HBAS Chat corner

'Having said that, I do understand why she did what she did. And for YOUR sake... I will ensure your Begum does not suffer a humiliating or a painful death... I give you my word... she was born a noblewoman - she will be treated like one till she lives' he stalled, waiting for the message to sink in 'and she will be treated like one during death too!'

'DEATH!'

The syllable rang in his ears like a never-ending satanic verse, over and over - its sounds draining strength from every fibre of his body. 'Death' Its lone syllable implied the darkest gates man had ever known; the doors of which, once shut, never reopened - be it for the young, the old, the good, the bad, the beautiful or ugly. 'Dea-th'Oh yes, he'd faced the skin-melting heat of those gates several times in his life. It was gruesome. But, never once could his core recall thumping from abject fear in the way that it was now. Because, today, as he squinted hard at the blaze of those molten gates, in his hand was nestled the palm of his young wife. His beloved young wife, who'd uttered not a word in complaint so far - but the quivering fingers that clutched on for life told the young man of her steadfast belief in him. A belief that her Sahib would somehow take them away from this ominous place.

'Ai Khuda!' He'd never let her down. He would NOT, if it was the last thing on Earth he did! Yet, there was no road behind them that'd allow them to flee from here. There were no paths to their left, nor right. He'd looked. He'd hunted. He'd scoured the place like a crazy man - for any means of escape.

Alas!

His haunted eyes observed the features of his master. They were gleaming with a coat of satisfaction, as if the Shehzaade were proud of his kindness. After all, he had cleared some of their hurdles along their way - even promised to make his wife's last journey easy. Yet, what real respite was this, when the journey he was sending them on, was eventually meant to end in the burning infernos of hell?

'Huzoor...'

'Akbar...' The tone of the prince slowly shifted, a natural callousness seeping within 'on the other hand, YOU have committed unforgivable crimes... betraying your master... lying, to hide it. You will face your punishment with no leniency whatsoever!'

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)

Shubh havar - Good Morning (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

Qanat - Canal

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

Chaupar/Chausar/Chaupara/Chausara - A dice game famous in India for centuries. Similar to Ludo

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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!

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