Taj Khan was appointed by the first Mughal emperor Babur to manage Chunar fort, the gateway to the east of Hindustan. He was an experienced military man who never wavered in his loyalty to the Mughal throne. Yet above all, Taj Khan cherished his nikkah to Zohra, lovingly renaming her Mallika or queen. Through his first wife, he had several sons, wastrels who had no ambition beyond capitalizing on their father's position. They indulged in excesses and, at times, atrocities that required Taj Khan to admonish them. As is often the case, the sons concluded the cause of their falling out with their father was their stepmother Zohra. They hated her with enough venom to fell a thousand elephants. Zohra was two decades younger than Taj Khan. Zohra was a woman whose accomplishments in art, music, and poetry were equal in her transcendent beauty and immense family wealth. Taj Khan loved her with a fervor a man may only hope to encounter in a lifetime.
After a brief illness, Taj Khan died, leaving Zohra in charge of the fort. News of Taj Khan's death reached Sher Khan, the Afghan general in charge of the nearby province of Bihar.
Sher Khan had a long history with the Mughals. He served Babur's Mughal army and left abruptly when he realized that Babur saw him as a potential future rival for the throne of Delhi. Sher Khan returned to his native land of Bihar and set about strengthening his position in the area. After Babur's death, the second Mughal emperor Humayun ascended the throne. Sher Khan pledged allegiance to maintain peace and continue fortifying his position. Soon it became apparent to everyone that Humayun was a pleasure-loving monarch who could not keep revolts from breaking out all over the kingdom.
If Sher Khan despised anything, it was a leader who failed to lead. A leader who did not understand his essential duty: to serve those relying on him.
Meanwhile, a cold chill enveloped Zohra. She had loved her late husband with all her heart. She took solace in knowing she carried her wifely duty with steady keenness. Although Zohra did not bear him any children, Taj Khan, during his lifetime, made it clear that he did not expect Zohra to bear him any children. Zohra had loyal supporters among the masses who knew her as a generous and kind lady. It became apparent that her stepsons would move to murder her and pillage her wealth. Humayun was too weak and preoccupied with worldly pleasures to instill any fear of repercussion. In time, if her stepsons did her no harm, the Mughals would appoint a new governor for Chunar fort. And Humayun would likely allow Zohra a safe journey to a place of her choice. But she knew her stepsons well.
Zohra's most loyal servant Mir Ghalib and his wife sought an urgent visit with her.
" All our lives are at risk. We do not mind dying for you, but a woman like you does not deserve such a fate at the hands of these unscrupulous villains. We have a suggestion. Please understand we take this liberty at such a time of sorrow, only for our concern for your welfare."
Zohra nodded, asking Mir to continue.
" A woman like you needs protection from an exceptional man. In all of Hindustan, there is none as capable as Sher Khan. We have it from reliable sources that he is meeting with a local chieftain nearby. Shall we send missives to him?"
What happened next?
P.S: Names have been changed or modified per the author's discretion
