Jodha swiftly broke hug and asked h

Jodha swiftly broke hug and asked him worriedly "Why?"

Regretfully he continued "I have promised Rukaiya that I will spend next ten days with her."

His sad tone and the way he squeezed her she realized he too is helpless...

Jodha genuinely smiled and replied "Shahenshah, Why you are feeling so sad??? We have entire life to spend and ten days will pass in a flick... and I want you to enjoy your time with Rukaiya begum... She also needs you this time and it is your responsibility to keep her happy, so don't regret and Please take care of her well."

"Jodha... This is the reason you are queen of my heart... You are my life...Love you my dear... I will be looking forward to seeing you in Dwk... Khuda Hafiz" Jalal walked out of her chamber swiftly without turning back.

********

Jodha got busy in her daily routine and political work. Most of the people in the palace were busy in preparation of upcoming big function. Three days passed... Jodha only saw Jalal in DWK... She was missing him every night but she knew that Jalal loves her a lot and he was fulfilling his promise and duty.

It was beautiful evening, when Jodha was coming back from Ambe mata temple, she was sitting inside the palakhi and her eyes caught Maham Anga covering herself with black shawl and going towards Jungle in a lonely place. The way Maham covered her face and her frightened face, created suspicion in Jodha's mind... Right away she knew Maham was planning something and since Adham's death she was behaving weird, Jodha immediately instructed the guards to stop palequine (Palkhi) and informed everyone to wait for her at the same place... Secretly Jodha followed Maham, before pointing fingers on Maham she wanted to collect proper proof against her.

She saw a lady whose face was covered, who walked towards Maham... Jodha hid herself behind a tree and tried to listen to their conversation.

Maham said in furious angry tone "It took you three days to make this medicine???" She snatched the bottle of medicine from her hand. "Tell me how and when I need to give this to Rukaiya begum... and how long will this medicine take to react."

Hakim replied fearfully in hesitant tone "Hum sab batayenge par apko pata hai na ke iss dawai se kitna bada tufan aayega?? Aur hume humari suraksha ki fikr hai... humara naam kahi nahi aana chahiye." (You do know what will happen after giving this medicine??? there will be big storm in the palace... I will tell you everything but on one condition... this is too risky... I want you to promise me that nothing will happen to me and my safety is your responsibility.)

Maham with angry tone "Tum apne daam se matlab rakho aur apna muh band rakho. Kisi ko kuch pata nahi chalega. Main Jalal ko kabhi maaf nahi kar sakti. Batao iss Aushadhi ke bare mein." (Don't worry about anything else, you just worry about your money and keep your mouth shut. No one will know anything and Jalal will pay for his deed... Tell me how to use this medicine.)

"Yeh aushadhi aap Rukaiya begum ke khane me mila dijiye aur bas do ya tin gante me sab khatam." (Mix this medicine in Rukaiya begum's food and in two to three hours everything will be finished.) Hakim replied.

Jodha got extremely panicked and scared hearing Maham's plan. She immediately understood her entire scheme. She quietly ran back to her palanquin... Her heartbeat was running fast, her entire body was shivering... Her face was filled up with fearful expressions. She decided not tell anyone about this plan and make the same mistake like before... She decided to first save Rukaiya's Child then find proof...

For a long time, she was thinking about should I discuss this with Jalal or not... Last time he got really upset and asked for the proof and this time also I don't have proof. She finally decided not to tell anything to Jalal until she has solid proof against Maham.

She sat out and waited for Maham to come back to palace... Maham came back late night...

Jodha sat entire night outside, near Maham's chamber to keep an eye on her actions... In the morning she told Reva to sit and watch if Maham comes out of the room... She quickly took shower and did prayer and came back to her detective job.

Maham came out and went to Rukaiya's room. Jodha was very much nervous and scared, within minutes she sent request to Rukaiya to see her. With her permission she entered in her room. Rukaiya and Maham were sitting on the sofa.

Rukaiya sarcastically said "Aaiye Jodha begum aaj humari yaad kaise aa gayi, kahin aapne abhi se Mariam uz Zamani ki chaplusi to suru nahin kar di hai. Apko yeh to jarur pata hoga ki Marium uz Zamani ka auda Malika E Hindustan se kafi bada hota hai." (Come in Jodha begum, How come you remembered me suddenly??? or You have accepted servility and decided to please Mariam uz Zamani... You must be knowing that Mariam Uz Zamani's position is much better than Malika E Hindustan.")

Jodha ignored her audacity and replied with smirk "Ji Rukaiya begum, Hume pata hai aapka auda ab Mariam Uz Zamani ka hai... par hum aapko ek baat batana chahte hai. Marium UZ Zamani ka auda ek Maa ko milta hai aur MAA ka auda to sarvocham hona hi chahiye. Hume aapke Maa banne ki bahut khushi hai. " (Yes Rukaiya begum, I know you're going to be Mariam Uz Zamani... but I want to tell you that this position is given to a mother and obviously mother's position should be highest.. and I am very happy for you as you are going to be a mother soon.)

Rukaiya with little attitude asked "Ha to bataiye Malika E Hindustan ka aagman yahan kyun hua hai." (Hmmm... so Tell me why have you come here Malika E Hindustan.)

Jodha calmly replied "Hum yahan aapki tabiyat ki khairiyat puchne ke liye aaye hai. Humne socha hum kuch waqt aapke saath bitaye." (I wanted to spend some time with you and also wanted to find out how you are feeling.)

Rukaiya replied arrogantly "Hum khairiyat se hai... Aur hum baad me itminan se milenge. Hum abhi kuch jaruri kaam mein masroof hai." (I am feeling very well... and I will meet you some other time, right now I am very busy in some important work.)

Jodha got shocked with Rukaiya's attitude but she had no choice left other than to leave her chamber.

Few minutes later Maham came out of Rukaiya's room, she was holding the same bottle in her hand and she went to bawarchi khana (cooking area)... Jodha saw her with that same bottle and freaked out... She secretly stood behind the door and saw Maham mixed that medicine in Rukaiya's food... She finally decided to come out and talk straight with Maham.

Jodha asked in a suspicious tone "Yeh kya hai Maham...AAp yaha bawarchi khane mein kya kar rahi hai. Aur yeh kadha ( soup) kiske liye hai??" (What are you doing here in Royal kitchen? and who you preparing this soup for??)

Maham with all questioning got really scared, she replied fearfully in a hesitant tone... "Kuch nahi ye to sirf humne Rukaiya begum ke liye banvaya hai... Hume yeh jimmevari di gayi hai." (Ahhh... Nnn...nooothing... Jodha begum... I came here to get soup for Rukaiya begum and it's my responsibility.) The way she answered Jodha's doubt got confirmed that medicine was mixed in the soup.

Jodha furiously replied "Maham Anga I know very well you have mixed something in this soup..." before she could complete her sentence, Maham tactfully threw the soup on the ground and started crying with fake tears and created a scene, everyone around got together.

Maham sadly said "Ohh... You think that I want to harm Rukaiya begum, I never knew you think so low about me."

Jodha realized how smartly she threw the soup bowl and now pretending but she had no choice. She replied in a commending tone "Don't worry about Rukaiya begum Badi Ammi, I will make food for her going forward and take it as my order." Everyone got surprised hearing that Jodha will cook for Rukaiya begum.

Jodha prepared afternoon meal for Rukaiya and took it in her room and served everything herself... Rukaiya mocked at her and said "Aap to hamari bandi se bhi zayada kabil hai... Chalo aap mein samajh aaye to sahi ...der se sahi aapko hamari ahmiyat ka ehsaas to hua." (Jodha begum you are more talented than Hoshiyaar... I am glad at last you understood my importance in this palace.)

Hearing her arrogant mocking words and sarcastic tone Jodha fumed inside but she curbed her anger and calmly said "Rukaiya begum, It's time for your lunch, you should eat now and going forward, I have taken responsibility for your food."

Rukaiya with annoyance replied "But I have no trust on you Jodha begum, Who knows, what if you mix poison in my food... Badi Ammi is taking care of my food and I don't want anyone else to interfere in that."

Jodha calmly replied "What I am doing is for your safety Rukaiya begum and if you don't agree then I will have to talk with Shahenshah ."

Rukaiya replied frustratingly "I am very much hungry right now, let me eat first then we will discuss this matter... Khuda Hafiz Jodha begum." She bitterly gazed at her.

Jodha left Rukaiya's chamber disappointedly but she was feeling much better at least she was able to fail Maham's plan and got success in her mission.