Is It Hate OR Love? Jodha Akbar

Chapter 31 -part 2

Knock on the door.

Jalal and Jodha both got alert.

"Shahenshah," Deafening and worried, Abdul's yell reassured the duo. Jodha got up from the bed and went in the side corner and fixed her dupatta.

As soon as Jalal opened the door, Abdul ran inside and, with a tight grip, hugged Jalal with a relieved sigh; he uttered, "Ya Allah Tera Shukriya, I am so relieved you are safe." But the moment later he thought about Queen Jodha, he released Jalal from his embrace and worriedly asked, "Where is queen Jodha?"

"Calm down, Abdul; we both are safe. Thank God I reached on time; otherwise, I would have never been able to forgive myself." Jalal responded in a serious tone while observing Jodha's state; She was hiding in a corner; her ragged clothes were shouting out loud what had gone through. Jalal immediately walked out of the chamber with Abdul and closed the cottage door.

He instructed in a polite tone, "Abdul, made arrangements to take Adham's body to the palace. Jodha and I will come back to the palace alone via secret way." Abdul simply nodded his head without asking further questions and left.

Jalal and Jodha continued on the same horse toward the palace.

Palace was far from the jungle cottage; it was quite long none of them uttered a word; In a faint voice, she called him, "Shahenshah," he was deeply lost in thoughts; her words didn't reach his ears. His silence made her worried. Once again, she called him but no response. she swiftly turned and saw he was deeply lost; nervousness visible on his face. She understood he was anxious, how he will face Badi Ammi.

She gently caressed his cheek uttered, Jalal instead, Shahenshah.

Instantly she got Jalal's attention.

In a comforting tone, she consoled, "Please don't worry; Badi Ammi will understand Adham was a betrayer and what you did was necessary."

Without any word, he just nodded his head.

Her soothing words didn't give him comfort. He was not worried about what Badi Ammi will think of himself, but he was concerned for her pain. His heart was pounding, thinking how devastated she will be when she sees his dead body. Jalal was still very serious. His worry was increasing gradually.

Jalal and Jodha reached his palace chamber via secret. He instructed Jodha to change her clothes.

Jalal immediately called Queen Rukaiya, Queen Salima, Mariam Makani Hamida Bano, Abdul, and Atgah Sahib in his chamber to inform about Adham's death.

Seeing Jalal's excessive fretted face, Hamida asked in a concerned tone, "What happened, Jalal? Why have you gathered us urgently?"

Jalal's eyes were stuck at Jodha's embarrassed face.

Jalal informed everyone with a heavy heart about how Adham tried to kill him and how Jodha came and saved him. Then he told everyone he killed Adham. He didn't mention a word about how he kidnapped Jodha and tried to force on her.

Jodha felt so relieved. She looked at him with gratitude.

Everyone's face filled with shock and distress. Tears dribbled from Mariam Makani's eyes. The way Adham was behaving and his cruelty, all of them knew this would happen one day, but reality smeared with sadness on each heart.

After a minute of mourn, Mariam Makani directed in an imposing tone, "Jalal, I can understand what you are going through, but it is your responsibility to inform Maham manga personally. At this time, she needs your support and cares more than anyone else.

He realized the moment he feared for has arrived. His stomach curled up; his feet felt numb. He lifted his vulnerable eyes towards his Ammi Jaan miserably; with a heavy heart, he responded in a hoarse tone, "Yea, Mariam Makani." it took him a while to release two words.