NOVEL~*Hiding behind a Stranger*~THREAD 20- Chapter 25 - 14th JANUARY - Page 121

Originally posted by: -Felicity-

A painting can say so much... Simply beautiful! 👏

Kausi di... great job in finding this! 👍🏼

Thank you, Shagun! 🤗

Thank you so much for the pms dear

Originally posted by: lashy

At the same time, she also looks intelligent, matured and a lady who possesses inner strength! The painter has done a wonderful job... 👏

Chapter 25: A master at the game Part 1

My dearest Lashykanna,

I do not know how, or why , you put up with me, I really don't. When I started on the pending triptych - Chapters 23-25- I was horrified to see that it has been fully 6 weeks since I turned up on your threads, which is really unforgivable.

True, I was grounded by my RA for over 3 weeks, give or take a couple of days, during these 6 weeks. But even so, such procrastination, especially when I have been luxuriating in the incomparable plotting of your Chapter 25 for the past ten days, calls for a heartfelt apology, which is proferred herewith.

Before I begin, I have ensured that my take on your magisterial No. 25 is not affected by what is to come in No. 26 , with those dark, mail clad hordes that look like something straight out of The Lord of the Rings, by not going anywhere near your latest till this post is up and running.

So here goes, and as I am a firm believer in taking the best first, I am beginning at the end. Now this is not a chapter one can analyse in brief, for almost every line in it is loaded and demands deep appreciation. So I am going to appreciate it literally para by para, and I hope you will be patient with me as I do this.

Chapter 25

For starters, my pet, this chapter is, in terms of scripting and the psychological coup de maitre that Akbar pulls off, far and away the best that you have done so far. And not just in the comparative sense. It would stand against the best in movie scripting, with its sheer cleverness, the high stakes gamble for a prize that cannot be lost, and our hero's ability to read his master like a book, and play him like a fish on the line before reeling him in at the end.

To say that it is marvellous is inadequate praise.

I love this picture, which is the perfect fit for the chapter.

The hunting grounds...

'At laaassst...' he exhaled.

Hours of tracking. Miles of frustrating nothingness. Long stretches of poor visibility. Sinking spirits. But the struggles had paid. The young man had finally located the thickets where the Shehzaade was hunting.

Throughout the journey, his concerned mates had asked him questions aplenty, but he had no explanation to give. All he knew was that there was a gnawing feeling within, that grew stronger by the beat - as though to remind him that time was running out.

Now, he didn't know who would suffer if time ran out. Nor did he know how much time was left. Which is why, he needed answers. And he had come here, seeking the only person who could give him those answers!

This is what is called pure instinct, the instinct of the hunter, who tracks trouble just as he tracks his targets. There is a red signal that goes off in the hunter's inner being when danger is nigh at hand, to warn him to look out for it, long before the nature of the threat becomes clear.

'It's me Huzoor... no need to be alarmed'

'What?' Signalling his guards to put their weapons down, the Shehzaade turned to greet his visitor with a guarded smile, trying not to betray his astonishment.

'Salaam Ustaad... it's been a while...'

'Salaam Huzoor' Jumping off his steed, Akbar rushed towards the prince, offering him an adab as he did so. 'Khalil! He's returned from Kabul?'

'My!' The prince snorted. This man didn't waste a breath, did he? 'Yes he has...'

'But, he was banished...'

'Yes he was...'

'Then how is here, Huzoor?'

So abrupt, almost demanding! That Akbar can address the prince in this fashion speaks volumes for the depth of the trust that he has earned over the years, and the extent of the prince's dependence on him, no matter that it is a dependence that is partly resented.

Tying his hands behind his back, the prince casually paced up to the spread of food that'd been laid out on a table under a canopy. Picking up a small knife, he helped himself to a large fruit. 'Would you like some?'

'No thank you, Huzoor...'

Akbar was gentle in his refusal, but the impatience in his voice made it evident that he was not here to enjoy a picnic 'Please enlighten me Huzoor... I assumed that Khalil was not meant to be allowed into the capital so soon... then, why is he here... and where is he off to?'

Shehzaade took his time, finishing the fruit 'Let me be honest, my man...' he spoke, licking the juice from his fingertips 'I am growing tired of being caught in the crossfire, while you and Khalil battle out your differences... I am your master... I am his master... I have a right to make decisions as I please... and I don't have to justify my decisions to either of you... is that clear?'

Akbar frowned. Those orders were meant to keep him in line. But he could see through his master's ploy. The curt reply, the evasive tactics - it was obvious the prince was getting defensive. 'May I ask...' his heartbeats quickened 'if he has been sent away on another assignment?'

See, the dismissive tone does not put him off his track at all. He knows that he can push ahead with the Shehzaade, regardless of the latter s obvious evasiveness.

'No... not on another assignment'

'No?' Oblivious to the fresh beads of sweat that'd formed on his brow, Akbar peered into the man's eyes - he wanted answers and yet he dreaded what he would find 'Where is he off to, Huzoor?'

'Ustaad...' A reluctant sigh followed 'he has been sent to seize Parnagarh'

'DARN!' This was PRECISELY what Akbar had been dreading most! 'Behind my back?'

'Well...' the prince interrupted the unsettling pause 'you must understand... I had to make an urgent decision!'

'Huzoor... but so urgent that it had to be handed back to Khalil? The same man who behaved so recklessly and brought dishonour upon us, upon Islam... upon you?'

A masterly swipe!

Shehzaade's gazes rolled down towards his hands, as he toyed with the nail on his thumb 'I've given Khalil strict instructions... I'm confident he will follow them this time'

There might have been a tinge of guilt in the Huzoor's tone as he made that semi-convinced admission. But, Akbar was deaf to it - because he had just heard another sound. The sound of the tiniest crack - the first crack on the wall of trust that he'd nurtured for years.

A very beautiful phrase, and so tragic as well.

Thus shaking the belief that Huzoor had more regard for him than he had for the rest of his men. What a nasty way to be reminded of the reality that no one - however loyal or skilled - was immune to the treachery of power play!

How true, Lashykanna, and how sad for Akbar, in whose emotionally barren existence, the belief that the Shehzaade trusted him above all others was a pillar of security!

'Huzoor... please tell me what instructions Khalil has been given'

'To seize Parnagarh...' he shrugged 'and to destroy anything that stands in the way'

'To destroy its people? The old and sick? Women and infants?' the young man questioned through a series of gasps 'The Sahiba too?'

'If they stand in the way, then yes!'

'NOOO!'

A jarring stillness blanketed the crowd - the far-reaching echoes of Ustaad's defying roar, sending a cold shudder through their spines.

'Khan Sahib' Ibrahim, Azeez and Sayyid watched the turn of events aghast, as did the rest of the onlookers, frightened of how the prince would respond to that audacious reaction.

The Shehzaade, however, found himself more 'intrigued' than offended by the 'NO' - for never before had he seen this side to the Ustaad.

Of course, the man had been wronged and possibly needed a while to cool off. Still, that brief display of unbridled rage felt strange coming from someone who could keep his calm even during the most demanding of crisis. Was the reason for that flare up merely his professional enmity with Khalil? Or was it something else?

He'd find out soon enough.

Now this is a fascinating glimpse into the inner workings of the Shehzaade's mind. He does not blow his top unnecessarily, and then Akbar is given more leeway by him than anyone else.

Most important, what matters for the prince at this point is not his ego - that a subordinate, no matter how valuable, had actually shouted at him - but to get at the real reason for this uncharacteristic outburst.

He has almost as subtle a mind as the Ustaad, but only almost, not quite. And it is the gap between these two that decides between victory and defeat.

'Deep breaths you madman... this is the Mughal prince, you're talking to!'

Pushing down the bile that'd nearly risen up to his throat, Akbar shut out the horrifying mental images of Khalil and his men closing-in on Harka Sahiba. If he let those thoughts simmer any further, the broiling fury would spill over, threatening to destroy everything in its wake - a risk he could not afford to take in the presence of His Royal Highness.

No doubt, he would move Heaven, Earth - and even Hell, if that was what it took - to stop Khalil from bringing the Sahiba harm. But working himself into a frenzy about it, at this moment, would not help!

'CALM DOWN and think quickly!' he forcefully pried open his logic and senses that'd shut down for a few instants. 'Khalil cannot reach the Sahiba so easily... she's away at Bansi amongst people who'd protect her... besides...' he paused 'she's about to become the wife of... of... the Kun...' he paused again, a familiarly-painful pang stopping him from completing that sentence 'besides, she's going to be the Shehzaadi of a powerful kingdom... so, she will be safe for the time being! In the meanwhile, come up with an idea to convince the Shehzaade against this cruelty!'

Akbar's ability to tamp down the panic that is welling up inside him and threatening to drown him is amazing.The strain must have been terrible, all the more so as he could not afford to let it show.

'What's going on in that mind of yours, Ustaad?'

'Huzoor...' Akbar made a swift attempt to regroup his thoughts 'but, weren't our plans to keep it quiet? To play it clean? To avoid a bloodbath? All along, I assumed we were trying not to provoke the Hindus... wouldn't this impulsive attack add fuel to fire? Especially now that there is an uprising against you...' his pitch might've become reasonably-composed, but it was not as easy to keep the restlessness from surfacing in his stares 'So, please give me your permission to stop Khalil... let me prevent the violence, before it could lead to horrible consequences!'

'Hmmm...' the prince hummed, noting the sense of urgency in the Ustaad's approach 'no need to stop Khalil... don't worry about the consequences... there will be little retaliation from the Hindus if Parnagarh is destroyed... at least, for now!'

'Ai Khuda...' Akbar's fists quietly rolled. Then uncurled. Rolled. Then uncurled.

Just imagine how dramatic this would look onscreen, in a tight close up!

Why would his master not let him stop this madness? 'But Huzoor... how could there be no retaliation?'

'Apparently, the Sahiba of Parnagarh has been disowned by many powerful members of her own community... so, other kingdoms have gradually withdrawn support too...'

'What?'

His left foot took a faltering step back, as he cast a frantic glare at his mates, to find out if they had any idea of this development.

'ANY IDEA AT ALL?'

No. None. They appeared as flabbergasted as he.

But until a week ago, everything was fine. What on Earth could have happened since then that'd resulted in such a devastating situation? 'Disowned? Even by the Maharaj of Bansi?'

'Yes...' nodded the Shehzaade, humming another tune under his breath - a slightly less serious one. His eyes had just caught onto a remarkable observation.

The conversation had moved on from Khalil, hadn't it? The conversation was no longer about Mughal dishonour, was it? Then why hadn't the fire in Ustaad's eyes died out yet? 'Yes... possibly disowned by Bansi too...'

God! This made matters worse. Far worse. 'B... but why?'

'I don't know the details...' the prince flicked his palm dismissively 'of what I'd heard... she declined a marriage proposal'

His speech suddenly broke off. He'd heard his own words. And a couple of facts that hadn't stood out initially, did so this time around 'She went against a few powerful members of the Rajput community... but, why?' Something about those details did not ring right.

Why WOULD an orphaned 16 year old, whose life and lands were already in danger, turn down a marriage proposal from a powerful kingdom? It didn't make sense. Why risk everything?

Unless she'd met another well-wisher who...

His brows craftily narrowing together, Shehzaade glanced up, boring into the eyes of the young warrior who had been guarding the Parnagarh assignment like his life depended on it.

Aha! He'd never bothered looking in this direction, so he never realised there was a mystery lurking. But now that he'd looked, he found one. And maybe -just maybe - if he looked closer, he might find the missing pieces too.

'Huzoor...' Akbar urged, his breath caught in his throat 'You were saying...'

'It seems...' Shehzaade smiled at that 'sense of urgency' in the Ustaad's approach again 'she has turned down a proposal from a powerful Rajput kingdom'

'What?' Akbar's lips parted, letting out a startled whisper as he realised what the news meant - Sahiba had rejected the Kunwar of Manswar!

For the shortest moment, his eyes glimmered alive. The heaviness in his chest suddenly eased into light flutters. It was untimely to indulge in such a sentiment now. However, that reaction was spontaneous. Beyond control. His pride and possessiveness that'd been taking too many hits for far too long had finally found a reason to gloat.

Lovely, succinct phrasing. The sense of belonging together that will not be denied.

But as always, the joy was short-lived!

'Ustaad...' the prince rubbed his beard 'I have two doubts...'

The young man's expressions were eclipsed by a frown 'Doubts?'

'Hmmm' Shehzaade deliberately paused, fiddling with the man's patience 'Why didn't Harka Sahiba use this proposal to benefit her lands? Come to think of it... she has literally signed her own death-wish by rejecting this wedding...'

'True...' Akbar admitted, the dark undertones resurfacing in his voice

The prince let his face hover beside the Ustaad's 'Besides, are Rajputs really so sensitive? Would they all disown a kind lady merely because she turned down a proposal? No... I don't think so...' he watched the man closely. Very closely. 'So, I wonder what she might have done to deserve such disfavour from her people! Something that they didn't approve of? Something immoral? Maybe she got involved with someone...' he topped up his crooked sense of humour with a wide beam 'Bah! Anyway, I have no purpose for her hereafter, and I prefer her chapter closed... I'm sure YOU wouldn't mind that, would you?'

His royal features grew rife with a roguish sadism on observing how Akbar's skin had become a rich crimson, the veins in his temple throbbing visibly - maybe from the blood rushing to his head.

'Finally' he sneered - he was right! So, the great Ustaad had committed the cardinal sin of growing too attached to his 'assignment'. What a pity though, nothing could be done about it.

Wrapping his palm around the man's left shoulder, Shehzaade patted him thrice, as if offering him brotherly sympathy 'Let's head for the palace... I have a new assignment in mind for you...'

This whole passage is a fiendish game of cat and mouse that the Shehzaade plays with his most faithful and most trusted aide. There is a nasty sadistic streak to it, of almost overt amusement at the suffering of the Ustaad, that belies the idea that the Shehzaade had ever had any genuine affection for Akbar at all. He probes for a weakness in the Ustaad's make up, and then he pokes at it with a sharp stick.

No wonder Cardinal Wolsey, once the Lord Chancellor to Henry VIII, who knew more of the fleeting nature of royal favour than most, said on his lonely deathbed "Put not thy faith in princes!"

'Huzoor, I cannot answer for the Sahiba, but I do have a query about myself...' his remark stopped the prince in his tracks 'I wonder what 'I' might have done to deserve such disfavour from my master?'

Yes, Akbar was deflecting. But what else was he to do? The Huzoor had relentlessly toyed with him, cutting through every part till his weakest spot had been exposed. Nearly extracting a silent confession from him, about his feelings for the Sahiba.

Driven to the brink of desperation by his master, Akbar was in dire need of a swift comeback. And it was at that critical juncture that he suddenly remembered - he had one weapon left in his arsenal. One game-changer.

The Farmaan.

Its presence had been briefly ignored owing to the shocking turn of events. But maybe that was for the best - because he would use the scroll now to make up for lost ground.

Granted, it might not be the valuable 'trump card' it was until a few hours ago. But it was still a good card. And Akbar was capable of playing an excellent game with an ordinary card too!

'Huzoor, pardon my insolence...' his pitch was steady, but deep 'please tell me, why you chose not to keep up your word to me... when I've never let you down?'

'Ustaad...' Shehzaade exhaled warily 'Everything about Parnagarh has become mighty personal to you, hasn't it?' The taunt was subtle - yet, plain for everyone to see 'Don't take it to heart, my man... but you did take your own time... nearly 2 months...'

'Four weeks...' Akbar instantly corrected his master 'Huzoor, four weeks was what I took... so, I politely ask... would anyone else in the force have handled everything so neatly... while bringing you all that information within four weeks?'

This was awkward.

'Maybe not... but, what's the use... you didn't get me the Farmaan, so... I... see no... point... in...'

The prince's sentence trailed off 'Wh...What is that?' he hissed, his jaw dropping open.

Words failed him thereafter, as he was left facing both - Akbar's steady glares and the object that'd just been fished out of his bag.

It was an old long brass box - the kind that was used to store precious documents. 'Is that...' the questions in his mind turned to disbelief 'Is that what I think it is?'

'Huzoor...'

The young man called out, since his master's speech had been brought to a grinding halt

'The Farmaan'

This is what one would call a coup de grace, a moment of triumph that should silence all the snide remarks, the half-hidden criticism of his efficiency in the Shehzaade's service. And yet Akbar, who knows his master through and through, and also knows what he himself needs so desperately right now, curbs any sign of triumphalism, and keeps his tone level, modest, unassuming. Marvellously astute!

The Shehzaade received the document cautiously. But 'Thank you' was all he could think of saying for then.

'NOW tell me Huzoor...' there was a calculated modesty in Akbar's tone 'have I ever let you down?'Of course, there was that one 'odd' instance, when he'd secretly burnt the scrolls to save Harka Sahiba's life. But somehow that secret didn't prick his conscience anymore! 'Have I?'

A revealing little aside!😉

The prince studied the man's expressions like a hawk. No smug frown, no arrogance in his voice. Then again, it was always the Ustaad's actions that were hard-hitting. 'No... you have never let me down!' he finally relented 'But if you'd already found the Farmaan, you could've tipped me off by sending a messenger... would've saved us a lot of trouble!'

'Huzoor' Akbar raised a brow 'I would've sent a messenger, if I know of anyone who could ride to the capital faster than I can...'

'Darn!' The Shehzaade was compelled to break out into a grin. No wonder he liked this man so much. 'Kareem' he called for his assistant, his glimpses fixed upon his best soldier 'Take this document... we'll have it authenticated at the palace now... if it IS the original Farmaan, I'll have to make it up to our Ustaad Sahib!'

Chapter 25: A master at the game Part 2

Well, my pet, I could not post this in one part as the system rejected it as too large. And in the process, I lost all my editing changes😡, and had to do that all over again. Grrr...

Anyhow, I am done now, and I hope the powers that be let me thru!

Bansi

Lashykanna, I am not commenting on the very moving section about Heera and Gauri as they are on the verge of leaving Bansi. I do not think I can manage it, and then it is such a lovely passage that it hardly needs any comment. I specially liked it that Heera, despite her own overpowering misery, exerts herself to comfort Gauri and to explain to her why she could not do what Gauri suggests. But then she is "like that only"!

I also liked the small silver lining that Heera mentions, that Mahendar had not received her confidential letters and was thus not in a position to betray her to the Shehzaade.

But tell me, did she not send out a dummy message and a separate real one to both Manswar and to Bansi? What then did the one she managed to get across to Manswar contain?

The Capital

At the palace

The ambience was lively. The men were drunk with happiness. The food was plenty. The jokes never ended. There was relentless laughter and chatter.

Akbar should've been mighty pleased. Any other day, and Akbar would have been mighty pleased - seeing how the feast was meant to honour him. A feast celebrating his achievements, hosted by the Shehzaade - possibly to lighten some of that guilt.

However, all the young man wanted to do - as he sat at the head of the dinner audience - was to get up, get out and get going.

It'd been two hours since the Farmaan had been authenticated. Which meant that by the end of this, Khalil would already have half-a-day's advantage over him - yes, Akbar had made the enquiries and done the maths. If Bansi had disowned Harka Sahiba, she would be vacating from the palace soon - leaving her isolated in the dangerous forests thereon, and extremely vulnerable to the clutches of the predator.

The only relief he had was the knowledge that Khalil and his men were no experts on forests routes - it would take them at least another couple of days to reach the outskirts of Bansi.

However, that did not make it any easier to sit here and bide time - especially when the very thought of what might happen if he didn't get to her first, made his hair stand on end.

But, much as he wanted to charge off, Akbar wouldn't do it.

What a horrendous wait this must have been for poor Akbar! I cannot even imagine it, to sit there and appear to be joyous and without a care in the world while his innards were slowly shrivelling up with worry and fear, regardless of all the reassuring calculations he makes about Khalil's prospects.

By an uncanny twist of fate, he was currently enjoying an upper hand over the Shehzaade - and he wanted to keep it that way for as long he could. A little patience here would go a long way. So, he sucked it up and sat amidst the crowd like a true gentleman.

'Simmer down' he kept telling himself - after all, this delay had given him one big benefit.

It'd given him ample time to compose his fears. And to channelize his frustrations into a strategy for what he planned to do next.

Now, all he needed was an opportunity to execute that strategy.

You know, my poppet, it is in such a situation that your Akbar shines as never before. Here he is, between a rock and a very hard place, consumed by a nameless dread about what would surely happen to Heera if he could not get to her in time, while having to pretend that he is having the time of his life at the banquet.

Despite this appalling situation, his mind still works, and works at top speed. He can still list out his options, weigh them, and decide which would be the most feasible and the most promising. Amazing man!

Thankfully, the opportunity came half an hour later when the men left, one after another - till there was no one else in that grand chamber but him and the Mughal prince.

The smile on his face distorted into a grin, as Shehzaade took one tough glance at the man sitting at the opposite end of the dining arrangement 'So... Ustaad... now that it's only you and I... do you want to tell me what's on your mind?' he paused 'Do you want me to apologise... is that it?'

'Not in my wildest dreams, Huzoor...' Akbar was quick to clarify

An absolutely vital denial, which must have cooled the prince's temper down considerably.

'But you want something... what is it?'

The young man's glimpses slid towards the silk kerchief beside his hand 'Huzoor... do you remember... that incident when you were crossing the desert once... your troupe was attacked... fortunately, my men and I had uncovered the assassination plot and reached you promptly...'

'Go on...'

'It was my first task as an Intelligence Officer and it was tough... for three days we had to fend off enemies... the weather was unbearable... we were starving... and had only 3 bags of water to keep us all going...' Akbar smiled to himself, as though recalling the incident fondly 'but what's important Huzoor, is that we managed to get you out of that attack, safe and sound!'

The Shehzaade was not grinning anymore.

'I have a good memory, Ustaad... so come straight to the point... what do you want?'

Akbar looked up slowly.

'You gave me a promise that day, Huzoor... remember?'

How could the prince forget? 'Ask for whatever you want, my man... and it'll be yours!'

So elated had he been by Ustaad's accomplishment that he'd offered him a gift, a 'promise' right away. And then, at the end of every mission thereafter too. Only, Ustaad had never cared to claim these materialistic gifts. At least, not until now. 'The offer still stands...' picking up a goblet of water, he took a sip of water to wet his parched lips 'anything reasonable you ask for, is yours!'

Aha! So much for his promise!

'Huzoor... with your permission then, I request for a promotion'

'Oh...' he smirked in part-relief, before taking another sip of water 'but you ARE already the Chief Intelligence Officer, so...'

'Huzoor... if you could put in a word to the Shehenshah, and let him know that I would like to be promoted to the rank of a special-ranking Mansabdar...'

The Shehzaade almost choked on his drink. 'Mansabdar?' he teased 'What do you plan to do, Ustaad... spend your days in court in hefty silk clothes with a pot belly?'

'A Mansabdar...' Akbar kindly interrupted the laughter 'A Mansabdar, permanently posted at Parnagarh!'

I was just imagining how this moment would look like in a film! The hall would explode in seetis and taalis!

BANG!

The prince had thumped his goblet on the table in front.

Luckily, those days the goblets were all of metal!😉

'This is no longer funny...'

'But... I am not jesting, Huzoor...'

'Oh, really?'

'You have the Farmaan... Parnagarh is all yours... a new officer has to be appointed to oversee the place... so, I'm requesting that you choose me for the position.'

'I see...' the prince ground down on his teeth - unaware of what to make of the situation, unaware of how to defuse it 'the iron ores... they've enticed you too now, have they Ustaad?'

'No Huzoor...' Akbar's stance was modest and matter-of-fact 'you know me... I'm a simple man... why would the iron ores or its money, interest me?'

'Not the iron ores?'

Strangely enough - and even when everything else about the scenario seemed suspicious - Shehzaade could sense that the young man was being honest about this particular point. It was neither power, nor money driving this demand.

Was it the Sahiba, then?

Impossible! This man would never get out there in time to save her life hereafter. 'So, why Parnagarh?'

His mind racing with the 'ifs' and 'buts', he tried stalling for a while 'Aidabad... has been a very convenient cover up for your operations as an Intelligence Officer and...'

'Huzoor...' sighed the young man 'worry not... nothing changes even if I shift base from Aidabad to Parnagarh... as your devoted soldier, I assure you that'

'But why not elsewhere? Bigger lands? With a more luxurious haveli? You'll have more horses and men too... Parnagarh will be wasteland soon... destroyed by the miners...'

'The miners would destroy 'some' of it... not 'all' of it, Huzoor... the valleys there have blown me away... excellent grazing grounds for our race horses...' he hurled a friendly nod at his Master, who he knew was also a fellow horse-enthusiast 'besides, I've met the Parnagarh men... they're efficient workers and loyal men... and they trust me... they'll be of better use to us alive, than dead!'

'Hmmm...' The Shehzaade rubbed his brows. It was becoming obvious that the Ustaad was trying to preserve what he could of Parnagarh and its people.

But with the Sahiba of Parnagarh gone, this request posed no real threat, did it?

If anything, the deal was beginning to sound quite promising - especially when coming from such an excellent businessman. 'Race horses? Income from loyal men? And the iron ores too? Profitable!'

Besides, Allah knew, if there was anyone deserving of such a promotion it WAS the Ustaad.

Yet, there was that niggling feeling at the back of his mind - as though there was still one question left unanswered...

'Huzoor? What do you have to say?'

'Ugh!' the prince grimaced. What an exhausting day to have such a dilemma sprung upon him! 'A promise is a promise' the prince would often boast. And now, when time came to follow up on his promise, he realised how tough it was! 'Fine!'

Akbar is now almost there, but there is still one catch to be tackled, and this he proceeds to do with a superb grasp of his master's psychological make up. He knows exactly which of the Shehzaade's buttons to press, when and how hard or how softly!

'It seems you are not happy, Huzoor... is it because you are not sure Shehenshah would approve of this decision?'

'Shehenshah?' The Shehzaade's stares narrowed into hard glares 'Parnagarh is MY province... I will choose my officers...'

'Huzoor, but what if Shehenshah wished to appoint one of his men instead?'

'NO ONE will override my decisions... not even the Shehenshah!'

Akbar appeared confused 'But...'

"Appeared" being the key word!😉

'Ustaad!' he agitatedly crunched his fists 'I am heir to the Mughal throne... are you doubting my authority?'

'I didn't mean to...'

Now this is the true master ploy. By bringing in the question of the Shahenshah's supreme authority, he makes sure that the Shehzaade reacts exactly the way Akbar wants him to. A stroke of genius, no less!👏👏👏

'Kareem...' Shehzaade clicked his fingers as loud as a whip 'bring me my writing desk and my official seal...'

He waited for the attendants to clear away the dining arrangements and set up the writing desk in place of it.

Then, in a fit of impulse, he grabbed a scroll.

'I'm giving it to you in writing now...' he started penning down his promissory note 'unfortunately we'd need the Shehenshah's seal later to complete the final formalities... but this is good as gold...' Once done, he stamped his seal, rolled up the scroll and passed it on to the man at the other end. 'The old man cannot oppose my word... and the courtiers wouldn't even dare to!'

Having put up a cocky display of his authority, the prince slowly tilted his shoulders forward, his posture growing very intimidating 'But remember, you will serve ONLY ME... if I find your loyalties wavering, the consequences will be severe!'

'Thank you, Huzoor...' The young man received the scroll with warmth in his gazes. On the inside though, a cold rush had just gushed through his veins - dousing every fire and flame that'd been scorching him from within for so long - the scorching flames of unrest and anxiety, of distress and anger.

God, how horrible it must have been, and what an iron nerve Akbar must have needed to walk thru this quicksand and come out of it alive!

Finally! There was some hope.

'By the way, I have another question, Huzoor...'

'WHAT more? Anyone else making such demands, would've been thrown down from a tower... you realise that?' Shehzaade exhaled, partly-amused partly-vexed by this new side to the Ustaad 'Oh... go on then...'

Akbar indulged his master with a wry frown. 'Huzoor... as a special ranking Mansabdar now, my family have become the Sultanate's responsibility... have they not? I'll let no harm come to them when I'm alive... but, even after my demise, they must be protected and cared for by the Sultanate... that is what the law says, am I right?'

Shehzaade let the unexpected query linger in his mind, dissecting it every which way, before eventually giving in with a guarded response 'Y... yes...'

'Then with your word as assurance, can I take it that my family and my men will be safe... even if and when I'm not around, to protect them?'

The prince folded his arms across his chest, more baffled than he was a moment ago 'Which family are you referring to? And I don't understand... who's going to want to harm your family?'

'There are brutes out there Huzoor, doing exactly that...'

'Brutes? Wh... who? Khalil?'

'Yes, Huzoor...'

'Unbelievable!' Shehzaade's eyes suddenly widened, as it hit him 'You ARE doing this for her... you think you'll save the Sahiba? You think you'll catch up with Khalil? After all this while?'

'I will, Huzoor...'

The young man's confidence was unnerving.

'What am I missing?' the prince snarled 'Since when did Harka Sahiba become your family?'

Akbar let his eyes smile. Just for a moment.

'She will become family Huzoor... when I make her my bride...'

He was quick to add 'with your blessings, of course...'

Lord, but this is rich! Especially the very last line! He has rolled the Shehzaade up, lock, stock, and barrel.👏

The prince threw his head back, in disbelief. No wonder that niggling feeling had refused to go away - it was only now that he'd found a convincing answer to that unanswered question.

Ustaad didn't want Parnagarh for money, for power, for its beauty, or even for its business. The man needed Parnagarh for her sake and her sake alone.

And this was not merely attachment - the soft gentle breeze of 'attachment' would not push a man to take such steps. Only something far more potent, like the tempestuous blaze of 'love', would drive someone to such lengths. Such lengths - where a young man would do things he'd never done before. Where he would play an incredibly dangerous game and gamble everything away if he could keep her safe.

Amazingly perceptive of the prince, but it seems that he too has been in love once, and so he knows what that does even to the toughest and most detached of men.

'Mashallah!' Shehzaade swiftly rubbed the palms that'd turned briefly numb and cold in shock, a gleefully devious half-grin emerging on his lips. 'What a calm and smooth manoeuvre, Ustaad...' There was a bloodcurdling bitterness in his tone, but he had managed to rein in his temper. After all - this was neither the time nor the place for a reckless outburst. A day would surely come, when he would settle scores. For now, he'd just let the man enjoy his victory, and bask in the glory of newfound love. Besides, the game had been so well-played that he didn't mind losing - for a while. 'Not only have you come out of it intact, seems you've got everything you wanted too...'

Now this was inevitable. No royal master would like the feeling that he had been manoeuvred into doing something against his will, in effect conned by a subordinate, no matter how loyal and capable he might be.

I am already worried about what form his eventual settling of scores with Akbar will take.

As he saw through his Master's dark thoughts, Akbar frowned softly, with silent resignation 'Not a maneuver Huzoor... but a desperate measure... I realised I couldn't sit by and let her die... not today... not ever'

Akbar tries his diplomatic best to soften the blow to his master's ego. It might work, even if only temporarily.

Yes, he had played the Shehzaade like a fiddle - skilfully, yet gently.

He asked for enough - so that the Sahiba, his men and the Parnagarhis would be safe. Yet, he didn't ask for too much, in case he was instantly thrown into the dungeons.

It was a risky game. Very fortunately, it'd worked. At least for now. He couldn't save all of the lands. But he did save 'some' of the lands and 'all' of the people.

The price he had to pay for it though - his master's displeasure.

Alas, he had no other choice.

It was not just a very high risk game of poker that Akbar had won.

It was a game of superbly astute psychological manipulation, moving the Shehzaade inch by inch, without his cottoning on to it, into a position f rom where he could not retreat with his honour as a prince intact, and was thus forced to grant Akbar what he wanted desperately.

Yes, despite the friction, Akbar still had great regard for his Huzoor. And yes, he intended to serve him till his last breath.

However, hereafter, he also had someone else to look out for - an abandoned 16 year old girl who had no family prepared to take her in, no friends to help her out, and many dangerous predators after her life.

The prime reason he'd kept away from her was for her wellbeing. But fate had somehow dragged her back into his life, making her safety his responsibility - after all, he was one of the reasons she was currently in this state. And with the predators never going to stop hunting, he needed a lasting solution to keep her out of harm's way.

This is the classic balancing act. He holds fast to his original loyalty, but stretches it, only as much as needed, to accommodate the new one as well.

Granted, his strategy was not foolproof, but in the few hours he'd had, his frantic mind could come up with nothing more definite, more permanent than this.

Besides, no one might have told Akbar so, but he knew - in his heart of hearts - that one of the reasons she'd turned down the wedding was because she hadn't been able to move on. Because of what they both shared at Aidabad. Their unnamed relationship.

My, my! Here comes the male ego!😉

Maybe it was time to give that relationship a respectable name!

Yes of course, and under normal circumstances, taking it for granted that Akbar will get there in time to save her from Khalil, this would have been the harbinger of a riding off into the sunset with his lady in front of him sort of ending. But these are NOT normal circumstances, are they, Lashykanna? In fact anything but normal.

Now I am, in a sharp shift of perspective - remember the saying about consistency being the virtue of fools?😉 - beginning to worry about what might very well happen to our newly minted Mansabdar of Parnagarh when Heera is faced with the truth. Not even his having accomplished the near impossible to save her and, even more important for her, her trusting, dependent Parnagarhis, from total destruction might suffice to wipe out the bitterness of what she might see as the last and most unbearable betrayal .

And in any case, you have 34 chapters more to go, so the path of true love can hardly begin to run smooth already!😉

'Fine... I understand the feeling ...' The prince eventually raised a gentle eyebrow, as if in agreement 'I've been in love once too... but... one complaint...' he pulled a long face 'you reject proposals from several esteemed Muslim families... only to fall in love with a HINDU lady? And something tells me you aren't even going to force her to embrace Islam...' his head shook 'utterly disappointing!'

Here is the perfect touch! Your Aurangzeb is a perennial delight.👏

You would have trouble casting him in the movie that I hope will be made of this novel. I cannot think of anyone good enough at the moment, and left to Balaji, they would land on the Abul Mali chap, complete with the horsehair wig!😆

'So, with your permission Huzoor, I'd like to stop Khalil now...'

'Alright, Ustaad... I mean, Mansabdar Akbar Mahmoud Khan...' he sang a mocking tune 'go save your bride then... if you can...'

I wonder which way the Shehzaade really leans at this moment. It is half and half, methinks.

So now, Lashykanna, I can finally permit myself the luxury of plunging into your Chapter 26. En avant!

Shyamala Periyamma

This is a fabulous review and there are so many wonderful lines - Akka does it again.

Being a chapter full on Negotiation, it is good to see your insightful comments - You have gone into the minds of Shezade and AMK so deep. Others looked at it from a story point of view.

Will need to read again in leisure. 😃

This is a fabulous review and there are so many wonderful lines - Akka does it again.

Being a chapter full on Negotiation, it is good to see your insightful comments - You have gone into the minds of Shezade and AMK so deep. Others looked at it from a story point of view.
]
Will need to read again in leisure. 😃[/QUOTE

Originally posted by: sashashyam

🤗 Periyamma

I do not know how, or why , you put up with me, I really don't. When I started on the pending triptych - Chapters 23-25- I was horrified to see that it has been fully 6 weeks since I turned up on your threads, which is really unforgivable.

No... it is not unforgivable... as long as you're reading, I've told you, it's all that matters... besides, if we take advantage of anyone, it is of our closest ones😉...

And now that I know that your left arm has frozen up again... it makes me feel all the more guilty.. besides, I read that you lost first set of comments and typed it all again... Of course... the end product is beautiful, but it's too much effort, Periyamma... Please please please don't strain yourself this much again

I am going to appreciate it literally para by para, and I hope you will be patient with me as I do this.

🤗

Chapter 25

For starters, my pet, this chapter is, in terms of scripting and the psychological coup de maitre that Akbar pulls off, far and away the best that you have done so far. And not just in the comparative sense. It would stand against the best in movie scripting, with its sheer cleverness, the high stakes gamble for a prize that cannot be lost, and our hero's ability to read his master like a book, and play him like a fish on the line before reeling him in at the end.

To say that it is marvellous is inadequate praise.

>>> thank you so so so much! ☺️

I love this picture, which is the perfect fit for the chapter.

>>> thanks once again ... it's an edit... not the original...😳

Now, he didn't know who would suffer if time ran out. Nor did he know how much time was left. Which is why, he needed answers. And he had come here, seeking the only person who could give him those answers!

This is what is called pure instinct, the instinct of the hunter, who tracks trouble just as he tracks his targets. There is a red signal that goes off in the hunter's inner being when danger is nigh at hand, to warn him to look out for it, long before the nature of the threat becomes clear.

>>> I realise what we both love... we both love psycho-analysing the most deep seated of human sensibilities and emotions... you have said exactly what I had in mind.. 👏

'Salaam Huzoor' Jumping off his steed, Akbar rushed towards the prince, offering him an adab as he did so. 'Khalil! He's returned from Kabul?'

So abrupt, almost demanding! That Akbar can address the prince in this fashion speaks volumes for the depth of the trust that he has earned over the years, and the extent of the prince's dependence on him, no matter that it is a dependence that is partly resented.

10 years of togetherness... a close bond.. trust.. it is all there...

but this also goes to show, that this is possibly one instance in his life that he was so rushed.. so stressed... he overlooked a few etiquettes that he generally followed..

See, the dismissive tone does not put him off his track at all. He knows that he can push ahead with the Shehzaade, regardless of the latter s obvious evasiveness.

Yes...

'Huzoor... but so urgent that it had to be handed back to Khalil? The same man who behaved so recklessly and brought dishonour upon us, upon Islam... upon you?'

A masterly swipe!

😳

But, Akbar was deaf to it - because he had just heard another sound. The sound of the tiniest crack - the first crack on the wall of trust that he'd nurtured for years.

A very beautiful phrase, and so tragic as well.

I think I spent an entire hour one evening on getting this sentence right.. I had a picture of a tiny sound... a crack... and a wall... but the fact that Akbar would be deaf to everything else that he could only hear this tiny sound - wording that took me a good hour! I am glad both you and Sri picked up on this.. 🤗

Thus shaking the belief that Huzoor had more regard for him than he had for the rest of his men. What a nasty way to be reminded of the reality that no one - however loyal or skilled - was immune to the treachery of power play!

How true, Lashykanna, and how sad for Akbar, in whose emotionally barren existence, the belief that the Shehzaade trusted him above all others was a pillar of security!

I know...

Was the reason for that flare up merely his professional enmity with Khalil? Or was it something else?

He'd find out soon enough.

Now this is a fascinating glimpse into the inner workings of the Shehzaade's mind. He does not blow his top unnecessarily, and then Akbar is given more leeway by him than anyone else.

Most important, what matters for the prince at this point is not his ego - that a subordinate, no matter how valuable, had actually shouted at him - but to get at the real reason for this uncharacteristic outburst.

He has almost as subtle a mind as the Ustaad, but only almost, not quite. And it is the gap between these two that decides between victory and defeat.

Imagine you have 10 children... 7-8 of them the bratty kinds... but one of them, is the most well behaved child... and on one fine day, the well-behaved one throws a brief tantrum... even the strictest parent would actually be startled more than offended... they'd stand back for a moment and wonder what's going on.. dig deeper to find out more.. before jumping to punish..that's what's happened here..

'CALM DOWN and think quickly!'

Akbar's ability to tamp down the panic that is welling up inside him and threatening to drown him is amazing.The strain must have been terrible, all the more so as he could not afford to let it show.

Yes... this is where his self-will, discipline and training as a spy has helped him!

'Hmmm...' the prince hummed, noting the sense of urgency in the Ustaad's approach '

Akbar's fists quietly rolled. Then uncurled. Rolled. Then uncurled.

Just imagine how dramatic this would look onscreen, in a tight close up!

For the shortest moment, his eyes glimmered alive. The heaviness in his chest suddenly eased into light flutters. It was untimely to indulge in such a sentiment now. However, that reaction was spontaneous. Beyond control. His pride and possessiveness that'd been taking too many hits for far too long had finally found a reason to gloat.

Lovely, succinct phrasing. The sense of belonging together that will not be denied.

☺️

The prince let his face hover beside the Ustaad's 'Besides, are Rajputs really so sensitive? Would they all disown a kind lady merely because she turned down a proposal? No... I don't think so...' he watched the man closely. Very closely. 'So, I wonder what she might have done to deserve such disfavour from her people! Something that they didn't approve of? Something immoral? Maybe she got involved with someone...' he topped up his crooked sense of humour with a wide beam 'Bah! Anyway, I have no purpose for her hereafter, and I prefer her chapter closed... I'm sure YOU wouldn't mind that, would you?'

His royal features grew rife with a roguish sadism on observing how Akbar's skin had become a rich crimson, the veins in his temple throbbing visibly - maybe from the blood rushing to his head.

'Finally' he sneered - he was right! So, the great Ustaad had committed the cardinal sin of growing too attached to his 'assignment'. What a pity though, nothing could be done about it.

This whole passage is a fiendish game of cat and mouse that the Shehzaade plays with his most faithful and most trusted aide. There is a nasty sadistic streak to it, of almost overt amusement at the suffering of the Ustaad, that belies the idea that the Shehzaade had ever had any genuine affection for Akbar at all. He probes for a weakness in the Ustaad's make up, and then he pokes at it with a sharp stick.

No wonder Cardinal Wolsey, once the Lord Chancellor to Henry VIII, who knew more of the fleeting nature of royal favour than most, said on his lonely deathbed "Put not thy faith in princes!"

It is sadism... it is amusement too... and a mild amount of sympathy for the man... because, after all these years, Akbar showed an interest in a woman who could not be his.. but the Shehzaade (at this point of time) is plain happy that this affair did not go further ... he was of the notion 'it ended? Well... good for you and for me' because his cherished Ustaad marrying a Hindu bride is something the Shehzaade didn't want and something he wouldn't look favourably upon.

Of course, he didn't know what was to come...

'The Farmaan'

This is what one would call a coup de grace, a moment of triumph that should silence all the snide remarks, the half-hidden criticism of his efficiency in the Shehzaade's service. And yet Akbar, who knows his master through and through, and also knows what he himself needs so desperately right now, curbs any sign of triumphalism, and keeps his tone level, modest, unassuming. Marvellously astute!

Of course... by this point, he had already began arranging the 'ordinary' cards of his game... it was only a matter of time before he started playing the rounds.. and the first round AMK played was the 'Farmaan' round

'NOW tell me Huzoor...' there was a calculated modesty in Akbar's tone 'have I ever let you down?'Of course, there was that one 'odd' instance, when he'd secretly burnt the scrolls to save Harka Sahiba's life. But somehow that secret didn't prick his conscience anymore! 'Have I?'

A revealing little aside!😉

😆😉

Originally posted by: sashashyam

Lashykanna, I am not commenting on the very moving section about Heera and Gauri as they are on the verge of leaving Bansi. I do not think I can manage it, and then it is such a lovely passage that it hardly needs any comment. I specially liked it that Heera, despite her own overpowering misery, exerts herself to comfort Gauri and to explain to her why she could not do what Gauri suggests. But then she is "like that only"!

Thank you 🤗

I also liked the small silver lining that Heera mentions, that Mahendar had not received her confidential letters and was thus not in a position to betray her to the Shehzaade.

But tell me, did she not send out a dummy message and a separate real one to both Manswar and to Bansi? What then did the one she managed to get across to Manswar contain?

Yes she sent out 4 messages at one point.. 2 to Bansi, 2 to Manswar...

of the two messages to Bansi, the personal messenger reached Bansi... the other scroll went missing (thanks to AMK) but, both messages she'd sent to Manswar haven't reached him... (again, thanks to AMK) his men were able to intercept 3 of the 4 scrolls from 3 of the 4 routes, sent out that day...

But, much as he wanted to charge off, Akbar wouldn't do it.

What a horrendous wait this must have been for poor Akbar! I cannot even imagine it, to sit there and appear to be joyous and without a care in the world while his innards were slowly shrivelling up with worry and fear, regardless of all the reassuring calculations he makes about Khalil's prospects.

Yes...

It'd given him ample time to compose his fears. And to channelize his frustrations into a strategy for what he planned to do next.

Now, all he needed was an opportunity to execute that strategy.

You know, my poppet, it is in such a situation that your Akbar shines as never before. Here he is, between a rock and a very hard place, consumed by a nameless dread about what would surely happen to Heera if he could not get to her in time, while having to pretend that he is having the time of his life at the banquet.

Despite this appalling situation, his mind still works, and works at top speed. He can still list out his options, weigh them, and decide which would be the most feasible and the most promising. Amazing man!

Yes... the need was such. Either he does THIS, or alternate option was to lose everything by going ballistic... he's mastered the art of self-control because of his training and maybe this was the day he sat his toughest exam!

Even these days, spies are trained not to lose their cool during an interrogation..

'Do you want me to apologise... is that it?'

'Not in my wildest dreams, Huzoor...' Akbar was quick to clarify

An absolutely vital denial, which must have cooled the prince's temper down considerably.

I don't know if anyone else realised how crucial this denial was, but you're the only one who flagged this one up, Periyamma!😳 Thank you...

'anything reasonable you ask for, is yours!'

Aha! So much for his promise!

😆 he must have already realised that Ustaad is up to something... so he put his armour up!

'A Mansabdar...' Akbar kindly interrupted the laughter 'A Mansabdar, permanently posted at Parnagarh!'

I was just imagining how this moment would look like in a film! The hall would explode in seetis and taalis!

☺️

BANG!

The prince had thumped his goblet on the table in front.

Luckily, those days the goblets were all of metal!😉

🤣

His mind racing with the 'ifs' and 'buts', he tried stalling for a while

Yet, there was that niggling feeling at the back of his mind - as though there was still one question left unanswered...

Akbar is now almost there, but there is still one catch to be tackled, and this he proceeds to do with a superb grasp of his master's psychological make up. He knows exactly which of the Shehzaade's buttons to press, when and how hard or how softly!

Yes... as you said... like a masterful surgeon he repaired an almost irreparable tear... he knew exactly which angle to start from, which angle to follow on and which angle to finish with!

Akbar appeared confused 'But...'

"Appeared" being the key word!😉

No one else brought this one up, but I am so glad you did - it was a word I took special care to insert - Akbar feigned confusion didn't do it.. Akbar put on a mask of confusion didn't do it either... because AMK was acting an act which did not look like acting at all!

'Ustaad!' he agitatedly crunched his fists 'I am heir to the Mughal throne... are you doubting my authority?'

'I didn't mean to...'

Now this is the true master ploy. By bringing in the question of the Shahenshah's supreme authority, he makes sure that the Shehzaade reacts exactly the way Akbar wants him to. A stroke of genius, no less!👏👏👏

Yes... in a way (though he was not intending to be malicious about it - it was the call of the hour, that's all) he used exactly the same ploy Shehzaade had used against him

Cut down to every part till he reached the sore spot!😉

'Thank you, Huzoor...' The young man received the scroll with warmth in his gazes. On the inside though, a cold rush had just gushed through his veins - dousing every fire and flame that'd been scorching him from within for so long - the scorching flames of unrest and anxiety, of distress and anger.

God, how horrible it must have been, and what an iron nerve Akbar must have needed to walk thru this quicksand and come out of it alive!

☺️ And I like this term iron nerve! Always heard nerves of steel.. not iron...

'Unbelievable!' Shehzaade's eyes suddenly widened, as it hit him 'You ARE doing this for her... you think you'll save the Sahiba? You think you'll catch up with Khalil? After all this while?'

'I will, Huzoor...'

The young man's confidence was unnerving.

'What am I missing?' the prince snarled 'Since when did Harka Sahiba become your family?'

Akbar let his eyes smile. Just for a moment.

'She will become family Huzoor... when I make her my bride...'

He was quick to add 'with your blessings, of course...'

Lord, but this is rich! Especially the very last line! He has rolled the Shehzaade up, lock, stock, and barrel.👏

☺️

And it was such a pleasure travelling through their entire 5000 words of confrontation, once again, through your eyes!

And this was not merely attachment - the soft gentle breeze of 'attachment' would not push a man to take such steps. Only something far more potent, like the tempestuous blaze of 'love', would drive someone to such lengths. Such lengths - where a young man would do things he'd never done before. Where he would play an incredibly dangerous game and gamble everything away if he could keep her safe.

Amazingly perceptive of the prince, but it seems that he too has been in love once, and so he knows what that does even to the toughest and most detached of men.

It does... I had put up a small passage about the torrid love affair between Aurangazeb and a 15 year old Christain slave girl called Hira/Zainabadi Mahal.. it briefly changed the man he was (and this when he was 35 - well and truly entrenched in his extremist Islamic ways)... but, he ended up doing for her/becoming for her what he hadn't done/been for anyone...

Unfortunately, a year after he met her, she passed away succumbing to some disease and it possibly left the man even more bitter/maniacal than he was before!

This was the subtle reference I drew at here...

After all - this was neither the time nor the place for a reckless outburst. A day would surely come, when he would settle scores. For now, he'd just let the man enjoy his victory, and bask in the glory of newfound love. Besides, the game had been so well-played that he didn't mind losing - for a while. 'Not only have you come out of it intact, seems you've got everything you wanted too...'

Now this was inevitable. No royal master would like the feeling that he had been manoeuvred into doing something against his will, in effect conned by a subordinate, no matter how loyal and capable he might be.

I am already worried about what form his eventual settling of scores with Akbar will take.

Well said!👏

As he saw through his Master's dark thoughts, Akbar frowned softly, with silent resignation 'Not a maneuver Huzoor... but a desperate measure... I realised I couldn't sit by and let her die... not today... not ever'

Akbar tries his diplomatic best to soften the blow to his master's ego. It might work, even if only temporarily.

Yes...

Alas, he had no other choice.

It was not just a very high risk game of poker that Akbar had won.

It was a game of superbly astute psychological manipulation, moving the Shehzaade inch by inch, without his cottoning on to it, into a position f rom where he could not retreat with his honour as a prince intact, and was thus forced to grant Akbar what he wanted desperately.

Exactly! You've worded it so well, Periyamma!👏

Yes, despite the friction, Akbar still had great regard for his Huzoor. And yes, he intended to serve him till his last breath.

However, hereafter, he also had someone else to look out for - an abandoned 16 year old girl who had no family prepared to take her in, no friends to help her out, and many dangerous predators after her life.

This is the classic balancing act. He holds fast to his original loyalty, but stretches it, only as much as needed, to accommodate the new one as well.

Exactly...

Unfortunately though, those who seek to balance, have it hardest! They have to eternally please both parties...

Besides, no one might have told Akbar so, but he knew - in his heart of hearts - that one of the reasons she'd turned down the wedding was because she hadn't been able to move on. Because of what they both shared at Aidabad. Their unnamed relationship.

My, my! Here comes the male ego!😉

😆

Maybe it was time to give that relationship a respectable name!

Yes of course, and under normal circumstances, taking it for granted that Akbar will get there in time to save her from Khalil, this would have been the harbinger of a riding off into the sunset with his lady in front of him sort of ending. But these are NOT normal circumstances, are they, Lashykanna? In fact anything but normal.

Nope!

Now I am, in a sharp shift of perspective - remember the saying about consistency being the virtue of fools?😉

😆

- beginning to worry about what might very well happen to our newly minted Mansabdar of Parnagarh when Heera is faced with the truth. Not even his having accomplished the near impossible to save her and, even more important for her, her trusting, dependent Parnagarhis, from total destruction might suffice to wipe out the bitterness of what she might see as the last and most unbearable betrayal .

And in any case, you have 34 chapters more to go, so the path of true love can hardly begin to run smooth already!😉

I shall just insert this chap here ---->😉 for now

only to fall in love with a HINDU lady? And something tells me you aren't even going to force her to embrace Islam...' his head shook 'utterly disappointing!'

Here is the perfect touch! Your Aurangzeb is a perennial delight.👏

Thank you.. again this point has been pointed out by you😃

You would have trouble casting him in the movie that I hope will be made of this novel. I cannot think of anyone good enough at the moment, and left to Balaji, they would land on the Abul Mali chap, complete with the horsehair wig!😆

That would be heartbreaking... Abul Maali as the prince... I quite liked the chap in the picture I'd put above... he looked mid thirties... with a good balance of villainy/warmth/shrewdness and a royal aura all in one...

I wonder which way the Shehzaade really leans at this moment. It is half and half, methinks.

Yes... something of that sort!

Thank you so much for this Periyamma 🤗

Please rest well and take care of your left arm

Oh lashy.. I love you.. I love for this chapter🤗