Empress at War

1626, Bahat

Four-year-old Arzani Begum was living away from her mother for the first time. While Nur Jahan and Jahangir spent a few months in Lahore, she had taken quite a liking to the much enigmatic empress. She stared in awe every time Nur Jahan held court or gave orders. Nur Jahan made sure she spent some time every day with the child. Perhaps in this way, she wanted to make up for all the time she hadn’t given to Ladli Begum. Jahangir too took a liking to the child. She was not as bright or brilliant as he had seen Jahanara or Dara, but in her own innocent way, she was special. Arzani Begum readily agreed when they offered her to go along on their trip to the mountains. The stories of the small red apples, cherries and rose gardens mesmerised her imagination. Arzani Begum was, however, not sure why her parents fought over it.

“We can’t let her go with them.” Ladli Begum reasoned with her husband. “You know how the Padshah Begum has successfully displeased most people. They are in danger every step of the way!”

“We can’t say no to Padshah Begum.” Shahryar explained, “We can’t lose her favour.”

“Your Padshah Begum can’t take a ‘no’, that’s not my fault.” Ladli fumed, “It’s not her ego but my child I am concerned about here.”

“She is your mother.” Shahryar shrugged “You can talk to her, but I suggest you not. Besides, Arzani wants to go; she wants to be with her grandparents and see the world. And if she is not safe with them, she is not safe anywhere.”

“You still haven’t changed.” Ladli Begum looked irked. “You are still a people pleaser!”

“What do you mean?” Shahryar fumed, “I am not a pleaser, I am equally concerned.”

“Then why are we sending her away?” Ladli Begum asked. Shahryar took a deep breath and held her hand in his. “There is something you should know.” Ladli Begum looked concerned.

“I am not well. I have a kind of disease ... that makes me lose hair... and I have nerve damage.” Shahryar said, “I didn’t want to concern you, but I took permission from the Padshah Begum to go on a vacation and spend some time with you alone.”

“Is it fatal?” Ladli Begum’s voice trembled.

“I don’t know. I don’t feel very well.” He said honestly. 

“Why did you not tell me?” Ladli Begum asked.

“Because you are happy, I didn’t want to concern you about the uncertain future. Can she go with them now, and you can accompany me?” Ladli Begum nodded reluctantly.

Arzani had loved the journey. They stopped by riverbeds, and she learnt the names of various flowers from the Padshah himself. She even collected pebbles of different colours and sizes with Nazir, her eunuch in charge. She played in the green grass valleys and met so many people on the way. Back in the fort of Lahore, she had no idea the world was so beautiful and diverse.

They had stopped by a lake that Nur Jahan pointed out on the map for her. 

“Bahat'' Jahangir nodded. “It’s beautiful.” Arzani noticed his breathlessness from the journey. Nur Jahan immediately suggested that he rest. She was not sure where the empress was when a group of men came across the bridge to meet the emperor. She had watched them ride away with him as panic and fear shrouded the camp. Arrows were being shot. Arzani Begum was numb with fear and helplessness. She had never seen first-hand combat, worse, she was never left unsupervised. Before she knew it, Nazir had picked her up and run towards the deeper part of the camp. She saw some arrows flash by, as Nur Jahan stood just before them, protecting her from the rain of arrows with her bow and arrow. Before she realised Arzani felt something hit her arm, and pain. All she saw was a pool of blood on Nazir’s clothes before she lost consciousness.

Nur Jahan had pulled out the arrow from her granddaughter's arm. Her heart had stopped seeing Arzani lose so much blood. She said a quick prayer that Arzani is alive. She had to face the child’s mother. Her blood-soaked Nur Jahan’s clothes as the medicine men attended her. Fortunately, the arrow wasn’t poisonous.

“They took the Padshah Salamat.” A footsoldier informed her with a quick bow.” Mahabat Khan and his men.” Nur Jahan clenched her jaws.

Asaf Khan paced the room as Nur Jahan sat in her tent. The emperor was across the river, in the camp, controlled by Mahabat Khan. The spies informed them that he had been held captive and was forced to declare Mahabat Khan’s puppet, Dawar Baksh, as his de facto ruler. Asaf Khan looked at his sister, waiting for her orders.

“This is your fault entirely.” She rebuked Asaf Khan, who was embarrassed in front of the other officials. “You shouldn’t have openly insulted him. I just told you to warn him.”

“I was doing my job.” He defended. “But what do we do now?”

“We fight them.” She spoke. He was taken aback. 

“Wars are not lion hunts.” Asaf Khan met her cold stare “I don’t mean to offend you, but the stakes are high here.”

“I know what the stakes are. We have an army. We have commanders. More is on its way. I have to save him. He can’t save himself; he is too weak.”

“Padshah Begum.” Asaf Khan reasoned, “This is not the time to think emotionally.”

“What do you suggest?” She asked. 

“It may not go very well with you, but...” Asaf Khan rubbed his palms together “We should inform Shehzaade Shah Jahan to come with his troops.”

“And go from one captivity to another?” Nur Jahan raised her brows in suspicion. “Whose side are you on?”

“Yours, and the Padshah Salamat…” Asaf Khan bowed “Hence, I suggest...” Nur Jahan stopped him with a gesture of her hand.

“Mahabat Khan made a grave mistake by leaving me free.” She had half a smile and a sparkle in her eyes. “He will now pay heavily for it.”

Mahabat Khan had assembled some of the Rajput troops in his favour and that of Khusrau’s heir, Dawar Baksh. He had successfully taken Jahangir by surprise and captured him. But as soon as he started speaking to the emperor, who refused to bow, he knew he had made a grave mistake by not capturing Nur Jahan. The emperor had faith in her abilities as a leader, and rightly so.

Asaf Khan assembled his troops to wait for dawn while Nur Jahan went to meet Arzani Begum, who had just regained consciousness. The girl was brave, and Nur Jahan gathered. She sat up on her bed, eating an apple, and she winced a little in pain but didn’t cry even once.

“Don’t worry, he is fine.” She reassured a much-surprised Nur Jahan.

“I am going to war at dawn. Listen to Nazir while I am away.” She instructed, “Nazir will take you to your mother if a situation arises.” Arzani agreed.

Asaf Khan knew this was a lost cause. He was bound to the emperor’s loyalty and his father’s last words. He sent a messenger on horseback to Burhanpur immediately. If anyone could help save the emperor, it was Shah Jahan. He knew his sister’s stubbornness. She could lose a war but never ask for help.

The empress led the army across the river, sitting on her elephant. A battle followed. Asaf Khan knew they would lose, so he ordered his men to retreat. Not knowing that her brother was not behind her anymore, the empress marched forward and was captured. Asaf Khan managed to escape and made his way to Attock.

Ladli Begum received a scared Arzani Begum, accompanied by Nazir, on the way to the mountains. Hearing that the emperor and empress have been captured, Shahryar ordered his harem to return to the fort of Lahore. Ladli Begum held her daughter close to her bosom and thanked the heavens that she was alive. Then all at once, a fear of losing her mother crept in. All her life, Ladli Begum had failed to understand Nur Jahan, and yet in this turbulent time, she feared for her mother’s life. Ladli Begum sat down to pray, holding Arzani Begum close to her chest. 

Shahryar paced the hall where the noblemen in his favour had gathered. Most of them were paid handsomely by the empress for their support to her in times of need. They didn’t know what to do.

“Should we consult with Shehzaade Shah Jahan?” one of the nobles asked.

“Or Asaf Khan?” Another suggestion. Shahryar sat down, lost in thought. He had been warned against both these men by Nur Jahan. What could he do now? He didn’t have enough resources himself, nor did he have the confidence or skill of a leader. He was aware of that.

Shah Jahan had to stop at Ajmer, on his way towards Kabul, where the spies suggested Mahabat Khan was holding the emperor. Most of his soldiers were unwell from the long journey, and some of the chiefs accompanying him refused to go further into the terrains of the Hindukush Mountains. Shah Jahan wrote to Asaf Khan about his helplessness.

“Make sure that the throne and its power remain within the Timurid house. Mahabat Khan won’t allow that.” He instructed his father-in-law.

Mahabat Khan didn’t let the commoners have an inkling of his activities. The fear of an uprising or rebellion in support of Shehzaade Shah Jahan was something he was not ready to handle yet.  So, he had to make sure the emperor and empress held court sessions regularly, visited religious places, and even the tombs at Babar E Bagh and Nur Jahan gave away alms to the poor. His men kept vigil from a distance, and every firman was unofficially consulted with him before being sealed or signed. What he didn’t know yet was what was going on in the empress’s head.

“Trust me when I tell you this,” Jahangir told him one evening, sipping on his cup of wine as Mahabat Khan held on to the cup offered to him. His men surrounded the emperor as the dancers entertained them. Jahangir leaned in, almost whispering to his ear, “Nur Jahan Begum is one intelligent lady. She is going to make every effort to kill you.” Mahabat Khan’s eyes widened at his words. The emperor was clearly intoxicated. 

“What makes you say so?” He asked eagerly.

“Well, she isn’t that submissive.” Jahangir thought aloud, “I think it will be foolish of you to show her your cavalry and strength fully.  She has her eyes on everything.” He shrugged. Mahabat Khan was lost in thought.

Over the next few weeks, Jahangir invited him over every evening for entertainment, poetry sessions, or meetings with eminent people. He was given extreme favour and importance by the Padshah, with public gifts and grants as well. Mahabat Khan, over the next eight weeks, was reassured that the Padshah had submitted to him. It was his Begum he was worried about. Nur Jahan was closely kept in vigil and as far away from the Padshah as possible. But her taking care of his ailment or sitting with him at court was not stopped to avoid suspicions.  She visited shrines and met men she did charity work with. Nothing was remotely suspicious about her actions. Mahabat Khan spent sleepless nights desperately searching for loose ends.

Asaf Khan smiled when he received a message with a seal he knew quite well. He had underestimated her. Nur Jahan, in the name of charity, had met and talked to some chiefs who were ready to come back to their Padshah’s side and help them out. They were all waiting for Asaf Khan’s command. Asaf Khan drew the maps out. His station at Attock was on the way of the entourage from Kabul to Lahore. A secret cavalry was sent out to trace the heavily guarded entourage throughout. They kept a close vigil on the troops from the other side of the riverbank. He wrote back immediately with a plan.

Jahangir suggested to Mahabat Khan that his health had taken a toll in the treacherous journey, and he needed a day’s rest. However, it was not safe for Mahabat Khan to stop. He had received the news of Shah Jahan being on the move. He had an urgency to reach the safety of the fort at Lahore. Jahangir sensed that. He suggested that Mahabat Khan continue on his journey and stop near Attock next, and they would meet his men there. Mahabat Khan agreed to put some of his men in charge. His cavalry took the route towards Lahore via Attock. Jahangir planned on taking the other route.

While Mahabat Khan was away, the troops alongside Nur Jahan and Jahangir continued their journey for two continuous days and nights until they reached a shallow part of the riverbed. That night, Nur Jahan and Jahangir sneaked out of the camp in a boat and joined their secret cavalry and headed for Lahore. Mahabat Khan reached Attock to realise he was fooled, as Asaf Khan and his men attacked him. He was captured and taken to Lahore as a prisoner of war.

Ladli Begum and Shahryar received the entourage of the emperor like they had returned victorious from a battle. A feast was arranged, and flowers and lamps decorated the fort. Jahangir rested for an entire day once they reached the fort. Nur Jahan received Asaf Khan’s letter of success with relief before she went to meet her daughter.

Nur Jahan was taken aback as Ladli Begum hugged her tightly. She remembered the last time she had held Ladli that close for that long was probably when they were escaping from Burdwan. Nur Jahan’s eyes were moist as she could hear her daughter’s sobs and heartbeat.

“It’s okay. I am fine. I am sorry Arzani got hurt because of me.”

“Amma...” Ladli Begum wiped away her tears “Are all the bad times over?” Nur Jahan looked grim. Ladli Begum knew the storm had just started. She found herself even unprepared for the gale. Asaf Khan’s arrival was announced. Ladli Begum held the half-asleep Arzani close to herself as she looked out at the troops of men who had arrived. Shahryar was out there welcoming Asaf Khan with honour as he displayed the prisoners in chains. Something made her feel Shahryar was surrounded by enemies, too. Her heart skipped a beat. She felt like the happy times were like sand grains slipping out of her fingers, as hard as she tried to hold on to them.

 A court session was put to order at dawn, where Dawar Baksh was handed over to the care of Shehzaade Shahryr from Mahabat Khan’s. Nur Jahan was surprised when Mahabat Khan was sentenced to be exiled instead of executed. She looked at her husband with a questioning glance.

“My own son did a worse kind of rebellion than him. He killed Pervez, perhaps even Khusrau, for the sake of keeping his territory.” Jahangir shook his head. “I can’t be unjust then, I have to execute Shah Jahan too, and I can’t lose any more children.” His voice trembled as Nur Jahan held his hand firmly in hers and nodded. She did understand where he came from. Asaf Khan decided to stay back and accompany the emperor and empress to the Himalayan Mountains once again. Their health condition of Jahangir worried him. His cough had increased, and he looked like he had lost a lot of weight. His appetite was low, too. Asaf Khan realised that his sister, too, knew that his time was near.