CHAPTER 17

"Shahenshah, did you hear the tapping sound of horse steps? Does it seem like it's headed towards us? "Jodha dreadfully slurred while stepping behind him; her face turned pale.

Jalal instantly pulled his sword out and got ready, and stiffened his back straight. He turned towards her; he could see the lines of worry crease her forehead. He assured her in a confident tone, "Don't worry, Jodha, when I am with you, you shouldn't worry about your safety; I can handle an entire army single-handed." By the time his sentence finished, they had viewed Abdul on the horse coming towards them. They both felt relieved and smiled.

Seeing Queen Jodha behind Jalal, holding his shoulder tightly, Abdul mischievously smirked at Jalal; his eyes were dancing with humor. He said in a bubbly tone, "Shahenshah, yours, and Queen Jodha's tent and dinner are ready."

A signature smile of mission accomplished smeared on his face. While looking at Jodha, Jalal replied, giving a hint, "Queen Jodha will stay in my tent tonight Abdul, plan accordingly."

"Sure!" Abdul looked at Jalal with a mysterious gaze, a cheerful smile curved his lips. His eyes sparkled with eagerness, "It will be arranged Shahenshah, but it is getting darker, and we are not much familiar with this region, so I request both of you for your safety that you should come back to the tent." Once again, Abdul beamed while looking at Jalal,

Jalal responded, approving, "I do agree with you, Abdul, we will come back in a little while, and I am aware that this area is very lonely; I will be cautious, but I would like to spend some alone time with my queen." He gave him a meaningful gaze and playfully simpered.

Abdul slightly nodded his head, then teasingly responded, "Hope you have a pleasant time, Shahenshah, see you soon." And left happily, Jalal could read in his eyes how content he was feeling seeing him pleased. The way Abdul and Jalal talked mysteriously, Jodha felt embarrassed and shy.

"Shahenshah, why did you said that you want to spend alone time with your Queen? What Abdul is going to think about us?" She whined while walking towards the big stone near the river.

"Oh... simple, he is going to think that we are going make love queen Jodha." He whispered in her ears, playfully.

"You are shameless." She pouted with a hint of blush on her face.

He smirked in jest while taking her hand in his.

"Queen Jodha, it is so pleasant and calm here" He sat on the golden sand, which was glowing in the last few rays of the sun, and drew her slightly to sit next to him. Both of them sat on the sand near the big rock next to each other while holding hands like two love birds. The soothing sound of water, chirping birds, and the peaceful wind was giving them serenity.

"I don't get enough time to enjoy the beauty of nature from my tiring routine." Jalal disappointedly mumbled while inhaling the freshness.

"Naturally, how can you spare time? You have so many queens to spend time with." Jodha sarcastically replied; sadness in her tone was evident of her jealousy.

He chuckled at her whiny tone. With a deep sighed out, he responded, "Jodha... I don't know what you have done to me; I love your jealousy too. Instead of getting irritated by your insecurity, I am enjoying the fear of losing me in your tone."

'Am I sounding that desperate that he is thinking I am envious? But I can't control my irritation and thinking; I logically assumed that he spends time with his other queens.'

"Why would I be jealous when I know for sure that you like me a lot? And, I don't want anything else, I even don't want any of your queens to know that you..." she stopped in between and felt nervous for admitting. Instantly, she moved her eyes from him to mask her emotion from him. She hugged her knees, embarrassedly.

"But I don't like you anymore, Jodha." He responded in a composed, impassive tone while glancing at her adoringly; he was enjoying her flushed and shy manner.

'Oh, he doesn't like me? What?' She swiftly turned her face towards him with shock and puzzled expression.

"I use to like you, but now I love you. I love you more than my life Jodha." He replied in a promising tone; a hint of amusement was playing on his lips.

Jodha lowered her eyes and shrunk herself once again, "Shahenshah, please don't stare at me like this; I don't know what is happening to me, but I am feeling weird." She slurred diffidently.

"Don't be self-conscious, "he whispered in her ear.

She grew silent and watched the horizon.

Jalal grinned, seeing her blushed, shy face; he lifted her face by putting his finger under her chin and then whispered, "Oh Jodha, Why are you blushing so much today?"

Jodha looked down again and got lost in thought...Why am I feeling so shy? His piercing gaze is raising my heartbeats. I feel curls in my stomach, and I can't control my flush. Oh God!!! How can I mask my emotions from him??

Why is she feeling suddenly so shy? Why am I feeling so conscious of approaching her? Usually, none of my Queen act this way. I have so much dream for her when she says yes... so wild... I don't think she will be too open or wild sensually.

Jodha took a deep sigh out then she moved a little bit far from him as her shoulder was touching his. Then to change this romantic conversation to a casual one, she mumbled dimly, "Shahenshah, Indeed, it is so beautiful and pleasing today."

"Hmmm... I agree, indeed beautiful... radiant... divine... angelic... charming... dazzling... so delicate," Jalal whispered seductively while gazing at her without a blink; then he moved a little closer to her.

Jodha's heartbeats began to beat even faster. She could sense all this admiration, and his piercing gaze was directed towards her instead of the Moon. She again slightly slid away from him and without looking at him. This time precisely, she pointed her finger towards the sky and said, "Look at that beautiful full Moon; see how beautifully it's mellow light. It seems like the entire river is glowing with the dim light of the Moon. The blue water looks so glossy."

Jalal was utterly lost in her charming beauty; when he didn't respond, she continued while gazing at the full Moon, "Do you know Shahenshah, there are lots of tales about full moon night. A full Moon has a lasting impact on human emotions. People tend to think with their sentiments on full moon night."

Instead of looking at the Moon, he was gazing at Jodha's glorious face without a blink. He replied with a mysterious smirk on his face, "Jodha, I can't explain in words how I am feeling at this moment; the feeling of my heart is so divine. The feeling of being with you is giving me the pleasure of being in heaven, and your beauty is making me crazy. You have done some magic on me. Well... I am not able to take my eyes off of you then how can I watch the scenery. I have also heard that on the night of full Moon, people go crazy, wild and mad, and I desire to go wild." The last sentence he whispered so low as if it wasn't stated for her to hear.

Jodha couldn't control herself after hearing his intense praise; she slowly turned her face and said in a low tone, "Shahenshah, don't look at me like this... You are making me crazy. Look there; the Moon is looking so beautiful among the shining stars."

"I am enchanted by your beauty. It is so difficult to keep myself away from you. I want to kiss every part of your body. I want to make love to you."

Jodha hid her face with her hands. She wasn't able to control the grin on her face... His words were melting her like ice on fire.

Jalal came very close to her and softly pulled her hands away from her face. Warmth seared her skin at his touch; his words made her so nervous that she didn't open her eyes. He grinned, looking at her face, and whispered while gazing at her, "Jodha, do you know, your eyes always talked to me, they always conversed with my heart about your desires and your unspoken words. Your eyes always gave me assurance and peace that you loved me even when you were upset and angry with me, but why are you hiding your eyes from me? Look in my eyes. I want to read what are you thinking?"

Jodha slowly opened her eyes; her face broke into a radiant smile; she teasingly replied, "Hmmm... So you can read my eyes; then tell me what am I thinking right now?"

He looked at her with his lustful gaze, he moved a bit towards her, then opened her hair from her hair clip; her long and shiny wavy hair began to blow on her face, with an adoring grin, put her hair behind her ears, and slowly he ran his fingers through her face. He mumbled, "Do you really want me to tell you what you are thinking right now?"

She felt shivered in her entire body; oh god, why am I feeling so embarrassed, I can't even lift my eyes. His alluring gaze was making her crazy. I want him to take me in his arms and make love to every inch of my body; I am craving for his touch but feeling so weird to approach him. And the way he is looking at me and praises my beauty makes me crazier and is deliberately coming closer, so I respond. I should avoid looking in his eyes; his eyes are hypnotical and magical. His whispers are like a magnet. I can't control myself. She flushed while thinking, looking straight in his eyes.

He slowly moved closer to her, but the more he came close to her, the more she bent down and backed away from him. Finally, she was almost lying down on the sand. Jalal locked her between his arms; His eyes dazzled in excitement and passion. She was panting so loud that her heartbeats were clearly audible. Her face had a mixed expression of excitement, unknown fear, and shyness. She couldn't look into his mesmerizing eyes for long; soon, she closed her eyes to suppress her desire. Jalal smirked; seeing her pink cheeks, he whispered in her ears, "You want me to kiss you and hug you, that is what is in your mind, isn't it, Jodha?"

Hearing his sensory murmur, she slowly lifted her eyelids. She felt mortified, knowing he could read her thoughts. Both of them looked at each other with deep desire; he bent down very close to her; their faces were only an inch apart. She could feel his breath on her face... Half of his body was resting on hers; their lips were only an inch away. She was waiting for him to kiss her first; her lips trembled in anticipation of his touch. Her heartbeats ran at the speed of the jet, but Jalal was waiting for her to move first. His sharp, captivating, but caring, lustful eyes were giving her a tickling sensation. Her desire for his touch was making her desperate... she couldn't wait any longer. His masculine shoulders and enchanting gaze added fire to her passion. She finally gave up, wrapped her arms around him, and pulled him nearer, then gently she kissed on his lips for a few seconds. The mellow touch of their lips ignited the fire in their bodies. Jodha looked in his eyes with intense craving, and with an undertone, she said, "Shahenshah, I am madly in love with you. You have mesmerized me so much that you even control my inner desires for you."

He slurred in her ears, "No, Jodha, I have not done anything, but you have enchanted Jalaluddin Muhammad in your spell. Your beauty is driving me nuts. I have never smelled such an irresistible scent. Your heavenly aroma is making me fanatical and wild for you."

His sensual words excited her further. She cupped his face and kissed on his lips, softly at first, but his confession and love created waves of fiery passion in her. Slowly her soft kisses turned into eagerness. She didn't even realize when she went wild. With a tight grip, she hugged him, squeezed herself towards him. Jalal also got lost in her passion; he responded madly, the gentle touch was gone, the soft kisses turned into bites and smooches. He was glad she was wearing minimum jewelry due to traveling. He sucked on her neck, bite on her collarbone. She closed her eyes to relish his touch. He softly bit on her earlobe, making her moan louder and faster. He kissed her on her lips with a thirst for more. His sensual nibbles provoked her erotic desires for him. He put his entire weight on her; so she can feel his too aroused sensation. She felt him rubbing his stiffness on her stomach; it aroused her further. She madly pecked him on his neck with her sharp teeth, with her sudden unexpected attack; Jalaal hissed in pain. She whispered slowly but sensually, "Jalal, I can't wait for tomorrow." and bit on his earlobe with passion again.

Jalal was surprised to see her desperation and her yearning; he has always enjoyed wildness in love. Her ardent natural craving turned on Jalal to the extreme. He dug his hands in her hair starkly and kissed on her lips with steamy hot bites. He wanted to ravish every part of her body; he pulled the sleeve of her blouse to relish her cleavage and breast. Her milky, creamy round breast was screaming for sucking. As soon as he bites on her cleavage, she moaned softly... "ahhh" and squished his shoulders tightly....there was no room even to breathe... her moan was getting louder and louder.

He wanted to feel every inch of her body, so he whispered seductively, "Jodha, I can't wait for tomorrow either..." He took off her nose ring and impatiently began to kiss her briskly, he had been with many women before, but he never had this powerful desire for anyone yet. On this cold wintery night, their touch was creating waves of heat in their bodies. Both of them were burning in fire. He desperately wanted to explore further, but he recalled her wish to give her the best pleasurable experience; he took a deep breath and closed his eyes to control himself. Then swiftly, he moved away from her, breaking their hug, and said, "Jodha, I have promised you, and your wishes and dreams mean the world to me. I am so ready to take you now, but I also want you to remember our first night forever."

Jodha bent down and, with deep passion, kissed him on his lips with bite and whispered." Oh, Jalal, I can't stay away from you any longer. Please don't stop; I never felt this way. I can't control myself."

Oh, Jodha, You make it too difficult; I want to take you now and so hard, but It's your first time. I want you to remember the pleasure, not pain.

He hugged her tightly, embracing her entire body in his arms, and he put his weight on her delicate body to calm her down... then he said in a low tone, "Jodha.... I love you so much..." His intense deep passionate hug cooled her down.

She came out of his magic charm and realized she was entirely wildly lost in their passion. She pushed him a little and swiftly sat on the sand... she was blushing heavily and feeling very embarrassed of her wild desire for him. She covered her face with her hands. Jalal softly pulled her hands away from her face and cupped her face, and said, "Jodha...ohhhh... Jodha, you are just beyond my imagination!!! Your desire has alarmed me... I can bet you are going to be demanding in bed... I thought you are too shy to be wild, but you always pleasantly shock me. I have seen many passionate women but never a combination of shy and wild yet." he paused, and then again, with a mischievous expression, he asked, "Are you sure we should wait till tomorrow? I can't wait to taste your wildness?"

Her face turned tomato red utterly with embarrassment she hid her face in his chest. They were in each other arms for a long until their yearning sated for a while, after few minutes; He softly said while running his fingers in her soft and silky hair, "Queen Jodha, it is late. Let's go back to the tent."

She replied in a crabby tone, "Ohhh Nooo, I don't want to go, god knows when we will be together like this again. I want to enjoy this moment fully."

He broke the hug and cupped her face, "Why are you always so insecure? We will have many nights like this together."

She anxiously crooned, "Shahenshah, Once you are in Agra, then you won't have time for me. You will have political work during the day and so many Queens during the night. I don't know when you will be able to spare some time for me."

Jalal replied in an upsetting tone, "Jodha, I wish I can spend every second of my life with you. I have a much stronger desire to spend the time you then you desire for it. If it would be in my hand, I would never stay away from you for even for a second."

She responded with doubt, "Hmmm...Shahenshah, I can't beat you in sweet talk. Let's see once we reach Agra; then I will see how much time you spare for me."

"Will see then," Jalal murmured impassively.

"This place is so calm and peaceful, I don't want to go back to the tent yet, but if you insist, then you have to carry me to the tent. I am not coming on my own," She stubbornly protested.

Jalal grinned and said, "Jodha, you are so unpredictable. We have to go; it's not safe to stay here too long." then, swiftly, he scooped her in his arms so quickly as if she has no weight. "Any other orders for Shahenshah, my queen." He asked mockingly.

She looked at him with blush and said..."I was just kidding; Please put me down."

Finally, with little chit-chatting, they reached back to the tent and ate dinner. While eating dinner, both of them were lost in each other's thoughts. Jodha nervously asked, "Shahenshah, can I request you for something if you don't mind?

"Hmmm..."Jalal nodded his head.

"Can I sleep in my tent tonight?"

Jalal teasingly asked, "Why? Don't you trust me?"

Jodha timidly replied, lowering her eyes, "I don't trust myself."

Jalal smiled and said, "Yes, I want you to sleep in your tent too" then, with a mischievous tone, he added, "I can't control myself if you sleep with me tonight" she shyly looked up at him, and he winked at her. She swiftly walked out of his tent with a heavy blush on her face. Jalal watched her leaving with a deep sigh out.

At the Palace:

Maham with resentment, "Atgah Saheb, You have kept this big secret from me that Jalal went to Amer to bring Queen Jodha back. Don't you know that I love Jalal more than my own son Adham and how dare you did this? Have you forgotten that I am a chief administrator of this saltant? You have disappointed me."

Aftab stiffened and replied, mirroring her tone, "Wazir E Aliya, I have just followed Shahenshah's order. No one in the palace knew other than Queen Rukaiya and Maryam Makani Hamida banoo. I was doing my duty, and Shahenshah's security is more important for me than pleasing you. If I have to hide any secret for his safety, I will not hesitate to do that again. Anyway, tomorrow morning Shahenshah will arrive at the palace with Queen Jodha; you can discuss this matter directly with him."

Maham stared at Aftab Sahib with fuming anger and walked out from there. She was burning inside with fire; 'Brainless Jalal is bringing that whore back to the palace, Queen Jodha, this time with your fortune, you were able to survive, but next time you will have no chance. No one can save you from me, you impious wicked Rajvanshi.'

The next day, Early morning, Jalal and Jodha both got ready and came out of their tent to go back to Agra.

Jalal looked at Jodha with a playful look and went close to her and crooned in her ear, "Uff... queen Jodha, you have done some magic on me. The entire night I was dreaming of you in my arms and much more. Are you ready for tonight?"