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)

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A post for Friday Fictioneers on a picture prompt

Word count 101

23 comments:

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

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  2. Free at last, hopefully. Well done.

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

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

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

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  4. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  5. Released, but a life ruined. a touching tale.

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

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  7. I sense the trauma. How sad.

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  8. Dear Arora,

    Intriguing bit of historical fiction. Well captured emotion.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

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

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

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    1. 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.

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  11. 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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  12. 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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  13. All the emotions which must be going through him. I wonder why he did go back?

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