RAABTA

  1611, Jahangir Mahal Mariam Ur Zamani had arrived from her morning visit to the temples and was pleasantly surprised to see her son waiting in her chambers. Jahangir looked up as his mother entered the room and handed the ritual plates over to one of the ladies. He bend to touch her feet as she blessed him. “What brings you here so early in the morning Sheikhu Baba?” Mariam Ur Zamani sat down on the cushion beside him looking worried. “Is your health alright?” “I am fine.” He nodded “But I am not sure for how long.” “What happened?” His mother looked perplexed. “I will call the medicine man.” “It is not an ailment of the body he can cure.” Jahangir shook his head. “It is the heart.” Mariam Ur Zamani looked at her son’s gloomy face and grew quiet. “You know all my life I had tried and failed at many things, first to please the Arsh Ashiyani, then with my addiction... All my life I had desperately tried hard to be a deserving son and do what is deemed right of me...” ...

  Agra Fort, 1610 Arjumand was taken aback by the sudden pull of her hand from behind the pillar as she carefully waited near one of the unfinished ramps of the fort wall. She had a veil over her face and if she was spotted by someone she would be ready to say she was lost. This place is supposed to be the newest addition to the Turkish Harem, with a tower and a few rooms he’s been told. Jahangir had ordered red stones to match the rest of the fort, but Khurram suggested white marble. Jahangir was impressed by his eye for architecture and ordered special marbles from Amer and assigned him to look after the constructions while he was at Agra. However, the construction had stopped on the occasion of the wedding and this back part of the harem remained secluded. Perfect for lovers. Arjumand was about to shout when Khurram placed his palm over her mouth “Hush it’s me Arju!” “You scared me! And what is this Arju?” She frowned. “Your Phuphi calls you Arju I noticed!” Khurram smirked. “S...

  1610, Akbarabad The harem was abuzz with preparations for the upcoming nuptials of Shehzaade Khurram with the Princess of Qandahar in full swing, while guests started arriving from all over the land. Prince Khusrau’s harem arrived from Allahabad, while Prince Pervez’s harem joined from Dakkhan. It was Khurram’s first wedding and an official proclamation into adulthood, hence Jahangir instructed that the event should be nothing short of a festival that would go on for days. The caravans from the Safavid dynasty arrived early and were put up in comfort at Fatehpur Sikri while the wedding was arranged between the two cities. Jagat Gossain herself looked after the decorations while Rukaiya Begum entrusted Mehr Un Nisa to choose and order the wedding attire for the groom. Troops of horses, elephants, camels and foot soldiers were dressed up in wedding glory and bands of musicians played in the Nahabat Khana day and night. Every corner of the fort was lit up, and alms were distribute...

  Summer 1609, Agra Fort Khurram sat reluctantly staring at his reflection in the mirror while Jagat Gossain presented him with a necklace, of nine gems studded beautifully in strands of five. He stared at her beaming face as she put it around his neck and his sisters, Sultana Begum and Izzat Un Nisa stared at her smiling. “Do you like it Shehzaade?” Jodha Begum’s words were met with a brief nod. She took out some kajal from her eyes and put it behind his ears. He frowned. “What was that for?” “So that nobody’s evil eyes fall on you. You look so handsome today!” Jodha Begum smiled. “And you will look smarter at the wedding. Mariam Ur Zamani is arranging for your attires herself.” “But the wedding isn’t soon!” Khurram frowned. “Oh, she doesn’t mean this wedding. She means the other one!” Sultana Begum spoke as her mother smiled with a nod. “What other wedding?” This time Khurram stood up from his seat and faced the queen with a frown. Jagat Gossain looked taken aback. ...

  1608, Akbarabad Jahangir was strolling through the garden path late at night, unable to sleep. The torches burnt bright and the Jasmines smelled like heaven in the moonlit night. He sat down beside a fountain restless and wary. Today the court session had worn him off. The expedition to Mewar had been unsuccessful for Mahabat Khan and he was disappointed in his most competent general. The Rajputs at court deemed him incompetent for the terrains of Aravallis. So Abdullah Khan was appointed on his behalf while Mahabat Khan was to leave for Dakkhan to be with Pervez. The emperor was worried about his second son. After a first successful expedition, Pervez seemed to lack the zeal needed to win wars. He had sent the best mangoes from Barhanpur to please the emperor but that did very little to the number of unsuccessful missions he carried out, and the opium addiction was on the rise as reported by Jahangir’s spies. Perhaps Mahabat Khan who knew the Dakkhan well could help him, and m...