"Prepare the palanquin."

"Sure, kunwarisaa!"

"And, Neela?"

"Yes, Rajkumari?"

"Don't let Maasaa or Bapusaa know about this."

Neela nodded as she gulped in fear and sat inside the palanquin. Jodha rode the horse and the palanquin was carried to the palace.

"This, and this one too." Jodha purchased a bundle of knives on her way and the surprised seller kept packing her stuff.

"Kunwarsaa, is something special happening?"

Jodha tightened the cover over her face. "What makes you think that I am a royal?"

"The value and specific names of these knives are only known to the royalty of Amber. I know you are going to check on your subjects that is why you have hidden but be aware, these days the Mughals are campaigning near Rajasthan, in Ajmer."

Jodha heaved a sigh of relief that she was not identified totally. "What, why are they here?"

"I have heard that the Mughal Badshah Jalaluddin is a follower of the Sufi saint in Ajmer and visits his tomb frequently."

"These Mughals are such a pain in the..." she stopped midway as the seller chuckled and paid him and then left. Finally, after three months she had this golden opportunity to flee away from the palace and she wouldn't miss it for anything. She rode forward towards the jungle. It was getting darker and darker as dusk settled in. She heard a few noises and her heartbeat rose a hundred times faster and she decided to return. She had turned her horse around and was about to leave when she heard a roar. Her heart skipped a beat and she thought she would faint. She had accompanied her father many times earlier across the forest but they never encountered a tiger and she was very scared. She cursed herself for breaking the rules and fleeing from the palace. She decided to ride away but now her horse wouldn't move and she was very scared. She got off the horse and tied him nearby as she climbed on a tree to hide. The roar became louder and she lost balance as her heartbeat rose. She climbed onto one of its branches for support but she slipped and fell. Her horse ran away as she slipped down breaking the tie which held it to the tree. She had nothing left. All the knives were attached to the animal who ran away. Sweat covered her all and she felt dizzy. She decided to climb the tree but she couldn't as she had hurt her ankle and it was bruised. She stood there for some time, with a lot of difficulties. The roar increased with every passing second, making her shudder. Then for a long time, there was no sound and she thought that the beast might have gone away, so she turned around happily and froze as she saw the tiger standing in front of her. She shivered and could very well have a panic attack. The beast stepped closer and her eyes filled with tears as death approached her. The beast jumped onto her as she yelled and shut her eyes. Many moments passed by and nothing happened. She was terrified to even open her eyes but sensing that she didn't get hurt, somehow, she had the courage to open her eyes. She opened her eyes slowly and saw a young boy of her age standing there. He forwarded his hand for her to accept and she did. Her mask had opened by now, showing her face clearly. She took his hand and got up. They looked at each other for a moment before she masked her face again. She nodded and thanked him, removing her hand from his. He stood there, still gaping at her. She looked around and stepped aside but she saw the tiger there and screamed as she grabbed his arm and hid her face in his chest. She was clearly frightened as her hold was very tight. She could sense him smiling as he said it was okay but she didn't let go. Of course, if any of her family would see her now, they would kill her for sure. She was in the midst of the jungle and on top of that she was embraced in the arms of a man. But she didn't care. If she would die, who will they scold then?

"I am assuming you are scared of that cat. Don't worry, it's dead."

She looked up as their eyes met and time stopped for a second. Her heartbeat rose again, but the reason was different now. "You mean the tiger? Are you sure?"

"Yes. I killed her. Oh, and by the way, it was a tigress!" She looked at the tiger but couldn't stand it. She was way too scared. Her clutch on his overcoat tightened as a result. He smirked and grabbed her hand as he made her walk towards the dead tiger. She walked very slowly, all this while hiding behind him.

"Look," He even touched the tiger's head and showed her.

"Did you...kill her?"

"Yes. But for a warrior, you seem way too scared." She realized she had dressed up as a man, removing every speck of makeup from her face so even when he saw her face for a second, he couldn't speculate her being a woman. She looked at him and removed his hand from hers. She was clearly embarrassed but also thankful to the young man who saved her. But no matter how much she tried, he didn't look like someone from this region.

"I am...am no warrior."

"Then why are you wearing this? This is the dress of Amber royalty."

"For an outsider, you know way too much."

"Of course, I do. If I have to the rule Hindustan, I must."

She looked at him and rolled her eyes. "You seriously think very highly of yourself. Do you really think with the present situation in which the Mughals are invading our land, you will be able to conquer Hindustan? That Jalal-uddin will never let you."

"And how are you so sure?"

"Haven't you heard of his witty plans to conquer Hindustan? Already many rajahs have given up. I just hope that this dream of him leads to less bloodshed. If he comes here, I will ask Bapusaa to think of the kingdom first and not our pride!"

"Well does this mean you will ask your father to accept Mughal lordship?"

"Yes, if that is the only way to save my subjects."

"It's nice to know that you think so highly of me!"

"What? Are you crazy? We were talking about Mughal Badshah, not you!"

He looked at her and smiled and she stood still. No, no way. Obviously, he is bluffing.

"Oh, so you are the Mughal Badshah?"

"Yes. Nice to meet you!" He forwarded his hand but she brushed it away.

"Not at all glad to meet you. I mean go make a fool of someone else. Seriously, Jalal? I mean you could have lied about something believable."

"How are you so sure? Have you met the emperor?"

"I know because I know con artists like you. Okay, so if you are the Mughal Badshah, I am the Mughal Begum. Hi, nice to meet you."

Jalal smirked and she laughed as well. "You shouldn't lie this much. Anyway, thank you for today." She smiled and moved away but her turban got caught in the branch of the tree and her hair came down, covering most of her back. She gasped and he was surprised at seeing this. So, she was a princess. She quickly put her mask back and turned around to look at him the last time. Her eyes looked terrified and now that her hair was open, he realized she looked serene. She opened her anklet and threw it at him.

"Keep it as a reward for saving me and don't let people know that the princess of Amber was here!"

She pleaded and then ran away.

Jodha opened her eyes as she woke up with a start. She remembered the boy who saved her from a tiger two years ago. She was only seventeen then and had gone to the jungle to enjoy the scenery but was attacked by a tiger. She recalled how she had thought of him now and then. She didn't have time to think of him since her marriage but she missed him. She wanted to meet him again but never had the opportunity. She recalled how when she was going through bad times, the mere recollection of that memory gave her immense happiness. She had loved him since the time their eyes had locked in the jungle. His memory was enough for a lifetime to last she thought when she was betrothed to Aryabhan Singh of Jaisalmer. Now almost after four months of her marriage to Jalal, she recalled that unnamed protector of her for the first time. His memory alone filled her with happiness. She had loved him and now that she didn't remember him for so long did that mean she had a change of heart? Nevertheless, he was and would always remain her first love. She recalled how he pretended to be Mughal Badshah and how she too pretended to be Mughal Begum. She did become a begum but her husband had many wives and she wasn't his priority. Her heart clenched as she thought what would have been her fate had she married that wanderer. At least he would only love her. She decided not to think of him anymore as she was now married and it would be cheating on her husband but she was only here because of a political alliance. Jalal didn't love her and he had various women in his life, so he clearly didn't need her. Tears filled her eyes when she was informed that Jalal had spent the night with Sabrina and she wanted to run away from here, from this place. She was suffocated. She thought she might as well use her old tricks and run away for a couple of hours. After all who would ever know. She had Neela back her up as usual. And if things would go okay, she might even end up meeting him. She smiled and dressed up as Neela. She instructed her to do everything okay. Neela dressed as Jodha and was asked to keep sleeping all day. Jodha sneaked out of the palace easily but what would follow next she had never expected.