HBAS Chat corner - Page 55

Originally posted by: karkuzhali

HIDING BEHIND

A

STRANGER

A Historical Romance by Lashy.

(Abridged)

Part 1. THE TORNADO.

The Journey of the Farman.

The Moghul Court..

The minister unwound the scroll and prepared to read the Emperor's decree aloud 'Shehenshah wishes...' he bellowed, his voice carrying over and beyond the open spaces of the Darbar 'that the lands of Parnagarh continue to remain with its current surviving owners, the two daughters of the Late Mansabdar, Jagat Prasad Singh!As was promised to the Mansabdar by the Shehenshah once, those villages and lands shall not be annexed by anyone...'

'This is insane!' banging the arm of his chair, The Prince arose in a kind of frenzy the court had rarely seen 'Those lands belong to the Mughal Empire..A Mansabdar's lands are meant to be handed back... especially since he has no sons...'

'Shehzade...' the Chief minister called out, all of a sudden, possibly managing to save the life of an innocent in the nick of time 'It is not just about the Shehenshah's word... if I recall rightly, a farmaan was issued too... a few years ago..I remember an official farmaan, signed and sealed, being awarded to Mansabdar Jagat Prasad Singh... promising him that those lands and villages would remain with his daughters...'.'

A farmaan complicated matters.

Nevertheless, such setbacks had never stopped the prince in the past. It wouldn't stop him now. After all, he wanted those lands - and he wanted it badly.

Suddenly, a sympathetic hand grasped his shoulder, stopping him midway - it was an obvious effort to show support and solidarity.

'Khalil'

Owning a personality so formidably mighty and a face that'd never been known to flinch in pain, Khalil was a general whose reputation for terror petrified even the greatest of soldiers

'All will be fine, Huzoor...' Khalil reassured him, aware of his master's growing impatience to seek power and revenge

'Yes... yes...' the prince acknowledged with a nod, silently inspired by the disciplined stillness in his general's eyes.

* * * * * *

The Heiresses of Parnagarh..

Harka Bai Durga Bai.

Durga Bai .. tall and proud - much like the head of a clan should.

Her parents could not have chosen a better name, for her personality was as intense as the gusts of an unpredictable night storm. By the age of 13, she had learnt to shoulder responsibilities with a smile - becoming 'parent' to her sister Harka Bai and a 'guardian' to her entire community.

No doubt then that where there lay such beauty and power, there were men vying to own it.

These suitors were presented with two terms - terms that they'd have to accept, before Durga Bai would agree to such an alliance.

'Firstly, I want my sister to stay with me after the wedding, as my responsibility. When she weds, it would be to a man of her choice, much like I am following my own preferences now. Secondly, I wish that my lands and my people continue to remain under the joint charge of my sister and I, even after the marriage.'

Finally a siutor came forward agreeing to her conditions..

Kunwar Mahendar of Manswar..

Though only 18, the kunwar boasted a height and personality that towered over most - the impressive dimensions of his shoulders and arms giving away how prolific a swordsman he was. Legend had it that he was the most feared dueller in all of Manswar - capable of simultaneously handling a sword and a katar, felling up to six opponents singlehandedly.

'There's only a month to go...before she is yours forever!'

'After all... only a month to go...before you're his forever!' the soft voice in her head seemed to keep repeating itself.

Parnagarh Haveli..

Once at her room, the heiress sailed across the marble floors till she reached the jali window frames at the other end.

Perching her elbows against its sill, she drank the dusky sights in. Sights of endless greenery - starting from the mansion's rear gardens, to the hillock beyond, and the fertile valleys down below, where many idyllic villages flourished.

Her reverie once again dragged to reality by the loud barks of her restless dogs..

'Bhola... Paramvir...' she scanned the dim expanses of the rear gardens and later on, the meadows. She couldn't spot anything or anyone. Not even a shadow 'They were here until a while ago... where have they disappeared?'

She knew something wasn't right.

Durga crept towards a sword holder and drew the sleek weapon away from its sheath before sneaking out of the doorway..

'Is the Haveli dimmer than usual or have all lamps been doused deliberately?'

Swallowing a lump, she began yelling for all the guards and maids, one after another - hoping to grab the attention of any of the residents. But the only answer she got was a ghostly silence.

It was then that she noticed something at the bottom - near the very last stair.

Yanking a lamp out of its holder, she held the flame close by for a clearer view -

Trails of blood flowed from the bottom stair, down the courtyard and beyond that too..

Waves of inexplicable rage began hammering away at the overwhelming terror that'd engulfed her petite being for so long. Fighting back the tears that had sprung up instinctively, Durga Bai forced herself to recover from her stupor..

Suddenly, she saw something from the corner of her eye. Someone behind her had moved. A curtain not far behind had shifted, giving way to an emerging shadowy figure.

Clutching the handle of her sword, she waited for the ogre to attack - her own furious breath and beats alternating with the footsteps of his shoes..

'Who are you?'

'Heard of the 'Khalil'?

She quickly guessed what he was after..

The Farmaan..

She called the stable boys..

'Narang... we are under attack... take a horse, gallop to the village and get help!'

'Harish... we are under attack..'Ride towards Jagdamba temple... and give this message to Heera...' struggling not to weep, she recited what she'd thoughtfully rehearsed - a favourite childhood poem of theirs -

Jiji ran around the Haveli, with her eyes opened wide

Every trick uncanny, she may have tried

Every nook and cranny, she may have spied

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

What followed thenceforth was the greatest display of bravado, from a woman, that the intruders had ever seen. Cautiously backing herself against a narrow corner, so only one man would be able to attack her at a time, she faced the advancing murderers with the might of her will and the agility of her hand.

However, Durga sustained many an injury herself. Her limbs couldn't match the immortality of her spirit, her strength steadily diminished with every blinking moment.

Yet, Durga bai didn't cower in fright.

Durga Bai fought to the very end - till a time came when she lost all her weapons and vigour, fighting him. Till she was left with no choice and no defences thereafter..

'Hand me the Farmaan...'

'I will NOT give you the Farmaan, even if you take my life!' the breathless warrior challenged him as she lay bleeding on the floor, the faces of her loved ones flashing before her eyes

'What if I take your dignity and modesty instead?'

After many bouts of tortuous self-debate, she made the choice most women would make - she decided to give up the Farmaan.

But that did not seem to satisfy her enemy. He wanted more!

She begged and pleaded - not for her life, but for her modesty to be spared.

All in vain. His scowl didn't thaw one bit. He had a reputation for being a 'savage' and he apparently wanted to live up to it -

For, he took away the Farmaan,

Then, took away her modesty,

And finally, took away her life too.

Before leaving the chamber, he cast a final glimpse at her still form, unaware of what a wonderful and promising young life he'd wasted thus!

By the time the villagers had arrived with their sticks and sickles, the only person found alive, was the head cook, Maharaj kaka, whose life was spared so he could give the younger sibling a message -

'This is what's meant to happen to BOTH daughters of Jagat Prasad Singh, for daring to stand against the prince!'

A spine-chilling message indeed, which'd forced a bereaved Harka out of her own home to undertake a long and perilous journey thenceforth - the outcome of which, no one knew!

(The journey continues..)

Originally posted by: karkuzhali

HIDING BEHIND

A

STRANGER

A Historical Romance by Lashy.

(Abridged)

Part 1. The Tornado.

Chapter 4. The Ustaad.

Who is this Akbar Mahmoud Khan..?

[Journey continues]

Originally posted by: karkuzhali

HIDING BEHIND

A

STRANGER

A Historical Romance by Lashy.

(Abridged)

Part 1. The Tornado.

Chapter 2. Aidabad.

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

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

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

'We beg you... save yourself choti baisa... if something happens to you, we will be orphaned!'' she recalled their pleas and cries as she lay grief-stricken beside her sister's still body 'Those murderers warned they'd be back for you... and you're the only person standing in the way of their ambitions!'

'With Kunwarsa away in Gujarat, you have no protectors... please stay with Maharaj Chitranjan till the situation here becomes safe! The Maharaj would find you a powerful husband, who would end this uncertainty and protect our future!'

'You may not be a fighter like your jiji... but, you're a survivor choti baisa!'

Prompted by the well wishers, Heera undertook her journey escorted by a few maids and bodyguards..

It was 10 days since they started..

The journey was not without risks or dangers.. They were assaulted on the way by some bandits , attacking and wounding her men.. It was Ma Bhavani's grace.., a stranger came there from nowhere.. On hearing him coming.. the bandits ran away. With his help, they are having a short sojourn here in this place , Aidabad..

Taking a much needed break from the woes and responsibilities weighing her down, the 16 year old had stepped out alone, a short while ago, in search of some peace. Her stroll had begun at the gardens, like she'd promised Gauri, her chief maid, but the sounds of a flowing stream had caught her attention at some point. Her disturbed mind seeking some form of respite from the anguish - in fact, any form of respite from the anguish - was lured by the music of water like a moth to flame. Unaware of where her quest for this evasive tranquility was leading her, she strayed adrift, crossing a large field lined with an extensive stretch of stables, till she reached an elevated spot. An elevation that displayed the dusky views, of what she assumed, was a canal.

'This will do' she'd thought, and crossed over a crude wooden footbridge, taking her place beside its banks ..

Yet, she hadn't found the tranquility she was after..

The familiar spreads of nature somehow reminded her of the home she'd left behind..

Even the gentle breeze that'd displaced her veil and thrown her hair back didn't calm her - it only served to remind how vehement her own breath was. The light spray from the stream drizzling upon her features didn't cool her temper - it only showed her how warm her own tears were.

Finding peace was no easy quest.

'How jiji? HOW am I supposed to find inner peace? Tell me...How am I going to achieve everything without your guidance? I need you... I want you with me, jiji... I WANT YOU BACK!'

Burying her face into her lap, she wrapped her hands around her knees, cocooning herself from the unknown, as she waged a few fights of her own. A fight with tears. A fight with fate.

Heera decided to end her tempestuous affair with nature for the night and so she resumed her return journey.

Traipsing up to the wooden footbridge, she placed a cautious step on each plank - one after another. However, three footsteps in and she recognised how unstable the structure was beginning to feel. The planks were creaking as though they were going to split apart, and oddly enough, the ropes were swaying far more than they swayed before. She wondered, unsure if she must retreat, or swiftly cross over by completing the remaining 12 steps.

Deciding to make a dash for the other end, Heera took her fourth and fifth steps in quick succession, but by the sixth one, any hopes that she might have had were quashed. The structure was clearly giving way and a further move, either way, was going to bring the platform down ! Stranded in the middle of a collapsing footbridge atop a gushing stream in the middle of the night, was a crisis she was least prepared for.

She could barely see anything through the darkness, so she had no idea about the depth of the canal, but from what she could hear, the currents were strong - too strong for a poor swimmer like her to battle. Thus, she was left with one lone option 'Help... somebody...' she shouted, hoping the alarm would alert her people when they came searching for her 'Help... I am caught...' but she'd barely finished her second sentence, when an unsteady plank beside her sunk down, sucking her feet into a trap, as it did so.

'Argh' she screamed, noting how her ankle was lodged in a narrow space between two sharp wooden boards, before looking up at the forlorn emptiness ahead.

Her world was crashing down and there was not a soul in sight to share her heartache, but she would not give up hope - not just yet. Wrestling with pounding beats and whirling scenes, Heera overcame the temptation to hurriedly yank her feet off. Tightening her clasp around the ropes with her shaky fingers, she carefully tried to wiggle the entrapped foot out.

Many cautious attempts later, she was free.

Alas, the joy was short-lived.

The gentle tussles were greater strain than those ropes could take. Thus, split they did. The first one ripped, causing the structure to swing recklessly over the waters below. And when the next one split, it brought the entire footbridge down with it, plunging her into the stream beneath.

The force with which the coldness hit her face and then sucked her under, rendered her senses momentarily numb. Immediately fighting off its paralysing effects, Heera pushed her face up through the oppressive tides, before her lungs could start filling up with liquid.

'Pleas... Some... one sav... me...' her screams for help muffled, she whipped her hands and legs in a frenzy, struggling to stay afloat for as long as she could. But it was not long before the rapids pulled her below again.

Several such struggles later, she had worn out her resilience.

Just as her distraught mind began dreading the possibility that she might vanish into oblivion something abruptly happened. Something that stopped her body from being washed off.

It was a steely grip around her elbow.

Heera frantically clung on to her captor's clutches, with no intention to let go of the sole refuge she had.

Recognising even in that dazed state that the one who towed her so harshly, could not be a gentleman, the desperate young lady prayed that the rescuer was not, in reality, out to harm her. But he had thrust her somewhere close to the edge with glaring indifference and turned around to tend to the base of the footbridge - like the terrible accident had not even happened.

Heera was still in shock, her feet still hadn't found their footing in running water and the tall banks were proving too slippery to hold onto. Therefore, without much thought, she did what a survivor would - clenched the furrows of his broad back for support.

He jerked his shoulders, freeing him of her grip. But that, in turn, compelled her unbalanced body to react adversely. Lunging forward to stop herself from sinking, she caught onto the next thing she could hold onto - the cummerbund that wrapped around the many ridges of his well-sculpted ribs.

Aggravated by her presence and her actions, the boorish man briefly stopped the repair work, and pried her fingers out of his cummerbund 'What do you think you're doing?' his pitch echoed like a roar, though he kept his tone low. And curt. And deep. And thick. And dominant.

'The voice...' her startled eyes slowly widened

'WHAT are you doing?' he grit his teeth..

Removing her tight clamp from around his arm like it was child's play, he spun around and probed into her eyes.

She now came to face with him for the first time - her lungs that were still gasping for air, pitted against his unshaken breath.

'He IS the stranger...'

'Are you blind, or are you plain bizarre?'

*** ***

Barely few strides on, and Heera stopped in her tracks - she recalled how she'd done something else that she hadn't done lately.

Sometime earlier, she had almost smiled.

Her mind blank at first, feelings of bewilderment slowly started seeping in, succeeded by a pang of regret. She looked up to the dark skies, wondering what could have made her momentarily overlook her current frame of mind 'How? And why?' she asked herself the question, over and over. But ultimately, the only explanation she found was a vague one, which she settled for 'By seeking some peace, you wanted to forget about your problems briefly Heera... instead, a temporary spell of distraction helped you achieve that!'

*** ***

Once the third cord of her choli had been twisted into a neat knot, Heera gently flung the long lengths of her damp tresses behind her shoulders. Leaning back upon the low chaise, she let the bevy of maids flurrying around her, carry on with their tasks.

'I still fail to understand...' the chief maid resumed the subject that hadn't been resolved so far 'What was the need to wander off? You should have seen the uproar the guards raised, when they couldn't find you in the gardens or in the meadows...'

'I was preoccupied... lost...' she replied

'By the way... what made you decide to swim at such an ungodly hour?'

'Swimming? I said I went for a dip...' she corrected - and did it so smoothly that the tone tricked all the maids into believing her story. Well, all her maids, but one!

'A dip?' Gauri asked, closely observing Heera's reactions in the mirror - but before she could probe any further, the other maids had chipped in

'We were so worried, baisa...'

Heera let out a deep breath 'I realise I have put you all through a lot of trouble... please excuse my reckless actions... I'll take care not to be so negligent again...'

However, Gauri remained unconvinced. As she set aside the dhoop holder and began plaiting the lengths into a loose braid, many doubts lingered in her mind.

Well, the Harka Bai, who was seated upon that chaise now, somehow appeared less demoralised than the Harka Bai who'd left the haveli a short while ago. And she couldn't help but wonder what had brought about that change?

Originally posted by: Kalgi22

If I'm all wrong, there will be trophy and If I'm all correct, no trophy at all. I know you will be happy. 😭

Originally posted by: roseraja1915

Awww! 🤗 Chellam, I can so imagine you pouting saying this.😆 But you are the proud owner of a dozen HBAS trophies. Record is still standing.😳

Originally posted by: Kalgi22

Originally posted by: lashy

This is Heera's room, where she's currently put up in the Imperial prison fort... can you find hidden words in this picture relevant to it?

And what are those words? You can enlarge it on your screens if you need😳

Originally posted by: Kalgi22

Originally posted by: karkuzhali

Hi Girls..

Vatsy will be landing in Sydney only tomorrow. I have invited her to our house one of the days she doesn't have any other engagements. As she is staying very near my house, I hope the MD will happen without any hitch.. 😛 I will pass on other details after I talk to her..😃

Sachu patti.

Periyamma/Aunty

Originally posted by: lghosh

And Rosejaan, you had a doubt which Chellam it is! 😲😆 Only Chellam K hankers for trophies for her every post and loves to flaunt what she has at every opportunity and Chellam L only is concerned about retaining her DQ crown, not to mention attempting to have rendezvous with her coujjin at every opportunity but fails every time! 😉 😆