Is It Hate OR Love? Jodha Akbar

Chapter 5

While kissing on her lips spitefully, Jalal's eyes wedged the sight of blood on her hand, which was flooding out. Suddenly, after seeing blood, his senses returned, and realized he was about to force on her. His heart sank, seeing her condition. The way she was standing exposed without her dupatta (stole), her hair looked clumsy, and all messed up lips swollen, and there were many bite marks on her cleavage and collarbone. He couldn't believe himself; he did all this to her. Instantly, he released her hand from his grip; when he felt blood on his hand, he stepped back in shock. She was standing there like a lifeless corpse; There was no reaction from her.

In a faint, guilty tone, Jalal apologized, "Queen Jodha, please forgive me," there was no reaction from her. His words didn't reach her ears. She stared at him impassively. He decided to leave the tent since he was disgusted with himself. He started walking out, and suddenly he heard a loud noise like something fall. He hurriedly turned and saw Jodha on the floor unconscious, "Jodhaaa." he roared.

He carried her in his arms and carefully put her on the bed; then He grabbed dupatta (stole) from the floor and covered her to hide assaulting marks on cleavage. Then swiftly, he came out of the tent and instructed his guard to call the doctor (Hakim) immediately and told Moti to go inside with him.

Moti ran inside the tent with Jalal; she was shocked to see Jodha in this condition. Seeing her swollen lips, she immediately understood what must have happened. Tears began to delude out from her eyes silently.

She knew Jodha was fasting for the last three days, and today the whole day, she was cooking.

Within a minute, the doctor (Hakim) rushed into the tent; seeing her condition, she shuddered for a second. She wiped her wound and put medicated ointment to stop bleeding. After checking Jodha's pulse and eyes, "Why is she so pale, her skin also too dry. Seems like she is dehydrated? Her pulse is so slow. Is she eating and drinking properly?" she asked questionably while looking at Jalal and Moti.

Jalal looked towards Moti for the answer.

Moti began to cry loudly out of panic. "Jodha is fasting for the last three days; she has not eaten or drank anything."

Jalal's eyes widened in shock; he angrily stared at Moti. When she continued crying, he shouted, "Keep your mouth shut and tell me why she was fasting?"

Moti feared seeing dreadful anger in Jalal's eyes; in a low voice, she explained, "Queen Jodha has not eaten anything after her wedding. She was very depressed while leaving Amer; I overheard her grieving with the god Krishna for tarnishing her dream and life; she was so upset at God; she chose to punish god by punishing herself. Since her childhood, she has had immense faith in Lord Krishna, and she always speaks to him like his acquaintance and well-wisher. She has done many fasts before, but since it was a long journey and on top of it, today she cooked in front of a hot grill. She directed me not to notify anyone about her fasting, and no one even asked why she didn't eat for three days and night, but she will eat tomorrow morning after prayer since today is the last day of her fasting."

Jalal got extremely surprised and disturbed to find that Jodha has not eaten anything for the last three days. He scolded Moti in a tender tone for not telling him about her fasting. He was already disgusted at himself for forcing himself on her; both of her hands were still bleeding. He felt guilty knowing that she has been fasting for three days, and he made her cook for so many people just to break her apart. Seeing her pale and weak face, he was feeling even more remorseful. He said to himself. Oh, God, I have not seen anyone so headstrong and divine like her, who could even fight and punish god by punishing herself.

Jalal anxiously asked, "(Doctor) Hakim Sahiba, How is queen Jodha's condition?"

Cautiously, she replied, "Shahenshah, she is fragile, and her pulses are sinking. If you permit me, I would like to give her some remedy with water; since she is fasting, I am not sure what to do; otherwise, without medicine, it's going to be very difficult."