She watched out of her Hojra's Window, curious seeing the preparations being made there.
It has been 3 months living in Jalal's Palace. Ignoring his orders and commands, playing with the Birds, Talking with the Daasis' she has been always curious about the Mughal lifestyle.
Though, she hated them.
And hated Jalal the most, after getting here she found that he wasn't as bad as she thought, He was only a mohra of Bairam Khan and Maham Anga.
Today was one of those days, When she gets curious about the Mughals.
Jodha was curious by birth and she loved to learn new things.
"Yeh niche kya ho raha hai?" she asked his assistant, An Abla-purush, who are given to Jalal's Begums, to serve them.
"Yeh toh Meena-Bazaar ki tyiyaarian ho rahi hain"
"Meena- Bazaar?"Jodha was confused.
"Jee Haan! Yeh Shenshah ka ek nayaab tareeka hai, Yaha aurate(Women) apne-apne samaano ka Khema sajaati hain. Kudh Shehshah bhi yahan se Samaan kharidte hain"
Jodha was delighted, she remembered how she and Sujamal bhaisa would play like this when they were small.
Jodha used to be the shopkeeper and Sujamal bhaisa would become the customer. She used to put her crafts on display, and Sujamal bhaisa used to ask her the price of whole shop, To which she always replied that he should only buy 1 or 2 things or else he will be short of money, and he would say this that he will never run short of anything for his dearest sister, be it Money or Love.
"Mallika-e-Jalal"
His servant snapped her out of her thoughts.
"Kya ham bhi yahan Khema saja sakte hain?
''
Jodha was highly excited to put up her Khema.
Here she was preparing the materials like she used to when she was a child.
A pile of colors, cloths and Craft materials were laying beside her, all arranged by his Husband, Jalal-uddin Mohammad.
Jalal shocks her every time, the cold-blooded Jallad who had no mercy, as she used to think, Now she knows that there is one more Jalal inside him, who like a child, who craves for Love.
She has seen another side of Jalal, A caring and soft one.
The day he saved her from getting drowned.
And today he agreed that she could put up her Khema too, even arranged the materials.
Soon everything was ready, Time to Go!
''
A wave of whispers ran as Jalal entered the Bazaar.
His Begums were trying to impress him by showing him varieties of everything from weapons to shoes from mirrors to Jwellery. But none impressed Jalal.
Ruquiya was confident that this time too Jalal will enter her Khema only. None other will impress her.
She sat their Back faced waiting for Jalal to enter her Khema and buy the Shawl made by his Trusty sewer. That Shawl was woven with gold threads, she did knew that Shehen Shah has these types of Shawl, but she was thinking that he will buy something from her Khema even if he has it already. As she was his favourite Queen.
But why it is taking so much time for the Shehen Shah to walk up to her Khema?
She turned to look what's wrong. When she found that the Shehen Shah had stopped in his tracks, at someone's Khema.
Who's Khema it is?
Which had such power to stop Shehen Shah from coming towards her? Usually he didn't give a thought to any other Khema, so why today?
''.
"Masha-Allah! Yeh aapne banaya hai?" Jalal asked Jodha, Playing with the little masterpiece she had made. He was mesmerized by the beautifully filled colours and the designs. She was an Artist indeed.
"Ji"
"Hum isse kharidna chahenge, Keemat kya hai iski?"
"Yeh aapke liye nahi hai" She replied
"Kya?? Aapke kehen ka kya matlab? Aap yeh Hame nahi dengi? Khud Shehen Shah aapse yeh khridna chahta hai!" Jalal was not shocked, he knew Jodha does not accept his supremacy.
"Hamne kaha na yeh aapke liye nahi hain!' Jodha was determined.
Whispers ran through the crowd of females
"Shehen Shah khud inke Kheme se kuch kharidna chahte hai, Aur Yeh man kar rahi hai"
"Shehen Shah ko mana kara"
"Yeh ladki Jalal ko mana kar sakti hai, Jalal kuch keh bhi nahi rahe" Ruquiya's mind was buzzing with questions.
"To Aap yeh Hume nahin dengi?"
"Nahin"
"Kyun?"
"Kyunki hamare paas aapke liye iss se bhi badhiya cheez hai, Jo aap jaroor lena chehenge" Jodha was smiling
"To Dikhayiya hume"
"Sabr rakhiye Shehen Shah ji, Pehele aap baki Khemo me se kuch khareed lijiye phir hum aapko dikha denge" Jodha was enjoying testing Jalal's patience
Ruquiya was beginning to turn Red. She was feeling that Jodha will snatch Jalal away from him.
While the other Begums were enjoying Ruquiya's condition. They were happy with Jodha, this was what they wished Ser-pe-Sava ser.
Now Ruquiya finds a match, who is better than her. What more they need to enjoy.
"Hum pehele who dekhenge, phir kahin jaayenge"Jalal couldn't wait any longer.
"Toh thik hai phir'"Saying do Jodha clapped her palms together
"Woh Lekar Aayiye'.."
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