It was that very night, tired from her day-long sobbing and hungry from her intermediate fasting over the heartbreak that seemed to cause a pain otherwise unknown to her heart, that Arjumand Banu was startled by the excited voice of her mother, eagerly telling her to open her door, for some good news was to be shared. Her entire existence and purpose in life altered as her mother hugged her tight and told her that the Emperor had summoned her father to talk of their engagement. Their Engagement! She’s with Shehzaade Khurram.
“But... what about his marriage?” She had
asked with a frown.
“That is not your concern now. We have to
get everything done. Your clothes need to be made ready, befitting of being a
royal princess and the jewellery...” Her mother’s eyes sparkled.
“Had
Phuphi lied to me?” Arjumand cut her thoughts short.
“Your Phuphi doesn’t lie.” Asaf Khan
entered his daughter’s bedroom.
“Please, we don’t need to talk of his other
wedding now!” Diwanji Begum almost pleaded with her husband. “She is so happy.”
“And I am happy too, as her father. But as
a minister to the emperor knowing how the palace life is, I want her to be
ready for a future.” Asaf Khan scorned his wife. “Now leave us alone. I need
to talk to her.”
Diwanji Begum left; dragging little Abutalib
Shayesta Khan, their heir of just eight, along with her, giving one last
disapproving glance at her husband.
“My child.” Asaf Khan lovingly placed his hand
over Arjumand Banu’s head “He will indeed marry the Qandahari princess
first. Timurid Shehzaade, unlike commoners, needs to marry for alliances and
political profits more than for companionship.” Arjumand Banu sighed as he
continued “Your Phuphi didn’t lie. She was trying to protect you. I know your
mother is not exactly fond of her, but Mehr has seen a lot in that harem, learn
from her.” Arjumand nodded slightly.
“And remember, even though she will be his
first wife, you are his first choice. Use that wisely, for us.” Arjumand stared
at her father’s hopeful smile as he said “My future depends on how much
important you are, to him.”
Arjumand Banu couldn’t sleep that night. In
the flickering light of the lamp, she remembered all the times she had heard
that she was “only a woman” and “what could women do?” She had stood in a
corner every time her parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts showered their
heir Shayesta with more pampering gifts saying he was “their future”. Yet
today, her father’s future depended on her. She had to keep the Shehzaade
“pleased”; even when she was hurt by the fact that he was indeed going to marry
someone else. Her parents didn’t want her to displease him with questions, yet
she thought she had the right to. Arjumand sighed, staring at the veil of stars
in the night sky.
Perhaps this is why she loved Ali Quli
Phupha and Mehr Phuphi perhaps admired them. They never showed any
discrepancies between genders, nor did Mehr ever try to please Ali Quli with
anything but the truth. Could she ever be like that with her husband or did he
being the blood of Timurid come into the way! Arjumand sat wondering about the
Harem. Did any queen in the Timurid dynasty question their husband, the emperor
or even perhaps correct him? She didn’t know when lost in this thought of the
weight of expectations she suddenly carried from her family, she fell into a
deep slumber.
Rukaiya Begum was awake all night too,
twisting and turning in her soft bed, uneasy. She could not share the news of a
marriage alliance with Shehzaade Khurram when she broke the news of the
engagement to him. She was happy when he hugged her, and her eyes sparkled in
joy at how her boy had grown. But a hidden fear in her subconscious mind found
its way to her nightmares and kept her awake. What if the boy didn’t understand
the importance of alliances like she didn’t once? Or worse, hold grudges
against his own father over it and do something that would perhaps end his
future chances? She had to talk to him, she gathered. “Just not today.” She
whispered to the night sky.
The next morning Khurram was flooded with
congratulatory gifts from all quarters. He had just finished his wrestling
lessons and was back in his chambers when he stopped startled at the crowd
gathered there. Approaching with a frown he realised that Jodha Begum was here,
waiting for him to come back from his lessons.
He bowed in courtesy as the Begum smiled at
him, and was quick to wipe off the sweat and dirt from his hands and face with
a wet towel his servant presented him, before approaching the queen.
“Congratulations on your wedding!” Jodha
Begum smiled, placing the trays of gifts before him. Khurram acknowledged it
and offered the Begum a seat she dismissed.
“I am happy you agreed to marry who your
father chose.” She smiled “Just like your father obeyed his and married me. You
will not regret this.” Khurram shook his head in silence. Jodha Begum frowned a
little. She didn’t understand why Khurram was so silent about the wedding. Did
he not know?
“And on your engagement...”
“Pardon me Jagat Gossain Begum! I have to
go to my archery classes; I will come and meet you some other time?” Khurram
asked a little restless.
Something in her made him feel uneasy. Even
though she was his biological mother, Jagat Gossain’s affection for him made
him feel uncomfortable perhaps because he could never reciprocate it. He had
seen his sisters, bonding with their mother, even though they spend most of
their time in the care of Salima Begum. He somehow always felt distant. Jagat
Gossain did try, perhaps a little more than she should have, but not being able
to reciprocate the love he felt for Rukaiya Begum, for his biological mother,
perhaps made Khurram feel more ill at ease.
“Sure Shehzaade, I will take your leave
then.” Jagat Gossain walked away as her ladies followed her and Khurram sighed.
It was then that he heard the classes disperse across the garden, at Salima
Sultana’s quarters and he knew he had to meet someone. He quickly changed into
his cleaner clothes.
Arjumand felt different today in class.
Not only was the Munshi nicer to her, but even the Princesses also tried to befriend
her. She suddenly became the centre of attention for the class and felt all
eyes were on her, judging her, studying her and scrutinizing her every move. Salima
Sultana Begum was kind enough to smile and pat her head gently and told her to
get used to such attention. When she finally left the class and stood in the
gardens all by herself she heaved a sigh of relief.
“Arjumand!” Khurram’s voice rang through the
afternoon silence of the garden, where only the bulbuls sang, and the fountain
danced. She stopped on her way back, without turning back to look at him as she
felt his presence approach her. Never before had Arjumand been so unnerved by
his mere existence at the same time and space as hers. “I had been looking for
you.” He said letting out a gasp.
“Why?” Arjumand tried hard that her voice
didn’t tremble and failed miserably.
“I wanted to see you.” Khurram’s words came
out with ease like he had the experience of talking to ladies that way. Suddenly all
the grievances of the previous day came flowing into her mind and filled her
heart. She was about to turn and question him, but instead, her father’s words
made her stop.
“What’s wrong?” Khurram asked narrowing his
eyebrows, “Aren’t you happy?”
“I... I am... Shehzade... It is an honour
to...”
“Arjumand!” Khurram walked across from her
backside to face her as she stopped and looked away “Promise me something
today.”
Khurram took her cold hands in his as in a
reflex Arjumand looked around to see if anyone spotted them. Khurram however
seemed unaware of the fact that they could be seen or even judged.
“Shehzaade... someone will see us...”
Arjumand tried to remove her hand from his, but his grip on her wrist
tightened.
“Let them!” Khurram seemed irked “Are you
even hearing me out Arjumand?” She looked up, at his eyes, a little pale that
she had perhaps angered him.
“Promise me, you will stand by me, support
me when I am weak, correct me when I am wrong and always speak to me, as a wife
should, and not speak to the title I hold. And I promise you nobody will ever
take your place in my heart.”
Touched by his words, Arjumand’s fears
melted into tiny pearl droplets and filled her eyes startling Khurram as though
he had upset her. Letting go of his firm grip on her hand, he held her shoulder
and asked in a softer tone “What happened? Did I hurt you?”
“No Shehzaade... I...”
“Khurram!”
“I am so happy.” As the words came out of
her red-painted lips Khurram in a reflex embraced the woman he had chosen to be
by his side, against all odds. Arjumand’s heart skipped a beat as she could
hear his heartbeat and hugged him tighter in the embrace, not scared anymore.
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