Shahjahan

Wonder why the clock tower has huge gaping holes, instead of the face of a clock?. Time had stopped ticking for Emperor Shahjahan, after he was imprisoned in this tower by his son, Aurangzeb.

The holes were just large enough for him, to see the Taj Mahal, the monument he built to his love and life. The tight vigil around the tower ensured that he did not escape to stage a rebellion. He had however, lost the will to live or rule, after the departure of his lady love, Begum Mumtaz Mahal. He often wondered if he had done the right thing by building that monument, with the help of epic talent and then, cutting their hands off to prevent duplication. Mumtaz had spent her life in strict ‘purdah’, and her multifarious talents were known to very few. She was now incarcerated in the depth of the basement Taj Mahal, on the banks of the river Yamuna.

The memorial should have been an ode to her personality, rather than his love for her. He had been rather selfish in projecting himself to the whole world. Mumtaz was yet, known only as Shahjahan’s beautiful wife, one of many.

He looked at the blue ropes with a string of lights that held the decrepit tower. Onlookers failed to see the weak foundation of the structure, and did not realize that it needed support to stand. How well did the structure mirror the state of its royal inmate! Regret, repentance and defeat had broken him down.

He asked for the state attorney to be sent for his final will to be recorded. He was to be buried in the same dark basement, besides his lady love. The exile and incarceration were his penance for the injustice he had done to Begum Mumtaz Mahal.

Written for Thursday Photo Prompt – Time – #writephoto

Thursday photo prompt – Time #writephoto