After some time...'That means you a

After some time...

'That means you are Chote Sarkar's wife!!! That means you are our Begum Sahiba!!! Yah Khuda!!!' Zakira couldn't believe what her ears just got. She couldn't believe she was sitting in front of Mrs Jalaluddin Mohammad. This finding only raised her appetite for more.


'But why is it hidden from the world? If we can know the heir...then what's wrong in knowing the mother of the heir?'


'Well...there are some complications...but I think you can manage with what you have got.' With this Jodha gave her a closure look. Indicating...'that's all I have got for you.' It didn't take much for Zakira to understand what she meant. Hence she drew back immediately. Not that her queries were satisfied, but she was well trained to stay within her limits. 'All right Begum Sahiba...Zakira will never ask for more than that.'


'Zakira next time you are going to call me Begum Sahiba...I am surely going to kill you. Am I clear?' Jodha made her point loud and out.
'Yes maam...it's clear.' Zakira abided by that.
'Good...now go to sleep. Subah Rico ka school hai.' Jodha left the place to reach her bedroom...leaving a confused Zakira behind to wonder...'what could be the reason behind such a strange tie!'

Jodha slipped under the duvet...careful enough not to disturb her son's slumber. She relaxed her tired body on the bed...though sleep was still far away from her eyes. Jodha closed her eyes and tried to bring some rest to her mind. But she couldn't. It was her phone that broke the silence this time. Before its ringtone could awake Rico, Jodha quickly grabbed the phone and put it on silent mode. Then she looked at the screen to find out the caller.


A breath of relief ran across Jodha's face. Without wasting any more time she answered the call, 'Ammijan!!! Where have you been!!! I needed you so much!!! I missed you so...' she couldn't continue as her voiced got chocked by a sudden rush of emotion. It didn't go unnoticed by her Ammijan as well. 'Don't cry beta...hum agaye hai na...nothing to worry about now...but first you tell me...why have you given Salim to Jalal? Adgah Sahab told me Salim is staying with Jalal nowadays...why??? How can you just...put your arms down like this...after such a long run battle?'


'I didn't put my arms down Ammijan...I had to surrender...to save the cause I was fighting for...' Jodha summed up her situation in just one line in a subdued voice.


'Hmm...what is it? Tell me in detail.' Hamida Banu wanted to know what exactly bothered her beti so much ...what made her take such a radical decision. Jodha didn't disappoint her either. She opened her heart before her Ammijan. Told her everything...from her shock to her sorrow, from her helplessness to her sacrifice...and last but not least...their marriage.


'What!!! You got married to him! Are you mad or what! How can you just...marry him...you know how much...you know what his intentions are...now am sure, this all must have been framed by Jalal...framed to bind you with himself.' Immense rage could be sensed in Hamida Banu's voice. She was damn sure...Jalal planted this all to get to Jodha...nothing else.


'But Ammijan...he promised he will never...' Jodha couldn't complete what she began. 'HE PROMISED!!! Jodha how can you trust him! How can you trust his promise?' Here Hamida Banu stopped for some moment, maybe to recollect something...then began in a low voice, 'I know my son...he never does anything without a purpose...and I fear this time too he has something in mind.'


'I know Ammijan...the last thing I can do in my life is to trust that man. But I...' here little moistness could be sensed in Jodha's voice...'I...I couldn't have kept Rico safe with me Ammijan...I had to...I had to give him my son. Maybe he knew...I won't be able to stay away if he has Rico...maybe...he framed it...maybe he not...but I really didn't have the option to not go by his words. I couldn't say no to him for the sake of my son's safety.' Jodha poured her heart to her Ammijan, hoping she could understand her state of mind...a mother's state of mind. In fact Hamida Banu didn't fail her as well.


'Hmm...I can understand... ', after a little pause Hamida Banu asked, 'you are not in Kolkata right?'
'No, I have come to Mumbai...' here Jodha paused for a few second...to decide, whether she should tell her about the incident, which compelled her to come to Mumbai, or not. After quickly weighing the possible outcomes ...finally Jodha decided to bypass it. 'I have come to Mumbai...to meet Rico.'


'Ohh...Jalal pareshan toh nehi kar raha?'

'Not yet'.
'Good. If he tries to intimidate you...give me a call then and there. I'll handle the rest. Waise Mera pota kaisa hai? Apni dadijaan ko yaad karta hai?'
'Aaj pooch raha tha...when will my dadijaan come to meet me?'
'Tell him...as soon as I get the green signal to travel...I will fly to him...'


'Aapki tabiyat kaisi hai ammijan?'


'Operation successful tha. Aaj mobile allow kia. Will be discharged by next week I guess. Then one month rest...uske baad...I will be allowed to travel.'
'Take care of yourself...if not for you then do it for me and Rico.'

'Yes beta...how can I not...after all abhi poteke liye dulhaniya dhundna hai...uska nikah karwana hai...so many things left to do.'
'Don't worry...u won't have to take that much effort. Aapka pota hai...dulhaniya khud dhundke layega...or may be ...shayad uthake laye...' a mild laugh escaped Jodha's lips...though she didn't want it consciously.
'Hmm...you are teasing me right? Marium Makkani ki shaan me gustakhi!!!...chalo koyee baat nehi...haq banta hai tumhara...' with this Hamida Banu broke into a genuine laughter. Jodha joined her as well. Finally a mind wrenching day ended in a light note. Well that was not an exception. With these two together, life always seemed hurdle free. However challenging the situation might be, together they consolidate the nerve to fight through it...just as they did when these two met for the first time. The day when the mother of Jalaluddin Mohammad met the desire of Jalauddin Mohammad...that too in a strange situation.


PRECAP: Reciting the past