together and he just leave but I don’t know where may be to his chamber “ sain man singh.

“ ooh ok then I will go now . . adaab “ reply ruqaiya then she leave following by maham anga.

“ you all go to your chamber then rest . . thank you for helping me serve people today “ announce hamida and then they all leave, jodha look at jalal before she leave and he just smile to her, atgah and man singh come to jalal.

“ shehenshah what is that all about ? “ ask atgah

“ I will tell you later atgah . . now I need to change my attire and take off this disguise and I need go to jodha begum chamber to do that “ said jalal and he see atgah try to hold his smile.

“ don’t think something weird atgah “ warn jalal

 “ I’m not “ reply atgah

“ think about what ? “ ask man singh he is confuse what they are talking about

“ nothing man singh . . come I must go now or ruqaiya begum will make me headache “ reply jalal then he leave in hurry and atgah watching him with interesting, jalal enter jodha’s chamber but she is not there, he change his clothes fast then then he leave but adham khan see jalal when he leave jodha’s chamber and he smile because he know what jalal do there, adham leave too and he will tell his mother bout this.

Jalal just arrive at his chamber when ruqaiya begum arrive with maham anga, he look at their worry face.

“ adaab shehenshah “ greet maham anga

“ adaab jalal “ greet ruqaiya

“ adaab maham anga . . ruqaiya . . is everything ok ? “ ask jalal

“ we just worry bout you . . I’ve got news that you are missing “ said ruqaiya then she come to jalal’s side “ where are you goin ? is it true that you and man singh go to practice ? “ ask ruqaiya with curious, she still not believe that jalal gone without noticing someone.

“ yes I go with man sing to practice . . why ? “ jalal pretend to be clueless

“ why you don’t tell anyone bout this shehenshah ? “ ask maham anga

“ well I didn’t know that I must report when I want to go practice “ reply jalal with sarcastic

“ it’s not like that shehenshah just everyone feel worry when they can’t find you anywhere ? what if something happen to you ? “ said maham anga

“ I’m not a child maham anga and I can take care of my self perfectly and beside I’m with man singh so nothing to worry about “ said jalal

“ and you didn’t bother to tell me . . but you told jodha begum . . . why you did that jalal ? now you trust her and report everything to her is that right “ ruqaiya ask in angry, she really fall into jealously.

“ yes jalal why you didn’t tell us too but you only told jodha begum . .  isn’t you hate her why now act like she is important, she is just a hindu begum why give her importance ? “ maham anga bombard jalal

“ silentttttt “ yeall jalal with loud then ruqaiya and maham anga quite “ listen first I’m shehenshah e hindustand and I can do whatever I like without reporting to anyone, two jodha begum is my begum too so there is nothing strange when I told something but I don’t told you two, three it’s my right to choose who I can to talk or who I want to trust and no need other people to tell  me otherwise . . .” said jalal with angry

“ I . . I . . I “ ruqaiya bout to say something but jalal give her sign to keep quite.

“ ruqaiya begum I have other begum beside you including jodha begum so keep this in your mind that i will choose with whom I want to spend my time with and my other begum have the same right like you to be with me “ scold jalal “ now leave me alone .. I feel very tired and to rest . . . “ he add

“ but jalal . . . . “ said maham anga

“ leave “ said jalal once again and maham anga know better not to argue with angry jalal, then she take ruqaiya hand and drag her from there while jalal with relieve lay his body on bed, he can’t believe what happening to him today but one thing for sure that he definitely must rethink again about how he rule his sultanat, for the first time jalal see the reality of his people and it hit him hard and he must thank jodha for opened his eyes and now he must think what he must do for his people, and jalal close his eyes and falling into sleep with the image of his people who suffer and an image of an angel who now walk on mughal sultanat.

After few days since jalal come along with jodha to serve his people there are soo much in jalal’s minds, he still need thinking what he will do about that, the reality he just find out really shocking and jalal need to talk with someone, tomorrow he will talk to atgah but now he need talk to selime begum so he ask guards to send message to selima begum that he is waiting for her at his chamber, and selime enter jalal’s chamber about fifteen minutes later.

“ adaab shehenshah “ greet selima

“ come selima begum and sit with me “ said jalal then selima enter his chamber and sit across jalal.

“ what’s wrong shehenshah ? guards say you want to talk something important ? “ ask selima

Jala nod “ yes selima . . I need your opinion . . and I want you to be honest with me, it’s kinda hard to find someone who can speak honest with me “ reply jalal

“ ok shehenshah  will try to be honest . . what you want to ask ? “ ask selima, she never seen jalal like this and so she wonder what’s happening.

“ I’ve been thinking me as shehenshah what I’ve done for my people . . have I treat them right “ said jalal

Selima see jalal as if he drink something “ why suddenly you said like this jalal .. everything is ok ? “ ask selima

“ you remember few days a go you with mariam makani and other begum leave palace to serve people ? “ ask jalal

“ yes I remember that shehensha . . . so ? “ ask selima, she is very confuse now

“ actually I was there with you all “ reply jalal

Selima don’t understand and very confuse now “ sorry jalal I’m very confuse . .what are you trying to say ? “

“ I was there when you and other begum serve people, I was wearing a disguise so no one can recognize me, I’m with jodha begum . . I was pretend to be one his guards “ jalal explain everything to selima, selima now understand everything and that is why he is missing and now what make selima curious why he was goin with jodha.

“ ok now I understand everything but why you go with jodha begum ? “ ask selima

“ well actuall selima begum it’s jodha begum who ask me to go with you al “ confess jalal which make selima shock because there is only one person who can told jalal wah to do and that is maham anga.

“ seriously jalal ? I mean really ? “ ask selima

Jalal chuckled “ I know what you are thinking selima begum .  . jodha begum challenge me and you know I love challenge and so I go “ reply jalal, selima smile and she admire how jodha make jalal see what happening in his sultanat by challenge him.

“ ok . . I understand . . and something disturb you after that day ? “ ask selima

Jalal nod “ yes . . when I see people even don’t have money to eat properly, to, to go to hakim sahiba when they sick, I feel really shock and I feel I don’t know nothing about my people “ said jalal, selima pray that ya khuda will bless jodha because she is the one who take jalal outside and open his eyes.

“ yes shehenshah . . lot people in mughal sultanat live in poverty, everything very expensive in mughal sultanat, lot kids cant go to school and among other things, that is why me and ammijan trying to help people as much as we can but we can’t help all of them and that makes me sad sometimes as we eat delicious food here but out there lot people who even can’t eat “ selima told everything to jalal and he feel more bad listening to that.

“ it was really make me very bad because I didn’t know bout how my people suffer . . and what I should do to help them “ said jalal

“ shehenshah I know to rule mughal sultanat is not easy and you must think all people not just some of them, your rule should for your people welfare and make evertything easy for them and not the other way around, but now you’ve seen what the reality in your sultanat, I can’t give you any advice because you are the one who must make everything right and I think you should think what is the best for your people, you are their shehenshah, you are like father to them and a father should think about their childrens right so rather think how to be a good shehenshah you better think how to be a better father because if you can be a good father definitely you will become a good shehenshah “ jalal for the first time knowing that selima begum have a bright minds just like jodha begum but jalal refuse to see and listen what selima begum, mariam makanai even jodha begum try to show him but now he understand and he will think how to make his people have a better living.

Jalal looking at selima begum with appreciation and now she understand why khan baba always ask selima begum advice for everything, she is indeed very wise “ thank you selima begum . . it’s been a pleasure to talk with you and I’m happy finally someone in this sultanat have gut to talk the bitter truth to my face . . well jodha begum done that first but you still special to me . . I will think everything again selima begum and please from now on if you feel there is something that not right tell me, I’ve enough people who always agree to everything I said and don’t need that kind people anymore “

Selima smile to him “ oooh you can count on me about that shehenshah, and beside eventhough I don’t say it to you I believe someone here will always speak her minds no matter what the consequences “ tease selima

Jalal laugh “ shocking yet refreshing right . . . being and outsider she is not care and not afraid to say whatever she want to say and sometimes I hate her for that “ he said in amusement

“ well seems like you didn’t hate her anymore . . “

“ oooh I still hate her selima begum but it’s amazing right that even we don’t like even hate each other but we can talk and act in civil manner “ said jalal

“ yes well it’s interesting to see your interation with jodha begum . . . and I’m looking forward when you two falling in love . . . . “

“ nah selima begum “ cut jalal “ don’t think too far . . I don’t believe in love and I don’t think jodha begum believe that either “ he add

Selima smile with wide “ yes . . yes whatever you think shehenshah, now if we done here I want to back to my chamber . . tomorrow rahim will be back and I’m prepare everything for him “ said selima

“ ahhh yes rahim is back after delayed sometimes finally he is back . . I’m missing him soo much and this sultanat boring without his laugh “ reply jalal

“ when you have your own kids I think this palace will very noisy “ said selima

“ hope so selima but still not good news from ruqaiya begum and other begum “ reply jalal with sad, he is been try to have kids but till none his begum getting pregnant

“ don’t worry shehenshah . . you will have one when the time is right “ selima try to pacify him

“ hope so selima begum . . now go . . prepare everything for rahim . . I want he feel we all missing him badly “ reply jalal

“ ok shehenshah . . Allah hafiz “ said selima and jalal nod then selima leave, while jalal still thinking what he will do for his sultanat but jalal believe that khuda will help him and give him a way.