"I heard there was some problem with Ruqqayah? Is she okay now?" a concerned Jodha asked Neela.

"I don't know anything about her. Plus, you should care more about that baby of yours than Malika e Khaas!"

"Stop giving me orders, Neela. Go and fetch news about Ruqqayah and don't come in until you get some information!"

"But Jodha..."

"Malika, call me Malika!" Neela nodded and left. Jodha had been tolerating her rudeness for a while now and it was time, she made things clear. She had given that liberty to a lot of people, apparently. Now it was time that she made others realise her importance.

Jodha was sitting down facing the mirror when she saw her reflection. She recalled fond memories of her past. How she used to sit in front of the mirror while her mother combed her hair and her sister would tease her about her marriage and stuff. Sure, she wanted to get married to a Rajputana household, fall in love with her husband and have kids with him but all this happened so fast she barely had a chance to think about any of it since her marriage to Jalal. She got married to him barely a couple of months ago and here she was already pregnant. She wasn't happy. She wanted to be carefree like old times and enjoy life, even after marriage. Sometimes, she used to think how wonderful it would have been had she been a commoner's wife. They would be able to spend time together as they would have only each other to take care of. Alas, a wish that could never come true. She was brought back to reality by Neela.

"Kunwarisaa, Malika e Khaas wants to see you!"

"Let her in."

Neela nodded and left. A few minutes later, Ruqqayah walked in.

"How are you Ruqqayah? I was so worried for...."

Ruqqayah raised her hand asking Jodha to stop speaking.

"Malika, that is what you asked Neela to call you?!"

"I...

"You are not one. Let me remind you what you have forgotten, it seems."

"What are you talking about?"

"You and Jalal.... your relationship is a mere alliance. Don't think of yourself too highly. He would sleep with any woman for a child!"

"What...what is all this? Why are you being so rude?"

"I am just giving you a reality check. He was attracted to you because he couldn't have you. I guess you did sleep with him, assuming that you are pregnant but did he ever say he loves you?" Jodha stilled for a moment.

It was true. Everything Ruqqayah said was true. She loved him, but he didn't love her. More so he became distant since the night they consummated. Her heart thumped. A tear escaped her eye as she brushed it away. Ruqqayah controlled herself from brushing away Jodha's tears and turned around to leave.

"Don't please, don't leave. I knew it. In the back of my mind, I always did that Shehenshah was never fully mine. But I was happy that I made friends here to last a lifetime. At least you don't leave me Ruqqayah!" Tears filled Ruqqayah's eyes as she walked out of Jodha's room. She did it for her; to make her stronger. She knew Jalal would leave her once the baby was born and she would be all alone. The same had happened with her and she did not want her friend to suffer from the same ending. On the other hand, Jodha fell to her knees as she wept.

"Shehenshah, you called for me?" Jodha asked as she approached Jalal.

"I did. I heard you were crying in the afternoon. Is everything okay with the baby?"

She hated it. Hated that he had so much power over her.

"Will you take me to Ajmer dargah?"

"What? Why all of a sudden?"

"I.... want to be there for a short while before I give birth."

"Okay. I suppose I can manage that."

"You will come, right?"

"Of course. I am not leaving my baby alone."

"Is that all you care for? What if something happens to me on the journey? What if I die? What if I fall down the hill or...?"

"What are you talking about?" He cut her short. "Why would anything of that sort happen? Are you out of your senses or are these just one of the stupid pregnancy hormones?"

"Are you a woman? Don't call them stupid hormones unless you...."

"Calm down, will you? What has gotten into you?"

"Nothing...I just.... I must leave." He didn't stop her this time. Clearly, she was upset over something. She shouldn't have taken this stress. It was not good for the baby. And why would he not care about probably the future heir to the empire?

That night, sleep didn't come to Ruqqayah. She had lost more than just a friend. She had lost a part of herself. Tears didn't leave her side. Jodha, on the other hand, had another dose of her evening sickness. She was sick and tired of being pregnant. The room was dark. Jodha lay beside the balcony adjoining her room. Sick, and emotionally stressed, she didn't want to spend another moment in the fort. She got up somehow, her ghagra totally messed and so her hair. She had asked Neela and other maids to leave her alone. Today, she missed her mother more so than ever.

"Remember my child, nothing is more important than your well-being. You may think that your husband and children are, but always remember this: only if you are alive, will you take care of them, so learn to prioritise yourself over everything else." That night Jodha had snuggled into her Maasaa's arms and slept peacefully. And today, when she needed her the most, she had no one. Absolutely no one by her side. Elsewhere in Amber, Champavati could not sleep. She kept having these intuitions that Jodha was not well. She missed her like anything and wanted to reconcile everything with her. It was not Jodha's fault, but because of this alliance, she lost her daughter. Bharmal had told her about the times he had visited Jodha and how well-mannered Jalal was. He told that Jodha was happy there and that he took care of her, but she was sure that Jodha was not all happy. Of course, Jalal could have been a good husband, no doubt, but he is the Emperor of Hindustan. When Raja Bharmal, who ruled just one small portion of Hindustan, had so many concubines, then what was the limit for Shehenshah. Besides, Jodha had always been a possessive kid. She would not even share Champavati with her own sister. Champavati really missed her daughter today. There was only one person who could tell her about Jodha's state and so she decided to write to Bhagwan Das.

It was early in the morning. Jodha looked at the few birds who were chirping in the verandah. She recalled how she fed pigeons every day with her mother back in Amber. All this loneliness, suddenly made her homesick. She had lost Ruqqayah and Jalal was only concerned about the baby. She had no one to depend on. She needed someone's shoulder to cry on. Neela had been dismissed for a few days by Jodha and kaakisaa was on leave. She walked towards the railing, looking down. She had given up. She stepped closer and was about to put her leg out to jump when someone grabbed her hand and twirled her around. She lost her breath for a second and then saw a woman in her mid-twenties. She was wearing royal clothes, but not much jewel.

"What were you doing, Malika?" She spoke and her voice was a mix of thick and royalty.

"Do I know you?" Jodha asked.

"Greetings, Your Majesty! I am Salima Sultan!"

"Oh, you are the second wife?"

"I am more like an adviser to His Majesty."

"I apologize. I couldn't recognize you."

"That's alright. Are you okay? What were you doing?"

"I..um...." if it would have been the old Jodha, she would have blurted out her pain but she had learnt a thing or two. She preferred remaining silent.

"Were you trying to...?"

"If you will excuse me!" Jodha excused herself and walked away before Salima had a chance to say anything."

"I don't know what has happened with you but you clearly seem stressed Malika."

Elsewhere the preparation for the journey to Ajmer dargah was in full swing. Jalal wanted to fulfil every wish of her beloved queen who was giving an heir to the empire.

They were to depart at sometime in the afternoon. Jodha wore a simple ghagra and had no makeup and minimum jewels on. She visited Mariam Makani once before leaving. Neela accompanied her during the journey. Jodha kept numb. She didn't talk unnecessarily. Just nodded yes or no whenever she was enquired a few times. By the time it was dusk, it was decided to take a rest for a while. Camps and tents were settled. Jodha kept standing next to her tent's opening. Something was bothering her. Was she too young to have a baby? Was this baby cursed? Were all her problems because she was pregnant? A tear escaped her eye and then another until she was in tears. She didn't try to stop them today until she had her evening sickness and ran towards the restroom. That night she did not sleep. The next morning, after journeying for many tiring hours, they finally entered Rajputana. All of Rajputana was not yet Jalal's so he had many enemies here and it was important to double his security. Jodha simply sat on the bed that had been prepared for her. After setting the tents, the soldiers left and the maids surrounded Her Majesty. Jodha wasn't paying attention to any of them. Stress was clearly visible in her eyes. She had dark circles under her eyes and her face was pale. She was not eating properly or having enough sleep. Jalal had been on another one of his hunting trips. He was in a joyous mood today when he was returning back to camp, but as he neared his tent, he saw a maid running out, all scared. He walked inside and saw two maids standing, shivering as Jodha shouted at them.

"Is this what I eat? How dare you present me with such food, you fool?"

"Begum Sahiba, we are sorry. This is what the chef prepared."

"Shut up. How dare you talk back?" Jalal was surprised. He had never seen this side of Jodha before. He thought it might be because of all the pregnancy-related stress. He decided to leave but she saw him just in time.

"Here comes His Majesty! Finally spared time for your wife, or should I say your baby, because that is all you care about these days."

Jalal was embarrassed at Jodha. He asked the maids to leave and sat beside Jodha.

"I am sorry, I couldn't give you much time."

"No, you are not. All you care about empire and an heir for that."

"What is wrong with you?"

"Nothing. I am...not ready yet for having a baby."

"What kind of nonsense is that?"

"I am just nineteen years old Shehenshah. I want to live my life before becoming a mother. I want to spend time with you, and I want to be free."

"The day you were born as a princess, was the day you lost your freedom. You are now Queen of Mughal Sultanate. Don't expect me to give you any more freedom than you already have."

"Then leave me. Let me be. I don't want your titles and honours and money or even this child."

"Will you stop it? Why the hell are you making such a nuisance?"

"You know what, let it be. I'll just run away someday and you or your army will never be able to find me. And then you will have to live heirless all your life because Shehenshah, Ammijaan was right and still is. You will never have an heir to the throne until you learn to love. And that is perhaps the biggest lesson God will teach you!"

She knew she had crossed all boundaries this time. But she was not sorry for what she said. It was all true and he had to hear it someday. Just because he was the king didn't mean he didn't have any faults as an individual. Jalal didn't utter a word. He looked straight into her eyes and she could see the pain in his eyes. He greeted her good night and left. That night, there was an eerie silence and all of the soldiers dreaded even nearing Jalal. The next morning, as the entourage started early for Ajmer, they had news that Raja Bharmal was in Ajmer and had made preparations for the royal entourage. The Raja had been too excited to see Jodha ever since he heard that she accompanied Jalal on the trip and so he had come to pay his respects. He had rarely had a chance to meet Jodha properly since her wedding to Jalal. Jodha was not happy when she heard about the news. She simply nodded. However, unlike other days, today she looked timid than stressed.

"I will pray at the dargah and you take the queen to Rajaji's house, okay?" Akbar commanded the chief of guards and the latter nodded. Jodha was taken to Rajaji and Jalal went for the dargah.