(NOTE: I am going to try to write in a Marwari Hindi tone... I am not sure I will be able to write correctly; I have also translated all Hindi Dialogues in English.)

Chapter 34 Part 1

A loud deafening screech, "JALALLLL..." lanced through the stillness of the night. Seeing the awfully wounded condition of his love, her source of breath, it was like an explosive burst at her spirit. Jodha fell back several steps in a trauma. The panic tied through her core. As if her own life came to an end, her breathing stopped, and her eyes stretched further to validate. His yellow Rajputi style top was dripping blood, and his sharp orbs were closed as if dreaming calmly out of his misery. All of her energy consumed in a fraction of a moment; her legs gave up; her body went rigid out of shock. She blankly looked at his lifeless form lying on the mattress. She again tried to scream, but words got jammed in her throat.

Panditji, who was waiting for Naresh to bring horses, rushed inside his cottage as soon as he heard her dreadful cry. Hira's fearful condition dumbfounded him; after residing for months with her, he very well knew how strong-headed a person she is. Since the day she entered the Ashram, he had seen unfathomable sadness in her eyes, but this was the first time he witnessed a pool of tears in her eyes. To awaken her from the shock, he gently called her, "Hira," When she didn't respond, he tapped on her shoulder and yelled, "Hiraaa."

As her senses returned, she looked at Panditji inanely with deadly fear in her eyes; he asked in a calm voice, "Are you feeling well, Hira? It seems like you have never seen a severely injured person." She nodded her head while masking her inner and outer chaos.

"Hira, be brave, my child; you don't have time to restrain your emotions. It would help if you started treating him now; he has lost substantial portions of blood; first, try to stop his bleeding; meanwhile, we will bring the Healer from the nearest village. It will take us a few hours. His life is on your hand; may God give you strength.

Jodha sealed her eyes and prayed to God Krishna to give her strength. The realization hit her that Jalal needs her. "Ji Panditji, I will make the ointment to stop his blood." She finally spoke in a composed tone. Then, instantly she instructed Panditji to check on his vitals while she began to make Ayurvedic ointment out of the dry herbs. After checking his pulse in a hurried voice, Panditji specified, "Hira, he is sinking; his heart beats have dropped low." Jodha tried to curb her emotion but failed to constrain her silent tears. Tears slashed the back of her throat as she fought not to cry. She rapidly began to mix-up the herbs; while Panditji took off Jalal's top. With a relieved tone, he stated, "Fortunately, all other injuries are minor other than the one on his left shoulder; if you can stop his bleeding, then he will probably survive." Before his sentence finishes, Jalal's condition worsens, his body begins to move up and down. He inhaled and exhaled noisily as he struggled to breathe. Seeing his state was trailing down, Panditji also rattled as he heard the tapping sound of the horse's arrival; he ran out to get Healer. His last word rumbled in her mind a few times," Hira, try your best, my child.".

The instant Panditji left, Jodha cried her heart out freely. After preparing medicine, she rushed toward him; First, she cleaned his wounds with warm water and quickly put a big lump of the medicine mixture on his injured shoulder than other small injuries. The instant ointment touched his body; a slight squeal rumbled through his throat "Jodha."

Jodha replied in a panicky tone, "Shahenshah, look at me, I am your Jodha; please wake up... are you listening to me? She continued in a louder tone, "Nothing will happen to you; I will not let anything happen to you." Finally, after ages, as she caressed his face, a chill ran down her spine; his body was cold, too cold. With her knowledge of medicine, she immediately understood that his body turned icy-cold due to excessive blood loss, and his condition is trailing. A few minutes later, his body began to shiver; She closed all windows and a door and covered him with four warm blankets, and began to massage his feet to generate heat. None of the cure was helping; he was still trembling with uneven breathing; his lips and cheeks turned purple. She slid under the blanket and hugged him tightly to give him body heat while making sure not to put a strain on his wounds. Her soft skin, warm blood, known heartbeat, and familiar touch gave warmth to his cold blood. Even in his unconscious state, Jalal recognized the heat of her touch; in half an hour, his frozen blood again thawed up in her warmth, and his shivers reduced, and breathing got better, but still, it was slow. The blood stopped dripping out, and the medication began to work. Seeing a little improvement, Jodha felt relieved; she embraced him tightly and kissed on his cheeks gently. It was like an electric spark; suddenly, Jalal's lifeless body fabricated energy to fight.

Knock on the door. "Hira... Hira... Open the door."

Jodha swiftly came out of the blanket, and before opening the door, she fixed her dupatta. Panditji asked her with confusion, "Hira, why did you close the door?"

"Pandit Ji, he was shivering due to blood loss, and the wind was blowing high, so I shut the door and wrapped him with the blankets."

Panditji mildly smiled and said, "Oh... Good thinking Hira."

The Healer checked Jalal's pulse and his wounds; then, he smelled the ointment that Hira prepared. A small smile coated his face with admiration, he stated. "Thank God, you have made this ointment in time to stop his bleeding; you have saved him. Even though his pulses are low, he will recover soon; I guess he will get better in a day. Luckily, his wounds are not that deep, but his condition worsened because he didn't receive help immediately. He is out of danger now, but he needs to relax for at least a day and make sure to apply this lep at least three times to control the infection." Jodha folded her hands with gratitude and agreed to it. The Healer also gave a few more herbs to mix in the ointment for faster recovery and liquid syrup to mix in kadha and explained how to make kadha.

After the Healer left, Pandit Ji stated in an instating tone, "Hira, you go and take rest; I will take care of him for the rest of the night; it's almost morning. Just show me what I need to do."

Oh... No... How can I tell him that I want to stay here with him the entire night alone and take care of him? How can I say to him that I am his queen, and he is my life, my soul? Jodha responded with a nervous but requesting tone, "Pandit Ji, I don't mind taking care of him. Also, I have to prepare the ointment and Kadha, and it is a long process. I will take care of him while preparing Kadha, but if you can sleep with Nandu tonight in my cottage, that will help. Panditji agreed without any argument and blessed her. "God bless you, my child. If you need anything, then wake me up immediately."

Hira smiled and replied to him, "Ji Pranam."

While keeping her steady gaze at him, she thanked God Krishna for saving Jalal's life. She cleaned the blood from his body with warm water and started massaging his legs and forehead to give him comfort as much as possible.

While massaging his legs, her mind began to think, 'What I will do when he comes back to his consciousness. Once he sees me, then it will be tough for him to leave me here. I can't give him that same pain again. Probably by now, he has learned to live without me in these six months. I don't want him to go through the same throbbing pain once again.' Her chest aches in grief, thinking that he will leave her in two days. Tears again built up at her unfair destiny, and her heart scorched in suffocating pain. Just thinking that their destiny is not meant to be together, tears again started to dribble from her eyes.

There was a little statue of Krishna in the room opposite to the seam. She looked at Lord Krishna's statue with a displeasing stare and asked, "Kanah... What are you doing with my life??? What direction do you want to take me to? Why do you keep on increasing my pain; please have mercy on me? I can't take it anymore. Kanah, are you enjoying seeing me in this condition? Is it just a game for you to play around with my emotion? At first, you gave me everything, then snatched it from me in a flick forever. When I hated Jalal enormously, you forcefully made him my life against my wish. I ached, cried, grieved, cursed with bloody tears after suffering for a long time. At last, destiny gave me a few beautiful moments, and he became the source of my breath, my soul; I fell in love with him, and with your punishing plots, you separated us forever.

Now when I desire him every moment of my life, I can't even come in front of him. Why have you become so cruel towards your devotee? In every difficult situation, I have kept my faith in you then why are you so unkind towards me? Then Why... Why have you sent him here; in the entire world, you found only my door so you can punish us once again? You think our pain is not enough; how he will be able to bear the separation once again, and you know very well, I would have drunk poison and killed myself the minute I got parted from him. Still, the pity is I am bound to his promise that I will not kill myself in any situation. How long are you going to torcher us and test our endurance? When you realized that I had crossed all confines of pain, you sent him here. I know why you are doing this, Kanah; you are jealous; you are envious of him because I love him more than I love you. Then you listen if something happens to him, I will never forgive you. Go ahead and give me as much pain as you want; I want to see how long your heart will not soften for me. Listen, Kanah, give me as much pain you want to give but not him. If you play again and give him one tear, I will not forgive you ever.

Her bitterness; pain; anger; and rage simmered with a vast blizzard towards Kanah as if something has broken inside her. As if it was enough for her. Unstoppable tears overflowed with heart-throbbing aches. Her unshed curbed tears were building up for the last six months; suddenly, her control slipped and blew up after seeing Jalal in this state. Her fear was for Jalal and its consequences, how he would face separation again. Her strength drained out, and today all edges smashed. Her trust in her Kanah trembled for the first time? She sat next to Jalal and held his hand tightly. She needed his warmth more than he needed her at that time; her condition was pitiful. Time tick-tock slowly, and gradually his health was improving. She thought many times to run away from the Ashram before he comes back to life, but she was helpless in love and wanted to fulfill her duty for the last time.

The gloomy darkness has befallen with tears, retort, whines, and pain. The first calming ray of glowing sun glimpsed through the window and directly fell on the King's face. With the warm touch of heat, he woke up from his enchanting beautiful dream of Jodha resting next to him and holding his hand possessively.

The moment she felt a little movement of his hand, a trace of smile mounted upon her facial expression with a deep sigh out. She instantly got up, leaving his hand, and covered herself with a long ghoonghat (veil).

Jalal slowly opened his eyes and looked at her with his faded vision, a Hindu woman with a long ghoonghat standing nearby, and He was in a small cottage lying on the bed. He recalled the entire incident with Abul Mali and recollected how he lost his consciousness in a Jungle. He understood that someone helped him.

He gave another look at the lady and asked politely, "Who has brought me here?" His words were soothing melodies in her heart. After six long months, she heard the sound of his voice once again. The buds blossomed in her soul... His one-word washed all of her sufferings. She took a deep breath in to capture the moment in her vision forever.

She replied with a heavy accent with a changed tone to hide her identity from him, "Kanah ne thari jaan bacha liyo. Jungle mein bejaan laash ki tareh padyo tho. Vo toh bhala ho us Naresh ka, tare ko jungle se utha ke le aayo, varna ab tak to kisi sher ko shikar ban gayo hoto. Taro swasth thik nahi hai, toh ab aaram karo. Vaidji ne lep laga diyo hai, do teen din me sab bhalo ho jayego. Vaidji ne bolo ki tare ko aaram karno padego." She paused to make sure he had not recognized her voice.

[She replied with a heavy and changed tone to hide her identity, "Even though you were injured severely and lost a lot of blood, but you survived with the blessing of lord Kanha. Thank God Mahesh brought you here; otherwise, you would have died without medical treatment. Vaidji has cured you and put the ointment on you and instructed that you need to rest for at least two days."]

Jalal was feeling confused and content at the same time. He was not able to comprehend why her voice sounded familiar.

When he didn't respond, she continued nervously "Aur ha... tanne koi bhi zaroorat hove to manne bula lena. Mharo naam HIRA che. Me thare vaste roti bana ke aati hu." She quickly finished in a hesitant tone and briskly walked towards the door, then unexpectedly stopped after realizing in her nervousness, she didn't even ask him about his identity. She turned back towards him and asked quizzically, "Tharo naam kaain chhe? Tu lage toh koi rajvanshi... Tu jungle mein akelo kya kar rayo tho; tanne maloom nahi yeh jungle kitno daravno hai... yaha junglee janwar aur daket ko bado bhay hai?"

[When he didn't respond, she continued nervously, "My name is Hira, and my cottage is next door. I am going to prepare breakfast for you. I will be back soon; you take rest." She quickly finished in a hesitant tone and briskly walked towards the door, then unexpectedly stopped after realizing in her nervousness, she didn't even ask him about his identity. She turned back towards him and asked quizzically, "What is your name? You look like Rajvanshi; what were you doing in this dangerous Jungle alone? Don't you know in this Jungle there are many dacoits and dangerous wild animals? Why are you alone, and where is your wife?" She asked tons of questions in jumpiness.]

Jalal was still resting on the bed while watching her worried expression. He was still confused and puzzled, he couldn't grasp her behavior, and now she suddenly asked many questions? He tried to understand what's going on? He was surprised to hear that long speech, her questions, and her awkward haste. Jalal calmly responded while looking at Lord Krishna's statue "Hamara Naam Kishan hai." (My name is Kishan) Hearing his name, Jodha looked towards Krishna, and with a smirk, she silently muttered, "Wah Kanah Wah!!! Dar gaye aap humse, toh Prithvi pe chale aaye." [Wow, Kanah Wow!!! It seems like you got scared, so come down on earth.]

Jalal continued, "Aur Jungle mein hume daketo ne zakhmi kiya hai... Hum akele hi Jungle me the." [When dacoits attacked and wounded me, I was alone.]

Jodha forgot for a moment that she is Hira and lost her temper. She almost shouted at him in her usual tone, "Aap Ko Jungle mein akele jaane ki kya avashyakta thi... Aap Ko kuch ho jata toh." [Why you went to the Jungle all by yourself... If something would have happened to you, then?]

Hearing her usual tone of voice, Jalal's ear started to ring loudly, and his heart skipped a few beats, Yaah Allah! She sounds exactly like my Jodha.'

Jodha realized after a second Oops...

Jalal was unable to hold himself after hearing her voice. He strained to get up from bed, but he put weight on his injured shoulder in a rush. He screamed in pain, "Uhh, Ouch." His one painful screed made her panic. She swiftly turned back and sprinted towards him to support and held his hand. Her one simple touch and Jalal's entire body flashed as if lightning passed through him. How can he forget his Jodha's touch? Her voice and touch validated to his heart; she is my Jodha only. He asked in a stern tone, "Koun Ho aap??? Aap Hira nahi Jodha ho!" [WHO ARE YOU??? YOU ARE JODHA NOT HIRA!] Without even thinking, words slipped out of his mouth.

Jodha left his hand instantly and got up from the bed in haste. With satisfaction, her heart cheered with a comforting thought, he still remembers me; without seeing my face, he recognized me. The blush smeared on her pale cheeks at the same time realization bounced back with a quake. She quickly assembled herself and spoke in a cold tone, "Manne toh lage tu bawro ho gayo... kahi thare sar pe to chot nahi lagi na... manne tanne batayo na... me Hira hu. Ab me thare vaste roti leke aati hu." She walked out before he could respond.

[She quickly assembled herself and spoke in a cold tone, "Are you gone insane or what? Have you got injured in your brain? I told you just a second ago that I am Hira. Let me go and make breakfast for you." She walked out before he could respond.]

Jalal looked at her, mysteriously going away from him with an odd gaze. Strangely, he stared at his hand for long. Whatever the reason, but he was feeling so much at peace after months, his restless heart sensed harmony and felt content, the aura in the cottage was too familiar. He questioned himself to clear his doubts; why were her voice and touch identical to Jodha? Why did her presence remind me of Jodha? When she touched me, I felt the sparks inside my body. Why, in my sleep, I sensed she was holding my hand and sitting next to me? Oh, that was not my dream; She can't be anyone else; maybe she wants to hide her identity from me; perhaps she doesn't know that I have found the real culprit, I don't think in this deep Jungle they know anything about what is going on in the Sultanate.' A divine flame of hope started to burn in his heart. He sensed Jodha's existence in the aura of the cottage. All of the signs gave him such high hopes; instantly, his face twinkled with the glow of optimism. He wanted to run to her and clear his doubt, but at the same time, his heart was in fear; what if I am wrong? What if she is not Jodha? He wanted his hope to burn in his heart to give him this peace. Just the feeling of her might be Jodha was giving him soothing harmony. He decided that he will wait until he is very sure.

Jodha rushed towards her cottage; while walking, she saw five-year-old boy Nandu playing in the sand. Jodha scolded, "Nandu, why didn't you take a shower yet? And you have already started to play, come on; get in and take a shower; I am making Roti for you."

Nandu disappointedly said, "Ji Maasa."

While walking towards her cottage, she loudly shouted and said, "Nandu, don't forget to take your clothes and come back quickly, don't set off playing in the river."

Nandu gave her a mischievous expression and said, "Maasa please, just a few more minutes..."

He requested cutely, and Jodha couldn't deny his sweet request; she smirked and replied, "Ok, but only a few minutes, and if I am not at the cottage, then come to the next-door cottage. We have a guest in the Ashram." Nandu had no interest in whatever she was saying at that time... he ran inside to get his clothes, then ran out of the cottage in a second, "Nandu, be careful, don't run; you will fall." He ran at the speed of an express train while shouting. "Ji Massa."