Engagement

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 attire 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.

“Why? Rukaiya Sultana Begum didn’t tell you?” Izzat Un Nisa frowned.

“What are they talking about?” Khurram asked Jagat Gossain, who cleared her throat and dismissed the girls to talk to him in private.

A few months back,

Rukaiya Begum had made a hard bargain for the sake of Khurram’s happiness this time; she had asked Mariam Ur Zamani and Emperor Jahangir to consider the engagement of Khurram to the girl of his choice before he married the girl Jahangir chose.

While the emperor was ready to accept this idea, Mariam Ur Zamani shook her head.

“What’s the hurry? If he marries the princess now, he is not marrying again within a year, so the engagement can wait.”

“But what if Khurram doesn’t obey his father?” Rukaiya Begum suggested, as Jahangir stared at her, “He is very adamant about his choices, like his father. To make him agree to marry the Princess can be a good deal. We don’t want his relationship to strain with the emperor over this. After all, even the emperor has been in his age and time; he will understand how important this is for Khurram.”

Jahangir stopped his mother from taking the discussion further. Rukaiya Begum had struck the right chord in him; he didn’t want to push Khurram away, and he didn’t want him hurt like he was once. He didn’t want his son to rebel. He had immediately sent for Asaf Khan and arranged for elephants, jewellery, clothes and horses for the engagement proposals to happen.

Khurram entered the chambers where Rukaiya sat dressing for the engagement, two ladies in waiting to help her with her jewellery and Mehr Un Nisa painting her hands with Henna.

He was dressed in a green Angrakha designed with golden threads and a saffron turban with a Timurid brooch over his head.

“What is going on, Shah Ammi?” he looked unnerved “I am told that I have to marry a princess. I thought my engagement was with Arjumand.”

Rukaiya Begum gestured for the ladies to stop with a wave of her hand as they started packing their things.

“Who told you that now? It is not a thing to think of today!” Rukaiya Begum smiled at her son, “Today, you are getting engaged to the one you chose!”

“But what if I don’t want to marry this princess? Will the emperor force me then?” Khurram’s words made Mehr Un Nisa stop at her work and stare at the Dowager Queen. Rukaiya Begum caught her eyes and smiled back at her son.

“Calm down and take a seat, Khurram Baba!” She ordered. The prince sat down in a restless hurry.

“Your engagement with Arjumand Banu will be done just as I promised you.” Rukaiya smiled at Mehr Un Nisa, who looked visibly happy. “But it is a good time to have some ties with the Safavid...”

“But then why do I have to marry this princess? Why can’t Khusrau or Pervez?” Khurram asked, frowning as Rukaiya Begum smiled slightly, pulling him closer to her.

“Because I gave the Emperor my word. They want you to marry their princess, and the emperor wants the same.”

“What about what I want, Ammi? Am I not old enough to decide for myself?”

Cupping his chin in her hands, Rukaiya Begum shook her head, “I am so happy you have grown up, Khurram, but being grown up is not easy. We often have to honour the choices others make for us, and those perhaps make very little sense then. But I know you, my son; I know you will honour this marriage you unwillingly agree to as much as you honour the engagement you wanted, won’t you?”

Khurram nodded at his mother’s words and left as Rukaiya Begum smiled, watching him leave.

“Mehr Un Nisa...” She stared at Mehr through the reflection in the gold-bordered mirror.

“Yes, my Lady?” Mehr asked with a smile at the Dowager Queen.

“Go to your quarters and get ready in your best clothes. You are attending this engagement with me. Not as my serving lady, but as Asaf Khan’s family.” Rukaiya Begum stood up and smiled at the taken aback Mehr by the hug she received from the Dowager Queen. “Congratulations to us on this new relationship.” She nodded at the Begum, overwhelmed with happiness for Arjumand.

“I think the emperor would like to be graced by your presence, too.” Mehr Un Nisa’s smile faded a little at those words as Rukaiya Begum added, “After all, you are Asaf Khan’s closest sister and a part of this harem. And don’t forget, we also have to prepare for a grand wedding for my Khurram. It is his first.”

“Yes, Begum, as you wish.” Mehr Un Nisa bowed and left as Rukaiya sighed with a smile.

 It didn’t escape her keen eyes how thoughtful Mehr Un Nisa was towards Asaf Khan’s daughter. That would perhaps mean that Mehr Un Nisa being in the harem, close to both the emperor and her Khurram, would prove to be beneficial for her. Rukaiya Begum wondered. 

The engagement was a grand affair as elephants, horses, clothes, jewellery, gemstones and baskets of fruits and dry fruits were exchanged. The emperor came down from his throne and hugged Asaf Khan, who was humbled and congratulated Ghiyaz Begh, while the ladies behind the veil sat around a blushing Arjumand, dressed in a green Sharara and made merry. A grand feast was laid down in the Harem, arranged by Rukaiya Begum herself with mouth-watering sweet dishes, meat and wine of different kinds, while ladies of the harem flocked with gifts. Dancing girls entertained the men at Diwan E Khas, and Khurram sat beside his father, beaming. Jagat Gossain made her way to the blushing bride sitting between her mother and grandmother as she stood up to bow; the Jodha Begum smiled the sweetest smile and gifted a necklace that belonged to her Rathore Heritage. Asmat Begum was swift to thread it around her already filled-up neckline. Rukaiya Begum sat watching from the cushion adjacent to hers, alongside Salima Begum. After most of the ladies had dispersed, Rukaiya Begum stood up and walked toward the bride-to-be. She surprised Arjumand Banu, who bowed to her with a hug as Mehr Un Nisa smiled at her mother.

“Now my Khurram is yours too. I have taken care of him all these years; it is time that you do the same.” Rukaiya Begum whispered into her ears, loud enough for her to hear over the music of Jagat Gossain’s choice, as she nodded. Mehr-un-Nisa noticed Rukaiya Begum’s moist eyes as she hurriedly put her hand gently on her shoulders in a reflex. Rukaiya Begum stared at who it was and smiled at her.

“Padshah,” a soldier bowed amidst the merriment at the Diwan E Khas, "Jagat Gossaini has sent to you, the best astrologer from her land, to predict a future date for the wedding." Jahangir smiled, nodding at the astrologer to feel welcome to do his calculations.

“From what I see here, their marriage will be full of love, and may bear future kings of the dynasty.”

“Mashah Allah!” the men praised as Khurram blushed slightly.

“But....” The old man frowned at the paper.

“But?” Jahangir asked.

“To ensure an heir, the wedding should happen after a gap of two years.”

“Two years?” Asaf Khan frowned. “That is too long a time to remain engaged.”

“But will it ensure an heir to the throne?” Ghiyaz Begh’s eyes lit up. The old man nodded. Jahangir smiled.

“I suppose we can wait two years then.” Khurram’s smile faded at his father’s words.

“Don’t worry! Two years will be gone before you know it!” Jahangir patted an embarrassed Shehzaade Khurram’s back.

“Two years, you say?” Jagat Gossain frowned “Is anything wrong?”

“No, my Begum, just to ensure an heir to the throne...”

“What did you say?” Jagat Gossain’s eyes lit up “Heir to the throne? Are you sure, astrologer?”

“Have I ever predicted wrong, my Begum?” He bowed. Rukaiya Begum came forward, gesturing at Mehr to give her a coin from her pouch, to gift to the astrologer who bowed.

“No harm in waiting just two more years, then!” She agreed. Jagat Gossain smiled, relieved.

“Besides, the prince has another to wed and bond with as well.” Sahila Banu smiled, “If Arjumand lets him.” The ladies giggled and teased while the bride-to-be blushed.

Soon, Mehr stepped out of the crowded gardens to catch some fresh air, in peace, when she caught the Emperor’s eyes in the distance. He stood there with Asaf Khan beside the running fountain when their eyes met. Before he could approach her, Mehr slowly slipped back into the Harem crowd beside Rukaiya Sultana Begum, who noticed her pale face.

“Asaf.” Jahangir sighed. “You have been a friend since my early days, expeditions to Mewar against the Rana, and hunting adventures.”

“Yes, indeed, Padshah.” Asaf Khan smiled, “It is my honour...”

“Nothing is hidden from you, about me or my life.” Asaf Khan fell quiet at his melancholy voice as Jahangir sighed. Taking a sip of wine from his cup, he continued, “I have made terrible mistakes in the past, been addicted to things I shouldn’t be...”

“Don’t be so harsh on yourself, Padshah. We all make mistakes.”

“We do. Don’t we?” Jahangir let out a murmur with half a smile, slightly intoxicated.

“I did try, Asaf, you know that, don’t you?” He said, putting his hand on Asaf Khan’s shoulders. “I did try to get over my addictions and failed. I tried to hold on and failed...” His voice trailed as Asaf Khan made him sit down on the red stone bench beside the fountain.

“ But I paid the heaviest price for it. My heart knows that.” Jahangir let out a sarcastic laugh. “Tell me, Asaf, can nothing be done? Is it too late? Will she never...” Jahangir stopped at Asaf Khan’s uncomfortable look and shook his head.

“ I am sorry! I am so sorry!”

“Please, Padshah, you shouldn’t apologise...” Asaf Khan looked more awkward.

“Today is about our Children, Asaf, it’s about Khurram Baba’s happiness. I am so selfish.” Jahangir spoke, gulping down the contents of his cup.

“Let me take you to your chambers, Padshah.” Asaf Khan offered.

“Please never leave my side, Asaf! For the sake of this new relationship.”

“I will never be disloyal to you, Jahan Panah. I promise.” Asaf Khan firmly held him and led him to his chambers.