Mother of the Age

Stately stood Princess Amber in all her finery, Emerald tunic over a crimson gown, With gems inlaid in her rustling gown, Her arms bangled in intricate gold slowly rose, Her slender fingers rested on her heaving bosom, Listening to unstopping drum-beats of her heart. Her breath clung to the heavy nose ring, Beads of perspiration made damp The adorned golden wreath on her tense filled brow. Her curtained eyes rose to show the fires ablaze, A voice so tumultuous never heard before Anguished the gems in Jalal-ud-din's court To hear their silent queen speak so. Born am I of noble Rajput parents, My father named me Heer Kunwari- a pearl, Was married into a Mughal family without much disdain. Served I in nature true, Does a Mughal king know not Of virtues imbibed by a Rajput princess? Brought up was I in Amber palace, My mother bred me with values Both spiritual and bold, Jump we into the pyre before being disgraced, Honour be the seal of a Rajput maid, This thou shoulds't have known before thou wedded me, My Sire! And accuse you my Lord of my infidelity? Never come close to a Rajput maiden And hence remain from my shadow afar Thoughts of a Mughal King are tarred and defiled, I return to my kingdom for the dishonour bestowed. Yet the truth be unraveled of your wet mother dear, The milk you drank was of not of human kindness for sure, Flowing in your veins is your wet-mothers venom, Your wisdom poisoned was not of your mother's, There be a difference between a mother and a wet mother. My brother was it that visited me in fear, My forged letter to him was sent That his sister in distress had pleaded him near. In hiding is he from enemies around Under the shroud of darkness Came he to rescue his sister hence. The treachery hatched by your mother foster In envy is she of your wife now ignobled. Banished have you me from my wedded abode Nor asked me of my crime in courtroom fenced Why question not your soul of justice denied? Out of my heart you walk thence, Enter I into the shelter of my father loyal My heart pierced with arrows immense, Sail I to home for being slandered thus. Free am I of being concubined in your Mughal walls The knight I was bethroded to was never mine Belonged he to the faith of his venomous milk. Proved thou once again the woman be at fault and not the I. Queen Salima the Innocent was suspected so For being with a man she never had ever seen before Pined she for you in your Palace of Love. I no Salima to take my life In the eyes of my father will I remain a lustrous pearl. Suspicion above truth be your manly tribe Honour above dishonour be a woman's pride. I a Rajput princess forever be Live I in pride for I were true Live thou in guilt for justice denied. The kingdom of God not await for thee Time will come for a woman to rise. Princess Amber followed by her Rajput entourage Seated she in her bridal palanquin Burning cheeks and eyes so cold Ruddier drops had never been shown. Coloured veils rising with the deserty billows Of her ladies in waiting with tear filled eyes. Silence entombed her Amber chambers No question asked by father dear, Trusted he the virtues of his daughter beloved In her mother's warmth she remained embraced To happier familial joys for the seasons to see. Jalal-ud-din's ears roared again and again His weakened ears were his enemy true, Won he a battle to all was known, Losing the home ground to all was shown, Turned he to ashes by his queen so new. Strode he in anger to his foster mother's abode Followed was he by marching soldiers Spears in hand and daggered girdles, Barging into the chamber of his mother wet Huddled in fear of Jalal-ud-din's anger Knelt down she as Yamuna doubly flooded Pleading mercy with joined palms cracked Thundered Jalal-ud-din with anger renewed Take the woman to her empty world Fettered in chains her dungeon be, No man no woman her companion be Till her last breaths no mercy receive. Heralded aloud in Jalal-ud-din's kingdom The banished queen to her throne doth return. The soldiers ready in their array full The stallion royal neighed at his dazzling adornments Saddled in jade and dotted gold, Coloured festoons and brassy jingles Galloped he in hooving a sandy cloud Scalloped eyes stood still only at Amber court. Snowy doves on arches watched The lungs so full as trumpeters blew, The castle bedecked at glorified romance The gypsy dancers in flaring skirts Dancing in chorus to their emperor new, Smearing his brow with vermilion holy Marigolds perfumed under the feet of their trodden king. Touched he the feet of his Amber parents Blessed was he of his auspicious return Escorted regally to the princess' chamber Silence pervaded after chamberlains departed. Knelt he before the royal princess With folded hands and drooping head The belittled princess with a heart so torn Bent she down to her humbled king Moistened eyes and ruby lips She clutched his feverish hands And bespoke, rise Great Mughal King Hence reign in your kingdom great, With knowledge fully acknowledged. Suspicion soon aroused is wilfully pertained Close proximity to peace be unblinded justice. Jalal-ud-din Akbar with glistening brow Rose tall to the stature of his pearly queen Heer Kunwari were you born, your father's pearl Crown I you Mariam-uz-Zamani, Mother Of the Age. Rule you my world in equal voice Justice be enthroned in the voices of kings.