NOVEL~*Hiding behind a Stranger*~ Thread 3- CHAPTERS 5 & 6 - Page 44

Writer-e-khaas,

These days, I look forward to waking up on Sunday mornings (quite an amazing feat!) to read what is in store for Harka and the increasingly familiar stranger, Akbar.

And now I am more attuned to the picture which primes us to what is to come in the chapter, a picture of the young women, which marks the return of light, multiple colors, slight smiles, and glistening eyes ... and that is the theme of my take 5 ... the return of ...

1. The return of confidence ... the confidence of Harka, which showed up in multiple ways through this chapter. First, it takes a lot of confidence to share one's weakness (her partial blindness) and Harka's ability to do so out of fairness to the stranger who was helping her and with calmness takes a lot of strength.

There also seems to be a lot of meaning to her weakness with peripheral vision ... I couldn's help but note, that it was Durga's peripheral vision that helped her observe her enemies in her final battle with Khalil... so Harka must fight her adversaries in a much different way. Now, Durga's comment on how Harka will have to find her way with her mind makes a lot more sense ... because it is her mind that gives her strengh over her physical shortcomings

However, despite those shortcomings, Harka continued with her determination to climb the ladder and even while it was a struggle, she did not ask for help again (though she did take the knifes he threw as support). And when she had scaled the wall, she came out with a fresh air of confidence and accomplishment pumping through her lungs.

And this confidence continued later, when she explained with calmness to her companions that she was fine and had just gone for a dip (though Gauri didn't buy it) and assured them she would be careful next time.

2. The return of Harka's smile ... at first a half smile at the stranger sahib's doubts on her visual impairments being true. The biggest smile returned to my face when Harka stopped in her tracks to acknowledge that she had almost smiled. It takes true pain to recognize the value of a smile, even if it is a partial one.

In the last chapter, I had mentioned how Harka had called out to her jiji for help, which was answered by the stranger ... continuing the parallel, Harka had searched for peace taking to her jijisa, but that ultimately came with a distraction with the stranger. It seems to foreshadow the role the stranger will play in her life.

And this very stranger will be the reason why her light heartedness will continue to return near the end of the chapter with the girls banter about the stranger.

3. And with the brightness of her smile and eyes, there was the return of brightness with the beautification of the residence ... last chapter they moved from nomads to having a shelter (albeit dingy). This chapter they returned to being in a beautiful residence ... it shows the beautiful commitment of the maids around Harka to make sure she had a comfortable place to be in. And this was no easy feat as the Chaacha Jaan's surprise and shock showed. Chaacha Jaan described the place as being suddenly "alive", which very well reflects the return of life to those in the residence as well.

On a side note, I like this good humored Chaacha Jaan already with his wink-worthy, saffron pilaf cooking skills. I look forward to seeing his bonding with our stranger, or shall I say Akbar. However, I did not the Chaacha Jaan's cheerfulness did mellow with the arrival of Akbar ... which brings me to my next take.

4. The return of Akbar :) I had a huge smile on my face when we had the name of the stranger announced- Akbar Mahmoud Khan, a famous horse merchant. For us the reader this means a lot more, as we know that Harka-Akbar are meant to be. However, as always it is amazing how you build up to the character ... first he is the horse merchant who was referred to, then a gruff voice, and then the man with handsome features who holds Harka, the skilled knife thrower, and the baritone voice that walks in and is introduced as Akbar the merchant by his men. And of course, Bindiya's poem further reminds us of how he looks.

This chapter reinforce's Akbar's astute observation powers ... whether it was how he linked the horse he had seen at night to the group that had insulted him while purchasing it or the observation of the fallen pouch to return to the "Sahiba" (who he knew was not Bindiya!)

(On a side note, Bindiya's encounters with Akbar are turning out to be a funny turn ... with Bindiya going against him three times now ... you may not like this, but she is looking to be the JA Moti of this story ... okay maybe not. But, I want to see how Bindiya apologies to him.)

And of course, there is softness beyond his tough exterior that you reveal in places ... as his indifference slowly melts into a sigh seeing Harka's dignified approach to dealing with her struggles to how he acknowledges Ratan Kaka's apologies with a nod.

I look forward to learning a lot more about Akbar. You mention the young life that had seen a lot ... the back story of which I am sure you will unfold. I cannot imagine his life is as simple as a horse merchant.

5. The return of the horse ... when everything was lost, I had mentioned the horse was a signal of hope for Harka as the horse that was destined to save her was the one that had survived ... you had told me to wait as this would have more meaning, and I was thrilled to see Harka make the same connection. She knew that the connection to Khan Sahib could not be ill-fated unlike her companions as his horse was her sister's prized purchase and what had saved her.

And the symbolism of how Khan Sahib would support Harka's journey seems to continue ... he will not carry her but show her the way ... whether with the ladder, knives for support, or horse.

If the last chapter started the path of hope and recovery, this chapter saw the return of many things. However, we know it will be a bumpy ride. With Guari's astute concerns we foresee the return of trouble, as she feels her baisa's interest in a Mughal merchant could not bode well and we will have to wait for the next chapter to see where it will go from here.

Thanks again for a beautiful chapter writer-e-khaas ... From a writing perspective, I also enjoyed how the settings of the chapter jumped around from the bridge to the haveli to Harka's room as we soak in the surroundings of the world you are creating.

Originally posted by: karkuzhali

Dear Lashy,

Congratulations for bringing out your next chapter as scheduled and also for maintaining the tempo. You are admired by the forum friends for your work, before and now, and you have done your best to keep up their expectation.

You have tried to take us along the journey of the heroine and I notice you have struck a chord by presenting the situation in a way different to what generally any normal writer would do.

You have made the lead woman reveal her disability to a stranger who , most probably would be the lead person in the novel. You have not written in your earlier chapters anything to suggest that she was handicapped thus. I don't think any girl would normally state about her physical disability to a stranger during her first meeting with him and all the more if she is intrigued by his sudden presence at that moment. Is it because you intend to make use of it to develop their relationship in the future?

You have come out successful in taking us along with you in the journey of Heera and the dangerous situation she is in. You have made us visualise the whole scene by your beautiful description. But given that she has a defective eye sight, will any girl, who is left alone to bear the great responsibility of protecting the honour and name of her family will dare to go out and explore the wilderness in the dark?Or, do you want to show her to be still in the adolescent stage, doted all along by her sister ?

I see that you are never tired of giving a detailed presentation of events through dialogues.. The conversation between the baandies is one example. And the way in which you are proceeding with the story is sure to arouse the interests of the readers to look for the future developments.

And, may I ask you one question Lashy? How come a girl with a partial vision finds out the colour of the hair of the man and he, in turn notices her hazel brown eyes in the dark night, lit only by the stars?.

And I am sure that the names of these two "eligible" pair will definitely bring the young forum friends into the fold of your novel!

May I suggest something Lashy? Why don't you give titles to each chapter?

All the best for your work and thank you!

Yours,

Saraswathi Periamma.

[ Note: I read a film review by my favourite critic Barathwaj Rangan in "The Hindu" yesterday. I wanted to try this on those lines.

Saraswathi/akka/periamma/aunty/daadi.]

Me; same thought