Mistress of the Throne (The Mughal intrigues)
Read Mistress of the Throne (The Mughal intrigues) Online
Authors: Gupta Ruchir
S
RISHTI
P
UBLISHERS
& D
ISTRIBUTORS
N-16, C. R. Park
New Delhi 110 019
First published by
Srishti Publishers & Distributors in 2014
Copyright © Ruchir Gupta, 2014
All characters in this book are fictitious, and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
The author asserts the moral right to be identifited as the author of this work.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the Publishers.
Typeset by Eshu Graphic
To the three most important
women in my life:
my mother, my wife,
and my daughter
.
CONTENTS
A Conversation with Ruchir Gupta
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
T
his book could not have been possible without the unwavering support of several individuals whose advice was integral to its production.
First, I'd like to acknowledge my editor, Mark Orrin, who offered me the sour truth about my earlier versions of the book. His advice wasn't always easy to digest, and yet he delivered it in the most tasteful way anyone ever could.
I'd also like to thank the members of my writer's group, the Long Island Writer's Guild. On numerous weekday evenings over coffee, I learned how to write and develop my thoughts by listening to the works of these fine men and women. In turn, they listened to passages of my book, and gave me helpful hints that allowed me to strengthen my work. Most importantly, they made me believe I wasn't as far from my dream of writing a novel as I once thought.
Finally, I would like to thank my family members who read various portions of the book and offered their thoughts. I hope I never disappoint them. Most importantly, I want to thank my wife, Supurna. She must have read and reread more pages of my book than anyone else, and each time she told me that I can do this. Three years of such steadfast devotion and confidence in someone is a lot to ask, even a spouse. She once told me when this manuscript was rejected by someone to "not worry," and that I can continue to write "just for her". I decided then that if no one ever
publishes anything I write, I will still keep writing, knowing that my only reader is my devoted and loving wife. Luckily, this book has found a home and will hopefully entertain many people in years to come. However, even if it hadn't, I would've kept writing - just for her.
List of Characters
Afzal Khan | Friend of Shah Jahan |
Arzani | Ladli’s daughter |
Asaf Khan | Mumtaz Mahal’s father, |
Aurangzeb | Shah Jahan’s son |
Bahadur | Jahanara’s eunuch (fictional character) |
Chamani Begum | Shah Jahan’s concubine |
Dara | Shah Jahan’s oldest son |
Dawar Baksh | Khusrau’s son |
Dilras | Aurangzeb’s wife |
Gabriel Boughton | British physician |
Gauhara | Shah Jahan’s youngest daughter |
Hamida | Jahanara’s distant cousin (fictional character) |
Henna | Shah Jahan’s concubine (fictional character) |
Jahanara | Shah Jahan’s oldest child |
Jahangir | Jahanara’s grandfather |
Kandari | Jahanara’s stepmother |
Khusrau | Shah Jahan’s brother |
Ladli | Nur Jahan’s daughter |
Manbhavati (Manu) | Jahanara’s Hindu stepmother |
Mullah Badakshi | Member of Qadiraya order |
Mumtaz Mahal | Shah Jahan’s wife, Jahanara’s mother |
Murad | Shah Jahan’s youngest son |
Nadira | Dara’s wife |
Nur Jahan | Jahangir’s wife, Shah Jahan’s stepmother |
Raushanara | Shah Jahan’s daughter |
Sadullah Khan | Aurangzeb’s father in law |
Sati-un-nissa (Sati) | Jahanara’s lady-in-waiting |
Shah Jahan | Jahanara’s father |
Shahriar | Shah Jahan’s brother, Ladli’s husband |
Shuja | Shah Jahan’s son |
1