It was another day and Jodha was too excited. Less than in a week, she had heard, Hamida Banu was returning from her trip to Delhi. She was excited about the many things she would share with her Ammijaan. After Champavati discarded her like some waste, it was Hamida who had given her solace. God knows, how many nights she had cried to her. At least, she knew she had people she could lean on to here. The thought alone was comforting.

"I have so many gifts I brought for her and so many stories to share with her." Jodha was walking in her chambers thinking of the many possible ways in which she could share her journey to Ammijaan when she felt a burning pain in her lower abdomen.

She put her hand there as she tried to calm herself, but the pain increased. She could no longer stand straight as she fell down. The pain kept increasing and she couldn't control herself anymore. Her scream was loud enough to jolt the maids outside. They rushed to the room and on seeing their queen's condition, two of them started helping her while the others ran to inform the hakim and Shehenshah.

"Ahhhh!" She screamed as the maids tried their best to calm her. Moments later, Neela ran inside, almost toppling herself. She was out of breath and screamed on seeing her kunwari's condition. Hot tears fell down her eyes as she rushed to help Jodha with wobbly feet.

"Jodha, Jodha look at me!" Jodha looked at her, her body giving up, as her eyes kept fluttering. "I can't Neela."

"Just a few minutes. The hakim will be here anytime. Everything will be fine, just a few more minutes."

"I CAN'T." Her sobs increased with every passing second. And then, what Neela feared the most, happened. She saw blood pooling out from Jodha's skirt as the queen screamed at the top of her voice.

~

Jalal kept pacing backwards and forward in Jodha's chambers. A concerned Ruqqayah walked to him, and patted on his shoulders, asking him to calm down.

He embraced her as his eyes became teary.

"Everything will be okay, Jalal. Don't worry."

And just at that moment, the hakim walked out of Jodha's bedroom. Seeing Jalal and Ruqqayah's expectant face, the hakim felt her heart pierce as she had to deliver the news to them. She had been working for the royal family even before Jalal was born. And to see the child born before her, lose all his children in miscarriages wasn't easy on her part as well. She cried inwardly as she delivered the news.

Jalal's world seemed to have turned upside down as he heard what the hakim said. He fell on his knees and Ruqqayah supported him. Clearly, he had lost his senses. But Ruqqayah was more concerned about Jodha.

"Is she okay?"

"We have given her medicine and she is resting. She will take time to recover."

"Did this happen because of a reason?"

"Well, it seems the Malika was not taking proper care of herself. It might be possible because she ate something or maybe because she is taking stress. Either of the reasons."

"What exactly could have caused it?"

"I am assuming she might have eaten something wrong. Like pineapple or papaya; these are to be avoided as they cause instant miscarriage."

Jalal looked over at the hakim as the words left her mouth. He got up and walked inside Jodha's room and asked all to leave immediately. Ruqqayah did not know what to make of this behaviour but she left as he asked all the people to vacate her room. Yet somewhere she did not feel very comfortable and decided to take a stroll nearby.

"JODHA!" Jalal shouted on top of his voice. Jodha had just been given medicines so she was not able to get up, but she got up somehow.

"Shehenshah?" she wasn't aware of what had happened.

"Did you eat pineapple that day?" he asked anger glaring in his eyes and she was really scared right now. She had not seen him behave this way since forever. She feared to even answer. Her lips trembled. He leaned closer to her and pulled her hair tightly making her wince.

"Shehenshah, you are hurting me!" she said with tears in her eyes.

"You lost the baby." He said slowly and she realised where this anger and frustration was headed towards.

"I...I am so sorry; I did not intend to."

"Well, you did. You are a grown woman and don't you know what to eat and what not during pregnancy?"

"Well, you could have told me. You also don't know many things." Her anger was steaming.

"JUST SHUT UP WOMAN! WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? HAD I NOT MARRIED YOU, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE BEEN? A MERE PRINCESS FROM A STATE NO ONE KNOWS OF. YOU ARE MALIKA E HINDUSTAN TODAY AND YOU DARE TALK BACK TO ME? I HAVE GIVEN YOU SO MUCH LIBERTY, YOU HAVE BEEN TAKING ADVANTAGE OF IT."

Jodha slapped him lightly. She couldn't bear all such insults. The anger in him flared up. He got up and pulled her up as well. She stumbled as he raked his hand around her waist and cupped her chin forcefully with the other hand.

"Let go of me." She snapped. He looked at her in anger, and she was in tears. "I hate you."

"I never asked you to love me either." He said and then claimed her lips. She winced as she tried pushing him away. But his hold was too strong and she was too weak right now with all the medication yet to work. She lost consciousness as she fell into his arms. He came back to reality when she fell unconscious.

"Jodha, Jodha!" he tugged her but no response came from her. He placed her back on the bed and touched her head, which was burning with fever. "Oh God, what did I do!" he panicked and ran out to call the hakim.

Ruqqayah who was taking a stroll nearby ran up to him. "What's wrong, Jalal?"

"I....she....unconscious..." he couldn't form words and when the hakim appeared he begged her to make Jodha conscious. He fell to his knees, as he kept his head on his hands and sobbed. Ruqqayah sat beside him, trying to calm him down. Their lives were to take a new turn soon, and Jalal did this to himself. No one else was responsible for all this.