NOOR

13. PRETENCE

" The celebration will take place today " Shehenshah put down the scroll that he had stamped the day he reached the palace two days ago. " Begum Noor's welcome will be done later. I have given my word to Ruqaiya and I cannot break it "

" Shehenshah, won't Begum Sahiba be cross with you then? None of us were able to receive her either. Thankfully Jodha Begum and Ruqaiya Begum were there but-"

" But Shehenshah's heir is far more important for the Sultanate than a new begum" Maham Anga intercepted the young Kazi who was supposed to inaugurate the celebration.

The young man looked over to the Shehenshah, only to find fine lines of stress already apparent on the emperor's face. Realising that he might as well get stuck between a kind of dilemma, he excused himself from the chamber, accepting defeat.

" The young apprentice has a quick tongue Jalal" Maham Anga spoke as she sat down on her chair, leaning a bit towards the Shehenshah who was already holding his head in his palms, massaging his temples to relieve himself of the stress.

" But he's quite correct" Jalal spoke, " I miscalculated the dates and kept the celebration on the day of Begum Jyoti's arrival-"

" You were tired and ecstatic when you reached the palace. Even emperors are bound to make mistakes. And this is not even something grave"

" Is it really not?" Jalal stood up, looking out towards the sun that was reaching its full fledged aura, " even Jodha Begum got a welcome"

" Mahanagar wouldn't mind. They aren't a strong Kingdom to take offence at such issues" Maham stated, "and the harem women are mostly filled with trophies, the only woman to mock her would have been Ruqaiya Begum but she now carries your heir"

Jalal sighed, still looking at the horizon that was slowly losing it's dawn hues.

" Are you really troubled about the formalities... Or is it just about Begum Jyoti?" Maham asked, already having an idea about what her foster son was feeling.

" Formalities are what keeping the harem intact. I wouldn't want that to crumble down"

Maham let out an inaudible sigh. The new Begum was proving to be a menace for her.

" Jalal... You're finally going to be a father now. Please stop worrying yourself with stuff that can be easily solved otherwise. The Sultanate always comes first... And for now, your child should be your greatest priority"

Jalal nodded slightly, turning his attention back to the pile of gifts he had received from his zamindars and sahebs.

" The charity should be double this time, I do not want anything to go wrong when it comes to the well being of my child" Jalal spoke. " the Hakim Sahiba should be stationed at the nearest room to Ruqaiya and the best nurses should be appointed at her service. And I know Ruqaiya would be against it, but for the upcoming year, I want her to rest. So I want someone else to be the head of the Harem. She can choose who it shall be, but ask her to do it within a week."

A sigh trailed as he finished with his commands, seeing off Maham Anga to take care of the rest. He had been tired and restless for the past few days, and it was catching up to him quickly.

Being an emperor who had a history of staying up late during regular court sessions, such stress shouldn't have been something new to him. But the ecstasy of finally becoming a father along with the new found softness in his heart for the new begum, brought an aching dilemma to him.

Especially when he knew that Ruqaiya had always tried so hard to gain the same feeling from him that came so naturally when he faced his new Begum.

As he was about to leave for the court, he noticed a guard rushing in, informing about Jaswant's need to speak to him.