NOVEL~*Hiding behind a Stranger*~THREAD 46-CHAPTER 51 Upd 19th July

Posted: 5 years ago

Prologue 

Three Great Emperors had toiled hard to build the vast and flourishing legacy of the 'Mughal Empire', keeping relative peace by unifying its Mughals and Hindus. However; by mid 1600s, cracks began to appear in its solid foundations. Insecurities crept in through the gaps, widening the gulfs between the two religions once again.

With the old Emperor becoming too feeble to take charge and his jealous successors remaining preoccupied with expansion and power, the damage was never repaired. Not surprising then that new rebellions arose every day. Violence escalated, claiming many innocent lives.

Yet; in the midst of such turmoil and peril, there bloomed a beautiful story - much like a lone flower blossoming upon the steepest edges of a cliff - a story of love, of sacrifice and honour!

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Forced to flee from her motherland, the one home she knew... forced to leave behind her people, for whom, she was their only hope...forced to grievously abandon the last rites of her loved one while the flames on the pyre were still ablaze...the orphaned heiress of 16 overcame grief and many shortcomings, as she embarked on a long dangerous path... setting out to seek help and support, for her people and her lands...

Till a chance stay with a complete stranger would change the course of those very plans forever!

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Being the most shrewd, determined and unforgiving of the lot meant he was formidable... a force to be reckoned with... it also meant he could have owned it all - riches, power, women and fame... but, he fancied none of it...

As a recluse with simple tastes, the rich life held no real appeal... power didn't tempt him... women didn't interest him... his passion was work and his only family were a few loyal friends... he had decided that he wanted little else in life...

Till a chance visit from a complete stranger would change that decision forever!

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Part 2 Individual links

Part 3 Individual links
Link to Chapter 37 https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/topic/4865965 
Link to Chapter 39 https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/topic/4897456  

Part 4 Individual links
Edited by lashy - 5 years ago
Posted: 5 years ago


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Posted: 5 years ago

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Takht-e-Sulaiman - Solomon's seat i.e. Emperor's throne (Urdu/Persian)
Shehzade - prince (Urdu/Persian)
Shehenshah - Emperor (Urdu/Persian)
Wazir-us-Sultanat - Chief minister (Urdu/Persian)
Farmaan - official decree/document (Urdu/Persian)
Maharaj/Maharani - King/Queen 
Maharaj - Chef/Cook
Kunwar - Prince (Generally used in Rajputana)
Baisa - Lady/Miss/Mrs/Madam (Marwari)
Banna - Mr/Sir (Marwari)
Sahib - Mr/Master/Sir (Urdu)
Sahiba - Ms/Mrs/Lady (Urdu)
Dams - copper coins
Vaid - Doctor/Healer
Ustad - Teacher/ Master of arts (Urdu)
Caravansarai - Caravan site
Kotwal - Town chief
Kos - old measurement system of distances, used in India
Tahar - battle axe (Urdu/Persian)
Khuda Hafiz - Farewell greeting which translates into 'May God be your protector' (Urdu/Persian)
Adab/Adaab - Words of Salute/respect (Urdu/Persian)
Taslim - A salute (Mughalian)
Hukum - Sir (Used commonly to address Rajput royalty)
Salaam - A form of greeting that translates to 'Hello/Hi' (Urdu/Persian)
Shubh Ratri - Good evening/Good night (Marwari)
Shubh havar - Good Morning (Marwari)
Padhar jo Sa - I shall leave now (Marwari)
Zergul - Calendula flower 
Chulho - Wood fire stove
Ganjifa - A card game, slightly similar to poker
Ahadi - Elite bodyguard, who've received specialist training
Muqannis - Specialist canal diggers/workers
Qanat - Canal
Masaka - Mosquito. (Masaka fever - Malaria)
Wali - Guardian
Nikah - Islamic wedding ceremony
Valeema - Islamic wedding reception
Saleem Shahis/Shahees - A special kind of shoe/jootis stylised during Jahangir's time
Chaupar/Chausar/Chaupara/Chausara - A dice game famous in India for centuries. Similar to Ludo

Bhagwaan ri kirpa bani rehve. Sab chokho hove. Jivta reijo sa. - Wish you all the best... may you be successful in everything you set out to do.

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A laptop, a dictionary, some imagination and loads of dreams... Trying my hand at writing, once again... 

Great to be back on this platform... looking forward to regularly catching-up with my lovely old friends ... looking forward to making new ones too!

Thank you all for being here... and for your support... it means a lot... πŸ€—

If this made for a worthwhile read, please do leave me a comment/like when you can, as it really does helps the writer in me to keep going!

I have a FB page called Lashy Writes - please 'like' it if you are more regular on FB, as I post the teasers/update links there πŸ˜Š

Posted: 5 years ago
AJNABI.          PART 32 B By Lavanya


SAHIB SUBAH PARNAGARH LAUTE, KAKSH THHA UNKA PHAILA HUA
KAPDE, JOOTE, PATR AUR MASHKEIN, POORA FARSH THHA BIKHRA HUA

(Khan Sahib returned to Parnagarh the next morning. His room was in disarray, with clothes, boots, scrolls and water bags all littered on the floor)


PATTI LEKAR DAADHI SAWAARTE SAHIB NE IBRAHIM KO SAMBODHIT KIYA
'MAHADEV SAHIB KE AAYE PATR KA AASHAA HAI TUMNE UTTAR DE DIYA'

(While trimming his beard with a blade, Sahib asked Ibrahim, 'Hope you have suitably replied to Mahadev Sahib's letter?')


'KSHAMA CHAHTA HOON', IBRAHIM BOLE, 'NAHI HUA HAI ABHI YE KAAM
BHABHIJAAN KI AAGYA HETU, VYAST RAHI YAHAAN HAR SHAAM'

('No Akbar', Ibrahim replied. 'I haven't yet got down to doing it. As per Bhabhijaan's wishes, we have been quite busy every evening')


'BHAABHIJAAN KI ICHCHHA THHI KI HUM MILKAR GUZAAREIN SHAAM KA WAQT
ISI KAARAN KAL AAYE IS PATR KA UTTAR NA DE PAAYA MAIN AB TAK'

('It was Bhaabhijaan's wish that we all get together and spend time every evening. Hence I could not get the chance to reply to the letter which arrived yesterday'.)


'BHAABHIJAAN', AZEEZ MUSKAAYA, 'SAHIBA KO KHUSH KARNE KA KYA YE HAI PRAYATN?'
'SAHIBA KI HI ICHCHHA HAI KI HUM PRAYOG KAREIN YE SAMBODHAN'

('Bhaabhijaan?', Azeez smiled, 'Flattering the Sahiba, are we?'. 'No, it is the Sahiba's wish that we address her thus'.)


BAATEIN SUN SAHIB MUSKAAYE, UNKE HRIDAY MEIN JAGAA DHEEMA ANAND
YE SOCH KE KI HARKHA SWEEKAARNE LAGI HAI UNKE BEECH MEIN KA YE SAMBANDH

(Khan Sahin smiled hearing the conversation, and his heart skipped a beat. He was happy to realize  that Harkha had started accepting their relationship)


'MAHARAJ KAKA KE PAKWAAN KI KHUSHBOO NE KAR DIYA MERE BHOOKH KO TEEVR
AASHAA HAI MEETHE MEIN AAJ BANA HO MALPUA, LADDOO, GHEVAR, YA KHEER'

(Azeez said, 'The pleasant smell emanating from the kitchen has heightened my hunger further. I hope that Kakasa has cooked Malpua, Laddoos, ghevar or Kheer for dessert today!')


'KITNE HI RAJWAADON KE VYANJAN KHAAYE HAIN HUMNE JEEVAN MEIN ANEKON BAAR
PAR YAHAN KE RASOI KI KHUSHBOO KE SAAMNE, SAARI RASOIYAAN HAIN BEKAAR'

('We have eaten plenty of times at various royal kitchens, but the smell that emanates from this kitchen in unparalleled!')


KAARYA POORN KAR SABHI CHALE GAYE, SAHIB BHI PAHUNCHE PALANG KE PAAS
KAMARBAND UTAAR KAR RAKHA HI THHA KI AANKHON KO DIKH GAYI CHEEZ EK KHAAS

(Having wrapped up the chores everyone left. Sahib too started walking towards his bed. He removed his waistband and it was then that his eyes spotted and amazing discovery)


TURANT PHIR UNHONE PRAHARI KO BULAAYA, POOCHHA, 'KYA YAHAAN KOI AAYA THHA?'
'CHAAH KAR BHI HUM UNHE ROK NA PAAYE, RAAT KOI AAYI THHI HARKHA SAHIBA'

(He immediately called his guard and questioned him, 'Did anyone enter my chamber?' The guard replied, 'We could not stop her even though we wanted to. Harkha Sahiba was here last night')


SAHIB BOLE, 'THEEK HAI, JAO. PAHUCHAAO MERA SANDESA SAHIBA TAK
UNSE MILNA CHAAHTA HOON MAIN, AAJ DOPAHAR KO, CHHAT PAR'

(Sahib said, 'It's alright, you may leave now. Please take my message for the Sahiba that I would like to meet her this afternoon at the terrace')


SAMAY PAR HARKHA CHHAT PAR PAHUCHI, TO SAHIB PAR USKI PADI NAZAR
KAYI BHAAVNAAEIN UCHHAL UCHHAL KAR UMAD RAHI THHI USKE BHEETAR

(Harkha reached the terrace on schedule and saw her Sahib there. There arose a tumult of feelings in her heart)


SAHIB NE BHI APNI HEERA KO PREM SE DEKHA, KHOOB NIHAAR
CHAUNK GAYE DEKH GALE MEIN USKE, UNHI KA BHET KIYA HEERON KA HAAR

(The Sahib too was happy, and he took his time looking at his Heera. He was surprised to notice that she was wearing the diamond necklace that he had gifted her on their wedding day)


AAKHRI BAAR JAB VE DONO SAATH THHE TO HARKHA UNSE THHI NARAAZ
PAR HAAV BHAAV AAJ USKE BHINN THHE, BADLA BADLA THHA USKA ANDAAZ

(Sahib recalled that when they had been together the last time, Harkha had been upset with him. Hence he was quite surprised to see a positive change in her demeanour)


'DHYAAN SE RAKHNA HAAR KO SAHIBA, AAYA HAI SAMAY BADA GHANGHOR
MAINE SWAYAM ANUBHAV KIYA HAI KI HAVELI MEIN GHUS AAYE HAIN CHOR'

('Keep the necklace carefully, Sahiba. It has been my personal experience when I say this that I think there are thieves in the Haveli')


HARKHA HAIRAAN THHI, SAMAJH NA PAAYI, AJEEB SA THHA SAHIB KA UPDESH
TURANT PHIR USKE KHUL GAYE CHAKSHU, JAB SAHIB GHHOOR RAHE THHE USKE KESH

( At first Harkha was shocked at the advice that the Sahib was giving her. Then the eyes of her mind opened with a jolt when she noticed the Sahib staring at her hair)


PAR NA WO SHARMAAYI NA HI GHABRAAYI JAB USKO HUA YE EHSAAS
KI USNE SAHIB KO YAAD KIYA THHA, AUR SAHIB SAMAJH BHI GAYE YE RAAZ

(She was neither scared nor embarrassed when she understood that the Sahib had realised that she had been missing him)


'AUR BATAIYE BEGUM SAHIBA, PARNAGARH KI KYA HAI KHABAR?'
'JI, KAARYA CHAL RAHE APNI GATI SE, SAAMAANYA HAI SAB KUCHH YAHAN PAR'

('Tell me, Begum Sahiba, what has been happening in Parnagarh while I have been away?' 
'There's nothing special to tell. All activities have going on, as usual')


'ACHCHHA! MAINE ALAG SUNA HAI, AISA JO HAI BILKUL VIPREET
KI HAR EK SHAAM YAHAAN BEET RAHI HAI KHELTE CHAUPAR, SUNTE SANGEET?'

('Really? Wonder why then, whatever I have heard is the exact opposite of this? I've heard that all evenings are now being spent playing Chaupar or listening to music?')


'IBRAHIM HAI KUSHAL KHILAADI, BATAYE HONGE USNE IS KHEL KE RAAZ
AB SAATH KHEL KAR PARAKH PAAOONGA APNI BEGUM KE MAIN ANDAAZ'

('Ibrahim is a good player, and I'm sure he would have taught you several tricks. Now I'll have to play with you to find out how much you've picked up')


SAMAJHNE KI BAARI AB HARKHA KI THHI AUR USNE NAHI KI KOI DER
JHAT SE SAMAJH GAYI KE SAHIB KO JWALAN KI BHAAVNA NE LIYA HAI GHER

(Now it was Harkha's turn to understand, and she did not waste any time. She quickly understood that the Sahib was feeling possessive, and a tad jealous that he wasn't the person that she has been spending time and enjoying with)


TABHI HUA EK ZOR DHAMAAKA, VAADIYON KE PAAR SE AAYA SHOR
'KHANANKAARIYON NE PRARAMBH KAR DIYA HAI KHANAN KA KAARYA YAHAAN PURZOR'

(Just then there was a blast from beyond the valleys. 'Oh yes, I forgot to mention that the miners have started their work in full swing', said Harkha)


'SAMAJHTA HOON MAIN, BEGUM SAHIBA, AAPKE MAN KA HAI JO HAAL
ISS SHAANT AUR SUNDAR SWARG MEIN BITAAYE HAIN AAPNE APNE SOLAH SAAL'

('I understand, Begm Sahiba, what is going on in your mind. You have spent your entire sixteen years in this silent and beautiful paradise')


'DHANYAVAAD KE PAATR HAIN AAP SAHIB, PARNAGARH KO BACHA AAPNE KIYA KAMAAL
AUR HAAN, AB MAIN NA RAHI SOLAH SAAL KI, AAYU HUI MERI SATRAH SAAL'

('I am thankful to you, Sahib, for saving Parnagarh. I do realize that it was a wonder that you managed to save most of our lands. And I am not sixteen anymore, my age is now seventeen')


SAHIB NE DEKHA HARKHA KI ORE, PAR AAYI UNKE MUKH PAR NAHI KOI BAAT
DUKHI THHE VE KI ISS DIN AKELI THHI HARKHA, VE BHI NAHI THHE USKE SAATH

(Sahib looked at Harkha, but he did not have anything to say. He was sad that Harkha had spent her special day alone, and that he was not with her)


UNKA MAN CHAAHA KI JHAT SE WO BHAR LEIN HARKHA KO APNI BAAHON MEIN SAPREM
AUR CHOOM KAR MAATHE KO BATA DEIN USKO KI KITNA VE USSE KARTE HAIN PREM

(His heart desired that he take Harkha into his arms with love, immediately. And that he kiss her on her forehead and tell her now much he loves her)


PAR BOLE VO, 'SAHIBA, SHUBHKAAMNAAYEIN RAHENGI MERI AAPKE SAATH SADA
ISHWAR AAPKO HAMESHA KHUSH RAKHE, MERI AAPKE LIYE HAI YEHI DUAA'

(But instead, he said, 'Sahiba, please know that my best wishes are always with you. I pray to the Almighty to keep you happy always!')

Posted: 5 years ago

Originally posted by sashashyam


My dearest Lashykanna,

This one has quite a different tempo. There are no  heart-tugging sequences like the  one with the Strangler  and  Raftaar, but there are other kinds of horrors, that appear at the beginning and the end, and in one sense, bookend the chapter.

1.I  cannot even begin to imagine the  terrible shock to poor Sayyid when he sees the mangled  bodies of all the murdered  guards who were assigned to manage the Aidabad  safe house. And worse, he  has to pretend  to a member  of the gloating mob that he too, as a staunch Hindu, was delighted that  these Mughal men, who were accused to pursuing the messenger held captive there,  had been killed. It must have been like a paralyzing punch to his gut, and he reels under it.

But Akbar has trained his men, especially  those  of his inner circle like Sayyid, superbly, and this shows in the celerity with which Sayyid picks himself  up, emotionally speaking,  and gets on with the dangerous job that faces him: of finding out what precisely the messenger might have blurted out to Kunwar Mahendar, and  how much  of that might have reached the Shehzaade. He is prepared to risk his life for Akbar any time,  but the vital thing this time is not to die in Akbar's service, but to stay alive and get any news  that he can gather to Akbar  without fail. When one sees the calm courage with which Sayyid faces this task,  one understands what bravery really means!πŸ‘

2.The next segment is emotionally very  draining for poor Heera, who learns, first to her shock,and then  relief, that Akbar had made Mohan Banna completely au fait not only with his identity  as the Shehzaade's chief of  intelligence, but also as the man  who had trained Khalil. It must at first  have been  like having the ground pulled completely  from under  her  feet.

She loves her Khan Sahib more than anyone or anything else in her world,  but she belongs to Parnagarh and its people, and their acceptance and love are as necessary to her as the air she breathes. To be forced to lie to them  in such  a vital matter must be eating into her inner being, her conscience, like acid, and the relief she feels  on learning that at least one Parnagarhi,  and that too the one she has cherished the most, almost like an elder brother, all her life, not only  knows the whole truth, but understands it and does not condemn her, must have been  like a magic potion that revives her spirits and her body alike.

Akbar's decision to take Mohan Banna completely into his confidence, holding nothing back, proves,  if at all proof was n needed, how excellent a judge of men  he is, and how far sighted.

3. The truth is often very bitter to take. So it is with the news, conveyed by Ibrahim to Akbar, that the  Hindu prince Khalil had met recently was none other than  Kunwar Mahendar. For  Heera is now Akbar's  be all and end all,  and he sees any  development first and  foremost in terms of what it would mean to her emotional well being. And this one is a shocker, which will rip apart the shrouds in which she has managed  to cocoon the memories  of the  night when Durga was murdered, and bring her  face to face again with that unspeakable horror.

The cold fear that clutches at his heart is eloquently  described in the passage below, which  I loved.

..the sight of that small study lamp - its fire flickering in his ebony pupils. From where he sat, its heat was insignificant, its light almost invisible under the bright light of day. But come darkness and it'd be another story altogether. Left unchecked, and it could burn everything down to the ground.

How was he meant to douse this fire without getting himself burnt? More importantly, how was he meant to do so while making sure not a single stray ember reached her?

This is  what  is meant by the saying that when  you love someone, you have given a hostage to fortune.

4. Love is best seen not  in grand declarations, expensive gifts and  extravagant attentions, but  in the small  gestures that speak eloquently of caring and affection . Like when Akbar puts his hand in front of the sharp corner of the desk to protect Heera's back. And in delightful little details: Akbar being distracted by the wayward curl  on Heera's cheek,  by the  fragrance of the dhoop (sambrani  in Tamil) from her hair,  and most tellingly of all, by  the very sight of her, standing in the beams of the sun. What a truly lovely passage this is, Lashykanna!

'Pure'

THAT was the first sentiment that crossed his mind. So pure that her aura stood out despite being bathed under a thick beam of sun. So pure that his chest felt refreshed merely from breathing the change of air that she'd brought with her.

And yes, in the careful protectiveness with which he  refrains from  revealing the depths of Kunwar Mahendar's treachery to her out of the blue, so to speak, but plans to lead up to it slowly. To whip up her emotions, through the excitement of the chausar  match, so that when she eventually faces the truth about Durga's  murder, she is moved to a white hot pitch  of anger that would divert her from the gut wrenching pain the old memories would conjure up, and focus her mind  and heart instead on the need to punish this villain for his crimes.

5. The game of  chausar is beautifully described, and  Heera's cunning attempts to distract her opponent, her fulminations when she seems close to losing, when,  for one little moment, she even  considers cheating, and finally when  she exults like  a kid in her unexpected victory,   form a delightful read.

When Akbar finally leads up to his real maqsad, the passage below shows, more clearly than anything else  shown to us thus far, what Akbar and Heera really are. Not just husband and wife.  Nor just lovers. They are that rare commodity, a true team. A team that will stand firm  against any  storm and any earthquake that might  threaten to destroy their lives.

'Imagine then...' propping his chin against his fingers, he halted - making it quite clear there was another idea lurking underneath 'imagine if we both were to play on the same side... we would make a formidable team against our enemies, would we not?'

Heera watched him, her eyes brimming with a fresh surge of excitement. 'Formidable?' she bit her lip 'We are already formidable... if we played on the same side, I would've thought that would make us invincible'

So it  did not surprise me that when she had faced the ugly truth about her sister's end,  and tried her best to close her eyes to it, she finally comes round,  and her fighting spirit, the spirit  of her Rajput blood,  surfaces fiercely. Akbar has won this battle. 

The visuals were chilling, but a fighting fire was born within. A small fire that she stirred and stoked, till it spread through, lighting the embers that'd gone cold from terror.

But even amidst this new resolve, what matters most for Heera is her beloved , and his safety.  She would want him kept safe even at the cost of not being able to punish Mahendar. For she loves Akbar, truly, deeply, and above all else.

'I do not care what happens to our enemies... but...' her hands shook his, to make doubly sure he was paying heed 'but, YOUR safety Khan Sahib... I DO care about! So, I do not want you putting yourself in harm's way... while solving this grisly mystery.'

6.Finally, I thoroughly enjoyed the pen picture  of Mahendar, surrounded by men way below him in  class and intellect,  having to put up with them when  he would gladly have kicked them all out pronto. He has nothing but searing contempt for  them, their  foolish, vain, lying boasts, and their patently false claims to bravery and resilience. 

Sitting where they sat an hour ago, most of them were idling away - some with their pot-bellies sticking out, and mouths still stuffed. The scene reminded him of a herd of buffaloes, lethargically grazing. If only he had a few more athletic like-minded friends, who could've accompanied him on this hunt. Mates who would've ridden beside him and matched him in skill, while sharing a laugh over it.

Mahendar has good looks, noble birth, excellent  breeding,  and an acute  intelligence. What could he not have been if he had also had  a noble, moral nature! But the gods who presided over his birth,  and  gave him all these gifts, withheld that most important one of all.

So now he rejoices in the thought that he has now, through sheer luck, and  the mistaken   loyalty of Heera's dying messenger,  secured the one weapon that could bring  down Akbar Khan, aka the Ustaad.  The devil looks after his own.😑

I was also wracked by sorrow at the way  in which the poor, loyal, trusting messenger unknowingly drags his beloved  baisa   into a treacherous whirlpool from which she, and Akbar, will find it very difficult to emerge  unscathed.  Such are the  inscrutable ways of fate, that even the gods cannot  check or alter.

By now, you would have grasped the general idea, that I  liked this chapter too  a very great deal! More later.

Affectionately,

 

Shyamala Periyamma

 

Edited by lashy - 5 years ago
Posted: 5 years ago
Originally posted by Shinning_Stuti


First of all a big big big sorry Di for being such a horrendously lazy reader and an extremely irregular respondent of your chapters. πŸ˜­ πŸ˜­ I read all of them in time, but get late in commenting... I wanted to review all of the chapters from the beginning of part 4 as all of them are class! But time did not permit... Sorry! πŸ˜­ 

Now coming to the chapter... I think it is one of the most heart-wrenching and tear-jerking chapter you have written ever, comes just after the chapter of Durga's tragic demise. For not an instance I could help myself being thrilled and sitting at the edge of my seat, while each and every words gave a heavy jerk inside. I kinda had predicted something like this will happen when we read about Mahindar-Shahzada meet and especially Khalil-Farooq Sahib connection; but these much painful... with such a helpless Heera and vulnerable Akbar... It was terribly bad; and flatteringly marvelous along with all the subtle emotions and measured pinch of tension and drama! 

So, after going through the loss, pain and blossoming subtle love in the part 1, facing the tremendous shock of revelation and love-turned-to-hate phase in  part 2, witnessing the comeback of love and exploration of new romance in relationship, now we are at the beginning of part 4 where Heera and Akbar both are standing at an edge of cliff, isolated, detached from the rest of world, surrounded by bloody beasts who are ready to tear them apart and one mistake will lead to a great fall... but one thing is assured that both of them are together now, and no external force will be able to split them anymore, and they will be the strength of each other... 

There is hardly a space to stop and take breath while reading this chapter... right from the starting scene of the confrontation between Akbar and the prince it continues to give enough goose-bumps. It's a pity that how easily the 10 years of indisputable devotion and service of Ustaad became worthless in front of some fifthly conspiracy of some idiots; perhaps the higher level politics demands this kind of emotionless unbiased eyes for seeing the world in order to be saved from all kind of conspiracies and so the prince cannot be blamed. However, I find somehow that apart from his political perspective while dealing with Akbar, he somehow felt deceived at the personal level... of course he wished Akbar to be completely at his side in any point of time; he cannot approve his initiative of hiding facts from him in order to save his wife from a man who has been his right hand from last 10 years. And when he does not get what he expects from him, he responds in his style... he is practical, ruthless, and he is true to his character.

Then came Farooq Sahib, a fox in disguise of a man to destroy Akbar completely... You know di, when Farooq Sahib was introduced at very first I had hoped him to be neutral and notify the actual truth to the prince... but he when came out to be a snake I was terrified. This chapter is the evidence that my fear was true... The way he presented planted evidences one by one to put the ustaad down was  really loathing. Akbar tried till the last to advocate his innocence like an expert lawyer in vein... and his desperate urges to his lord to prove his innocence is just heart-breaking! 

And then this was horrifying:
but, any commoner who becomes aggressive in the presence of a royal, is arrested... and forget commoner, you are a prisoner now, Akbar... a prisoner, who's losing his mind' 
Then came Shahzada's warning, which took out rest of the confidence from Akbar's heart! How you express the condition of his bleeding soul in only these couple of sentences- 

Akbar's hands dropped to his sides, limp, his chest suddenly hollow as a ghost's soul.

Here he was - at risk of losing his honour, wife, men, respect, title, lands, home, horses, life, his everything - and the Shehzaade would 'warn' him rather than hear him out properly? How true was the analogy of broken trust and shattered glass! 'How true, indeed!' 

And perhaps here all the conventional belief and faith Akbar had to his lord clashed harshly with the bitterness of reality, breaking him completely! 

But it was only the start of his humiliation, as after some time he gets to know that after his tireless service for the empire he gets a reward of dragging his wife from her home into this nasty environment to play with her self-respect and crush the little bit pride he has as a complete human... 

Some of the most heart-wrenching lines of the whole chapter which almost made me cry: 

'Huzoor!' His mouth parted from shock, the skin on his jaw quivering. He had been wading through the storms in a frenetic hope that he'd keep her away from the ugliness and dangers here. Alas! Now, that final hope had been snatched too! 'Why... why couldn't you have at least told me... once?'

'Why such underhanded tactics with me?' Anguish pushed his voice further and further up, till it was beginning to echo off the walls 'Why, Huzoor? WHY?'  

This single 'WHY' breaks the heart! Did we ever imagine in our dream to see our beloved Akbar in such a vulnerable state of mind?😭 πŸ˜­


And the Shehzaade did possess a heart. Somewhere. 

Thank God! πŸ˜­ 

The part with Khalil is so enraging and loathing and I don't want to detail anything! I was just wondering while reading that how much cruel Akbar's fate is!! πŸ˜­

However, as expected he loses his cool and reverted back resulting his incarceration!😭 



Heera's part is equally heart-wrenching if not more. Her childhood dreamland, the majestic capital of the empire converts into a nightmare in her life when she steps in for the first time... It must be very humiliating for a noblewoman of that era to be dragged to somewhere away from her land to be interrogated by a stranger man, and Heera's cruel destiny has set this humiliation for her after the series of agony, trauma, tension and battles of life, just when she had started to arrange her life beautifully again... πŸ˜­ 

To think that fate had reduced her to a common culprit answerable for her supposed-crimes amongst a jury of such cold-blooded criminals.

This line!!!😭 

Were these Farooq Sahib and Khalil less anywhere, that our sweety Mahindar had to turn up???? πŸ˜‘ πŸ˜‘ πŸ˜‘ πŸ˜‘ πŸ˜‘ 

'I am a mere baisa. A noblewoman with no standing to advise you... but Your Highness... all we have, to go on, is the word of this Kunwar ... and from personal experience, I'd advise you not to trust the Kunwar of Manswar, if he were to call the sky blue!'

This was bang on.πŸ‘ 

Seeing Heera in this state is so painful... Imagine a 17 years old girl, almost naive about the complex political ploys and conspiracies is standing amidst of some evidently nasty creatures and being ragged, and hoping against hope that her husband still has something to do to save themselves. And at the next instance all her hopes scatters, when she saw something which she did never imagine in her worst nightmares... her Khan-Sahib in chains, being dragged publicly by some pulps sinking in affiliation and humiliation!!😭

It was a sight which is equally painful to us as well! How you did this to him di!😭

'Heera...' Concealing the numbing pain in his head, he squinted hard. 'Heera... you're here...' He blinked till her face was clear as dew, the blissful portrait an instant balm upon his pangs of angst. His beats leapt to life, pushing his lips into a soft smile. 'My dear... h... how have you been?'

I can't take it anymore! Why it is happening to them!😭😭😭 

'I stand here... a common woman, with no ego' Walling up her mind against the audibly demeaning whispers around her, she strove to humble herself before the prince 'I plead with you... please let him go'

HOW???????😑😑

NOOO!!!!!!!!😭 πŸ˜­ πŸ˜­ 

I just can no more imagine how Akbar must have felt after this! How Heera felt while bargaining her honour for the honour of her husband! 

'Begum Sahiba... please stand... the very intent behind each action and decision of mine, so far... has been to protect your name and honour... please do not mar those efforts and sacrifices by begging at another man's feet, in front of my eyes, while I am still alive!'

Oh! Poor poor him!!😭😭  

'Do not worry for me' her head slowly shook from left to right 'I will be fine. I am the Begum of Akbar Mahmoud Khan - the revered Ustaad and the Mansabdar of Parnagarh'

Through the invisible tears she flashed him a gentle smile - feeding his trampled spirits with a sense of purpose and pride to get him back up.

My respect for Heera doubles after this! Kudos to her!!!πŸ‘


After all discussions Akbar got a single night in jail to prove himself! A single night... How he is going to save himself and the respect of his wife!! What a cliffhanger! 

And he has only a single card under his sleeves, Kunwar Tejraj... that too uncertain...😭 

 

Update soonest Di!!!

 


Edited by lashy - 5 years ago
Posted: 5 years ago
congratulation lashy and banjarasπŸ€—
A beautiful morning to all.

wish you a beauty sleep shahiba rest well.see soon after read.😳
Edited by melovesja - 5 years ago
Posted: 5 years ago
First reaction was of pain and hurt followed by tears!  😭 In C50 Heera faced disgrace and dishonor and in C51 AMK faced it! πŸ˜’πŸ˜­ He who never bows to anyone, except to his almighty, knelt in front of that malicious, despiteful, unforgiving ruler to save his Begum and his men but to no avail, not to even one ounce of kindness from his Huzoor! πŸ˜­

Second reaction was of wrath, fury and furor against the Shehzade and the pack of wolves howling against our duo.  😑🀬

Third reaction was of gratification, pride, love, and salute to our duo, especially my CS for turning the tables on his foes! πŸ‘πŸΌπŸ‘ 

Fourth reaction was of immense satisfaction and glee seeing the wolves giving empty hollow howls to show their valor and courage but miserably failing to do so!  

Fifth reaction was of gloating and jubilation in seeing the Shehzade standing all alone, all lonely and miserable after the realization that no one is his 'loyal' subject be it FS, Khalil, or Piggy! They have personally erred him and if AMK is to be punished for treason then so should they, as well! β­οΈ 

Sixth reaction was of admiration for the Men of Ustaad who stood like a solid lighthouse in midst of a raging tempest till their last breath, willing to shed the last drop of blood for their Ustaad! πŸ‘ 

Seventh reaction was of adoration for our protagonists who stood for each other all the way giving each other silent support and comfort through unsaid words and misty eyes!  

Eighth reaction was of sheer delight, wonderment and amazement at how the Ustaad conveyed his secret messages to his men in spite of being in shackles and surrounded by innumerable guards and equally adept men of his who deciphered the message of his Ustaad! πŸ‘ 

Ninth reaction is of sheer confidence that my AMK will come out victorious even if only 1 drop of blood is remaining in him. πŸ‘πŸΌ 

Tenth reaction is of happiness that finally the Ustaad has freed himself from the bondage of his loyalty to his Huzoor!  Huzoor's unthinkable loss in every respect and aspect, which he just got a glimpse of and freedom of AMK, a total abjuration from all his feelings that made him do what he did in court! β­οΈπŸ‘

But...but...but 50 lashes of Lashy on my AMK! πŸ˜­πŸ˜­πŸ˜­ I will not be able to bear it! πŸ˜­
Edited by lghosh - 5 years ago
Posted: 5 years ago

Good morning Sachu Patti , mitu di and all my dear baisas! πŸ˜³
Happy Friday! πŸ€—

Good evening Lana di, Vathsy di, Rekha di and Aparna di πŸ€— πŸ€— πŸ€— πŸ€—

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