CH#1 :The Mughal Eclipse| constraints of Red Fort - fusionstories

THE MUGHAL ECLIPSE: An online Novel

'The Mughal Eclipse'

is A Treat For History Lovers, with above 5000 readers from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and globally. With hundreds of shares since it was published a year back Check out Google reads and shares here before leaping into this time travel treat.

(It’s a story from the events, struggle, and hopes of freedom fighters Umer, Ranbir, Aneel, Niaz Din from 1857 that dragged feeble Mughals of Red Fort, Delhi into the cause and Mughal Sultanate collapsed forever. King Bahadur Shah Zafar was clued about the ending of the upcoming war but his princes wanted to try their luck. Indian people were frustrated by big-headed British masters but Angeline, an arrogant daughter of a British General couldn’t hold her love for a mutineer soldier Umer Khan. How Mirza Ghalib schooled Syed Ahmed Khan & young Mughal Princess Hamida about their capabilities that could work for the nation?  Why the folks mourned when Hudson slew Prince Mirza Mughal, Prince Khizar Sultan, and Prince Abu Bakar amid public and much more to get lost in the novel “The Mughal Eclipse”…)

CH# 1

Princes of Red Fort

April 1857
Red Fort, Delhi

The scorching yellow rays were looking the way to enter the closed doors of Rang Mahal in the Red fort for long when Queen hit at one of the tattered wooden doors furiously.

'How much more time you need to meet your leisures?
I said, wake up and come out, before that your fate sleeps too,’ Queen

Sharif Ul Mahal Sayidani continued to knock on the chain of shivering giant wooden doors and yelled.

‘I said come out otherwise I'm going to break this door.’ Now she started to budge the chain violently.

It seemed that her threatening worked and the door opened with a creak. A young consort showed up from Crown Prince Mirza Mughal's room while setting up her long frilled gharara. She bowed to Queen and her dupatta slipped from her long, frizzy black hair. The consort left the room in a hurry.

 The wandering sun rays entered the room before the Queen.

‘Which tsunami is going to hit the Red fort that you’re such ill-affected in the morning, Ami huzoor?’ 40 years old, muscular, tan-colored Crown Prince Mirza Mughal was out of bed now.

‘The company soldiers…local British sepoys and the unrest all around are the tsunami…have you listened or not?  The news of agitation is flying from Meerut Garrison. General Nicholson is here with her daughter. He is in Diwaan e Khaas, to meet your father, the King Bahadur Shah Zafar to tackle the situation and this is not morning..., ' she paused and opened the small window. A shiny sunray found its way to look inside the room. 

'...Company officers are back from their offices and the Mughal crown prince is still snoring...,'

‘That's why I don't like these whites. Neither do  they take rest nor let others stay calm. I thought there is something really important that you bothered me, Walida. There is nothing to worry about agitation in Meerut, ’ Prince Mirza Mughal cut his mother up and looked for his shirt. He signaled for peacock wings fans looking outside the door.

'Then, what is really important to you, my son? To have amused nights, parties, bear, all night mushairas (poetic sessions), residing at Rang Mahal most of the time and snoring when the sun is out for work.'  she paused after looking at two servants entering the room holding peacock fans.

'Stay away, ' she stopped them.

 ‘Local sepoys of East India Company are outraged now. They’re furious to dig British up from Hindustan. We can take advantage of their sentiments. This is the last hope to amass this dying Mughal Empire. I want you to be in court at every moment. After all, you’re the Crown Prince,’ her tone went very depressing.

'Ba adab, Hoshiar....King Bahadur Shah Zafar is arriving,' just then a fort servant alarmed king's arrival following Mughal norms. Queen looked out and got anxious.

King Bahadur Shah Zafar was on his way to Diwaan e Khaas. A dignified 81 years old, feeble looking King Bahadur Shah Zafar, with a small white beard, wearing a silk gown, having an upright decent jeweled crown on his head as a sign of his vanished strength entered Diwaan e Khaas and sat on an unadorned throne.

 
A 16  years old brown-haired and green-eyed British teenager Angeline was sitting bored, next to her father General Nichloson looked down on him. 

'At last, the old man is here. Make it hurry, dad, ' she looked at the king and whispered to her father annoyed.

'Ami huzoor…I already have talked to General Nicholson and this matter is not that flaring as everyone is portraying it.' Mirza Mughal buttoned his white cotton shirt.

'Rebellion soldiers can’t dare to come in front of British might. You're not looking fine. It is better that you take some rest,’ Mirza Mughal held her mother from her shoulders and advised. 

‘Mughal life has been gone black like their murky nights. They have forgotten your status and, their responsibilities as the descendants of a great Mughal empire,’ Queen was shattering with stress.   
  

   ‘Then you tell me, what I should do? Why don’t you understand, we’re bound in front of powerful

East India Company. The legacy of Mughals is just cored at Red Fort now. Shadows of great might of Shahjahan and Aurangzeb are mocking at us from these tattering giant walls and stepping down pavilions.  We have lost our territories from east to west. We can’t keep any forces. We can’t collect taxes and above all, we live our earnings with the British stipends which they give us in the name of pension. We don’t have enough to feed our servants. Every corner of this barren giant castle is depicting our meager and paucity and you’re suggesting nourishing a rebellion sepoys.’ 

'Everyone is sensing the unrest in British garrisons. Any possible rebellion can aid us to revive back great Mughal legacy after defeating the British,’ Queen sighed with hope.

 ‘Ah, my innocent mother, we’ve left nothing for us then how we will supply these soldiers. I’m neither foolish nor a daydreamer even though I sleep at day,’ Mirza Mughal laughed and waved his hand to show his consent for fanning. 

Two puny servants came inside and started fanning. The temperature of the low roofed room fell. 

'Of course, Everyone Else is a fool except you. We hardly get rid of your four elder stepbrothers including Crown Prince Mirza Farukh. Then you own this title. The king’s so-called favorite queen, that clever, Zeenat Mahal is mapping to win the throne for his son Prince Jawan Bakhat. She is being very active to maintain her contacts with British officers and intellectuals of the time like Syed Ahmed khan. I’m telling you, you’ll repent on your disinterest,’ she almost screamed in his ears.

Queen was about to leave the room hopeless when another servant approached there.

   

‘Malika and respected prince, Prince Khizar Sultan, and Prince Jawan Bakhat have reached in the Diwaan e Khaas (court) to join the meeting,’ one of the palace servants came inside and informed them.

'What! what are they doing in there?' Prince Mirza Mughal wore his silk gown, set his royal cap, and set out for court at once.

Meerut Garrison, Meerut

Meerut garrison was located in Meerut Cantt about 110 km east of the red fort. It comprised three native Indian Regiments and three British regiments where native infantry soldiers were called sepoys.

That was another intense day in the garrison.  

'Umer, come and help me? Umer just had closed his eyes when his senior sepoy Niaz Din called him from the edge of the hall. It was a long tiring drill day ana d flashback of tasting Enfield Rifle was overwhelming his nerves. A strong feeling of sin was hitting him and he wanted to forget this.

'Umer, are you sleep? The delicious dates of my village is here. Come and help,' Niaz Din didn't seem to spare him. The holy month of Ramzan was near and every Muslim sepoy was busy preparing for it.

'Ok...I'm coming,' Umer got up and followed Niaz Din.

 'Just a few days are left in Ramzan and Company has not decided yet about Enfield Rifles. I would have left this job if I didn't have a big dependent family behind. Now I've decided that I'll not use or bite a rifle made of haraam animal in Ramzan even it affects my job,' Niaz Din hit the topic again.

'This is what Hindu sepoys already have concerns. There are complaints about ridicule behavior of British officers but the Company gave a damn to our issues. I don't believe their claim of changing the cartridge material. Have you written to Red Fort or not?' Aneel Kumar joined them in the way asked Niaz Din.

'As far as, I know many sepoys are writing to King Zafar to come in front to get rid of foreign slavery,' Niaz Din answered consciously.

'Things are going worst day by day. Ashoke is also very worried. His family land has been annexed. His father has written to him for money to pay taxes,' Ranbir Singh told them when they were putting date baskets in the mess. 

'I should see Ashoke,' Umer looked for him. Ashoke Nath, Umer khan, and Ranbir Singh were young sepoys of the British Army. They joined the forces in the same year and became buddies for having the same interests in Kabadi and swimming. Niaz Din and Aneel were their senior comrades. Umer found Ashoke sat alone near a water channel at the corner. The sun was low and the moderate breeze was dropping the leaves in the following water. Umer sat with him. 

Red Fort, Delhi

 A lot of young kids were running and playing in the wide lawns of Red Fort. Young princes were chasing the flying pigeons. Some were flying kites. A large number of women, wearing heavy gold jewelry were resting under shady trees. Young princesses were busn gossiping or in stitching sitting at colorful charpoys (yarn bed) which were fixed under shady trees or in balconies. Fort servants were busy with daily tasks. Most of the fort servants were transgender wearing vibrant clothes and jewelry with shaved beards.

 Prince Mirza Mughal passed the lawn and entered Diwan e Khas in hurry. 


It was the Mughal King’s court without ministers, without courtiers, and without any giant peacock throne.

Prince Khizar Sultan and Prince Jawan Bakhat were also present there.

‘You shouldn’t put disillusioned history out of your mind Mr. Zafar when Lord Lake captured Delhi at the start of the 19^th century. British could spit you out forever then but just by pitying at your prestigious royal status and respecting the sentiments of locals, we not only allowed you to continue your designation as the king but kept on feeding you at our money. I’m sure a king in the only name will not try to involve in any activity against his beneficent to save his name. I’m sure that any possible rebellion will not be welcomed here,’ General Nicolson’s gaped in Bahadur Shah Zafar’s eyes.

‘Are you threatening us?’ A 23 years old, young, and handsome Prince Mirza Khizar couldn’t hold his anger.

‘Well in that case, yes..., Mr. furious prince,’ General gazed at him with wicked.

‘We haven’t plotted or invited any of the uprisings against you. British should do some soul searching. The resonance of the great Mughal period has heaved these freedom fighters, belonging to different native religions to fix their eyes on the Red Fort, Delhi as central power. We have a chance to salvage our inheritance if we decide so. Indians see the Mughal Empire as a sign of their sovereignty,’ Prince Khizar looked the t king for support but Zafar couldn’t see in his son’s eyes and turned face.

'How much more time we've to spare over here, dad? This fort is beyond my nerves, now. Look at these patches of paint that are constantly shattering down from this traumatized ceiling. Why don’t these royals go for any maintenance of their palace? Every corner is reprobate here,’ the brown-haired British girl looked around with nastily looks.

'Just a few more minutes, dear Angeline, and then we'll be on our way to market for shopping….,'

'If I had a pinch of an idea that you're going to mark here first then...,' Angeline paused after seeing the crown prince entering there.

‘Ah, at last, you decided to see the sun, Crown Prince Mirza Mughal. I was just waiting for you. You seem to be only a reasonable person in this fort as you know the consequences of standing against the British. You’ll also explain it to others,' General Nicholson greeted Mirza Mughal while fixing his eyes on at Mirza Khizar Sultan.

Teenager Prince Mirza Jawan Bakhat was not interested in any of the discussions at all or he was interested somewhere else at that time.

‘Can we leave now? You didn’t tell me to come here otherwise….,’ Angeline was up now.

'Why don’t you stay at our haram..I mean at ladies compartment for while? I can accompany you to visit the stunning water channels across the fort. You must have listened about Nehri e Bhisti over here. This fort was built in 1648 keeping in mind the Quranic concept of paradise at the reign of my great grandfather Emperor Shahjahan. You would love to spot the glimpses of Indo Muslim architecture throughout…,’ Prince Jawan Bakhat’s interest in meeting was evident now.

‘Thanks, I’m not interested. I can’t see the bulk of lazy women lying here and there wearing a lot of gold jewelry,’ she was as punk as her arrogant father. 

‘Mr. Zafar, I hope you clearly have gotten my message. Most important release all foreign prisoners at the fort as soon as possible. I’m amazed at how you dared to seize some of our mates at your prison. It’s already coming on our nerves now. You unthankful illiterate browns easily cross your limits that’s why we shouldn’t value you,’ General cracked the whip now and signal her daughter to leave.

‘Don’t worry General; we’ll release any foreign prisoners at Eid. Everything will turn to your wish only you refer to increase our

pension... It’s just for the maintenance of Fort,’ Mirza Mughal assured him leaving him near the horse cart. Prince Mirza Jawan Bakhat also followed him and waved Lady Angeline till the cart was out of sight.

‘Oh Jesus, I’m amazed how you deal with these dumb browns? I can’t bear them for seconds even.’ Angeline wiped her sweat and put down the cart’s curtain to avoid the sun rays. 

 

‘... I know to nail these locals. I know you’re not happy in India. Soon I’ll get transferred back and you can continue your medical studies then,’ General consoled her daughter. 

‘I hope so,’ Angeline's mood was really off. She could still feel the nauseating staring eyes of Prince Jawan Bakhat upon her...CLICK FOR CH#2

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