NOOR

12. SWAMP

" This is going to be your chamber" Ruqaiya Begum led both Jyoti and Jodha begum to the room that had gotten readied for the 'new begum'. 

Ruqaiya recalled being shocked, at the sudden request for a room to be decorated as she had known Jalal to have gone out for declaration of a war and not for marriage. She even felt way out of her wits, almost wanting to kill everyone around her and burn the Harem to ashes along with its women, only later to realise that her hormones were all over the place because of the pregnancy.

She caressed her still invisible bump, as it had merely been a few weeks, and turned to look at Jyoti's face to judge whether she liked the room or not.

Jyoti stepped inside cautiously, avoiding tripping against the mattresses that covered the whole floor as well as the numerous showpieces that covered every edge of the room. She looked around, trying to gauge her surroundings but failing as the darkness of the room deflected her.

" Should I open the curtains Begum Sahiba?" Jyoti heard a male voice, as she saw an eunuch approach Ruqaiya with their head bowed, as the head Begum allowed the order.

" Men aren't allowed in the Harem" Jodha spoke, catching the glimpse of curiosity in Jyoti's eyes, " so eunuchs like Hoshiyar become the messengers as well as protectors".

" Ah " Jyoti exclaimed in a whisper, as she turned around to notice that the guards at the entrance were also eunuchs, who she had previously mistook as men.

" By the way Jyoti Begum" Ruqaiya spoke, " where are your maids? why are you alone?"

Jyoti sighed, bracing herself to answer the Head Begum as the room got a bit brighter with the curtains being pushed open. She could now judge the extravagance of the room, almost every artefact kept around her waiting to shine bright once the sun rays hit them after daybreak.

But the thick forestry surrounding the palace was enough to keep the sun hidden for a few minutes longer from the royal palace, as soft light illuminated the morning sky. 

" The wedding proposal was sudden, so my belongings couldn't be arranged properly for the departure" Jyoti spoke, " I was adamant on following Shehenshah on the same day as his departure, so my maids were tasked with overseeing proper transport of my belongings while I left before them"

Jodha's eyes widened at the explanation. She remembered her own wedding day, how she craved to stay beside her family even if it were for a few seconds. How she cried at Kanyadaan and throughout the journey from Amer to Agra. She knew if she had the same situation as Jyoti, she would have chosen to stay back with the family members, spend a bit more time away from the cruel emperor and in the laps of her mother and father. But alas, her fate was cruel.

And here, in front of her stood a girl who deliberately left early to be with the same cruel Shehenshah. How could it be possible?

" Jyoti-"

" So you like Jalal?" Ruqaiya's enquiry silenced whatever Jodha was planning on saying.

Jyoti's cheeks flushed at the sudden inquiry, as her eyes darted to the floor and her mouth reluctantly started speaking gibberish.

" Yes, Begum Ruqaiya. I do like Shehenshah" Jyoti was atlast able to state her mind coherently after a few minutes.

" Interesting" Ruqaiya paced towards Jyoti, who instinctively looked up to meet Ruqaiya's eyes. 

Ruqaiya was the same age as Jyoti, but looked far younger than the latter. She also had the fairest skin and exotic emerald eyes that could pull in any man, if they had the fortune to witness them. However those eyes only searched for the Shehenshah's, desperately so, but always found a soft feeling of companionship or the passionate feeling of lust, and never anything more.