It was time for Havan; everyone was running around for a function's preparation. Many relatives were invited. Arrangements were nearly like a marriage. Jalal got ready and came to the hall where Havan was organized. Dadisa (Jodha's Grandmother) welcomed Jalal and blessed him.

Jodha entered the hall; she was dressed in an exquisite pure slike white and green lehengas and crimson red rich colored dupatta with heavily embroideries of Kundan crystal stones and real gold Zardozi work. Large neckpieces and earrings and a large nose ring were used to adorn her flawless beauty. Even though she was a Mughal queen, but her root was deeply embedded in the Rajput culture. Jodha covered her head with a brocade dupatta. Everyone's eyes got glued on her, seeing her dazzling beauty.

Jalal completely got mesmerized by enchanting beauty. She was blushing faintly; her hazel eyes shyly dropped, which captivated not only Jalal but everyone around. In Agra, she occasionally got dressed, but not like this. In white color, she was looking more divine and pure. Green and red were blending impeccably on her fair skin. Jodha bashfully watched around, and unknowingly her eyes were probing for Jalal. Finally, scanning through the entire area, her eyes caught at Jalal beheld at her without a blink. He tenderly smiled to compliment her beautiful dress-up.

His constant passionate gaze made her nervous and shy. To mask her excitement, she gave him a fake angry stare. Jalal smirked, seeing her antic act.

The Priest announced that it was time for Havan. Both walked together towards the Havan mandap. Jalal seized a chance and held her hand softly while walking. They settle opposite Havan Kund, sitting beside each other. The Priest began the prayer with Lord Ganesh Mantra. Jalal followed as per pandit's (Priest's) instruction; both of them repeated the Mantras.

Pandit gave sindoor thal to Jalal and told him to fill Jodha's Maang. Both Jodha and Jalal looked at each other with an intense gaze and deep sorrow. Jalal didn't want to take advantage and fill her maang without her permission. So he waited for Jodha's eyes to mellow down and permitted him to fill her maang.

Jodha lowered her eyes and bent slightly towards Jalal, approving to follow the ritual. Jalal took a pinch of sindoor and filled Jodha's maang with pure love and promise. Jodha lifts her eyes slowly; tears pierced out from her innocent eyes. All of her bitter memories evoked in a second, but her heart softened slightly when she saw his hazy, moist eyes, and guilt on his face. Jalal looked at her with remorse; then, he wiped her tears from her face with a gentle touch. In a low tone, he muttered in her ears, "Jodha, I promise I will never hurt you again, please forgive me."

Jodha beheld at him blankly for a few seconds.

As per Priest's instruction, Jalal forwarded his hand towards Jodha. With hesitation, she advanced her hand towards him. Jalal promptly took a grip of her hand tight with a smile; he whispered in her ears, "Jodha, I will never let this hand go away from me again." Jodha was still not ready to accept him wholeheartedly. She bitterly stared at him, then Priest poured some water in their hands and instructed them to dispense water in Havan Kund after the mantra is finished.

Seeing her miserable, he put his other hand on top of Jodha's hand and began to tickle. Jodha looked at him with an irritated stare. He continued tickling her; finally, she began smiling with a little blush. Mantra finished, and they poured water in the Havan. They both retook wedding vows. Havan ended peacefully. Both took blessings from the elderly.

After the prayer, Jalal informed King Bharmal that they would leave tomorrow morning.

Jodha instantly said in-between, "Yes, of course, Shahenshah has lots of things to catch up, he can surely leave, but I would like to stay here for some more time."

***

Jalal gave her an unpleasant gaze while responding, "But Jodha, as per the custom, I have to take you back to Agra, and that is why I am here; you can always come back to Amer a few days later."

Bharmal immediately agreed with Jalal, but he requested to stay two more days to attend the festival Holi.

Jalal respectfully agreed and said, "I will stay here for two more days since queen Jodha also wants to stay here a little longer; I have no problem."

After Havan, Jalal did not miss any opportunity to pursue Jodha. Still, instead of mellowing towards him, she repeatedly said the same sentence again and again, "Go back to Agra... Leave Amer..." she was completely rude and negligent toward him. Jalal silently gulped her audacious and impudent behavior. He recognized that she needed to vent her anger out, so he decided that he would keep his calm and control his anger no matter what happens.

It was almost dinner time. The entire family got to gather at the dining bench. Jodha and Jalal both sat next to each other. Ameri food was served in a traditional Rajvanshi style. Jodha quietly began to eat. Seeing her too quiet to tease her, Jalal, in front of everyone, offered to feed her a sweet, but Jodha moved her face away from him with an angry look. Jalal kept on insisting and but didn't move her head towards him. Finally, when Dadisa told Jodha not to be too shy, she gave up and took a bite of the sweet, and Jalal, with his charming grin, ate the rest. By every minute, Jodha was getting more and more annoyed with the feeling of being trapped.

Queen Mainavati instructed Moti and Reva to decorate Jodha's room with lots of candles and flowers.

After dinner, everyone gathered in the main hall and just chit-chatting and play games.

Jalal wanted to spend some alone time with Jodha, so he pretended that he was feeling too tired, and while yawning, said, "He would like to rest."

"Sure, Shahenshah, you can go to sleep. Sukanya and I are going to play chess for the entire night, and then I will sleep with her." Jodha instantly replied.

Sukanya replied resignedly with a deep sigh, "But Jiji, I am too tired to play, I also want to sleep, and the whole day I was running around doing stuff for your function; I am done for the day." She pouted.

Jalal smirk at Sukanya with an appreciative look.

"I am not too tired; we can play chopat queen Jodha if you want," Jalal asked in a caring tone while looking at her mischievously.

Queen Mainavati understood the situation; she directed everyone, "Today was a long, and It's about time everyone should go to sleep." then, in an instructive tone, she told Jodha, "Take Jamaisa to your chamber."

"Yes, Masa." With an upsetting gaze, Jodha frowned and replied

They were walking in complete silence. Jalal was observing her upset face.

Jodha unlocked her chamber door and was shocked seeing all the decoration in her room, there were lots of candles burning, and her bed was decorated with beautiful flowers.

Jalal teasingly queried, "Oh...Nice... Queen Jodha, do you sleep like this every night? You are so romantic."

She looked at him with frustration; then she screamed, "Moti...Reva..."

They came to her chamber running and inquired: "What happened, Queen Jodha?"

"Who did all this?" Jodha pointed her fingers towards her bed and asked in an angry tone.

"Ranisa instructed us to decorate your room," Moti replied dimly.

Jalal smiled at Moti and Reva and thanked them for the beautiful decoration. They left with a smile.

Jalal closed the door behind them.

"There is no need to close the door." Jodha tetchily said

"You don't trust me?" Jalal asked.

"Yes, I don't have trust in you, and why do you need to spend time with a whore, Shahenshah?"Jodha bitterly spat.

Jalal shouted, "Enough, Jodha! I don't want to hear this word again."

"Why not... you called me a whore... then why do you feel ashamed now. I will say it again "Whore" what will you do? Slap me again? Hurt me? Push me? Drag me?" Jodha ironically said.

Jalal realized she was not ready to discuss anything normally. she got stuck on the word whore. "Listen to me, Jodha; I am regretful for what happened, but please don't use that word again and again. And if you don't stop, you know what I will do. Every time you use this word, I will kiss you, on your lips, I will do it even against your wish." He responded to her retorts.

"Don't even dare to touch me. You can't force yourself on me, and if you do, I will kill myself; you know that no one loves you because you are a disgusting monster, a cruel, heartless killer, not only that you are a devil and a ruthless person. I am so ashamed that you are my husband; I hate and curse myself because destiny has put your name on my forehead. I hate you. I will never forgive you." She shouted with furious rage

Her hurtful anger shook him to his core; with regret and ache, he said in a thick tone, "I am your husband Jodha, I have asked for your forgiveness many times. I am truly regretful for what happened. I had also suffered the entire month when my anger came down; I realized that you couldn't do this, so I inquired about the truth," he paused briefly and scanned her face; when he saw no reactions to his words, he lost his control.

He continued with a loud and clear tone, "Do you know Jodha; your ego is too big. I admitted that I made a mistake. I even bowed down with folded hands. You saw my painful tears; still, you have not understood my repent but do you even realize why all these things happened? You will never admit your mistake. Why did you go out of the palace without my permission? You know very well, none of the queens was allowed to leave the place without appropriate approval. Let's forget that. You said I didn't trust you, but what about you; you even didn't trust me. Why did you think that I wouldn't consent you to meet your brother Sujamal? You ever thought it was more hurtful to me than anyone. In my life, only one woman I trusted, and that was you" His face transformed from calm to one of anger like a flash of lightning. After a mere pause, he roared loudest, "Yes! I am a heartless, ruthless, devil, monster person, and I am also ashamed of myself. I know, I don't deserve you. I am the worst husband any woman can get; tell me what will give you peace. Do you want to punish me? Do you want to kill me then kill me once, but stop killing me with your words and disgusted look towards me? I can't take your hatred anymore; your words suffocate me and give me unbearable pain." Jalal's eyes were filled with tears.

Complete silence in the room.

Jodha was shaken hearing Jalal's retort and pain, in anger; she realized that she crossed the limit and hurt him with the low tone she replied, "Shahenshah, I agreed that it was my mistake too, I should have informed you in advance, but that doesn't mean what you did, is forgivable. I have told you before that marriage means trust and faith in each other, and you have completely failed in that. I have cried the entire month thinking that you think so low for me. Your words haunted me every day and night. Even I didn't get one night's peaceful sleep. You crossed every line when you accused my character."

Jalal closed his eyes to bear the pain.

After a few seconds, Jodha's tone changed to informative but serious," Shahenshah, I would like to inform you something significant; this was a conspiracy to break us apart."

Jalal instantly opened his eyes and looked at Jodha anxiously.

Jodha continued, "Sujamal bhaisa never wrote any letter asking to meet him at the Jungle cottage and also in the letter it was mentioned that not to inform anyone and see me secretly. He did send me a letter to bless us for our marriage, but not to meet. Also, Bhaisa received a letter from me, which I never wrote."

He rolled his hand through his hair. With an alarming tone, he probed, "What are you saying, Jodha? It was a conspiracy?"

Jodha miserably answered, "Yes! It was; someone knew that I was going to the Jungle. There was no one at the checkpoint; I realized after all this happened. It was part of their plan to let me out easily from the palace." Then, with a cross-question, Jodha enquired, "Shahenshah, how did you come to know that I am out of the palace?"

Without responding to the question, he asked, "Who gave you this letter?"

Jodha responded casually, "Badi Ammi."

Jalal asked, "Jodha, did you have any conversation with Moti that you would meet Sujamal?

Jodha replied, "Yes! I did say to Moti that I am going to see Sujamal bhaisa."

Jalal asked her again to verify, "Jodha, Are you sure you mentioned 'Sujamal bhaisa (brother)'?"

Jodha replied, "Yes, very sure! I did mention Sujamal Bhaisa."

Jalal's expression changed. He was shocked by his conclusion, but he was not entirely sure, so he kept quiet.

Jodha asked him again, "Shahenshah, when I left, you were sleeping peacefully, then how did you find out that I was in the Jungle? Who informed you? I am sure that person is probably the culprit."

Jalal screamed angrily, "Jodha" immediately he realized and controlled his anger, and in a gentle tone, he assured, "Jodha, I will find out the truth, you don't worry."

Jodha, with resentment, countered, "I have a right to know; whoever did this conspiracy has humiliated me and ruined my reputation."

Jalal controlled his fury while replying, "Queen Jodha; I will find out the truth. Once I made the mistake of taking a hasty decision and blamed you for no reason." before he completed his sentence, Jodha sarcastically said, "and called me a whore and slapped me too."

Jalal smirked at the opportunity; he said, "Queen Jodha, I warned you every time you use this word, I will kiss..." before he finished the sentence, Jodha realized and swiftly got up from the couch with an alarming look and ran towards the window.

Jalal went near the window and pulled her closer, and grabbed her from her waist. Jodha angrily said, "Shahenshah, please leave me."

Jalal pinned her to the wall.

Jodha closed her eyes and moved her face away from him. Jalal cupped her face with his hands with a firm grip. Jodha's eyes were still closed, and her stubborn anger towards him was visible. Jalal, in a requested tone, "Jodha, please look at me once."

Jodha didn't respond to his request. She stubbornly kept her eyes closed. In a regretting tone, Jalal once again spoke, "Please, Jodha, you are killing me with your dislike; I am enough wounded, I don't have any more strength to face your hatred. Please forgive me." His voice was filled with deep guilt and remorse. His painful sound touched her soul. She slowly opened her eyes. They looked at each other with intense pain and pure love.

Jalal repeated insistingly, "Jodha, please forgive me. Your words hurt to my core; I will die if you don't forgive me." His intense remorse melted her stubborn heart, and she broke into tears. She cried out loud. Jalal encircled his arms and embraced in his strong grip.

Jodha hugged him back and said, "You have hurt me too extreme; never do this again; otherwise, I will kill you and myself."

Jalal contently smiled and said, "How can I dare that my Junglee Billi" he squeezed her with his firm grasp and assured, "Jodha, I will never let you go away from me again."

"But I am sure one day your anger will make apart us forever. When you are angry, you lose control of your senses. You forget everything." She got apart from his cuddle and stated in a complaining tone.

"Jodha, I know when I am angry, I lose my control, but truthfully, I lose my temper when it comes to you. In court, In all political matters, no matter how sensitive the issue is, I manage to control my anger, but I don't know why I can't control when you are involved. I even don't know why, but I expect a lot more from you, even more than Rukaiya. But I promise you; I will never let you go away from me again." Once again, he pulled her towards, encircled his arms towards her small waist, and took her in a tight embrace.

Now there was no room for any words. Soon they lost in each other; In silence, both of them got melted in each other's warmth, their compressed breathing was audible to each other, this passionate cuddle was washing their subterranean pain away.

She hugged him fervently; she wanted his warmth and care for long. Even in her anger, she craved him; his hands were roaming around all over her body; she shyly broke the embrace and ran away to the other corner with a lenient but playful beam. She felt extremely nervous about his closeness and blushed heavily. Jalal went near her and hugged her from the back.

Jodha whispered faintly, "JALAL..." She instantly realized in nervousness, by mistake, she called him by his name. "Let.. me.. go.. please." She completed the sentence in a shivering tone

Jalal also got surprised to hear his name for the first time from her mouth. He turned her quickly towards facing him, "Tell me how I can let you go." In a dim tone, he sensually crooned in her ears.

Hearing his passionate, romantic whisper, she felt goosebumps all over. Her eyes were still close; she was feeling timid. Her cheeks turned red.

Seeing her shivering lips and blushed cheeks, he felt like kissing her lips until she ran of breath, but he wasn't too sure how she will react.

"Jodha, you have called me the first time by my name, and I loved it. It felt like my name became precious today." He whispered sensually in her ear, then softly nibble on her cheeks. "Jodha, look at me; I want to read in your beautiful eyes what do you feel for me." He softly lifted her chin and whispered again in an insisting tone

Jodha slowly opened her eyes and looked at him with love. Jalal inhaled deeply with a desperate sigh, "Jodha, you are looking so beautiful; this white and crimson red dress is making you more beautiful." He softly mumbled while kissing on her forehead, then swiftly he carried her in his arms and put her on the bed before Jalal could make his next move; Jodha stopped him and said, "Shahenshah, I need some more time. Please forgive me, but so much has happened in the past month; my heart is still not ready to go further."

Jalal sat beside her and took her hand in his hand; then, he spoke calmly with a content look, "Jodha, I am feeling so relieved today. By giving me one more chance, you have given me so much happiness that I don't want anything more; I feel like you have put the soul back in my body. I am just happy that you are next to me and not angry with me. I don't want anything, and without you, my life is empty. Jodha, I feel like you have completed me today. I suddenly feel that my heart has begun to beat once again." He put a strand of her hair behind her ear and continued.

"Jodha, how can I explain what I have gone through? I have yearned for you so so much, which you cannot even envision. There was not a moment when I have not thought about you. The entire month, I felt like my life crashed down and coming to an end. I watched the sunset every day thinking about you. Even in my extreme anger, I wished you would come back home one day, and we will be together again. I don't know when, but you became the breath of my life."