The hall was bustling with people and attendees. Raja Bharmal had invited a shitload of people for Sona's wedding, all of whom were not able to attend Jodha's since it was conducted in Sambhar and also because it was performed within a short notice's time.

Although many people had broken ties with Bharmal after Jodha's wedding to Jalal, he made many new Mughal friends too who were invited here in Amber today. Sona was sitting behind the purdah, her Mehendi almost done and a group of girls were dancing. All the females were on one side of the purdah and all the males on the other side. Jalal had not seen Jodha in a long while and he knew she was intentionally ignoring him but when you are in the wrong you usually don't get to express your views. He was sitting with a couple of the men from the groom's side and Bhagwan Das when Jodha entered the hall.

"Attention, Her Majesty, Malika e Hindustan Jodha Bai is arriving!" Most of the Rajput guests, who had not broken ties with Amber and had known that the Amber princess was now Empress of Hindustan, turned around to see her coming. They were all excited to see how much she had changed. Some were excited to see how she looked, as they had not seen her before. Amongst them was a man who had waited desperately for her arrival and once she arrived, his gaze never left her. She looked majestic in her brown-golden attire, kohl-filled eyes, and slender figure. Her wet hair in a loose bun made her look more attractive. She had not veiled her face, as it was not their custom, and it was her sister's wedding so she wanted to enjoy it properly. Jalal couldn't take his eyes off her, and her gaze directly locked with him as she walked inside.

"Jiji, come here!" Sona broke the ice and Jodha smiled as she moved towards her. Jalal kept looking at her. When Bhagwan Das approached him, he looked away but instantly his eyes caught sight of the man who was literally drinking his wife with his sight. Anger rose inside him as he clenched his fists to control himself. Jodha, unaware of the man's presence or his sight on her, smile and laughed along with the other ladies as she got her hand covered in henna.

"Kunwari, do you want me to write someone's name in your Mehendi?" the girl who was applying mehendi on Jodha's hand asked. Before Jodha could say anything, Sona intervened.

"Of course. Write Jijasaa's name. Is that even a question?" Jodha looked at Sona, who simply smiled. She did not know what was happening so it was definitely not her mistake. "No Sona. I don't really like this idea."

"But why Jiji? Are you afraid someone might see your hands and then tease you?" she asked innocently, and Jodha nodded. She did not want to make a fuss out of things right now.

"If that is the problem, I can write his name somewhere else. Wherever you wish too." The girl suggested. "You can really do that?" Sona was excited now.

"Sure, just tell me where? Many women want to write their husband's name on their back or their nape so that no one other than their husband can see it!" Sona blushed as she looked at Jodha who looked at both of them in utter shock. "Jiji, let's get it done."

"What...?"

"Yes. You get Jijasaa's name and I will get my husband's name." Jodha wanted to protest but Sona simply demanded this as one of her weddings presents from Jodha and she was emotionally blackmailed. Finally, at Sona's urge, she agreed.

~

Jodha was walking in the empty corridor. The ceremony was not yet over but Sona had decided to sleep as she was tired and Jodha accompanied her to her room after which she left for her own. She too wanted to sleep.

"Jodha?" she stopped and turned around. There he stood, Vishnu. He was one of the groom's mutual friends. Wearing a light brown kurta and carrying the best smile he looked at her. Jodha couldn't believe it at first. Was it really him? But why was he invited?

"If you are wondering, why am I invited, then let me tell you it's not because Raja Bharmal invited me. I am the groom's friend." She looked at him, her confusion gone now as he approached her. "I hope you remember me."

"I do."

"Your father never really contacted me after breaking the engagement. I don't know why he did that. If things would have been alright, today you would be my wife other than Badshah Jalal's."

"Well, everything happens for a reason."

"Yeah sure. So, you are happy?"

Happy? Why was everyone emphasizing on happiness? "I am alright."

"He keeps you happy? That Badshah?"

"Don't talk about him in that way."

"Oh, I am sorry. I did not mean it that way."

"It's okay. I should leave now." She turned around to leave. Had it been someone else she would definitely ask about his well-being but Vishnu always creeped her out.

"You won't even ask me how am I?" he asked and she turned around with a fake smile. "How have you been?"

"Not great. I miss you. You look so beautiful. I just keep thinking I lost the most precious thing to that Mughal Badshah."

"Vishnu, I am really tired. I will talk to you later." She turned around to leave but he grabbed her arm, making her stop. He turned her around, and with his other hand caressed her face. "You are still so soft. So beautiful. You are making me crazy, love!" she freed her hand from him and stepped backwards. "Stay within your limits."

"I am sorry. I just cannot control myself when I see you. I promise not to do this again."

"It's okay. But don't repeat it. I am married now, and you should respect me as a friend."

He nodded as she left. But he would not give up so soon. He was obsessed with her, had been so since his engagement was broken and she was married to someone else. But he had heard rumours about how Jodha had left Agra and he was sure to make good use of this opportunity.

~

As she walked inside, the room was dark. The only source of light was the one coming from the moon. Jalal stood there, near the window, looking at the sky. A goblet was in his hand. Jodha decided not to acknowledge his presence as she simply untied her jewellery one by one. When she was done, she opened her hair and let it fall down. She looked in his direction, and as he was still looking at the sky, she stood up and closed the door of the room. It was dark and she was tired so she decided to change here instead of going to the changing room just next to the bedroom.

As she removed her dupatta, and kept it on the stool beside the mirror, and started untying her ghagra, she felt his arms wrap around her suddenly and she almost screamed. As she registered the fact that it was him, she relaxed but she was not okay. She didn't want to be close to him. But before she could do something, he simply breathed near her neck, as he kept his chin in the crook of her neck. It sent shivers down her spine as the hair on her nape stood up. His arms were around her waist, and her bareback.

"Jodha..." he inhaled sharply and she closed her eyes shut for anything to follow. She was tired of making him go away. She wanted him, craved his touch so bad, and the heat of the moment didn't make her ever so strong senses work properly. "I am sorry." He whispered slowly against her neck as a teardrop escaped his eye making its way down her neck to her cleavage. The only thing that she could register at that moment was that he was crying. And no matter how angry she was at him, her heart pained at the thought. She turned around, cupping his face in her hand as she looked at him. His face was now visible under the moonlight. He couldn't stand straight and it was then that she noticed that he was drunk.

"Shehenshah..." she whispered slowly wiping away his tears as he stood there, his arms around her waist. "Shh...call me Jalal. I am your Jalal." He spoke as he rested his chin again in the crook of her neck, putting all his weight on her. She stumbled a little but stood straight with the support of the divan. He smelled her hair and played with it as she wrapped her arms around her neck, allowing him this little favour, for he was drunk and won't remember most of it the next morning.

"Jodha....you were looking so beautiful today." He complimented her and she laugh-smiled. He was behaving like a little kid, playing with her hair, and making her laugh. "I did not like that man looking at you. You are....you are my Jodha.." he said slowly and she laughed again. "Yes, I am all yours. Don't worry I don't really like anyone other than you." She said reassuring him and he smiled. He started playing with the strings of her blouse then and she grew conscious. She had his name written on her back and if he would see it.....no, he couldn't. But she was a little late in reacting. He had already untied her strings as his hands travelled along her soft skin giving her an altogether new sensation. She clenched her thighs to control herself but all went in vain as his hand reached the string of her ghagra and before she could protest, he untied it, but she held the ghagra in its place just in time.

"Shehenshah...!" she looked at him asking him to stop. He stood in his place, as his fingers tugged her hair strands behind her ear and then trailed down as they brushed on her skin to her neck and down to her breasts. "I will never do anything you don't like, Begum." He whispered slowly as he tied her strings back. She kept looking at him as he leaned forward and with his arms around her waist carried her up and pressed her against the wall, one of his hands around her bare waist and the other squeezing her hip as she moaned in his mouth. He never let go of her lips that night, but never did more than that as he respected her and her will.

~

The next morning Jalal got up late because he was drunk and had slept late. As his eyes raked the entire scene in front of him, and he saw the sun had already risen up, he sighed before getting up. What had happened last night? He was having memories in parts but he couldn't actually recollect anything. Was Jodha here last night? Definitely not.

She had been ignoring him for a while now, what would she be doing here. But then, why did he feel like she had spent the night with him, close to him. He decided to take a bath to get rid of such confusing thoughts when his gaze fell on her dupatta lying on the divan. And he recalled that she came inside the room late when he was drinking. He turned around to look at her when she placed her dupatta there and was untying her ghagra, and that was it. He could not remember anything anymore.

"Shehenshah, kunwarisaa has sent this for you." A maid put a lemon drink on the table along with some fruits.

"Where is she?"

"She is practising right now. She has especially asked me to tell you that you must eat this." She said motioning at the fruits.

"What is she practising?"

"Fencing. She always does that when in Amber. It is one of her hobbies."

"Fencing? She knows how to fence?"

"Ji Shehenshah. Kunwarisaa is very well versed in it. No one, not even Yuvraj Bhagwan Das has been able to defeat her. The best part is, she learned it herself."

Jalal's expression changed as the maid narrated to him how good Jodha is with swords. And yet he never knew? He clearly never asked her much about Amber or even cared to talk to her. He decided to mend things as he asked the maid the direction of the place where Jodha was fencing.

~

Vishnu had especially gotten up early today. Grooming himself properly he decided to pay Jodha a visit. He had learnt from the attendees that she was fencing and his heart was beating like crazy to meet her. He strode towards the fencing ground as fast as possible. As he saw her slim and perfectly carved body moving, her hips swaying, her breasts jumping and her hair dancing along with her, all he could imagine was how she would feel when he would finally get her. How she would feel when he would be inside her. The thought itself was making him crazy as he stepped forward on the ground. He was about to take another step when the announcement of Jalal's arrival was made.

Vishnu hurried towards the pillar and he stood behind it. Jalal who just arrived was in his fencing attire and as he moved towards Jodha, she stopped. Because of her attire, only her eyes were visible, but with one look he could say that for the first time in many days, anger was not visible in those eyes. Instead, he felt as though today after what felt like ages, he found admiration in those eyes.

But before he could say anything, she stepped forward closing the distance between them as she approached him.

"Would you care for a round, Shehenshah?" she asked him and he smiled as he nodded. Slowly she took his hand in hers as she led the way, and he followed.

Vishnu stood there, cringing inwardly as he saw them. It should be him and not Jalal touching her, playing with her. But she chose him. Why? He was far better, then why? But he couldn't take this anymore. He came out of his hiding place as he walked towards the duo.