DISCLAIMER:
THIS IS MY OWN WORK OF FICTION. ANY RESEMBLANCE TO ANY OTHER PERSON'S WORK ON THIS OR ANY OTHER FORUM IS PURELY UNINTENTIONAL AND I BEG MY PARDON FOR IT.
Part 13 - Page 101
Epilogue
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In The Morning
In Ruqaiya's Chambers
"Where was Jalal last night? Haven't seen him in a while..." Ruqaiya mused. "Guess, I'll go later. He must me sleeping." She decided.
Just then, her trusted kaneez, Hoshiyar, came running, "Begum Sahiba, Begum Sahiba, I have some very important news for you!" Hoshiyar was panicking, while Ruqaiya nodded.
"Actually, Woh..." Hoshiyar stammered, not knowing how to continue.
"What is it? Spit it out fast. I have no patience for your frills." Ruqaiya got irritated.
"Shehenshah spent the night in Jodha Begum's chambers. I got an off yesterday. One of the bandhis told me that Jodha Begum's room was decorated for the evening and later, though very late, Shehenshah did come to meet her and hasn't left since..."
Ruqaiya stood shell shocked. She rushed out towards Jodha Begum's chambers dismissing the guards who tried obstructing her path. She didn't care. She had to see for herself. She walked in to find extinguished candles, roses, clothes, jewellery strewn around. And she walked on with a deathly calm. The hour before the storm is the quietest. So were her feelings, not willing to accept what had happened. She walked further, towards the bed not dreading what was to come. The finality of the act hadn't dawned on her. She parted the curtains to find Jodha and Jalal, HER Jalal, together on the bed, worn out after a long night of lovemaking. Time stilled when realization hit her.
Ruqaiya's feet somehow, gained some life, as they dragged her outside the chambers before they woke up. She reached her chamber, and squatted on the floor dismissing all the guards and bandhis.
She had always wanted Jalal and Jodha to consummate their marriage so Jalal loses interest in her. But, lately, she had been dreading the same fact. The woman in her, the wife in her, for the first time ever, felt rejected. She had realised that Jalal had indeed developed a heart, and feelings for Jodha. What she had hoped for, was some time away from her, that would end this. But now, she felt she had lost everything. Her mere existence was as the Mallika-e-Khas of Shehenshah's Harem. Though, no one could change that title, she had lost it already to Jodha. She had lost everything in life.
The tears finally fell as she felt betrayed. Jalal had cheated her. She felt lifeless. She knew what was to come. Jalal had fallen in love. Proclaiming her never had a heart to her, he had given that heart away to Jodha when everything of Jalal's was HERS, was supposed to be hers. Why?
"Why Jalal, why? What went wrong in our friendship, that you wanted a stranger in your arms and in your heart?"
In this act of betrayal and loss, Ruqaiya Begum failed to realise a major flaw in her own judgement. No one could possibly live without a heart. Ruqaiya had always supported Jalal in his proclamations of being heartless for her own advantage. She had never wanted him to love. She never felt the need to provide him with that love that, a human being within that man craved. Her desire for supremacy and petty quest for power within the Harem, brought about her own downfall. Ruqaiya Sultan was at a major high compared to Princess Jodha from Amer. It is difficult for a good spouse to be a good friend but a good friend can never fail to be a good spouse. Ruqaiya felt no need to love Jalal. Jalal found love in Jodha.
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Though they never admitted, Jodha and Jalal were in love. They loved each other deeply. Probably, more than anyone and anything else probably could. The attraction between them wasn't merely sexual. It was born from an emotion called love.
No great philosopher can correctly predict the exact moment when someone falls in love. For some, love is a journey. For some, it happens in a moment. No one knows which one it was for this royal couple.
Was it love when Jalal saw Jodha for the first time in Amer? Was it love when Jalal saved her life without breaking his promise? Was it love when Jodha gifted him his people's blessings for his birthday? Was it love for Jalal that forced Jodha to forgive his sister when she conned her for her husband?
No one knew. Not even them. Did they ever admit their feelings to each other? They must have. Would it have been a special moment? Not really. Since, they already knew that about each other.
Love is strong. It emerges victorious after every trial and tribulation, every misunderstanding, every argument, every quarrel, every fight and every Maham Anga's letter.
Maham Anga's truth did get revealed to Jalal, much later though. By then, her misinterpretation of the letter was revealed to Jalal and Jodha too. But by then, neither did it surprise them nor make any difference to their relationship.
Love isn't so strong at all times. There are moments of weakness when mere human qualities defeat the whole purpose of love. The Shehenshah and his Begum weren't above these mortal emotions. They gave in to errors because at the end of the day, they were people, normal people, like you and me.
What made them stand apart was the fact that their love succeeded despite all odds. Love may decrease with time. But it never gets over. It comes back with the same vengeance as before.
Jalal had many wives before Jodha came into his Harem, he had many more wives after she came. But his Theeki Mirchi remained his first and only ever true love.
The End!
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