Deception

Spring1609, Akbarabad Fort

Rukaiya Begum was leaning against the velvet cushions, eyes closed as one of her ladies in waiting massaged her head with fragrant extracted oil on a sunny afternoon, after a relaxing session at the Shahi Hamam. Mehr-Un-Nisa was sitting at her feet, reading out some new Persian poet’s work for her. A Eunuch arrived in between the process and bowed making Mehr-Un-Nisa stop at her reading and look up at him.

“Mariam Ur Zamani is here to see you, my Lady!” The announcement made Rukaiya Begum open her eyes, sit up straight and dismiss the girl massaging her head. She, of course, didn’t leave before tying the Dowager Queen’s henna-dyed hair into a bun and placing the veil just as it was over it. Mehr Un Nisa quickly followed suit and gathered the books scattered around the carpet to leave. She was surprised as Rukaiya Begum told her to wait with a gesture of the hand and asked the eunuch to bring the Queen Mother in.

Mariam Ur Zamani arrived clad in a creamy white self-embroidered lehenga, her veil bordered with white pearls, and the same pearl in three strands around her neck, with an emerald dazzling at her heart, in the light of the sun. She stopped to eye the only other person in the room, Mehr Un Nisa who promptly stood up and bowed. A faint smile escaped Mariam Ur Zamani’s lips as she sat down on the cushion Rukaiya Begum directed her to.

“I thought we will be alone Sultana Begum.” She spoke rejecting the silver plate of dates Mehr picked up to offer her.

“We are, Mariam Ur Zamani.” Rukaiya Begum smiled “What brings you here?”

“Well....” Mariam Ur Zamani eyed Mehr making her feel uncomfortable as she smiled “Can’t I visit you and check on your good health Sultana Begum? The Padshah always used to be concerned about your well-being more than he was for the rest of the harem and...”

“He is no longer here.” Rukaiya Begum spoke rather plainly “So no such courtesy is needed. Besides...” She stared at Mariam Ur Zamani and picked up a piece of date palm for herself “It’s been three years almost, you never came to ask about my good health...”

Mariam ur Zamani sighed.

“Sultana Begum, I heard from Sheikhu Baba... about.... umm... Khurram...” She eyed Mehr Un Nisa again and this time Rukaiya Begum leaned in “Yes he is going on his first expedition soon.”

“Yes, he has grown up beautifully.... all because of you.” Mariam Ur Zamani smiled with a nod.

“I am his mother; I did for him what all mothers do. I hope you know that.” Rukiaya Begum smiled. For she knew Mariam Ur Zamani didn’t. She had no say or control over Salim’s childhood and in the later years, he was sent away to the Chisti Family’s care.

“Yes of course.” Mariam Ur Zamani nodded. “Sheikhu Baba was concerned for his marriage. As Jagat Gossain pointed out that his first bride should be a Princess, like every other Timurid crown prince, he has...”

“But I have already told the Padshah Jahangir his choice of a bride.” Rukaiya Begum frowned.

“Indeed. He is well aware that... but the Timurid traditions...”

“I am his mother, another Timurid tradition does say a mother chooses a bride. Being a Timurid Princess and Queen, I am well aware of my...”

“That is why Jagat Gossain wanted to choose his bride....” Mariam ur Zamani cut her words short in a hurry. “Pardon me but she is the biological mother.”

“What did the Padshah say?” Rukaiya Begum looked clearly displeased as Mehr Un Nisa could read from her face.

“He chose the princess of Kandahar, the daughter of Sultan Muzzafar Hussain of the Safavid Dynasty himself!” Mariam Ur Zamani looked happy, “I will look after the arrangements of the wedding myself. Such a wonderful match between two powerful dynasties will only strengthen the emperor’s hold over Hind.”Mariam Ur Zamani stopped at Rukaiya Begum’s cold stare as her smile faded.

Rukaiya Begum dismissed a startled Mehr Un Nisa with the wave of a hand and sat staring at the carpet for a moment.

Mehr Un Nisa walked out of the premises of the Turkish Harem and scanned the grounds in search of Arjumand who had come for her calligraphy classes. While the royal princesses made their way out of Salima Begum’s premises she waited till she caught a glimpse of her niece. Mehr’s heart sank at the smile Arjumand flashed at her the moment their eyes met.

“Arju...” She dragged the startled girl by her hand, to the other side of the garden, which stood deserted. “We need to talk.”

“What’s wrong Phuphi?” Arjumand asked scared “Is Abbu alright?” The first fear that struck her was that her father was supposed to return from a long expedition of war in the west today, and perhaps he hadn’t made it.

“Arju... it’s not about that.” Mehr cleared her throat. “I have been there. I don’t want you to suffer.”

“What is wrong Phuphi?” Arjumand looked clueless.

“Has... the Shehzaade promised you something?” Mehr asked scared. Arjumand frowned at her words. She knew what Mehr meant but she hadn’t told a soul except for her mother about being introduced to the emperor.

“Did he or did he not?” Mehr asked a little firm.

“I don’t know!” Arjumand said in a reflex as Mehr’s jaws tightened.

“The royal princes make promises that are only words to us chieftains’ families. Remember that always, and you won’t be hurt.” Mehr’s words were carefully chosen and distant.

“What do you mean?” Arjumand looked at her face a little pale.

“ Shehzaade Khurram is about to get married, to the bride his father chose for him, a Safavid princess.” Mehr Un Nisa left Arjumand numb, standing among the tulips in the garden, as an unknown sense of abandonment gripped her.

All this while, they met at the gardens, appreciated the creations of nature, laughed with Ladli, played with her, and taught her to read. All this while, he brought her little gifts, in books and handicrafts, every single one wrapped in red velvet, each piece of wrap she had neatly put aside in a wooden box. Did all of that mean nothing to him? Did he not mean the words of the poetry he read to her? Was all of it in her imagination? Did he not know what she felt and never had the bravery to admit it? She could barely move from her spot, yet she must. She dragged herself in a trance all the way home, maintaining her poise in front of the Eunuch who escorted her.

As her mother opened the door Arjumand hugged her tighter than usual, as a taken aback Diwanji Begum looked worried.

“What’s wrong, Arju?” She asked taking the sobbing and trembling girl to her room and shutting the door behind her.

“It’s... It’s... “ Arjumand stared at her mother, a droplet of tears escaping her eyes and falling on her cheeks “Shehzaade Khurram is getting married to the princess of the Safavid dynasty!”

“What?” Her mother looked taken aback.

Arjumand hid her face in the pillow and sobbed as her father knocked on the door.

“What’s wrong? Why is the door locked in the...” Asaf Khan stared at his daughter in tears a little worried “What happened Begum?”

Arjumand took her parent's leave and retired to her chambers as Diwanji Begum narrated everything to her husband.

“Pardon me, but I think Mehr has a hand in this!” She said scornfully.

“What makes you think so Begum?” Asaf khan asked surprised.

“Pardon my audacity but she could very well be jealous of the fact that a girl like her, so talented and beautiful couldn’t mesmerize the prince enough to marry him and my daughter...”

“Begum!” Asaf Khan dismissed her words “You are forgetting the circumstances were different.”

“Fine! You won’t hear a word against your sister so be it... but I am warning you...”

A soldier interrupted their conversation with a message that Asaf Khan took and looked at again and again.

“What’s wrong?” Diwanji Begum asked a little startled.

“The Emperor wants to see me at the Diwan E Khas immediately. He asks for Abbu and Ammi to be present too. The Dowager Queen has summoned us.” He stared at his wife’s twinkling hopeful eyes.

“Is this what I think it is?”

Khurram and Arjumand were engaged by their respective families sometime around the summer of 1609, before his December marriage to Qandahari Begum, whereas they did not get married till 1612 for reasons unknown. Some believe it was during these two years when Jahangir was busy wooing Mehr Un Nisa to be his wife and hence put the marriage of her niece on hold to coax her. Also said that after marrying her in 1611 it was she who reminded him of the pending matrimony of these two who continued their much-talked courtship in the open, after the engagement and even Khurram’s marriage to Qandahari Begum.

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His Wife

" Where is the Kesar, Rama? And the Kalash?" Ajabde looked visibly displeased at the daasi who ran. " They are at the fort gates and nothing is ready yet!" She exclaimed. She was clad in a red Jora and the jewellery she had inherited as the first Kunwarani of the crown prince. Little Amar ran down the hallway towards his mother. " Maa sa Maa sa... who is coming with Daajiraj?" His innocent question made her heart sink. " Bhanwar Ji." Sajja Bai called out to him. " Come here I will tell you." Amar rushed to his Majhli Dadisa. " Ajabde." She turned at Jaivanta Bai's call. "They are here." " M... My Aarti thali..." Ajabde looked lost like never before. Jaivanta Bai held her stone-cold hands, making her stop. She patted her head and gave her a hug. The hug gave her the comfort she was looking for as her racing heart calmed down. Jaivanta Bai left her alone with her thaal. " Maa sa!" Amar exclaimed

My Everything

Kunwar Pratap stormed into the Mahal at Gogunda. Happy faces of the chieftains and soldiers welcomed him as Rao Ramrakh and Rawatji stopped the ongoing Raj tilak. A visibly scared Kunwar Jagmal looked clueless at a visibly angry Kunwar Pratap. Rani Dheerbai Bhattiyani hadn't expected this son of Mewar to show up that too twenty-one days after his father's death. He was not informed as per Dheerbai's instructions. She looked at Rawat Ji. He must have gone to Raoji at Bijolia. 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 came. She could stoop down so low? " We were about to inform you..." She spoke up in her defence. " When Dheerbai ji?" Maharani Jaivanta Bai, clad in white entered the hall as people bowed before her. " After your son's coronation?" " I did nothing Badima I swear!" A low voice came from Jagmal. " Maha

To Protect You

Kunwar Pratap was in court with Rana Udai Singh. The Mughals were conquering a huge part of the north courtesy of Bairam Khan and Mewar on their routes to the ports of Gujarat. " Dajiraj we need to secure the roads leading to Agra and also towards the west. The attack-prone areas should always be under surveillance." " Yes Ranaji. Baojiraj is right." Rawatji agreed. In the Rani Mahal, everyone was preparing for a grand lunch. Ajabde was making a sweet dish for the princes and princesses and in a hurry, she forgot to add the Kesar and Badam on top. As she served the smaller princes including Kunwar Jagmal, Dheerbai came to inspect her eldest son's food. " What is this? Who made this? Kokoiaji?" She stormed to the kitchen with a bowl of sweet dishes. " Kunwaranisa did." Came a scary answer, from Veer Bai. " Ajabde Baisa." Her words let out a silent gasp from the lesser queens who stood witness. Calm and composed, Ajabde walked up

Towards You

Kunwar Pratap and Ajabde were friends. He didn't feel awkward sharing his plans and thoughts with her anymore. She was more than happy to advise him on everything. She was happy he listened to her advice before taking or discarding them, be it on what to wear to Padmavati's Sagai or how to befriend the revolting Bhils. He loved the way Ajabde always used metaphors from Puranas and Ramayanas to explain the toughest things so easily. She expressed herself so well, so easily that it amazed him. The Afghans were now led by Mehmood Shah. They have made secret territories in the forests and waited to attack. Rawatji and his spies had confirmed the news and Udai Singh had warned Mehmood Shah to withdraw his troops from Mewar in vain. Now, it was time they declared war. Mehmood Shah had limited resources in Mewar. And his spies clearly suggested that in no way could he win, especially with Kunwar Pratap leading his troops. He was having second thoughts about the war. One of his aides

Chapter Two: Catastrophe

Abhaya was suffocating as she could now taste the soot and ash in her mouth. She could see the smoke engulf her. The boxes around her turned into shadows in the blurred vision. She opened her mouth to breathe but the choking air wanted to make her cough. She ran, stumbling upon some boxes and utensils towards the window on the other side. It was shut firmly and her weak hands could do little to move it an inch. She placed the end of her saree over her face and coughed, hoping not to be heard from the outside. The sound of chaos and footsteps outside was increasing. She heard a scream. Was it her mother? Her sister? Or one of the sisters-in-law? Were they escaping? Should she try too? She tried to find something to break the window with, but instead, she froze at the sight of flames entering through the cracks of the door she had shut behind her. Abhaya said a soft prayer. This is how it ends. This was not the country her father served. This was not the country her mother read stories o

Love?

“I swear I can kill that Sakhaveer.” Balwant swung his sword at the Dangal as Ratan and Ajabde looked on. Ajabde hid a smile as Ratan looked amused. “Like you did last time?” Ratan’s chuckle made Ajabde press her hands with a soft no as Balwant stopped his sword and looked angry. “What do you know Ratan?” He roared angrily. “What do girls know anyways about fighting??” “Jija can fight better than you.” Ratan looked angry and defensive. “Ratan! Leave it.” Ajabde insisted. “No!! Jija, I saw you, you are better…” “Then let’s have a duel Jija.” Balwant insisted. “No.” Ajabde looked surprised and shaken. “It’s been such a long time since I have …” “No excuses Jija, teach him! That girls can be…” Ratan insisted as Balwant handed her a sword she took rather reluctantly. She tied the corners of her dupatta together and her braid in a bun. Kunwar Pratap was making his way out at the Dangal when he heard swords clash. He gathered the father-son duo would be at the Dangal

Destiny

The war was almost won. A few of Marwar’s soldiers were left on the field along with Rao Maldeo Singh Rathore, their king and leader. He was thinking of retreating at the end of this day. As his sword clashed with one of the opponent generals as he eyed the opponent King now open and prone to attack. A little hope flickered in his mind as his eyes instructed his closest aide. The opponent was quite in a winning situation thanks to their new Senapati. He was just 16 yet his bravery and valour reflected his blood and upbringing. He mesmerised the opponents and even Rao Maldeo with his clever war strategies and sword skills. As Maldeo’s aide swung his sword at a taken aback Udai Singh, someone’s sword defended it as his body acted like a shield for the king. He killed the man in one go. “ Ranaji are you okay?” “ Haan Raoji.” He nodded gratefully. By half the day, the Marwar army had retreated as the air filled with “ Jai Mewar! Jai Eklingji!” From the triumphant soldiers. Rana Udai Si

Chapter Three: Pedigree

The Imperial Police work was a tough job. The family had no idea what Superintendent Animesh Kumar Mukhopadhyay went through to provide for his family and their luxurious lives. Abhaya’s father never failed to let his family know that. Every time he drank down his sins. Every time he came home drunk. Every time he beat his wife. Abhaya would often sit awake all night, her pillow pressed against her ears as she sobbed silently, hoping that her mother’s begging sobs and father’s lewd language would stop. One day she had opened the door of her room slightly and was about to step out when her sister-in-law intervened. Her face was dark as she coldly told Abhaya to return to her room. She would be punished if her elder brothers found out about her trying to get out of her chambers at night. Abhaya at twelve knew one truth greater than others. Men were like this, women had to tiptoe around them to serve them as they demanded. She was intimidated by the regular chores the women of the hous

Understandings

After counting days, Ajabde was happy that she was going to Bijolia. She knew how eager her mother and Ratan would be to know about her new life. She couldn't wait to hug her mother and feel like... Home. She was selecting gifts for her parents and her siblings as per Ranima's instructions. Then suddenly an idea struck her mind. Her new family welcomed her with so much love and support. Especially Ranima and Majhli Maa Sa. She wanted to give them something. Suddenly she remembered that Ranima had loved her embroidery work on dupattas back in Bijolia so she called a Dasi and ordered some plain Chunris and embroidery threads. She had a lot of work to finish in a day before leaving. Kunwar Pratap came back into the room to see her on the floor, right in the middle of the room with red, green, yellow, and pink all sorts of dupattas scattered. " What's all this?" He asked not sure if he should be asking. " I am making gifts. For Ranima, Majhli ma, Rani Dheer Bai

Friends?

Early morning, Ajabde walked into Saubhagyawati’s house as the Panditji looked relieved. “Baisa you are here now I don’t need to look after anything.” She walked into Saubhagyawati’s room and found her braiding her hair nervously. Her lehenga looked beautiful and only the maangtika was about to be put so Ajabde did the honours. Saubhagyawati held her hand and took a deep breath. “Ajabde have a confession.” “What is it Bhago?” She looked worried. “Are you scared?” “No no Ajabde it’s not that. I… met him… before…” “Whom?” “The one who is coming to see me.” She looked away scared. “What? How…” Ajabde looked at her with wide eyes. “woh… Both nights when I waited for you in the…” “Hai Bhagwan Bhago! What if he says that seeing you in front of your father?” Ajabde spoke up as Bhago looked shocked. Why didn’t she think that before? “What will we do now?” Bhago asked worriedly. Ajabde was lost in thoughts. No way could people know. The groom had arrived with

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