HBAS Chat corner - Page 70

On the way back to the campsite..

It was midmorning and the sun would soon come beating down upon this part of Mother Earth. Not only was it unpleasantly hot, it was also the busiest hour of the day to spend at a bazaar, where its canopy-lined streets were marked by the overwhelming sounds, sights and smells of a typical marketplace.

Their campsite was a mere 3-hour ride away - thus having made the bazaar an ideal place to stop by and stock up on essentials, since he and his men would be commencing the long journey to Parnagarh soon enough. A journey that would take them through barren lands and many-an-isolated forest, before they reached the valleys on the western end of the Mughal province.

A big move it was, shifting business and home from Aidabad to Parnagarh. It took Akbar all of 2 days to plan its finer details.

Ibrahim had already been sent with instructions to wind up the businesses at Aidabad, and to appoint a manager to care for the large estate. Sayyid had left to help Chachajaan relocate. And all other men with families had headed off to their respective towns, to help their wives and children make the shift.

Step by step, every issue was being dealt with, every problem being tackled. Except the one significant subject that remained totally untouched - the upcoming 'wedding'.

Following their altercation that night, there'd been no further interaction between the duo over the past couple of days. Akbar was much too preoccupied with his personal affairs. And she was busy too, packing-up to make her own way home - probably happy to ignore the issue for as long as she could.

However, it was a subject he planned to sort out very soon.

For, delaying would be utterly foolish. It might seem like he'd won Parnagarh and humbled Khalil, but his life was in greater danger than before - he'd made even more powerful enemies now. And the latest intelligence information brought in by the informer only reiterated this - the fact that suddenly made him quite uncomfortable. So uncomfortable that he thought of nothing else throughout his three hour return from the bazaar to the campsite!

Of course, this wasn't the first instance in life where he'd made enemies afresh. Nor would it be the last. However, it was the first instance where he'd been forced to acknowledge an emotion he'd never experienced before - a lingering 'fear'. Fear of the unknown. Fear of death.

And it was not for himself that he felt so. But, for the many others dependent on him.

His men were capable of fending for themselves and for Chacha jaan. However, while he waited for her to change her mind, if something were to happen to him - how would SHE cope? And those families reliant upon her?

If his enemies got the better of him now, before the wedding, the Shehzaade's Farmaan would be rendered useless, and also all the benefits that came along with it. He would essentially be leaving behind an unmarried 16 year old girl with no life-insurance, no support system whatsoever!

No, it wouldn't be wise to delay the wedding at all.

'No reason why they would wait for us, is there?' there was that typical trace of mischievousness in Azeez's tone, as he asked his master that question 'Anyway, a few of our men are following the group... watching over them... by the way...' he handed over a scroll 'she left this for you...'

'Thank you...' Akbar gazed at the scroll for a long moment, before actually receiving it.

'Azeez...' tearing his attention away from the message thereafter, he pointed to the Parnagarhi group 'I have to catch up with them... ask our men to pack up... we're leaving for Parnagarh right away!'

'Khan Sahib, is there something troubling you?'

Akbar put his palm up to calm the man down 'I'll explain later... I have something important to finish... now go on...'

Once alone, Akbar unfurled the scroll to read its message - his breath growing warm from a myriad of unsettling sentiments

'Respected Mansabdar of Parnagarh,

Lawfully, I have lost my rights. Politically, I have no support or voice backing me. And military-wise, I do not have the might to oppose you. After having taken everything else away, I wished the Lord would have at least helped me keep my ancestral home, but alas.

Anyhow, I see no sense in wasting any time, money or lives over a battle that cannot be won. Therefore, much as it pains me to write this, I am not going to fight to reclaim the house that has been in my family for generations.

All I ask, is to be given a week, during which I shall remove all personal memories and belongings from the haveli and shift residence to the sick house dormitory, along with my people.

Thereafter, you will be free to move in and make the haveli your home.

Regards,

Harka Bai'

His forehead rested against the edges of the scroll, weary and heavy.

It hurt. Hurt that she thought so poorly of him. So much so that she was ready to leave behind something irreplaceable - an ancestral home - rather than share a roof with him in that massive haveli with so many rooms to spare!

Nevertheless, if life had been cruel to the Sahiba - it was just about to get a little bit crueller - before it got better. She didn't know it yet, but she wasn't going anywhere.

Only, HOW was he supposed to do it? How was he going to get a lady who didn't even want him living in her town, to live with him as his wife? He'd tried gentler ways - of which nothing had worked so far. Then, how else?

He gazed at the horizon, in the direction that she'd left for - unable to come up with anything for a while. When it suddenly struck him. 'You have to stop thinking of her as the Sahiba! What would you do if she was your enemy? How would you get her to agree, if you had no feelings for her?'

And then, the ideas came rolling in.

*** ***

Some distance away...

'What's going on?' Heera moved the curtains aside, wondering why the palanquin had been brought to a halt 'Is there a problem?'

'Baisa...' a guard approached her 'it's Khan Sahib...'

'Oh!' she must have guessed trouble would be brewing when she thought she heard the sound of Bahadur's hoofbeats! 'Has he said what he wants?'

'He wants to have a private word with you, baisa...' the man scratched his head 'he's waiting there... by those rows of trees...'

'God! I've given him everything he asked for! What else?'

She was in no mood to do this now, but she could not raise a fuss - the stubborn young man would only raise a bigger fuss if she did so. 'Fine!' Closing her eyes, she internalised the burst of frustration and then stepped out, to find out what the matter was.

On reaching the secluded spot, she dismissed her maids and darted him an impatient frown straightaway 'What's the matter, Ustaad Sahib? What more do you want from me?'

'Sahiba... we have to travel together... it will be safer for your group that way...'

'Safe?' she tilted her head with contempt 'With you?'

'Why? You really think you're safer without me around?'

'God help me!' she breathed hard. His haughty attitude irked her to no end. But much as her bruised ego wanted to retaliate, she couldn't argue with him on this particular point. A man who was capable of bringing down Khalil was capable of bringing down anyone else. Besides, he was anyway going to do as he pleased. And with most of her guards injured, it was probably wise to just shut up and take him up on his offer for protection.

So, patching up her bruised ego, she caved in. 'Alright... we'll wait here... till you catch up...'

'That's not all...'

'WHAT!'

Handing the scroll back to her, Akbar shook his head 'Cannot agree to its terms...'

'But, what more do you want? I really have nothing left to give!'

'I have two issues with it...' And as if that declaration wasn't enough, he shot her the kind of chilling glare, he generally reserved for enemies in an interrogation chamber.

Heera's insides twisted into small nervous knots. Something was wrong. The eyes that were currently staring down upon her were so stark that it sent a cold shudder down her spine even on such a sultry noon. What was going on?

Not that she was mighty impressed with the man she'd met two days ago. But at least, on that night, there was civility in his approach, a general softness in his gaze. Something had changed!

'Two issues? What issues could you have with...'

'Firstly' Opening his flask, he gulped down a sip of cold water, as though to deliberately keep her waiting in suspense 'you cannot remove anything from the haveli without my permission...'

'What! How could you...' Her fingers wandered up to her lips, in shock. Why was he doing this? Hadn't he had his share of vile fun yet?

And if his first issue was so inconsiderate, she dreaded to even think of what the second issue would be. 'NO!'

'Well... everything in that haveli... the furniture... the furnishings... they belong to the Mansabdar. The cooks and servants are there to serve me! You're aware of the law!'

'How DARE you!'

Akbar came close, so he wouldn't have to strain his voice. 'I dare because I can!'

'Why am I not surprised?' So much for the 'simple' man he'd tried projecting himself as, a few days ago! Couldn't keep up the act of goodness any longer?

'What happened, Ustaad Sahib?' Heera didn't realise how angry she'd become till she felt her teeth biting against one another 'You're letting your true colours show?'

'I know what you're thinking... no, it's not about the money or power - but a question of my esteem... I can't have you taking away things that belong to me!'

'Fine! My personal possessions... my clothes... the jewellery that my mother left me... I hope they still belong to me... I'll take those belongings... and shift to the sick house, alone... would that please you?'

'Now you see... THAT's the second issue...' he drank another sip or two of cold water. 'YOU cannot leave either...'

'But, why not?' a bitter lump in the throat choked her up 'Y... you've taken over the haveli... declared you will be living there... society will frown upon me, if I stayed back... I can't... I don't want to... I simply refuse to live there... WITH YOU!' There, she'd said it - the ugly truth!

'Well...' His tone sounded hoarse, almost threatening 'society would expect you to live with your husband, wouldn't it?'

Heera took a step back 'I'd rather DIE' she heaved sharply, in exasperation 'than be married to you!'

'Rather die? Of course...' he shrugged, with not a scratch on his confidence. The sly look that came up in his eyes, conveyed the rest 'But something tells me that you wouldn't be prepared to leave your precious people wholly in MY care...'

'Don't do this to me...' Heera clutched her veil in a frenzy, holding onto every last fibre of self-respect that she felt was being taken away from her by force 'I am a nobleman's daughter... my people are watching... I cannot beg... but, I plead with you... please don't do this to me...'

Noticing how mist had begun lining the edges of her long lashes, Akbar exhaled hard - to overcome the pangs of discomfort in his chest. However, he wouldn't allow his determination to falter at this point.

'Circumstances Harka Sahiba... now that I am the new Mansabdar... I need the people's support... I can't have everyone assuming that I've seized your money, snatched your rights and removed you from your own home... otherwise... one fine day, your people might rise up in a rebellion against me!

'Ustaad Sahib, I'll give it you in writing that I wouldn't let my people do that... if you just let me leave... let me live in peace!' her pleas were having no effect, but she kept going at it, ignoring the angry tears that were threatening to burst their banks. 'I give my word... I do... I wouldn't utter a single whisper against you... but please don't force this wedding upon me...'

The young man waited for her to exhaust all that energy. Then, he calmly shook his head. 'No... I cannot take that risk... this is politics... the only way, my position will be safe... the only way I'll earn the respect of your people... is if I am their baisa's husband... YOUR husband!'

'I am never going to agree to this...'

'You don't have to agree with it... just go through with it... for the sake of appearances...' he paused. His next message wasn't going to be loud, but he definitely wanted it to be clear. 'You turn this down, Sahiba... and I'll have false charges slapped on these guards, who are so faithful to you...'

'What?' Her skin blanched in utter disbelief. Just when she thought he couldn't, he'd sunk to even lower depths! 'Don't do this...'

'I can have them arrested... in fact, I WILL have them arrested... I don't have to explain what happens next!'

'Y... yo... you monster...'

'Do you really want to subject their families to that kind of grief... merely to satisfy your own ego?'

'Oh my God!'

Her world was being shaken, but she couldn't slump onto the floor. She couldn't howl or wail to express her grief. All she could do was whimper in silence! Lament the choices she'd made in life that was forcefully pushing her down into a lightless abyss - an abyss that threatened to suck away the colour from her life forever.

This heartless man knew her weakness - her people - and was using it against her. Her mind desperately tried to think up all sorts of ways and means to fight him back on this - but she could think of nothing anymore. With her soul already shouldering the heavy guilt of having risked her people's futures, she couldn't afford to put their lives in danger too - because she had no doubt that the Ustaad would carry out these threats, if only to prove a point!

'Please... please... stop! Don't do this...'

Slapping his palm against the trunk of tree that she was standing beside, Akbar let his features hover beside hers, his skin brushing past the sheer veil that kept them apart.

'Marry me, then...'

'Ustaad Sahib, I hate you...' she negated the iciness in his eyes with a look that burned right through him 'I truly do!'

Beyond that, she said nothing else. She didn't have to. The tears that'd begun flowing down her cheeks were answers enough. Her insides had collapsed into a hollow mass, after having finally let go of that last strand of self-respect that she'd been precariously safeguarding.

If only she could punish him - the same way he was punishing her, for having letting him in her life at all. If only she could make him suffer, like the way he was, by stomping all over her heart. If only she could hit at his chest and yell aloud how much she despised him.

But she couldn't. All she could, was curse him. So she did. 'You can gloat on having won everything dear to me. One day, you'll find yourself a helpless man too... suffering like I am... yearning... craving for the one thing you want, but cannot have...'

The skin on his jawline flinched. The curse was familiar - he was already suffering from it.

Yet still, listening to such words directly from her, and washing it down with barely a flinch on his face was incredibly hard. Washing down acid would've been easier!

'So Sahiba, the wedding takes place as soon as we touch Parnagarh soil... do you want to make the official announcement, or...' he stalled 'do you want me to do it?'

Unwilling to face him, Heera closed her eyes. And kept it that way till her cheeks had dried out. Many empty beats later, she reopened her eyelids, a faint smirk emerging on her face - the most defeatist expression her young features had displayed. 'I'll do it... I'll make the announcement'

'Good...' he shrugged.

Well, what else was Heera supposed to do? It was not like he'd left her any choice.

If the heiress of Parnagarh didn't announce the 'wedding' officially, it'd become obvious that the baisa had been forced into an unwilling marriage - thus adding to the turmoil of her people. And Parnagarh could truly do with some stability now.

So, she decided to take another step down - when she'd already lost so much of her pride, what was losing a bit more?

'For my people...' she told herself a million times.

But there was also another fact that she couldn't deny.

Since the day she'd met the real Ustaad, there was a dread born in the smallest corner of her heart. A growing dread which warned her that her future would eventually come to this - however tough a resistance she put up. Maybe it was that constant dread, which somehow prepared her for such a day. Maybe it led to the slow death of hope and sapped away her spirit. Forcing her to eventually stop fighting the unfair fate that'd been meted out.

'But first...' she sighed 'I have a few conditions... I mean... requests...' her lifeless lips stammered, not able to decide which term to use 'questions...'

Her pale lips. That subdued tone. The stuttering confidence - it was hard to remain steely. But, Akbar kept it up. 'Go on...'

'Please don't threaten my folks to convert...' She folded her palms, her words a dull murmur 'please allow them to follow the traditions that they've been following for so long...'

Akbar exhaled. 'Alright... next...'

'Our temples... I request you to spare them...'

He exhaled again. 'Next...'

'Please allow me to continue serving others as the herbalist... healer... that I am... I...'

'Anything else?'

'One last thing...' her dead stares were fixed upon jiji's diamond ring, as she tried hard not to tear up again 'will... will I be forced... will I have to convert to Islam?'

THESE were her concerns? How small it made him feel. If only their story had been a little different where she didn't have to think of him as someone so merciless. And he'd made it infinitely worse by acting out like the very monster he'd spent 2 days trying to prove he wasn't. What a sad irony!

'Anyhow...' he decided to look on the brighter side 'it was the merciless monster, who got the job done...'

The young man cleared his gruff throat. 'You respect my beliefs... and I'll respect yours...'

'You respect my beliefs... and I'll respect yours...'

Did she hear right? Did he actually say that? Did that mean she could continue being a devotee of Ma Bhavani? Continue following her own traditions?

The embers of her spirit that were about to die a cold death, had found a little life-giving warmth just in time, by taking shelter in that reassuring thought. So, her loved ones hadn't abandoned her entirely ''Ma... thank you...'

'However, I have a couple of conditions of my own too Sahiba...'

Heera refused to glance up. But she was listening.

'From this moment on, you stop referring to me as the Ustaad... I was... and I am Akbar Khan!'

True, he wanted to keep his identity hidden. But also, 'Ustaad' was a title that his subordinates used. And he considered the Sahiba his equal. 'Alright?'

Her mind was lost, in a dark world elsewhere, but she responded with a flat nod.

'Who I am... what I do... it stays a secret... you'll never interfere in my work... where I go... when I return... it's my business and no one else's!'

Finally! Something they both agreed upon. For, She wanted nothing to do with this dark double-life of his either.

End of Part II

[Journey will Continue]