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Chapter 12

After the peaceful, relaxing night, Jodha woke up very early in the morning. It was still gloomy outside; she saw Jalal sleeping next to her serenely. Seeing his gratified innocent face, she beamed softly and murmured dimly, 'I was so wrong; he is not at all cruel or heartless. I know he doesn't love me, but he genuinely cares for me.' She blushed, seeing his muscular shoulders and gorgeous, striking body, and deeply exhaled to control her overwhelming desire to touch him. She recalled how romantically and possessively he kissed her last night s. She stands there for a few minutes, just adoring his dazzling look.

Suddenly, she realized that she was running late, so she rushed and quickly changed her attire and wore the white outfit like a soldier. Soon she got ready to leave, but before leaving, she looked back at Jalal for a second with deep love in her eyes and silently murmured 'Shahenshah, please forgive me for keeping this a secret from you; it's a matter of my brother's safety, I know he is one of your enemies, and if you found out about him, you might end up killing him. Like others, I am also scared of your anger; what if you send your soldiers to capture him. I am fully aware that I am crossing my confined boundaries by keeping secrets from my husband. I hope you will not find this out, and if in case you find out, I am sure you will understand me and trust me completely. Your concern and care have built a subterranean trust inside my heart. I will be back soon before you know it.' Once again, she smiled at his content, innocent face, and left the chamber.

As per the plan, Moti had already arranged everything for Jodha. The only major issue was to pass through the main gate where many guards were sitting with the door closed; passing through from there was the toughest task. Still, Jodha decided to use her Queen's power and force them to open doors, and if that doesn't work, then without any argument will leave and take the back entrance where only four guards at the gate. She will cover-up hiding her identity, and she will fight with them and run away from the palace. But she knew that was a bit too dangerous an option. She decided to use the front gate first and use her card of being a special begum.

Everything was working out as per plan; her horse and sword were ready. It was still gloomy outside. She reached the main checkout point at the front gate, but strangely, there was no soldier on duty at the checkpoint, and the main gate was opened. Jodha quickly rode out of the palace excitedly. She felt a little odd and weird, but as she was in haste, she ignored the fact and went on her way.

Maham was waiting for Jodha to leave the palace; she had diverted the checkpoint guards purposely so Jodha could leave without distraction. After Jodha left, she smiled wickedly and talked to herself, 'I will make sure Queen Jodha, you don't come back to this palace and you are out the Shahenshah's life too. She masked her evil facial expressions and went to Jodha's chamber, where Jalal was sleeping peacefully.

She woke Jalal up with an apology and said in an anxious tone, "Shahenshah, please forgive me for waking you up in the middle of the night, but." she paused purposely.

"But what Badi Ammi?? What happened?? You seem so anxious?" Jalal fearfully asked

Maham cautiously replied, "Shahenshah, I don't know how to say this, but yesterday I received a message for Jodha begum, and as per my duty, I gave the message to her without reading. But when I left her chamber, I heard a loud cheer, she was so happy to read this message and hugged Moti and told her with excitement that he wants to meet me in the Jungle cottage, I ignored it. I thought maybe I had not heard clearly, but just a few minutes ago, when I received a message from the checkpoint that Jodha begum went out of the palace without anyone's permission, I realized that the message was indeed meet some man in the Jungle. She was so happy and eager, and I doubt that. She might have an aff.a.i.r." She paused.

"Badi Ammi. What are you saying? Are you out of your mind??? Do you know who you are talking about?" Jalal got up from the bed in a second and angrily shouted

Maham anxiously replied, "Shahenshah, Please forgive me, but I must guide you, and I do understand if my doubt is wrong, then you might kill me or punish me harshly, but I love you as my son, I have given you my entire life; My blood... My life... Everything... how can I see someone playing with my son's emotions? I heartily wish I am proven wrong. I know you have started to like Queen Jodha, perhaps more than like, but verify for me once. Please believe me and don't waste your time! I have verified that queen Jodha is not in the palace. You should check this out yourself immediately. If this is true, it's a huge betrayal from Rajvanshis; they might be planning to take revenge against Mughals, and looks like Queen Jodha is also part of this conspiracy."

Jalal slides his hand in his hair frustratingly. It took him a few minutes to grasp and come out of an unbelievable shock. He got ready with bizarre emotions. His heart could not believe that Queen Jodha went out to meet some other man and had an affair. He was not ready to believe that she went out of the palace without anyone's permission. But he spends many years with Maham, and he knew that Maham Anga never says anything without any proof. It was the middle of the night, and she disappeared from the palace, and he was sleeping next to her; all of these circumstances were screaming out loud to believe in Badi Ammi's words.

He was all confused and lost, his heart was not ready to accept that Jodha could deceive him, but his mind was walking over his heart. He rode on his horse towards the Jungle. His mind and heart were playing snakes and ladder. He recalled how Jodha responded promptly; she could sacrifice herself for his king; his mind immediately asked; Who was that king? Is it someone else? Was she planning to run away with some other prince? Was that the reason she has kept me away from her even after months? Was she a Ravanshi spy? Did she really want revenge?

His heart scolded him for all this negative thought. He pouted annoyingly and put positive thoughts. 'I have not seen anyone so pure-hearted, selfless, and divine, who would sacrifice own life for her family. His negative mind immediately jumped and said, 'Yes... She loves her family more than her life, that doesn't mean she loves you. Why she always stopped you from coming close to her?? Why had she not given you your rights as her husband???

Soon Negativity took over his mind completely. 'Oh, She was playing all along with my emotions and heart? How could I forget that she is one of the Hind Rajvanshis? Why did I trust her so blindly?'

His thinking gave him fearful shivers; his anger was pulping by every second. All negative feelings were little by little, capturing his wits.

Jodha finally reached her destination, where Sujamal, her cousin's brother, was already waiting for her. She tied her horse a little far from the cottage and walked down from the hill towards the cottage. Both brother and sister met each other.

Jalal also reached there five minutes later and saw a Jodha's white horse, which gave a deep shock in his heart. He quietly walked near, but as it was still between night and morning, it was slightly fuzzy, so he could not see clearly, so he walked further and hid behind the tree. He saw a tall, good-looking Rajvanshi man clearly from the hill who was very close to Jodha; she was standing opposite to him in a warrior get-up, the same outfit she wore at the time of their sword fight. She was standing opposite him, so Jalal was able to see her back only. Seeing Jodha with another man, his anger went out of the roof. He knuckled his palm to control his fury. He decided to wait for a few minutes to see what they were planning to do.

The first time Jodha and Sujamal met each other, since Sujamal and King Bharmal fight and dispute, he left Amer forever. Both of them got very emotional seeing each other. Within a few months, both of them went through a hell of a time. After he left Amer, so much happened, Mughals attacked Amer, Suryabhan died, and Jodha was forced to marry Jalal. Sujamal had no hint if Jodha was happy or sad. Both were very emotional; they simply hugged each other lovingly and cried their hearts.

Seeing them hugging Jalal's heart scorched with boiling fire. She was the only person he trusted; his newborn heart shattered into a million pieces within a fraction of seconds.

His doubt got confirmed that this man is the reason why Jodha never accepted him. She was betraying him. He felt like someone has cut his heart with a knife.

"Jodha, I am regretful; you had to marry a Mughal Shahenshah. I was so helpless; I couldn't do anything about it. I am sure you are in grave problem; otherwise, you would have never sent me a letter to meet in the Jungle like this." Sujamal, with a regretting tone, said while wiping her tears

Jodha got shocked after hearing; she looked at Sujamal with a staggering expression, "I have not sent any message to you (brother) bhaisa! I am not in any trouble at all, bhaisa; in the beginning, it took me some time to adjust, but Shahenshah is very caring and understanding. He gives me a lot of admiration and also respects our culture and religion. He has not forced me for anything. I am happy and content in Agra."

Jodha confusingly questioned, "Bhaisa (Brother), why did you sent me a message and asked me to come here?"

"Jodha, I have not called you here; I did send a message to you, but that was to wish you happy married life, and it was you who sent me a message to come here in the Jungle cottage to meet you."Sujamal, with a shocked expression, replied; both of them immediately realized there was some conspiracy going on.

"We should immediately leave; it is not safe to stay here."Jodha anxiously said

On the other side, Jalal was only able to see them and could not hear their conversation. He saw them hugging each other; his mind and heart both got blinded and took control over his wits. His love was not ripe enough to trust Jodha yet, and when he saw her hugging another man outside of the palace secretly in the very early morning, he couldn't think anything other than betrayal. His mind decided that she was playing with his emotions. His heart bled inside; he felt like killing everyone and blow this entire world; his body began to shiver due to extreme rage. He couldn't control his anger any longer.

Sujamal concernedly spoke, "Jodha, I cannot leave you here alone; I will drop you back in your palace and then leave."

Jodha agreed with Sujamal, but before they could leave, Jalal roared from the top of the hill with fierce anger at them, "STOP IT RIGHT THERE, whoever you are"

Jodha heard Jalal's angry scream and understood the entire situation in a second; she knew Jalal's fuming anger very well, so she requested Sujamal to leave and said, "Bhaisa that is Shenshah, seems like he has misunderstood us... I know his anger very well and also know how to manage his anger. Please bhaisa, you need to leave now."

Jalal was running with his sword towards them like a devil tiger.

Jodha shouted at Sujamal again to leave from there and said, "Bhaisa, please leave; Shahenshah is running towards us. I know his anger, and maybe there are more soldiers with him, please for god sake, leave from here now."

" Leave... Bhaisa, I promise, I swear, I will manage everything here." Jodha screamed again

With her yells, Sujamal understood that she would be able to manage for herself. He didn't think that Jalal doubted Jodha; he thought it was a trap to capture him. So he listened to Jodha and decided to run away, so he quickly jumped on his horse and rode off before Jalal came near.

While running, Jalal was thinking about all the bitter things he did with Jodha and her family. He already decided in his mind that Jodha had betrayed him; it was her plan against him. Jodha took revenge against his deeds in the past; his eyes turned red with anger. He reached where Jodha was standing and looking at him. He grabbed her from her hairs, and with a trembling voice, he shouted, "you have shown your real intentions. You filthy bitch. How could you get this low with some other man, disgusting? You pretended to enjoy it with me; you kissed me; you hugged me. You were playing all along! You have no idea whom you have played with. I will kill you for this betrayal."

"Shahenshah. Please trust me."Jodha pleaded with tears

Before she could say further, Jalal, with a loud thundering yell, shouted, "Stop it!!! Not a single word. I saw you hugging that coward man. Your lover left you alone; you are a characterless woman. I saw he kissed you on your forehead, you bitch.The women who sell themselves on the street are better than you. You are worst than a wh**re; at least she is honest with her family." He looked at her with a disgusted stare then dragged her towards the horse.

Jodha got frozen with his accusations and the word wh**e; she was too shocked to defend herself; she choked all of the words she wanted to say, her heart cried in pain, her tears started to flow out in pain. Jalal's words were so intensely bitter, and without listening to a single word from her, Jalal, with a full speed, rode on his horse with her, back to the palace.

Throughout the way, both of them were shedding tears. Jodha was sitting in front of him; she could not see his red, teary, angry eyes. He felt like cutting her head for this betrayal. He had never felt this throbbing pain of betrayal in his heart. He faced many betrayals, but he never felt this pain. Suddenly his life turned upside down; once again, he felt empty inside.

Finally, they both reached the palace. Jalal took Jodha to a dark room, next to his chamber. With a short push, he threw her on the ground and asked her with intense anger and deep wounded pain, "Why Jodha? Why?" he looked at her pointlessly, his angry red eyes poked few tears from his eyes and to hide his angry tears he walked out of the chamber.

Maham saw Jalal and Jodha came back to place, but she could tell her plan worked completely. She was waiting for Jalal to announce the punishment to Jodha. She wanted to celebrate her victory and success of her mission that Jodha will be out of the palace.

Jalal called Hamida banoo, Rukaiya, Salima begum, Agdha Sahib, Abdul, and Maham to his chamber for urgent gathering. Other than Maham, everyone was surprised why early in the morning, Jalal has called them. Everyone got shocked seeing Jalal's extreme anger and vulnerable painful red face.

"Jalal, you look very much tense; what has happened? "Hamida asked cautiously in a polite tone.

Instantly, Rukaiya asked the same question "Jalal, are you alright...?"

Without saying anything, Jalal went to the darkroom from his chamber, and he dragged Jodha out to his chamber by pulling her hair.

"Jalal, what are you doing? For god sake, she is your Queen. Are you out of your mind? Have you forgotten all royal courtesy and manners?" Hamida shouted angrily

Everyone got so shocked by Jalal's action. Jalal sarcastically but in a painful tone, replied, "Ammi Jaan, do you know what your favorite Queen has done??? She has relations with other men; she went out of the palace in the middle of the night to meet with her lover, I have caught her red-handed with him, and I have seen them hugging passionately with my own eyes. She has broken all the boundaries of manners. She is a cheap, low-class characterless woman, who is worse than a whore."

Hamida's eyes widen in shock, but her trust in Jodha was much more than Jalal's; she confidently replied in "No, this can't be true... I have seen purity in her eyes; there must be some misunderstanding. I cannot believe that she can stand this low. I can see in her eyes, her honesty." She hastily walked towards Jodha and asked her to speak up and tell everyone that this is not true.

Jodha's heart was shattered completely; she had no courage or desire left to say even a word. Jalal's words and action had utterly broken her from inside. His cruel and ruthless accuses were still ringing in her ears. She looked at Hamida with a pitiful gaze, proving her innocence, even though words were able to come out, but her eyes were blaring out her innocence, which only Hamida could feel.

While looking down shamefully, she kept still. She had no courage left to meet her eyes with anyone in the chamber. Her ears were bleeding with merciless words, and her eyes were constantly pouring bloody tears. It was unbelievable for her to accept that he called her a 'whore' in front of so many royal people. He ruined her; he tainted blameless, innocent, pure character forever. He titled her soulless women. There was nothing left to defend herself. It was too late to even preserve her self-respect by defending; she had no desire left even to see him in his life anymore. He had crossed every possible confine of royal boundaries and blamed her pure, noble personality; his conduct not only ruined her reputation, but it ruined Mughal and Amer royal stature. She wished she had the power to kill herself at that moment.

When she did not defend herself, her silence bothered Jalal. He got annoyed even more and thought she was given a chance to speak up and prove her innocence, but her silence gave validation of her sin. Deep down in his heart had little hope, which now got vanished because of her silence. After seeing her shameful and embarrassed face, his anger pounded with disappointment and extreme bitterness; his warrior blood prickled to take revenge from her. He wanted to choke her till death at that instant.

He loudly yelled, "Your silence has proven you guilty. It seems like It was all a pre-planned game. I am sure your family was also involved equally in this. I should have never trusted Rajvanshi. You have proven today that Hindu and Rajvanshi are not trustworthy. You can never rely on them."

He turned the other side while sliding his hands in his hair frustratingly; his anger was at the point he could not think any further than revenge. He stated loudly, "Jodha's parents are coming today for after marriage 'Pag Fere' ritual. I will extremely humiliate them in front of the public that they will beg for their death, I will illustrate to everyone what happens when they deceive Mughals, And then I will burn them alive for this betrayal. So far, they have seen me respecting them, but not seen Jalal's anger yet. I will not spare a single-family in Amer. They will all see real cruelty and will pay for Jodha's deed."