NOVEL~*Hiding behind a Stranger*~THREAD 48 - CHAPTER 53 - Page 15

Originally posted by: lashy

Oops😭I asked for an approximate number and you've gotten me the specific number of every answer... after all the work you do at school, I really wish I hadn't piled this on you .. sowwie 🤗

Will announce the winners soon!

Originally posted by: lashy

Ohhh... I don't recall... this is for hidden words in a pic...

Which quiz did you attempt, dear? Let us know and we'll fish it out quickly 🤔

Originally posted by: lashy

Yes Bond time is of the essence in this update.. .so along with a very heart-wrenching part of it (Everyone coming to know of what happened to their Sahib) they had to start being quick on their feet - so it had to be a mix of grief, planning, thrill - along with that came emotion in all forms... some of it light-hearted moments too!

>>Yes,time is the limiting factor,now.

Made it quite difficult to write because trying to write about the shifting emotions of 20 people without it sounding random made this a very difficult chapter to write!😆

>>True..it's not at all easy..but nothing is impossible for our Writer-e-khaas.⭐️ Writer-e-khaas reminds me of Divyam? Haven't seen her post since many days..

ETA- Lavanya mentioned a point which hadn't struck me - that other than loyalty and gratitude, guilt was also a binding factor in bringing them all together...

Azeez, the bannas, Ratan kaka, Dhani & Bindiya - all of them suffer guilt and hope to atone for their sins!

>>Yes, guilt too is the common facor.

Originally posted by: sharmacatty

...

Originally posted by: lashy

Paavam she's also always been in the shadows of Gauri and Bindiya like Sayyid...

But, I always had this scene in mind from the very first time I wrote about her!

>>You've planned the scenes of last leg of the novel too in the beginning itself?😲 Or is it only few major ones?

Oh you forgot to mention another favourite MB of yours - Mohan Banna...

Mahesh Babu and Mirza bhaijaan you wrote!😆

Originally posted by: karkuzhali

Grandma updated the story to Baby and Babloo kutty.. Baby was so impressed with it, she wanted to post musings on the first segment..

Chapter 53.

Imperial Prison Fort

Heera's Chamber.

'Heera...'

'Why? Why was the Hakim's visit unsuccessful? What do they say the Palace Hakim treated him with?'

'I am not certain, Heera... they say a few of his wounds were sutured... and bandaged... but...'

'Gauri' She tore open her swollen eyelids to catch a fleeting silhouette of her chief-maid 'did you ask the jailors too... ask if only they'd let me see him for a moment...'

'I did...'

'What if we tried to get in touch with the Shehenshah? He was close to my father... he might empathise with our situation'

'Heera...'

'Gauri... are you certain you've done all you can... we'd pay them whatever I have - if they allow me to see how he's doing'

'Why... why...' her voice quivered more than a withered feather 'WHYYY... even as he was being dragged across in chains, he didn't utter a word against his master... my Sahib considered him a brother... then, how could the Shehzaade do this to...'

'Heera!' Gauri tried to cloak her sorrow with sternness 'You have to stay strong!'

'Remember this Heera... each moment that you blame yourself hereon, you take blame away from the real sinners - the ones who actually brought ill upon all... with every mishap that you hold yourself responsible for, you lighten the crimes of those criminals who've destroyed our lives - the hypocrites, the bigots, the murderers and the tyrants!'

'W... wait'

Heera thought she'd just spotted a faint glow amidst the random blurs in the ceiling. But she couldn't be sure - not after having been blinded by grief and guilt night and day. 'Gauri... w... what did you say?

'You said something... please repeat it... for me... once more'

Yes, she could see it clearly - the light - a celestial glow caressing her face with its divine touch, consoling her downtrodden soul and calming her sobs into a snivel.

'Say it again...'

Relief transformed her grimace into a smile. That turned wide. And wider still - till Gauri was beaming. The baisa WAS listening now. Finally!

'Give me courage ma... to face this... to endure this... for HIS sake... and for the sake of so many dependant on him... my heart beats in him and his in mine... if only one of us were to make it out of this alive, the other would walk through life as a soulless body... yet, if only one of us were to make it out of this alive... it must be HIM. For, he has the skills and the means to care for those dependant on us, better than I do... so, send me a path... show me a way to support him... such that I can help him get better... at least to give him a fair chance, if nothing else... what use is my education... what use is my devotion to the art of healing, if I cannot help treat the one I love when he needs me most?'

Baby.

Originally posted by: Sabdabhala

BOND 😆 HILARIOUS DEAR 😆

Originally posted by: lashy

Rendering the frame of her own body as a backrest for the sagging silhouette of her baisa, Gauri propped her up.

Dredging up the stamina to drag herself on the floor, Heera edged towards the small altar of the Goddess in the corner, inch after inch. She could continue agonising endlessly, lashing herself with guilt till her wounds bled dry. Or, she could pray for his recovery, and think of more means to get him the sort of help that might end his agony.

'Give me courage ma...'

Letting go of her spinning head, she folded her palms at the vague frame of the beautiful bronze statue - that act alone having squeezed dry what little strength she had.

'Give me courage ma... to face this... to endure this... for HIS sake... and for the sake of so many dependant on him... my heart beats in him and his in mine... if only one of us were to make it out of this alive, the other would walk through life as a soulless body... yet, if only one of us were to make it out of this alive... it must be HIM. For, he has the skills and the means to care for those dependant on us, better than I do... so, send me a path... show me a way to support him... such that I can help him get better... at least to give him a fair chance, if nothing else... what use is my education... what use is my devotion to the art of healing, if I cannot help treat the one I love when he needs me most?'

Originally posted by: karkuzhali

Yes.. The much awaited event happened without any hitch...Vatsy was very punctual in her attendance. I had invited her to our house and she was here at 6 o'clock ..She spent nearly 3 hours with me..and had dinner with us We had a heart to heart talk about our families, likes and dislikes, abt TV serials and our HBAS family etc etc ..She is sweet, simple and plain hearted..

In fact I didn't feel that I was meeting her for the first time..We never had a chat previously nor were regular callers on the phone, but when we met we never felt that we were strangers..

Well then we had dinner..

My DIL prepared Tepla, Cauliflower Kurma, Alu baingan curry, Pumpkin curry , moong dhal sabji, and ghee rice..

Vatsy had brought mementos from Canada and Sri Lanka to my DIL and a lovely shawl for me ..🤗

The most surprising gift to me was a lovely birthday card and a gift Kausi sent thro Vatsy.. Thank you Kausi for remembering my birthday and for your advanced greetings.. ! I am moved very much..🤗

Thank you Lashy for being responsible for such memorable events happening in our lives! 🤗

( OMG! Looks like a vote of thanks..)