Her mute... silent... wordless retort ripped him up inwardly. It has been more than three weeks but she didn't show up to the court. Her denial to attend the court was a crystal clear evidence of her innocence. One by one his assumption and accuses proven to be feeble and wrong. She veiled herself in her chamber not only from him but from everyone. Slowly, her desertion began to burn from innermost. He wanted her to react, get angry at him... complain about his injustice, but instead, she went into a mute mode. As known to everyone, time heals every wound, but instead of lessening his pain it increased to intolerable. His mind delved into thoughts more and more, she captured his mind and heart completely. Her teary eyes haunted him while eating... while sleeping, even in the courtroom where he is surrounded by many people... Her words echoed persistently on his conscious. Eventually, his anger subsided and icy cold heart melted, his vision got cleared, now he began to understand the purity of her verdict. At last, Jodha's silence guided him towards the path of AKBAR the great. Instead of running recklessly towards his desire to gain more power and to increase his borders, he decided to dig into the bottom of the heart of his people to scrutinize further.

Allocating his responsibility to Atgah Sahib Jalal decided to visit small villages to see the reality.

Jalal and Abdul both dressed as a common people while hiding their identity and began their trip.

Jalal makes sure the position of the saddle and the strapped tight enough to be secured before settling on lavishing expensive saddle, as always, he picked his favorite wild white mustang. While caressing the back of his horse he looked towards Jodha's closed door chamber one last time before commencing of the long journey. With a heavy heart, he slightly nudged between the barrels to pick up the speed.

"Shahenshah, what is the purpose for this trip??? What do you want to find out???" Abdul asked skeptically while riding on a pure breed black stallion.

Jalal pulled reins, using the amount of pressure to reduce the speed. His posture slightly stiffened and jaw compressed, He inhaled sharply and to

Jalal knew what he wants to know "Abdul, I want to see the condition of the common people, not only that but also wants to see if the laws are fair to them or not and they are receiving proper justice or not... Besides all, the main purpose of this visit is to find out with my own ears and eyes what my people think about me. As a matter of fact, so far I mainly focused on increasing borders of Mughal sultanate. I have ran and ran only to follow my dreams, but never viewed deeply at the common people's issues like Queen Jodha did??? When everyone focused on the tax cut, she was thinking about the people who suffered. In the last three weeks, I have done nothing but thinking... I have come to the conclusion that I really need to change my views and focus towards people. If I don't stay between them to see the real issues they are facing. No doubt I have hired many intelligent advisors and administrator, but never vouched myself if everything is running as smoothly as it is supposed to. I am the leader of everyone and if any mistake happens, I am the one who is blamed for it, so I can't argue and hands up for my ignorance."

While hiding their identity Jalal and Abdul stayed in more than 10 villages for a day or two to see the structure of law and order. They realized many of the small problems villagers were facing which could be resolved easily... the issues related to their basic needs came into Jalal's attention. It shocked Jalal when they went to different villages and noticed how every village's structure was different... He noticed each administrator was running his own laws, not only that, but most of them were threatening common people... Seeing the richness and the condition of administrator they understood big portions of the taxes were going directly into their pockets. Abdul and Jalal both were shocked seeing all of this corruption and many internal issues which Jalal was relying on to be resolved by the administrators and the Panchayat. Every village, he visited he noticed each and every administrator was Mughal and almost all of them were unfair towards Hindu people. Jalal was shaken to see the way one of the administrators punished the family for not paying taxes. In front the entire village, he seized a ten-year-old kid of that family and announced him as his slave as a punishment. The entire scene was pitiful, not only for the family but with them many villagers cried seeing the condition of the mother of the child. Another village, he noted eleven-year-old girl was forced to marry a fifty-year-old man and the worst of all when he heard from one of the poor Hindu family about their superior village administrator that he forced poor families to send their women or daughters to him for a few nights in return for the tax relief. Day by day his anger grew at his own failure and heartbroken seeing the condition of his people, poor management, and extreme corruption. He was ashamed of himself, was not able to gulp the pain which was stabbing him inside. His failure in management was clearly visible in people's eyes.

***

Day by day Jodha was submerging herself deeper and deeper into a spiritual, holy realm... Jalal gave her everything she dreamed of but broke her apart from within. He pushed her right into obscure hole of pain. Slowly she gave up all of her luxuries including queenly jewelry, silk clothes, delicious food not only that but her most comfortable lavishing bed. Many times Mariam Makhani Hamida Bano came, she tried every possible way to cheer her but nothing worked. She courteously denied to come out of her chamber every time with folded hands. Not only Hamida Bano but Queen Salima even Atgah Sahib tried, but she was too impassive... blank, none of the emotions touched her eyes or face as if nothing matters to her anymore. Nothing helped not even Rahim could bring smile to her face.The empathetic sadness in her eyes was too frightening and painful to view. Eventually, all of them gave up with a heavy heart. Only Reva was spending some time in her chamber, but very minimum words exchanged between them. Jodha kept herself involved in prayer and meditation, which was the only source was keeping her alive.

On another side, Queen Rukaiya and Vajire Aliya Maham Anga both were extremely happy hearing all the gossips about Queen Jodha.

After visiting about ten villages Jalal had no more strength left to see further, he wanted to take action against those corrupt administrators as soon as possible, and make the changes in the polluted racist systems, therefore, they decided to go back to Agra. What they saw was unexpected, even for Abdul, both were lost deep into thoughts while riding back towards the palace. About six hours of constant ride they reached the border of the Rampur village in the afternoon, it was supper time and there was a small eating place in the corner next to the very large tree. Jalal's eyes laid on the young man who was resting under the tree and about the five-year-old boy was playing nearby in the little pond and a woman was watching towards them... Seeing the beautiful surrounding and eating place Jalal and Abdul got off the horse to take a rest.

While sitting on the empty bench Jalal politely asked the man, "Can you please give us a direction to the Sagarpur village from here?"

Villager replied while pointing towards the direction in a friendly tone, "Sagarpur Village is about 35 kilometers far from here, go towards the North for about 10 Kilometers straight until you pass big Kali Mata Temple and from their ask someone." After a slight hesitation and pause, he requested "It will take a long time to reach my friend, take rest for some time and eat supper here, there are no other eating places in your way."

Jalal and Abdul both agreed and ordered the food.

While they were eating the young man shouted loudly to his wife, "Aree... Laddu Ki Amma.'

She turned towards him "Ji... Laddu ke Bapu" (Laddu's father)

"Watch Laddu, look he is going towards the garden. Make sure he doesn't go in that garden to play..."

"Ji." She loudly responded and ran towards the kid.

Hearing worry in his sound Jalal surprisingly asked "Why are you stopping your kid... let him play in the garden..."

Villager simpered at him and asked "Seems like you are new to this Kingdom? That garden is not for everyone to play, Only Mughal communities are allowed to visit... Not only that, even if by any mistakes Hindu, I mean other than Mughal person goes inside the garden and get caught then they will be punished harshly... The offender will be hit by hunter ten times. This is the law of this kingdom, all facilities are made for Mughals only."

"What?" Jalal's voice parched with shame but there was a trace of disbelief in his voice.

The villager simply grinned seeing his expression.

Jalal asked him confused, "Then where would your kid play?"

"My friend, unfortunately, we are Hindu people and my kid knows that he born in a Hindu family. It is our destiny that school and gardens not for us even though we are paying double taxes than Mughals but still all the facilities are made for Mughals only. In our country... In our motherland feels like we are outcasted."

Jalal couldn't believe such a rule existed, he had no clue about this partiality in his sultanate... Schools and Gardens are made only for the Mughals and Hindu's had to pay the double tax than Mughals.

Jalal clasped his hands behind his back and was silent a moment as Abdul and Jalal both watched each other with a bemused gaze. "This is an injustice, why no one complained about this to the king?" Jalal slightly shrugged while questioning the man, his voice was low and controlled.

"Complaining to the Mughal King!" He laughed mockingly and said "Are you crazy??? Seems like you have forgotten that King himself is a Mughal too, and not only that, he is a king of this sultanate for many years. All these laws are made by him only and I have heard that he is so cruel that sometimes he even punishes the people who complains. Just a few days ago one ten-year-old Hindu kid went inside this garden by mistake only, but nope... no mercy... he was punished with ten hunters and beaten by his soldiers."

At that moment he felt like acid mixed in his blood, all of his veins burned with a grief. He was extremely traumatized to hear this, he had no idea all facilities are made only for the Mughals... His sad and gloomy eyes ogled at Abdul blankly and his face turned completely pale. Before leaving, he greeted the man, "Goodbye, my friend, I am really obliged to you for your help. Thank you very much."

The man looked at Jalal with a weird gaze while brooding why is he thanking me? He smiled back and warned them, "Be careful and watch out... there's fear of bandit on that side." While folding his hand he hailed "Ram Ram."

Jalal smiled with his hands folded, "Thank you for the alarming us, we will be careful... Ram Ram."

Jalal and Abdul both rode back on their Stallions... Jalal was shocked and equally surprised with what he heard and what he saw.

"Abdul did you know anything about this law that Hindu kids cannot go to school and garden... All these facilities are made for Mughals only and why Hindus are paying double taxes? Why is it so unfair?" Jalal quizzed

This was not news to Abdul, he was well aware of all these unfair laws, but like others, he has also grown and got used to this unfair system, "Shahenshah these laws were made long back by Khan Baba and Vajire Alia Maham Anga Ji. Currently, she is the one who is in charge of these laws, we have received many complaints which directly diverted to Vajire Aliya." Abdul clarified.

Jalal quietly listened without uttering a word. He was taught from his young age from his atalik, his mentor Behram Khan, who reformed many rules for the sultanate. Maham Anga, his Badi Ammi and Khan Baba, both hated Hindus to the extreme. Still, his words echoed many times in his ear which he used to listen from Behram Khan almost every day.

"Power is everything, and to gain power you could go to any extent.

People only respect others out of fear.

Do not trust anyone, especially Hindus...

Everyone around you wants something from you."

After Khan Baba's loss, he heard this same Mantras (words) from Maham Anga who is even a bigger hater of Hindus. Unquestionably, Jalal knew that Hindu people were treated very poorly by Maham, they had to pay extra taxes, and they were not allowed in many places, not only that but many of them were forced to change their religion. He heard those types of grievances many times, but every time before he could proceed, his Badi Ammi Vajire Aliya stopped him stating she will take care of those small matters and moved those cases out of Diwan E Aam. He knew deep down in his heart overall it was not a fair kingdom, but after many years of proceeding in an identical way, he himself was unknowingly treating Hindu community the same way and also began to think somewhat same that Hindu people are not that trustworthy. He knew after Jodha's arrival his thinking was changing towards Hindu people... It was a slow but gradual alteration in him after Jodha's arrival.

This journey unbolted his brain, he realized his value in people's eyes are nothing but a cruel, heartless king. They don't respect him but only surrender themselves to him out of fear. He understood his silence and his negligence indirectly supported and nourished towards injustice laws. No doubt these laws were not made by him but still he was to be blamed for this failure. He is the one who leads and direct others. He scornfully chuckled at himself recalling Jodha's words, her example of little children was so true and he was so wrong... Deep down his heart crumbled into a million pieces... The realization of his complete failure torn him apart. He blindly trusted on his admin team and kept his focus only on capturing more and more kingdoms. Half of his life he was at war and gave sultanate to run by others but it was too late to regret, and the damage was already done. He fell down from his own eyes... his proud to be a king of the king was chortling at him viciously.

Her words reverberated in his ears, each word echoed and somewhere it pricked on his conscious, "King should act like a parent, his eyes should be equally concerned and worried for all of his people. People should respect his king out of love, not out of fear. Now he understood the real meaning of her indirect guidance.

The recognition was making him vulnerable... He wanted to cry out loud and beg for forgiveness to every person for whom he did injustice. At that moment he realized in his anger, ego and jealosy he lost everything he achieved even Jodha... today he had left with simply loneliness and empty hands. His foundation... his base... his stand was completely unethical... He acquired most of the Hindustan and became the King of the kings, Shehenshah E Hindustan but he failed to manage it. The sensation of disgust captured his soul... his conscious roared inside his mind over and over, 'you not worthy to run this sultanate, you are the worst leader any kingdom can get. Your failure has punished innocent people.' Even though guilt was scorching him inwardly, but he didn't lose courage... Jalal had seen many betrayals and ups and down in his life... but this was the utmost failure, he just realized his last eight years of hard work gone in water even though instead of letting negativity took over his mind he began to think like a king... what next? How can he rectify his mistake? He knew it was not the time to cry about what happened, but to step up and take action to improve lives of his people. The darkness he spread among people he will have to dispel. Jalal was not a weak man, he had ultimate, unlimited power with himself to fight any problem other than Jodha... When it comes to her depth of his feeling for her was unable to heal himself, he was helpless, without her he was lonely and loneliness that hurts his soul. At this moment, he needed her the most to give him strength and motivation. He needed her warmth to comfort his pain. Her words echoed in his mind, 'Laws are made for our convenience and time to time it should be amended as per necessity.' Her words gave him a direction, he promised to himself 'It's time for the changes... many changes.'

Abdul stopped to ask for direction once again. After a few seconds concernedly requested, "Shahenshah we should not take this route... So far three people have warned us, we are only two and usually, bandits are in big groups. It will be difficult to defend against them."

Jalal responded with determination, "No... Abdul as a Shahenshah It is my duty to keep my people safe... at this point, I do not trust anyone other than myself. What if the superintendent of this zone is also corrupted and involved with bandits then my orders will not work. It will take a long time to make changes in this corrupted system therefore I will have to face the consequence to protect people."

As expected, while they were passing through the jungle on the way back to palace bandit encircled them. Abdul and Jalal were ready to fight... but they were forty of them also well equipped and trained bandits. Jalal and Abdul both of them fought bravely. In no time they killed almost all of them, but unfortunately, during the fight, Jalal seriously got injured on his shoulders and stomach while saving Abdul.

Jalal was bleeding profusely but he didn't stop until all of them got killed. At last, his body gave up and lost consciousness. Abdul treated on his injured wounds and rode back to the palace. By the time they reach to palace Jalal's entire body was soaked in blood, his clothes were also dripping blood.

The news of his injury spread in the palace like a fire... Within a moment people started to run around... The quiet palace turned into a noisy kiosk in no time. His chamber got filled with many family members, administrators, begums including Rukaiya, Salima, and a team of Hakim's, but Jalal's eyes were searching for one and only one person Jodha.

Like a tsunami storm, Reva opened the door of Jodha's chamber and fled inside and screamed loudly out of unknown fear "JODHA"... Her gray eyes widened, and face startled with extreme terror.

Seeing her tragic expression Jodha even got scared... While getting up from the floor, she anxiously asked, "What happened Reva???"

Reva paused for a mere moment, then replied while breathing severely, "Jodha... She..n...shahh Shahenshah..." Words stuck in her throat.

Jodha's eyes enlarge in extreme horror. Her heart stopped beating for a second... She shouted while grabbing both of her shoulders and asked impatiently "What happened to Shahenshah???"

Reva replied while crying "Jodha.... Shahenshah got badly injured while fighting with bandits..." but before Reva could finish her sentence, Jodha ran towards Jalal's chamber witlessly. Her heart stopped beating... Her tears began to flood out, within seconds she had zillions of negative thoughts... with her bare feet she ran like a rabbit as if she was running to catch his life... Her chunni came off from her head... Her face filled with worried expression and eyes with tears she ran inside his chamber like a tornado arrived and the way she shouted loudly "JALAL" everyone's attention got diverted towards her.

******

Do u think Jodha should forgive him?