Akdha FF: Feast of Memories (On Hold)

All you guys. I'm really excited to bring to you my new baby, that is my new FF based on Akdha. You all have supported and liked my previous story so much. It had brought me a wish to keep writing and sharing stories. Here I am with my new story. You're all amazing readers. Keep reading, keep enjoying and share the Akdha love 😉.

Chapter 1: The Triggering Accident

“Where are you, tiny tots… Come on, Come on. Not the time to place hide and seek.” The chilling voice said. I felt a shiver up my spine. My little sister clutched my arm. She was close to crying.

“Sam,please don’t cry. You’ll get us caught. Trust me. I will not let any harm come to you. Don’t cry. Here, hold you Pooh Bear.” I gave her soft toy to her. My own heart was beating like crazy. I felt the fear freeze. A house so large yet it seemed so small when we were surrounded.

“Bhai, I want mamma.” She said.

“We will go to her, Sam. Please don’t cry.” I tried to tell her. She clutched the sleeve of my shirt.

“Jalal…Where are you? Come out, pretty boy.” The voice said as if playing with me. I wouldn’t let them hurt Sam. I signaled Sam to go towards the butler’s door.

“I don’t want to go alone. I am scared.” She said in a voice slowly cracking.

“Sam, you have to go. Someone has to have their eyes out for them. We only have the nanny's exit.” I tried to explain. “Please go. You have to run. I will come behind you.”

She started moving towards the pantry. I went towards the wine cellar. I was scared. My heart was screaming in fear. I wanted to go to ammi. Why weren’t they coming?Ammi said she’ll be back soon. I saw Sam reach for the cordless phone in the pantry.She dialled some number.

“Hello…”She said. It was loud. Enough to catch the attention of the men.

“I can hear you.” The chilling voice said.

“Sam, run.”I shouted at her. Sam turned back and saw that the men had showed up. She started running ahead. The phone in one hand and Pooh Bear in another. She hid the phone behind her.

“Bhai….”She shouted.

I was quickly caught by the men. I kicked them here and there, as far as I could reach. I caught a wine glass and smashed it on the head of one of the men. “Go,Sam, go.” I shouted at her. She broke into tears.

“Bhai….”She wailed loudly.

“Sam, do not get caught.” I shouted at her. I started running in the opposite direction,away from Sam.

“Bhai…Please don’t hurt him.” She cried as she reached the door.

“Kill the boy.” The man with that chilling voice ordered. The gun was clicked and it started firing.

“Jalal…” I heard Sam shout.

“Jalal…” It was a loud scream. A voice. A woman's.

The loud noise of cannons breaking through the wall was almost deafening the woman’s scream.

I desperately tried to free myself from the chains. That intense fear of see cannons being fired and me being chained to a wall. I desperately pulled on the chain hoping to get it free. I could feel my own heart beating as loud as the cannons.

“Ammi…”I shouted.

“The next Sultan, aren’t you? Humayun’s beloved boy that he is talking about.” The man in front of me claimed. He laughed as he ordered to have the cannons fired continuously. “What are you doing, you fool? Can’t you even aim at a boy correctly?” The cannon handler was scolded.

“Ammi…”I screamed. There were no tears, only fear. The intense fear of death.

“Stop.He is just a child. What are you doing?” The woman shouted. "Have you no humanity in you heart? He is just a boy. What threat is he to you, Sultan Askari?"

“I will kill him, you maid woman. How dare you ask me anything? This boy is the reason why he even is up in arms. Once he is dead, I will become the Emperor and my family will thrive.” The man claimed laughing.

A man suddenly got up the wall and broke the chain. The cannon ball went right aboveus. The soldiers scattered away. Fight broke out. Another man who seemed to bethe woman’s husband was fighting the soldiers who came to attack me.

Shams-ud-din Khan baba. He was right before keeping me safe. Badi Ammi was the woman. I was in fear. I turned around and Badi Ammi’s husband was in the fight with the soldiers.

“I’ll hold them. Take the boy and go.” He insisted while keeping away all the soldiers. I was being taken away by Shams-ud-din Khan baba and Badi Ammi. I stopped to look back at the man. He looked at me while holding back the soldiers. He was stabbed several times. A smile came to his face. He fell to his knees and did a salaam like it was greatest honor for him to die like a martyr.

“Shehenshah-e-hind ko humara aakhri salaam.” He shouted with the greatest smile on his face. I tried to run back at him but was pulledaway. He had always been that way. Highly loyal to me. Ever since I knew, hewould keep saying that I was his King.

“Baba….”I shouted for him.

“Nahi, Shehzaade. We cannot go back. We have to run.” Shams-ud-din Khan baba tried to tell me. Badi Ammi didn’t stop herself and picked me up when was I resisting the drag. She picked me up and started running.

“Nadim Baba….”I shouted for him. My eyes still at him.

"May the sun and moon shine on you gloriously and time make you an immortal name on the pages of history." He said.

“Ammi…” I shouted. A woman instantly came ahead and hugged me. Her warmth was so familiar but she was not my mother.

“Please… I want my ammi.” I cried.

“Jalal,mere bacche, what are you saying? I am your ammi.” She tried to explain. Her lovely face marred with worry.

“Bhai… do you not remember us?” A girl asked.

“My sister.” I said recognizing her.

“Yes, bhai, I'm your sister. She is our ammi why are you saying someone else is our ammi?” She asked me confused. I was myself confused.

“She feels familiar but I can’t recognize her.” I explained. “Please… I want to be with ammi. What is this place? Where am I?”

Panic was building up. There was a room with such unusual equipment and such unfamiliar surroundings. I was attached to some unusual looking pipes. They were like the most transparent and thinnest hookah pipes. It was attached to some liquid held in a pouch hanging on a stand.

“Nasir, I am really scared. Why doesn’t he recognize us?” The woman asked a man. Nasir. Nasir ud din Muhammad Humayun. My father's name but who was this man?

“Where is abbu?” I asked. “I want to go back home to Kabul. Please let me go. I am not going to hurt anyone.” I cried.

“Jalal, what Kabul? This is India. Kabul is in Afghanistan. Your home is here with us in Mumbai.” The woman explained. India? What place was that? Afghanistan? Why are Afghans controlling our territory?

“It is scary. Please. I want to go home. I don’t recognize any of the places you say except Kabul. My home is in Kabul. My father had me stay there till he came back from war.” I tried to explain.

“Bhai, you recognize me but not ammi and abbu?” She said.

“You’re my twin sister. I know. Did they chain you too? Are you hurt? Did Askari chachajaan hurt you too?" I asked her.

“Who Askari, bhai? There was no Kamran Chachajaan. Abbu only has a sister, Mehtab bua. No brothers.” She explained. She broke into tears. “This is all scary. Why don’t you remember ammi and abbu?”

“Sam, get down for a while. Shazia, you and Sam get him something to eat. I’ll be here.” The man told them both.

“Jalal,what is last thing you remember?” He asked me.

“Mirza Askari had chained us to the wall. There were cannons being blown trying to kill me. Badi Ammi and Khan baba saved me.” I explained. “He attacked Kabul and took me to Qandhar.”

“Jalal, where is your father?” He asked.

“He’s is coming for me from Dilli.” I answered.

“What do you remember about your sister?”

“Samaira? She is my twin sister. My younger sister Bakshi is with her ammi. My elder sisters Sakina aapi and Bakt un nissa aapi are with their mother.” I answered. The man sighed.

“My son,you are mistaken. I am your father. That woman is your mother. Samaira is the only sister you have.” He tried to explain softly.

“No. What are you saying? I don’t know who you are. I want to go to ammi. Where is Badi ammi? Khan baba?” I questioned. The panic broke. I tried to take out the weird looking hookah pipe out of my arm and started running. Suddenly, I felt so weak and fell down. Intense pain emerged from my back shoulder.

Everything blacked out after that.

When I woke up, I saw ammi, abbu and Sam with another woman.

“Ammi…” I called out her. She came to me.

“Jaan, I am here.” She said crying.

“Ammi, it pains.” I complained. She kissed my forehead.

“My sweet son, it will be alright.” She said.

“Bhai, you recognize her?” Sam asked me.

“Why are you being stupid? Why wouldn’t I recognize my own mother?” I commented.

“See, Ira.This is confusing. An hour ago, he was so frantic that we aren’t familiar tohim. He was only recognizing Sam.” Abbu told the woman.

“No. I recognize you all. What are you saying?” I asked.

“I don’t care for all this, Nasir. If he says he remembers us then it is good. It must be a short slip or something. I just want my baby with me. I don’t care of the rest.” Ammi said holding me.

“Shazia, if this is an issue, we have to look out for it.” Ira aunty tried to explain.

“What do you remember last?” Abbu asked me. I closed my eyes and tried to think.

“Kabul. You came with people to save me in Kabul.” I answered from what I remembered.

“Ammi, why is bhai so confused?” Sam asked.

Everything was so overwhelming. Everyone saying that I didn’t have proper memories was scaring. Was I mad? Like that crazy uncle in our neighborhood? I felt like everything was mess. Though, ammi and abbu took me back home with them. I felt like everything was going wrong. Ammi and Abbu had taken us to our farmhouse rather than our home. I didn’t question it. It was exhausting.

When I woke up after sleeping, the surroundings were so unfamiliar. I had never seen such objects. There were books in my room. Sam was sitting on her holding her Pooh Bear. Then I saw a thinnest book ever set on the table next to me. I opened it but everything was written in a weird language. It wasn’t Arabic script.

“What language is it written in?” I asked Sam.

“English.”She answered.

“What language is that?”

“The language that came from British.”

“British?”

“You learnt the alphabets in the school. That language.”

“Al-what? Isn’t the official written language Arabic? Though I cannot read. I do recognize the script of Arabic. This is not Arabic. Why are we using this language in Kabul?”

“Ammi!!!” Sam shouted. Quickly ammi and abbu ran in.

“What happened? Are you two alright?” Ammi asked almost panicking.

“Bhai is confused again. He’s saying he can’t read English.” She explained.

“Jalal,what else is confusing to you?” Abbu asked.

“This place. These weird looking things and even the walls. Kabul has such printed walls? The entire place. These toys they are not bullock carts or chariots.” I explained.

I felt like things were so confusing. I started throwing things around.

“I want to go home, abbu. Please take me home. This place is so confusing. Everything is so confusing.” I cried. Abbu just wrapped his arms around me.

“It is alright, my son. Everything will be fine. Your Ammi, Sam and I are here. We’ll make everything alright.” He assured.

Index

..

• Chapter 1
• Chapter 2

• Chapter 3
• Chapter 4

• Chapter 5
• Chapter 6

• Chapter 7
• Chapter 8

• Chapter 9
• Chapter 10

• Chapter 11
• Chapter 12

• Chapter 13
• Chapter 14
• Chapter 15
• Chapter 16

• Chapter 17
• Chapter 18

• Chapter 19
• Chapter 20
• Chapter 21
  

• Chapter 22
• Chapter 23

• Chapter 24
• Chapter 25
• Chapter 26
  
• Chapter 27
• Chapter 28
• Chapter 29
  
• Chapter 30
• Chapter 31
  
• Chapter 32
  
• Chapter 33
  
• Chapter 34
  
• Chapter 35
  

Chapter 2: Therapy Sessions

The seven years old boy sat down in the office of the psychologist. She braced herself for the thousand questioned that were going to be thrown at her.

Dr Ira Kapoor. She was an old family friend of the Ali Sheikhs. She had been used to dealing with several patients. Most suffering from depression. Some with memory loss and others with mental illnesses. Yet, this case was different.

She had only heard of reincarnation before. She knew that Ali Sheikh family history had this small part in the truest sense as a proof. Her family and theirs were very close friends and hence they were entrusted with this secret. She and Nasir were best friends while growing up. Ira hadn’t believed it until she met Jalal. Jalal ud din Ali Sheikh. The first of the twin children of Nasir Ali Sheikh and Shazia Ali Sheikh. Considering how his birth chart was almost identical to the Emperor Akbar, they named him Jalal after the infamous Emperor. They hadn’t even imagined that the reason for such a surprise was their family secret. Even years of studying psychology hadn’t prepared her to deal in person with such cases.

Jalal had the very memories of his namesake. It matched with things written down in history. The most surprising thing was the amount of memories bombarded on the child. No wonder he has lost his normalcy. The part which was his own memories and the part of having the memories of his namesake. It had confused his 7-year old mind. Looking at the family medical history. Such an even had occurred several generations ago. Probably the great, great, great, great, great grandfather of Nasir Ali Sheikh was noted to have memories of Prince Dara Shikoh. Also, the man was the great, great grandson of the Prince himself.

“Jalal,have a chocolate.” The psychologist offered him. The boy took it and began eating. They all had come to simplest answers for such an event that it was a reincarnation. While science majorly didn't believe in reincarnation, it did exist.

Ira had always noted that the boy would calm down while eating some food. Chocolates were his calming food.

“Am I crazy?” The boy asked.

“No. I wouldn’t call your state a mental illness.” She answered. Was it correct to tell a 7-year old boy that he had memories of a man who was born 600 years ago? She was a little puzzled on how to explain it to him.

“Then why does everyone say I am not being normal?” He asked. Ira sighed.

“It is a little difficult to explain. You have a special talent of having certain memories that are not yours.” She tried to put it in childish way.

“Do you mean to say I have a dead man’s memories?” He asked. The boy was smart.

“Sort of. Yes.” Ira added. “I want you to close your eyes and think of memories in specific.”

The next four hours was a period that had convinced her that this boy was really different. He knew about memories that are rare for anyone in this period. He could shoot an arrow without every learning. His reflexes were a little sharper. This case was a little personal to her. After all the boy was her best friend’s son. After the four-hour session, she drove Jalal back to his home.After the attack, Nasir and Shazia had bought a new home with more security. Money meant that they could buy whatever they liked. Jalal and Samaira played with Mehek, Ira’s daughter.

“Is healways going to be like this, Ira?” Shazia asked her.

“Of course,not, Shazia. It is going to take time but there are several treatments that will help him soon. At this age, it is confusing to explain to him that he has memories of his past because he’s not that mature to understand the position.My suggestion that you introduce him slowly to your family history. Soon, we can break it to him as to what the whole thing is.” She explained.

“What about now, Ira? I really want them to have a normal life. If his behavior is like this, school is going to be difficult.” Nasir said.

“Although I understand what you want, Nasir but trust me, as of now a home environment is better. He would be more comfortable with familiar people. About this break down he has at times, I suggest that you invest his energy in different places. Put that gym to use. Some high energy activities which are familiar to him. Fencing, kick-boxing and some martial arts. People take it as a joke but trust me, meditation works. He needs something that invests his energy in different forms and something that calms him. I can give him medications but he’s just a boy. I don’t want him to spend his all life with medications.” Ira suggested.

“I’m worried about how it will effect both the kids. Sam hardly does anything without Jalal. To send her to school while home-schooling him is going to cause a little trouble.” Shazia said.

“Shazia, it is not a forever thing. These memories have suddenly been triggered. Therapy sessions and meditation will soon help him notice sharp differences in those memories. Then he can go to school like normal kids.” Ira insisted.

“Shazia, I think we should focus on the present rather the future. When he is ready, we will see.” Nasir too agreed with Ira.

Ira held Shazia’s hand. She could understand what the mother was going through.

“It is going to be hard. I can understand but as of right now, Jalal needs all our support.” Ira said. Shazia sighed. Nasir put his arm around her.

“Jalal is going to be fine, Shazia. We’ll take one step at a time.” Nasir supported her.

Small things would trigger memories and confused the boy out of his mind. Jalal reacted in the only way that seemed a way out for his anger by breaking into a tantrum and almost injuring himself. Just a week ago, he suddenly panicked in middle of the road crossing it to reach the school bus. The honking and crazy traffic and triggered some war memories. The seven years old boy wasn't prepared for such bloodshed and had broken into a full blown panic, running across the road. Almost hit by a car.

The next six years were different from how Nasir and Shazia imagined. Although Jalal was quick to understand that he had a mix of his past life’s memories, to sort them was a little difficult but Ira’s constant therapy sessions and meditation sessions helped slowly. Considering he was home-schooled; the socialization took a hit. Shazia joined him to cricket club. That gave him a sort of exposure to people without having to worry about anything triggering because he would be busy trying to keep the head in the game. Nasir kept his tight grip to make sure Jalal didn’t slip in academics. The tutor was given a straight notice that Jalal’s monthly report was to be given to Nasir. They were familiar with Jalal’s truant nature. He loved his sports time, exercise and machines but other things were a bore to him. His inability to sit at a place for long was a trouble with his tutor and meditation. To rest his mind and just relax is difficult.

He quickly threw his bag and slouched on the couch. Sam returned from her dance class,just as exhausted.

“You smell and are making the couch dirty.” Sam complained.

“Yes. I have come from my cricket coaching. Of course, I am sweating and dirty.” Jalalretorted.

“Mom, tell him to go take a bath.” Sam said.

“Champ, go fresh up. We’ll have the dinner ready.” Nasir told him. Jalal nodded and ran up.

“Clean up properly. Taking a bath isn’t just pouring a bit of water over yourself and running out.” Shazia told him as he ran to his bathroom.

“Yes, ammi. I know. I’m 13 not 3.” He complained.

“If you acted like one, she wouldn’t remind you.” Sam stuck out her tongue at him.

“Get lost. Don’t you have a kitty party to attend?” Jalal asked.

“It is not a kitty party. My friends and I are having a stay over. You stay away from them. You always ruin my pajama parties.” She complained.

Congratulation for the new story di!!!

Lovely updates

Pls continue soon di

awesome👏

a beautiful start❤️👍🏼

jalal's reincarcanation😲... quite a new concept👍🏼

waiting for jodha's entry

update soon

Awesome update dear

It's was really interesting...

Continue soom

Thxv 4r pm

Interesting story . Wondering about jo's entry😊

What an A.M.A.Z.I.N.G comeback buddy!!!👏

the narrative is so intriguing.. i got hooked from the first few lines only.. you really have evolved as a writer..

Really looking forward for this modern spin off..

keeping shinning..❤️

Originally posted by: ParijatGirl

Congratulation for the new story di!!!

Lovely updates

Pls continue soon di

Thanks. Will put up the update soon 🤗

Originally posted by: kritika1411

awesome👏

a beautiful start❤️👍🏼

jalal's reincarcanation😲... quite a new concept👍🏼

waiting for jodha's entry

update soon

Thank you 🤗

Jo will come up soon.