Is It Hate OR Love? Jodha Akbar

Chapter 34 Part 1

(NOTE: I am going to try to write in a Marwari Hindi tone... I am not sure I will be able to write correctly; I have also translated all Hindi Dialogues in English.)

Chapter 34 Part 1

A loud deafening screech, "JALALLLL..." lanced through the stillness of the night. Seeing the awfully wounded condition of his love, her source of breath, it was like an explosive burst at her spirit. Jodha fell back several steps in a trauma. The panic tied through her core. As if her own life came to an end, her breathing stopped, and her eyes stretched further to validate. His yellow Rajputi style top was dripping blood, and his sharp orbs were closed as if dreaming calmly out of his misery. All of her energy consumed in a fraction of a moment; her legs gave up; her body went rigid out of shock. She blankly looked at his lifeless form lying on the mattress. She again tried to scream, but words got jammed in her throat.

Panditji, who was waiting for Naresh to bring horses, rushed inside his cottage as soon as he heard her dreadful cry. Hira's fearful condition dumbfounded him; after residing for months with her, he very well knew how strong-headed a person she is. Since the day she entered the Ashram, he had seen unfathomable sadness in her eyes, but this was the first time he witnessed a pool of tears in her eyes. To awaken her from the shock, he gently called her, "Hira," When she didn't respond, he tapped on her shoulder and yelled, "Hiraaa."

As her senses returned, she looked at Panditji inanely with deadly fear in her eyes; he asked in a calm voice, "Are you feeling well, Hira? It seems like you have never seen a severely injured person." She nodded her head while masking her inner and outer chaos.

"Hira, be brave, my child; you don't have time to restrain your emotions. It would help if you started treating him now; he has lost substantial portions of blood; first, try to stop his bleeding; meanwhile, we will bring the Healer from the nearest village. It will take us a few hours. His life is on your hand; may God give you strength.

Jodha sealed her eyes and prayed to God Krishna to give her strength. The realization hit her that Jalal needs her. "Ji Panditji, I will make the ointment to stop his blood." She finally spoke in a composed tone. Then, instantly she instructed Panditji to check on his vitals while she began to make Ayurvedic ointment out of the dry herbs. After checking his pulse in a hurried voice, Panditji specified, "Hira, he is sinking; his heart beats have dropped low." Jodha tried to curb her emotion but failed to constrain her silent tears. Tears slashed the back of her throat as she fought not to cry. She rapidly began to mix-up the herbs; while Panditji took off Jalal's top. With a relieved tone, he stated, "Fortunately, all other injuries are minor other than the one on his left shoulder; if you can stop his bleeding, then he will probably survive." Before his sentence finishes, Jalal's condition worsens, his body begins to move up and down. He inhaled and exhaled noisily as he struggled to breathe. Seeing his state was trailing down, Panditji also rattled as he heard the tapping sound of the horse's arrival; he ran out to get Healer. His last word rumbled in her mind a few times," Hira, try your best, my child.".

The instant Panditji left, Jodha cried her heart out freely. After preparing medicine, she rushed toward him; First, she cleaned his wounds with warm water and quickly put a big lump of the medicine mixture on his injured shoulder than other small injuries. The instant ointment touched his body; a slight squeal rumbled through his throat "Jodha."

Jodha replied in a panicky tone, "Shahenshah, look at me, I am your Jodha; please wake up... are you listening to me? She continued in a louder tone, "Nothing will happen to you; I will not let anything happen to you." Finally, after ages, as she caressed his face, a chill ran down her spine; his body was cold, too cold. With her knowledge of medicine, she immediately understood that his body turned icy-cold due to excessive blood loss, and his condition is trailing. A few minutes later, his body began to shiver; She closed all windows and a door and covered him with four warm blankets, and began to massage his feet to generate heat. None of the cure was helping; he was still trembling with uneven breathing; his lips and cheeks turned purple. She slid under the blanket and hugged him tightly to give him body heat while making sure not to put a strain on his wounds. Her soft skin, warm blood, known heartbeat, and familiar touch gave warmth to his cold blood. Even in his unconscious state, Jalal recognized the heat of her touch; in half an hour, his frozen blood again thawed up in her warmth, and his shivers reduced, and breathing got better, but still, it was slow. The blood stopped dripping out, and the medication began to work. Seeing a little improvement, Jodha felt relieved; she embraced him tightly and kissed on his cheeks gently. It was like an electric spark; suddenly, Jalal's lifeless body fabricated energy to fight.