Mandu, 1611
Jahangir loved to visit Mandu and Orrccha during his princely times. The forestland, rugged plateau tops with beautiful sunrises and sunsets, the lakes, everything about the place touched his heart. It wasn’t so frequent these days that he visited the places, with Pervez and sometimes Khurram stationed at Burhanpur to look into the matters of the area. But the moment Nur Mahal agreed to marry him he had made up his mind to spend a good few days at Mandu, away from the politics of the harem, with his beloved, sharing his love for the place with her. They had always enjoyed participating in each other’s hobbies. She, in his hunting stories, fascinations with animals and birds and he in her poetry. Mehr Un Nisa was skilfully trained in hunting as well as far as he had heard from Asaf Khan. The only people accompanying them were the royal cook, his own guards and Nur Mahal’s newly appointed personal eunuch, Hoshiyar Khan, alongside a few hunting elephants, dogs, horses, caravans and of course his favourite pet antelopes.
Nur
Mahal caught a glimpse of the magnificent yet simple palaces from the
procession as they almost reached the fort. It was decided that they would rest
for a day before going on a hunt. Hoshiyar Khan had led her to a big airy
chamber, decorated befitting of her first royal arrival. Nur Mahal smiled
impressed. Jahangir had hugged her and taken her to leave, promising to meet her
again at lunch and spend the rest of the day with her. As soon as the curtains
were drawn and doors shut in her chambers with the few appointed handmaids
waiting for her instructions she took off the heavy Turkish hat, with studded
gems from her head, and looked relieved. The handmaids helped her undo the rest
of the heavy jewellery she had set out from Agra in. They needed to be
worn at Agra, at any cost. It showed her status and symbolised her importance
to the emperor. Here, nobody would care. The thought of Agra took her back to
her last conversation with Ladli Begum and ached her heart.
“You are leaving with him?” Ladli
had said in a trembling voice “Good! Go away, Leave already!” She had pushed
her mother’s hands away from her as she ran to the further corner of her new chambers.
“I will be back soon. The Padshah
ordered…” Nur Mahal had reasoned.
“Of course he ordered! Like you would
say no?” Ladli Begum frowned “You can abandon me for him!”Ladli was taken aback
by the slap that resounded across her face. Her mother, for the first time,
looked disappointed in her.
“After all that I have done for you,
after all the sacrifices, all the hard work… this is how you repay me?” Nur
Mahal had regretted the words the moment they came out of her mouth in the heat
of the moment.
“They were right. They were all
right. You are selfish. You are here for his status. This was never about me.”
Ladli Begum had run away. Nur Mahal sat all night in worry, thinking where she
might be when it was Arjumand who came to inform her at dawn that she had found
Ladli in a corner of the garden. She was fine. Arjumand reassured her that she
would take care of Ladli Begum while she was away and Sultana Begum too
reassured Nur Mahal of the same on her departure.
She realised that day that everyone
else calling out to her as a beautiful cunning woman luring the most powerful
man in the country never hurt her as much as Ladli Begum’s words did. At that
moment she felt Ladli had unknowingly become quite distant from her. The only
hope she had was that growing up, she would realise who her mother truly was.
“Begum”
Hoshiyar Khan’s voice jerked her out of her thoughts “The emperor said the
lunch will be served in an hour. Will you like me to arrange a bath for you?”
“Yes, Hoshiyar.” She agreed “That will be nice.”
Jahangir
was greeted by her smiling familiar face and the aroma of good food, enough to
bless his tired heart. She had changed out of the gaudy extravagant attire and
had chosen a self-designed pink sharara and a neckpiece. The red lips and black
eyes complimented her radiant skin. Jahangir dismissed the serving girls and
allowed the live musicians to play while they savoured the meal.
“What
would you like to do first?” he asked her. Nur Mahal smiled.
“I
heard we are hunting.” She said.
“That’s
what I want to do. I want to ask what you want.” Nur Mahal looked up at her
husband.
“I
would like to spend the evening watching the sunset, sipping on wine and reciting
poetry with you.”
“That
sounds like you indeed. So be it.” He agreed “We will leave for hunting tomorrow
at dawn.”
“What
can we hunt here?” She asked excitedly.
“What
have you hunted already?” he asked instead.
“Oh, wild boars mostly.” She shrugged. “Heard there are tigers here.”
“Lots
of them, I will show you when I hunt one.” Jahangir smiled. Nur Mahal shook her
head. She looked up at her husband with sparkling eyes and said “Not if I hunt
it first.” Jahangir smiled amused.
“A
challenge? I like that!” he said with a nod, “I promise you, we will go hunting every day until either of us kills a tiger.”
“Sounds
good to me.” She smiled. “Prepare to be defeated Padshah!”
Jahangir held her hand in his and smiled. He had missed her. He felt like he was
finally home. The evening set in as they sat on the roof to watch the sun go
down in a distance. Freshly cut fruits were kept on the table while Jahangir
held out a cup of wine, and offered it to Nur Mahal. She took it with a smile
and sipped on it.
“This
is the best variety of wine.” He said smelling it. “I am planning to get more wine
made in the Harem itself; maybe have a garden for grapes?”
“That’s
a good idea.” Nur Mahal agreed “That way the ladies can add wine to their
exports and enjoy some themselves.”
“Tell
me what bothers you.” His question startled her.
“I…
what can bother me?” She shrugged and forced a smile.
“Mehr!”
Jahangir gave his new wife a warning glare “You discredit how much I know you.
You have been absent-minded since we left Akbarabad. And your smile isn’t
reaching your eyes.”
Nur
Mahal stared at her husband with an impressed smile then sighed. Staring at the
setting sun leaving behind a hue in a distance she said “It’s Ladli. She isn’t
taking all this very well.”
“Is
it?” Jahangir frowned” Well she is young and all this is new to her… she will
come around.” He said wrapping his hand around her. “Don’t worry Mehr.”
“I
hope so. I don’t want to lose her.” She spoke.
“You
won’t,” Jahangir reassured. “I promise.”
Ladli
sat watching the pigeons frolicking in one of the water baths when Shahryar came
up from behind. He gave her a little push startling her out of the thought.
“What
do you think you are doing Shehzaade?” She looked irked. Shahryar laughed. Her
frown soon made him stop.
“What’s
wrong?” He asked. Ladli had got up from where she sat by them and was about to
say something when some of the lesser princesses spotted them and laughed.
“What
are you doing today GIRLS?” One said with a hint of amusement.
“Oh, she must be trying her mother’s ways already. To rise from concubine to
empress!” another said.
“Oh, shouldn’t she have tried someone better then?” Another wondered. “ Perhaps the
blinded one was better than this!”
“Stop
it!” Ladli looked at them visibly flushed. Shahryar stood behind her with a soft
warning “Ignore them.”
“Yes
kid, hear him out. Ignore us. Or else your gold-digging mother isn’t here to
save you!” Ladli had within moments walked up to the girls and given the last
one a big push. Although twice her age and size the girl was taken aback and
fell back hitting her head on the stone floor. Shahryar looked scared with his
hand on his mouth gasping “Ladli what did you do?” while the others ran to
inform the authorities. Ladli Begum didn’t stop there. She stood above the
girl and said as loudly as she could “My mother is not a concubine. She never
was. Do you hear me?” Shahryar tried to pull her away by her hand and failed.
Finally, some eunuchs of Rukaiya Sultana Begum dragged her away. Shahryar did the
best thing he could do. He ran. He couldn’t afford to get into trouble for
Ladli.
When
Arjumand reached Rukaiya Begum’s side of the palace leaving Salima Begum’s
lessons midway she knew Ladli was in some kind of trouble. Her heart raced. She
pushed through the crowd outside to arrive at Rukaiya Begum’s threshold and
bow. Then she spotted the lesser princess, perhaps a cousin to Khurram, with a bandage
on her head, sobbing while the others stood scornfully looking at Ladli Begum.
Ladli however looked least guilty or scared. She stood head bowed with Shahryr
beside her looking pale.
“Ask
him Sultana Begum!” One of the girls spoke. “She suddenly pushed and…”
“What
happened at the garden today…” Rukaiya Begum’s voice of authority made the
children look up at her “Ladli Begum, tell me?” The last words made the
princesses gasp. Arjumand stared at her cousin. Shahryar looked scared.
“Ask
him, Sultana Begum,” Ladli said softly “I have nothing to say.”
All
eyes were on Shahryr except Rukaiya Begum’s and he was precipitating in
nervousness.
“I
am asking you.” Rukaiya Begum spoke in a softer tone “Why did you push her?
What did she say or do?”
“They
keep calling him names.” Ladli Begum pointed at a taken-aback Shahryar.
“What?
This isn’t about me!” He said with a shrug. Ladli looked at him in
disappointment.
“And?”
Rukaiya Begum asked. One of the girls protested “No we just make fun…” Rukaiya
Begum raised her hand and stopped the princess with a warning look.
“And
they said my mother is a gold-digging concubine.” A gasp was heard in the
corridor. Arjumand was quick to cover Ladli’s mouth and murmur some apology
perhaps to the princesses. Rukaiya Begum sat back on the cushion and sighed.
“Are
you aware of punishments for insulting the queens?” She asked the girls who
bowed their heads in shame. “This should not repeat.”
“This
is a warning also for whatever you tell Shehzaade Shahryar. He shall inform me
if it repeats.” She looked at Shahryr who nodded quickly.
“Now
all of you disperse except Ladli Begum and Arjumand Banu.” Rukaiya Begum spoke.
The others were quick to leave in a hurry.
Rukaiya
Begum gestured at the cushion for Arjumand to sit on and pulled Ladli closer to
her with her thin hands “It is not okay to pick fights, Ladli Begum.” Rukaiya
looked at Ladli who hung her head and looked away “Look at me, do you
understand?” She looked up and nodded. “If they say anything you come and meet
me. Hitting them is not what princesses do.”
“I
am not a princess.” Ladli Begum said in a whisper. Rukaiya Begum nodded “You
are as much a part of this harem as them. And remember” She said intendedly
“Your behaviour reflects your parents’ upbringing. Don’t let them question
you.” Ladli Begum agreed.
“Arjumand,
you can take her to see Asmat Begum for a week, and she can come back here next
week if she wants.” Rukaiya Begum spoke as Arjumand looked happy. “Do you want
to come see Dadi Jaan Ladli?” Ladli nodded at her with a smile.
A
Eunuch bowed to interrupt the conversation.
“It
is a letter from Shehzaade Khurram.” He said.
“Read
it aloud.” Rukaiya Begum suggested as Arjumand looked a little red.
“Shah
Ammi, with great joy, I am sharing with you the news of the birth of my
daughter whom the Padshah has named Shahzaadi Perhez Banu. I will send the
mother and daughter to your care, and I want you to take over her guardianship
as well. Love and regards to you, missing you always, your Khurram Baba.”
“Mashah
Allah” Rukaiya Begum looked happy and rewarded the eunuch with a strand of
pearl. “Inform Jodha Begum, and arrange for a feast.” She smiled. The Eunuch
was a little taken aback as he assumed the Dowager empress would not be very
happy about the birth of a girl.
“Arjumand
Banu, do tell your mother and grandmother that all of you are invited to the
feast tonight. It is in honour of the birth of my great-granddaughter. May
Allah grant her long life!”
Arjumand
nodded and left, with Ladli in toe. Back home, her grandmother was busy arranging
for a gift befitting gift on this occasion while her mother exclaimed in
relief “It’s a girl.” Arjuamnd frowned at her mother’s words. “So?”
“So,
don’t you get it?” Diwanji Begum smiled “They will get you married soon so that
you can provide an heir.” She gushed. Ladli and Arjumand exchanged a glance.
Back in Arjumand’s chambers, Ladli
wondered aloud, “Is being a girl that bad?”
“Maybe
to the royals.” Arjumand wondered too “But we are loved right?”
“Maybe
because we can potentially marry a Shehzaade like you are,” Ladli said in an
intelligent tone.
Arjumand
laughed. “Only if you showed this maturity while hitting that girl. Wait till
Abbu finds out!” Ladli stuck out her tongue at Arjumand and they shared a
laugh.
“When
I have a daughter” Ladli exclaimed “I will love her so so much. How about you?”
She asked.
Arjumand’s
thoughts wandered. If everyone expected an heir out of her, and she too gave
birth to a girl child, will he be married again? A letter from Khurram prompted
her to open it immediately. Ladli sat up. “How is Shehzaade Khurram? Did he ask
about me? Tell him I hit someone!” She nagged.
Arjumand
opened the letter and smiled. In between the long letter, was a line that
caught her attention first “Daughters are so special, I realised it the first
time I held her in my arms. I wanted to love her, protect her, and never let
her be hurt; her fingers were so soft and tiny, and even her wails sounded so
sweet. Am I sounding silly or do you get it?”
“He
is not like them.” She said. Ladli frowned.
“What?”
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