IshqTarinispowerfulstoryofArabianpoli2csandintrigue

DierenceThisstoryneedstobeexperienced!ByalphafemaleFrankie

SantaAlbertaAshmapaintsanetherealstory,delicateaslace

IssueI October2010

DearNomad(for you must be one if you have chanced upon thismagazine),An exuberant welcome to the ?irst issue of Part TimeWriter! I hope youwill agree that at suchmoments inhistory, an editor is allowed to indulge in somesentimentalityandstorytelling.PartTimeWriterwasstartedonavengeance.Ispentthelast summer inMumbai,meticulouslysearching foranypublicationthatwouldallowmetoshowcasemywriting.But in the rock concert of established journalists,freelancers, experts and columnists, closetwritershavebeenwoefullydrownedout.This is now a determined attempt to prove what Ialreadyknowthatordinarypeoplewieldmightypens,thatthebiggeststoriesarewithinthesmallestofusandthattheworldismorefantasticaltohewhoisaparttimewriter.

),/2456

SukritiYadava

Statue4e

Mason:SoniaAgarwal

SantaAlberta

Iwroteale5ertomygrandmotheronce,corkedinaglassbo5le.Wetooktheboatfar,faroutintothehorizon,andIthrewitintothewater.IwatcheditoatBllIcouldntseeitanymore.

IrememberLissalikethatSeptembertwilight.Shecaughtmegazingoutontotheocean,throughakaleidoscopeofteenageangst.Iwasobsessingovermyimminentbrokenheartandtheotherapocalyp2cconsequencesofbeinginlovewithJoelSanders.

Shetoldmeshewasmovingthereforgood.Theoceanthatis.Amongstthecoralandthedolphins...ForeveraGer.

Yes,therewasthisdulcetvoicetellingmestrangethingsbuthowcouldIpayaLen2on?Iwasbusywishingmyworriesweresaltcrystalsthatwouldjustdissolveuponthekissesofthewaves.Un2lshetoldmesheandhermotherhadjustmovedtoSantaAlberta.TheymovedtoSantaAlbertathemostunglamorousexcuseforatownontheCaliforniancoastoutoftheirownfreewill?Ilookeduptoaskherjustthat.

AndthenIsawhereyes.Lustrous.Seasoaked.Magnicent.Asplashinapris2neocean,caughtforeveronthelmofheririses.

Youreyesarebeau2ful!Iexclaimedinasemitrance.

Shecaughtmyamazement,andrepliedwithasadsmile.

Mermaideyes,mygrandmotherusedtocallthem.Oh,Imissherstories.Imissher.

Shejoinedmeintheoceanstaringcontest.AndIjustknewthatifiteverdidcomedowntotheoceanversusher,shedwin.___________________________________________

MelissaCutlercameoutofnowhereandthenshewaseverywhere.Wesneakednotesinclassanddranklemonadeontheboardwalk.Ourfriendshipwasinevitable;itwasintheinkandthesecrets,inthezzandthebreeze.

Andofcourse,hermermaideyesmesmerisedallthesailors.AndWessonfromthecrabshack.Andalltheboysatschool(includingJoelheartstealingandshaLeringSanders).

Theeyeswereonlyhalfthestory.Itwasalsothecascadingmilkyblondetresses.Theivoryskin.Shelookedlikeadreamandsanglikeone,leavinggaspsandsighsinhertrail.Andyetallpoten2al

romanceswereimmediatelydismissed.Herreasoningwassimplenoonehadthenecessaryallure.Thatjoiedevivre,baby!___________________________________________

Shemeantajoiedevivrethatmatchedherown.Shehadtheknackandthedesiretondtheextraordinaryintheeveryday.Everythingtoherwasareasontocelebrate,tolaugh,tolive.Herspiritwasinfec2ous.Ittuggedonmelikethemoonsceles2alstringsontheseas.Oceanstaringwasathingofthepast.Apartfromthe2meswhenwewatchedthesunset.

Butthatwasdenitelyamopefreeaair,acelebra2on,notsimplythese_ngofthesun.Wesetondeckchairsontheroofofthecrabshack(thejointvictoryofLissatheCharmerandWessonthePushover).

Itsgivingusalastshine,agloriousbuhbye!

Isawexactlywhatshesaw;thesuncas2nggoldengliLeracrossourterracoLaroofs,asitsetsnapshotbysnapshotintothecalmblanketofthehorizon.Themilesandmilesofskybeingsetablaze,icingcloudswithlilaclinings.______________________________________________________

My18thbirthdaycouldbesummeduplikethisspikedlemonade,Lissastwolebfeetdancing,andreworks...ofallsorts.Underthereiesandfairylights,Joel(theveryone)whisperedapologiesinmyearandonmylips,ourbarefeetdanglingovertheedgeoftheboardwalk,andIthoughtmyworldwouldendthereandthen,outofsheerecstasy.Apocalyp2caberall.

MeandLissatalkedallnightunderthestars.Bythe2methesun

burstoverthevalleysoureuphoriawasadrunkendepression,andIfellasleepknowingthatshewasgoingtoleave._____________________________________________________

ThewordonthestreetwasthatshewasreturningtoGeorgia.SheknewIdneverbelieveit.

SowhenIsaidgoodbyetoher,itwasntonthatmorningwhensheandhermotherbundledupintheirdustywhiteChevy,andthewholetownwavedthemoastheyallegedlydroveintothedistance.

IbidherfarewellattheoldLanternCove,whenIsawherasshereallywashereyes,herskin,hertailallgleamingfromdeepsearhapsody.Ohhertail!silverandpearlyandsaltfrosted.Itwasbeau2ful.Itwasmagicalbutjustasmuchasasunsetonthewaves.Oraperfectrainbowthatspannedthehorizon.Adreamcomingtrue.Arstkiss.Afriendship.Whydoweassociatemagicwiththeunknown,theunthinkable?

Youhavetobelieveinmagicnow!ButliLledidsheknowIalreadydid._____________________________________________________

Dreamer:AshmaKunde

Inspira>on

Theglowingwarmth,theburningreTheimmortalstrengthofeverlas2ngdesireThatimmenseforceturningwrongintoright

MakingyouputinthatonelastghtWhenallhopeislosttothedark

Theresaglimmeroflight,abrightshiningsparkJustwhenyouthinkthatyoucantgoon

Yourealisethateveryrose,musthaveitsthornItswhatmakesIcantintoIdid

Itbringsoutthatlight,whichun2lnowwashidInspira2onaddsmeaningtolife

In2mesoftrouble,in2mesofstrifeWhenyourspirithassunkwaytoolow

Inspira2onmakessurethatthetearsdontowWithoutinspira2onlifecanneverbewhole

Itisthisthatcreateslivingdiamondsfromcoal.

Inspired:DishaMirchandani

Ishq

I remember the taste of dates stuedwith almond and orangerind.Itusedtobemyfavouritewaytoendamealaberalongdayofbusinessinthecourt.ThatwaswhenI ledalifeofluxury,butthingshavechanged.Someyearsago,therewasapowerfulandpeaceful kingdom in the desert. To all who lived within itsborders,itwasanoasis.EverythingthrivedunderthetouchoftheShah I know, Iwashis vizier. I counted thegoldbrought inbytradesmen and I oversaw the caravans bearing fruit andsweetmeats that came to the city. Iwas aware ofwho had theprivilegeofaudiencewiththeShah,andwhodidnt.Myjobwasdicult, important and coveted. The Shah relied on me morethan any other cour2er. It was my job to keep tabs on ourenemiesandouralliances.Neverbeforehadtherebeensomanysupplicant kings hoping that gibs of exo2c spices, rare plants,ferocious and beau2ful animals, or young women would helpthemgaintheShahstrust.

Thebenetshehadbroughttothelandwereimmense.Hewasagoodleader,despitehispersonalvices.Hewasfondofgambling,hewasknowntofrequenthisharemmorethanotherrulers,andhehadnotyettakenawife. Iknewhimtobeamanwithahottemper.Onedayinthedurbar,aservantgirlbroughthimtea,butforgot to bring honey. Livid, he slapped the cup fromher hand,andthescaldinghotteaspilledalloverher.Butthestreetswerelinedwithpalms,thepalacetreasurywasfullerthaneverbefore,and there was nothing I could complain about. We lived in apalacebythelake(theShahwasgenerouswithfavourswhenhewasdoingwell).Lifewaswonderfulformysixdaughtersandme.

MydaughtersaremyprideandmyjoyandeverythingthatIhadworked to accomplish was so that I could aord the dowries Iwouldhavetopaywhentheygotmarried.Theywerealwayssohappythattheylightenedmyheart.NomaLerhowlateIhadtostaywiththeShah,theywaitedawakeforme,readytogreetmewithstrong,fragrantcoeeinagoldencup.Myoldestthreeweremarried in the Shahs palace to three of his highly placedministers. Their husbands were all men who worked for me. Iknewthattheywouldalwayshaverespectformyauthority,andwas therefore sure of the future of my daughters. They weremarriedwithallpompandcircumstance,withdaysofcelebra2ondeclared in the city. The Shah had always looked upon themfondly. With his help, we hired the best chefs and the nestmusicians. We watched the desert turn pink and stars emergewhilethewomendancedandsanginthecourtyard.Theheatofthedayswasosetbythecoolofthedesertnights. Irememberthesmokefromcoalres,andthedelicatesilkshawlsthatyearwasahighwatermarkforthekingdom.

Two years aber the weddings, there was a coup. One of theShahs generals had been sent on a trading mission. He wassupposedtocomebackwithspicesandsilk.Instead,hereturnedwithanarmyandusurpedmyLords throne. IwatchedfrommyroomasthehugearmymarchedonthecityandrazedtheShahspalace to the ground. The Shah was dead. It was said that theminister had returned with a formidable sorcerer, who hadburnedthepalacewithonemovementofhisarm.TheShahwasnever seenagain. I losteverything, I had to leavebehindallmywealth,myhome,myservants,andeetomysummerpalace.AllItookwithmewasthememoryoftheangry,bloodstainedfaceofa soldier ashe tried tobreakdown thedoors tomyhome,andtheacridsmellofsmoke.

Mydaughtersweredissa2sedbecausetheyweretoousedtoalifeofluxury.Wewereforcedtoworkharderthanwehadeverhadtobefore.Wedidnthavethesamecomforts;weevenhadtoprepareourownhookaheveryevening.Iwasdistraught,theonlycomfortIhadwasfrommyyoungestdaughter,Nazneen.Shewasalwayswillingtoworkanddothingsaroundthehouse.Shewastheonlyonewhodidntmindtakingapartherownsilksandres2tchingthemsothattheylookednew.Shehadalwaysbeenthemostkindandbeau2fulofmydaughters.Shehadlong,jetblackhairandafairfacelikeasliverofthemoon.Shehadsomeofthebeautyofhermother.Shewasabsolutelyradiant,andIknewthatshewoulddoanythingforme.Ididntknowwhattodo.My daughters wereunhappy, my Lord wasdethroned, and I sawnowaytoregainmy formerlife. One day, we werevisitedby a strangemanonhorseback.He rodeajetblack stallion, andcame into the parlouru n a n n o u n c e d . H eclaspedmyhands in his,gave me a jewelledsword, and toldme thatthe Shah was alive. HesaidthatifIwentbacktothecity,IwouldndhimattheKismetInnwithaselectgroupoffollowers.IfImetupwithhimandhelpedhimretakethekingdom,Iwouldbereturnedtomyformerposi2onasvizier.Thiswasmychancetogetmypossessionsandpowerback.IfIwasvizieragain,Icouldgarnerenoughfundsandjewelstomarrymyremainingthreedaughters,andlivecomfortably.Ijumpedat

thechance,andtoldmydaughterstoexpectamessagefrommewhenitwassafeforthemtocometothecity.Isetoacrossthedesertwithnothingbutmyhorse,acamelwithsupplies,andtheswordfromthestranger.

Ihadtravelledtheroutebefore,andthoughtIknewitwell.ButIhadalwaysbeenaccompaniedbymy re2nue,andhadbeen ledbymy guide, FatehMiah. How Imissed him then. The eveningdrew toa close,and thechillof thedesertairhad takenover. Iwas nervous, and unsure of which way to turn. I tethered thehorseandcamelanddecidedtoriskthedesertnightlifeandrest.IwasrelievedwhenIawokethenextdayunscathed. Icarriedon,andasthesunrosehigherandhigherintheskyIcouldnotshakethesuspicionthatIwasbeingfollowed.Thewindbegantoblow.Atrstitwasslow,butthen,withstartlingferocity,itwasagale.Icouldnotseethroughthesanditwaseverywhere, inmyears,mymouth,my nose. I worried that I would not be presentablebeforetheShah,ifIevermadeittotheInn.

Atonepoint, IcouldhaveswornIheardthethuddingofhoovesonsand.Isawsunlightashingothepointsofswordsandmendressedinblackgallopingmyway.ThenextthingIknew,Icouldtaste blood and then the world was dark. When I regainedconsciousness, I was in a cave so large I could not see its end.There was a re burning on the oor, and delicious muLonroas2ngonaspitaboveit.WhenIlookedaround,Isawsacksofour and spices, jugs ofwine and pickledmeat, aswell as fruitliningthewallsofthecave.Iwaitedforawhile,butnobodycame.Icouldntresisttempta2onanylonger,soIhelpedmyselftosomeofthemeat,andpouredmyselfsomewine.Hourspassedands2llnobodycame.

Finally, a man walked in. He was dressed all in black, the onlythingthatstoodoutwasthesilversymbolaLachedtohisturban.

Ididnotrecognizeit.Hecutsomeapplesintopiecesandplacedthembeforeme. I began toaskhimwhere Iwasandwhatwashappening, but he turned and leb as abruptly as he hadappeared. Iventured toward themouthof thecave,and lookedoutontothedesertnight.Whenyouaresafeandwarm,watchingnight2me take over the desert is a wonderful thing. Themoonlight seLles on the sand dunes turning them blue. Youalmostbelievethatthevastexpansebeforeyouiswater,un2lthefootprints of an animal on a distant dune expose thatwhat liesbeforeyou is sand, and the feelingof loneliness comesoodingback.Ontheouterwallofthecave,therewasajasmineplant.Itsdelicate fragrance lled my nose and made me think of mydaughters. The jasmine was Nazneens favourite ower. In thehope that I would return to her, I plucked one of the delicateblossomsfromtheplant.ThenextthingIknewIwaslyingonthecaveoor,clutchingthebackofmyheadinpain.

Uponopeningmyeyes,Isawahideouscreature.Itwasastallasaman,butcoveredinscars.Onitsface,therewerelinesandlines

ofpink,puckeredskin.Ishrankback,butwasstoppedbythemanin blackwho had come in earlier. I couldnt bear to look at thescarsonthecreaturesface,soIglanceddownwards,onlytondthat three of the ngers on his leb handweremissing and theother two had been horriblymangled. I reeled from shock andrevulsion,secondsseemedlikehours,andallIwantedtodowasclose my eyes. At last, a thin, reedy voice spoke from theblackenedlinesthatwerethebeastslips.Hesaid,HowdareyoustealmyowersaberallthekindnessIhaveoeredyou?Forthisingra2tude, you shall die at my hands. I begged him tounderstand,IpickeditonlybecauseIwaslostinthoughtsofmydaughter, Nazneen, the jasmine is her favourite ower. Iapologize.Please spareme!At this, he leaped towardmewithshockingagility,tookmysword,andpinnedmeagainstthewall.Ifeltthecoldsteelagainstmyneck,andbelievedthatmy2mehadcome. He leaned in, his horrible face close to mine, andwhispered, Are you loyal to the new King of the city? I knewthatIwoulddiefortellingthetruth,butIcouldnotswearloyaltytotheusurper. Istammered,Iamloyal tononebuttheShah. Iwas his vizier before the aLack. Iwas onmyway to the city tohelphim return topower.Uponhearing this, thebeastpausedandabruptlysteppedback. I felltotheground.Hethentoldmethat hewas themaster of a gang of thugs. He paced back andforth across the cave, dragging my sword alongside himmenacingly. Then he said, If you want your life, and theopportunity to restore your Shah, bringme your daughter. Therealiza2onthatIwouldhavetosendoneofmydaughterstoliveinthiscavewasslowlysinkingin.itwasmyonlyop2onIwouldaskoneof them to comeand then,when Iwas reinstatedwiththeShah,Iwouldgatheragh2ngforceandwinherback.

Agreeingtohisdemandlebmewiththesametasteinmymouthas drinking wine turned to vinegar. The s2llquiet gentlemandressed in black escortedme from the roomand ledme tomyhorse.OnceIhadmounted,he2edmyhorsetohis,andbrought

metomyhome.Ini2ally,mydaughterswereverygladtoseeme.When I saw the hope in their eyes I could not maintain mycomposureandIbrokedown.Theybeggedmetotellthemwhatwas wrong, and once I did, the room was as quiet as a tomb.Finally, Nazneen spoke.With her voice like 2nkling anklets, shevolunteered to staywith themaster of the bandits un2l I couldndtheShah.Heartbroken,sheandIwereledbacktothecave.

Inalowvoice,Iwarnedheraboutthefaceofthebeast.Itoldherthathelookedworsethanademon,worsethananycreatureshecould imagine. I made sure I told her not to stare. When wearrived,shetrembledatthethoughtofhim,andwhenshenallysawhim, I knew she had suppressed a scream.He knelt beforeher and took her hand, promisingme that hewould take goodcare of her and asking us to say our nal goodbyes. I heldNazneen close and assuredher Iwould comeback for herwiththe support of the Shah. When I saw how scared she was, IresolvedtocomebackassoonasIpossiblycould.Iwasforcedtoleavethatnight.

IrodeintothecityandfoundtheInn,butwhenIlookedforafaceImightrecognizeIfoundnone.Ilaydownandfellasleeptothesoundofthedustystreetsbeingsluicedwithwaterfromleathersacks.When Iawoke, therewasanenvelopenext tomybed. Incalligraphy that rivalled the beauty of the court scribes wri2ngwas printed, We welcome you, and are glad of your support.Waitaweekandyouwillhavemore informa2on. Ipassed thatdayexploringthecityindisguise.Itwasachangedplace.

The usurpers army had been given the best homes in the city,leaving some people out on the streets. They had resorted tobuilding ramshackle shan2es out of what materials they foundlying around, discarded by others. I saw two children sibingthroughapileof rubbish.Theysortedthroughhalfeatenpiecesoffruit,bonesthathadalreadybeenpickedcleanbystraydogs,

destroyedhopes,shaLereddreamsandemptyjugsofwine.Oneof them chanced upon a fallen cloth probably a scrap from aladys sewing room fallen by accident on the road. The childpickedup the cloth and ran tohismother,who sewed it to thehole in the roof of the shanty that was their home. In thedistance,Isawvulturescircling.ThereweremorethanIhadseeninthecityeverbefore,theymusthavebeentherebecausetherewasmorecarrionforthemtofeedon.

Sicktomystomach,IreturnedtotheInn. Inmyroom,IfoundaleLerwriLeninNazneenshand. Itsaidthatthebeastwould letherwrite tome. Tomy surprise, her leLerwaslledwithquietcondence,notfear.TherestoftheleLerlebmedumbfounded.Apparently,thecavewasmerelytheentrancetoanundergroundlabyrinth.Eachroomwithinwaslledwithwonders,andshewascontent.Shedescribedaroomlitonlybycandles,tobeenteredonly at night. She said that its roof wasmade from glass, andwhen she lay on the divan, she could see the sky, full of thepinpoints of amillion stars. She enjoyed visi2ng that room andwatchingthenightsky.Shewrotetomefrequently,several2mesintheweekthatfollowed,IawoketooneofherjasminescentedleLersbymybedside.

Tothisday,Idonotknowhowtheygotthere,butIdoknowthatthey gaveme comfort. Knowing thatNazneenwas safemade iteasierformetoconcentrateonndingtheShah.WhenIreadherwords, I felt close to her. Fromwhat I read, she seemed to begrowingclosertotheBeast.TherewereliLlethingsthatshesaidabouthimthatbetrayedmoreinsightthanIwouldhaveimagined Papa,shewrote,whenhetalksaboutthecity,hetakesmeback there. Its like hes walked every street doing nothing butobserving. He knows every alleyway so wellhe paints pictureswithhistongue.

NazneenexplainedthattheBeastcouldgiveheranythingshe

wanted his resources seemed innite. Every night, shewoulddinewiththebeast.Themaninblackwouldservethem.Thefoodwasalwaysexquisite.Kebabsofthefreshestmeat,cookedinwellspiced and fragrant sauces, breads thatwere fried, roasted andbaked to the most pleasant consistency, olives, whose piquanttasteremainedontheirtonguesun2ltheytookasipoftheaged,strongwineandnally,fruitsandhoneyfordessert.Attheendofeverymeal, their silent serverwould leave them, and theBeastwouldleadNazneentoaroomfurnishedinvelvetandmuslinsone it couldpass through theeyeof aneedle. There, theBeastwould watch as Nazneen reclined on a divan, and, aber a fewmoments,hewouldaskher tomarryhim.Everynight, the foodwasdierentbuttheritualwasthesame,andNazneensanswerwasalwaysno.

Iadmiredmydaughtersresilienceandbravery.ShewasnolongerafraidoftheBeast.Theywouldsome2messpendtheabernoonsreadingtogether ina roomlledwithbeau2fulbooks thatwereboundinsilkandwriLeninliquidgold.Nazneenwasinaweofhisintelligence.Heknowssomuchhedoesntevenneedtoopenabooktoknoweverycontourofitsplot!sheexclaimed.Atother2mes,hewouldwatchherplayinstrumentsandsingintheroomthat was lled with every musical instrument imaginable. Withthe passing of each night, their conversa2ons at dinner greweasierandeasier,andtherewasevenasemblanceof friendshipgrowing between them. Nazneen described the Beast as strongandintelligent.ItwasherleLerskeptmedeterminedtondtheShah.ShehadadaptedtoherlifewiththeBeastinordertohelpme I would make sure she did not have to live without hersisters and me forever. Two weeks passed, and I had heardnothing about the Shah. I did not knowwhat to do. I began tocombthecity.

Ihadtoconductmyinves2ga2onscarefully.Theusurperhadearseverywhere.Itwaswhispered,throughthehazeofhoursof

smoking potent opium pipes, that people who seemed likeordinaryci2zenscouldbehisspies.MonthspassedandIhadnoword. I was growing desperate. The only thing that gave mesolace was that the leLers from Nazneen were always upbeat.SheinsistedthattherewassomethingnobleabouttheBeast.ButI couldnt shake the feeling that theBeastwasnotaspa2entorpleasantasheseemed,and,ifthingswentonthiswayformuchlonger, hemight forcefully take her hand inmarriage orworse,herchas2ty.Myfearsonlyintensiedassomevisitorstothecitycomplained of all their possessions being stolen by what theycalled theDesertDemon.Fromtheirdescrip2onsand the sheerterror theybetrayed, I knew ithad tohavebeen theBeast theyweretalkingabout.

Twomonthspassed,andIhadgivenuphope.ReportsofthuggeryinthedeserthadgoLenworse,andIwassickwithworry.Thelastfew leLers from Nazneen had seemed choked with emo2on,almostasifshewasstrugglingtondthewordstoexpresssomethoughtthatwasconstantlyplaguingher. Isensedthechangeinherotherwiselightandeasytone.Iknewmydaughter;therewassomething troubling her and she was unwilling to tell me. HerleLers had become less frequent with the passage of 2me.Perhaps he had already had his way with her, and was nowrefusingtoleherwritetome.Atlast,myparanoiapushedmetoac2on. I rode out into the desert, tracing my path as well as Icould. I followed thewords of thosewho had been the Beastsvic2ms,and sureenough,on the thirddayofmy travel, I heardhooves on sand.Amassive cloudof shimmering sand rose, andthere, standing beforeme,was the Beast. He loomed overme,and I nally gathered the courage to ask him for Nazneen. IexplainedthattheShahwasnowheretobefound,andthepainofwatchingmycityburn,losingmydaughterandlosingmyLordwas so lamentable that itwouldbea lesson toothers if itwereengravedatthecornerofmyeye.Uponhearingmypleas,the

Beastspoke,YouhaveshownthatyouareloyaltotheShahhesaid.Youshallbedulyrewarded,butyoucannothaveNazneen.Weareinlove,andshehasagreedtobemywife.Iwasshocked;I refused to believe him un2l I had spoken to my daughter.Nazneensaidhehadspokentruthfully.IknewthenthatherloveforthisBeastwaswhatshehadbeenstrugglingwith.SheknewIwould not approve. I should have sensed the tenderness in herleLersthatmusthavecomewiththeirgrowingfamiliarity.Withawaveringheart,IagreedtogivehertotheBeast.

Thatnight,thedinnerplacedbeforeuswasbeLerthananythingNazneen had described in her leLers. There was muLon, beef,and fragrant rice, spiced and laced with the most tendervegetables.Thewinewassweetandheady,andfordessert,therewas boiled vermicelli, cooked in sweetened milk and garnishedwithraisins. Itwasa feastt foraking.At theendof themeal,theBeastwalkedtome,andtookmyrighthand.Init,heplacedthe signet ring of the Shah. I did not know what to think. Idropped to my knees and said, Nazneen, you are now myQueen.Thewholeordealhadbeenatest,andIhadpassedwithyingcolours.IhadgivenupmydaughtertosavemyLord,andhehadseenmyloyalty.Soon,withmetravellingbackandforthfromthe city, we could build an army large enough to retake thethrone.Abermonthsofrecrui2ng,planningandstrategizing,ouraLemptwas successful. To the joy of the people, the Shahwasreturnedtopower.

Todayismydaughtersweddingceremony.SheandtheShaharebothverymuchinlove.Thecityiscelebratory,andeverydomedroofisspor2ngcolouredags.Fivehundreddoveswerereleasedat dawn. Every family now has their homes back, the shan2eshave been destroyed, and the lake cleaned. Each home will begiven a sack of our, a sack of rice, and a agon of wine tocelebratetheoccasion.IhaveapalacebeLerthantheonebythelake,andmydaughtersarenallycontentoncemore.Iam

wearingthenewclothesthattheShahhadmadeforme.Theedgesareheavy,theyarelinedwithgold.Thejoyanddizzinessfromfeas2nghasnallybeguntowearo,andImustremembertotellNazneenthattheShahtakeshoneywithhistea.

HighlightoftheIssue:TariniKumar

AFootWasInTheDoor

CluLering,claLeringaroundthepalaceHoo2ng,shoo2ngintothesnow,Anangrymob,aredpeopleSwarmedaroundthebolteddoor.Theyearwas1917Andtheirfootwasinthedoor.Thethousandshadonelist,Ofunfullleddemandsandmore,Thehistoriansroman2cized,Lyricsmadeininkyow.Yetonthedayitself,Afootwasinthedoor.Decadesofdecadence,Centuriesofcensoring,Laynowbehindafragilefarce.ThecrownitselfSeemedtoquiverinasuppressedmightyroar.Theempirelaybegging,Onlyafootwasinthedoor.

Reddrops,Redrises.

Thetransforma2onwascomplete,Thepowerchangedhands,

TheexilerswereexiledWhiletheexaltedfreedland.

IgnoranceisblissYetblissfulwerethey,Intheknowledgethat

Thetsarsweretheirprey.Theknowledgespanned2me,

Gaverisetowarsandwalls,Andyetatitsheart,

Ittoohadbeguntofall.Nowthepowerliesdwindled,

Theredholdsnogore,Ninetythreeyearslater,Thefootliesontheoor.

Historian:Sukri>Yadava

Dierence

Hewasdrawn toher skin.Her rich reddishbrown that radiatedlike the cinnamon steam from a hot baked apple. He imaginedglidinghis callusedngersalongsideher2redarm, soothing thepainsheenduredfromjusttryingtogetby.Hesawherlargeuychest,motherly yet invi2ng, and thought of pressing up againsther, cupping his neck and chin on her shoulder. He becameentrancedbyherbeestunglipsandthewayherbodyillustratedits own shape. He fell right into her smell of backbreakingstrength, like unpuried feminism, humid and real. She wasdierentandhewasdierentaroundher.Sheplungedhim intothe lyrics of her otherness, aworldwherewomen laugh for noreasonatall,andeventhebrokenwingedbirdssingspirituals.

His mind entwined itself in the polarity of their sameness. Hebecameconfused,almostshakenbythesimilaritythatliedbehindtheir eyes in anger, love and heat. They complemented eachother as they t together accidentally. Their tongues and spiritswould twist and turn, speaking in jive as they eased into oneanotherliketwoconcavedbodieswiththesamewailingshadow.Theyweremagne2c.Twoamoebasmadeupofdierentchemicalcomposi2onsglidingandfeelingnexttooneanother,neverfullyconnec2ng,butalways_ngwondrously.

They worked to keep their union a secret. They would reuniteonly when the oranges of the day bled into the rouges of theevenings,blessingthemwithanatmosphereofdarkness,silenceand acceptance. The thick of the night would blanket theirincessant fears, protec2ng them from ery eyes and scornfulgazes, blinding them from their inhibi2ons and feeding theiryearnforsomethingdeeper.Theywouldtravellongdistances

across the city, un2l they found damp and secluded places toexchangewhispers,entwinengersandsharesecrets.Shewouldcome to him as much as he would come to her. They became2ngled with rage and excitement as they combed through oneanother,yetwereburdenedwithasobanduninvitedconfusion.Neither understood the other or the chemistry that ignitedbetween them.Heneverunderstoodwhyhe loved thewayherhips swivelled or how the sun never erupted her pores. Shecouldntseemtogureoutwhysheenjoyedhisdryhumororthepeculiar pointy shape at the edge of his nose. The ques2onsloomedabovetheirheads,circlinglikerabidhorseies,anoddyetnaturalannoyancethatonlycanbeignoredwhenitdies.

Showstopper:FrankieJean

FrankieJean TariniKumar

SoniaAgarwal

AshmaKunde

DishaMirchandani

THEFABULOUSPARTTIMEWRITERS

OF

ISSUE

1

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