Mistress of the Throne

326 Pages·2014·2.68 MB·English

by  Gupta Ruchir

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Ruchir Gupta 1
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2 Mistress of the Throne
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Ruchir Gupta 3
RUCHIR GUPTA
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4 Mistress of the Throne
SriShti PubliSherS & DiStributorS
N-16, C. R. Park
New Delhi 110 019
[email protected]
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
Printed and bound in India.
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Ruchir Gupta 5
To the three most important
women in my life:
my mother, my wife,
and my daughter.
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6 Mistress of the Throne
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Ruchir Gupta 7
CONTENTS
Acknowledgement ix
List of Characters xi
1. The Reunion 1
2. Retribution 15
3. The Poisoning 23
4. The Evil Hand 42
5. Pit of Death 49
6. Birth and Death 61
7. Healing Broken Hearts 70
8. Defeat 82
9. The Proclamation 90
10. Hidden Secrets 96
11. The White Serpent 103
12. The Accident 121
13. Love or Lust 134
14. Chamani Begum 142
15. Shahjahanabad 149
16. Reverse Invasion 160
17. Mistaken Identity 179
18. Reversal of Fortune 185
19. Jahanara’s Taj 193
20. Revenge 200
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88 MCoisnttreensst sof the Throne
21. Kandahar 210
22. Mystic Soldier 223
23. Aurangzeb’s Taj 233
24. The Marathas 241
25. Golconda 251
26. Coming of the Storm 262
27. The Storm 272
28. Midnight 282
29. Paradise Lost 292
30. Fate of the Innocents 300
Afterword 307
A Conversation with Ruchir Gupta 310
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Ruchir Gupta ix
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This 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
ix
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xx MAcikstnroesws loedf gtheme Tenhtrone
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.