Story: NEW LIFE...Thread 1 - Page 45

Originally posted by: divyaJA

ohkk dear..
waiting..

Hey buddy

CHAPTER 16

AKBAR-BIRBAL...

Though Jalal was very casually asking all the questions like a family friend only, it demands not much of intelligence to understand that he was actually interrogating Sareefuddin to know his actual involvement with his father regarding the rebellion. While answering him as smartly as he can, being conscious before pronouncing each and every word so that no secret can be guessed by the cunning emperor, Sareefuddin was literally feeling to cry! All the bad luck is after him from some days. The messenger pigeon died for no reason, one of his faithful decreased in number, His majesty is all set to arrest all the suspects along with his own father and beat them up till they blurts out everything including his name, the coded message was yet to be decoded and now the key of the codes, the book of Ameer Khusroo has been handed over to Jalal! Even his very faithful Bakshi Banu is acting weird too; God knows how much she knows about the conspiracy and how much has she told her brother about it! But if his majesty had known about the relation between him and the coded message, would he be sit to hat with him while offering him drinks instead of ordering a third degree treatment? It is very tough to guess that the message coming from the pigeon has any distant connection with the fat poetry book, until and unless he finds any clue. Sareef was hoping from all his heart that the emperor has not found any clue about that!

"Sareefuddin?" The call from the emperor brought Sareef back in the world. He was lost in thoughts so has skipped the last question by the emperor. He gulped and smiled like an idiot.

"Hum samajh sakte hay Sareefuddin tumhare dil ke haal!" [I can guess your condition Sareefuddin!]Jalal said sadly. "Chate jitna bhi galat kaam kyu na kare, hay to o humhare abbujaan hi! Par hum or kar bhi kya sakte hay batao!" [No matter how many mistakes does he commit, he is your father! But what else can I do you say!]

O you understand me so much, I am grateful to you my lord- Sareef mocked at him, but in his mind of course. This man has almost killed him in tension from the morning. Though Sareefuddin has sent a faithful horseman immediately to his father for going underground for some days, and specially has ordered him to transfer the message before the order of arresting them reaches at Agra, but still he doubt about it! The more painful part is everything is happening in front of Sareefuddin, he can stop those to happen, but he is unable. Neither he is able to send message in Kabul nor to save his father and his companions!! Even if he could send a message to Abul Mali to postpone the plan... but even the book is not in his hand!!

"Tumhe Ameer Khusroo ki rubaiyaa bohot pasand hay hay na?"[So you like the poems of Ameer Khusroo a lot?] Jalal suddenly asked. Sareef almost jumped up in shock, but controlled himself immediately. "Jii nehi to...matlab haa...matlab..."[No...I mean yes...I mean...]he started stammering.

"Bakshi banu ne tumhara ek kitab hume parne ke liye diya hay."[Bakshi Banu has given me a book to read.] Jalal stated quite casually, smiling. "Aab hume kaha aata hay parna jabtak koi parke na sunaye! Par accha laga yeh dekhke kit tum bhi inn sab me kafi dilchaspi rakhte ho! Ekdin sath me byathenge o kitab leke!"[Now when do can I read till someone reads for me! But I liked that you have also interest in literature! Let us sit and talk about these one day!]

Thank God! Sareefuddin gave a huge sigh of relief. So his majesty does not know about the code part. At least he is safe for now in this case!

"Waise byathne se yaad aya, o paigaam ke bare me kitna pata lagaye tum?" [What about that message?]Jalal suddenly became a bit serious. "Tum kuh kar bhi paoge yea nehi?"[Will you be able to solve that or not?]

"Ji hum jald se jald uss paheli ko suljha lenge... Aap yaakin kijie humpe Jahapanah!"[Yes my lord. I will solve that as soon as possible. You can depend on me.] Sareef spoke out with all his enthusiasm. He cannot let the message to get out of hand at least!!

"Dekh ke nehi lagta!"[It does not seem so.] Jalal shook his head. "jaao fir, jake kosish karo... Kal subah tak ki waqt dete hay tumhe. Kal Maan Singh ki shadi hay, baarat nikalne ke pahele hume yeh musibat ko sar se utar fekna hay!"[Okay then, go and try... I am giving you a time limit till tomorrow morning. Tomorrow id Maan Singh's marriage, you have to uproot this trouble before the baarat' goes out.] he stated. "Or agar na ho paye to mujhe o kagaj waapas karo. Bohot log hay mere paas jinhe yeh kaam tumse accha aata hay!"[And if you think you will not be able, return the paper. There are a lot of people with me who can do this better than you.]

"Hum aaj raat ke andar aapko paigaam parke sunayenge Shahenshah! Izazat dijie..."[I will read the message in front of you within this night.] Sareefuddin bid him and went off. Very obviously the slight smirk in the emperor's lip did not catch his attention.

"Zafar..." His majesty called out. "Foren Mahesh Das ke paas jake kaho ki Shahenshah unse mulakat chahte hay!" [Zafar, immediately inform Mahesh Das that majesty wants to meet him.]

Mahesh Das came after a while, with a paper and a fat bound book in his hand. Jalal smiled at him...

"Kitna waqt or lage ga paigaam ved ne me?"[How much time more do you need to solve the code?] He asked.

"Ho gaya Shahenshah!"[It has been finished your majesty!] Mahesh Das responded.

"Subhan Allah!!" His majesty gave a broad smile. "Khuda ka shukr hay ki aap Farshi parna sikhe they! Nehi to or kon hay iss Hindustan me jo 5 ghante ke andar ek uljhe hue paheli ki raaz suljha sake!" [Thank God that you had learnt to read Farshi! Else who other is there in this Hindustan who is able to solve the secret of riddle within 5 hours?]

As usual no sign of modesty came in Mahesh Das's face. Rather he smirked and said. "Dhanyabad to hum mata Saraswati ko dete hay, aapko aapni kripadristi se thora banchit rakhne ke liye... Agar sare vidya or buddhi aapko dene ke baad parne-likhne ka khasmta dene me o kanjusi nehi karte to hum to bina khake mar jate huzur! Tab ek choti si paheli jo aap 2 ghante me suljha sakte hay uske liye iss adham ka yaad thori na ata aapko?"[I should thank Mata Saraswati for making you deprived from her blessings. If she would have been to kind to give the power of reading and writing to you too after giving all the knowledge and intelligence, then I would have died without food my lord! Then you would never remember this mere person for solving a riddle that you are able to solve in 2 hours.]

Jalal chuckled. Really everyone should take tuitions from Mahesh Das on the tactics on how to praise his majesty and win his heart. "Idhar 5 ghante me aap paheli suljha bhi diye, or uaha koi or nakli paigaam ko todne ke liye din raat ek kar raha hay!"[Here you are solving the riddle in 5 hours, and there one is trying hard to decode the false message!] He said laughing.

"Abhi bhi samajh nehi aya unhe ki o ek nakli sandesh hay? Ki ek kagaj me jo man chahe ank likhke unke haat me de diya gaya hay?" [Have not yet he understood that message is false? That some random digits are written on the paper only before giving that to him?]Mahesh joined in his laughter. "Sach me shahenshah, aapko unhe naakli sandesh dene ki buddhi bohot accha tha!Parantu..."[Really your idea of handing him the false message was great! But...] His voice was heading towards curiosity. "Aap unhe kayed karne ki bajay unke samne sare kaam ki baatyen kyu kar rahe hay. Shatru mukt ghum raha hay or..."[Why are you talking about your plans in front of him instead of arresting him? The enemy is roaming around freely and...]

"Mahesh Das ji..." Jalal stopped him with a suppressed smile. "Patang uraye hay kabhi?"[Have you ever flown kite?]

"Zaroor."[Obviously.]

"Kisi dusre patang ko katne ne liye aapne wale ko urne dena parta hay. Baas dhaga aapne haat hone chahiye... Aapne hi sikhaya uss din, chor ko pakarne ki tarika?"[To capture another kite we have to let our's one fly. Only the control should be in own hand. You yourself had taught me the process of catching a thief, is not it?] Jalal smiled.

"Samjha shahenshah!" Mahesh told. "Itni sidhi baat samajh nehi aya!! Kya ho gaya hay meri buddhibritti ko?"[I understood your majesty. How could not I understand such a simple thing! What has happened with my intelligence?]

"Kabhi kabhi ho jata hay. Aab der maat kijie or aapni khoj ke bare me hume jankaari dijie!"[It happens sometime. Now don't do late and tell me about your discovery.] Jalal said.

Mahesh Das opened the paper and the book, and made Jalal understood the process of decoding briefly. "Assan hay, par samay lagta hay..."[It's easy, but time- taking...] He concluded.

"Hum baas soch rahe hay ki Sareefuddin ko akhir kar kya paigaam mila hoga humare bheje hue us kagaj me se ki o usse wapas nehi karna chahta!" [I am only thinking that what message Sareefuddin has got by decoding my paper that he is not ready to return that!]Jalal giggled. "Kabhi waqt mile to uss paheli ko bhi suljhana hoga aapko Mahesh Das ji!"[If you get time please solve thatriddle for me too!]

"O dayitwa aap Sareefuddin Sahab ko hi dijie Huzur!" [Give that responsibility to Sareefuddin my lord!] Mahesh chuckled. "Hum iss paheli ki bare me batate hay..." [Let me tell you what is written inside this message.]

After the message being read, both of them sat silent with serious face for some moment to think the next strategy. The main summary of the message is that the force of the friendly nations are ready, they are waiting for the signal from the receiver to attack simultaneously with the religious revolt. After a while Mahesh Das started talking. "Iska matlab yehi hay ki sharyantra ki jaal bohot din se buni ja rahi hay!"[That means the net of conspiracy is being built from a long time!]

"Hume andaza tha Mahesh Das Ji... Bohot din se pata tha!Par jaal ko katne ke liye kuch mil nehi raha tha! Abb mil gaya hay..."[I guessed it Mahesh Das Ji. I knew it from a long time, but was not getting anything to cut that. Now I have got it...] Jalal uttered leaving Mahesh Das in hell confusion. He then laughed out looking Mahesh Das's expression. "Lagta hay 5 ghante ki lagatar mehenat ke baad aapki dimaag so raha hay! Aab aise byathe rahenge to kaise chalega?Abul Mali jawab ka intezaar kar raha hay. Usse or kitne din andhere me rakhenge hum?"[It seems after the hardship of 5 hours your brain is sleeping now! How can you sit vacant now? Abul Mali is waiting for the reply. How can we leave him in dark for so many days?] He smiled. "Sareefuddin ka adhura kaam or hum or aap pura karenge!"[Now you and me will complete the unfinished work of Sareefuddin!]

"Kya likhenge Kabul me bheja hua paigaam me?"[What should I write at the message which is to be sent to Kabul?] Mahesh Das asked with a smirk.

"Baas yehi ki Hindustan ka haowa kharap hay, hamla karne ki sabse sahi waqt hay, foren Samarkand ki fauj ko hamla karne ke liye bhej diya jaye."[Only that the condition of Hindustan is not good, it is the best time for attacking, so send the army of Samarkand to attack.] He smirked. "Humare dusmaan ki fauj aab humare isharo me chalega!"[Now the force of my enemies will work according to my orders.]

"Or Samarkand ki sima me byathe hue humare fauj ke haat me parasth bhi hoga... Hindustan me ghusne ki bohot pahele!!"[And they will be easily defeated by our prepared force over the border of Samarkand...Much before of entering into Hindustan!!] Mahesh got excited. "Hume anumati dijie Shahenshah, jitney jaldi ho sake paigaam likhna hay!"[Order me your majesty, I have to write the message as soon as possible.]

Mahesh Das was about to get out, Jalal called from back. "Mahesh Das ji?"

"Ji Jahapanah?"[Yes my lord?] He turned back.

"Aapka naam Mahesh kisne rakha tha?"[Who had given you your name?] Jalal asked suddenly, without any link with previous matter.

"Mere pitaji ne sayad. Kyu Shahenshah?"[Perhaps my father...but why?] Mahesh Das was confused again.

"Aap jaise hosiyaar or chalak insaan ke naam Mahesh Das nehi hona chahiye tha!Kabhi nehi!"[Mahesh Das cannot be a name of a smart and intelligent person like you. Never!] Jalal shook his head a bit childishly.

"Pitridatta naam se manusya ki charitra ki praticchabi nehi milta hay Huzur."[We do not get the image of a man's character from his parental name my lord.] Mahesh Das smiled. "Srif aapne santaan ke liye unki hriday ki ashayen pratifalit hota hay. Aap aapni baat hi dekh lijie..."[Only their hopes of heart for their children reflects from those names. See your own case...]

"Humare naam ke sath humare andaaz nehi milta hay?Kya kahena chahte hay? Jalal matlab jante hay aap?" [My name does not matches with me? What are you saying? Do you know the meaning of Jalal'?]Jalal told a bit angrily, it seemed he has a great admiration to his own name.

"Aapke pita duradarshi the, or aap unke sujagya putra... O aapke liye jo jo sapne dekhe the aapne o sakar kiya. Is liye aapke pitridatta naam ke sath aapke byaktitwa mil jata hay. Parantu..." [Your father had a long sight, and you too are his capable son... You have fulfilled all the dreams that he had seen for you. So your name too matches with your personality. But...] He smiled. "Yeh naam aapka purn parichay nehi ho sakta.Aapka parichay to o naam hay jo aapne aapne karmo se arjit kiye hay...Jo naam aapke prajayon ne aapko diya hay...Badshah Akbar, mahaan Samrat Akbar!" [This name is not your full identity. Your name that is achieved by you, that is given by your subjects, defines you... Emperor Abar. The great emperor Akbar!]

Jalal gave a content smile of satisfaction, then said. "To aapka bhi aisa hi ek naam hona chahiye Mahesh Das Sahab. [Then you too should have a name like that Mahesh Das Sahab.]Jo naam khud hi aapke sare hunar ka pahechan ho. Jisse log aapko sadiyo tak yaad rakhe.Hum denge aisa ek naam aapko..."[The namewhich will be the identity of your talent...by which people remember you for ages. I will give that name to you...]

"Kya kahe rahe hay Shahenshah!"[What are you saying majesty!] A strange thing happened with Mahesh Das; he did blush a little...

"Birbal." Emperor Akbar pronounced.

"Birbal?"

"Ha Birbal. Akbar ke Birbal!"[Yes Birbal. Akbar's Birbal.] Jalal uttered in his measured and modulated voice. "Aaj se hum aapko Birbal hi bulayenge."[From now on I will call you Birbal only.]

"Huzur humse humare pitridatta naam bhi chin lenge?"[Will my lord snatch my name given by my father too?] Mahesh Das smiled shyly.

"Hum mazak nehi kar rahe hay Birbal!"[I am not joking Birbal!] His majesty declared in a husky tone. "Sach kahe rahe hay... Hum waada karte hay aapse ki chahe waqt ke sath sath aapki waalit ke diye hue naam dhire dhire tarikh ke panno se mit jaye, par jabtak tarikh iss badshah Akbar ko yaad rakhega, usse Birbal ko bhi eksath yaad karna parega... Or sadiyo tak logo ke dil me aap zinda rahenge, Birbal ke naam se!" [I am telling truth. I promise you that maybe the name given by your father wipes out from the pages of History along with time, but until the History will remember this emperor Akbar, it has to remember Birbal with this...And you will live in the heart of the people for ages, in the name of Birbal!]

THE REFLECTION IN WATER...

A grand celebration of the night before marriage was going on in the hall. The most famous and beautiful dancer of whole Rajputana was presenting her beautiful dance in the auspicious occasion of the prince's marriage. All were enjoying the function; but two women from the women section were missing... They had chosen a lonely and peaceful place to enjoy the moment, to open up their hearts to each-other. Beside the artificial lake created in between the palace for the resting purpose of the family members of the king, under the vast sky full of stars, two sisters found a much-awaited freedom to share their hearts...

Closing her eyes, Jodha was inhaling the gentle soft breeze to sooth her heart without saying a word. But Sukanya cannot sit without talking anything for a long time. She started "Dekha kitni acchi tarkib thi meri! Nartaki ki ghungroo ki raunaak se jyada yeh shant pawan ki mithi sparsh dil ko shanti deta hay!"[So you see how much effective my idea was? The peaceful air's touch gives much more peace in heart than the gorgeous dance of the dancer!]

Jodha nodded, and started to gaze at her reflection in the crystal-clear water of the lake. What a beautiful night it is! The canopy of luminous stars is hanging over the ocean of darkness over the head; a slice of moon, over all, is sitting alone, like a lone lady in waiting... A gathering of red cloud at north-east sky is slowly coming towards the lonely moon. Is not this night a perfect situation for meeting of lovebirds?

Jodha's heart tuned out in form of song...

"Bahu manorathe sanjhu abhisaare pahelu sunila vesh;

Kajara nayane salaje bayane kusume sajanu kesh,

Sakhi hum Mohan abhisaare jau, bolo hum etat sukha kaha pau?"

"Kitni sundar gaati hay aap jiji..."[You sing so well Jiji...] Sukanya hugged Jodha from back. Her face too shined in the light of diya' floating on the water. Jodha touched her forehead with her head, smiled and again started...

"Yamuna r pare, gahana adhare, ghanev pawan majhe.

Priya setha mor bedana katar mohe lagi byathe achhe...

Sakhi hum Mohan abhisaare jau, bolo hum etat sukha kaha pau?"

Suddenly they felt the presence of another soul behind them. "Lo jiji!" Sukanya giggled. "Aapki swar se mohit hokar aapki priya aapke paas aa gaye!"[See sister; here your lover has come to you attracted by your song!]She stood up and walked to her brother-in-law. "Uss yug me Mohan ke Bangshi sunkar Radha deewani hokar daurke ati thi, iss yug me to aapni priya ki mithi swar sunkar kaanha daurke unke pass aa gaye, o bhi desh ki sabse sundar nartaki ki ghungroo ki awaz piche chorke?"[It that era Radha used to run towards Mohan by the sound of his flute, in this era Kanha is coming to his beloved hearing her beautiful voice, that too leaving the attraction of the most beautiful dancer behind.] She tried to make her face serious. "Hay Rama! Kya haal bana diya hay meri jijisa ne ek mahabali shahenshah ka!!"[O Rama! What my sister has done with the mighty emperor!! ]

Though when Jalal came here he did not know that he will find Jodha and Sukanya here, his heart was searching peace and the gorgeous and resplendent function was not able to give him that; so he had asked to excuse him at the middle of the function and came out of the hall, under the vast dark sky to absorb the peace from the cold breeze... But he did not protest Sukanya's words, rather gave a meaningful smile to her. "Humare haal leke jyada chinta na kare Sukanya; humara to jo hona tha ho chuka hay! Hume to aapke sauhar ke bare me sochke chinta ho raha hay!"[Don't think much about my condition. What was bound to happen has happened with me! I am tensed for your husband!]

"Kyu?"[Why?]

"Us rakasa se to najar hata hi nehi paa rahe hay o! Aisa agar chalte rahe to aaj raat aap unhe zinda bakshenge?" [He is not able to move his eyes from that dancer. If this continues then will you leave him tonight?]Jalal sighed!

"Kya??" Sukanya popped her eyes. "Abhi dekhte hay hum unhe!"[What? Let me see him now!] She immediately left the place, not to take care of her husband, but to leave them alone...

Jalal looked at Jodha, who was smiling silently to see the light banter between Sukanya and Jalal, and smiled. She placed herself at side to give Jalal seat beside her. Jalal, after a bit hesitation, went and sat there.

A long pause of silence... The air was breezing in its own wish; the red clouds are now very close to the moon; both of the reflection of their face was shining in the water, both of their eyes were beaming together in the light of the diya' that was floating on. Both of their hearts were beating together in the silence; both of them are carrying the same load of emotions in their heart; still, they were not finding any words to start a conversation!

"Ruk kyu gayi aap! Kitne acchi gaa rahi thi!"[Why you stopped. You were singing so well.] Jalal at last started. "Gaiye na..."[Sing please...]

Jodha took a glance to her husband's face for a moment. He was starring at the water, watching the shadows in it. She sighed. Will their longing for each other ever finish?

"Sakhi Chira abhagin hum; Baithe ekakini, pohanu rajani tabu na ailo shyam...

Krishna Kajal pighal sajal nayane neer dhare,

Ki kathin patha, britha manoratha, bifala abhisaare;

Sakhi hum, kabhu na abhisaare jau, dukh-laj etat sahe nahi pau... "

Closing his eyes, Jalal was floating on the ocean of euphony along with the melodious tune from Jodha's voice. His heart was gradually filling with an uncanny emotion the moment the lyrics were entering into his core, piercing his heart in an unknown pain... The same pain that was depicted by the song; the same pain in which Jodha's euphony had been drowned... the pain of love!

The song ended, Jalal sighed a little; and Jodha could feel that. She looked at his majesty at once.

"Yeh to o hi gaana hay na jo aap..."[Is not it that song which...] The sentence of Jalal remained incomplete.

"Yaad hay aapko?"[You remember?] Jodha smiled, and her eyes shone a bit too...

It was a same night like this. Jodha had invited Jalal for a dinner in boat-ride in the middle of Yamuna River. And, the very rare case happened that day only; Jalal was so busy in his works that he completely forgot about that. He recalled the invitation after the royal clock rang 1 o' clock, and rushed at the venue at once. The curtain of the queen's cabin was closed, none were permitted to come inside not even her best friend Moti Bai; a light strain of melancholic sarod was floating in the air from inside the curtained cabin, with a angry, wet, disheartened voice of the angry beloved- "Sakhi hum kabhu na abhisaare jau,dukh-laj etat sahe nahi pau..."

"Kaise bhul sakte hay!" [How can I forget?]Jalal uttered mournfully, in a strange sentiment in his voice.

So you too find the energy for living from the old memories your majesty, like your Jodha?! Jodha smiled, but did not reciprocate. With an unblinking eye she kept starring at her husband, who was not picking his eyes from the mirror of the water...

"Pata chala kon hay uss sandesh ki piche?"[Have you known that who is behind that message?] Jodha entered into a very rational topic suddenly, which does not at all match in this environment; perhaps to break the unbearable barrier of silence. Jalal now picked his eyes and looked at her, smiling...

"Pata chala hay, or usse pakarne ke bhi bandobast kiya ja raha hay!"[Yes, and the preparations of catching him is also going on!]

"Kon hay o?" [Who is he?]Jodha showed her concern...

"Hay koi! Humare dusmanyon ki kami thori na hay!"[Someone; has here any lack of my enemies?] Jalal sighed and waved the topic. "Choriye na inn sab baato ko. Itne khubsurat lamhe me yeh sare baate na hi kiya jaye to bahetar hay!"[Leave it. Why to spoil this beautiful environment by these types of topics?]

Jodha didn't say anything; she placed her gaze on the lonely moon on the sky. The red clouds are playing hide & seek with her like the emotions of heart... Is not the moon like Jodha?

Jalal was lost in the reflection of Jodha in water. The same face that had driven him mad a long ago had not changed a bit. Only the eyes have been covered with a shield of melancholies tire; and perhaps that has made her even more beautiful in the gloomy silent environment of the night... Jalal is an aesthetic of beauty; he has seen a lot of beautiful women in his life, many of them are much more beautiful than Jodha if one judges with the formal definition of beauty; but sometimes feelings become much stronger than the conventional definition... In this beautiful environment, in the shadow of water Jalal again discovered like always, that none in this world is as beautiful as his beloved!

"Aap abhi bhi nehi badli hay Jodha, thori si bhi nehi badli!"[You have not changed a bit Jodha, have not changed a bit! ] Jalal suddenly stated in a low voice as if he is talking with himself. Jodha at once looked at his face with a confused look in her eyes. Jalal was still gazing at the water, at the image of Jodha in the water...

"Kya?" [What?]Jodha could not help but smiling. "Kya kahe rahe hay Shahenshah, pure hi to badal gaye hay hum!"[What are you telling majesty? I have changed completely!] Her last words were filled with a hidden agony.

"Abhi bhi pani me aapki chahera utni hi sundar dikhti hay jitni paheli baar dekhke laga tha!" [Your image in water looks as beautiful as the first time!]Jalal said quite unmindfully. Jodha was much astonished than amused to hear the praises of her beauty from the mouth of her husband suddenly. She giggled out.

"To abhi bhi humare pati ki nigaho ne hume niharna nehi chhora hay?"[So even now the eyes of my husband have not stopped to stare at me?]

Jalal didn't tell anything, instead of that he rested his palm on her palm that was placed just aside... after a long era it seems! Jodha folded her fingers inside, but didn't take up her hand. Neither Jalal tried to move his palm. He again had lost in his thoughts, keeping his eyes fixed at the reflections...

"Hum badle nehi hay to badal jana kise kahete hay Shahenshah!"[If I have not changed then what is called changing majesty!] Jodha exclaimed suddenly. "Samay ne to aapni paribartan ki khel me hume hi uska sabse bara mohra banaya hay!"[Time has made me the largest pawn in its game of change.]

"Waqt chahe kitne bhi kyu na khel le kisise, ek insaan ke sab kuch badalne ka takat nehi hay usme!"[Maybe time plays each type of game with someone, it has no power to change everything of a human. ] Jalal exclaimed. "Kuch khubiya aise hote hay insaan me jo uske sab kuch chhin jane ke baad bhi nehi jaata!"[There are some basic characteristics that cannot be changed even after being snatched from every aspect!]

"Kaha?" [Where?]Jodha smiled. "Varsho pahele gangaur ki ratri ke baad jis yuba purush ke aankho ki pratibimb hume sapno me bhi achhann karke rakha tha, o drishti ko to dhund nehi pate hum! Kya o yuba bhi badal nehi gaya?"[The youth, whose reflection of eyes had made me addicted even in dreams years ago, where can I find him? Has not that youth changed too?] Her voice was playing with lots of emotions, and she herself was unknown about the meanings of those emotions...

"Sayad! Waqt sab kuch badal deta hay Jodha;" [Perhaps! Time changes everything Jodha;]Jalal smiled. "Par uss nao-jawan ke aankhe, uska dil or dil ki dharkan to abhi bhi ek hi hay na!!" [But the eyes, the heart and the heartbeats of that youth is same till now!]

Jodha's heart shook; as she could feel the same touch of love in his measured voice... Yes, everything can change, but their heartbeat cannot...And this is the greatest truth that their heart beats together!

"Aankhe nehi badalta, par drishtikon badal jate hay; hriday nehi badalta, par uski gati paribartit ho jati hay samay ke sath sath!"[Eyes do not change,but perspective changes. Heart does not change, but the flow change with time!] Jodha exclaimed. "Aap hi bataiye shahenshah, kya ek premi, ek pati or ek pita ke dil ekhi gati me chal sakta hay? Kya..."[You say majesty, can the heart of a lover, a husband and a father beats in the same pulse? Does...]

Jodha suddenly stopped, as she had noticed the rapid change of expression in Jalal's eyes. His eyes, whose glances were fixed at Jodha's face, had suddenly filled with utter restlessness, the moment Jodha pronounced the word father... He took up his hand from Jodha's palm suddenly, in that restlessness put the hand in the water of lake and kept on stirring the water slowly. The both of their images started vibrating with the wave formed for the stirring- just like their flow of mind.

After a moment Jalal smiled again. "Baaja farmaya aapne Jodha! Sayad ek aashik, ek shauhar or ek waalid kabhi..."[You are right Jodha! Perhaps a lover, a husband and a father can never...] his voice suddenly chocked in agony. Does not the human being fulfill the duty of being a husband, a lover and a father together without any trouble? Then why, when it came to Jalal, he failed... failed in such a way that it seems he will never be able to come out from this loop again!

Another long pause of silence...this time much unbearable, more painful. Jodha again tried to push out the gloominess from the ambience by waving the topic aside. "Waise agar chahere ke bare me kahe to itne varsho me aap bhi kuch jyada paribartit nehi hue hay Shahenshah! Aap bhi waise hi hay jaise uss samay humne aapke pratibimb me dekhe the!"[But if you go for only the look then I should admit that you too have not changed much. You are also same as the first time in reflection.] She laughed out forcefully. "Pata hay, humne paheli nazar me aapo humare mangetkar Suryaban Singh samajh baithe the! Fir jab pata chala ki Suryaban koi dusra hay, tab bhi aapke chahere humare aankho se haat nehi raha tha... Hum bhi kitne..."[Do you know, when I saw you for first I took you as my fianc Suryaban! And when I came to know that he is someone else, I was not able to forget you...I was so...]

"Aap ko abhi bhi Suryaban Singh yaad ate hay?"[Do you remember Suryaban Singh even now?] Jodha's talk was suddenly interrupted by Jalal, and by such a weird question that Jodha was shocked.

"Kya??"[What??] She responded.

"Aap abhi bhi Suryaban Singh ko bhule nehi?"[Have not you forget Suryaban Singh till now?] he repeated again.

Jodha could not stop herself from smiling. After more than 3 years of marriage her husband is questioning her with the name of her first fianc who is dead long ago! Is he really so possessive about her even now that he cannot even bear the name of the first man of her life in her own mouth.

"Aapko jwalan ho raha hay kya?"[You are jealous?]Jodha asked, giggling. And at the same time her heart was relieved to understand that she has not gone too far from the comfort zone with her husband to talk in such a manner.

"Jwalan kyu hoga! Jwalne ke liye hay hi kya!!" [Why should I be jealous?]Jalal uttered slowly, but too seriously. "Baas puchh rahe hay. Ek jabaaz sipahi the o, jinhe jhukna nehi aata tha.Agar o aapse ek pal ke liye bhi mohabbat kiye to unhe bhul jana unke bari tauhin hogi!"[Was asking only. He was a great warrior who could never bend. If he has loved you for a moment then also forgetting him will be a great insult of him!]

"Prem ki baat to hum nehi jaante Shahenshah! Hum unse prem nehi karte hay o hume unke jaane ke baad pata chala. Unke dilme kya tha o hum kaise janenge!" [I don't know about love majesty! After his death I got to know that I never had loved him. How can I know what was in his heart!]Jodha said. "Parantu ek baat abasya hay.Humare jivan me hui kisi bhi ghatna ke bare me kisiki prashno ke uttar dene me razi nehi hay hum; sivay uss ek manusya ki...Jo humare vachan ke liya yudhh me pran diye, mrityu ke uprant unke samne humare jivan ki spastikaran dene ke liye hum prastut hay!" [But a thing. I am not ready to answer anyone about the incidents of my life without that one man... Who had sacrificed his life to keep my promise, I am ready to be answerable in front of him after death!]

"Hmm!!" Jalal sighed in deep thoughts.

"Kya soch rahe hay aap?"[What are you thinking?] Jodha asked.

"Sayad mohabbat ke sath zindegi ki khusiyon ka koi rishta nehi!"[Maybe there is no relation between love and happiness!] He said. Overlooking Jodha's stare he kept on unmindfully. "Aapne kaha ki Suryaban Singh se aapne mohabbat nehi kiye, par sayad agar aaj o zinda rahete, agar humare jaga o rahete aapke sath to sayad... Sayad aapke zindegi aise nehi hota...aap khush rahete!"[You said that you did not love Suryaban Singh, but if he were alive today, if he were here in my place then perhaps...perhaps your life would be not like this...Perhaps you would have been happy!]

Jodha stood up with hurt eyes. How can he think this way? Jodha has been going through such an unbearable pain in these times, even sometimes she had thought about finishing her meaningless life; but had she ever...ever dreamt even to think a life where her shahenshah is not with her? A life where she is happily alive, fulfilled with her family, only in the place of her husband there is someone else other than that man to whom she has surrendered all her body and heart? How can he utter these words to her? Does only materialistic happiness means everything? Such an insult from love!!

Perhaps Jalal guessed something from her firm response. He uttered in even lower voice, "Hum to baas aise hi kahe rahe the..." [I was saying without any reason...]

Jodha smiled sarcastically. "Aapko kya pata hay meri sukh ke bare me shahenshah! Kis batse hume kasht pauchta hay or kis baatse sukh kya o jante hay aap?"[Do you know anything about my happiness your majesty? Do you know what makes me happy and what makes me sad?] She pronounced in a very cold voice...

Jalal gazed at her face with his hurt intense eyes for a while, and then took back his eyes, lowered his sight, sighing!

Maybe I am failed to know you; but believe me Jodha, I had only wanted to know you Jodha, about your happiness, about your pain...About your heart... But he could not say these. Instead of these he stated "Maaf kar dijie hume Jodha Begam..." [I am sorry Jodha Begam...]

"Der ho raha hay, khane chaliye..." [We are getting late. Come for dinner.]Jodha said.

"Aap jaiye hum aate hay!"[You go, I am coming!] Jalal told.

The image of Jodha from the mirror of water slowly disappeared. Jalal looked at the sky, at the moon in the dark sky, with an agonized smile in his lip.

Love only begets pain. But even after that people do love. They cannot think about living without the love, who gives pain... They prefer the pain of love to the satisfaction of happiness! God knows why!!

PRECAP: Forgive me. Forgive me Jodha... The hard rock of tears and solitude that had been strangulating him from inside for a long year suddenly blasted out; tears rolled down from the cheeks of the mighty emperor, with his body shivering in the thrust of cry from inside.

Originally posted by: sho123

yipee first😉

superb update
precap was interesting
I hope jalal or jodha phir say loving couple ban jaye
update soon

superb chappy...waiting to see Jalal coming out of his grief and guilt to understand Jo's pain, and become her strength again...

Awesome update!!!

soo lovely update dear
emotions of both r portayed so well hope they get united again
wating for nxt part
thnks for pm

Res 😳

Awesome update