STORY INFO
image

1861 - A Reunion in Calcutta

Content

CW: Racism, Religious fervor Is that the perfume gifted by your captors who snatched you away from your kingdom that’s wafting in the air, my darling boy? It stinks and smells worse than your uncle’s blood splattered on your face even as you watched in horror: a 7-year-old Maharaja robbed of his wazir and his regent mother robbed of her brother.It’s been 13 years since we breathed the sam...

Outstanding reviews

Such longing. Your gift remains true, Suma. My mother's heart ached as I read this. But, inevitably my spirit always soars when I read your stories, Just look what can be done with words alone. You have always been one of my favorite modes of travel to beautiful and memorable places. Your writing makes me happy.
Susan!Great to hear from you. I’m grateful for such kind words and high praise.
Ignite your way back to your roots. Beautiful.
Thank you for the read and the comment!
Thank you for the read and the comment!
Kevin,Thank you so much for your overwhelmingly kind words. I appreciate it. I’m glad my little tale inspired you to google for bits of history of a subcontinent that’s not necessarily spoken much about.
I think you may be the best on this site when it comes to weaving language into narrative. It reminds me so much of classical literature, and this piece is so sweeping despite its brevity. Well done.
Always great to hear from you, Kevin. And each time your encouragement grows exponentially. I’m tearing up. I don’t know whether I deserve such praise, but I’m grateful to receive it.
Good job, Suma
Thank you, Tommy
Thank you, Tommy
Thank you so much for reading and sharing such an insightful comment. I greatly appreciate your kind words.
Fine work here. Congrats.
Thank you.
Welcome.
Congratulations on your shortlist win, Suma! (:
Thank you, Karen!
This was such a beautiful and heart wrenching story. The struggle of the mother is so well described. I have never had children, but I could empathize with her pain. You evoke so much emotion in your work. Well done <3
Hannah!Great to hear from you! How have you been? I’m glad you found it moving.
CONGRATULATIONS, MY FRIEND! a well deserved shortlist <3
Thanks Hannah! Always grateful for your support.
Thanks Hannah! Always grateful for your support.
Danie,I can’t thank you enough for reading and leaving such a heartfelt and thoughtful comment on my little tale. I’m grateful that its themes resonated with you. Past is in the past, it’s a choice that we make whether to be wounded by it or become wise- say the enlightened people, but I guess it’s difficult to put that in practice.
I love that. Make a choice to become wounded or wise, a great perception to carry. Thank you!
Very powerful and well written piece of historical fiction. Good luck with submission!
Thank you for your kind words.
Thank you for your kind words.
Thank you for your kind words.
Congrats on the shortlist!
Thanks! It was a pleasant surprise given the nature of content.
I love this, I've read a couple of your stories now and think the theme of motherhood comes over so strongly in your work, it's powerful and the story is thought-provoking. It also meets the brief with the sensory detail which is very engaging.
Thank you Wendy, for the read and such a wonderful comment. I appreciate it!
Thank you Wendy, for the read and such a wonderful comment. I appreciate it!
Aeris, This high praise from a giant talent as yourself totally made my day:) I'm glad you found it moving. And to add a bit of fact, Maharani was just 44 at the time of this meeting, though aged beyond years because of the harsh blows dealt by life. I greatly appreciate you reading and leaving a comment, Aeris!
Aeris, This high praise from a giant talent as yourself totally made my day:) I'm glad you found it moving. And to add a bit of fact, Maharani was just 44 at the time of this meeting, though aged beyond years because of the harsh blows dealt by life. I greatly appreciate you reading and leaving a comment, Aeris!
Thank you for your heartfelt comment, Rebecca. I greatly appreciate it. History cannot be altered or repaired. It is often complex and not any one particular faction can be hoisted with the entire blame. That's one of the reasons I chose to write this in first person, as I find it's impossible to write any historical account impartiality. That, and of course we need more female voices from history, don't you think?
Absolutely. And a mother's point of view in particular. The human face of loss is the most emotive although objects stolen get the most attention.
You captured so much in this story of captivity. I know nothing of the history here but you gave it richness.I was assuming it was England and should have known it was India.Thanks for liking my Where the Wild Things Aren't Congrats on shortlist.
Thanks Mary, for the read and your kind words. To give a bit of context: As you may know India was colonised by the British for nearly 100 years, annexing the regional kingdoms of the subcontinent to the crown. Maharaja Duleep Singh, the boy-king, under the regency of his mother Maharani Jindan Kaur was separated from his mother, deposed at the age of 10 years, and later exiled to England. He met his mother after 13 years and under supervision. This piece is the creative interpretation of that meeting.

TOP Story

Local Tongue

419 Reads
Chapter 1 16 hours ago

01

Black Christmas

412 Reads
Chapter 1 2 hours ago

02

Over These Still Rising Waters

410 Reads
Chapter 1 7 hours ago

03

Life Line

339 Reads
Chapter 1 1 day ago

04

The Consortium Library

252 Reads
Chapter 1 18 hours ago

05

On the Job Training

234 Reads
Chapter 1 1 day ago

06

In Hell

223 Reads
Chapter 1 5 hours ago

07

The Clock Strikes Glick

222 Reads
Chapter 1 1 day ago

08