NOVEL~*Hiding behind a Stranger*~THREAD 45 - Teaser for Chapter 50

'He is lying Akbar... he HAS to be!' He mentally whacked his face awake. 'He's twisting facts... to entrap you... he HAS to be... you know it!' Now was NOT the time to fall for such a trap! Definitely NOT in front of the Huzoor! He mentally whacked his face the second time around. 'Stay calm, Akbar!'

'Of course... my friends know to be careful...' Khalil let his whispers slither from the back of his throat into the lone man's ears with glee 'they HAVE to be - what with the Huzoor's troops, and your men around... yet, I can't help but worry about the Sahiba of Parnagarh - hoping she arrives at the capital, unscarred... like she was, when you left her last'

'Khalil' His brows knit into an aggressive grimace - since keeping his features impassive was getting physically exhausting in itself 'That's enough'

But the brute made it plain he had no intention of stopping. 'I do worry...' he tut-tutted 'after all... I have had the fortune of taking a peek at what lies behind that veil... such beauty - it's intoxicating... haunting... so, I can understand why other men would be tempted to do so...'

'Stop!' Akbar could feel the molten fury rise from his core and spread to his face and chest - his beats quickening, his skin flushed red. 'Turn deaf Akbar... for your own good... turn deaf!'

'And once the Sahiba is here... locked away...'

'Huzoor...I implore you...' Akbar spoke over the vulgar prattle - his short breaths forcing him to pause often 'please order this uncivilised man to STOP talking about another man's wife... and to keep away... or what follows, shall not be my fault!'

The Shehzaade broke out into a slow smirk that had resentment written all over it. He'd had ENOUGH of the drama and disrespect. Nevertheless, he had to split the duo now, if he didn't want it getting any worse!

'Khalil...' he exhaled 'step aside...'

'But all I was doing Huzoor... was warning our former Ustaad to confess his crimes... or, that the implications for him and his family shall not be good!' And before the prince could come back with a response, the general was back at where he'd halted - his boorish features lined right beside his victim's face. 'And once she's here... locked up... what is to stop me from paying her a visit?'

(Subject to slight changes)

Originally posted by: lghosh

Finally finished reading the whole chapter. It looked like the lovers though separated but Fate has them going along parallelly with the same temperament and experiences.

Yes... perfectly said!👍🏼

Both Heera and KS longs for each other and feels lonely without the other half.

Both feel the shame of abandonment from their near and dear ones. They are made to feel the shame of treason even when they have not done anything remotely criminal with deliberation.

So well pointed

KS is already in the capital and Heera's journey to the capital, as predicted, has commenced and both will be facing charges together but I am sure will be kept separated unable to meet. And I can't imagine KS's expressions when he will see Heera brought to the capital as a prisoner.

The first part was very painful to see Heera losing all the support of her near and dear ones and misunderstood by her people for whom she has made all the sacrifices. I felt like shouting at those who were accusing KS of murdering Durga, that it was not HIM but that devil Khalil! He was just an instructor who mentored Khalil in weaponry but Khalil's temperament, nature and choices are his own. But when the mob appears distraught, it is beyond impossible to get through a grain of common sense and logic! 😔

This is exactly what happens so often... and we felt like shouting the truth out to them imagine how Heera must've felt like, being in the midst of it all, as they misunderstood a half-truth!

Those very people for whom Heera refused to go to the safe house and willingly agreed to accompany the soldiers to the capital so that no bloodshed happens, those people themselves accused her of being a traitor, of betraying them! They told her to leave Parnagarh!! 😲

Yes. Plenty of sacrifices she has made for them. Having said that, they would have laid their lives down for her too - but there's one condition - they are fiercely loyal to their community and Durga now is right up there - like a Goddess to them!

Forget the people, it was hurtful when her own maids including Gauri behaved that way with Heera! Gauri's behavior surprised me! She is super intelligent, she can add two and two together even before being prompted...then how can she behave so? She was all along with Heera, she knew somehow Heera was not happy during marriage, they didn't have husband and wife relationship immediately, they did not even converse with each other initially, Heera disliked KS after the wedding and kept to herself, Gauri herself probed Heera about it once, she forgot what KS did for Parnagarh and the people in the haveli...then how did she behave like that with Heera accusing her? I can understand about Bindiya, Dhani, others and even about Ratan and Vaid Kaka. But Gauri's attitude was surprising! It was really heartbreaking to see Heera slogging with her trunk without a helping hand and even when Gauri helped it was just out of her sense of duty and not willingly from the heart.

I explained about Gauri's thought-processes earlier - so wouldn't go into it in detail now!😳

Basically, like Sandy said - everyone behaved like the character that they've always come across as..

Daya and Bajrang didn't step forth either till the stone pelting started. They were angry. But when it came to hurting a woman, they couldn't stand back and watch.

Similarly, Gauri was hurt. But when it come to the gritty details - the practicality of it all - she's the one going to be walking the 300 miles beside Heera's palanquin to the capital - accepting whatever fate comes to her thereon.

Heera's pain and loyalty towards her people came brimming forth in this chapter. She willingly disobeyed KS's orders and stayed behind in the haveli for her people. 👏 And her logical thinking even shushed Mirza Sahib and his intellect.

Undoubtedly. As for KS's command, it was more to do with 'If Khalil and his men attack, take her to safety'

His command was not with respect to the unpredictable turn that the story took - i.e. Shehzaade's soldiers coming with an order from his Master. As Heera & Ibrahim surmised, had Akbar been there - he would've HAD to do the same - there would be no other go!

The people, all who have seen and known her for 17 years, deserted her in time of need and tragedy and yet she kept quiet and bore it all to save her 'Suhaag' and her Parnagarh! 😭 And then to be taken to the capital in front of everyone with the charge of treason!! Terrible! And what not she might have to face henceforth. Hopefully, Gauri will accompany her to the capital, at least someone will be there for her if she falls sick.

Of course... no doubt about it. Angry and hurt she might be, but in her heart, Gauri is still a sister to Heera. Anyway, I'll ask you to wait and watch to see how the story unfolds.

In all fairness, I shouldn't have spoken up for Gauri - I should have let the upcoming chapters speak for itself where her character was concerned... 🤔

Luckily KS informed Mohan Banna about their secret and the reason for their marriage and today he stood long and tall next to Heera saving her from all the disgrace! No idea how long he will be able to withstand all the barraging questions and insults hurled at her and him but hopefully some sense and logic he will be able to incorporate amongst the masses. This shows the mastery of KS informing Mohan Banna about their story well in advance. 👏 True Ustaad! 👍🏼

Undoubtedly!👍🏼

Now to KS, he has lost his title! 😭 His position as Ustaad! 😭 Mere guards treating him like dirt, toying with him, laughing at him, deliberately ignoring him, ridiculing him...Ustaad Akbar Mahmoud Khan is reduced to nothing but a common man - no a common criminal! 😭

He can never be 'reduced' to anything... 😊 for him, their mockery is water down a duck's back.

The only person who matters to him is his Huzoor!

Solitary confinement for him! 😲 Who would have thought this? The man who was above and beyond everyone in his principles, loyalty, dedication, devotion, discipline, skills, bravery, character...is a prisoner! 😭 And he can't do anything about it! He can't go out, meet anyone, write to anyone, talk to anyone, see the outside world...and punishment meted out without even being heard or meeting the Shehzade, without any clarification or explanation!! Does he know he is not the Ustaad anymore? He is a mere common man?

As I said, he would've understood that if his privileges have been taken away - so would his title! At least temporarily na

He is counting every moment, every day, every night in that grainy sand storm trying to sustain himself in name of hope, love and reason! He is facing the end of hope and yet only the rainbowy memories are keeping him alive/.

Did you like the analogy of the sandstorm here? I found it gave me very powerful visual... as if the sand was in my own lungs... suffocating from being sequestered from the rest of the world...

FS was out of the country for a year and so his name will not come to KS's mind but if Shehzade mentions him then he will be able to connect the dots as to who is exactly behind all this schemes and plotting. Loved how he came to the decision Kunwar is not behind because he lacks guts and Khalil is not because he is not smart!! This is the Ustaad's brains! 👏 Just like his brains had made plans for Heera in Parnagarh, confided in Mohan Banna well in advance!

Of course!😎

And this solitary confinement will be nothing when he will see how slowly inch by inch his Huzoor is backing away from him, taking away all his loyalty, all his respect, all his allegiance and integrity for his Huzoor! He will feel nothing but pain, bereft, lost and unloved without his Huzoor's trust and faith on him. 😭 Just hope he keeps his calm and makes that brain think like the Ustaad and get through to his Huzoor in his charismatic intelligent way! Without any proof he is put into solitary confinement and now with Khalil and FS's plotting what will happen to him next? 😒

Wait and watch da😭

It was amazing to see Shehzade's way of thinking and gauging people!! 😲 He looked at his nails to see his mental balance and temperament! Wow! No wonder he is the future emperor! I just hope and pray he sees through AMK and Heera and realize that his reasons of apprehensions and fear and anger are practically all baseless! They are harmless and dedicated to his rule and ownership in every sense of the word.

EXACTLYYY!

Lashy, you have brought both of them to such dire situations, made them helpless, all vulnerable, all alone and lonely, trying to find solace desperately to survive for one another, abandoned by their near ones...it is heartbreaking for us to read! Heera is broken in spirit and KS is broken in his fortitude of mental strength unable to find an opening to put forth his side of the story. Hope he realises FS's hand, in C50, behind all this.

You write so well, Lana! I can feel their heartache of 49 all over again!

Authorjaan, amazing effort, perseverance, workforce on your behalf! 👏 You have brought all the readers to a pitiable state crying out for our protagonists. In true sense, this phase shows 'Nothing Lasts Forever', the prowess that Ustaad had once is gone, his title is gone, his powers are gone, his people are also taken away, his name is gone!! Same will Heera too, both are standing on a horizon where only destitute meets incapacitation in a powerless manner! 😭

Take a bow for this part Lana... it struck me the most and hardest when I read it on the day twice... struck me again just as much now!

Thank you for slogging so hard for us to put forth such an amazing story with its impeccable plot, flawless characterization, immaculate setting, idyllic storytelling, gripping narration and perfect suspense! 👏 And for giving me my one and only lovable CS! 😃 Love you for this! 🤗

And what beautiful odes you have penned both for Heera and KS!! You are such a superior poetess Lashy! You tell me, look at yourself! 👏 What beautifully expressed poems you have penned for both of them! 👏 Loved it! 👍🏼

No re... this is something for which I refuse to accept compliments... not when I see what you, vathsy, Periyamma, Lavanya and Sandy are capable of spinning in 5 minutes... I'm glad the 2 poems took the readers' fancy... but I am no poetess😊... it took me a long long time and the help of thesaurus to get it right.. even kids would spin poetry within that time-frame!

And it is amazing to see in such dire situation how their love for each other keeps them sane and going, their faith in each other, their belief in each other...have made them evolve into even more better human being with maturity, grace and wisdom...if that is possible! Heera specially grew today as a pillar of strength and forbearance, as a leader, as a human being...all for her Parnagarh and its women, children, men and boys alike! And KS grew as a tower of Patience knowing he is kept as a prisoner in confinement and though he can retaliate but he kept his calm cleverly knowing this will wade him through in his Huzoor's eyes in a somewhat positive manner! Their LOVE for each other rose above everything else and kept them going and us too along with them! 👍🏼

Beautiful! What a mesmerising read this made, Lana!

Originally posted by: Sabdabhala

WHAT AN AMAZING AND WONDERFUL CHAPTER DEAR LASHY 👏👏 AT THE RISK OF REPETITION, YOUR STORY WRITING SKILLS ARE REALLY SOMETHING ELSE...REALLY SURE THAT, IF YOU HAD TAKEN IT UP PROFESSIONALLY, YOU WOULD HAVE GIVEN SEVERAL AUTHORS A RUN FOR THEIR MONEY 👏👏

OMG thank you so so so much, Lavanya!

THE ENTIRE CHAPTER IS GRIPPING, AND ONE CAN VIVIDLY IMAGINE EACH AND EVERY SCENE, ACTION, EXPRESSION, IN ONES MIND...UFFF ⭐️ AND WHEN I SEE THE RED LINES...I ALWAYS WONDER...HAVE I ALREADY READ 10000+WORDS???? 😆

Sacchi? 😲I'd think that after 10,000 words most others would've had enough though😆

AND THE BEST THING IS THAT EVERY TIME A NEW CHAPTER IS ABOUT TO BE POSTED, I REALLY WORK MY BRAINS TO GUESS WHAT IT WOULD CONTAIN...AND NEVER EVER HAVE I GOT IT RIGHT 😆😉

Hai hai ☺️

SENDING SUCH A HUGE ARMY JUST TO ESCORT ONE LADY TO THE CAPITAL...IT CERTAINLY TELLS US THAT SOMETHING IS REALLY REALLY WRONG...AND MORE SO, WHEN THERE ARE KHALILS MEN BOISTEROUSLY REVEALING SAHIB'S IDENTITY WITHOUT BATTING AN EYELID 😡.

Hayooo... I can enjoy reading all this, Lavanya😳... but, I cannot respond with anything beyond a wait and watch!

IT IS CLEAR THAT THE SHEHZAADE NOW KNOWS MUCH MORE THAN HE DID IN THE LAST INSTANCE, COZ BACK THEN HE WAS UPSET AND HURT, BUT WAS STILL WILLING TO GIVE USTAAD THE BENEFIT OF DOUBT...BUT NOW NOT SO. I GUESS IN THE MONTH THAT HAS PASSED A LOT OF THINGS HAVE HAPPENED WHICH WE, ALONG WITH OUR LEADS, ARE UNAWARE OF...

yes... a month has passed... since then...

however, one thing I must say Lavanya... whether the guesses that come are right or wrong, it is very encouraging to me, as a writer, when I see the guessing process and the thoughts that go into it!

EVEN THOUGH ARE LEADS ARE FACING TROUBLED TIMES, IT IS DELIGHTFUL TO SEE HOW MUCH HEERA HAS GROWN AS A LEADER OF HER PEOPLE. TRUE THAT SHE ALWAYS A GOOD LEADER, CONCERNED, CARING AND CONSCIENTIOUS, BUT IN THIS CHAPTER THERE IS A PERCEPTIBLE DIFFERENCE THAT I CAN SEE IN HER.

More than anything else she had a CHANCE to display her skills... for a long while now, she's been living in her husband's shadows (and quite happily😳) In this chapter, she had to function without the comforting presence of his shadows

ALONG WITH BEING A GOOD LEADER, SHE SEEMS TO HAVE BECOME AN ASTUTE 'SHAAGIRD' OF OUR USTAAD ⭐️ HER GRACE AND POISE DURING DISTRESS ARE ENDEARING AND GUT WRENCHING AT THE SAME TIME 😭 AND HER OBSERVATIONS AND DECISONS DISPLAY A LEVEL OF MATURITY WAY BEYOND HER YEARS...👏

'Thanks' says Heera😳

IT IS DIFFICULT NOT TO MARVEL YET AGAIN AT THE LOYALTY AMD STEADFASTNESS OF SAHIB'S MEN 👏👏 THEIR DEDICATION TOWARDS THEIR USTAAD, AND BY EXTENSION, THEIR SAHIBA IS EXEMPLARY. MIRZA SAHIB'S INITIAL CONFUSIONS AND LATER APPRECIATION OF HIS SAHIBA'S DECISIONS WAS EXTREMELY ENDEARING 😳 AND I STRONGLY THINK THAT, LIKE ME, HE TOO REALIZES WHAT AN AMAZING STUDENT OF THE USTAAD HEERA HAS BECOME

Of course... the men of Ustaad and Heera make for a killer combo 😎

THE REACTIONS OF THE MAIDS AND THE OTHER VILLAGE FOLK WAS SADDENING, SPECIALLY GAURI...BUT MUCH EXPECTED. THEY HAD RECIEVED A HUGE SHOCK, AND HENCE, WERE QUITE JUSTIFIED IN THEIR REACTIONS, SPECIALLY WHEN WE TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE FAVT THAT THEY WERE THERE ALL TOGETHER IN A GROUP...WHY, EVEN HEERA TOOK A LOT OF TIME TO COME TO TERMS WITH THIS BITTER TRUTH...SO WHY SHOJLD WE BLAME THEM? TRUE THAT THEY BECAME QUITE HARSH...BUT THE FEELING OF BEING BETRAYED THUS IS NOT EASY TO DIGEST BY ANY MEANS...

Yes!

WHICH IS WHY I HAD A VERY BRIEF THOUGHT OF WHY HEERA DID NOT CONFIDE IN ANYONE YET?? OF COURSE SHE WANTED TO PROTECT HIS IDENTITY...BUT ONCE HE TOLD HER ABOUT MOHAN BANNA, MAY BE SHE COULD HAVE, AFTER DISCUSSING WITH HIM, TOLD SOME PEOPLE LIKE, MAY BE GAURI, RATAN KAKA OR VAID KAKA

No - that is exactly how secrets stop being secrets... the saying 'walls have ears' holds true and what if someone overheard something... many lives are dependant - or at least WERE dependant - on AMK's secret staying hush... and he always went great lengths to make sure it stayed a secret... it was the only promise during/after the wedding that he took from her...

I EXPECTED MOHAN BANNA TO APPEAR ANY MOMENT AS HEERA'S KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR, AND, OF COURSE, HE DID NOT DISAPPOINT 😉 I REALLY ENJOYED READING THE DIALOGUES THAT HE SPOKE, THE LOGIC AND REASONINGS THAT HE GAVE IN DEFENCE OF THE SAHIB 👏

Thanks dear😳

THE SCENE WHERE SAHIB'S MEN MADE A HUMAN SHIELD TO PROTECT HEERA WAS JUST ASTOUNDING ⭐️ UFFF I CAN SO CLEARLY IMAGINE HEERA'S EXPRESSIONS...THOSE OF OTHETE TOO...WITH A 'DETERMINED YET SAD' THEMED MUSIC PLAYING IN THE BACKGROUND

here also background music 😆

WHAT CAN ONE EVEN SAY ABOUT THE USTAAD...20 DAYS IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT 😭 AND THAT TOO WHEN EVERYTHING HE HAS WORKED FOR, FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS,AND EVERYONE HE HAS EVER TRULY LOVED, IS IN JEOPARDY. SO TRUE THAT MOST PEOPLE WOULD HAVE BECOME INSANE...BUT OUR SAHIB HAS A MIND AS SHARP AS A RAZOR, NERVES OF STEEL, AND STEADFAST LOVE OF HIS SOULMATE...

I know, right?

CAN I JUST TELL YOU, AGAIN, THAT I HAVE FALLEN MORE AND MORE IN LOVE WITH HIM 😆

Of course you can😆

FINALLY, THERE CERTAINLY SEEMS TO BE A HUGE SHIFT IN THE SHEHZAADE'S STANCE AND ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE USTAAD...WHICH, I AM SURE, WILL BE REVEALED TO US IN THE UPCOMING CHAPTERS,...

Hmmm

FOR ME THE MASTERSTROKE OF THE CHAPTER WAS HEERA'S SCENE WITH HER MAIDS ⭐️⭐️ I MARVELLED AT HEERA'S MATURITY, HER SENSE OF PRIORITY, AND THE DIGNITY THAT SHE SHOWED RIGHT THEN...I COULD ACTUALLY SEE THE FACES OF HEERA, GAURI, DHANI...AND HEAR THE SCREECHING SOUND OF THE TRUNKS WHILE THEY WERE BEING DRAGGED!!!!

I know... ouch...

thanks for that though😳

SERIOUSLY, AUTHOR SAHIBA...TAKE A BOW FOR THIS CHAPTER, AND ANOTHER ONE FOR THIS STUPENDOUSLY CONCEIVED AND EXECUTED SCENE ⭐️⭐️ MASHALLAH!!!

Adab, Lavanya Sahiba... thanks a ton for this!🤗 and let me tell you - you've been outdoing yourself when it comes to writing your thoughts about the chapters!