Winds of Change

Winter 1605A.D. Pari Mahal, Lahore Fort

“The lady Asmat Begum, the wife of Treasurer Ghiyaz Begh, is here to see you, Sultana Begum.” Rukaiya looked up at the eunuch, Rashid, who announced this, still not used to not being called the “Padshah Begum”. This new title seemed alien to her.

“Send her in.” She sat up in a graceful posture, waiting for the lady to arrive. Asmat Begum and her husband had been trusted aides to the Emperor, and she needed some people by her side. She did not overlook the fact that despite the entire Turkish Harem flocking around the new soon-to-be Padshah Begum, pleasing her with gifts, this lady had come to her threshold first.

Asmat Begum bowed before her before sitting on the cushion laid down on the floor.

“Here are some sweetmeats and perfumes for the Sultana Sahib”, Asmat had pointed to the silverware covered in blue velvet.

“Why congratulate me, Asmat Begum?” Rukaiya forced a smile. “Shouldn’t you take this to Mariam Ur Zamani first?”

“No, my queen, this is for the celebration of the birth of a baby girl to my daughter in Bardhaman.” Her words made Rukaiya look up at her smiling face. Had she seen anyone in this harem so happy over the birth of a girl child?

Asmat Begum read her mind as she quickly added, “Ali Quli has sent his regards and is extremely happy to have a healthy baby after the few mishaps they...” She bit her lips. Asmat’s daughter was once the talk of this harem, for her beauty, grace, intelligence and her magic over the young prince Salim, who seemed captivated by her. Rukaiya was well aware of how the Emperor had made sure she was married to a general befitting of her noble status and shifted to Bengal, away from Salim’s eyes. Rukaiya had, however, never had the desire to know the girl or understand why the Emperor acted promptly against his son’s desires.

“Congratulations to them.” Rukaiya Begum promptly took off a pearl necklace from her neck and handed it over to Asmat Begum. “So what is her name?”

“Ali calls her Laadli.” Rukaiya Begum smiled at the simplicity of the choice.

“How many days are you here?” She asked Asmat Begum, offering her some dates and nuts.

“The emperor has ordered my husband to shift back to Agra and settle there.” The lady spoke.

“Agra?” Rukaiya frowned a little “The capital in Lahore...”

“No longer stands.” The voice at the threshold made Asmat get up promptly, bowing to Jagat Gossain.

The lady in her thirtieth year seemed radiant, wearing a traditional lehenga and jewellery befitting of her rich Rathore heritage. She stood with a few ladies in waiting with a smile on her face. Adjusting her dupatta over the vermilion-clad mang tika on her head, she stepped inside the room, as Rukaiya sat poised and unmoved.

“Jodha Begum”, Rukaiya smiled at her with a slight nod, trying to hide her surprise at being uninformed about the turn of events.

“I was expecting you at the celebrations, Sultana Begum Sahiba," she addressed Rukaiya Begum without a bow, "But since you did not arrive, I decided to come to visit you instead.” She sat down on the cushion beside Rukaiya Begum as Asmat Begum let out a surprised gasp at her audacity “I suppose you haven’t yet blessed me with my new role.”

“Well, I haven’t heard the official announcements yet, Jodha Begum. You have received my gifts from my son, Khurram, though, haven’t you?” Rukaiya spoke, unnerved by her behaviour, “And you are in fact most welcome to visit my palace any time you want.”

“Very well.” Jagat Gossain spoke plainly, “The announcements will come soon. I am here on behalf of the Shahenshah to inform you that he is shifting the capital of the land to Agra with immediate effect, and he will spend only his leisure days in Lahore henceforth. The harem has been ordered to shift immediately.” She stared at Rukaiya Begum, hoping for a retort to her words, but there were none. Instead, Rukaiya looked at her eunuchs as if to order them to do the needful.

Jagat Gossain was happy with the newfound authority over the intimidating oldest of the Harem and got up to leave, giving Asmat Begum one last disapproving stare.

“I am not leaving Lahore, and neither are the ladies who wish to stay with me.” Jagat Gossain had anticipated something of this sort. She turned at the words of the Dowager Queen and nodded approval. “Very well then, Salima Sultana Begum has decided to come with us; she will advise the council and Shahenshah alongside me. Mariam Ur Zamani has decided to stay back here with you. I guess she knew you won’t leave Lahore so soon.”

A faint smile escaped Rukaiya’s lips. This woman, who had no idea of life and politics beyond the Harem, was set to advise the council and emperor. Of course, she needed Salima Begum by her side. Mariam Ur Zamani will never trust her alone to run one of the most powerful of their forts. What if she instigated a rebellion? She knew what Rukaiya Begum was capable of. Rukaiya didn’t mind having her around. They barely talked or crossed each other’s paths unless absolutely necessary.

“Khurram Baba is staying back with me.” She smiled. Jagat Gossain’s sparkling eyes seem to dim down at those words.

“But... but... the Shehzade is required to be present at court to...”

“He is still in his learning years and under my guardianship.” Rukaiya Begum looked firm “I know what is best for my son.”

She watched Jodha Begum stomp out of her palace. Rukaiya Begum sighed. She had made enemies in this place without realising that for long. Power indeed is blinding to the truth. Asmat shook her voice a little awkwardly.

“Well, you see, Asmat Begum”, Rukaiya smiled faintly, "Choose your side wisely.”

“My Lady, we had always been...” She stopped as Rukaiya shook her head.

“Times are changing, Asmat Begum. But you know what, it will be ever-changing yet still.”

The confused lady bowed to her quickly before taking her to leave.

It is not clear how much power Jagat Gosain held as the unofficial Padshah Begum before the power unofficially again shifted to Sahila Begum in 1608 but given that the heir to the throne and her only son was raised by Rukaiya as her own, not only in guardianship (elderly ladies being a guardian of Princes was the norm in the Timurid House) but as her son, it is assumed that she did not have a liking towards the former Padshah Begum. Asmat Begum, the wife of Ghiasuddin Begh, father of Meherunissa, was a perfume maker and hence had close contact with the significant ladies of the Harem much before her daughter stepped into the harem politics. She played an active role in making her daughter’s role in the harem prominent as well.

Purnota: Chapter Thirty One

“Please, Sir, we were going to show the evacuation notice to the lawyer.” The older man with a salt and pepper beard and a bald head pleaded with the Judiciary official, who handed him a paper of illegal occupancy. The NGO stood on the ground of the property that belonged to the Bhowmicks. Their lawyer, Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury, had sent a notice of warning and evacuation that the NGO did not pay heed to. The man in charge looked least concerned at the plea of the older man. His hands were folded, eyes teary, as the men who came with the Bull Dozer to knock down the one-storey house with thatched roof broke down the board of the NGO. “Why did you not show the notice then?” The man rebuked in a gruff voice. “Because we thought it was some mistake.” Another man, relatively younger and calmer, came forward from the crowd that stood there watching as he spoke. “We got the land as a gift from Mr. Bhowmick some eleven years back to make the school for the orphans.” “Then where is the dee...

Purnota: Chapter Thirty Two

Bondita got down from the local train with a duffle bag and her hoodie tied around the waist of her dark green Kurti, which she teamed with white leggings and a white dupatta. The weather at Canning seemed hotter and humid than Chandannagar, and at first glance, Bondita spotted the spring blooms of Krishnachura painting the tree at the station red. She picked up her bag and looked around the crowded station. Someone was supposed to come and get her. She dragged her bag through the crowd and finally reached the gates. The rickshaws, vans and small autos were shouting out names of different places, names that appeared like images in her memories. “Bondita Malkin?” She turned to see a woman in a checked printed saree worn above the ankle with a Ghomta over her head and the Anchol tied to her waist. Bondita nodded as the woman in her forties surprised her by touching her feet. Bondita jolted away in shock. “What are you doing?” She asked with raised brows as the woman took her duffel bag. ...

My Everything

Kunwar Pratap stormed into the Mahal at Gogunda amidst uncertainty and chaos. Happy faces of the chieftains and soldiers welcomed him as Rawat Chundawat, and some other chieftains stopped the ongoing Raj Tilak. A visibly scared Kunwar Jagmal looked clueless at a visibly angry Kunwar Pratap. Rani Dheerbai Bhatiyani hadn't expected Kunwar Pratap to show up, that too, despite her conveying to him his father's last wish of crowning Kunwar Jagmal. Twenty-one days after Udai Singh's death, she was finally close to a dream she had dared to dream since Jagmal was born. He was not informed about the Raj Tilak as per Dheerbai's instructions. She eyed Rawat Ji. He must have assembled the chiefs to this revolt against her son, against the dead king. No one except them knew where Kunwar Pratap was staying. It was for the safety of his family. " What are you doing, Chotima?" A disappointed voice was directed at her. She could stoop down so low? For the first time, an anger...

Purnota: Chapter Thirty Three

Aniruddha stepped out of his room, in a wrinkled Kurta, with a towel and toothbrush, to almost bump into Bondita, who was hurrying out of her room, trying to wear her watch on the go. He stopped before she barged into him and spotted her in one of Thamma’s Dhakai sarees. It was a white-on-white saree she had worn with a quarter-sleeved black blouse. Her hair was bunned with a claw clip, and she wore a small black Teep complementing her Kajol-drawn eyes. She looked slightly startled as she stopped at his dishevelled appearance and looked away at his stare. “Why are you…” He cleared his throat to do away with his morning groggy voice, “Dressed up?” Bondita shook her head at his words. “Because I have camp today, the NGO representative is waiting downstairs.” At her words, Aniruddha nodded and promptly held her wrist to check her watch. Bondita eyed his index finger and thumb, briefly brushing around her wrist as he suppressed a yawn. “But… It's 7 AM.” Bondita smiled, amused at his wo...

Purnota: Chapter Thirty

Bondita was up early when she heard Thamma in the washroom and did not wait for her alarm clock to ring. She stared at the clock, wondering when it would be a decent time to run to Saudamini’s house and knock. She even took out some chocolates from her purse to give to the child when she went to see her. She had so much to catch up on and apologise for. She had quickly dressed in a white Salwar Kameez, added a pearl stud to her ears and headed for Mini Didi’s old home, paying no heed to Kalindi lamenting about the mess in the bedroom. It felt like Deja Vu as she pressed the bell and waited in front of the green door before she heard footsteps on the other side. “Mini Didi!” Saudamini was startled by Bondita’s hug as soon as she opened the front door. “Bondita?” Saudamini held her by the shoulder, inspecting her with beaming eyes. “My God, Bondita!” She exclaimed. “How beautifully you have grown!” Bondita’s eyes fell on the boy, about twelve, staring at her with surprise as she let Sau...

Purnota: Chapter Thirty Six

Bondita opened her door in the usual hours of the morning and found Thamma and Jyatha Moshai on the couch in their living room, sipping tea. She had half sat on her bed, leaning against the pillow all night, imagining her plight when she faced Aniruddha in the morning. What if he did not think of it as much as she thought of his actions? What if that was his uncomfortable way of comforting her because she was upset? But what about his eyes, his gestures? Had she misread all of it? Bondita blushed to herself the moment she remembered how his eyes followed her around for the past two days. Bondita was hurrying through her daily chores, eyeing the clock, for she would be late for work and overheard Trilochon lament about things not changing since Binoy left. He thought that things were getting better at home, but as soon as Aniruddha had left for Sunderban, Binoy informed him that he had changed the attorney in charge of his case. Bondita frowned slightly as her hand stopped at wearing th...

Purnota: Chapter Thirty Five

“The bride is older than the groom.” Aniruddha heard one of the older villagers speak in a judgmental tone. “No wonder the higher castes don’t attend such atrocities.” He eyed the younger man he was talking to, who smiled. Aniruddha was sitting beside them on a bench in the open courtyard of a house where the wedding rituals were taking place. Tirio and Tumdak were playing rhythmically in a corner as some women danced to the tunes surrounding the new bride and groom. The men sat on the other side of the courtyard. “Forget about the Brahmins, we don’t expect them to come.” The younger man shook his head. “As for traditions, what is wrong if the bride is older?” He smiled sheepishly at the older man. “What’s wrong? Everything. Master Moshai, you can be educated, but our ancient traditions have reasons. The groom must be older than the bride. It has some reason.” He shook his head. The teacher, in turn, educated the man that it was a perfectly normal Santhali ritual to marry older wo...

Scheme of Things

The ousting of Shams Khan and his troops from Chittorgarh earned Kunwar Partap Singh overnight fame across the land as tales of his bravery made their way through the dunes and hills, across rivers and borders to lands far and beyond. At thirteen, he had commanded an army troop to take over the fort of Chittorgarh and restore Mewar’s borders to their former glory. People started comparing him to his forefathers, the great Rana Kumbha, who built forts across Mewar and his grandfather, Rana Sanga, who had united all Rajputs against external threats. As bards sang praises of the prince, gossip soon followed. Gossip was the most entertaining one could get in the mundane city lives and village gatherings, and it often travelled faster than the fastest Marwadi horse. So alongside the tales of his absolute bravery and how he hoisted the Mewari flag on the fort, were the stories of how his life was in danger, the king and queen did not quite get along and how he was made to live in poverty by ...

Purnota: Chapter Thirty Four

“You are cheating, he can’t play!” Bondita was attracted by the commotion downstairs as she opened the window of her room. She walked out to the balcony to inspect it. It was Sunday, and Padma had promised to make Chicken Curry, knowing Bondita had invited Tapur to join them for lunch. In the courtyard was a group of boys, probably Sidhu’s friends, with a broken pipe for a bat, a wooden plank for a wicket kept between two bricks and a rubber ball, arguing over a game of cricket. Bondita’s eyes stopped at Aniruddha, marking a line with chalk and then measuring feet using steps to mark the boundaries. Bondita looked amused at the sight. “Batuk. You went out fair and square; give me the bat.” Bondita put her hands on her waist as she commanded. Batuk refused to part with his new bat. Som frowned at his brother. “She is right; it was a clean bowl. Give her the bat!” Som commanded. “I was not ready.” Batuk shook his head. “She knew that.” “It's still out.” Bondita frowned. Aniruddha wal...

Happy Ending

Dheer had a sleepless night. Yes, she had killed the Maharani, but to seek revenge for her son. Jagmal was all she had for a dream, and Rana Pratap's first decision was to banish him. He had never been that tough with his other brothers who went with Akbar, then why him? Just because he wanted to be a king? Just because they brought a false letter and bought a few witnesses? Her son died in Ajmer, so young. And she had always blamed Ajabdeh Punwar for Rana's hard decision. After all, ever since she came as a support for Jaivanta Bai, she had been like his shield, even though creating misunderstandings didn't help Dheer Bai Bhatiyani. Ajabdeh had done the impossible, showing him the real face of his Chotima. What bothered Dheer now was whether he remembered anything, and most importantly, if she did. Dheer had turned pale at the song and smile Pratap gave, but if he knew she had killed Ajabdeh, it meant Survi remembered her walking to a dying Ajabdeh and confessing that ...

RAABTA

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