AZMA FF-Ishq da Ruthba Chap 9New note pg76

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milinda.shreyz

@milinda.shreyz

Rocker

Posted: 9 years ago

#441

Originally posted by: Ishq-Dua
I peeped in to say I'm waiting for your next update and noticed how our conversation turned out to be so useful😆 man I didn't think we chatted that long lol But it surely was one enlightening conversation and it answered most of my questions regarding the story and events.

Hope you will update soon cause me is waiting for next chapter eagerly :D

that ''wicked'' thing distracted me, nehitoh I would have updated today only.😆

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Ishq-Dua

@Ishq-Dua

Rocker

+ 3

Posted: 9 years ago

#442

Originally posted by: milinda.shreyz

that ''wicked'' thing distracted me, nehitoh I would have updated today only.😆

truly wicked I still need to tell my brain to concentrate on the events of what's happening in this story. The description image of Azaad is not letting me focus.

Ufff!!!!

what have you done Shreya

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milinda.shreyz

@milinda.shreyz

Rocker

Posted: 9 years ago

#443

Originally posted by: Ishq-Dua

truly wicked I still need to tell my brain to concentrate on the events of what's happening in this story. The description image of Azaad is not letting me focus.

Ufff!!!!

what have you done Shreya

@ bold : '' Acres of golden skin and hard muscles, chiseled with care, bronzed by the sun ! A piece of pure delight to the beholder.''
🤣 🤣 🤣
These are probably the most silly starry eyed candyfloss lines I have written in my life till now.😆
But anyway, it fits with this ffs Azad too ! nowonder, Mahira has become total lost case...and also he is like careless beauty type. his hairs are always airtossed, his clothes plain, his neck unadorned, only the ceremonial ancestral sword hanging from his waist gives away his real identity...u know,this humble living also hikes his sex quotient, and then he is a self-taught scholar, a sayar ...brainy is always sexy !!😉

Someone plz tweet him the quote and tell this is what fans think of his blessed physique. The guy will either be flattered enough to grin like a cheshire cat or will be awkward as hell and blush from head to toe 😉

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Ishq-Dua

@Ishq-Dua

Rocker

+ 3

Posted: 9 years ago

#444

Originally posted by: milinda.shreyz

@ bold : '' Acres of golden skin and hard muscles, chiseled with care, bronzed by the sun ! A piece of pure delight to the beholder.''
🤣 🤣 🤣
These are probably the most silly starry eyed candyfloss lines I have written in my life till now.😆
But anyway, it fits with this ffs Azad too ! nowonder, Mahira has become total lost case...and also he is like careless beauty type. his hairs are always airtossed, his clothes plain, his neck unadorned, only the ceremonial ancestral sword hanging from his waist gives away his real identity...u know,this humble living also hikes his sex quotient, and then he is a self-taught scholar, a sayar ...brainy is always sexy !!😉

Someone plz tweet him the quote and tell this is what fans think of his blessed physique. The guy will either be flattered enough to grin like a cheshire cat or will be awkward as hell and blush from head to toe 😉

hayeee margayi mein🤢🤢 reading those lines and imagining that body.

omg yes someone should so tweet this to him. Who ver has him added on twitter or whatever please tweet those lines to him. I so want to see his reaction. I think it would be the latter, and I will die seeing him blush🤢

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Sanskruthi

@Sanskruthi

Sparkler

+ 7

Posted: 9 years ago

#445

#tag

give me some time will read it😊

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milinda.shreyz

@milinda.shreyz

Rocker

Posted: 9 years ago

#446

Sure ! Take ur time, Sanskruti!

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floral

@floral

Trailblazer

+ 3

Posted: 9 years ago

#447

hey dear when will u update this ff iam eager to read ur next part plzzz do continue soon😊

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milinda.shreyz

@milinda.shreyz

Rocker

Posted: 9 years ago

#448

Originally posted by: kusharberry
hey dear when will u update this ff iam eager to read ur next part plzzz do continue soon😊

working on it now, hope to update tomorrow.

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milinda.shreyz

@milinda.shreyz

Rocker

Posted: 9 years ago

#449

The new characters and changes so far are [as per request] :-

1. Azad full name -- Raheem Azad Mirza.
He is a Jaigirdar ( chieftain ) of Janjgarh Pargana.

2. Latif and Mir. Baksh -- 2 of Azad's very few well wishers and . Kind, friendly and humorous.

3. Pir Nawaz -- saintly Maulavi of the local Mosque. A learned man who teaches Islamic theology in his Muktab ( institute ). Mir. Baksh is his student.

4. Nafar and Jamilah -- Local innkeeper and his wife. They are kind and helpful. Mahira gets food and shelter on her 1st night at Janjgarh gaon.

5. Saira Banu Begum -- Mahira's Step sister. She is actually her stepmother's daughter from her 1st marriage. Now a rich miller's wife. Lives somewhere down in the pargana. Not important.

6.Abdoor Hasan Ali --Mahira's father. A sufi scholar. Mahira was her father's pride.He taught her mathematics, stargazing, astrology, theology, alchemy, usage of herbs. His books, notes,herb dusts and writing equipment are the only things Mahira carries in a trunk.

7. Jabheda Khala -- Mahira's abbu's muh boli behen. Greedy, vicious and cunning. After his death took charge of his household and tortured Mahira beyond endurance into submission and getting engaged to marry her worthless son. That way she can usurp his property legally.
She is particularly cruel to Mahira as she reminded her of her mother. Jabheda wanted to marry Mahira's Abbu, who chose a better woman of more refined manners.

8. Zaroon -- Jabheda khala's son, Mahira's fiance. equally cruel and gets sadistic pleasure inflicting physical violence upon Mahira. Jealous of Mahira's talent and knowledge, wants to lord over her.

9. Kaynat -- is Mahira's elder sister here. More will be revealed about her soon.

10. Adaq Khan-- Azad's most loyal attendant. A father figure in his life.

11. Amaad -- Full name here is Rafiq Amaad Mirza . He is Azad's cousin brother hence doesnot share the curse. He has a huge hunting dog, Shiraz !

13. Badi Begum -- Azad's mother. Dislike Mahira from 1st glance. why ? U have to continue reading to know that.

14. Gazala -- Badi Begum's khas jenana. Her right hand.

15. Azad's forefathers : Azad -> son of Naseer.
Naseer -> son of Rasheed
Rasheed -> son of Gaffur .

Edited by milinda.shreyz - 9 years ago

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milinda.shreyz

@milinda.shreyz

Rocker

Posted: 9 years ago

#450

Chapter 8
Fall from Grace

The sound of scimitar's blade swishing against sharpening stone filled a semi-dark antechamber of south tower. From tip to hilt,the curved sabre was destructively appealing.

''Samseer '' (sword) of Mirza's noble household, the family inheritance of the Chieftain of Janjgarh.

Created particularly to disregard bones' strong protection and infiltrate the densest part of human body. Crafted to carve out the essence of life from layers of shields and armors. Watching the vibgior sparks shoot out from the deathly smooth edges of the blade as it came in contact of the whetstone rhythmically, usually cooled down Azad and douse wild fireworks in his blood. The repetitive motion calmed his anger and focused his thought.

Wielding this sword, was something Azad did with confidence and honor. It had never failed him, and in his mind he knew this lifeless stretch of steel had more surety and determination about its fate than he would ever muster. Whenever he felt the raw urges to throttle the life out of someone, he resorted to sharpening his blade. And today he was feeling particularly murderous.

Amaad ! Always happy when there was wine to drown into or woman to seduce.

Now he had dared to set his eyes on Mahira. He had spotted him today up from a turret making fool of himself in front of her. He had to watch with helpless unrest her stunned expression and mortified face from this unwanted attention before she crept back slowly into the safety of library hall,head bowed as if deep in thought. He could not hear what Amad was sweet talking to her but he gave her flower and she seemed distinctly affected. Surely she was too sensible to waste her time pondering upon that fool's words.

But then she lacked worldly knowledge and he a seasoned libertine.

What if she got swayed ?

A thick knot of iron tightened around Azad's chest and everything around changed into sickening green color of bile.

It that how jealousy felt ?

Allah Meherbaan !

Only He knew how he calmed himself down into the level of sanity and drowned the insane urge to pound the wretched body of his kinsman into a bloody pulp then and there. He had clasped his arms together in a death grip and forced his body to inhale extreme long breaths to knock off all the foolish thoughts his heart was suggesting at that moment of rage.

Running after her or act something unwise would embarrass her further. And would give the lone incident an unwanted exposure to Amaad's benefit.

If only he did not know how these run ins usually ended with. His stomach turned reminiscing a particular incident.

Three years ago Amaad's dalliance with a young kitchen wench ended up getting the girl pregnant and his blatant denial of having any hand in it.

When sent back home, the poor lass was too scared to name the father of her unborn child and after a few months of hardship, she died giving birth to a stillborn. The villagers in their misplaced anger and inherent fear of the mysterious life at Janjgarh blindly determined that it was either him or his friends behind this unfortunate happening.

Since then they had turned against his devoted followers, shunning them from village affairs, especially Lautif and Mir Baksh. They were young and so fell under their radder of suspicion.Not a single soul with exception of Adaq khan,could enter the village without spits,stones,cusswords flying towards him .

But his courtiers were too devoted to Emir's family to disclose the truth. All this undesired harassment because Amad could not keep his hands to himself.

Now he was on his old game again.

The mere thought of Amad's touching Mahira with his dirty hands was instigating enough to grab the sword and end the trouble forever.

Mahira, the one with many talents ! Thats what her name meant. Oh! How worthy she was of that beautiful name.His destructive thoughts gradually changed their course to a more pleasant subject.

Mahira, the daughter of a scholar.

Thats how she had introduced herself all high and mighty when she mistook him as a palace guard. No surprise to that. In comparison to Amaad's extravagance, he looked particularly shabby and inconspicuous. He liked it that way. To stay hidden from everyone's eyes, help him cope up with the burden he had inherited as a legacy.

But somehow with that he had won her attention,without even trying.

The back of his neck tingled at her mere thought.His face discarded its former fierce expression and remoulded into a dreamy boyish look .

So pure and graceful was she, so much life in her eyes, so gifted,so determined and sweetly confident of her knowledge. So full of self-respect that a mere hint of her being thief set her to breathe fire upon the accuser.

Ah ! How he loved to see sizzle in anger. She was more beautiful when she was angry,he had noted on the very first day. Red was really her color and that angry pout on her tiny mouth was absolutely her thing. She had no idea how her little involuntary gestures could turn him on.

His blood stirred in his veins even at the thought of that. He could give away anything in exchange of one chance to kiss off that anger from her mouth.

Anything that could lift his curse and give him a chance of happiness in life. A life where he could spend admiring her shapely curves and lose himself into her shiny, rippling cascade of dark hairs was all he wished that moment.

Lord ! It pained so much to see her contemplating him with those inviting eyes and remind himself again and again his proximity could destroy her. He was made of that poison that would wilt a rose with a mere touch. And he would rather kill himself than bring any harm upon her.

His eyes flitted back to the sword. It bore the identity of his noble lineage and his position in the family as the 1st born and most efficient male, worthy of Jaigirdaari of Jangarh.

It had sealed his place too in the cursed line of descendants who bore the punishment of sins of an over ambitious forefather. A heirloom of death, worthy of his cursed existence. Dreaming about her would only heighten the torment.

He wondered what made her write those lines to him on that day. What thoughts harboured in her large questioning eyes when they met with him, why she always seemed curious about him.

She was a divine creature, and he had vowed to protect her from the moment he saw those marks of abuse on her satin-rose skin. And he would do that from safe distance.

Memory of another beautiful moment flooded him with warm and pleasant sensation. Mahira was looking out from the tiny window of the library. The alluring tendrils of dark hair had wriggled loose from her braid and fluttered at her temples.

He had felt her glances upon him for a long time. From the corner of his eyes he had seen her doe eyes observing her intently. Strange expressions of compassion and fascination played in them beckoning him to exchange his own smoking glances.

But he had forced himself to sit still as if unaffected. A mere turn of head would have startled her and the moment would have lost. Instead he had closed his eyes to savor that rare pleasure of being admired by a beautiful woman.

He had sat there for long, struggling to give a deserving form of the thought,his head was heavy with. Nothing came out successfully. With her glances washing an euphoric sensation over him , he had felt his quill rush to form verses :

Tere Mere Bas Mein Kya Hai, ho Raha Hai Jo Likha Hai
Is Lamhe Ki Khwaahishon Mein, Zindagani Ki Raza Hai
Yun Hi Re, Yun Hi Re, Mile Rahein Hum
Tujhi Mein, Tujhi Mein, Range Rahein Hum

[ What's there in Yours and my control ; whatever's happening is destiny
In the yearnings of these fleeting moments, there are dreams of life
May we keep on meeting in this way
May I always remain drenched in you colors forever ! ]

His muscles suddenly tensed up with an abrupt mental image of Amad fondling her hand. He had to make sure this didnt happen again.
***********

When Adaq Khan came for the Jaigirdar's consenting seal in some revenue papers he felt the room and its owner eerily still. Azad sat crosslegged on the ground and was eyeing his ancestral sword now lay upon the whetstone. Not a muscle jumped in his body. His eyes didnt blink. One would say he was not even breathing. The air smelt of sulpher, glazed iron and fire. He was sharpening the sword which explained this threatening calmness of the sea before storm.

Something had terribly upset him.

If Azad had sensed his arrival he didnt acknowledge that.

So after a few moments of hesitation, Adaq Khan entered the room in his usual manner, greeted and started a breathless fast narration of the current situation of his owned land. There had been recent fall of revenues, near draught situation on the west of jaigirdari land, rumors of attacks of locasts on barley fields, blockage in the river canal,a recent shipwreck,unexpected production of mangoes, cattles getting sick after eating poison ivys...the list went on and on until Azad couldnt take anymore and screamed to shut this nonsense up.

Immediately Adaq stopped and walked round to stand face to face with him, his eyes filled with warmth and mirth. Azad sighed in resignation and nodded accepting his defeat to the older man.Whenever Adaq found him upset and withdrawn, this was his favourite way to break his silence - irritate him so much with nonstop blabbering that he would be forced to talk. They had played this game since childhood.

''Main bilkul thik hoon.I am fine. It was just another mood swing, You know how it is. It has no specific reasons, really !'' , Azad tried to assure the man but failed immediately.

''Yes, sure! Go ahead and try to fool me Huzoor ! ''Adaq crossed his arms and placed his unnerving eyes steady upon him.

''I am here from your father's time, I have brought you up with my own hands. You can hide from everyone's eyes but not mine.''

''Now tell me what are you mad at ?''

Adaq gently touched the shoulder blade of his protege, who had become his Chieftain now. But even now all he could still see in him was the young boy with cherubic cheeks and heartmelting eyes hugging his knees with all his strength, begging him not to leave too with others. He would have not left even if he was ordered to go. The boy was the son he never had. And he had grown up to be a wonderful man, if only he believed that himself, if only someone showed him a real mirror.

Perhaps that day was not so far now.

''Yes, I am very very mad presently. Mad at everyone, mad with my cursed life.''Azad paced to and fro in his spartan chamber.

You know what ? Do me a favor Khan Sahabjaan! Thrust this sword into my heart and free me from this cursed existence . Can you do me this favor ?

''I would have considered if I did not know already the fact u seem to have forgotten. That sword cant kill you, boy !'' Adaq replied caustically.

Azad thrust his large palms into his thick already ruffled mane and pulled them so hard that they all stood up and heaved a groan of misery.

Adaq waited patiently. ''Now now, spill out, boy, what is the matter ?

''Amaad ! I shall kill him one day. That moron is testing my patience.Dont blame me if he loses his life for his foolishness!''. Azad belched fire .

Adaq Khan merely shrugged,
''Ab chote huzoor hai i aisa, kya kare ! what nuisance has he created now ?''

''kya kare ka kya matlab ?'' Azad couldnot believe Adaq could be so indifferent on such a serious issue.

''How dare he give flowers to her ? I swear I would have broken that offending arm and fed it to Shiraz if he was not my cousin!''

Her ? Flowers?

Adaq Khan almost woke up with a jerk. Oh merciful Allah ! Of course it had to do with Mahira. What was he thinking ?

Nothing else registered in Huzoor's brain now a days !

Adaq khan had to try hard to make a straight face. Mercifully Azad was too agitated to see him fighting back a glimpse of smile that almost surfaced.

''Keep an eye on him, will u khan sahab ? Azad's voice was thick with bottled up feelings. ''He has his eyes on her now. And as far as we know him, he will not rest until his conquest is made.''

''Her ?? who is she ? another village wench ?'' Adaq Khan's face was a picture of innocence.

Azad narrowed his eyes accusingly.

Lord ! Really ?
Only Khansahab had the guts to tease him in middle of his temper-tantrums.

''You know who !''he snapped up in a regal impatience.

''Haww ! May Allah help me ! how am I supposed to know ? you didnot mention any name. She can be anyone from Surmaiya,the cow-girl to Gazalla,Badi Begum's maid. I am not Pir baba that I can read your mind !'' Adaq Khan made a face as if he was going to burst into tears soon.

Khan Sahabjaan could be so dramatic, if he wished, and determined too. Now he had made up his mind to force him say her name.

Well, well! 2 of us can play this game !

Azad frowned and said, ''The scholar girl, I am talking about the library help.''

''Ooh Mahira ! You are talking about Mahira !'' Adaq old wrinkled face virtually lit up with a child's enthusiasm.

''Lord had blessed her parents. Isnt she a wonder, Huzoor ! Kindness,grace,intelligence all qualities within a beautiful body like a fine bouquet of rose.No wonder men lose their head at a mere glance of her''.

Azad's face resembled the look of a boy caught redhanded with a jar of pickle, Adaq noted with small triumph.

''I really dont blame Chote saab. After all he is only a human being.''

''I dont care what she is, rose or whatever. I have never noticed.'' Azad pronounced through clenched jaws.'' I am merely concerned about her safety.''

''Oh ofcourse you didnt.''Adaq agreed at once. A second later he let out a sly grin.'' I wonder why your ears just turned red.''

Azad had just enough. As if Amaad had not shaken up enough, now Adaq Khan, instead of hearing out his concern, had decided to tease him to death.

He bombarded like a loose cannon.

''You have really become a senile old man. You talk of irrelevant stuffs. Now you are seeing things too. If you pester me one more time with your nonsense I swear I will hang you upside down from this chandelier until all your blood pours into your head and drowns your brain.''

Adaq Khan instantly sobered up. Maybe it was not a good time after all.

''She is under my roof and officially under my protection. I will not let Amad seduce her and then ruin her life.She will not have that kitchen wench's fate. I will kill Amad before that.''

''Oh boy! Boy! you dnt have to spill your brother's blood for that.'' Adaq said, logical as ever. ''She is very intelligent and educated. She cannot be charmed easily like that foolish maid. Besides she has a lashing tongue.If Huzoor kindly remembers his own experience,he will agree. She can fend off unwanted advances herself.''

'No, no she cant. Why dont you understand !'' Azad cried out in despair.

''She is too innocent for that. She has no experience of cunning, flattering men and their concealed lustful motives. She would know nothing until last moment. And then it would be too late. That wench died of child birth, she would kill herself when she would realize she has been fooled and shamed.''

There was a strange light inAzad's eyes. ''Why dont you understand Khan Sahab, I cant...I wont see her to that fate.She needs our protection. Wont you help me ?''

His boy had already taken the decisive step on love's eternal path of thornes and lilies without even realising it. But maybe it was good that it remained hidden now from his own sight. He would bolt away in fear if he was told.

So Adaq said intead, ''I say, she has no interest in chote sahab. Her attention is engaged elsewhere.''

''what do you mean elsewhere ? where ? '' Azad furrowed his well formed eyebrows.

Adaq mentally whooped.

''In scrolls and parchments huzoor ! what did you think !''

Adaq Khan decided only teasing can make the boy a little relaxed and distracted.He was seeing red in almost everything.

''Yes, yes ofcourse.'' Azad bronzed face colored a few shades deeper.

''But Huzoor ! Why do you look disappointed ? Did you expect another response,some other name ? Perhaps yours ?''

Azad thought to bang his head against the nearest wall.

Adaq Khan was deliberately goading him. If he didnot throw him out of his room now, the old man would lose his life any time, his beard would definitely feel the brunt of his sword.

''Khan sahab ! leave the room this moment if u have any love for your life. This is an order !''

''Huzoor Sirkaar, May merciful Lord shower some sense in you. I leave you at your peace. not because I fear any harm from you.You are too noble to spill blood of your old, fatherly attendant and mentor. I am merely giving you space to regain your wits. They seem to have gone missing from the day that chokri had arrived.''

With a rumbling laughter that echoed the entire passageway, Adaq Khan left. He didnot see Azad shaking his head while corner of his lips lifted to form a rare shy smile.

Ooh that was epic ! Mahira had managed to turn Huzoor's world upside down without actually doing anything. Well, she did something. She accepted Amad's flower. But then, poor girl, how was she supposed to refuse such a harmless thing ! Huzoor sirkar bhi naa, making a mountain out of molehill.
******

That night lying awake, for a long time Mahira thought about the riddle in that anonymous scroll and the mysterious curse that devoured generations of Mirzas. Had it something to do with those spiritual beings of the forest or that uncanny fire that changed Badi Begum ? And what connection it had with Nasser's suicide? And who exactly did she see in that mirror ?

She had a sense of foreboding that it was destiny that had thrown her in this path. So that she could help lift the curse and free the boy who had lost his parents at such a tender age, abandoned before he could properly read and write, received only intense hatred,loathing and fear from his subjects for no real fault of his. Nobody saw the gentle,cultured, almost shy youth. If only he could come out of his hidings, if only she knew what stopped him doing so.

With her heart full of unanswered puzzles and unresolved feelings, she fell asleep. Perhaps those feelings swirled even more in the deep recesses of her subconscious mind and formed a most incoherent dream.

How the dream began she couldnt remember.

She was in Mirzabaag under that blossoming Gulmohar. Azad was writing something. His eyebrows were knotted in deep concentration. She had knelt down beside him,prying for a look.

He looked up and suddenly their faces were close. Too close to see the dark golden flakes scattered near his pupil, feel his riveting gaze. Touch his unruly curls, smell his rich male aroma, hear his steady heart beats calling her to match with that rhythm. Taste those parted full lips if they were really that soft and ambrosial as they looked.

He was looking at her with the same hooded expression that seemed capable of reading her innermost thoughts. Without thinking she inched closer and tilted her head. He leaned forward.
His voice whispered in her ear,''You are not needed, thief !''

She clutched his sleeve as he turned away to leave. He loosened her prying fingers very gently without looking at her and pushed them away.Then suddenly she was all alone. Dark clouds gathered in thick layers and surrounded her.

Invisible voices sang in chorus ''Mahira is not needed. Go away, go away go away !''

Mahira woke up with a scream, her fingers tangled with the sheet and her pillow wet with tears.

What was it that madly attracted her to him insinuating such a frustrating dream? And why she couldnot drive away such shameful thoughts from her mind ? They seemed to have grown roots like a poisonous orchid, drawing life from her own mind. Now it was trying to ensnare her prudent sensibility with blossoms of sinful desires.

Was there no escape from this ache ? Nothing but heartbreak would come out of it. Even her dreams knew it, he had walked away leaving her behind, he was not even interested. Then why was this illogically persistent longing?

She pulled out the red leather bound notebook beneath her pillow and brought it up to her nose. Smell of fine parchment and leather calmed her mind and something stirred within her soul. Taking out her inkpot from the trunk she dipped her peacock feather quill and in a neat quick pace she wrote lest the lines escape from her sleep deprived head:

saajan teri baatein bade ke main raat bhar soyee nahi
chanda ne bhi dekha nahi, aur taaro ko ye maloom nahi ke
maine, tujhe dil diya ,tera dil liya...
mera, tu hi hain bahaana - kyun maanta nahi !

[Beloved ! your thoughts were so overwhelming that I could not sleep all night
Neither the moon saw it, not the stars could guess
That I gave my heart away to you, and stole yours in return
Now only you have become the only excuse of my living,
Oh ! why dont you accept that !]

She read the lines again and again and let out a weary smile. Atleast this insane yearning had make her a sayar , something she never imagined she had talent for. Something is better than nothing. That was what the old saying preached.

Leaving her bed, she walked towards her bare window to watch the glorious beginning of a new day.

In the south corner of the tower, another man stirred in his tossed up bed.He dipped his elbow on thick mattress and shifted the weight of his head upon his palms as his insomniac eyes greeted the first lights of dawn. Another sleepless night. Another hopeless fight against his burgeoning desires. Another day of futile existence.
''Naukar ! He bellowed.'' Get my horse readied on the stable. Now ! ''
**********

A long tiring day in the library and Mahira grew exhausted reading and transcribing long winded phrases of some old chieftain named Gaffur, son of Hassan.The grand archaic style and the condition of the scroll clearly reflected the age of this document,it had to be 150 yrs old.

The man was one arrogant and pompous prig, alright. He claimed to be in close relation with caliphate of Baghdad. He was planning to raise a powerful army to overthrow the weakened and wayward regime of Delhi and be the sultan of India himself.

He needed a source of power for that which he had already stumbled upon but was hesitant to implement.The source although immensely powerful was frightening even to a man of his stature and pride. So he had prayed for guidance in the scroll she was reading.

what kind of accomplice, this man found out ? A powerful ally perhaps ? A secret understanding with Mongol invaders?

Or something different ? supernatural ?

Was he that forefather of Mirzas who was the harbinger of curse ? The man sounded a bit overambitious but not insensible. Harboring dreams of becoming an independent Badshah was nothing unnatural or despicable.

Most importantly she had to ask Adaq or the chieftain himself to provide her a proper family tree so that he can put this names in a chronological order and find out links between incidents in these recordings.

Around midday Gazalla bought her food and a pot of spiced milk , placed them on the table nearest to the door and left without exchanging a word. Adaq Khan also visited her once, asking if she would need anything from the village below, he was going there for fresh supplies.

She asked for a roll of thread and needle, eyeing piteously at her worn-out dress. They were getting impossible to wear with each passing day.

She picked up Naseer's herbology book, which she often read to escape the dreariness of her work. The lovely illustrations of flowers and herbs and detailed instructions of making remedial potions immediately rejuvenated her spirits and gave her the familiar feeling of reading her Abbu's notes.

She was admiring a particular image of a rare 9 petaled golden Chameli flower when something caught her eye and she turned the little book sideways.

Naseer had written his book in Farsi, the vernacular of the aristocratic, but in the margin in a script so small and decorative that they were almost invisible, were words in ancient turkic :

''Even the most potent remedy-maker cannot bring her back.''

A shiver ran down her spine. What secret was this ? why was that written in odd, almost cryptic fashion ? what loss had ben mourned here by the author ?

She skimmed the whole book and found two more.

'To see her face and cannot see love in them burns me'

and

'I long for an ending from this tears !'

Merciful Lord, this must be the book of Azad's father and the ending he was talking about must be his thoughts of committing suicide.

The lines were ravings of a grief striken man who craved the ends of his sufferings desperately. But what did he lose ? who was ''she''?

She couldnot be his chief Begum, because she had recovered and was still living. Was there someone else? A beloved mistress, maashuka who died in that fire ? But to see the eyes that once was full of love for him and now they had gone...what kind of puzzle was that ?

She ran through the pages again but couldnot find anything more. perhaps others were more cleverly hidden and she was too shaken to decipher them now.

The languishment of lost love were so powerful that Mahira felt if she spent one more moment in this century old library, it would suffocate her with its plethora of tragedy and heartbreak.

She had to do something refreshing stop thinking about this desolation. There would be enough time later to ponder over them,when her mind is less excited more objective.

She decided to take a walk along that old cobblestone path that went to the back of castle where the overgrown garden met the wilderness of bamboo groove.

she went far enough humming an old maudlin song absently when she noticed a thick growth of Madhvilata creeper that grown over that part of castle wall. The bough was laden with pink and white blossoms and their sweet fragrance teased her senses. The southwest tower window was above her.

As she stood admiring the gigantic growth of the creeper, a wild idea struck her. As a child she loved climbing trees. A lovely view of river and surrounding paddy fields always rewarded her. If she were to climb this vine, she could have a view of the bamboo grove, perhaps even peep through the window.

The chambers of this part of the castle were exclusively for the Emir's family and this particular window was visible from her chamber too.

She had noticed lights streaming out of the window even at dead hours of night. Whose room was that ?

Badi begum's ?

what she did in such wee hours!

Did it belong to the Chieftain? Did he lay awake thinking about princesses in their bowers and write pleasant verses imagining them ?

Did he have someone there to satiate his needs ?

The Madhvi vine looked perfect for climbing with crooks and branches in right places. She studied it imagining where she would have placed her feet if she were to scale it. Almost before she realised what she was doing, she grasped a thick limb of the creeper and hoisted herself up.

As a child, her skirts were short, now her full length ghagra flapped around her legs making serious problem. Once or twice she stepped upon the hem and had to kick it aside to find the next stepping.

She looked around and then hitched skirt higher tucking the voluminous end in the knot of dupatta around her waist. She shifted on a even higher branch balancing with her now free hands and easy moving feet.

Approaching horse hooves accompanied with loud bark of a dog sounded from somewhere close.

Her heart jumped. Allah, she was naked below her thighs !

As she turned her head to see if someone was within her vicinity, her foot slipped and her fingers lost their grip. She flailed in air frantically hoping for loose branches or flowery sprigs. Before even she could even scream properly, she landed on thick layers of grass with a thud.

But danger was not yet over. Before her senses recovered from the shock her eyes noted in panic that Shiraz had jumped into the air and she was nearly under two pairs thundering horse hooves as large as her medicine making saucers. Purely driven by survival instincts she rolled a few precious yards away and lay on her back in fear and anticipation.

The rider had already witnessed the peril and pulled the horse's rein with all his strength to an urgent halt. With a loud neigh of disagreement the horse reared up with its large hooves flailing in the air.

Inevitably the enormous rider shot up in the air like a charged up cannon ball and within counts of three beats came down with the force of an uprooted trunk of a huge tree upon her.

Air escaped her lungs from the sheer force of his landing. Darkness spread in her eyes with tiny sparks of light as she got crushed under the staggering weight of a warm body that ungracefully sprawled upon her.

Before her senses strengthened her nose smelled a heady concoction of leather, horse, forest wilderness and an intoxicating male aroma.

Something she had smelled before in someone's accidental proximity and the memory of it had been seared in her brain.

She shot open her eyes. A pair of amber eyes within thick kohl black eyelashes wide from shock and excitement stared back at her from a gap of mere inches. Spicy breath fanned her cold cheek erratically.

No no no no no !!! Mahira ! wake up, wake up this is not true ! She told herself again and again.

She couldnot lie like a hussy with her clothes all hitched up beneath the granite solid mass of a body of the Chieftain.

It had to be a Bhang induced fantasy or a horrible nightmare...This just could not be a reality !

[ To be continued...]

Writer's note :

Yeh ! Before you ask, those amazing poems are not my product of creativity !
They are lines from my two favourite songs.
Enjoy them yourselves.

[YOUTUBE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7y6qpgx1mY[/YOUTUBE]

And

[YOUTUBE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTe6YMjg0g4[/YOUTUBE]

I am writing a historical fiction for the first time although I have always dreamed to write one...plz bear with me even if it falls short of your expectation. I would be delighted if u add constructive criticism and appreciation in your comments. plz do not forget to press the like button.They mean happiness and inspiration.

Amy ! took your suggestion and added english translation. 😃Had to do them myself mostly. Internet versions are so trashy !🤢

Thank u Sweethearts your lovely long reviews ! 👏
I just love when they are long and detailed and full of questions. I am ready to serve extra doughnuts. Just ask me😆
You guys are helping me push my limits higher and imagination further 😃

Edited by milinda.shreyz - 9 years ago

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AZMA FF-Ishq da Ruthba Chap 9New note pg76 - Page 45

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