NOVEL~*Hiding behind a Stranger*~THREAD 28~CHAPTER 33 - UPD 3rd May

lashy thumbnail
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Posted: 8 years ago
#1
*~**~*~

Prologue

Three Great Emperors had toiled hard to build the vast and flourishing legacy of the 'Mughal Empire', keeping relative peace by unifying its Mughals and Hindus. However; by mid 1600s, cracks began to appear in its solid foundations. Insecurities crept in through the gaps, widening the gulfs between the two religions once again.

With the old Emperor becoming too feeble to take charge and his jealous successors remaining preoccupied with expansion and power, the damage was never repaired. Not surprising then that new rebellions arose every day. Violence escalated, claiming many innocent lives.

Yet; in the midst of such turmoil and peril, there bloomed a beautiful story - much like a lone flower blossoming upon the steepest edges of a cliff - a story of love, of sacrifice and honour!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Forced to flee from her motherland, the one home she knew... forced to leave behind her people, for whom, she was their only hope...forced to grievously abandon the last rites of her loved one while the flames on the pyre were still ablaze...the orphaned heiress of 16 overcame grief and many shortcomings, as she embarked on a long dangerous path... setting out to seek help and support, for her people and her lands...

Till a chance stay with a complete stranger would change the course of those very plans forever!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Being the most shrewd, determined and unforgiving of the lot meant he was formidable... a force to be reckoned with... it also meant he could have owned it all - riches, power, women and fame... but, he fancied none of it...

As a recluse with simple tastes, the rich life held no real appeal... power didn't tempt him... women didn't interest him... his passion was work and his only family were a few loyal friends... he had decided that he wanted little else in life...

Till a chance visit from a complete stranger would change that decision forever!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*





Part 2 Individual links

Part 3 Individual links
Edited by lashy - 8 years ago

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lashy thumbnail
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Posted: 8 years ago
#2


THIS IS A "MEMBERS ONLY" POST
The Author of this post have chosen to restrict the content of this Post to members only.


lashy thumbnail
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Posted: 8 years ago
#3

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Takht-e-Sulaiman - Solomon's seat i.e. Emperor's throne (Urdu/Persian)
Shehzade - prince (Urdu/Persian)
Shehenshah - Emperor (Urdu/Persian)
Wazir-us-Sultanat - Chief minister (Urdu/Persian)
Farmaan - official decree/document (Urdu/Persian)
Maharaj/Maharani - King/Queen
Maharaj - Chef/Cook
Kunwar - Prince (Generally used in Rajputana)
Baisa - Lady/Miss/Mrs/Madam (Marwari)
Banna - Mr/Sir (Marwari)
Sahib - Mr/Master/Sir (Urdu)
Sahiba - Ms/Mrs/Lady (Urdu)
Dams - copper coins
Vaid - Doctor/Healer
Ustad - Teacher/ Master of arts (Urdu)
Caravansarai - Caravan site
Kotwal - Town chief
Kos - old measurement system of distances, used in India
Tahar - battle axe (Urdu/Persian)
Khuda Hafiz - Farewell greeting which translates into 'May God be your protector' (Urdu/Persian)
Adab/Adaab - Words of Salute/respect (Urdu/Persian)
Taslim - A salute (Mughalian)
Hukum - Sir (Used commonly to address Rajput royalty)
Salaam - A form of greeting that translates to 'Hello/Hi' (Urdu/Persian)
Shubh Ratri - Good evening/Good night (Marwari)
Padhar jo Sa - I shall leave now (Marwari)
Zergul - Calendula flower
Chulho - Wood fire stove
Ganjifa - A card game, slightly similar to poker
Ahadi - Elite bodyguard, who've received specialist training
Muqannis - Specialist canal diggers/workers
Masaka - Mosquito. (Masaka fever - Malaria)
Wali - Guardian
Nikah - Islamic wedding ceremony
Valeema - Islamic wedding reception
Saleem Shahis/Shahees - A special kind of shoe/jootis stylised during Jahangir's time

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A laptop, a dictionary, some imagination and loads of dreams... Trying my hand at writing, once again...

Great to be back on this platform... looking forward to regularly catching-up with my lovely old friends ... looking forward to making new ones too!

Thank you all for being here... and for your support... it means a lot... 🤗

If this made for a worthwhile read, please do leave me a comment/like when you can, as it really does helps the writer in me to keep going!

I have a FB page called Lashy Writes - please 'like' it if you are more regular on FB, as I post the teasers/update links there 😊
Edited by lashy - 8 years ago
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Posted: 8 years ago
#4
A year... yes... a year... difficult to believe... but, we've come so far.
Strange-yet-lovely coincidence indeed, that both, the first year anniversary of this story and the wedding of Akbar and Heera have come on the same date!

And for this, I have only you all to thank - for supporting me, encouraging me, correcting me and basically keeping me going!

Trust me, I would not have been able to keep up this routine of one chapter every 10 days, for a year, if it were not for the beautiful Banjaras and Baisas 🤗

Thank you so so so much for giving my life this year a different kind of purpose - being more romantic than I already am!
Edited by lashy - 8 years ago
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Posted: 8 years ago
#5

~*A beautiful medley by Divyam - dedicated for the Sangeet*~


Welcome everyone to the Sangeet of our Harka and Akbar as you are all enjoying the festivities.

Please join me on this link for the festivities:https://soundcloud.com/user-656827456/hbassangeet-vupdated

The songs in this Sangeet are dear to my heart and I felt reflect the emotions of our Harka and Akbar ...


(1) From a calling from the heart of "Kesariya Baalam" , Harka calls out to her heart , her love, her savior to come back to her land ...


(2) She does not know this yet, but the answer to this calling is her own heart and with Akbar:

Jisko dhoondhe baahar baahar Woh baitha hai bheetar chhupke
(The one whom you are trying to find outside is hidden inside your heart)

Tere andar ek samandar kyun dhoondhe tubke tubke
(There is an Ocean inside you; why are you searching for water outside here and there)

Akal ke parde peeche kar de
(Brush aside the curtains of your mind)

Ghoonghat ke pat khol de
(Remove the veil of thoughts that cover your heart)

Orey piya, piya
(Beloved , Beloved)

Tohe piya milenge, milenge, milenge
(You will meet your beloved)



(3) And so we know that when Harka and Akbar realize what is in their hearts (or when writer-e-khaas will let them), they will be in full celebration, so I end with a qawalli wishing Mubaraka (Congratulations!) that "Milgaya" (or rather, they "found" their love)

Hope you enjoyed the start of the Sangeet and join me for the rest of the celebrations and with your own favorite songs!

Songs (to hear the originals)



(1) "Kesariya Balam", traditional Rajasthani folk; I like the version from "Dor"
(2) "Piya Milenge" from the movie "Raanjhana" by AR Rahman
(3) "Mubaraka" from the musical "Bombay Dreams" by AR Rahman

Edited by lashy - 8 years ago
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Posted: 8 years ago
#6

~*A mesmerising VM from Hemakeerthi and Sharmacatty dedicated for the wedding*~


vadhuvemo alamelu varudata srivaru - (bride is lakshmi, groom is srihari)

manuvaadi kalisaaru... chelimi kalimi okarikokaru (became one with marriage... together one in friendship and prosperity)

ee jantanu deevinchaga devatalandari nota palikenu challani maata (all deities are happily blessing this couple saying...)

satamanam bhavati... (stay blessed with long, happy life for hundred years)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_bLeJuIQzc

[YOUTUBE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_bLeJuIQzc[/YOUTUBE]



Edited by lashy - 8 years ago
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Posted: 8 years ago
#7

~*Story so far by Saraswathi aunty on Chapter 33*~

Chapter 33.

Image result for painting of a rajasthani couple


The Story goes thus...

The wedding! She has to open her heart out
To the one who is always with her without any doubt
Her jiji who had guided her all along
In good and bad times making her strong
" I'm confused.. you didn't stop me from marrying the stranger
I yielded to his threats , the trainer of Khalil your molester
But , my jiji, why am I not repulsed about becoming his wife
And lost the will to fight the man who will have full control of my life?"

The day dawns with the sounds of melodies and dances
Marking the cultures of both , without taking any chances
Both agree to wed accepting their "nikah" thrice
Hindu rites follow with everything precise
With the blessings of the heavens and her jiji above
She enters into his life and the realm of his love
Doubting if it is only a part of the business deal
He, hoping for the day when she'll pardon him with a fond feel..

The Change ! "A pair of toe- rings, a nose ring and a pinch of vermillion"
Describing the difference in a few words, the author becomes one in a million
The Chapter is dedicated to their emotions and a few dialogue
The author has hinted elsewhere that this is only a prologue
What the future has in store for them nobody can guess
Since they have enemies all around them , to transgress
The two protagonists are seen playing hide and seek
Hiding their faces behind the masks ,so to speak

The readers , who won't be carried away by their guises
Will imagine cupids busy in bringing about surprises!
"To dream is our birthright " the Banjaras say
Posting their wishful thoughts in the thread everyday
The story has reached an interregnum
We are waiting for the author to continue her 'opus magnum'!
Let her sail the boat on a peaceful water
Let them "live happily ever after"!


Karkuzhali.

~*Haikus from Saraswathi aunty dedicated to the bustling preparations*~

The Grand Wedding Celebrations..


Haikus:

Heera and Akbar
Getting married as we wished
Just three days to go!

Venue has been fixed
Duties taken by Baisas
Invitations sent

People arrive daily
All roads lead to Parnagarh
The Celebrations!

Catering arranged
Mandap's decor entrusted
In efficient hands

Nominated are
Bridesmaid and Groom's best man , who ?
Cookie and Azeez

Flowergirl is our Baby
Page boy is Bablookutty
Our cute little kids

Comes with cosmetics
Harshu from "Glamour" salon
The Beautician

O! Mouth - watering
Manu's dishes we'd relished
Catering is hers

Mandap's decor done
Who else but by our Kausi
The all rounder here!

Divya, our singer
Lent her voice to the "Sangeet"
The most sought after .

With Jiji's blessings
With her people's best wishes
She enters his life

Lashy is busy
Last stages of the Chapter
Released on the third..

H B A S house
Busy with activities
Wedding bells are heard.

KK
Image result for hindu wedding emblems





Edited by lashy - 8 years ago
Durgeshnandini thumbnail
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Posted: 8 years ago
#8
I know I am not supposed to post anything now, but anyways, let me heartily congratulate you for successfully complete a one year of subtle passion and unrequited temptations... And very many congratulations on a new thread, too!


Good Night (I guess, it's night there! )
lashy thumbnail
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Posted: 8 years ago
#9
~*An edit depicting Heera's feelings by Kalgi~*




The feeling of regret is strong within my soul,
and the sorrow my heart feels grows while my soul sinks.
I bid you forgive me, but I feel it will not be easy.
For I have forgotten your promise,
and got caught up in a tangled fishnet of politics.
The time flew by,
and me without a watch, bat not an eye.
For I have forgotten you.
I have wasted all the sacrifice you did
All I wish for
is for your forgiveness of my stupidity.
And the hope you would accept my apologies...
Will you forgive me?
Will you see my regret of my actions and beg me to change?
For I surely will!
The time flew by
and for that,
a feeling of anguish washes over me.
Please forgive me!
I understand my wrong-doings!
Please! Grant my wish so that
I can loose this feeling of regret.

Copied & Edited by Kalgi!!
Edited by lashy - 8 years ago
hemakeerti thumbnail
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Posted: 8 years ago
#10
Congratulations on the response this novel got Lashy. Never before I saw people connecting to characters so deeply and celebrating a fictional wedding like a real one 😆.

Off to reading 😳

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