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 bent 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...” Jahangir stopped with a sigh. Mariam Ur
Zamani softly placed her hand on his shoulder and nodded in agreement.
“I am tired of doing so now. I want to, for
once, do what I want to do. What I always wanted to do!” Jahangir looked at his
mother with hopeful eyes.
Mariam Ur Zamani nodded, “Then what’s
stopping you?”
“I know Badi Ammi approves. I wanted to
talk to you.”
“As long as it makes you happy and makes
sure the respect that you hold as a representative of both my dynasty and your
fathers remains intact.” She smiled.
Jahangir left her chambers in a hurry.
Mehr Un Nisa was worried about the
emergency message from her father to arrive at his house immediately. She
assumed her mother was not doing well. Fearing the worst, she had taken a leave
and visited home, with Ladli in tow. Arjumand took Ladli’s hand and led her
away into her chambers while her grandparents and father sat down with Mehr Un
Nisa.
“The emperor proposed this.” Her father
held out a piece of paper with the royal stamp on it. It was signed “Nur Ud Din
Jahangir”
Ladli sat down on the soft bed, her feet
dangling and looking scared at Arjumand.
“I can tell you why you are here if you
promise not to panic.” Ladli nodded in agreement. Arjumand sat down beside her
on the bed and whispered, “Padshah Jahangir wants to marry Mehr Phuphi.” She
couldn’t contain the excitement in her voice. Ladli frowned “But Amma is
already married to Abba.”
“She was.” Arjumand agreed. “But since Phupha
became a star, she is trying so hard all alone to raise you. Isn’t it?”
“Does that mean she is not married to Abba
anymore?” Ladli didn’t look happy.
“She is, she always will be. But after
becoming a widow, a woman can marry again. And the Padshah will look after you
well. We can live in the same harem together!” Arjumand gushed. “And after my
marriage, you can also come with me to places Shehzaade Khurram visits!”
“But I don’t want to be a princess!” Ladli
frowned.
“Oh, everyone wants to be a princess!” Arjumand
shrugged, “Why don’t you?”
“Because Abbu once said princesses’ lives are tough, it is no fairytale.” She said intelligently.
“Do you even remember Abbu?” Arjumand
frowned. “You were barely two!”
“I don’t.” Ladli looked sad “I try to
remember him. Or think what he would say.”
“The Padshah marrying your Ammi will be
good for your future, Ladli.” Arjumand reasoned. “You will have better clothes,
better education and can even marry a prince!”
“Will Amma stop telling me Abba’s stories
when she puts me to sleep?” Ladli asked.
“Oh, there will be wet nurses and handmaids
at your disposal. She wouldn’t need to put you to sleep! You can have your own
chamber and maids.” Arjumand smiled, “And toys too. Won’t that be nice?”
“I always want Amma when I sleep.” Ladli
disapproved “Does Shehzaade Khurram know?”
“He is out there looking after war and
administration! I will write to him.” Arjumand Banu nodded.
“I don’t want to be a princess.” Ladli
frowned.
“But I clearly told him...” Mehr was
interrupted by her father, “I hope you know we are not in a position to say no
to the Padshah!”
“Fair enough.” Mehr sighed. “I want to meet
him. I have some conditions.”
“Mehr.” Asaf Khan reasoned, “You can’t put
conditions with the Padshah.”
“Why not? Where is the rule book?” Mehr Un
Nisa shrugged. Diwanji Begum fumed behind the curtains at her vanity. This
woman would put her daughter’s life at risk!
“Fine. I will arrange a meeting. Just be
polite.” Asaf Khan walked away after warning her.
Ghiyaz Begh sat down beside his daughter, taking her hand in his. His eyes travelled to Asmat Begum, who walked out of the
room and shut the door behind her.
“Mehr.” Ghiyaz Begh spoke softly, “You are
destiny’s child. You always have been. But sometimes our actions are stronger
than our fate. It is enough to change destiny.” Mehr Un Nisa looked up at her
father. “I know you always loved him. Then what is scaring you?”
“Mehr Un Nisa has perhaps loved him. But
Abba Jaan, what about Ali Quli’s widow?” Ghiyaz Begh smiled, “What about Ladli
Begum’s future?”
“Love is the strongest bond to keep two
people together. But sometimes it is not enough, isn’t it?” Mehr Un Nisa
wondered aloud. Ghiyaz Begh agreed.
“Yes indeed, so apart from being in love,
you have to consider other things also... and I know you are wise enough to do
that.”
Mehr Un Nisa nodded.
Jahangir was waiting in the empty garden,
his heart racing. She was supposed to be here when he arrived, but she wasn’t.
Instead, he was waiting for her. For the first time, Jahangir realised that ever
since he became emperor, he had never waited for anybody. A smile curved his
lips; Mehr and her little nuances. She was doing this purposefully. It was her
test of his ego. He intended to pass every one of her tests.
The familiar smell of her perfume reached
his nose as he turned to see her make her way toward him.
“Jahan Panah.” She bowed.
Jahangir disapproved, “Cut the protocol.
Tell me why we are here.”
“You are here because you wanted to be.”
Mehr Un Nisa shrugged, “I am here because I wanted to talk about some conditions.”
“Conditions?” Jahangir’s brows arched
closer.
“Yes, before I say yes to your proposal,
which I completely disapprove of, you're sending my parents without even talking
about it with me...” She glared at him, and Jahangir looked amused.
“I thought we had a talk about it.” He
shrugged.
“And when was that?” She frowned.
“You said you didn’t want to be remembered
as a mistress, you wanted to be respected. So I assumed this is what you
meant.”
Mehr Un Nisa took a heavy breath. He was
just trying to intimidate her. Her reactions amused him always. “So my
conditions...” He nodded.
“My daughter Ladli will be given a life
befitting of a princess. She will have her chamber, handmaids, and ....”
“She will have all the luxury the
daughters of my brothers Daniyal and Murad are entitled to as kin of the
emperor.”
“I will not obey orders from any of your
other queens.” Mehr Un Nisa spoke, “I will only be answerable to you and Sultana
Begum like I am now.”
“Approved. You may have to participate in
some festivities arranged by Mariam Ur Zamani under her order, though.” Jahangir
nodded.
“I will not stay in the harem while you are
away. I will travel with you. To pleasure trips and war fields.” Jahangir
smiled as Mehr Un Nisa looked away.
“You don’t worry about that! I am not
letting you out of my sight.” He agreed.
“I didn’t mean...” Mehr Un Nisa looked
taken aback, and her cheeks grew warm. Jahangir took two steps towards her and took
both her hands in his. Mehr Un Nisa looked up at him as his hands were cold.
“You know, Mehr, you once told me that a
partner should be someone to support our dreams and visions. We should not
choose dreams according to partners, but choose partners to understand our
dreams.” Mehr Un Nisa nodded.
“Do you still believe that?” Jahangir
asked.
“I do.” Mehr Un Nisa looked up at his eyes, glistening a little. Or did she imagine that because the setting sun reflected on it?
“It’s a yes, then?” Jahangir asked. Mehr Un
Nisa nodded.
“I wouldn’t have said no.” She said almost
in a murmur.
“Because I am the Padshah, I know!”
Jahangir smiled.
“Then why did you agree to all my
conditions?” She asked, surprised.
“Because I wanted my Mehr back. I wanted
her to talk to Salim. And she did.”
He planted a soft peck on her forehead, holding her hands more firmly in his. Mehr Un Nisa tried hard not to let her
tears flow. They appeared like diamond droplets on the corners of her doe eyes
as he wiped them off with his thumb. They smiled at each other while the red of
the setting sun filled the night sky, and the birds were finally returning home.
