notes: I am aware that Akbar and Harkha Bai were around the same age when they got married with Harkha believed to have been a few days older but this is fanfiction and anything goes, so yes, Jalal is about three years older than Jodha in this short story/fanfic.

Also, I know that Raja Bharmal was not monogamous but his portrayal in the show seems to have implied a monogamous relationship between him and Mainavati, so, yes, I will do that in this fanfic/short story

flashback

Rani Mainavati had never found herself to be this nervous in many years, her fingers repeatedly drumming against her silk ghagra. Today was quite an auspicious day for her for three reasons.

First, Jodha turned 18 this very day, the excited princess had sprinted down the stairs of the palace with a wide smile on her face as Mainavati, Rani Apurva, Raja Bharmal, Bhagwan Das, Maan Singh, Raj Singh, Khangar Singh and Jagannath all waited. Towing behind her were Moti Bai and Reva Bai as well as Sukanya and Shivani who all struggled to keep up with the princess's fast pace.

After receiving aarti from the puja thali and giving out donations worth her weight, Jodha had proceeded to request permission to offer puja at the Kali Mata Mandir.

"Nahi, Jodha," was the short reply Mainavati had given her. The times were fraught with the threats of war and invasion from the Mughals. If her daughter had picked anywhere other than the mandir which was located along the outskirts of Amer, she would have granted her permission to go.

"But Maa Sa," she protested, her countenance now fallen by the rejection. "I made a vow that I would offer puja at the feet of Kali Ma, I cannot rescind that."

Mainavati found herself wincing internally at the reminder. Jodha had taken that vow when she was twelve and evidently, she had not forgotten about it. Times had been different then with Amer's threat being a short drought which had befallen the kingdom. Now, things had changed, she could not afford to risk it.

"Jodha-."

"Haan, bete," Bharmal was quick to reply, earning Mainavati's sharp turn of her head to face him with a look of incredulity. Had he not demanded that security be tighter than usual the moment he got wind of the Mughals' eyes on Rajputana?

"Dhanyavaad, Bapu Sa," Jodha's countenance changed, her hands clasped together in appreciation before sprinting away to call Moti, leaving just Bharmal with Mainavati.

"Kyun? Why would you let her go? You know that-."

"Mainavati," Bharmal cut in, his hands holding those of his wife. The old king was aware of the overprotective streak his wife had when it came to their children. "I will send in more guards undercover. Our Jodha will be fine," he reassured her.

Even right now as Mainavati sat in the open corridor, her eyes would occasionally glance at the gates of the palace to be on the lookout for her daughter's arrival.

Her Jodha had always been stubborn, a wild child since her younger days. Not even Sukanya and Shivani gave her as many heart attacks as Jodha did. A little smile lit up the queen's face as she slightly rocked on her seat.

Mainavati had not anticipated having another child until the vaidya had announced her pregnancy to her and an elated Bharmal and Apurva. Yet, the moment the dai placed the little swaddled child in her hands, Mainvati recalled shedding tears of joy as she made prayers to Parvati for granting her a healthy baby girl.

She had known that her Jodha would grow to be a fiery woman the moment she turned three and would hide herself in the unoccupied rooms of the palace. It had gotten to the point that Bharmal had ordered the royal rooms be sealed shut to avoid such recurrence in the future.

The second reason for her growing nerves was Jodha's rishta. She was already past the age where every typical girl of her age was to have her marriage fixed but Jodha had shown little interest, her interest being in defence, medicine, reading and trade instead. Not that any of those were bad in Mainavati's eyes, she just wished her daughter could be more interested in getting married.

To solve that problem, Bharmal had invited the kings of surrounding Rajput kingdoms to Amer under the disguise of uniting their nation against the Mughals. What else made for a stronger alliance if not marriage?

Mainavati was not worried that her daughter would not be considered suitable for marriage. She was aware of her daughter's numerous admirers who would readily ask for her hand in marriage - some had sent letters stating their admiration before. She just wanted her daughter to find happiness in a marriage where she would find love.

Not all marriages were born out of love, unlike hers to Bharmal, yet, Mainavati was hopeful that her daughter would have a marriage that was among the exceptions the way hers had been. Was that too much for a mother to ask for?

The third reason for her worry was the looming visit of the famous or infamous Shaguni Bai. The clairvoyant's fame was dependent on whom the question was directed to.

Shaguni Bai was like the wind - she came and went however she pleased. No one knew where she came from and no one knew the next place she would end up in. Another defining feature of hers was the unpredictability of her visit as she rarely showed up on an invite.

That alone was reason enough for her recipients to dread her visit and it could either pose a blessing or end up making them quiver in dread of what their future had revealed to them.

The last time Shaguni Bai had made her visit to Amer's palatial gates was a few weeks after Jodha's nishkramana. The palace guards made way as the crone hobbled in with her cane supporting her.

Mainavati found herself holding her breath as the clairvoyant threw her cowries on the palace grounds, reciting a eulogy to the goddess. What prophecy could Shaguni Bai have for her daughter? It could be anything and that frightened the queen to her core.

The clairvoyant then looked up at Mainavati with a smile, "You have nothing to fear. Your daughter, Jodha, has a long life ahead of her and she will be known in the annals of history for years to come."

The queen had found herself at ease at the words of Shaguni Bai. It was vague but more reassuring.

But this time was different for Mainavati. Fate could be unpredictable and just because a man got news worthy of elation at one point in time didn't mean he'd always receive good news.

"Shaguni Bai aa gaye hain!"

(Shaguni Bai has arrived!)

Mainavati found herself back in the presence, standing up from her seat and turning to see her dreaded visitor make her way in.

"Pranaam, Shaguni Bai," Mainavati forced a smile to her face, attempting to hide her frayed nerves but from the intense look the older woman gave her, she knew she was failing at her mission. "Please, take your seat."

Shaguni Bai remained rooted on her spot, something the queen would have considered an insult had it been from another person. Just as the clairvoyant had done in the previous visit, she dispersed her cowries on the ground as she praised the deities.

And just like in the previous visit, Mainavati found herself holding her breath in fear. The air fell silent as Shaguni Bai stared down at the ground, fear began to seize the queen as the silence only grew longer than it needed to.

"Shaguni Bai, what does my daughter's future say?"

For a period, the clairvoyant remained silent before she decided to dignify Mainavati with an answer, "I do not decide the future, Mainavati, I only interpret what Fate has laid out for a man."

That did not sound like good news but Mainavati kept her ears open.

"Jodha would live a long life and will leave behind a legacy for people to remember for centuries."

Yes, she knew that already.

"She will be married but not to a Rajput king."

That had Mainavati pausing in her tracks. If not a Rajput, then to whom? Rajputana was surrounded by the Bengals, the Gujarati, Malwa and the Mug-

"No," she said, barely a whisper as she found herself moving a step back.

"Denying what destiny has set before Jodha will not change anything Mainavati," Shaguni Bai chuckled, this was not the first time she'd get such a reaction, nor would it be the last time. "Your daughter would make her way back to the palace dishevelled, with sindoor on her forehead and a bloody attire. Today would also mark the first time in many years she'd have heard of the man she would marry."

flashback over

The wedding tent was almost done, and the mandap had already been set up for when the ceremony would finally take place. It remained just a few minute details before Mainavati could conclude that they were done with the setup.

She had seen a few Mughal soldiers around their tent which was enough confirmation that the groom's entourage was finally in Sambhar. That and the entrance of her son and nephews as well

Despite the colourful display of the wedding venue and the joy of the hostages being returned, Mainavati could not help the look of defeat. Despite her efforts to ensure her daughter would not end up in this situation, here she was.

Would she do it again? Absolutely, without thinking twice. What kind of mother would she be if she chose to just accept her daughter's fate?

In a controlled rage, Mainavati had ordered the gates be closed the next time Shaguni Bai came over, her heart beating erratically from what she had just heard. Her eyes would glance repeatedly and anxiously at the gates just for Jodha's return.

All Jodha had to do was to be back at the palace with her hair neatly braided, her attire as crisp as it was when she left, her dupatta covering her hair and her face clear of any sindoor. Maybe Shaguni Bain's prediction would not come true this time.

Yet, Jodha had walked in, hours later, her hands supporting Moti, her dasi and best friend. Just as Shaguni had predicted, her hair was dishevelled with sindoor and ash on Jodha's forehead. Her attire was stained with blood and her eyes carried a fiery heat which had Mainavati's eyes widened.

She had rushed over to wash the blood off of her daughter while ordering the dasi to get a vaidya to treat Moti's injuries. It was then and there that Mainavati had sworn to ensure Shaguni Bai's words would not come to pass even if it meant wrestling with fate and the gods.

Then, why did she become mellow at this moment?

There was so much at stake for her now that she had to prioritize being the Rani of Amer over being a loving mother to her daughter.

Mainavati, the mother, had locked herself in her room for four days with Rani Apurva as her sole companion as the older woman consoled her daughter-in-law.

Mainavati, the mother, had unleashed her rage on Bharmal for the first time. Her eyes blazing as she accused her husband of selling her daughter to the Mughals with Bharmal just taking every word thrown at him.

But on the fifth day, when Bharmal walked into her quarters again, Mainavati, the mother, finally mellowed and got replaced by Rani Mainavati who understood the situation at hand and the fact that sacrifices had to be made.

Rani Mainavati had walked into Jodha's room after Bharmal had dropped the bombshell, to outline the duties that awaited her as the queen of an unknown territory. The Rani then gave way to the Mother whose heart bled for her daughter.

Even now, Mainavati wished it wasn't so. This preparation was supposed to be between Jodha and Suryabhan and she could only briefly bow her head in respect for the fallen king.

She could tell he loved her daughter, loved her to the point he had halted the wedding after the announcement of the war. Suryabhan wanted her to live her life should he die because he knew what fate would await Jodha had they gotten married then and there.

No matter the strings Mainavati had tried to pull to attempt to change the Raja's mind, he had remained stubborn up to his death. While the other Rajput kingdoms had left Amer to fight the Mughals, Suryabhan had shown up with his army.

Where were those kingdoms now? They refused to lend a hand only for them to show up to express their disapproval of Jodha's marriage and how it was a disgrace that Amer would sell themselves out to the Mughals.

They were the ones to talk about honour while displaying less than honourable actions towards Amer. Regardless, Mainavati found it a waste of time attempting to make anyone see the sense in the decision Bharmal had made.

She looked around again, the venue now completed. It was a moment before the wedding rites would commence and she needed Jodha to be ready by then.

As if the gods had answered her prayers, Mainavati found Moti Bai moving between the crowd of other servants. Moti was often known for her flair for yellow attires, her yellow dupatta making her stand out in the venue.

"Moti!" Mainavati called out, the maidservant looking up to find her. As if feeling the urgency of Mainavati beckoning her over, Moti was able to wrestle her way out of the crowd to make her way to the queen.

"Pranaam, mere Rani," Moti greeted, slightly bowing in respect.

Mainavati acknowledged her with a nod before going straight to her point, "Is Jodha ready? I got a message informing me of the groom's arrival to Sambhar and I need Jodha to be prepared for the rituals starting this evening."

Moti glanced back before turning to Mainavati with an unsure look, "Rajkumari Jodha sent me to get her some water, I will ensure she-."

The queen halted her with a nod and a smile, "I know, run along and then get her ready before the sun sets."

"Haan," Moti bowed slightly again, with her hands clasped as she made her leave.

With a heavy sigh, Mainavati could only hope that the wedding would go on smoothly without a hitch.