"Left?" the cup slipped from Maryam Makani's hand when she heard the news.

"Ji huzoor, the news is totally true. It has been spreading all over the harem like wildfire. How could a begum leave without informing the emperor!"

"But, why did she leave?"

"Shehenshah accused her of cheating on him. The rumours say that Malika was sleeping with another man." And as she completed saying this, a tight slap landed on her face. The bewildered maid fell down. She looked up to see Ruqqayah. Her face was hard as a rock, her eyes red with anger.

"How dare you? You mere daasi, how dare you speak ill of Jodha Begum? Don't you know your limits?" Ruqqayah slapped her again and again. "I will get your head cut off!"

"Apologies, apologies, Your Majesty, I just said what I heard." The woman begged, her body shivered and her eyes were wet with tears as she shuddered with fear of losing her life.

"Ruqqayah, stop it." Maryam Makani spoke finally.

"No Maryam Makani. Do you even know what the truth is? How can you even trust someone like her? Don't you know that you shouldn't be asking these low-class people about personal matters? Are you this stupid?"

"RUQQAYAH!" Maryam Makani howled. True, she and Ruqqayah never had the same opinion on things but still respected each other, and their position in Jalal's life.

Ruqqayah paid no heed whatsoever to Hamida as she picked up the daasi by her arm and bringing her closer to herself, asked her where she heard such nonsensical rubbish!

"Apologies, Your Majesty, don't get me killed. I just did what I was asked of."

"And who told you to do so?"

"Maham Anga, Majesty!"

Maham Anga? When had that wretch returned? Ruqqayah threw the daasi out of the room and sat on one corner of the bed. Her head hung low as she slowly sobbed.

"What kind of woman did you leave him with and why? Why?" she cried out loud. Hamida's heart came out at the crying girl in front of her. She walked to her and forgetting all the differences for a second, she slightly run a hand through her hair. Ruqqayah wrapped her arms around Hamida's stomach as she held her close and cried.

"Ammi Jaan, why did you ever leave Jalal with that woman? He has no respect for women, God knows what she might have taught him all this while. Why Ammi Jaan, why?" She sobbed as Hamida patted her back.

"I had my reasons and I am sure Jodha must have had hers. Things will get better, beta." Ruqqayah looked up at Hamida with a smile. Hamida smiled back, caressing her hair.

"Your Majesty!" a maid disturbed their moment.

"Yes?"

"Shehenshah is arriving!" and before either of them could react, Jalal was there, standing in front of them.

"Ruqqayah?" he was startled to see her here.

"Why Shehenshah? Only you have the right to surprise people?" Ruqqayah taunted and he looked away, clearly embarrassed. He had known that rumours would spread, but its intensity would be this fast, he would have never imagined.

"I need to talk with Ammijaan privately."

"Ruqqayah is not going anywhere Jalal. Speak whatever you want to right here!"

"Ammi Jaan....."

Hamida raised her hand to stop him from protesting.

"Jodha has left, as most of you know. And I am going to..."

"Of course, she has. Who would stay with someone like you?" Ruqqayah spoke and Jalal glared at her.

"I know you are upset but this is our personal matter Ruqqayah. So, stay out of it."

"Personal matter, Jalal? You treated me the same way every day because I miscarried. You were always in want of an heir. You don't love your begums; you are just an arrogant and selfish king who needs an heir for his throne!"

Jalal stared blankly at her. When did he upset her? And why does everyone tend to believe that he needs nothing but an heir? Was something seriously wrong with him? No, he couldn't be concerned about this right now. He had to find Jodha as soon as possible. God knows what condition she might have been in in the past days. He sighed and then took a deep breath.

"Don't cut me again!" he stated sharply and resumed, "Ammi Jaan, I am going out in search of her. That is all I wanted to inform you."

"Bring her back Jalal and then you and I will have a talk."

He nodded and left. Hamida could have shouted at him like Ruqqayah but she didn't. He was not in a very good state either. She had seen love in his eyes whenever he talked of his Rajvanshi begum and she wanted him to get back with her. He might have been wrong at treating her, but then again, all relationships had problems. They would soon work it out, this she knew.

"Ammijaan, how could you? Why didn't you...?"

"Let me stop you there Ruqqayah. You are still not as experienced as I am. So let it be. Time will teach you everything. And beta, you are exhausted from all this running and crying. It would be better for you to rest."

Ruqqayah stood there silently. Why was Ammi Jaan so adamant? Did she know something? Or did she already know the future because of her experience? Whatever it was, it was all very worrying. But how could she blame Jalal when Jodha herself betrayed her.

~

"I will just go for one night, to take a stroll by the forests."

"No Jodha, it is not advisable. It is scary out there."

"Okay, then in the daytime. But just for a day. Please?"

"Okay. But take Neela with you. I am letting you go alone because you have asked me so and I respect your emotions. You need to spend some alone time. But don't break the promise. Return on time, okay?"

Jodha nodded and Ruqqayah smiled.

The following night itself, however, Jodha had been prepared. She knew she could not talk Ruqqayah into it, so she had to do this. She felt her soul leaving her body. She had made Agra home. She was in love with Jalal, Ammi Jaan, Ruqqayah, and the palace. She had nowhere to go. Amber did not welcome her anymore, and Agra never was hers. She shed many tears when leaving but she had to. She could not stay here, not anymore.

So, she disguised herself into simple clothes and left Ruqqayah a letter. Dressed in Neela's clothes, her face burning with hot tears, she left on wobbled legs.

I was born in Amber, a princess. I was my mother's only hope. She was young, very young. She got married to my father because he was king. She was a princess of a small kingdom, smaller than mine. Her father had died and she was his only child. So, my father married her and her kingdom as her dowry to him. For the initial years, he was very polite to her, but soon after he changed. He married other women and stopped visiting her more often. She, on the other hand, was devastated. She had started accepting him. But he left her. And between all this pain, she found out she was expecting. Many women tried several ways to kill the baby before being born but Kanha had other plans.

I sometimes wish that they had been successful for I am just a burden, nothing more, nothing less. But I was born, and my mother was elated. She had a child to depend on now. She would tell me that I would one day change her destiny and I believed in all this. But one day when I was reading a book in the garden, my father came running to me and asked me to marry Shehenshah. I agreed. For how could I not? He was my father, and he needed me.

But after that day, Maasaa broke all ties with me. She thought I chose Bapusa over her, and over our destiny. I tried explaining but she wouldn't understand. And so, I was wed off. When I first came to Agra, everything and everyone was new here. I had no one to depend on. I found solace in reading books and taking a stroll by the verandah, so much so, people started calling me the mad begum. And eventually, I started having feelings for Shehenshah. I was so happy the last some days, with you and Shehenshah by my side, at my aid, that I had forgotten it was all a dream. Shehenshah gave me so much happiness and I could not give him anything, not even a child. I can never bring good fortune, for I am a kalank, and I truly believe so. I want to keep you and Shehenshah out of my dirty shadow and presence.

Ruqqayah's hands trembled as she read the letter. How could Jodha do this? Why did she do this? She could have informed her and they would have talked about this. Even she had problems with Jalal, that did not mean she would leave everything and go away. Running away was not a solution, truly.

But for a woman like Jodha, who had recently lost everything, nothing made sense. She was out of her sane mind and leaving her alone at this moment was utterly foolish. She had to do something. She could not waste any more time. She had to leave with Jalal. She got up and wiped away her tears. She couldn't waste time by simply crying. She was an empress, Malika e Khaas. Surely her powers would be of some use now.

Jalal was getting ready to leave by tomorrow when Ruqqayah walked into his room, unannounced. She rarely did this, only when she was extremely angry with him.

"Ruqqayah, I am not in the mood to deal with your mood swings."

"I will go with you." He was stunned. What did he hear? Ruqqayah wants to go with him in search of Jodha?

"It is not a lavish trip I am going to."

"You are going to find your runaway begum and I am aware of it. She means something to me too and I am coming along with you."

"You don't understand. I have no idea where she might be. She is not in Amber, and you don't know how long this might take. It will be difficult."

"She..." Ruqqayah sobbed but controlled her overpowering emotions and then continued, "She is my friend, and she needs us. So, I am coming. I don't care if I have to sleep on mud every day to find her, or fetch water and eat grass, but I will find her. She was broken, very heartbroken when I last saw her. She was demeaning herself for not being able to give you an heir, and I do not want that anymore. I am ready for any challenge destiny may throw our way...but I will go with you."

When did Ruqqayah mature so much? She would never sacrifice her needs, her comfort, her lavish lifestyle for anyone, not even Hamida. When did all this happen, wondered Jalal? She was ready to give up so much to find Jodha. They must have a great bond, he thought.

"But you don't believe in destiny, Malika e Khaas."

"Jodha does." She shed a tear and that wiped it away.

He moved a step closer to her as he touched her damp face. "We will go together."