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Teaser for Chapter 41

'I noticed Mahadev Rai Sahib has written to us out of gratitude... for the kind of money Sufi is making him...I hope you've responded...'

'No Akbar...' Ibrahim exhaled, having set aside all the water flasks that had to be taken away to be cleaned 'the message only arrived yesterday... I was meant to respond last evening... but I ended up getting occupied...'

'Occupied with?' Akbar murmured a quiet question, while fashioning the stubble on his chin.

'Playing chaupar...'

Azeez was surprised. 'Chaupar?'

Sayyid was surprised. 'With whom?'

'With Ratan Sahib... Chacha jaan... and bhabhijaan...' Ibrahim was quick to add 'on bhabhijaan's orders, of course!'

The blade was brought to a steady halt midway down the arch of his chin - as was everything else that Azeez and Sayyid were doing.

'Bhabhijaan?' Interesting! Akbar cast a long look at the silhouette of his busy friend through the mirror. 'Go on...'

'I should've expected the evening would get busy... and planned ahead...' exhaled Ibrahim, continuing to sort through the mess 'I'll respond to the message straightaway'

Wetting the blade again, Akbar shifted around in his spot, to tend to the other half of his face. 'And Mirza Sahib... may I ask how you should've 'expected' the evening would get busy?'

'Because... over the past month, it's how nearly every evening would go... chaupar... cards... riddles... we all would get together... share a few conversations... laughs...' Ibrahim was quick to add 'that we do so, was bhabhijaan's wish, of course!'

The blade that'd only resumed working its way along the skin of his right jaw stopped again.

'I see' Akbar raised a brow, trying not to react too much to the slew of unexpected updates. Chaupar every evening? With 'bhabhijaan'? This was actually getting quite interesting! Wonder how much more was to come.

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 😊

Originally posted by: lashy

Teaser for Chapter 41

'I noticed Mahadev Rai Sahib has written to us out of gratitude... for the kind of money Sufi is making him...I hope you've responded...'

'No Akbar...' Ibrahim exhaled, having set aside all the water flasks that had to be taken away to be cleaned 'the message only arrived yesterday... I was meant to respond last evening... but I ended up getting occupied...'

'Occupied with?' Akbar murmured a quiet question, while fashioning the stubble on his chin.

'Playing chaupar...'

Azeez was surprised. 'Chaupar?'

Sayyid was surprised. 'With whom?'

'With Ratan Sahib... Chacha jaan... and bhabhijaan...' Ibrahim was quick to add 'on bhabhijaan's orders, of course!'

The blade was brought to a steady halt midway down the arch of his chin - as was everything else that Azeez and Sayyid were doing.

'Bhabhijaan?' Interesting! Akbar cast a long look at the silhouette of his busy friend through the mirror. 'Go on...'

'I should've expected the evening would get busy... and planned ahead...' exhaled Ibrahim, continuing to sort through the mess 'I'll respond to the message straightaway'

Wetting the blade again, Akbar shifted around in his spot, to tend to the other half of his face. 'And Mirza Sahib... may I ask how you should've 'expected' the evening would get busy?'

'Because... over the past month, it's how nearly every evening would go... chaupar... cards... riddles... we all would get together... share a few conversations... laughs...' Ibrahim was quick to add 'it was bhabhijaan's wish, of course!'

The blade that'd only resumed working its way along the skin of his right jaw stopped again.

'I see' Akbar raised a brow, trying not to react too much to the slew of unexpected updates. Chaupar every evening? With 'bhabhijaan'? This was actually getting quite interesting! Wonder how much more was to come.

Originally posted by: lghosh

Author Sahiba, OMG, just read the teaser!!! How many evenings are we talking about? He returned after how long, one month??

And Heera playing chaupar, cards and riddles and insisting on playing and merrymaking?!! 😲 Hmmm, so the green-eyed monster will be back again and this time on KS's shoulder?? Which might make him delay his next trip, if there will be any !! 😆 A lot is more news to come, KS, just watch out!! 😆 So we will see chaupar between them now and will await on his slow probing to Heera about all this with his 'hmmms'!

>>>😲

Wait and watch!

It is like consuming red wine slowly and steadily, with poise and letting it permeate into your system gradually taking you into new possible heights that were unknown before!! Experiencing new highs in a novel way, comprehending passion innovatively in a new found land!!! Sigh!!

Hain? Waise, I've never consumed red wine or any wine, but you felt all this reading the teaser?😲

Lana don't get carried away... lest you are left disappointed😭

Originally posted by: lashy

Originally posted by: lghosh

Of course, what else can I do?? 🤔 Author Sahiba I know KS can never be a mundane husband asking or questioning his wife like mundane husbands, he has his way and means!! That is what I am looking forward to! In fact, he will not even go that route but will have his methods to get to the bottom of it all! 😉😆

>>>Errrmmm 🤔😆

woookay TWT!

Hain? Waise, I've never consumed red wine or any wine, but you felt all this reading the teaser?😲

Lana don't get carried away... lest you are left disappointed😭

Arre, who told you I have consumed wine? I am a teetotaller!! But I have read and seen right? From that experience, I wrote! 😉😆

Not surprising at all.. the manner in which you have a way with words!

Ab tum toh bolo mat, every time 'nakhra' in practice!! Left disappointed!! Huh!! 🤔 Yeh toh kabhi honewala nahi hai, so don't even say anything! 😡

>>>😔

Originally posted by: selvi1275

Goodmorning Lashy...🤗

New thread and teaser🥳

But why are you still awake?...