Resham tells Maham Anga and she is pleased to know that now, Jalal will get over Jodha’s interest and tells Adham Khan about it as well. She says Jodha was “a darling”, that was given all the attention till Amer, and will become “worn out/stale” in Agra.
Jalal is confused as to what he should do –Jodha’s life VS Jodha’s words i.e., the promise he made to her? He removes his fur coat, sits on the bed, and puts his hand over Jodha’s head and he’s lost in thoughts.
Jodha wakes up to a bright sunlit day. She gradually becomes aware of something rubbing her hands, on turning, she discovers her beloved enemy Jalal rubbing her hands industriously. Very quick as a lightning, Jodha snatches her hand, and hesitantly, she wants to know how she came to lie on the bed safe and sound? Jalal retorts that only a brave warrior like him can commit such a suicidal mission, and before she could let loose of her tirade, Moti walks into the tent. Jalal orders Moti to give Jodha her medicines and walks out.
Flustered Jodha, demands to know the events of the night. Before Moti could reveal what transpired, Maham Anga walks in, and gloats that Jalal managed to have the taste of the forbidden fruit! Maham Anga expresses a fond hope that with the one night stand, Jalal’s ardor for Jodha would vanish forever! Her words devastate Jodha.
Jodha as usual, storms towards Jalal, who is in a conference meeting with his entourage. The entourage moves away even before Jalal could order them away. Jodha orders Jalal inside. As soon as he steps inside, she very fearfully asks to know what happened THAT night? Jalal being every inch the King retorts that ”Things that were meant to happen has happened, events moved as expected, and actions were taken that were deemed fit”
Crushed Jodha, swiftly replies that A king had to keep to his promise at all times and that she would have preferred to die than he break his promise! Jalal glares and says “A king can do anything and he’s not bound by anything!”
The Caravan proceeds to Agra , with a morose, depressed Jodha, trying to recollect the incidents of the previous night.
The horseman who was sent by Ruqaiya misses the party. Jalal continues towards Agra unaware of the looming crisis.
Jalal and his party moves towards Agra Palace and they are stopped inside by a group of Maulvis. The Maulvi’s state that Jalal cannot govern the Mughal land any longer, as he had blasphemed by bowing down in a Temple! They accuse Jalal of diverting from the path of Allah, and forbids him from sitting on the throne or governing the land anymore!
Hamida bano tries to placate the Maulvis, but they are in militant mood and refuse to be placated. Maham Anga intervenes and says that, Jalal is a messenger of Allah, a shadow, but not God and as human, he has committed mistake and the mistake will be rectified. She says this blocking of his path and refusing him admittance into the Palace is only a way of declaring a revolt against him! Maham Anga says The Maulvis should listen peacefully and not react angrily.
Adham Khan who was listening to this exchange gets angry as he sees his chance of becoming the King of Agra decreasing. The Maulvi’s refuse to back down and are on the War path.
Jalal steps up and points out that the Maulvi one of them had himself prayed for Jalal’s prosperity in a Temple and that his head was already bowed in the Temple of Umarkot . The Maulvi’s are further calmed when Jalal assures them that he has not deviated from the path of Allah.
Just then, one of the Maulvis places a condition. They blame Jodha for this turn of events and say that, had Jodha not been of different religion, all this things wouldn’t have occurred! The Maulvis tells Jalal that Jodha must convert to Islam!! Jalal doesn’t know how to respond. Maham Anga once again intervenes and seeks a night for consultation and decision, which is granted.
In Adham Khan’s Mansion, there is a show down between Adham Khan And Maham Anga with Maham Anga stating unequivocally that Adham Khan is not a King material, and the day he does something that shows him as even superior than Jalal, then she will support him! Angered by her dismissal, Adham raises his hand on Maham Anga which shocks her to the core. She warns Adham Khan against trying such thing again and warns him of the consequence!
In Court, Shariffudden comes and ask Jalal you called me here? Jalal in anger says if they were not Priests, they would have been dead by now, as they pointed at my love for my God which nobody did before, and this is the greatest insult of all the Mughal Kings! He says I only want to know who told them this!
Shariffudden says I also do not know, but the only solution they suggested is either Queen Jodha accepts Islam or leave Agra. He says I believe that you will always do things in favour of our religion, and one thing is that, your order is my command.
Jalal says the question is who told the Priests this news! Atgah Khan says I will present that Culprit to you, don’t worry. Adham Khan thinks who is this new enemy of Jalal?
Jodha says to Moti that everything was okay until we reach here. She says at first, it was a night with Jalal and now, my religion.
Maham Anga along with Ruqaiya comes and says I warned you in Amer that it will cause rage among the people if Jalal goes to the Temple, but you didn’t listen to me, and now, see what happened!
Jodha ask why? I respect your religion, but my religion is my pride. Ruqaiya says you claim your husband is everything for you, then why is his religion not your religion? And now, the time has called for it! She says Jalal did so much for you, then why can’t yoy do this much for him?
Jalal comes and ask you all here? Ruqaiya say we are making Jodha understand that before the Priest comes here, she should be ready to change her religion.
Jalal says this will not happen, as I gave her my promise at that time of our wedding that she can follow her religion freely.
Maham Anga says it’s about the Mughal throne. Jalal says my words are the most important for me and secondly, she didn’t force me, as I went to the Temple on my own, so why should she get the punishment, as I gave her the permission, so now, it’s her choice, and nobody will force her!
Jodha says what Hamida bano says, I will do.
Ruqaiya says to Hamida bano that she wants your approval to convert her religion, so just tell her to accept their religion and Jalal would be saved from this insult, and it’s only about the Muslim confession of faith, and what it matters to her.
Hamida bano says not a single word now, I am proud of her that she gave me that much respect, that she allowed me to take decision, but nobody will force her. Jalal’s politics is something else, but being an elder in the Mughal Sultanate, Jodha will not change her religion, and it was also promised at the time of their marriage, so do not force her, and that is her decision. Maham Anga and Ruqaiya are irritated. Jodha is thankful.
Jalal in Court, says that I gave her my word, that she will follow her religion, and I can’t force her to change her religion, as it’s her right to change or not, and if I have to leave the throne, then I will give it to Rahim after me.
Jodha says I asked for a decision from Hamida the Queen Mother, as her decision will be final.
Hamida bano gets up and says the decision is that my daughter in-law will accept Islam. All are shocked. Maham Anga thinks what trick she has played? At first, she won Jodha’s trust and now, she saved Jalal’s throne.
The Priest are happy and they start preparing for the ritual. Sahikh Mubarak arrives at the Court. He says that this ritual should be stopped by now! The Priest asks why, and that embracing Islam is a good deed.
Sahikh says indeed, but accepting Islam for reasons other than your love for it, are against God and religion both! He says Sahikh Salim Chishti has sent a message for the King.
It says: “Jalal, I heard some voices this morning. I looked at the sky. I realized looking at the sparrows, about how lucky they are. Independent of religion and near to God, and when God hears their chirping, there is no difference of the Muslim confession of faith and Mantra (a chant used by Buddhists and Hindus when they meditate). I feel like I should set up a land like Ajmer, where love can flourish without the restrictions of religion and language. When you will understand that day, you will get a gift from God, as your Heir and your Son. Yes this is not a mere dream, this is indeed the message that nature gave me, and I am telling you because this message is from the one that can change the world. God is to be loved, not to be feared of.”
Sahikh says that I don’t think that after listening to this, I guess you people have no problem in letting Jalal sit on the throne. The writer of this letter is the one who understands the religion so well. I believe that we are now of the assurance that no one should raise a question at the King’s decision!
The Priest says to Jodha that I don’t know if it was our Allah or your god/goddess that saved us from going against God, by converting you without your love for the religion, and accepting it, which is a sin. He says they can’t go against the judgement of Salim Chishti.
Hamida bano says to Jodha that I knew Chishti Sahab’s letter was coming, and that was why I went against you, so I could get some time, and this problem can be solved.
Maham Anga thinks, wow, Empress Hamida bano, you are cleverer than I thought, and why didn’t I see this face of your before?
Jodha is sitting, she says in front of her lord that I was so scared when Mother said that I have to change my religion. I became angry at you, that how could you not help your Jodha? But when Sahikh Chishti’s letter came, I realized that in any face, you are always there to help your Jodha. She thanks her god for that.
Jalal comes in. Jodha says you are here? Jalal is about to say something, but Jodha interrupts him. She says you think that by not changing my religion, you have fulfilled your promise, and I will forgive you? No, I won’t do that, because you broke your one promise. In the tent,what you did to me! She recalls the way she asked him if he has done something the previous night and Jalal says that yes, you can consider it the need of time or my responsibility, as I had to do this.
Jodha says I haven’t forgotten that! Jalal says yes, I remember it was so hard for me to find a black cloth that night. Jodha asks black cloth? Jalal says yes and your body was so cold. Jalal says to Jodha that the Doctor said to make you conscious, you need heat and she gave that responsibility to me, and I gave you my promise, so I thought of a black cloth as it gives heat to the body, so I put you in black cloth. Jodha says that means that night, you didn’t…? Jalal says to do something, I don’t need day or night, and I gave you my promise which I followed.
Jodha ask why you didn’t tell me this before? Jalal says you you’ve gone to so much extent before I could tell you. Jodha ask then why now? Jalal says you were tensed, and as a King, I gave you this answer as a gift, and I am not that much cruel to punish my Wife like this. He leaves.
Jalal offers her prayers. And on the other side, Jodha sings bhajan and do aarti of the lord.
Ruqaiya comes to Jalal and says I sent a messenger to inform you that the Priests here has gone against you. Jalal says he didn’t reach me. Ruqaiya says I got to know that one storm came and it took you and Jodha with it.
Jalal ask how do you know? Ruqaiya says many were there. Jalal says but nobody knows about it. Ruqaiya says I know everything about you. Jalal ask so you were spying on me? Ruqaiya says I am your friend, but your wife too. Jalal says yes, I spent the night with Jodha in the same Tent. Ruqaiya is jealous.
Jodha ask Moti that Jalal was saying that he didn’t touch me, is it true? Moti says why not? Why will he lie to his wife, and who can stop him? Jalal has no fear to tell a lie and if he had done that, then it was his right, as you are husband and Wife.
Here, Ruqaiya says you played a lot, but it’s sad now, as Jodha will lie in some corner of the Palace. Jalal ask aren’t you jealous? Ruqaiya says this is not the first time you spent the night with the other wives, so why would I be jealous? Jalal says you should be as a wife.
There, Jodha says what if I am his wife? She says he first need my permission and you can think of it as my arrogance.
Here, Ruqaiya says she was arrogant, and now, she will cry for the rest of her life. She leaves. Jalal says I can’t understand these women, they are something else as friend, and behave otherwise as a wife, whether it’s Jodha, Salima or Ruqaiya.
Jodha comes to Hamida bano and greets her. She says thanks to Hamida bano and says whom should I trust if not yo Hamida bano says Jalal, and yes, he is protecting you when he gave you that right whether to change your religion or not, as a hubby’s decision is important in this matter. Jodha says but you protected me as well.
Hamida bano says the first religion is humanity, as you saved Rahim, Moti and Jalal. Jodha says you were always there with me. Hamida bano says if I weren’t there, Jalal would have fulfilled his promise. Jodha is thoughtful.
Read Next: Wednesday update on Jodha & Akbar, 26th May, 2021
