Chapter 8: beginning of romance! LO

Chapter 8: beginning of romance! LOVE IN AIR!
How he had treated her filled him with guilt and unexplained feeling of anger. Jalal puzzled himself with question in his own mind... why he is feeling her sorrow...? Instead of contented with this conquest why this tears and sting... Why my heart is crying for her? I don't have heart then, why is so much unbearable suffocating pain...? Why I am feeling so much stifle? Every time I hurt her I have felt miserable. Jodha's truth, her innocence and purity always upset me... She is the only one who is not frightened of me, with his confounds emotions; he was annoyed at her and admired her value at the same time.

Today she didn't even argue or said a single word but her silence was so powerful, her eyes had so much grief. Her love for Krishna is so divine, she is so much devoted to god... she is so untainted and celestial pure. Why I hate her and for what...? Just because she killed Mughal soldiers and wanted to kill me when she told me all this, she didn't even know that she was talking to Mughal King...

When I met her first time she was fiercely, happy, proud, with full of life, and so innocent. What have I done to her? I have not seen her small smile on her face since our marriage, Her innocent smile vanish, her face looks so pale, today she followed everything like a puppet, She doesn't even fight or argue, little by little I am killing her from inside.

Why she is so important for me? Why her rejection hurt me so much? Why I want to see her day and night... As soon as I see her I forget everything. Feels like, she has captured me with some spell. When she is with me my heart feel peace inside and at the same time her ignorance gives me deep sting... His own thinking slowly slaughters him... He never experiences these emotions in his life before. Unknowingly His dead heart was melting for Jodha... At last, he decided he will not hurt her anymore and will give her same respect as other begums. He has insulted her enough in his ego... He has not given her importance as a begum yet but he will change everything...

Adham screamed at Maham loudly, "You do not love your own son. How could you support Jalal instead of him?"

Maham retrot back at him and replied exasperatedly "When you will learn politics? Stop behaving like a brainless kid? To conquer Sultant is not a Childs game, when you will understand me and my intentions? I hate Jodha to the extreme. She doesn't deserve to be a queen. This Rajvanshi looks good as our servants "GULAM". I will teach her a big lesson and send her back to Amer forever soon."

Hamida came to Jodha's room to find out about her health. She knew Jalal and Jodha have no relation but she had hope one day Jodha will change Jalal. Jodha was preparing for pooja and she saw Hamida banoo ... she gave her pleasant smile and softly said "Pranam Ammijan, how are you doing?"

Hamida cheerfully smiled and replied "I am doing wonderful my dear. How about you? You don't look happy in Agra. I am sure you are missing your family and Amer."

Jodha with casual tone said: "It's nothing like that, I am happy here, I have no complains...Hamida caress on her cheeks and with care told her again if you have any problem come to me anytime... I am like your mother then she kissed her on her forehead walked out gracefully."

While preparing for pooja Jodha is talking to Moti about everything what happened. "Moti, I don't know why but at the last second Shenshah stopped me to while eating and told me to go do pooja... I am surprise he still remembered that I don't eat without prayer. You know Moti, If I had that bite I would have died in guilt."

Moti thoughtfully said: "I think shehnshah is not that bad... He is very nice to people who he loves" before Moti continue Jodha said immediately ... "He is very hurtful to the people he hates and he will not miss any opportunity to take his revenge."

Moti with argument but Jodha "he has promised you that he will not touch you without your permission and he is keeping his promise, he has also allowed you to continue your religion against many people's wish."

Jodha angrily said "Moti, why are you talking so much in shenshah's support? Let me finish pooja otherwise that Jallad will punish me for taking long time for pooja." Jodha felt much better after talking to Moti and Hamida... Jodha's emotions were taking everyday roller coaster ride... One day she thought high about Jalal and next day he comes all the way down... Every day in Agra, her days passed with full of surprises and shocks.

Jodha is in front of Krishna with lots of guilt, apologied to Krishna for not keeping her promise and thanked him for saving her from committing sin. She started to her prayer with singing Aarti, in her melodious voice. Jalal came quietly and stand behind her while she was performing pooja and Aarti... He was completely engrossed in each and every word of her divine prayer and adore her singing... After finishing pooja she turned with Aaarti thal and saw Jalal was standing behind her and waiting for pooja to finish Aarti.

Jalal waited for Aarti but Jodha decide not offer him. Jalal broke silence and asked "Jodha, won't you give me aarti today."

Jodha got stunned and stare at him with mystify expression, she couldn't believe what she heard he wanted AArti!!! Jalal asked her again with little louder tone "Won't you give me aarti?" Jodha with confused look, forward aarti thal towards him. He took aarti with correct way and then took pinch of sindoor from the plate and swiftly filled her maang. Jalal very well knew that Jodha won't like this but he couldn't control his feeling and probably he wanted to tell her once more that she is married to him and also belongs to him only...

Jalal requested to Jodha with very polite manner to sit next to him "I would like to talk to you."

Jodha finally broke her silence "I am fine here". Tell me what you want to discuss." said softly.

Jalal felt little gloomy with her cold approach but with very matured tone he continue: "Jodha Begum, You don't have to continue with me whole day... you are free from my condition...and I want to ... he hesitated and fumbled for a second... but then he started again... I am sorry for my behavior today. I should have never take advantage of the situation. She couldn't believe that he really apologies to her...Jalal amused her again...

Jodha thought he probably pity on her, so with her pompous tone: "Shenshah, I do not want your mercy; I will fulfill your condition to stay with you and follow your orders. I did expect this type of behavior, when I accepted your terms, for me, my parents and my family's respect are more important than my own self-respect."

Jalal didn't want to hurt her ego again... "Okay! As you wish Jodha Begum, get ready to spend a day with me. I am going for horse riding in ten minutes, and then get ready for the ride." He looked straight in her eyes and continued in commending tone very clearly "I wanted a companion not a maid or puppet. If you want to come, then come with your dignity. You are a begum of the Mugal Empire... Never forget that and if you still going to act like a puppet then you do not need to show up." Jalal walked out without looking at her...


Jodha felt slightly relieved with his changed behavior but at the same time she had doubts in him,Why this change suddenly? May be another game.

She reached by the horse stables, where Jalal was waiting for her. Jalal asked her "Do you want to ride with me or you know horse riding." She smirks with stance look and walks through entire stables and picked the best white horse for herself...

Jalal walk near her and with mocking sound said "Jodha Begum, this horse is hard to handle, he is very fast and moody" but then he looked at her with smirk and taunt her, "I think this will horse will suite to your test... you both have similar personality."

Jodha glance at Jalal with grin on her face and replied sarcastically "I am very well experience in controlling difficult and wild crazy horses and people both, I will be able manage proficiently. I don't need any suggestion from you Shenshah." With In a flick she jumped on horse and ready for the ride.

Jalal humbly said looks like you are an expert in horse riding as well.

Jodha with proud: "Never forget that I am a Rajvanshi Princess, if necessary I can save your life too."

Jalal was happy to see Jodha back to her fiercely attitude. Jalal with little fury replied "Jodha, you are too arrogant and you are underestimating Jalal's capability. Why don't you prove me that you are better in horse riding than me...?"

Jodha's rajvanshi blood boiled, "Oh, so you are challenging me!"

Jalal with gaze at her and replied "Yes! my Rajvanshi princess challenge."

Jodha with proud: "Sure, I am ready for it."

Jalal showed with hand... "Look at the end of this open land, faraway, there is a big tree and on that tree there is a red cloth hanging on it, whoever gets it wins the race." Both looked at each other and stole a glance with smirk on their face and race start, of course Jalal was better in horse riding than Jodha, he was little ahead of her and looked back to see Jodha and got unfocused by her beauty, her hair... her green odhni was touching the air and her face started to glow again and her eyes were on the target. Jalal was again impressed with her horse riding skill and lost in her mesmerizing beauty... This distraction and Jodha passed Jalal and now in front of him, Jalal realized and put his all effort to win this race... They were riding next to each other .They almost reached nearby the destination...

Jalal again got ahead, Jodha noticed that so she finally push hard to win and they both jumped from the horse at the same time to catch the cloth, even though she lost her balance she was able to grab the cloth and Jalal realized Jodha was falling and he tried to save her, in that he loose grip of the cloth but saved Jodha from falling on the groud