Jodha smirked a little with her vic

Jodha smirked a little with her victory, she took the bowl of medicine and started putting it on Jalal's wound... Jalal was looking at her without a blink... His entire body was burning...few drops of tears streamed out In pain from his eyes...but he didn't move for a second... Jodha's hands were shivering...His wounds were too deep but he didn't even say a word... Her face was filled with his pain and tears rolled out from her eyes... Jalal's inner and outer both wounds got the medicine... he was feeling much relieved.

Maid came inside with mild khichdi as per Jodha's instruction.

As soon as his eyes laid on Khichdi... Jalal said in angry tone "Kya samaj rakha hai aapne hum ye khayenge... Pure das ghante se humne kuch khaya nahin hai aur aap hamein ye bimaro ka khana khilaogi." (Why you ordered this food??? What do you think of yourself... I have not eaten anything for last ten hours and I am starving and you are going to feed me this tasteless food.)

Jodha calmly replied "Haan ab ek hafte ke liye aapko yahi khana khana hai." (Shenshah, you have to eat this food for the next seven days.)

Jalal frustratingly said "Har baat pe aap hum par hukum nahi chala sakti ... hum yeh khana nahi kahenge... Ye bhi koi khane ki cheez hai." (Jodha, this is not fair... You cannot order me around for everything... Now you going to feed me khichdi.)

Jodha calmly explained "Pata hai shahenshah... Aap Ki saltanat mein jyada tar log isi khane ko pane ke liye kitni mehnat karte hai...poore din mazdoori karke yehi khana milta hai unhe... Aur is dal aur chawal se unka poora jivan chalta hai... aur haan kisi bhi surat me ann ka apmaan nahin karna chahiye." (Do you know Shahenshah, most of the people in your saltanat work so hard entire day so they can feed this food to their families everyday and this rice and lentil are their life support... and one more thing... You should respect whatever food god has given you.)

Jalal realized his mistake immediately "Aap sach keh rahi hai...Hamari riyaya issi khane se zinda hai...to humein bhi yehi khana chahiye... Hamari riyaya hamari santaan hai...to jo unko milta hai wohi humein khana chahiye... Aaj se hum hafte me tin baar yahi khana khayenge." (Jodha begum, you are right... When my people survive with this food everyday then I should eat this as well... I am like a father to them... then I should eat what they can afford to eat... I will eat this type of food three times a week from now on.)

Jodha got surprised and shocked, seeing the Sudden change in Jalal ... He is thinking so deeply for Riyaya... Ruthless Shahenshah suddenly became a father of his sultanate... Her tears came out in happiness... She forwarded the spoon of khichdi to feed him... and at the same time both recalled the DWK...scene...How Jalal fed the sweet to Rukaiya instead of Jodha...

Jalal with very serious tone: "Jodha begum, please forgive me."

Jodha lowered her eyes and continued feeding him... there was silence for long in the room.

Jodha still had the sting in her heart.

Jodha in low tone said "Shahenshah, please take rest, I will come back soon after Kanah's prayer and Aarti."

Jalal replied "Jodha begum, I need to discuss something very important with Adgha sahib, can you please send him here."

Jodha firmly refused "Shenshah, you need to take rest and you don't need to see anyone at this time... I will tell him to come and see you in the morning... at this time nothing is more important than your health." Jalal looked at Jodha and smiled at her.

After prayer Jodha came back to Jalal's chamber and saw him sleeping peacefully... She sat next to him and got mesmerized seeing his innocent face... her eyes laid on his wound... to give him comfort she started caressing his hair. Jalal felt her proximity in his sleep... he swiftly opened his eyes which embarrassed Jodha. She instantly took her hand from his head.

Jalal pleasantly smiled and said "Jodha... I can clearly see the profound intense love in your eyes for me... please forgive me and take me in your warmth."

Jodha stayed silent.

Jalal concernly asked "Jodha, have you ate dinner??"

Jodha replied "Yes."

Jalal casually asked "How was the khichdi??"

"Good" She replied instantly.

"How you came to know what I had for dinner, have you put some secret agents behind me?" Jodha asked.

"Jodha, I know you very well... you ate Khichadi because I had it too..."

Jodha got frustrated thinking... Slowly he was making her realize how deeply she loves him... his teases... his mischiefs... his care... started to bother her.

She calmly said "Shahenshah, I have a request... Can you please stop manipulating and stop playing with my emotions... Yes I do love you but I don't trust you... and I need lot of time to accept you again. Probably it will never be the same."

Jalal sadly looked at her and said "Jaisi aapki iccha Jodha begum." (Okay... as you wish Jodha begum.)

Since then Jalal decided to give her time... he stopped teasing her... both of them stayed in the same chamber... but in deep silence... In front of others both acted normal but in privacy both were quite... Both of them were in deep pain... Jalal heard her sobbing many nights and Jodha also noticed his restlessness. She could feel he was genuinely repenting but her heart was still scared to accept him again.

Jalal's eyes were silently saying to Jodha...

Khamoshiyaan aawaaz hain

Tum sun-ne to aao kabhi

Chhookar tumhe khil jaayengi

Ghar inko bulaao kabhi

Beqaraar hain baat karne ko

Kehne do inko zaraa..

Silences are sounds,

Sometime, come to listen..

They'll blossom by just touching you,

Sometime call them home.

They're restless to talk to you,

Let them speak..

Khamoshiyan.. teri meri khamoshiyaan

Khamoshiyan.. lipti hui khamoshiyaan

Silences, yours and mine,

Silences, wrapped around us, silences..

Kya us gali mein kabhi tera jaana hua

Jahaan se zamaane ko guzre zamaana hua

Mera samay to waheen pe hai thehra hua

Bataaun tumhe kya mere saath kya kya hua

Have you been to that street ever (again)

That the world hasn't passed by for long..

My time is stuck there only,

What do I tell you what has hardened with me..

Khamoshiyan.. teri meri khamoshiyaan

Khamoshiyan.. lipti hui khamoshiyaan


Silences, yours and mine,

Silences, wrapped around us, silences..

Three days passed by... Jodha was taking care of Jalal's every small need... Jodha's heart had slowly started to build trust on Jalal. Staying with him the entire day she came to know many of his habits which she never noticed before, like he eats every two hours... he brushes his teeth three times a day... he does five times namaz... many such little things. They both came more and more close to each other... Slowly Jodha's bitterness washed away, Diwan E Khaas memories were slowly fading... Jalal's health improved but still his wounds were raw... Jalal's love and respect for her was growing deeper and deeper... The way she took care of him he was stunned...every little thing...his medicine... his clothes... his food... she was even over controlling his sleep... she helped him in walking... exercising... bathing... changing... all his daily needs. Jalal felt blessed Jodha was taking care of him because he would have feel embarrassed to take this type of help from maids... She also learned how to make medicine for him. Jalal completely became depended on her. Physically they were distant but emotionally they came much closer than before, even in deep silence both of them could hear the unsaid words of each other.