NOVEL~*Hiding behind a Stranger*~THREAD 28~CHAPTER 33 - UPD 3rd May - Page 114

Now In the wilderness...

'You have to stay back and take care of all this when I'm gone!'

Heera's empty glare drooped down till it fell upon the two artefacts nestled within her cold palms - a diamond ring and a small urn of ashes - precious artefacts that not too long ago formed the very identity and essence of Durga Bai

'I didn't even listen to your last words, jiji!

Jiji ran around the Haveli, with her eyes opened wide

Every trick uncanny, she may have tried

Every nook and cranny, she may have spied

But never did she find me, because I know how to hide!

For, he took away the Farmaan,

Then, took away her modesty,

And finally, took away her life too.

'But, I am blind...' she paused 'Actually, I am partially blind!'

Hereby, I commence my narration

About a man, who by trade, was a businessman,

A deal he struck with the Lord in Heaven

And was bestowed with good looks in the bargain!

With features sharper than a sword's blade

And wet long locks of a deep brown shade,

His skin possessed the fairest of complexions

But in the mirror of his eyes, I saw a stormy reflection!

Chapter 6. The Tale of two Rings.

"Ustaad" !

'Those men are depraved' continued the senapati, fanning the fire that'd just started burning 'They spare no one... they're so depraved, they have a special army just to commit such crimes...they're so depraved, they even have an experienced mentor... called Ustaad... to recruit and train such barbarians... they...'

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Her first Doubt...

She was going to learn more about this mysterious Persian who'd drawn her out from the jaws of death. Where did he travel so late at night? How could one so young, achieve success, all by himself? And what was it about him that was not-so-commonplace?

'Why would a man who trades with the royal family... and one who regularly journeys up north, live so far away from the capital?'

'Why would such an eminent merchant live in a run-down haveli... in a small town like Aidabad, so far away from riches and splendour?'

Heera's glimpses fell upon the diamond ring that adorned her finger - a ring that'd been jiji's favourite, and thus now her own favourite one too. After losing the person with whom she shared all opinions and thoughts, the ring was beginning to fill an emptiness by becoming a passive friend of sorts. And, during every sleepless night over the past week, the lonesome younger sibling had found herself spending a good while staring at that precious possession. Conversing with it. Wanting to unload her many worries upon it...

Having removed his rings and neatly arranged them upon the dresser, one after another, his tough gazes were drawn towards a particular one. An oval-shaped ring set with a topaz that was fortunate to possess a rare yet vibrant shade of light brown. Akbar Khan instantly knew what it reminded him of.

Picking the ring up, he felt compelled to do something else - he held its stone in front of the soft light of a night lamp. The earthy glow that shone through made it appear more ethereal than any other gemstone he had seen.

Not only was this hazel-brown topaz unique, it drew its elegance from being clear-cut and subtle.

Chapter 7. More about him..

'A handsome and powerful young merchant with no wife, no mistress and no weaknesses! What a pity!'

'Actually, that's not entirely true!'

'Well...several people have approached her master with marriage proposals... but, he's the one who has turned them down!'

'Not only that... apparently, he doesn't visit women... doesn't touch alcohol... in fact, he doesn't even smoke the hukkah!'

Unlike her normal etiquette, she was beginning to find herself paying quite some attention to their banters about this mysterious 'Khan Sahib' - more attention than she'd paid to any such frivolous banters before.

'Kunwarsa...' he weighed his words with utmost care 'We don't know what lies in Parnagarh's future... but, we can protect the people and their heiress if we make a wise decision...'

'Please acknowledge my proposal and accept Harka bitiya's hand in marriage...'

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'This humble message comes to you...' Heera began reading its contents aloud 'from Parnagarh, the land of valleys...'...