Uncertainties

1622, Lahore

Shehzade Shahryr had walked into his chambers to see Ladli Begum talk in whispers to the baby Arzani Begum. She stopped to see his worried face and handed the baby to the wet nurse and walked up to him.
“Shehzaade Shah Jahan has taken over Dholpur.” He said as worry swept across her face. He was now in a desperate attempt to reduce the power of his other brothers.
“Nur Jahan gifted the province to me and it was flourishing.” Shehzade Shahryr clenched his jaw “He couldn’t take that!”
“Will you go... fight him?” She asked, scared. She knew in her heart that Shahryar was no match for Shah Jahan nor their troops to his army.
“If your mother decides so. I am writing to her.” Shahryar spoke as Ladli Begum nodded.

At dawn when the messenger was about to leave, Ladli Begum’s handmaid gave him a second letter addressed to the empress without the royal seal. Ladli held Arzani close to her heart as she saw some men arrive to see her husband with more news from Dholpur.

Nur Jahan sat worried, reading the unsealed letter twice. Ladli Begum has begged her for her happiness. It made Nur Jahan feel small and helpless. Jahangir paced the room. He was coughing occasionally. She looked up at him.
“What do you suggest?” Nur Jahan asked. Jahangir shook his head.
“I have a suggestion, but I need approval for it.” She spoke.
“Who do you have in mind?” Jahangir asked, frowning. Mariam ur Zamani who helped him with such situations passed away recently. He missed her advice during these times. Nur Jahan walked away.

Rukaiya Begum sat up feebly on her bed as Hoshiyar Khan announced the arrival of the empress. Nur Jahan’s heart skipped a beat at her appearance. In a span of a few months, after Shah Jahan rebelled and Mariam ur Zamani passed away soon after, Rukaiya Begum seemed to have aged more than she had in the last five years.
“Nur Jahan...” Rukaiya Begum spoke feebly. She sat down beside the old lady. Since her parents’ death and her brother’s betrayal, Nur Jahan had felt even closer to Rukaiya Begum, perhaps even understanding her silent pain. She made sure she visited the lady, who often talked of her childhood now.

“How are you feeling?” Nur Jahan asked as she nodded. “I am here for something. Just tell me if I am right.” She said a little tense.
“You are right.” Rukaiya Begum heaved a sigh and spoke as Nur Jahan finished “The way to hurt anyone without a battle is to hurt them at their weakest point.” She agreed.
“By now your army has reached Dholpur and he must be realising that his escape is only momentarily.” Rukaiya Begum spoke “He can be helped by anyone like Rao Raja Ratan Singh or even the Rana of Mewar but ultimately he needs to come here, to claim his right. Do it!”
Mumtaj Mahal looked at the orders at hand and remembered her husband’s words “I promise.” She felt weak in her knees. Her vision blurred. Jahanara was just in time to hold her mother in her arms as she fainted.
“What’s wrong?” Qandahari Begum looked worried “Dara, call for the medicine man!” She took the orders that had fallen in the dirt and brushed them to read. She then looked at Aurangzeb who stood in front of her waiting for her to speak. Just four, he was perhaps more mature than Dara was at his age.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.

Dara sat down as his mother wept and Jahanara held her close. Qandahari Begum looked up at the faces of the scared children.
“As you may know, your father had taken over Dholpur which originally belongs to Nur Jahan and Shahryr Mirza. As a punishment for this move, the court has requested the custody of Shehzaade Dara and Shehzaade Aurangzeb under empress Nur Jahan’s care till they can be reassured of your father’s loyalty.”
“When do we leave?” Dara asked rather plainly.
“Tomorrow morning.” Qandahari Begum said.
“Why will I go and not Shuja?” Aurangzeb frowned as everyone looked at him.
“We don’t question the Padishah’s order, Aurangzeb!” Dara reminded him.
“Why don’t we? Why will I stay away from my mother because of something I didn’t do?” The room was silent. Aurangzeb was hoping for an answer but they had none.
“Why am I being punished?” He asked again.
“You are not being punished.” Jahanara walked up to him and held his hand reassuringly “You will just have an education and upbringing fit for the throne under the care of the empress. Isn’t that right Dara?” She asked as Dara looked away. Aurangzeb was not convinced.
“I have been taught our sins and virtue are ours.” He repeated, “ How are his virtues, not mine but sins are?”
“Aurangzeb, enough now.” Mumtaj Mahal scolded “Do as you are told. And Dara, look after your brother.”
“I will,” Dara said, holding Aurangzeb’s hand by the wrist as he struggled to free it from his brother’s grip.
“Do it for your mother,” Jahanara said to both her brothers. “Let her rest now.”
Shah Jahan sat in his tent, writing a letter of surrender to his father. He could imagine what Mumtaj Mahal felt. He had to write her a letter of apology as well. He had acted in fear and haste. He had acted against his character. Suddenly, Shah Ammi’s memory filled his heart. He wanted to see her, hug her and apologize. He knew he had hurt her too.

In 1622 after Shah Jahan’s open rebellion against the emperor Jahangir and empress Nur Jahan, his sons Dara and Aurangzeb were taken under the empress’ guardianship as custody of his promised loyalty. Dara and Aurangzeb continued to live in Agra for the next few years, while their family lived with Shah Jahan mainly at Burhanpur or Ajmer till they reunited with their parents in 1627 when Shah Jahan was crowned at Agra. The Rajput king who had apparently helped Shah Jahan during his rebellion to escape from the army of Jahangir was his friend Rana Karan Singh of Mewar (He and his family let Shah Jahan stay with his family at the Udaipur Lake palace of today, for a few weeks in disguise) and Rao Raja Ratan Singh of Bundi. Although Rao Raja was a very loyal Hada chief to Jahangir, he shifted loyalty after capturing Shah Jahan. For this, he was given a high rank once Shah Jahan took the throne and it was later passed on to his grandson Rao Raja Chattrasal Singh Hada of Bundi. Mahabat Khan had openly attacked Burhanpur and traced Shah Jahan to the Dakkan on his quest to make Dawar Baksh a puppet emperor when Nur Jahan intervened and seized his accounts and elephants after Shah Jahan won back his territories. The insult didn’t go down well with the general who assembled his army against the emperor and waited for an opportunity.

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Protisruti

প্রতিশ্রুতি বন্দিতা মা কে জড়িয়ে ধরে যেন প্রাণ ফিরে পায়। “ভাল আছিস?” জিগেস করে সুমতি। বন্দিতা হঠাৎ খেয়াল করে আগের মতো তার মুখ দেখেই তার মা আর তার মনের অবস্থা বুঝতে পারেন না। তার সাথে হঠাৎ মনে পরে কত অনায়াসে অনিরুদ্ধ বোঝে যে তার মন খারাপ। একবার জিজ্ঞেস করেছিল সে স্বামীকে, কি করে তিনি বোঝেন তার মন খারাপ। ছোট বন্দিতাকে তার মতন করে বুঝিয়েছিলেন তার স্বামী। আজ বন্দিতা বড় হয়েছে কিন্তু সেই প্রশ্ন সে আর করতে পারেনা। বন্দিতাকে খাটিয়ার উপর বসিয়ে এর মধ্যেই সুমতি যায় তার জন্য মুড়ি মুড়কি আনতে। বন্দিতার চোখ পরে পায়ের নূপুরের উপর। তিনি বলেছিলেন “তুমি খুশি হলে তোমার নূপুরের আওয়াজ অন্যরকম হয়, আর তোমার মন খারাপ হলে অন্যরকম।” বন্দিতা নূপুরটা বাজিয়ে দেখেছিল সেদিন। আজকে সে জানে পার্থক্য তার নূপুরের শব্দে নয়, অনিরুদ্ধের পর্যবেক্ষণ শক্তিতে। আবার কেন তার কথা ভাবছে সে? বাড়ি এসেছে মায়ের কাছে। আর ভাববে না সে, হয়তো দু তিন দিন পর ত্রিলোচনবাবু পাঠাবেন বিহারী কে বন্দিতাকে বাড়ি নিয়ে যেতে, ততদিন মায়ের কাছে একটু শান্তিতে থাকুক না সে। দুপুরে আম দুধ দিয়ে ভাত দেয় তাকে সুমতি। “তোর প্রিয় খাবার দেখ, মাম...

Answers

Aniruddha could not work all day. It started raining heavily outside, the curtains of the room swayed in the gusty wind, and things around the room toppled over. Koeli came to pick them up, to see if he wanted to eat anything but Aniruddha wanted to be left alone. Countless questions and fears raced through his mind. Bondita never went home like she did that day. Rather, once a year, even before Jamai Sasti, she checked the household chores a hundred times. If Batuk had a test, if someone was sick, she was reluctant to go. She just packed a bundle so quickly and left for her mother’s place. Had she distanced herself from Aniruddha? Was it his fault? Anirudha started thinking. Could she not take him as a husband because he pushed her away and hurt her? Aniruddha repented for his actions. If indeed Bondita denied their relationship knowing the truth behind it, could she be blamed? But was that why she was pretending to be asleep even though she was awake that night? What did she think ab...

Promises

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Choices

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Going Home

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Uttor

উত্তর সারাদিন কাজে মন বসেনা অনিরুদ্ধর। বাইরে অঝোরে বৃষ্টি হতে থাকে, ঝোড়োও হওয়ায় ঘরের পর্দা দোলে , জিনিসপত্র এলোমেলো হয়ে যায়। কয়েলি আসে ছোট মালিকের জিনিস গুছিয়ে দিতে, তিনি কিছু খাবেন কিনা শুধোতে কিন্তু তাকে চলে যেতে বলে ঘরে খিল দেয় অনিরুদ্ধ। একা থাকতে চায়। তার মনে আনাগোনা করে অসংখ প্রশ্ন এবং আশংকা। যে ভাবে বন্দিতা স্বেচ্ছায় মায়ের কাছে গেল আজ, সেরকম সে কোনদিন যায়না । বরং বছরে একবার জামাই ষষ্টিতে যাওয়ার আগেও একশো বার বাড়ির কাজকম্ম দেখে শুনে যায়। বটুকের পরীক্ষা, কারুর শরীর খারাপ হলে তো কথাই নেই। সেই বন্দিতা আজ হঠাৎ বাড়ি যাবে বলে কি তাড়াতাড়ি পোটলা গুছিয়েছে। এতই কি দূরে চলে গেছে সে অনিরুদ্ধের থেকে? তা কি তার নিজের দোষে? ভাবতে থাকে অনিরুদ্ধ। সে দূরে সরিয়ে দিয়েছে বলে অভিমান না কি তাকে স্বামী রূপে গ্রহণ করতে পারেনা বন্দিতা? অনিরুদ্ধ পশ্চাতাপ করে। সত্যি যদি বন্দিতা সব জেনে তাদের সম্পর্ক অস্বীকার করে, তাকে কি দোষ দেওয়া চলে? তবে কি তাই সেদিন রাত্রে জেগে থাকা সত্যেও ঘুমের অভিনয় করছিল সে? কি ভেবেছে সে অনিরুদ্ধের ব্যাপারে? কেন চারিদিক বাছবিচার না করে এমন করল অনিরুদ্ধ? নিজের প্রতিজ্ঞ...

Adornment

The rainy night had given way to a rather pleasant summer morning in Suryapali. The temperature was no longer soaring and a gentle breeze blew through the plains of Suryapali. The sun peeped out through the floating clouds occasionally. Priyambada walked into her chambers after a luncheon to find trays laid with drapes and jewellery, waiting for her. “The Maharani sent this for some celebration in the evening,” Vrinda spoke, bowing at her mistress who nodded silently. Priyambada eyed the trays and exhaled. She wasn’t sure if anyone talked to Ishaan Dev about the rituals. She dismissed Vrinda and decided to read the scripture. As Priyambada sat down on the edge of the bed, scripture in hand, her thoughts travelled to the happenings of the night and she inhaled as her throat felt dry. Why did he stop? Did he feel that he had offended her? Priyambada wondered. She walked up to the attire laid down for the evening and picked up the drape wrapped into a bodice and wrap-around skirt. They w...

Ghore Fera

ঘরে ফেরা বন্দিতার মামা মেয়ের সাথে দেখা করতে আসেন তুলশিপুর। গরিবের ঘরের ছা পোষা চেহারা তার, পরনে খাটো ধুতি ও ছিটের জামা। মেয়ের শশুরবাড়িতে খালি হাতে আসা অন্যায় তাই দুটি মিষ্টির হাড়ি সাথে। অনিচ্ছা সত্তেও রায় চৌধুরী বাড়িতে যেতে হয় তাকে। তারা তুলশিপুরের জমিদার, সম্পূর্ণার শ্বশুরের মনিব, তাদের সম্মান করে চলা মঙ্গল। তা ছাড়া যে বোন ও বোনঝিকে আশ্রয় দেওয়া নিয়ে দিনরাত কথা শোনাতে বাঁধতো না তার, সেই বোন এখন মাস গেলে তার হাতে টাকা তুলে দেয়, অনিরুদ্ধ বাবুর দয়ায়। হাতে আসা লক্ষ্মী পায়ে ঠেলার বিলাসিতা করার মত মুরোদ নয় তার। অগত্যা বোনঝির সাথে দেখা করতে জমিদার বাড়ি আসা। এদের বাড়ির চাকররাও তার থেকে ভাল পোশাক পরে; ভাগ্য দেখো মেয়েটার। কোথায় কোন বুড়োর বাড়ির এক কোণে পরে থাকার ব্যবস্থা করেছিল সে, এখন বন্দিতা রাজরানী। জমিদার ত্রিলোচন রায় চৌধুরীর যাকে পছন্দ নয় তাকে তিনি সেটা বুঝিয়ে দিতে দ্বিধা বোধ করেন না। বন্দিতার মামা তার তেমন এক অপছন্দের পাত্র । বৌমার মুখে তিনি যা শুনেছেন তারপর বৌমার তাদের প্রতি টান দেখে আশ্চর্য হন ত্রিলোচন বাবু। কিন্তু কুটুম্ব তারা। হাতে কর...

Trust

Ishaan Dev woke up at the sound of the hourly bells and trumpets and found himself alone in bed. It took him some time to realise that he had perhaps overslept as he looked confused, half asleep first at the hourglass and then at the sun rays coming into the chambers through the swaying curtains. He sat up to suddenly remember the happenings of the night, as his eyes travelled to the blood stain on the sheet and he sat in contemplation for a good few minutes. He finally had his moment with Priyambada and it was nothing like he had imagined it to be. A part of him that yearned to touch her and taste her was satisfied enough to realise that his longing for her was not only physical. When bodies entwined in the union, and he had pushed himself in, as he had with a hundred other women before her, something in him felt a different sense of completeness and fulfilment that he realised was missing from his life. He had seen Priyambada react to the sensations that were completely new to her, m...

Gratefulness

Aniruddha did not return home that night, he informed on the telephone that he was stuck in urgent work so he would return home the next day after spending the night at the client's house. Bondita spent a sleepless night. What would she tell Barrister Babu? And why would he believe it? She was lost in her thoughts twisting and turning in bed all night. She was hurt. Was her husband so reluctant towards their relationship that he did not wish to return home because of her? Once he was busy with some work and was pacing in the study room. Bondita was a child. Her Jetha Shoshur Moshai had taught her to serve her husband. She used to see Bihari take a cup of tea to the study room every day. Despite Bihari's resistance, she picked up the cup of tea that day. "Don't do this, Ginnima ," Bihari was terrified. “Barrister Babu does not like to talk or be disturbed during his work. If he gets angry, I will lose my job.” Bondita ignored his words and entered the study room w...

RAABTA

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