Eyes filled with kohl, arms with bangles, and anklets on both her ankles, she looked divine. Looking up in the mirror, as her reflection dawned and her wet hair shone with the sun's bright light peering through the shattered window, she dressed for the event. It was Sona's wedding and as her sister, she would have to look at least presentable.

Days of pent-up frustration and crying had made her eyes swollen and face puffy. Did he actually mean what he said? But why should she care? He never cared for her when she said she loved him. No, she did the right thing. He deserves the same amount of pain he made her go through. Though her family made him stay here, she would not even spare him a glance, let alone talk to him. Looking at herself one last time in the mirror, Jodha confidently put her veil in place as she strode out of the room.

"Hakim sahib!!" Jalal shouted at the top of his lungs and the hakim came running to where the emperor was. "Ji Huzoor?"

"She opened her eyes."

"Let me check!" the old man along with some of his attendees ran inside the room to check on the empress. Jalal stood beside the man as he examined Jodha whose eyes were partly open. She couldn't move and her lips trembled.

The hakim smiled and patted Jodha's head. "Shehenshah, Begum Sahiba is safe."

As though he was given a second life or saved from dying, Jalal's expressions were really those of one madly in love. He took out one of his most expensive rings, made of ruby and handed it to the hakim.

"I am forever in debt to you, Baba!" The old man simply smiled. "She is very weak now. She needs proper care and attention and lots of nutrients, and no travelling for a few days. Take care of her, Shehenshah!"

"I sure will!"

Meanwhile, news travelled to everyone that Jodha was out of danger now and people were all happy, for their Shehenshah, their Malika. Ruqqayah was still asleep. She had not had proper rest for a while now and no one woke her up. They had seen her staying awake all night for Jodha, and they wanted their empress to rest well before departing for Agra.

Jodha, who was still weak was helped by the attendees in taking bath, changing clothes, eating food and so on. Jalal made sure everything reached her even before she asked for it. He wanted her to get back to normal as soon as possible.

A few days later, Ruqqayah had fallen sick and she was getting treated, but she was happy to know that Jodha was well now, and would meet her once she recovered. Jalal was wanting to have some alone time with Jodha and he couldn't get a better chance than today. He had to face her, her wrath, everything she would say, but she would agree to come with him in the end, and it was all that mattered.

Jodha had been recovering and had gained back some weight, she looked better, but still couldn't get up without an attendee's support.

She was sitting on the divan, her attendees arranging her bed and clothes, and one of them was combing her hair. It was then that Jalal decided to visit her. She did not notice him as he stood there. He eyed the attendees to leave and they all did. Jodha was too into her thoughts that she didn't notice when he arrived or when the people around her left.

He stood there as he wished she would look up at him, or even acknowledge his presence, but she didn't. He then cleared his throat. She looked up at him and as their eyes met, he froze. He was scared for the second time in his life because of the same woman. She didn't say anything as she looked at him but she didn't remove her gaze from him either. He took small steps towards her and when he reached a close distance, he kneeled down in front of her. She kept looking at him.

"How have you been, Jodha?" he asked slowly and the way his mouth spelt her name, her heart started beating madly and all she wanted to do at that instance was hug him and never let go, but she didn't. For she was not the old Jodha anymore, and time had taught her how to control her emotions. Her gaze dropped, as he asked the question and she felt his hand brushing through her cheek. She looked up at him, guilt was evident in his eyes, but that didn't mean he was forgiven. Her tears gave her away, and he looked at her worriedly.

"Jodha, my dear, I am sorry, so sorry! Please don't cry, it burns my heart to see you in this condition."

She didn't say anything. He sighed and then looked at her hands. And then her feet. Oh, how badly did he crave to see her, to express what he felt for her, to make love to her. He controlled his tears as he took her small hands in his rather big ones. She looked at him, surprised at this behaviour.

He kissed both of her hands one by one. She didn't say anything. He placed them back on her lap and then leaned forward cupping her face into his hands as he kissed her forehead. Another tear escaped her eyes, and he brushed it away, his fingers slowly trailing down to her lips. She looked up at him as he leaned towards her, his face inches away from hers such that she could now smell his breath on her face. Slowly he took her lips in his, crushing her soul. He kissed her after what seemed like an eternity and no matter how much she missed his touch and never wanted this moment to end, she had to, but perhaps after one moment of weakness.

Her hands clutched onto her ghagra as she kissed him back. Her acknowledgement encouraged him as he delved deeper into her mouth, his tongue playing with hers. Memories of her beautiful past, of their times, together started playing in her head, as she too deepened the kiss. But then the day when he mistreated her, flashed right before her face and she realised it was now or never, that she had to fight for herself, and not give up.

Leaning back, she let go of him, breaking the kiss in between. He looked at her, clearly embarrassed. He didn't want to force her, but the look on her face said he did. He raised his palm to calm her down, as he placed it on her shoulder, but she shoved it away, as she stood up, failing miserably as her legs kept giving up. He tried to support her, but she denied it and stood instead with the help of a stool placed neared by.

"Jodha....!"

"Don't...don't you dare come near me."

"What...what do you mean....?"

"Just stay away from me."

"I know I have wronged you....and you have every right to be sad but..."

"JUST SHUT UP, WILL YOU?!" She shouted and he looked at her, bewildered. She had never before raised her voice at him. He was surprised would be an understatement, but then again, he was in the wrong here, so he had to apologise to her. Clearing his throat, he stepped forward, but she raised her hand gesturing him to stop.

"Stop right there. I don't know what you are thinking, but let me stop you there. There is no your Jodha anymore. You lost that right the day you accused her of being careless enough to lose her child. Just because I have a womb, I don't owe you a child!!"

He didn't say anything. Just kept standing there.

"What did you think, huh? That you will humiliate me and then apologise and I will come back with you to that shit place where you treated me like shit? Well let me tell you one thing today, Shehenshah Jalal, it is not that easy and the world doesn't revolve around you! Just because I loved you and forgave the way you treated me every time doesn't mean you get a free pass this time too."

"I am sorry for treating you that way Jodha...I really am...believe me...the day you left I realised what you mean for me but....I never treated you in a bad way prior to that event, so just...."

"SHUT UP. AFTER EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE, YOU BETTER SHUT UP."

Jalal looked at her as he clenched his jaw. Nobody, not even Ruqqayah talked to him like this. It was not easy for him to control himself, but he did, for her. He loved her and nothing mattered more to him than her. He would try everything it would take to save this relationship, even if it meant losing a little dignity.

~

A few days had passed since Jodha's outburst at Jalal. She didn't want to see his face. The audacity of the man, she thought to herself when she was taking a bath.

He had angered her in ways no one ever did. And then he kissed her. How dare he? She had been too weak to even be angered at him since she first left Agra but now after gaining some strength, she had decided to not forgive him. Her anger was at its peak now. Ruqqayah was the only one who had been for her when she needed someone but she had to leave for Agra. Her aunt, Gulbadan was not keeping well and she wanted to meet Ruqqayah. Plus, all the exhaustion also took a toll on her so she decided to return back home. Jodha had recovered by now and could take care of herself. Jodha couldn't meet her however before she left. The hakim had advised Jodha not to travel for a few days, and so she remained behind. In any case, she would not return to Agra so soon.

When her attendees dressed her and she stepped out of the bath, a letter arrived for her.

~

Jalal had been contemplating ways to get Jodha back, to make it up to her. Since the day she shouted at him and threw him out of her tent, he had not had the courage to talk to her again and then Ruqqayah left at the most crucial moment. He wanted her to stay, to act as a shield for him, but that was not happening. He had to fight for himself. He sighed as he recalled his conversation with Ruqqayah before she left for Agra.

"Shehenshah...I am leaving."

"But....why now? Are you alright? You must be exhausted, but you can be treated here."

"Not because of that. My aunt is visiting and she is sick. Also, Ammijaan is all alone, so I must leave."

"Ruqqayah...I..." words failed to reach his mouth as he tried to apologise for his wrongdoings.

"I am here, Jalal. You have wronged Jodha in a far worse way. Bring her back and then come apologise to me, I will forgive you. I am always here for you, so don't worry." He looked at Ruqqayah dumbfoundedly. How and when did she become so patient and mature. He simply nodded and she smiled before she left.

~

"What happened kunwarisaa?" An attendee asked Jodha as she looked at the letter and re-read it multiple times. She couldn't believe it at first. Was all this a joke or was Bhagwan Das serious?

"I am fine. Go fetch me some water." Jodha said slowly and the attendee left. Life was not too harsh after all. This was the perfect thing for her. She would not go to Amber because of her mother but because of her sister's wedding and then she would stay away from Jalal. He is king after all and cannot stay for too long in Amber. She sighed with relief at the thought of not living with him. She did not even want to see his face. She smiled as she rolled the letter and tied it back.

~

Bhagwan Das had set out for Ajmer, from where he would accompany Jalal and Jodha to Amber. Jodha had agreed to come and so had Jalal but as a brother, he knew Jodha would want some time away from Jalal so he decided to meet them at Ajmer, halfway through their journey and then go to Amber together.

Jalal meanwhile tried every method to break the ice, but Jodha never responded to him. She ignored him like he didn't even exist. At times he would get angry but he would still control himself. Nothing mattered more than her. But there was a limit to which Shehenshah could tolerate all this and it would break soon.

As they reached Amber, Rani Champavati and Raja Bharmal were waiting for their arrival. Welcoming them, they showed them the way inside although they had already been here once. When Champavati tried to do the aarti, Phulvati intervened again and as Champavati looked at Jodha for her support, Jodha looked away. She would not interfere again for a woman who didn't even care whether she lived or died. Phulvati snatched the thaal from her as she welcomed Jodha and Jalal.

After the aarti, as Bharmal was welcoming Jalal, Jodha excused herself to her room. She didn't want to talk to anyone present here other than her sister. But she was tired too, so she decided to rest.

~

"Kunwarisaa, Sona Jiji has sent this for you." Jodha was sitting in her room when the attendee gave her the lehenga set.

"What is this?"

"This is specially designed by Sona Jiji and she wants you to wear this in the Mehendi ceremony."

Jodha nodded and asked the maid to keep it on the table and leave. She had been staying for the past some days in Sona's room for many reasons. As she was in her maikaa, she had to share a room with Jalal and it was the last thing she wanted. Also, since her sister would be married soon, she wanted to spend most of her time with Sona. But today was the Mehendi ceremony, and it was a custom at their house for the bride to sleep in her room all alone a day before haldi and then the wedding. Jodha had not decided how to escape this night and was thinking to do something when the maid arrived.

She had been fake laughing and smiling all this while. She was happy for her sister but she was not very happy as she was sad. Behind all her anger was the sadness.

She found it difficult to pretend to be happy when in reality she was everything but happy. Jalal had taken her soul out of her body. She was in so much pain because she loved him so much. And today, she had to spend the night with him. There was nothing she could do about it.

She did not want others to gossip about her. She wanted everything normal and the best for Sona, so she could not ask for a separate room. All these days, Champavati never bothered to talk to her which was fine by her. She had come to terms with reality now. She was not the naïve Jodha she once had been. On the other hand, Champavati kept trying to gain enough courage to break the ice, but she just couldn't. She was scared Jodha might not ever forgive her after what she did.

Getting up from her bed, she looked at the lehenga set as she carried it in her arms. It was a dark brown-dark golden combination. It was beautiful in every sense. And it would look more beautiful when she would wear it.