Summer 1606 A.D. Agra
Rukaiya Begum had responded with action to
Salima Sultana Begum’s letter to her in Lahore that her council was “needed” at
court in Agra, and Salima Begum wished she could visit her sister urgently.
Rukaiya Begum knew it was not wise for Salima Begum, being the eldest
supervisor at the Agra Fort Harem, to leave all reins of the council in the hands
of Jagat Gosain and immediately wrote to the emperor about her arrival in Agra
with Khurram, who “needs to see how his
father works.” She could not afford to have the compassionate and easily
manipulated, kind-hearted Khurram to be left unsupervised with his grandmother
in Lahore.
Padshah Jahangir was overjoyed with the
news of her arrival and personally ordered Jagat Gossain to look after her
needs. Jagat Gosain, however, chose to allot Rukaiya her old bedroom in the fort.
Upon their arrival at Agra, after a long journey, Rukaiya Begum’s small troop
was received by Salima Sultana Begum at the main entrance of the Turkish Harem.
They hugged each other while Khurram sought her blessings.
“Jodha Begum has a fast today and couldn’t
be here; she sent her sincere apologies.” A eunuch spoke as Rukaiya smiled.
“I suppose the Harem at Agra stops working
on the days your Begum fasts.” Rukaiya’s words made the Eunuch stare away.
“Come inside, you must be wary of the long journey, Khurram.” Salima Begum
guided her towards the harem while she left her trusted aide, an old guard
named Hussain, with Khurram, who was being put up at the palace with Khusrau.
Hugging Khurram before he took her to leave,
Rukaiya Begum whispered into his ear, “Don’t indulge in meaningless
conversations, don’t eat anything offered until they are tasted, and don’t
trust anyone.” Khurram nodded a soft “I remember Shah Ammi, don’t worry,” as
she patted his back slightly.
“Come to see me twice daily”, she reminded
him. He nodded in approval with a smile. Sometimes Khurram failed to understand
her concerns. Agra was as much home as Lahore, and the people there were his family.
Yet she was overly watchful here. He smiled in his thoughts, looking at her.
Maybe his mother forgot he was not a child anymore, but a young teenage boy,
handsome and skilful, capable enough to take care of himself. He even knew the
art of self-defence. In a year or so, he would be ready for war; his Shah Ammi
secretly dreaded that.
Watching her leave, Khurram followed
Hussain and a few generals to the courtroom at Diwan E Khas. As a child, he
used to hide behind the curtains and watch the Emperor, his Shah Baba, speak to
artists, poets and writers here, and indulge in meaningful conversations to
learn from. Today, the familiar face was missing from the throne, and it made his
heart sink a little. He bowed before the Padshah, presenting him with some
gifts they brought from Lahore, robes, jewellery, fruits and daggers, and
addressed some more of the same to the Begum sitting behind the veil of the
court window.
“Shah Ammi has retired to her chamber and
will seek your time after she has rested. I apologise, but the long journey has
taken a toll on her health.” He had informed, bowing very professionally to the
emperor.
Jahangir smiled at his son as he took a
step forward and embraced him in a hug “Welcome to Agra again, Khurram Baba.”
“Come stand with me, Khurram.” Khusrau had
hugged him too, with a smile that failed to reach his eyes. Khurram hugged him
back while Jodha Begum stared disapprovingly.
“Bring him to see me.” She urged a soldier.
Khurram had walked up to her to bow when
Jagat Gosain hugged him. Although her hug was warm, Khurram felt uneasy. He
stood still as she moved away and smiled at him, “You must be tired. I have
arranged a special room for you to rest in. Come with me.”
Khurram stopped at the threshold of the
room that once belonged to his father, in his youth. It was decorated with
motifs of Rajput and Timurid architecture and had a jharokha of appearance that
overlooked the harem entrance. Every inch of this room was made with the order
of his grandfather for his firstborn, the child he had awaited and loved
dearly. He had repeatedly heard these stories from Shah Ammi since he was a
little boy, and she would feed him some mangoes, telling him he was even more
precious to her than Salim was to his father.
“But Shah Ammi said I will be put up near
Shehzaade Khusrau.” He frowned at the Begum, waiting for his reaction to the
new cushions and curtains laid by her choice.
“That is out of the question.” Jagat Gosain
dismissed the idea rather sternly. “She may be fond of her grandson, but I don’t
trust him and his men. You will stay where I can keep a watch over you.”
“You don’t need to watch out for me, Begum. I am honoured by your concern, but...” he looked at her smile fade “But I have my Shah
Ammi to do that and I can’t trust anyone else.” Jagat Gossain did not let her
pain show as she put up a smile at his words. “I apologise.”
“You talk like your Shah Ammi indeed. At
least come to the Rajput Harem and have lunch with me. I made Kheer.”
“I already promised Shah Ammi I will have
lunch with her, she will be waiting, I apologise again. Maybe tomorrow?”
He bowed and took her to leave, while a hint of a tear sparkled in the eyes of the mother who longed for her son and his
approval.
“Begum.” One of her ladies-in-waiting
bowed.
“What’s the news?” She asked, clearing her
throat.
“Salima Begum and Rukaiya Begum had been
talking since she arrived, and there is nobody else allowed in the room.”
“I am not surprised.” Jagat Gosain smiled.
“Send the Dowager Queen gifts from my side.” The lady bowed and left.
“At least she has the best interest of
Khurram on her mind.” Jagat Gosain looked around the room she had taken
the pain to decorate for her child, hoping he would notice in vain.
It was almost afternoon, and lunch was being
prepared for Rukaiya Begum under the special supervision of Salima Sultana
Begum. Khurram had arrived at Salima Begum’s chambers to be doted on with gifts
and food, and he had decided to stay there and indulge in some poetry with the
ever-interested Begum herself. Shah Ammi had asked to be left alone till lunch, and
Salima Begum seemed serious about the orders.
“Aftab”, Rukaiya called on one of her
Eunuchs and said, gathering her thoughts, “Tell the Padshah I seek his time.
It’s urgent.”
Rukaiya Begum hadn’t expected the Padshah
himself to come to her chambers instead of sending for her. She got up to bow
to the new emperor, but he stopped her, a little surprised.
“Please don’t follow protocol here, Badi Ammi”
Jahangir sounded awkward “This is not the court, and I am still your Sheikhu Baba.”
Rukaiya had looked up at his kind words. Her
Sheihu Baba? Did he remember the man who once called him that? Or what he
had done to the same man? Was it his guilt speaking, or was he making sure that
she was on his side? She smiled.
“Would you like me to offer you some dates,
nuts or sheer kurma then?” The emperor shook his head. “I would like to know
why you wanted to see me” He sat down on the swing where once his father
rested. Her heart skipped a beat. Rukaiya held her nerves.
“I want Khurram Baba to stay some more time
in Lahore under my watchful eyes and finish his lessons in both weaponry and
studies before serving you at court. Khwaja Waysi will report to you on his
progress.” He nodded in quick agreement. “Absolutely. He is more yours than he
is mine; you need not tell me these details.”
“Fair enough, but you are his father, Padshah
Jahangir, and his guardian is answerable to you.” Her words made him look up.
She had clearly distanced herself from him with those words.
“You are no less than his mother if not
more. Badi Ammi, he grew up in your care, so please do not embarrass me with such protocol. I seek your forgiveness if in any way you felt otherwise or if anyone with their actions offended you.”
Rukaiya Begum smiled at his words, “Nobody
offended me, Padshah, but nobody asked me anything as well.”
“Please, Badi Ammi, if you have any
suggestions regarding anything at all, be it the policies of the land or of
the harem, you are free to address me directly. Maybe you are not the Padshah
Begum anymore, but your decisions and suggestions will always be honoured. I
give you my word.”
“Very well, can I ask you what you are
thinking about your core council? Who do you wish to include?” Rukaiya Begum
offered him a bunch of grapes and sat down on the swing beside him.
“Well, Koka is obviously my closest aide, being my foster brother he will serve me as a general, there are the Rajputs
under Maan Singh of Amer and Ratan Singh of Bundi, and Sur Singh of Marwar will be
a part of the council too and I have decided to keep Ghiyaz Begh as treasurer and
his sons too...Asaf...”
“I don’t think you can trust Maan Singh,”
Rukaiya spoke, interrupting him.
“Why do you say so?” Jahangir frowned. “He
had been loyal to his father for ages and...”
“Your father lost faith in him ever since he returned from Mewar a little changed by Rana’s bravery.” Rukaiya reminded him, “Besides, why will he choose to be loyal to you when he has his own blood in Khusrau to support?” She noticed him lost in his thoughts and added, “Don’t forget he secretly blames you and Jodha Begum for the death of Shah Begum.” Jahangir looked up at her words. Indeed, if he believed rumours, then Khusrau was constantly fed with hatred against his father, who was held responsible for the death of his mother, who had committed suicide just after Salim rebelled against his father. Jahangir looked worried.
“Let Ghiyaz Begh, Mirza Koka, and the other
Rajput chiefs help you. To reassure the Rajputs of their power, you may keep the
Rajas of Bundi or Bikaner close by; they will pose no threats. I am not sure of
Marwar’s intentions, though.” Rukaiya Begum said thoughtfully, “Perhaps they do
not pose an immediate threat since Jodha Begum is one of your chief queens.”
“You are right, Badi Ammi.” He nodded. “I
also felt that Maan Singh cannot be trusted at Agra.”
“Send him off on a tour somewhere with
Khusrau, maybe to the Dakkhan. If not, post him somewhere in Rajputana itself.”
“What about Khusrau Baba?” He asked worried, “Maan Singh’s influence on him...”
“Is huge, and we are too late to curb that.
You did not stand by the boy when he lost his mother, and you did not try to be
close either. The needful must be done if he does rebel.” Rukaiya spoke in a
reassuring voice. “As a father, you must teach him the right lesson.” He looked
perplexed at the thought of losing his firstborn, but fear crept in as the loss
of the throne would cost him greater.
“Where does the future of the dynasty lie
then?” He asked helplessly.
“By the grace of Almighty, you will be
healthy and fit to rule for years, perhaps more than your father.” Rukaiya
smiled. “And after that, you have able sons who won’t let you down.”
“My hope lies with Khurram Baba now,”
Jahangir said, unmindfully. “Parvez seems not to be interested in weapons...”
Rukaiya held back her opinion. Young Pervez was more in the grasp of Opium for
most days to even think straight.
“He will serve his father well.” Rukaiya
smiled, “As you served yours.” The last words were carefully chosen, but the
preoccupied and scared emperor did not pay any heed to their tone. His mind was
shrouded with the uncertainty that might arise if Khusrau had the Rajputs by
his side.
“Will you move here with Khurram Baba once
his lessons are over? I need your guidance, too.” He said urgently. Rukaiya
smiled calmly.
“Why yes! Jodha Begum has not seen life
outside the Harem much, and she will indeed be unable to guide you immediately.
But...”
“But?” Jahangir looked up at Rukaiya’s
worried face “What is it? What bothers you?”
“I am concerned not about my own safety
here in Agra but Khurram’s... Khusrau and his men...”
“Once you decide to shift Badi Ammi, I
promise to make a room for Khurram, especially close to yours and not with the
prince's quarters, don’t worry at all,” Jahangir spoke with equal concern for
Khurram’s well-being. “He will never be around Khusrau or his men.” Rukaiya
smiled, relieved. The Emperor’s smile was, however, overcast with the worry of
impending doom.
He was ready to retire to his room and seek
refuge in his wine, carefully hidden from the eyes of any person he had
otherwise promised not to indulge in any addiction. Jahangir hurried off to
make the changes while Rukaiya smiled, watching him leave.
