Princess of the dawn

Chapter 62

Ajmer

"Negin, what are you saying? My husband had attacked Amer? Why did he attack Amer? What did he do?" Bakshi slapped her hands over her mouth in horror and stared at her handmaid.

"Huzoor, it is true! Everyone is talking about it. Amer was taken by Sharif-ud-Din ji's troop. According to the talks in the town, your husband met the emperor. "

"He met my brother? Has he gone back to Agra?"

"No huzoor, it is said that the emperor is in the Sanganer area."

‚Jalal is in Sanganer? Sharif attacked Amer? He was supposed to go there with me to visit Jodha! Instead, he's attacking Amer. Did Jalal give him the order? But why? What about Jodha and her family?' Thoughts rolled over in her head.

"Negin, why are you only telling me this now? Do you know more about this? What about Raja Bharmal and his family?"

"Huzoor, that's all I know."

"Try to find out more about it!"

"As you wish, huzoor! There is some more... There are rumors that the emperor wants to come to Ajmer to pray at the shrine of Khwaja M'uinu-d-din."

"Bhaai sa is coming to Ajmer?" Bakshi's face began to glow.

"Ji huzoor. According to the people, he wants to make a pilgrimage to Ajmer."

"Inform us as soon as he approaches Ajmer, Negin. We will join him! Prepare alms for the poor."

"Ji huzoor!"

"You may leave now! And Negin... try to find out more!" she said again.

Bakshi was left pondering. Why should Jalal have attacked Amer? He had invited Raja Bharmal to their wedding. Did this have anything to do with Jalal's assassination attempt? She had been so engrossed in preparations for her departure after the wedding that she had not given the matter a second thought. Maan Singh's innocence had been proven by Abdul Khan. Sadly, she remembered Sharif's gruff manner towards her as soon as they had arrived in Ajmer. Vanished was the charming man who had freed her from her deep grief in Agra and had read her every wish from her eyes. No word that he had wanted to attack Amer. Well, he owed her no account of his intentions. But he had suggested a visit to Amer. Why had he spoken Jodha's name when she had come to his chamber? Something was wrong. It didn't add up! Doubts about her husband's sincerity began to gnaw inside her. She would ask Jalal as soon as he arrived in Ajmer!

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"Fadhil Khan, did you find out anything? Any clue to her whereabouts?" Bhagwant Das was sitting outside the entrance to the cave and jumped up hopefully when he saw Fadhil riding up with a few of his men. He had already returned from the search. No sign of Jodha.

"Nahin huzoor! Nothing! We searched the whole town systematically. We asked everyone we met. Especially around the alley, where your relative was found. Nothing. Nobody saw anything. People fled in panic when Sharif ud-Din's men invaded the town. Maaf keejiye huzoor." Fadhil looked to the ground as the hope on Bhagwant Das' face turned to disappointment and sadness. They had searched every nook and cranny in the town. To avoid arousing suspicion, they had asked their questions as unobtrusively as possible.

"Huzoor, let's wait for the others. It's already dawn. Surely they will be back soon." Bhagwant Das nodded. They had sent the rest of Fadhil's men into the adjacent woods with a few of his own.

"Take your horse to the others and then join us."

When Fadhil returned, the other men were returning in the last light of the evening. Raja Bharmal had joined them and was looking hopefully toward them. The Raja looked questioningly at the men. They only shook their heads dejectedly. Disappointed and sorrowful, he turned away. He had to break the news of the unsuccessful search to Rani Champavati.