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You said this is figurative, does that mean we will not see him like this in the chapter?? 😔No... this is figurative
Originally posted by: selvi1275
Do you mean...in no chapter...not in any chapter..Lashy...Then how will he look in the Duel...Wait...will the Duel happen?...😕I don't think I'll get an answer now...Sari paravaa'ille...will keep on dreaming with this picture...☺️
Originally posted by: Testmytest
Will be back on December 10th. I will do my best to meet her, that is my intention, let's see how it all pans out. I am going to in-laws town straight from the airport. I really don't know what to expect from this trip 😕 FIL still in the ICU Ward.
Originally posted by: binduprasad41
Lavanya di and for our little Vivaan...
Hot hot Veg biryani for both of you... 😳Just make it...I hope you both like it ! 😊
The cacophony mellowed to whispers low
As the Shehzade entered the scene
The people offered a respectful bow
Originally posted by: Sandhya.A
What way to punish a soldier braveThan to make him weak and crawlEven pain and death a warrior would craveThan be pitiable and face his pride fall
'Ooowch'
His eyelids shrunk shut as soon as a thin beam of light slipping-in through the curtain slits struck his face hard. He squeezed both sides of his aching head between his palms 'I need a maid... to massage my head...'
He tried getting up using the support of his elbows, and that was when he noticed his semi-clad torso 'Oh' his hazy glances incidentally slipped towards the feminine silhouette, that lay under the covers, beside him. 'Durga?'
'No... no...' he winced 'it's my wife!'
Then again, she did bear a striking resemblance to Durga Bai. Isn't that why he'd picked her from an array of proposals and paintings of Rajkumaris that they'd received, following their uneventful trip to Bansi.
She was a typical chaste young lady who would never speak ill of her husband, come what may.
He liked that about her.
Her hair fell in distinct curls, framing cheeks of lucid ivory. Her lips were redder than rubies and her eyes a riveting raven-black. She reminded him of someone in particular.
He liked that about her.
She was well-cultured and came from an eminent family of aristocrats. She had untainted royal Rajput blood in her. And he definitely liked that about her.
The wedding might've been a rushed affair, but he could not have asked for a more ideal wife to carry on the Manswari lineage. And he would cherish her for it.
Yet still, she was innocent as a lamb - never questioned anything he said, never defied anything he did. Basically, she didn't 'challenge' him. She was no Durga Bai.
Perhaps, there was no other Durga Bai.'
Darn Khalil!'
'Kunwarsa... Kunwarsa Mahendar... a soldier has brought news for you!'
'Ma Bhavani!' Did someone have to call for him NOW?
'Ask him to wait outside...' groaned the prince.
He summoned his soldier into an adjacent meeting room.
'Khamma Ghani Kunwarsa...'
'It's been a while' Mahendar nodded 'I do hope you have good reason for your prolonged absence...'
The soldier's eyes gleamed with a sense of achievement 'You might want to take a seat, Kunwarsa... you wouldn't believe what updates I've brought you!'
'Take a seat?' the prince jutted his chin out 'Are you suggesting that I'm too delicate to face the news you've brought me?'
'No... no... no... I wouldn't dare suggest such a thing, Kunwarsa...' he shook his head sheepishly 'I meant... I was at Parnagarh for the past few weeks... and you wouldn't believe all that has happened...'
'Parnagarh?' Maybe, he'd just found the perfect cure for his hangover 'Go on...'
*******
'I cannot believe this... forget abandoning Harka Bai for having married a Mughal man... they have actually welcomed a Muslim Mansabdar like he was part of their own family!' The Senapati slapped his palm on the desk 'This is atrocious! How desperate have they become?'
'Atrocious? Not quite! Desperate? Maybe...' Tejraj murmured, as if pondering under his breath 'well... he DID save them from Khalil... and he seems to have given them hope when they had none, by cutting a deal with the Shehzaade... at this point they must be counting their blessings! So, I guess they've just learnt to grin and bear the new changes in their lives!' He pensively stared ahead, into oblivion 'Makes them opportunists... like us... we befriended Khalil too... when we needed something done...' he shrugged 'of course... that story didn't go as planned!''Keep passing such remarks... and be assured, Tejraj... you, your two wives and your children will be homeless again...' Mahendar then rolled his stares towards his commander with disdain 'and Senapati, you haven't understood the vital point either! While the whole inter-religious wedding... the inter-mixing of these people is disgusting, that is NOT what bothers me anymore... what surprises me, is that a businessman and his group of assistants managed to defeat Khalil... KHALIL!' he re-emphasised just in case the men had forgotten the obvious 'This is a general, who intimidates seasoned warriors! How did a mere businessman go about defeating him?'
'But didn't your soldier mention that these businessmen were part of an army... before they ventured out as horse merchants?'
'Oh really? Part of an army?' smirked Mahendar 'So... if all of these men were such efficient warriors... why would the Shehzaade let them go? Why would he give them permission to leave his army? The Shehzaade is a war-monger, remember?'
'Well...' the Senapati scratched his hairline, trying to think of an a nswer to satisfy his prince 'the soldier did say that this Akbar Mahmoud Khan... was a close friend of the Shehzaade's... maybe he bribed his way out of the army!'
'Bribe?' The young prince was not convinced - from what he'd heard over the years, he did not think the Shehzaade was the kind of man, who could be bought by money or bribes.
No. There was something else to this story - a missing link that he did not know about. And the more he thought about the missing link, the more it was beginning to gnaw at his peace - like an itch that HAD to be scratched.
'If this Akbar Mahmoud Khan was so madly in love with Harka Bai, why did he not come forward in Bansi to stop the betrothal?' He fell back upon his armrest 'And how did he manage to arrive just in time to stop Khalil? Is he an old enemy of Khalil's?'
Following a long spell of speculation that seemed to bring about nothing too conclusive, the Senapati pulled out a chair and took a seat beside his master 'Kunwarsa... if I may suggest something...' he cleared his throat 'you have an efficient network of spies... why don't you instruct them to make further enquiries... to find out about this Akbar Khan's family... about his men... about his past... about his business...'
Mahendar tapped his fingers on the table 'that would take too long, Senapati... many months...'
'So, what do you plan to do, then?'
'My plan...' the Rajput prince paused, aware of what was to come 'is to renew my association with Khalil...'
'WHAT!'
'Khalil?'
'Well... it would be the quickest way to find out if he knows something I don't and if I know something he doesn't...'
'But, would that be wise, Kunwarsa?'
'I think so... of course, I'll have to wait a few weeks first... for that brute to finish nursing his wounds and mending his hurt pride!'
'After everything that's happened, Mahendar... you're going to befriend that murderer just because it'll suit your purpose?' the cousin swallowed back a scoff 'Opportunist!'
'Tejraj!' the prince rose vehemently from his chair 'DON'T take me for a fool! My plan is to ACT like I'm extending a hand of friendship... not to actually make that monster my friend...' he paused to let his temper simmer 'I want to know if he has information I would be interested in, that's all... and now that both - Khalil and I - have a common enemy, who has somehow whisked Parnagarh off both our hands, we might have some interesting stories to share, don't you think?'
******
Parnagarh Haveli..
The wood worker unfurled his measuring rope 'Parnagarh has become busy... new people... new businesses...'
'Yes banna...'
'You'd need plenty more trunks to store away those old documents, wouldn't you?'
'Just two more...'
'TWO would do?' Arching over, the wood-worker started taking his next set of measurements, jabbering away relentlessly as he did so.
'Alright baisa...' a short while later, the man rolled up his measuring rope 'the measurements for the trunks have been taken... now... if I heard correctly, you said you needed a cabinet too... am I right?'
'Yes... we'll show you the chamber...'
'It's upstairs...'
At the top, following a sharp turn to the left, they soon entered the corner chamber on the first floor.
'So you say you want a nice large cabinet made?'
'A large strong one...' added Ratan kaka.
'Worry not kakasa... our family have been the designated cabinet-makers of this haveli for generations...' he plonked down his heavy bag of tools 'I'll use the best wood possible... list your wishes and I'll make it happen... I can polish its doors so shiny that you'd see your own reflection in it! Or, I can engrave them with such intricate designs... our... traditional... Rajput...' his words stalled 'Rajput motifs... where...'
His wary glance fell upon the sight of a couple of unfamiliar items dotted around the room. Specifically upon the sight of the Holy Quran, the Quran stand and the prayer rug.
His upper lip curled in disdain - so this was the Mansabdar's room?
'Tell me...' he made little effort to hide the waning enthusiasm in his tone 'what sort of cabinet do you need?'
Ratan kaka scratched his grey hairline trying to recall the specific instructions he'd received 'Khan Sahib mentioned that he needed a cabinet with five or six shelves... and with doors that could be locked...'
'Oh...' a disinterested sigh slipped out of his mouth 'I'll make one... of Sheesham...' he turned around, and began walking out, just like that. Neither was he going to waste precious time taking careful measurements, nor use up expensive wood to make a cupboard that was meant to decorate a Mughal man's room. Sheesham would do!
'Sheesham?'
Heera looked up at the carpenter who was almost on his way out. Common wood? Wonder what happened to all that fancy woodwork and shiny doors he'd been promising them so far! 'Not Mahogany? Or rosewood?'
'I cannot make promises, baisa...' his eyes elusively crossed paths with the heiress', before shifting back to the entrance 'it's a huge cupboard... I might not be able to obtain such large amounts of rosewood or mahogany'
'Oh I see...' Heera nodded slowly. So, their cabinet-maker was about to short-change the owner of the haveli simply because he was a Muslim. Whatever her personal equation with him, as a mansabdar, so far, he had been good-enough to the people in and around this town. Such intolerance from them was not justified.
'I'm sorry banna... but I don't think I can make promises either' she shook her head, using precisely his words and tone upon him 'I'm not sure I can place this order for the chairs... the trunks and the rest of the furniture'
'Wh... wh... what...' the wood-worker spun around, startled 'but baisa...'
'Well... I admit... as baisa, I supervise the purchases... and make the decisions... but as the Mansabdar, HE has to sign them off...' the lady hushed her voice, as if she didn't want others hearing this 'it'd be a bit awkward explaining to him that our carpenter could find excellent wood for all rooms, except his!'
She let a soft grin lessen the sting in her response 'I understand your predicament, banna... I hope you'll understand mine...'
'B... but... baisa I...'
'Ratan kakasa...' Heera shifted her attention to the manager 'banna here... is one of the best wood-workers in all of Rajputana... but, in this instance... unfortunately, we'd have to search for someone else...'
'No... no...' His face lost a few shades of colour. After all, this was one of their best customers - maybe his revulsion against the Mughals was coming at too high a price! 'Baisa... actually...'
'You see... I wouldn't want to be embarrassed in front of the new Mansabdar...'
A clumsy pause later, the woodworker dropped the bag he'd just picked 'Embarrass? Hukum Jagat Prasad Singh's daughter? No... no... no... I wouldn't even dream of letting such a thing happen!' he swiftly flipped open his measuring rope with gusto 'I will try and find good quality rosewood for this cabinet... like I'd promised you... we will, wouldn't we boys?'
'Yes banna...'
'Yes banna...'
'You will?' she raised her brow quite charmingly 'That is very kind of you indeed'
'You'll find the best quality furniture adorning your rooms within two months' time... that's a promise!'
'Thank you...' Heera smiled to herself, aware that her work here was done for then.
'One responsibility tackled... several more to go today...' her mind whirred, once outside the Mansabdar suite, and in the corridors.
She was supposed to meet Vaid kaka later on, to help him with the preparation of a special ointment.
And of course, there was the matter of the Mansabdar's never-ending 'meetings' with the miners that was sure to keep her mind busy for the rest of the day.
'Baisa...'
The wheels that'd been turning in her head came to an abrupt stop 'Bajrang banna?'
'Khamma Ghani baisa...' Catching up on his breath from that dash up the stairs, he hurriedly saluted her 'your presence is required in the private meeting hall... Khan Sahib has called for you...'
'WHAT! I'm required there? Now?' She asked again, wondering if she'd heard right.
'Yes baisa...'
What an uncanny coincidence that HE had called for her precisely when she'd been pondering upon the happenings there!
Pulling the veil in front of her face, all the way below her chin, she began making her way down the sweeping marble stairs.
It wasn't customary for a married woman to be summoned in a private hall where men were discussing official matters. And it somehow felt all the more unusual that he had summoned her in the presence of the Shehzaade's business associates - she'd assumed he would just announce his decision to her, later, in private.
It meant this HAD to be very important!
'Ma Bhavani!'
Drawing in a deep breath, Heera stood at the entrance of the private hall, letting some of those fears settle
Realising that her eyelids had remained lowered for longer than they must, she held her face up, gazing straight ahead, before stepping in...
The private hall
'Frigid' was the first word that came to mind as soon as she had a taste of the ambience she'd walked into.
Heera only managed a fleeting glance of the visitors - four parties of businessmen comfortably settled in plush armchairs across the airy hall - Mughal men who'd possibly come from different corners of the Empire upon the instructions of the Shehzaade.
But, a fleeting glance was enough to tell her that her presence here was not welcome what with their visible lack of common courtesy when greeting a Lady.
Till her sights fell upon the one occupying the most prominent position in the chamber.
Seated at the centre, with both arms resting upon the armrest, the young man was looking directly at her.
As though he'd been waiting for her.
And as though he was aware her feet had taken a brief pause outside the hall.
So, she looked right back at him, the quiet tremors in her chest quickening for a pulse or two. What an odd time and place for her emotions to behave this way! Then again, perhaps she was merely relieved to see a familiar face amongst a host of not-so-friendly faces.
Just then though, he did something she didn't quite expect.
'Begum Sahiba...' he stood up, to take a casual stroll by his chair 'why are you standing there... please come in... join us...' his head tilted towards the chair beside him 'take a seat here...'
And because the Mansabdar the Shehzaade's right hand man - had stood up, everyone else, however unwelcoming or unfriendly, assumed they were obliged to stand up.
Heera didn't realise when a faint smile had escaped from her lips, but it was a faint smile that she didn't try to hold back. 'Thank you...' she walked past the merchants to occupy the seat beside him, feeling like the Like the Lady of the house again.
'My men... as you might be aware... these lands originally belonged to the Sahiba...' he gestured towards her as part of his speech 'and she would know more about the weather, the townsfolk and the soil here than anyone else would... definitely more than I would...' he shrugged 'so, she should be the one you must ask any questions regarding these matters...'
'Sahiba...' one of the older merchants didn't wait for long 'would the townsmen of Parnagarh be ready to work for us?'
Heera tried not to appear too dazed. 'I would think that some of them would...'
'Sahiba, when we came here, we were under the impression that we would be free to dig where we wanted...'
'But after arriving here, we realise that there are restrictions on where we can and cannot dig...'
Restrictions?' Did she hear right? Did they say he'd placed restrictions upon them?
'Harka Sahiba...' the merchants called her attention back to the meeting since there are already many restrictions... we want additional confirmation from you before we invest our money here...'
'You and your sister... met with a famous explorer years ago, didn't you? Khan Sahib tells us this explorer actually claimed the best source of iron lies beyond the woods on the right... down below... is it true?'
'What?' Heera frowned for a moment. What 'best' iron ores? What woods? Beyond where? Yes, she and jiji had met with an explorer once but, all he'd said was that the entire Parnagarh soil was rich with iron ore. There was no mention of any particular site. Ever!
'What games are you up to, Mansabdar Sahib?' she peeked up at him again seeking a hint, searching for cues. But no, he was deliberately playing it calm - his face as placid as an ocean at midnight.
By taking this gamble, not only was HE swimming in rough waters - he'd suddenly dragged HER in too, without any warning whatsoever.
And while Heera was silently hoping she didn't blurt something out, silently hoping that she didn't mess up his carefully-laid plans - he sat next to her with the alarming nonchalance of a seasoned player.
My, this man was a master at such games.
'Yes the explorer did say such a thing...' she broke her spell of silence with a lie and a diplomatic smile 'but just to be clear... that we are talking of the same site, Mansabdar Sahib... perhaps, it's better we take a look at the place together... and show them the site' she turned to him for approval - with the same flair he was using 'am I right?'
Akbar was finally compelled to abandon the company of the visitors he'd been engaging with. That quick-witted comeback, those sly expressions behind her veil - they carried several questions. So many 'Whys' and 'Hows' that he was left quietly amused.
'Yes... why not, Sahiba? Let's go along and show them the site...'
The terraced balcony...
This particular terraced balcony jutting out from the rear wall of the Haveli, offered the most panoramic views of this hilly town. Which was why, this was his first stop - the best spot to show the Sahiba his game-plan - before he would take a hike down to the woods, along with the men, for a closer inspection of the site.
So, the young man tapped his fingers on the railing and waited aside, , while the merchants finished making routine enquiries with the Sahiba. Well, he didn't have much to add to these general discussions anyway, nor did he want to get too involved - his exhausting schedules would not allow him to do so in future either.Of course, he would set everything up in Parnagarh for her and provide support in any way she wanted. But it was essential that she reclaim the responsibilities of an heiress - responsibilities that she'd been admirably handling for so long. Even more so since there was a high possibility he would go away on another upcoming mission in the near future.
'Ai Khuda...' Taking a breather from those stressors for a while, Akbar leaned over the short wall - the wall that overlooked paradise.
'Paradise...'
His pets. They were thriving here.
'Mansabdar Sahib...' the call was soft, the echoes of her anklets even softer - as she left the merchants to their materialistic discussions and approached him.
'I think I've answered all their questions... now will you please answer one of mine?' Heera took up a spot at the railing not far from him 'I take it there is something you want to show me... isn't that why I was brought here?' she masked her nervousness with a crafty frown 'Where exactly is this particular iron-ore-rich site that the explorer supposedly told me about...'
However, there was still one unanswered doubt.
Intrigued, the young lady drew his attention by lifting her brows once 'How did you manage to convince these miners to stay out of the mainland? What did you say... '
His eyes drifted back to the fields in front, the edge of his lips curving into a repressed grin 'Look carefully Begum Sahiba... and you'll understand...'
The humongous stables and barns that she considered an eyesore till yesterday, suddenly appeared quite magnificent. The race tracks and the training grounds that felt so pompously excessive until a day ago, suddenly seemed quite fitting and fine. So, THIS was why he'd occupied a spot right in the centre of Parnagarh. This was why he was using up an area five times the size of his plot in Aidabad.
His racehorses - the royal racehorses were standing in the way between the miners and the rest of Parnagarh!
'Khan Sahib... Sahiba...' her thoughts were interrupted when the merchants walked up to join them
'Fine... we are pleased with the terms and arrangements...'
'We've discussed everything thoroughly...'
'We are happy to sign the documents... after we've visited the site'
'That is excellent news, men...'
'If only...' the older merchant stepped forth to the railing 'if only your fancy racehorses did not require such a large area to run about...' he cackled 'I mean... do animals really need all that space, Khan Sahib?'
'As I've already explained...' Akbar's pitch was steady, giving out the vibes that he wasn't too amused by the quip 'since moving to Parnagarh, I've started dealing with the highest calibre of racehorses... and they demand such luxuries... besides, these beasts have always been the personal favourites of our Huzoor himself... so...' he smirked 'don't you think our Shehzaade deserves this calibre of racehorses?'
'What! Of... of... of c...course he does!'
'In fact, it IS with the blessings of our Shehzaade that my business flourishes here... then how could you suggest that I cut down on the quality I provide him with?'
'Ya Allah!' the merchant desperately tried to cover up his stupid remarks with a sheepish beam 'All I meant was... if your stables were not in the way, we could've gotten further iron for the prince! That would've made him happy...'
Akbar paused. 'You mean it would make YOU very happy!'
Having diverted suspicion by pinning blame back on him, he toyed with the nervous old man for a while, before caving in with a seemingly-friendly grin.
Taking the cue, the three other businessmen burst into loud sniggers in a hurry to bury the awkwardness.
'I... I...' The old man joined them in laughing at himself 'I... I would never suggest such a thing... I want the best for our Huzoor!'
'Then I'll make sure I keep this conversation between us... lest your remarks end up offending our Huzoor...' It didn't sound like a warning. It didn't even sound like a veiled-warning. But it was enough to erase every trace of doubt from their minds once and for all.
'Of course, Khan Sahib!'
'Thank you, Khan Sahib!'
'We'll meet you at the site, Khan Sahib...'
'Khuda Hafiz...'
Offering the Sahiba a nod - one that was noticeably more courteous than what they'd offered her earlier - the merchants began making their way towards the adjacent corridors.
Heera barely reacted, even though she'd heard their conversations, even though she was aware what it was he had been doing. The prickle at the back of her throat meant she wouldn't be able to utter a single word anyway. So, she continued staring at the morning skies through the light tear wetting her eye, warm rays of realisation thawing the sentiments that'd remained cold and bitter for so long.
In truth, she wanted to stare up at the Heavens and scream in relief. But she couldn't do that. So, she merely imagined doing so in her mind, letting it all sink in.
'Thank you Ma Bhavani... thank you jiji...'
This time it didn't stop there. There WAS one other person to thank! Him!
Whatever other personal grievances and grudges she might have against the Ustaad, the lady was now assured of one thing - Akbar Mahmoud Khan intended to keep his word. Yes, he was still a mystery to her. But there was one fact she DID know about this stranger - he would not let any harm come to his horses! And by putting his horses out there, in the middle, he had made it clear to her that he intended not to let any harm come to her people either.
'Thank you... Khan Sahib...'
Akbar stood stock-still, the fingers around his wrist stiffening in near-disbelief, his gaze lingering at the entranceway where he'd just finished showing the visitors back in.
He had been waiting for the merchants to leave, so that he could catch another glimpse of the awe in her eyes, maybe savour the rare site for a moment, before sealing it with an I-told-you-to-trust-me frown.
Instead, she had beaten him to it by catching him totally unaware. He had expected a smile in her eyes. A smile on her lips, he would have been happy with. But, this? 'Khan Sahib'
Not Ustaad Sahib. Not Mansabdar Sahib. But, Khan Sahib. Finally!
A hundred people called him by that name every day. But what a difference it made to hear it from the one person he wanted calling him by that name.
He turned around to his Sahiba.
There was a semblance of a smile on her lips - stoically reflecting a bit of gratitude and nothing more.
'You're welcome' he responded with a pleasant nod, hoping he came across just as stoic. Because, if he allowed the kind of emotions that were filling the empty corners and broken crevices of his chest to show up to his face, his features would be left with a full-fledged smile. And that was something Akbar needed to get used to first - a relatively unfamiliar side of him that still felt surreal.
However, what DID feel real was the happiness. He wasn't sure if she was prepared to forgive him for his betrayal yet. But he was confident that she now recognised he meant well for her and Parnagarh.
And that WAS the first step in the right direction 'Khuda Hafiz'
Hemakeerti OSes - Compiled PBD INDEX Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter...
Jodha Akbar FF : --- Who loves Him Most (M) --- Link to my other threads Thread 1 Thread 2 - Thread 3 :::::Thread 4::::...
Prologue: How it happens when both the hearts fall for each other madly without knowing each other? He is the emperor of the great Mughal...
Hey y'all! I've created this thread so that you'll can easily access all the Akdha Vms in one place. Please feel free to add to the list. 1....
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