To those who have come this far: welcome

~~~

All that is gold does not glitter,
not all those who wander are lost;
the old that is strong does not wither,
deep roots are not reached by the frost.

~J. R. R. Tolkien

___________☆___________

D I C T I O N

Jahan; Jahan (Persian: جهان, Urdu: جہاں, Bengali: জাহান) is a word of Persian origin meaning "world" or "universe". It is used as first name or surname in the Middle East, Central and South Asia. The Turkish rendering of the same name is Cihan.

___________☆___________

E P I G R A P H

❝When a boy thinks he can love only one woman, but time and events decide to prove him wrong.❞

___________☆___________

S Y N O P S I S

Their destiny was written in the stars, since before the creation of the world. Three beings, unwittingly bound together, with the red thread. A thread that symbolised the simmering love held by them all.
Born to a family of feudal lords, who had had a hand in the extensive weapon and opium trade, Jahan Hasan Abdali was their only scion. Drenched in blood and gore from childhood, he knew not when the focus of his life shifted from brusque masculinity, to fragile, feminine sensibilities.
Love may be the salvation, or it may be the agent to destroy the three of them, expecially as the stakes are high and lives are on the line.

~A story of love, hate and deceit that would capture your heart into a loving fist and catapult you into a basket-full of emotions that may entice you to shed a tear or two, as our characters find a home and salvation in each other; some may even discover themselves in the process~

___________☆___________

S N I P P E T

"Jahan, you are being indecisive and selfish. You are bound to the both of them, and pulling at their heartstrings. Accept one, and let the other go. You have always loved Hayat. Then, why can't you let Noor ul Ain, go? Or have your feelings strayed?" His friend's accusatory tone was like pincers to his heart.

Instead of answering, he just let his head dangle between his shoulder blades, and then finally held it with his hands, fed up.

"I love Hayat. Mohabbat hai wo meri. I feel as if, as if, her existence makes me feel content. If she wasn't there, I'd be a man blind. I'd follow her anywhere. I have loved her since the time when I didn't even know what love even was."

"And Noor?" Talal's voice held an unspoken question.

"Her mere existence puts my soul at peace. Marham hai wo mere zakhamon ka. Us ka wajood, her existence makes everything else seem meaningless, even-" he took a deep breathe, voice merely a whisper,"even Hayat."

He wanted to say more. He wanted to let everything out. Wringe out every feeling, and compartmentalise it. But he knew. Saying more would just echo the secret. The secret that his heart had betrayed Hayat, nonetheless.

___________☆___________

A u t h o r' s N o t e

Miscellaneous info:

-START (May 25, 2023)- UPDATE

-As an author, I already know and am well prepared for the criticism this book is going to face. But that does not mean that I'd allow for anyone to bash the story on a whim. The story is much more complex than a mere love story, as it has overarching thèmes of betrayal, revenge and brutal power-plays. The story can also not be classified as a simple love triangle as it is heavily submerged in a plot of intrigue; hence its classification as a 'thriller.'

-This story DOES NOT, I repeat, DOES NOT idealize or romanticise any situation that is included within the book. All instances of a forced marriage, burning, or feudal rivalry and its impacts are depicted as they are. The author also does not encourage any illegal trading whatsoever, such as, the weapon and the drug trading. Human trafficking for slavery or organs are also condoned.

-You do not have to be a Muslim/Arab/Pakistani/Indian to understand the story at all. All foreign terms will be (and there aren't many), will either be defined through context clues and/or the glossary that would be made at the end of each chapter, especially for this purpose.

-There are instances where the word rape is used. The author knows how triggering the word can be and its impact on a particular individual. Hence, warning for a trigger will always be given at the start of the particular chapter.

-While the story is bound to contain certain peoples' skewed version of Islam and its teachings, the author does not endorse such mentality. Islam is a beautiful religion, but to each their own. This is not a religious book, and although it does contain an spiritual element, it is NOT written for the purpose of converting people and hence should not be taken as 'A Handbook to Become the Ideal Muslim.'

-The author emphasises that if you are sensitive to triggers pertaining violence and abuse; mental or physical, then please proceed with caution, as the events are depicted in their undiluted form.

WARNING: This contains some violent content. The scenes in the book are depicted in their original form. If you are sensitive to triggers, proceed with caution.

___________☆___________

D I S C L A I M E R

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any and all resemblance to actual persons/places, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Likewise, nobody has the permission to reproduce this work anywhere else, without the express written permission of the author.

Graphics used in the book do not belong to me, although I may have used them for recreational purposes. Credits are made to their owners where ever possible, and likewise, mentioned. All media belong to their rightful owners.

COPYRIGHT © 2023 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Note: This is a first draft and thus liable to errors. The author seeks forgiveness for any inconvinience in advance.

~~~

E n j o y!