Acceptance

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.