The Romantic interlude of Akbar & Jodha
Circa 1574:
The palace was ablaze with light, the sounds of retiring emanating all around while the ever vigilant Soldiers guarded the Royal personnel ensconced within, the orchestra of crickets and cicada's rose to a crescendo whilst silence begun to reign in the harem, well in all parts of the harem save one - the chambers of Prince Salim was filled with screams,yowls of protests ! Reason - The prince did not wish to sleep and wanted to play at the late hour, entreaties , pleas, threats fell on deaf ears until Salima, his chief governess had the bright idea of telling him a story, not any other story but the story of his beloved parents Jodha & Akbar!
Cradling Salim on her lap, Salima commenced the story - "Your mother, Her Royal Highness Jodha Begum was newly married and was settling in the harem. The adjustments was tough on her sensitive soul but she being a true warrior Rajput did not succumb to the cunning and low politics of the harem.She maintained her dignity at all times and treated everyone with respect and kindness.This attitude of Jodha Begum soon won hearts over but at the same time her rising popularity gave many a heart burn to other begum's who in turn turned into her enemies, constantly plotting her downfall and scheming to get her thrown out of Agra Palace. One day...
Eagerly, Salim pips up, "What happened one day, Salima?"
Laughing gently, Salima responded,"One day, your mother decided to go to a temple "
Salim, "Huh"
Circa 1563
The month of Shravana had come ushering in a bouquet of festivals and rituals.Jodha looking resplendent in a deep red sari was sitting on her favorite swing. Her bow like brow was furrowed in a frown,the brown eyes lined with kajal, gazing unfocused at some imaginary point while her slender milky white hand twiddled with her silky hair.
Jodha was wrestling with a dilemma, tomorrow was her favorite Lord, Thakurji's festival but to her dismay, she did not know where the main temple of Krishna was neither did Jodha knew whom to turn to help. Jodha begun to draw a list of people who could help her. She thought of Madhavi but discarded her immediately since she too was a product of Amer and ignorant of Agra's topography, Hamida Ammi Jaan had gone on her tour along with Salima Begum, Ruqaiyya Begum would not know where a Hindu temple could be, Maham was quite a fanatic and her enquiry about Kanha's temple could trigger a apoplectic attack, Jalal could and had the resources to help her but the naughty devil would make a song and dance of it and try to extract a hefty repayment that would definitely embarrass her, Surely she would rather DIE than approach HIM for help !!!!
The frown deepened, unconsciously her full red lips drew into a pout as she contemplated her mode of action. Hanifa, one of the begums in the harem noticed Jodha's lost look. Hanifa was struck by the glowing beauty of Jodha, Her heart shaped face looking radiant even when scowling, the smooth milky skin glistening like a polished pearl stone, The long nose, thin and aristocratic getting further enhanced with a delicately carved golden nose ring adorning it. Her eyes shaped like a lotus, and the glow from those orbs rivaling the brightness of the sun nor could Hanifa forget that Jodha's eyes twinkled like million stars when she was thoroughly amused and her generous and full bodied lips curved itself like a flower blooming in bright sunlight- the effect turning her visage into a gorgeous Goddess from heavens! Jealousy like a wild and venomous snake struck at Hanifa's bosom. HERE was the reason why her lord and master King Jalal was ignoring them, HERE was the reason why other queens were being royally ignored, Murderous rage coursed through Hanifa's body, soul and mind but none of these feelings showed outside, putting on a pleasant smile Hanifa went to Jodha asking her the reason for her sulk. Startled out of her reverie, Jodha was delighted to see a familiar face, she eagerly asked Hanifa's help.Hanifa seized on this golden opportunity and decided to send Jodha permanently to her maker!
Evening
Jodha sent Madhavi to her home so that she could celebrate Kanha's festival, She dressed in simple style with minimum accessories but yet shone like a lone diamond star ( Such was her beauty). Jodha left alone in her horse drawn carriage without informing any royal members about her plans and Jalal remained blissfully unaware of the heavy storm (literal & Metaphorical) winging his way.
After hectic consultation in DIWANE -E-KHAS, Jalal retired to his apartment. His preoccupied mind realized something was amiss...His sinewy, powerful arms running absentmindedly up & down the sword, Jalal started to reflect & realized that sound of laughter,giggles and songs were absent from adjacent chamber in which Jodha was residing. Curious but not alarmed, Jalal wondered whether some mystical force finally managed to stitch the lips of chatterbox Jodha and her friends and immediately discarded it thinking nothing could stop Jodha and her friends from chatting. Next came the thought that maybe some distressing news had come from Jodha, which has made Jodha Sad. Jalal instantly turned to go towards Jodha's chambers when the thought descended that the obstinate princess of Hindustan might put on airs and reply haughtily to him.Jalal checked his steps..halted and also realized that any news from Amer or anywhere would have reached HIM before it reached JODHA..His spies would ensure that..relaxing slightly, Jalal went for his sword practice but the niggling sense of alarm remained.
Jalal practiced his swordsmanship furiously and with total concentration, defeating and redefeating the bravest warriors from his army. His lithe and agile body curving, stretching, flexing like the cat.His moves as graceful as a swan and as powerful as a lion, his strikes like lightning that left you gasping for breath... Feeling challenged , The rain God sent one of his lightning bolts as if to scare Jalal or perhaps to impress him but Jalal remained unimpressed and continued practice until Atgah Khan came and requested Jalal to cease the practice due the inclement weather, Amused but respecting Atgah's request , Jalal stepped inside...The rains which apparently was watching the duels and sword fight of Jalal with rapt adoration chose to unleash its burden once the practice ceased..Gust of winds ripped through the palace walls, Lightning and thunder begun to shake the solid walls of the fort.
Fresh from his bath, looking every inch like a powerful Monarch, Jalal stepped out of his inner room and once again was struck by the unnatural quietness emanating from Jodha's room. The niggling alarm grew and assumed a giant like status, not bothering about the rain or the impending taunts that might come his way from the feisty hot tempered girl, Jalal wet and looking hot stepped into Jodha's room and stood shocked to see that there were nobody in the royal quarters. Fear, that was just few depths away, leaped and filled his heart, He searched every room inside the chambers - for a brief second even thinking that Jodha was playing a joke on him.. but nothing could calm his roaring heart for he knew for sure that something had gone wrong and something was going to happen to HIS Jodha !! YES !! his JODHA..There he finally accepted it...Though he fought and quarreled with her, though she mocked and taunted him and gave him sleepless nights, made his temper shoot up.. He LOVED her to death, she was the ONLY WOMAN who could make his beating heart race and SHE was missing!! Jalal felt that the nature was mourning for him and in a second he pushed these negative and unwelcome thoughts away. Nothing was going to happen to HIS JODHA, she was safe and she WAS playing a prank on him ..he tried to console himself but it was not working...finally giving in to his fear, he begun to search every inch of the palace, all rooms, getting mad and desperate as the face he loved to see, the sound of laughter he loved to hear remained elusive to him..
Jalal headed to Ruqaiyya's room's demanding to know the whereabouts of Jodha, Not getting answers there, he shouted at his harem when they pleaded ignorance- frustrated his tensions, fear and anger mounting ...Jalal paced the palace like a caged Tiger..Rahim who had been watching the angry striding of Jalal timidly approached Jalal and told him that he saw Jodha leaving the palace with a pooja plate.. grasping at straws, Jalal immediately summoned the entry guards who informed him that Jodha left ALONE in a horse drawn carriage. Stunned by the daredevilry of Jodha, controlling his impatience, Jalal commanded the sentry to tell him the rendezvous of Jodha - the sentry of-course did not know! CALM, which was stealing over Jalal was taken and shredded again to be replaced by a paralyzing fear..Jodha was OUT all alone , an easy prey to lecherous wolves ! Panic gripped Jalal as he did not know where to search for Jodha, it was then that the wiser head of Atgah suggested asking Madhavi.Madhavi was summoned & the loyal maid revealed that Jodha went to Krishna's temple in the outskirts of the city atop the hill. Relief flooded through Jalal as he finally came to know the exact location of where his love had gone only to be broken into smithereens when Atgah with worry lines said that the temple was an ancient one, wobbly and dilapidated and a strong storm as this might cause the collapse of the temple and as if to console Jalal, Atgah further added that it was frequented by wild animals ..Agony and despair tore into Jalal as he imagined the peril's that Jodha might be facing..
A king was a King and remains A King !! Gathering himself, Jalal resolved to go out and fetch Jodha forthwith, to the utter consternation of the assembled group!! Ruqaiyya tried to stop him by pointing out the dangers of venturing out in the dangerous storm which was pulling out mightiest trees like mere cotton balls, Atgah advised patience and to wait but Jalal would hear none of it... straddling his horse..Jalal raced towards the hill top where his destiny awaited.
Evening
Jodha sent Madhavi to her home so that she could celebrate Kanha's festival, She dressed in simple style with minimum accessories but yet shone like a lone diamond star ( Such was her beauty). Jodha left alone in her horse drawn carriage without informing any royal members about her plans and Jalal remained blissfully unaware of the heavy storm (literal & Metaphorical) winging his way.
After hectic consultation in DIWANE -E-KHAS, Jalal retired to his apartment. His preoccupied mind realized something was amiss...His sinewy, powerful arms running absentmindedly up & down the sword, Jalal started to reflect & realized that sound of laughter,giggles and songs were absent from adjacent chamber in which Jodha was residing. Curious but not alarmed, Jalal wondered whether some mystical force finally managed to stitch the lips of chatterbox Jodha and her friends and immediately discarded it thinking nothing could stop Jodha and her friends from chatting. Next came the thought that maybe some distressing news had come from Jodha, which has made Jodha Sad. Jalal instantly turned to go towards Jodha's chambers when the thought descended that the obstinate princess of Hindustan might put on airs and reply haughtily to him.Jalal checked his steps..halted and also realized that any news from Amer or anywhere would have reached HIM before it reached JODHA..His spies would ensure that..relaxing slightly, Jalal went for his sword practice but the niggling sense of alarm remained.
Jalal practiced his swordsmanship furiously and with total concentration, defeating and redefeating the bravest warriors from his army. His lithe and agile body curving, stretching, flexing like the cat.His moves as graceful as a swan and as powerful as a lion, his strikes like lightning that left you gasping for breath... Feeling challenged , The rain God sent one of his lightning bolts as if to scare Jalal or perhaps to impress him but Jalal remained unimpressed and continued practice until Atgah Khan came and requested Jalal to cease the practice due the inclement weather, Amused but respecting Atgah's request , Jalal stepped inside...The rains which apparently was watching the duels and sword fight of Jalal with rapt adoration chose to unleash its burden once the practice ceased..Gust of winds ripped through the palace walls, Lightning and thunder begun to shake the solid walls of the fort.
Fresh from his bath, looking every inch like a powerful Monarch, Jalal stepped out of his inner room and once again was struck by the unnatural quietness emanating from Jodha's room. The niggling alarm grew and assumed a giant like status, not bothering about the rain or the impending taunts that might come his way from the feisty hot tempered girl, Jalal wet and looking hot stepped into Jodha's room and stood shocked to see that there were nobody in the royal quarters. Fear, that was just few depths away, leaped and filled his heart, He searched every room inside the chambers - for a brief second even thinking that Jodha was playing a joke on him.. but nothing could calm his roaring heart for he knew for sure that something had gone wrong and something was going to happen to HIS Jodha !! YES !! his JODHA..There he finally accepted it...Though he fought and quarreled with her, though she mocked and taunted him and gave him sleepless nights, made his temper shoot up.. He LOVED her to death, she was the ONLY WOMAN who could make his beating heart race and SHE was missing!! Jalal felt that the nature was mourning for him and in a second he pushed these negative and unwelcome thoughts away. Nothing was going to happen to HIS JODHA, she was safe and she WAS playing a prank on him ..he tried to console himself but it was not working...finally giving in to his fear, he begun to search every inch of the palace, all rooms, getting mad and desperate as the face he loved to see, the sound of laughter he loved to hear remained elusive to him..
Jalal headed to Ruqaiyya's room's demanding to know the whereabouts of Jodha, Not getting answers there, he shouted at his harem when they pleaded ignorance- frustrated his tensions, fear and anger mounting ...Jalal paced the palace like a caged Tiger..Rahim who had been watching the angry striding of Jalal timidly approached Jalal and told him that he saw Jodha leaving the palace with a pooja plate.. grasping at straws, Jalal immediately summoned the entry guards who informed him that Jodha left ALONE in a horse drawn carriage. Stunned by the daredevilry of Jodha, controlling his impatience, Jalal commanded the sentry to tell him the rendezvous of Jodha - the sentry of-course did not know! CALM, which was stealing over Jalal was taken and shredded again to be replaced by a paralyzing fear..Jodha was OUT all alone , an easy prey to lecherous wolves ! Panic gripped Jalal as he did not know where to search for Jodha, it was then that the wiser head of Atgah suggested asking Madhavi.Madhavi was summoned & the loyal maid revealed that Jodha went to Krishna's temple in the outskirts of the city atop the hill. Relief flooded through Jalal as he finally came to know the exact location of where his love had gone only to be broken into smithereens when Atgah with worry lines said that the temple was an ancient one, wobbly and dilapidated and a strong storm as this might cause the collapse of the temple and as if to console Jalal, Atgah further added that it was frequented by wild animals ..Agony and despair tore into Jalal as he imagined the peril's that Jodha might be facing..
A king was a King and remains A King !! Gathering himself, Jalal resolved to go out and fetch Jodha forthwith, to the utter consternation of the assembled group!! Ruqaiyya tried to stop him by pointing out the dangers of venturing out in the dangerous storm which was pulling out mightiest trees like mere cotton balls, Atgah advised patience and to wait but Jalal would hear none of it... straddling his horse..Jalal raced towards the hill top where his destiny awaited.
To Be Continued..........
This is dummy text. It is not meant to be read. Accordingly, it is difficult to figure out when to end it. But then, this is dummy text. It is not meant to be read. Period.
ConversionConversion EmoticonEmoticon