NOVEL~*Hiding behind a Stranger*~THREAD 54 - CHAP 59 - Page 112

Originally posted by: lashy

The mystery behind Farooq Sahib's death

Breadcrumbs

Crumb 1) Farooq had Akbar mutilated to please Khalil

1) It was the day of the 'flogging' - the day Shehzaade was going to have Akbar punished. The mania of the lonely Prince had been successfully fanned in such a manner that he wouldn't be tempted go 'light' on his best man whatsoever.

If it all went to plan, the outcome of the flogging would render Ustaad a weaker opponent!

'THAT should be good enough to bring my secret pact with that rotten man to an end!' Surely, the risk he'd undertaken just now was a solid repayment for that brute's help earlier, in dredging up information about the safe-house, against Akbar! 'A SOLID repayment! Hopefully it'd get him to stop sending his thuggish friends after me again'

Crumb 2) Zayaan was the Ustaad's spy in the dungeons

As his young friend at the dungeons had cautioned, the brute had become fat and unfit.

He was the one who told Akbar about what FS did to the Ustaad,to get the thuggish friends off his back!

Crumb 3) Shehzaade has no idea where Farooq Sahib is. Nor do his spies.

'Where is Farooq Sahib?'

'Farooq Sahib? I... I... I am not sure...'

'Are my network of spies SLEEPING?'

Crumb 4) FS was found amidst clothes being packed.

'Found dead? In his own Haveli? Amidst trunks and clothes he was packing to leave?

Farooq Sahib had stayed under the radar to keep away from the Shehzaade for a while, as he'd planned earlier. And a few days later, during the height of the duel-frenzy, slipped off to his summer house to pack up and leave (possibly for Mecca again), as is obvious from a later fact, that his house was scattered with trunk of packed clothes.

Crumb 5) Their brooklet conversation

'Whoever might have done such a thing to him... or HAD such a thing done to him...'

Indicative of the fact that Heera suspects someone HAD something done to him, before looking at her husband - a.k.a she suspects her husband was involved in this assassination. Because she now knows too well, that the Ustaad is NOT the type to leave loose ends. Happened once with her messengers, and they all suffered for it - he will not let such a villain to wreak havoc in their lives again.

Which is why Heera later goes on to add - quietly assuring him - that even though she's a kind-hearted healer, she cannot complain that FS was killed. (I.e. she does not disapprove of her husband's actions to silence the Satan, if that were the case)

Crumb 6) Their grins put the discussion to an end.

The husband and wife shared a grin - hers a knowing grin, and his a telling one.

A grin where she says 'I know what you might've been upto, and why'

His grin where he replies - 'Yes... you know now'

Out of decorum, they don't discuss the macabre details in public. But it is true that the Men of Ustaad, under the instruction of Akbar himself, had Farooq Sahib silenced, while leaving no loose ends.

How they might've done it -

1) Akbar's spy network are vastly better at collecting information. They would've had the resources to find out where FS was, even if the Shehzaade's spies didn't.

2) After the duel, while leaving the capital, Akbar would've quietly instructed one of his men - one of his 'faster' riders (not the 'famous faces like Azeez/Ibrahim/Sayyid' so they're not spotted missing by any of Shehzaade's spies) - to finish off this one last assignment. Because once their group leave the Capital state, it'd be difficult for any of them to return again because of the Shehzaade's conditions.

3) Thus, one of his men rides off to the summer house, while the rest of the group is simultaneously leaving; and poisons Farooq Sahib.

4) As for - what when the Shehzaade finds out.

Well, as instructed by his Ustaad, he must've left clues behind showing that it was 'Khalil's thuggish friends' who were responsible for it.😉 So if anyone would be caught for the murder - it would be Khalil's friends!

Two birds with one stone, or is that three, Akbar style? 😉

Originally posted by: lashy

Rekha I know you love Bahadur.. but me don't know if Mahadev Rai Sahib would be ok about being renamed as Bahadur Rai Sahib... 😆

>>>😆

J/k

Yes, AMK shouldn't have an issue continuing with trade as long as his trade doesn't directly cross paths with the Shehzaade. It would add restrictions, but it should be doable. 😳

And AMK tho, makes 'doable' look as easy as the half-smirk on his lips!

>>>☺️

Originally posted by: lashy

The mystery behind Farooq Sahib's death

Breadcrumbs

Crumb 1) Farooq had Akbar mutilated to please Khalil

1) It was the day of the 'flogging' - the day Shehzaade was going to have Akbar punished. The mania of the lonely Prince had been successfully fanned in such a manner that he wouldn't be tempted go 'light' on his best man whatsoever.

If it all went to plan, the outcome of the flogging would render Ustaad a weaker opponent!

'THAT should be good enough to bring my secret pact with that rotten man to an end!' Surely, the risk he'd undertaken just now was a solid repayment for that brute's help earlier, in dredging up information about the safe-house, against Akbar! 'A SOLID repayment! Hopefully it'd get him to stop sending his thuggish friends after me again'

Crumb 2) Zayaan was the Ustaad's spy in the dungeons

As his young friend at the dungeons had cautioned, the brute had become fat and unfit.

He was the one who told Akbar about what FS did to the Ustaad,to get the thuggish friends off his back!

Crumb 3) Shehzaade has no idea where Farooq Sahib is. Nor do his spies.

'Where is Farooq Sahib?'

'Farooq Sahib? I... I... I am not sure...'

'Are my network of spies SLEEPING?'

Crumb 4) FS was found amidst clothes being packed.

'Found dead? In his own Haveli? Amidst trunks and clothes he was packing to leave?

Farooq Sahib had stayed under the radar to keep away from the Shehzaade for a while, as he'd planned earlier. And a few days later, during the height of the duel-frenzy, slipped off to his summer house to pack up and leave (possibly for Mecca again), as is obvious from a later fact, that his house was scattered with trunk of packed clothes.

Crumb 5) Their brooklet conversation

'Whoever might have done such a thing to him... or HAD such a thing done to him...'

Indicative of the fact that Heera suspects someone HAD something done to him, before looking at her husband - a.k.a she suspects her husband was involved in this assassination. Because she now knows too well, that the Ustaad is NOT the type to leave loose ends. Happened once with her messengers, and they all suffered for it - he will not let such a villain to wreak havoc in their lives again.

Which is why Heera later goes on to add - quietly assuring him - that even though she's a kind-hearted healer, she cannot complain that FS was killed. (I.e. she does not disapprove of her husband's actions to silence the Satan, if that were the case)

Crumb 6) Their grins put the discussion to an end.

The husband and wife shared a grin - hers a knowing grin, and his a telling one.

A grin where she says 'I know what you might've been upto, and why'

His grin where he replies - 'Yes... you know now'

Out of decorum, they don't discuss the macabre details in public. But it is true that the Men of Ustaad, under the instruction of Akbar himself, had Farooq Sahib silenced, while leaving no loose ends.

How they might've done it -

1) Akbar's spy network are vastly better at collecting information. They would've had the resources to find out where FS was, even if the Shehzaade's spies didn't.

2) After the duel, while leaving the capital, Akbar would've quietly instructed one of his men - one of his 'faster' riders (not the 'famous faces like Azeez/Ibrahim/Sayyid' so they're not spotted missing by any of Shehzaade's spies) - to finish off this one last assignment. Because once their group leave the Capital state, it'd be difficult for any of them to return again because of the Shehzaade's conditions.

3) Thus, one of his men rides off to the summer house, while the rest of the group is simultaneously leaving; and poisons Farooq Sahib.

4) As for - what when the Shehzaade finds out.

Well, as instructed by his Ustaad, he must've left clues behind showing that it was 'Khalil's thuggish friends' who were responsible for it.😉 So if anyone would be caught for the murder - it would be Khalil's friends!

Two birds with one stone, or is that three, Akbar style? 😉

Originally posted by: lashy

The brooklet

Rose - 6

Chellam - 6

Cookie- 6

Vathsykka - 6

1 Left Bahadur

2 Left walking stick

3 Right peanuts

4 Right pouch (behind the fern)

5 Centre shawl

6 Left Necklace (on the mossy rock)

Wishu, Bindup and Rekha you found all of these 6... but you also rounded things that were not objects (part of the forest)

Since the scores were quite close, I picked those who got it spot on!

But truth is, y'all found all that she misplaced! Including, Bahadur😆

👏

Originally posted by: roseraja1915

Chellam, Cookie, Vathsykka, Rose

Congrats, Baisas 👏and thank you, Lashy Sahiba.🤗

Originally posted by: Bindu.

Lost my previous post..thanks to my laptop 😳

Lashy di..instead of being upset that my favourite HBAS has ended, I was smiling even after I was done with reading the update.It gave me immense peace and happiness😃 Thank you so so much..how desperate I was to see our Sahib and Sahiba like this!

Bahadur is back with his beloved family and has started his mischief too😆 But it's his master's mischief that was ☺️.. can never get enough of Akheera!❤️

I so loved the telling and knowing grins they had while talking abt FS's death..he asked for it😡

Ammijaan's mystery is out too..it was next to impossible for the couple to escape the punishment if not for her timely help but can't expect AMK to forgive her and accept her so easily..what he had gone through was something I dread to even imagine.He might eventually forgive her or may not..totally his choice.And Heera understands and respects his decision.

I wish Bindiya would be back to her home.

>>>Me too

Loved the edit di..it's so beautiful⭐️❤️ Wishing Heera and Akbar boundless joy for ever and ever!!🤗

A huuugeee thanks for giving us such a masterpiece, a story that would stay with us for ever and for this wonderful family!Love you loadss,di🤗

>>>Totally agree👍🏼

Originally posted by: Bindu.

So, Khan Sahib had the old fox finished off in style 😎

Thanks for the detailed description, di..fitting death to this venomous man⭐️😈

I'm so happy with FS and Khalil's death. It was Mahender's death that I couldn't rejoice. I felt bad for him despite all the hatred..may be because he was not as cruel as the other two or that he was still quite young and could've done so much with his life. He brought it upon himself, I know but don't know why I felt bad.