After the morning prayers, the family gathered for breakfast along with their rajput guests.....
Hamida asks dadisa, " When r u planning the ceremony for harkha begum? "
She replies, " There is a famous astrologer in the nearby village, we have given him invitation to come here, once he arrives, the date will be fixed, your highness! "
And like that talk goes on.... In between these talks ruqaiya and jalal stole glances at each other..... And as usual harkha and maham this time maasi too burned.....
After completing her duties, ruqaiya went to hamida to discuss about mirza's marriage.....
She says, " Ammi, aapka kya khayal hai? "
Hamida replies, " That's a very good idea! Even though his mother is not among us today, he considers me like his own.... And i think it would be good for him"
Ruqaiya says, " Then I will write him a letter today itself... "
She continues, " Ammi aur ek baat karni thi-"
The emperor comes along with shariffudin.... They both get up from their places in respect.... Then they are seated....
Shehensha asks, " Kya baatein chal rahi hai maa aur beti ke beech! "
Ruqaiya replies, " It's good that u two came along... I was about to talk to ammi about the naamkaran ceremony of your baby( looking at shariffudin)"
He replies, " Oh... I was thinking about it too.. "
Shehensha says, " The coming jummah(Friday ) we shall keep it... Aapka kya khayal hai ammi? "
Hamida replies, " Jaise aapki marzi shehensha! "
He looks at shariffudin, " I don't have a problem my king"
Ruqaiya says, " Phir teek hai... I will prepare everything...."
Ruqaiya and the emperor went together to their chamber.... On their way, shivani appeared.....
" Pranap jija ji, mallika-e-hind! "
They both nod....
Shivani says, " Actually I went to your chamber bit u weren't there... So i was searching you... "
Ruqaiya says, " Oh.... Is there anything important? "
She replies, " No no... Just like yesterday... I came to you.. "
The emperor understands and says, " You both carry on... I have some important work... "
He leaves from there...
Then they both head to ruqaiya's chamber....
They both talked for a long time and in the meantime ruqaiya wrote her letter for mirza hakim and sent it too....
It was evening and ruqaiya was not feeling really well... She was anxious about something.... Then, moti comes in asking if she needed anything.... But looking at her she asks, " Are u ok begum sahiba! "
Ruqaiya says, " Yes... Ahmmm.... No I think"
She replies, " Shall I call hakima begum sahiba? "
Ruqaiya says, " No... My health is good... But my heart is restless... "
Moti says, " Then shall I call the emperor? "
She says, " No he said he is going to meet harkha begum... Don't disturb him.. "
After sometime. She asks, " Accha... Moti.... Where is the baby? I have not seen her from afternoon? "
Moti replies, " She is with the princess begum sahiba, gul is also with them"
Ruqaiya nods and says, " Then I will go and have a look myself.... If she is doing fine or not"
When they both reached bakshi's chamber, they saw gul lying outside the door.... Moti wakes her up, " Gul! Gu)! What happened? Why are u sleeping here? "
But no response. Ruqaiya took a glass of water from the nearby pot and sprinkled some in her face... Gul came back to her senses.
Ruqaiya says, " Yeh kya hai gul-e-rana?! Tum yesa beech rasste pe kyun sorahi hai? "
Gul stands up and rubs her eyes, " Begum sahiba.... I took the baby and came here.... The princess was feeding her and i came out to have my lunch.... After that, what happened? I can't remember! " She told by scratching her head.....
Ruqaiya was confused and they all hear the sound of crying baby.... She storms inside the chamber.....
Only to witness bakshi in a deep slumber and the baby was in the edge of the bed crying....
Ruqaiya's eyes widened by the sight... She runs to the baby and takes it in her arms and hugs the baby...
" What is happening here? " She shouts at the maids.....
She tries to wake up the princess, but no response.... She says, " Moti, bring some water and sprinkle on her face! "
After that bakshi opens her eyes, rubbing her head, " Ahhh! My head is spinning! "
Ruqaiya comes near her, " Bakshi! What happened? How did u faint? "
She replies, " Bhabhi! I-I ate lunch and was playing with the baby.... Then..... Then I don't remember! " And she in the drowsy state..... Again fainted....
Ruqaiya says, " Motibai! Call the Royal healer and salima begum now itself.... And bring the food served to the princess and gul..... Ask them not to feed the food to anyone else! "
She felt strange about the happenings....
Salima comes, " Ruqaiya, what happened? "
She narrated the entire incident.....
Ruqaiya says, " I feel something wrong here,-"
The Royal healer comes in and checks on the princess and gives her some medicines.... And checks the food too"
( she smells and put them in water containing something)
Ruqaiya asks, " Why is the princess in this state, hakima sahiba? "
She replies, " Mallika-e-hind! Give me some more minutes to tell you what happened! "
They wait like that for half a day.....the healer keeps on testing the food with many things..... But still bakshi had not opened her eyes.....
The emperor, his mother, husband of the princess, maham anga all came one after other after coming to know about the incident..... They were all worried....
The Royal healer comes to them who are waiting outside the chamber....
The emperor asks, " Did you find anything hakima? "
The Royal healer replies, " I m sorry that it took so much time shehensha! But i wanted to just confirm my diagnosis.... The problem is serious! "
Hamida asks by keeping her hand in her chest, " What is it? "
She replies, " The princess was fed with opium! "
They were all shocked.... Salima kept hand on her mouth....
The emperor asks, " How can that happen? Having it for single time would cause this? "
She replies, " No shehensha, by looking at her condition I think she was having this drug long back itself.... Maybe the doses were increased day by day which can result in this condition! Did u people notice any change? "
Ruqaiya remembers, " She was looking tired in the past days... And-- baby! Hakima sahiba, would this have affected my baby too... Because she is her milk mother! "
The Royal healer says, " Then we have to start treating the baby too"
Shariffudin cryingly says, " Yeh kya musibat hai! Both my wife and daughter are addicted! "
The emperor says, " You have to be strong now.... I won't let anything happen to them! "
The Royal healer took the baby inside....
Hamida and shariffudin too went in....
Salima begum says, " Shehensha.... First we have to find where this opium came from? "
He replies, " I just can't understand the part..... Who would drug the princess.... On whose orders.... And what's the reason behind! "
Maham says looking at ruqaiya, " Shehensha... May be someone who wants to hurt you! "
Ruqaiya looks at her and thinks at her words.....
The emperor orders, " Motibai! Go and ask all the staffs at the kitchen to assemble in the meeting area including the guarding soldiers and the maids at bakshi bano's zenana! "
*in the meeting hall*
The emperor questioned everyone over there.... The maid who cooked the food and those who served it....
She says, " Shehensha i had- i prepared the food like every day.... I don't know anything you are asking about! " She stammered.... And was scared.....
When the king questions more about it.... She says, " Raja vikramaditya singh ki jai ho! " And slits her throat with a dagger which was she holding inside her dupatta!
( * this has nothing to do with the original history.... It's just a fiction 😉)
The emperor was angry and understood the treachery behind his back.... He and his ministers sought some measures to protect such infiltration by the enemies and spies from vikramaditya singh' s kingdom informed that they are going to wage a war against the mughals and started marching towards agra...... And preparations started accordingly for the war...... The emperor planned to attack their tents, next night when they least expect it....
Near the fountain,
He stood there like a statue facing his back towards her.... Controlling his emotions with a tight fist....
She keeps her hand in his back and tears started to flow from his eyes..... She turned him towards her.... And was shocked....
She says wiping his tears, " Are u a baby to cry like this? "
He replies, " Aapko pata hai na... Ki mein bakshi se kitna pyaar karta hoon.... In the past days, I thought she is gaining the lost brightness in her life.... But i cannot see her like this"
She goes closer to him, " Kya Hindustan ki shehensha jalaluddin akbar ne jung ladne ke pehle hi haar maan liya? "
He realised what she said, his eyes emitting anger.... She lifed his chin upward....
" Baadshah woh hain, jo rishton ko apne insaaf ke beech na aane deta... Ab jung ladna baaki hai jalal! Show your enemies how dangerous you are if they try to destroy your kingdom! "
She keeps her hand on his chest, he takes a deep breath and keeps his hand on her head and leaves from there.....
Ruqaiya looks at his declining figure and keeps her hands on her baby bump......
( I don't know why.... But while imagining this last scene, I felt 'Ishq hai woh ehsaas, ishq hai woh jazbaat' song playing in the background [from the serial- just simply it striked my mind]....,
what song will you people want to play in this situation for this couple? )
So guys, it is really good meeting you all after a long time....
How is the story going forward? Do you like the current storyline...?
Plz tell your ur reviews in the comments section as they are valuable to me....
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Stay tuned.
Until then,
Always❤