Continued from here…
“Calm down first, what is the matter”, Zainaba attended to Udaipuri.
“Your brother’s life is at great risk. Sahib has found out that Zubair has done something against Holy Koran, I don’t know what. He has ordered his soldiers to bring him to his court and I don’t know …” Udaipuri starting crying.
Zainaba was speechless and was just wondering what to do next, when another lady servant came to the room and said. “With your permission, Sahiba, I am instructed to tell you the bad news…” hearing her words, Zainaba fainted.
The news of Aurangzeb’s barbarism towards his own brother-in-law spread like wildfire across the empire. Ilaa and Sulekshana returned back Sauviragram. Because of the incident, they were unable to make their mercy plea to Begum.
Finally the new moon made its presence and all the Muslims, original and converted, in Paithan celebrated Id. Aurangzeb arranged a grand Iftar for all his countrymen irrespective of cast and creed. As per orders, Purajith and his friends were to be present in front of Mirza Khan in the central market of Paithan at 10.00AM. Bhairav and his family sat together to eat breakfast. There was silence all around. The only noise that could be heard was Ram Mohan, the 4 year old.
[color-box color=” customcolorpicker=” rounded=false dropshadow=false]“Purajith, I have full faith in you. You will not decide what is wrong for your and Shravani”.[/color-box]
Bhairav said, “Purajith, I have full faith in you. You will not decide what is wrong for your and Shravani”.
“Ji, I guarantee that nothing will happen to me or Shravani – at the same time, I will ensure that no Afgani can take over the soil of the Marathas”, Purajith replied silently.
“Are we all going somewhere?” Ram Mohan asked out of curiosity. Shravani was silent and lost in her thoughts.
“No dear, Papa will go alone first, you, Amma and others will come later”, Purajith told his son.
Purajith finished his breakfast and stood up. “I will meet the doctor and meet you all in the market place. The doctor has asked ne to meet him”.
Purajith moved out of the dining room, both Bhairav and Ilaa were in her tears – Mohan wondered why. “Grandma, why are you crying?” he asked.
There was a big crowd assembled in Paithan market. Purajith and his three friends were sitting in the center, on a wooden log, surrounded by Mirza Khan’s soldiers. Mirza stormed in on his black horse.
“So what is your final decision, Paithan or Agra?” asked Khan.
“Agra”, said Mukul, eldest of the anti-Mughal group.
“I am happy. Next?” asked Khan.
“Agra”, said Shiva another group member.
“Very good. Is that everyone’s decision? Believe me, I am not taking you there show you the Taj Mahal!”, roared Khan.
“I have not told you my choice”, Purajith stood up and said.
“You’re the leader, can I expect you to decide differently?”, questioned Mirza Khan.
To everybody’s surprise, Purajith said in a loud voice, “I have decided to stay back in Paithan, I kneel down in front of you.”
“That is a like a very good boy. Do you know what staying back in Paithan means? I will not let you go easily. I am here on a mission. I want to see more and more Muslim brothers in the country.”
“When I said, I have decided to stay back in Paithan, I mean I am ready for a conversion”.
Unable to stay quiet, Shravani came out of the crowd and roared at Purajith, “I am ashamed of you! I always believed I married a brave and spirited man!”
This was the first time Ilaa and Bhairav were seeing Shravani in this form. Ilaa ran towards her to pull her back. The soldiers stopped Ilaa and Bhairav from coming near Shravani.
“This is good, this is really good. You know, I am widower, not yet re-married and you are so beautiful”, Mirza khan said with a smirk.
“Phooo”, Shravani spat on his face and said, “If my husband has decided surrender his soil, there must be a reason. You do not need to be happy about it”.
“Yes Shravani”, Purajith started talking. “I decided this because of a reason, I want at least one parent for our son. If I choose Agra, I am sure only my dead body will come back to Paithan, and you know the rule of our community and land. Our own people will push you onto my funeral pyre.”
A shock went up Ilaa’s spine. Sati was not yet abolished.
“If I stay back in Paithan, I might be converted to Islam. But I met the doctor in the morning. I am severely ill and he says I will not live more than 6 months. This way at least you will live. Sati is not a practice in Islam”, Purajith continued.
Being new to India, Mirza khan shouted, “Can someone tell me what is Sati?” Purajith’s face was calm as he looked at Shravani. Ilaa and Bhairav stood in shock. The sun burnt sharply on their heads. “Allahu Akbar-allah….” , the Azaan (call) for the next Namaaz could be heard in the distance. Mohan continued to spin his lutt on the market ground.
(Featured Image Source: Creative Commons used under a CC BY_SA 3.0 license)
