This chapter is a year after the story ends, so it is set in the timelime before the epilogue.

"Get up, will you?"

"Umm, no. I am very comfortable here and I intend on spending my entire life here, cocooned on your lap."

"Seriously?" he asked her and she nodded with her puppy eyes. "That's not going to work on me."

"You and I both know it will."

He smirked while she played with her hair. "You know, you do that a lot when you blush. I have noticed."

"What do you mean? I am not blushing. It's been a year now since we have been married and you still expect me to blush?"

"Look at you, all defensive. You know I am saying the truth that is why you are this offended."

"Jalal, come on now!"

"Glad you call me by my name now. I was so fed up of you calling me Shehenshah all the freaking time."

She got up and placed a hand on his cheek lovingly as she spoke, "You truly are so different as a king and as a husband."

"I am totally different as a husband and as a lover too." She smiled a little. "Shehenshah...."

"What the hell? What is with that Shehenshah again?" he mocked but she simply laughed pinching him on his shoulder.

"I have something important to talk to you about."

"There you go! Always bring serious things in between when we are enjoying. Can't you do all that later, Malika e Hindustan?"

"It is not something serious and it will definitely lift your mood up. I know you enjoy festivities."

"Festivities? What other festival is coming now? Oh, are you planning on giving me another surprise?"

"No! It's not about us."

"Then it wouldn't be interesting."

"Look at you, behaving like a little child." She spoke slowly as she neared him to place a kiss on his cheeks, but he pulled her off guard, making her fall on the ground as he hovered on top of her.

"What...what are you..." but he cut her short by placing a soft kiss on the crook of her neck. Looking up, as he gazed at her beautiful face, she had closed her eyes shut, expecting more of his kisses. He leaned in closer as he placed a soft kiss on her forehead. "Oh, how did I get so lucky?" she slowly opened her eyes and he was staring at her, but with love-filled eyes.

"What happened, Shehenshah?"

"You still call me Shehenshah!"

"It depends on my mood."

"I think it depends on the situation."

"It's not like...."

"Let me tell you one thing...I would prefer being called Jalal by you in such situations." She couldn't stop smiling, her face turning beet red. He kissed her lips taking her by surprise.

~

"This is all still a shock to me," Jalal whispered as slow as possible. Jodha gave him a stern glance before turning around to decorate the room. "Why are you of all people doing this? We have attendees for it."

"Because you might not remember it, but when we got married, then it was Neela who prepared our bed for our first night."

"Well, it came to no use back then."

"The petals were crumbled the next morning she came to clean the tent, and she was so happy. She thought we had actually done it."

"Well, I didn't want people to make rumours so I kind of crumbled them."

"I remember. You thought I was asleep, but I actually saw you doing that."

"You...!"

"Malik e Hind, they are here."

Jodha nodded at the attendee. Then she turned around to Jalal and tagged him along with her as she exited the attendees' quarter.

"Jodha....

"Yeah...?"

"Why did you not inform me before about Neela and Rehman? I mean I never knew they would end up marrying."

"I tried to. Don't you remember how you shut me up?"

He acted like he was in deep thought, knowing fully well how and why he had distracted her. She pinched him and he broke into a laugh.

"Okay fine, I agree. I am sorry."

"Better."

"I couldn't help it. The day when you surprised me, I was taken aback and since then you have been so open to me, you have become irresistible."

"You and your drama." She turned around and he embraced her from the back. "This feels so good."

"What?"

"Just, you and me, and this moon. God, I am so thankful for having you."

"You are making me feel like a queen now."

"Well, you are one. What can I do about that?"

"I have become more open to you because I don't have that awkwardness around us anymore. I find you more as a friend, someone I am comfortable with and someone who will never judge me." She turned around and he kissed her forehead. "That was the best surprise someone ever gave me. Thank you, my Queen."

She bit her lip as a crimson colour spread across her face. "There you go, blushing again and making yourself irresistible." He said as he kissed her softly on her cheek and then her neck. She felt warm and happy with him.

~

"Jodha what are you doing, why are you in such a hurry?"

"Neela, let me get this straight. I am planning something for Jalal and I don't want anyone to know. You will have to help me."

"What will I get in return?"

"Umm....I will talk to Shehenshah about you and Rehman."

"You will?"

"Of course. I want you to get married as soon as possible. Once you do, you will stop irritating me all the time and I will be left free so I will spend all my time in Shehenshah's chambers." The last line spilled out of her mouth before she could stop herself and Neela broke out into a laugh, leaving Jodha all embarrassed.

"Shut up, stop laughing."

"Okayyyhhh!!"

"Stop it."

"Okay fine. But what are you planning?"

Jodha smiled mischievously and Neela got a hint, as it was only once before she had smiled this way.

"Can I open my eyes now, Begum?"

"Why are you so impatient?"

"I am doubting you may kill me."

She pushed him and he was stranded but she opened the cloth around his eyes at that moment and he gave her a death glare before running after her.

"Jalal, seriously I am sorry. I have a gift for you." She pleaded but to no avail as he pulled her closer and before they knew they both slipped because of the wet mud, which got on them pretty much as well.

"Gosh, why the hell does it have to rain in winter!" Jalal shouted irritatingly.

"You are so cranky." He looked at her for a moment. "You invited this."

"Whatt...?" he couldn't let her complete as he got mud in his hands and applied it all over her body. She fought back too, applying some on him. After they were done, with what seemed like an eternity, they broke into a laugh. They laughed their lungs out that day.

"Shehenshah, you are really..."

"What..?" he laughed and then got up, brushing off the dust from him as he helped her get up. Due to the wet mud, she almost fell on him and he smirked. "Well, I guess, god has a reason behind everything." He said as he almost ate her mouth, but she leaned back just in time.

"Stop! I didn't come here today for this. I have to show you something."

"What now...?" she took his hand in hers as he led the way. "Here." She pointed to a cottage and as he neared it, he saw a placard outside it which read Jodha and Jalal's. He looked at her dumbfounded as he walked in. There was a small divan and a bed, along with some kitchenware.

"Whenever you are too worked up with state's duty or anything, we will just come here and spend time, okay?" he looked at her, at a loss of words. The woman left him dumbfounded every time. While others would gift him expensive jewels, she was the one who truly read his heart.

"Did you not like it?"

He looked at her again as he pulled her closer and hugged her. "I am at a loss of words, woman. This is the best present someone ever gave me. Are you seriously kidding me? Not like it? I freaking love it."

"If you hadn't dirtied us, we would have slept here today." He broke the hug to pass her a wicked smile before sliding his hand inside her ghagra. "Jalal..."

"I like it better this way. Perhaps we can take a bath in the nearby river and I can give you a little punishment for questioning your taste?"

She nodded as she clutched hard on his robe. Her mouth couldn't form words anymore.

~

"Shall we go inside then, and celebrate today night?" Jalal asked Jodha.

"As if I am ever able to say no to this." He smiled and followed her inside. As she stepped inside, the cottage was scented with candles and decorated with rose petals.

"Who did this...?" she looked at Jalal dumbfoundedly.

"Well, umm..did I not tell you Malika e Hindustan?"

"What, Badshah e Hindustan?"

"That I am quite a decorator myself, you see." He said and then turned around to pick a book from the table stand as he offered her that.

"What is this?"

"Our anniversary present. You really didn't think that I would give you nothing?"

"Well, um..."

"Open it." He said excitedly and as she did her eyes widened. "Isn't there only one copy of this book available?"

"Not in Jalal Uddin Muhammad's library, you see." She smiled and hugged him. He was taken aback but embraced her back.