Chapter 34 Part 4

Recap:

With her eyes closed, she turned round and round in drenching rain, washing her sorrow and inhaling the sweet soothing smell of the first rain. Jalal's lips parted with longing while pacing towards her; he squeezed her in his strong arms from the back and madly began to kiss on her cheeks. She closed her eyes and allowed his famished touch, "Jalal, let me go, please. Someone will see us." She whispered.

He turned her towards him and sighed; in a low murmur, he replied, "I don't care, Jodha. Let them see. It's been a long time; I can't wait any longer. My heart is longing for your warmth; I can't wait to make you mine again."

His touch sent tingles to her core; she beamed at his desperation. "Jalal, don't be giddy like a young boy who touched a girl for the first time."

Her statement fired his passion further, "Ohh... Jodha, you have no clue, my condition is worse than a young boy, it's too savage; I have not touched a woman for the last six months and craved for you every second; I am like a hungry lion ready to pounce; don't expect me to have patience. I want to peel every single cloth from your body and lost myself in your fire right now. I need assurance that I have finally found you after many months of failure."

"I thought you must have married fifty new begums." She teased and strained closer to him and rolled her hand on his neck, then pecked his cheeks.

"I was busy in search of you, but it's never too late, now I have found you, so I will have enough time to marry fifty new begums." He snapped back at her with a sultry smile.

"I will kill each one of them who dared even to touch you." She replied.

He whispered, "Ohhh... My Jungli Billi," With a stroke, he pulled her closer, then bit on her earlobe obsessively.

The rain slowed down, but the chilly wind and aroma of the first rain created waves of passion inside him.

After a long separation, he saw her divine beauty drenched in water; her giggle, her excitement, her happiness ignited a fire inside him. With a rough grip, he twisted her shoulder towards him with a jerk. He tugged both his hands in her wet hair and pulled down to privilege her mouth and slender neck; without wasting a second, his lips claimed her pink petals with zealous want. His kiss was not soft; His kiss was not just a smooch, but his kiss sealed with complete wildness, roughness, harshness, with immense excitement.

She wriggled in pain, he felt her unnerving tense, but he couldn't control himself any longer. His extreme desire for her was making him crazy. This is how he wanted to express; how much he missed her, how much he loved her, and how much he cared about her. She again squirmed.

After relishing her sweet mouth, he regained his control over his wild desire; his pace slowed down. Once again, he kissed the soft petal of her lips with feathery touch; with a whisper, he asked, "Are you ok?"

With closed eyes, she was lost in his wild passion; with a gasp, she smiled. His eyes lingered at her swollen lip; the tip of his tongue slid to lick on her swollen petals. His demanding eyes lifted at her aspiring dark orbs. He moved one step away from her while waiting for the same keen passion from her.

Without a blink, he viewed her fingers touched across the side of his neck with a gentle stroke. She leaned forward, her lips parted, and eyes darkened, her full bosom collide with his chest, then wet juicy lips met with the same passion. Both equally participated; her silky touch created a surge of desire. His arms snaked around her waist and squeezed further so she could feel his rigid rock shaft.

Her tongue glided to meet his. Waves of passion evolved from within; he shifted his kiss from her lips to her earlobe with a quick step. His hand began to massage on the round bosom and squished on her nipple while sucking her earlobe with the slow pace with constant rhythm, then nibbled on her neck's peak point, soon she moaned in pleasure. With the intention of seduction, he continued with deliberate obsessive kisses on her sensual hot spots. He placed a bunch of kisses with a bite on it, and his hand persistently played with her nipples, evoking her carnal desire, which made her crazily wild.

While kissing, Jalal his hand wandered to find a way inside her top. She hissed when he touched her breast. He advanced while keeping a steady gaze at her eyes; he bit on her nipple at once he gripped on her breast to enthused further to explore; she woke up from his magical spell and realized where his actions were leading towards.

With a hesitant, she spun around and trailed two steps further from him. "Jalal, let me go," she retorted in a mumbling tone. He reached to her in a single strode with quick reflex and again pulled her toward him. She collided on his chest with a thud; he grinned at her with dark desire; He whispered, "Junglee Bili, Your wet sensual body created a fire inside me; I can't stay away from you. I want to forget all the pain we have gone through and want to get lost inside you."

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While kissing on his cheek, she said, "Shahenshah, wake up; you are not in your palace. People are living in the surrounding."

I know this place is secluded, Jodha; no one is around.

Pulling her closer, he responded, "To love my dear queen, I am not dependent on place or time."

She said in an undertone, "Jalal ...please... Your clothes are drenched in water; let's go back to the cottage; otherwise, you will get sick."

With a sly grin, he agreed, "You are right, Jodha begum, I am already feeling cold, I should change my clothes, and also, you have not put medicine on my wounds yet."

Jodha realized she forgot to give him Kadha and to change his dressing. With concern, she stated, "Shahenshah, please go to your cottage; I will soon change my clothes and come to your cottage with medicine and Kadha."

Meanwhile, Jodha comes back, Jalal instructed Abdul to arrange food for ten people and inform Panditji about Jodha. He changed his clothes, but he didn't wear his top.

After taking a shower, Jodha wanted to pray and show gratitude towards God Krishna for changing her life once again. The divine flame of Diya was burning in front of the small temple. She closed her eyes and connected her soul with God, and chanted Mantras, but when she opened her, the divine flame was gone. Her heart sank the way sacred flame died. There was no air; Diya was filled with enough oil; she couldn't understand what happened all of a sudden. After igniting Diya, she closed her eyes and prayed to God Krishna to enlighten her.

With a rush, she got dressed, and when she carried a tiny box of sindoor to fill up parting, all of a sudden, the sindoor box dropped from hand. These two big ominous signs shook her; she took a deep breath in and out again prayed to God Krishan to keep him safe.

Despite the ominous signs, she kept her faith in God and began to prepare medicine for him with haste, took some fruits and milk then rushed towards his cottage. Once she entered the cottage, the first thing she noticed, Jalal was shivering and had covered himself with a big blanket while sitting on the bed. Jodha got anxious and scared after seeing his condition, she thought due to drenching in the rain, he got sick again. The cold breeze was knocking at the windows, so she closed the door and all the windows. Due to heavy rain, the darkness took over the light before time; thus, she turned on the lantern. As always, he got mesmerized seeing her glowing face, simple beauty without any jewelry in the hazy light. Her long, wavy wet hair made her desirable. Jodha put her hand on his forehead to check if he had a fever, but his temperature felt fine.

"Shahenshah, you don't have a fever, then why are you shivering." She asked.

Jalal responded while trembling, "Jodha begum, this is a different type of shiver. It's coming from inside; You won't be able to feel it, and this cold can be cured by body heat only." He pretended to shiver more while looking at Jodha with his innocent pretense.

After seeing his expression, Jodha understood, "Ji Shahenshah, don't worry, I will cure your cold soon."

With a wicked smirk, he imagined Jodha in his arms.

Jodha narrowed her eyes and gave the big bowl of bitter kadha in his hand, and said, " Drink this immediately; it will cure your dramatic cold."

Jalal got up and put kadha on a side table and dragged her towards him with a heavy jolt and responded, "Well, when my dearest begum is here to cure my cold, then why would I drink this bitter Kadha?"

Before she could react, she was lying on the bed next to him. Jodha felt a little nervous; after six months of separation, he was coming too close too soon. She wanted to talk to him, but at the same time, seeing the passionate desire in his eyes, she was melting in his broad chest. Jalal slowly leaned towards her; hesitantly, she pushed herself backward. He grimaced, seeing her worried expression; he came very close to her; their rapid breathing was audible to each other. His breathing was sending a warm shiver on her face. Her cheeks turned pink, she was unable to see in his eyes; he slowly rubbed her cheeks with his and whispered in her ear, "Junglee Billi, DARR GAYI KYA" "Are you scared?"

Her lashes fluttered, then she lifted her beautiful innocent eyes and nodded her head "yes.".

He grinned and asked in an undertone the same questions he had asked her the first time "Do you trust me?"

She closed her eyes with a moan.

He leaned down to her ear and whispered, "Do you love me?"

In a low tone, she slurred, "Do I still need to tell you that?"

He looked into her eyes with intense Love.

With a flushed face, she murmured, "Shahenshah, don't look at me like this."

While beholding her gaze, he put her hair behind her ear, then moved his fingers on her cheeks and said, "Jodha, you have captured me in your beauty spell; how could I take my eyes off you." he moved his fingers on her lips "Your shivering lips are enticing me." His finger moved down on her bosom, "Your heaving bosom is making me crazy." His fingered caress her bellybutton. "Your small waist and the tempting navel is killing me." Before he could move further, she embraced him with hunger, his topless muscular, broad chest collided with her breast. In the same position, Jalal pushed her down and captured her body in his grip while lying on top began to kiss her. He sensually sucked on her earlobes while kneading on her bosom. He whispered, "I missed you so much."

His soft touch was making her vulnerable. She replied in a sincere tone, "Jalal, I love you so much." With a gentle caress on his cheek, he could read deep desire and longing in her sparkling hazel eyes. He moved down and kissed her neck with many smooches and licked on her collarbone.

With heavy heart, she requested, "Jalal, please nooo..."

Jalal responded with a desperate tone, "Jodha, don't say no today, I need you, I want you." He continued further and pulled her blouse down and wildly began to bite on her cleavage.

She sighed, "Jalal, please look in my eyes." He looked at her with a deep yearning for her. "Can you control yourself for a few days for my sake... please?" She requested in a low tone,

With confusion, he looked at her and asked, "Why Jodha?"

While beholding his gaze, she reasoned, "Shahenshah, I am all yours, and you know that too, but I would like to spend some time peacefully in your arms. I am too tired of everything; I want to sate in your warmth. I was too lonely in this isolated place for a long time. So many things I want to know. Since we got married, in the last eleven months we both have not spent much time together. I want to feel I am married to my Love. Your responsibilities and duties towards the sultanate and thousands of harem women have kept us apart; either you are out of the palace on political affairs or war. When you are in the palace, I have to share your time amongst thousand. In reality, we probably spend few days together, which can count on my fingers. I want to start fresh all over again where there is no hatred, no jealousy, no anger, no conspiracy but just Love. I want my devoted husband. So, my request, my wish, and my desire to consummate again in your chamber in Agra. I want an entire week of your time day and night as my husband, not as Shahenshah."

Jodha, you have no clue what I have gone through in the last six months. My own loved one has ripped my heart with their betrayals. Without you, my broken spirit has drowned in deep darkness, and you are the one who can only pull me out in the light. You are the only one who can give solace to my damaged soul. God, I need you; I need a release. How can I tell you I want to vanish inside you to ease the pain that has consumed my dark soul. I want to take you so hard and rough again and again to lose myself in oblivion. But your wish means everything to me.

He closed his eyes and dropped his head on the pillow; after a long pause of silence, he replied in a melancholy tone, "Jodha, you know your wish means everything to me, but you are in front of me, so it's too difficult to control my desire. Anyway, I will wait for that beautiful moment when we become one again."

He paused with a deep sigh out, but all of a sudden, with haste, he got up and said, "Jodha, get ready; let's leave for Agra right now."

Jodha started to giggle, seeing him so impatient, "No, Jalal, I would like to spend the night in your arms and talk the entire night."

"You mean you want to talk, and I listen, right" He jested while resting next to her.

Jodha relaxed her head on his chest and asked, "Are you upset at me."

"Jodha, life has taught me so much in the last few months that these pity things don't upset me. I have learned how to control my anger, and our separation made me realize that I am nothing without you. You are the source of my breath, my happiness, my everything. My heart didn't beat for the last six months, and I was a lifeless soul. Never leave me again, Jodha." His tone was mixed with irony and massive grief. Two muted tears seeped from the corner of his and her eyes.

After a long pause of silence, she asked, "How is Ammi Jaan?"

She was the only solace in your absence.

"She is fine."

"How is Rahim and Queen Salima? Does Rahim still remember me or has forgotten me?"

"He asked one question every day when Choti Ammi will return? Everything is the same in Agra Jodha." His tone was clipped; all of a sudden, he looked detached from her.

He silently pleaded, 'Don't ask me about Badi Ammi and Rukaiya, please? I am too ashamed to answer your questions.'

She understood something was eating him inside. Pain and sadness were oozing out from his over casted cloudy eyes. The man, who is strong like a bull, looked like a fragile glass ready to shatter.

"Jalal," The room fell in silence but is filled with many unanswered questions.

"Who was it, Jalal?" Finally, she asked while observing his cold eyes.

His fingers trundled through his hair; he inhaled, then his piercing depressed eyes lifted at her, "As always, you were right, it was Badi Ammi and...." Words choked in his throat; he failed to complete the sentence.

Jalal, I know my questions are stinging you, but you need to talk it out and release your pain.

Jodha turned his face toward her and gently caressed, then asked in a firm tone. "And... Who else?"

His pale eyes stared at her blankly as if time has taken a momentary break. His mind replayed, again and again, Rukaiya's teary eyes, her misery, her anger, her betrayal.

"Tell me, Jalal, who else?" She asked again; her tone was much louder and persistent.

Before the words spilled, his throat burned, the color drained from his face, and his shoulder dropped. "Rukaiya was not with child; it was conspiracy all along." He closed his eyes to escape from reality—finally, a knot of pain released from his throat in a mortifying tone.

"Oh, God... No." that's all she could utter. She felt tightness in her chest; everything seemed to slow down. She realized he lost everything; Jodha very well knew Rukaiya was Jalal's life, probably his first Love and childhood friend. She was not only his first wife, but they shared their entire youth together.

After a long silence, with folded hand, she called, "Jalal," When he heard her sobbing sound, he opened his eyes. His heart cried, seeing immense pain and unstoppable tears in her eyes.

"Please forgive me, because of me; your loved one parted from you, first Adham then Badi Ammi and now Queen Rukaiya. I wish I can change everything. How have you endured this unbearable pain? It is hurting Jalal; I cannot bear seeing you in this much pain." She hugged him while sobbing.

"Jodha, please don't cry; I cannot see my blisters in your eyes," He stroked her back and let her cry her heart out. She was crying not only for the betrayal, but she was crying for their separation; she was crying for his pain; she was crying for ill-omened signs.

"Jodha, look at me." He said in a composed voice,

She looked at him; he wiped tears from her face and said, "Jodha, do you want to hear how I find out?"

"No, Jalal, I don't want you to go through that pain again. I don't want to hear anything." She responded in a flat, monotone voice.

While holding her palm, he said, "Perhaps I will feel relieved after telling everything about what happened."

He sounded very calm and poised; he looked much relaxed than before. She got up and sat next to him; then he told Jodha every detail, and at the end, he said Jodha, as per Mughal Law, you will have to declare their punishment because both of them are your culprits.

"Jalal, I feel since I came into your life, you are detaching from your close people. Because of me, they betrayed you."

Before she continued further, Jalal kept his finger on her lips. "Don't blame yourself Jodha, perhaps I didn't recognize their real faces and intentions; they have given me bloody tears. They can't be mine. I have no regret they are not close to me any longer, but the way they betrayed me and broke my heart brutally, that pain is unbearable. Rukaiya is not only my culprit, but she is an offender of the entire sultanate. Her offense is unforgivable; both have given us terrible aching; I will never forgive them. I want you to punish them worse than the death penalty. They have betrayed my Awwam.

Jalal, I can read in your eyes, you do miss queen Rukaiya. The punishment that you have given her is killing your inner strength. Your words do not reach your eyes.

"I agree, Shahenshah, they are treacherous, they are not only your offender, but they have deceived the entire Awwam. How can I excuse them? They have given you bloody tears. I will never forgive them; my heart is not that weak, I am a Rajput warrior; if I can give my life for my country, then I can take someone's life as well if needed."

Her statements not only shocked and alarmed him but his hope diminished; he was not anticipating this much sternness from Jodha.

"Jalal, we have met after so long, so no depressing talk, and let's enjoy our time together and I have so much to talk, but first, can you please smile for me?" Her tone changed from serious to lively. Her eyes sparkled with excitement.

Looking at her sparkling eyes, Jalal gave a faint smile.