Thursday, 3 February 2022

 

Shah Jahan*



He lifted his eyes to look at the magnificent building. He felt a deep pain within. He wanted to cry but somehow managed to swallow his tears and cursed himself, “Why did I come here?”

Then a horrifying thought flashed through his mind, “What if someone recognizes me? There must be people in there who had worked for me.”

“Good evening, sir.”

He shrank back. She knew him. But he couldn’t place her.
“I….I was your personal secretary,” she muttered, hesitantly.

“We miss you…. if only your son had not been……”

 He moved away. He didn’t want to hear the word.    

(*Shah Jahan was a Mughal emperor who had been imprisoned by his son in Agra fort)

*********

A post for Friday Fictioneers on a picture prompt

Word count 101

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23 comments:

  1. Neil MacDonald3 February 2022 at 15:01

    I wonder what that last word was

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  2. Brenda Cox4 February 2022 at 00:05

    So terribly sad…I imagine. It was too soon.

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  3. Bill4 February 2022 at 01:35

    Free at last, hopefully. Well done.

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    1. i b arora4 February 2022 at 10:41

      but the pain survives, the pain of being thrown out.
      thanks.

      Delete
  4. JadeLi4 February 2022 at 08:57

    The pain, disappointment, embarrassment, and so much more anguish is palpable here for him and for the former secretary.

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    1. i b arora4 February 2022 at 10:41

      there are many real life stories of fathers being thrown out by ambitious sons. thanks for reading it

      Delete
  5. i b arora4 February 2022 at 10:42

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  6. Keith's Ramblings4 February 2022 at 20:26

    Released, but a life ruined. a touching tale.

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  7. Anne Higa5 February 2022 at 04:55

    Wow, what an intriguing story. Thanks for the note on the title.
    Anne from annehiga.com

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  8. Tannille5 February 2022 at 09:31

    I sense the trauma. How sad.

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  9. Rochelle Wisoff-Fields5 February 2022 at 18:12

    Dear Arora,

    Intriguing bit of historical fiction. Well captured emotion.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

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  10. margirene6 February 2022 at 13:01

    Oh that's a tragic situation. A disloyal, ambitious son. I like the suspended last sentence.

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  11. Yellow Tiger6 February 2022 at 23:59

    How terrible to be imprisoned at all, let alone by his own child.

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    Replies
    1. i b arora7 February 2022 at 13:06

      yes that's true history and in recent times we have in india a billionaire now living in two room flat because the son has dispossessed father of everything.

      Delete
  12. Penny Gadd7 February 2022 at 00:30

    Good piece of historical fiction. And a great take on the prompt. Thank you, too, for writing from your own cultural background; it's good for all of us to meet different cultures, even if it's only virtually!

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  13. Anita Sabat7 February 2022 at 17:41

    Well narrated. Can imagine how the protagonist must be feeling
    That's sad. Son took over all the property...
    Such incidents are happening.

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  14. draliman8 February 2022 at 12:50

    All the emotions which must be going through him. I wonder why he did go back?

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