The English translation of a novel ‘Maharaja Dahir’ authored by Kolkata-based renowned novelist Debasree Chakraborti in Bengali language. The novel has been translated by Rajesh Giri
After dinner, Dr. Iqbal came to his room, closed the door first and turned on the AC. It is said that walls also have ears to hear, there are several flats around this one. So he closed the door, turned on the AC and opened the drawer and found a white tab. He had opened this drawer many times before, but this tab was not here. Wearing the headphones, he started watching the video clips. In this video clip he can see Chadda Sir, dressed as a Muslim Maulvi. He can’t be recognized at all. Being with him for so long during his training period Dr. Iqbal quickly recognized him.
Sir says, “Panchajanya, the car in which you go to Abu Talib today, will carry a huge bottle of scotch and a rose shaped showpiece made out of red rock. You will place the showpiece in such a place in the living room from where the entire room can be seen clearly from the entrance to this bungalow. And you will keep the bottle of scotch in an open space of the room in the bungalow where Abu Talib will take you in. The bottle should be placed from where the whole room can be seen. You will tell Abu Talib that it is not right to keep such a big amount of money in Basir Ahmed’s bungalow. You can’t trust anyone in this jihad, you have to keep this money safe until the attack becomes successful. They will act as your slaves until they get the money and will not even think of harming you. The control over Abu Talib’s psyche thus comes completely in your hand. Meanwhile, Ahmed and Sarfarosh had a secret meeting with Hafiz Saeed, the pictures of this meeting are in this tab, and from here you will keep the pictures on your mobile via Bluetooth, and show this picture to Abu Talib in time. Before the attack, fissures must be created in the unity of the enemy. You will convince Abu Talib that no danger will befall him while you are there. If he asks you about Maharaja Dahir Sen’s diary, you will say that you have heard that the diary will be auctioned at a very high price. But while we undergo through so many hardships to find it out and after that if you hand it over to a special power and let them enjoy the profit by selling it, is simply not acceptable.
If Maharaja Dahir’s diary is found at all then it will be under you and Abu Talib’s control only. It will be utilized by us in time. Abu Talib is a very powerful pawn in our hands, it is very important to keep him under our control at this moment. These few days are very important, give him what he wants, careful enough to not to spoil trust. Finally one thing, Fiza aka Mithila is safe, if the mission Maharaja Dahirsen become successful, then Mithila will work with you in our next mission.
Knowing that Fiza is safe, all the pressure in Iqbal’s mind went down. By any means, mission Maharaja Dahirsen must be successful. As the fulfilment of his grandfather’s dream depends on the success of this mission, also a beautiful future awaits him along with Mithila. In these few days a kind of compassion has developed on her. Doing theatre for a long time, he worked with many women and some became friends also but no one left such impression on his mind like Mithila. Throughout the day he sees Mithila’s shy face, the face resemblance to Goddess Lakshmi, whom Maa usually worships on the divine night of Kojagari Purnima. Mithila is safe, but cannot be met until this mission is over. They will meet in India when everything is safe. He will introduce Mithila to all of his family. Dadu, mother, father will all place her as one of their closest, then a new auspicious beginning will end the long curse of their two families. Dr. Iqbal took all the pictures from the tab through Bluetooth, deleted all the files from the tab, closed the tab and left it in the drawer and fell asleep. After so many days he fell asleep in great peace, because the destination is not very far, they have reached the end of this uneven crossroad.
The next day at six o’clock in the evening, a black Innova stopped in front of Iqbal’s apartment. In a while when the door bell rang Dr. Iqbal opened the door finding a young boy smiling and saying, ‘a basket of apples.’
Yes, Chadda Sir informed ‘Basket of Apples’ is the secret code, if the boy says it, he will be let into the flat. As Dr. Iqbal moved away from the door, the boy came out with the basket of apples by himself from the cylinder cabinet. Then Dr. Iqbal locked the door from outside and continued with him. Getting into the car, he found a huge bottle of scotch and a beautiful rose made of red stone on the seat. When the car arrived in front of Basir Ahmed’s bungalow, the driver got out of the car and went to the guard’s room and said. Iqbal came to meet Abu Talib. The guard also had instructions beforehand. So he quickly came out and leaned into the car and checked Iqbal’s face in his mobile phone and opened the gate completely with a salute. When the gate opened. Iqbal entered inside the bungalow. Abu Talib was alone in such a big bungalow that day. News of Dr. Iqbal’s arrival was relayed to him by the security guards over the intercom, so he opened the door and waited outside. Dr. Iqbal entered the bungalow with him and found a huge drawing room.
Directly from the door to the bar chamber, there is a statue of a naked woman, beside her Iqbal placed the rose shaped showpiece. Dr. Iqbal saw the driver was standing in the drawing room with a basket of apples. Iqbal said, you leave it here and bring the bottle of scotch. The driver left the basket of apples in the drawing room and went to bring the bottle of scotch. Dr. Iqbal showed the basket and said to Abu Talib, “There is ten million rupees in it, take me to the room where you are, I am taking the basket.” Meanwhile, the driver came with the bottle of scotch, Abu Talib saw ‘The Intrepid’ inscribed on the bottle, he was surprised. Looking at Iqbal said, “So expensive scotch you brought for me?”
—It is nothing, I would give my life for this friendship.
Abu Talib was surprised. He looked at Iqbal, he did not know what to say in such a situation. Dr. Iqbal said, Talib, take me to your bed room. Dr. Iqbal kept the scotch bottle in one corner of Talib’s bed room and said, The Intrepid bottle may even bigger than you, I thought you should try it first and see how it goes, if you like it, then I will give you the largest bottle as a gift. (Continues)
Click here for Part-I , Part-II, Part-III , Part-IV , Part-V , Part-VI , Part-VII, Part-VIII , Part-IX , Part-X, Part-XI, Part-XII, Part-XIII , Part-XIV , Part-XV , Part-XVI, Part-XVII, Part-XVIII , Part-XIX, Part-XX, Part-XXI , Part-XXII, Part-XXIII , Part-XXIV , Part-XXV , Part-XXVI, Part-XXVII, Part-XXVIII, Part-XXIX, Part-XXX , Part-XXXI, Part-XXXII, Part-XXXIII , Part-XXXIV , Part-XXXV , Part-XXXVI , Part-XXXVII
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Debasree Chakraborti is a renowned novel writer of Bengali language. Based in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, she has done Master’s in Modern History from the Kolkata University, and authored some thirty books, mostly the novels, with historical perspective and themes. Her most recent novel is ‘Maharaja Dahir’ that covers the history of Sindh from 662, the year of first attack on Sindh by the Arab armies till date.
Rajesh Giri, born in Kolkata, had his early schooling from Kolkata and then from Medinipur—a village in Bengal. He graduated from Calcutta University with Physics and Maths and Master’s from Burdwan University in 2016. Now he is associated with Adhdhyaan educational institution teaching Physics. History enthusiastic Rajesh Giri is particularly interested in the ancient civilization of India and other regions like Egypt, Mesopotamia, and North America. He loves traveling.
