The Hidden One by Ruchir Gupta

Author:Ruchir Gupta
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: One Point Six Technologies Pvt Ltd
Published: 2019-04-20T00:00:00+00:00

PART III

12

A FINAL FRACTICIDE

How many hearts, O Love, thy sword hath slain,

And yet will slay!

4 JANUARY 1663

A cold wind from the north blew equally on noble and commoner as Delhi lay in its chilly grip. The women in the harem moved about with Kashmiri shawls draped over themselves. The muslins of summer were discarded, packed away with dried rose leaves for the arrival of summer. Months had passed since Prince Muazzam’s ill-fated day of Declaration. Zebunissa had hoped that when spring came, she would be Empress and effectively the ruler of Mughal India. Instead, her father Aurengzeb was once again on the throne, and she behind the harem windows, while Muazzam sat in prison; another failed rebellion; another of the Emperor’s sons in jail.

Aurengzeb himself was not the same man he had once been, his illness having placed a heavy mark on him. His speech was slurred and he spoke with deliberation. All his nobles took note of how he no longer engaged in long discourses with them, opting instead to dictate long letters to his scribe if detailed discussion was needed on some matter. He had grown weak; his high cheek bones were prominently defined; his hair grey; he walked with a stoop.

But Zebunissa did not make the mistake of supposing these physical debilities spoke of an equal weakness of mind, for Aurengzeb remained invincible. The royal hakims had told her repeatedly that no one had ever recovered from such a massive stroke, and if the Emperor did, he would be permanently bedridden. But they had been wrong, for here was Aurengzeb, sitting on his throne with his bejewelled turban glistening, issuing proclamations and edicts.

On learning how the family had intrigued against him during his illness, Aurengzeb quickly moved to quell the forces seeking to undermine him. The proclamation to free Shah Jahan and Jahanara was rescinded before ever it reached Agra and part of Raja Jai Singh’s kingdom was taken away. Strangely, Zebunissa and the Makhfi were left unscathed, due to the lack of evidence incriminating them and their role in the rebellion. His illness also had a profound effect on Aurengzeb’s attitude and policies. The powerlessness of the royal hakims to truly cure him had a humbling effect on his psyche. He believed that a Divine hand had delivered him from death and he became more benevolent in his policies: taxes were lowered for all citizens, even Hindus, and salaries of court official were lowered. To help those with large debts, he doubled the value of the silver rupee, much to the chagrin of money lenders. He even eliminated, though temporarily, the taxes on pagodas and temples. Zebunissa feared that her father, once he regained his strength, would incrementally reverse all these changes and continue his reign of terror.

On learning of the plot to install his young son Azam, and the fake document that bore the Royal Seal and his fingerprint, Aurengzeb turned livid with anger. Raushanara’s actions were revealed to him by both nobles and commoners. He summoned the court to the Diwan-i-Khas to ponder what her punishment should be.

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