Noor

During the medieval era in India, an architect named Haider and a commoner named Noor fell in love. Even when their religion, era and circumstances obstruct them to be husband and wife, they never give in to those constructs and passionately care for each other until their Emperor commissions Haider to build him a monument of an original design that the world would be impressed with forever.

Read Santhosh Annabattula’s short story “Noor” to know how passionately loving someone could dictate one’s thoughts, pain and profession so much so that they are empowered unlike anyone else.

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Credits

This contribution is edited by Sreekar Ayyagari & R. K. Chamarla & photographed by Pankaj Tottada.

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Product

This short story is available in paperback & ebook.

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Cover Photo by Pankaj Tottada

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, events and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination.

Noor’s kohl-rimmed eyes followed Haider everywhere. He would get up early at dawn for his work. Her furtive gaze was interspersed with blushes as he made his way around her palatial house to the artisan’s camp. Haider knew Noor was a woman any man would dream to be with. Her sublime beauty can only be rivalled by the purity of her heart. He knew in his heart that he loved her. However, it was a desire beyond his reach. He was a bonded slave who pledged his life to work for the Emperor. Love and marriage are seen as deterrents to his work and are forbidden. Ever since he turned down her advances, their love was reduced to silent gazes and an unfulfilled dream.

​Haider was exceptionally gifted with a prodigious talent for architecture and the design of forts and monuments. He earned a high reputation among his peers and worked directly under the master architect of the Royal Emperor. He was present in the Court hall on the day when the Emperor unveiled his grand plan and vision for a new monument in the capital city. It was unprecedented and required the best artisans and craftsmen of its time. Haider saw it as an opportunity and worked on it sleeplessly for months. The designs were personally selected by the Emperor who was impressed with Haider. He granted him a direct audience one day and appreciated his work. However, the Emperor said that his designs were inspired and he wanted something original and breathtaking. So Haider was given a month to complete this task.

Disappointed with every design he studied, Haider spent several days at his study working on the new design. After a few days, he knew he was struggling. He would hide in his house without food or water for days. He tore apart his designs which were either inspired or clichéd and was desperately looking for new ideas. Time was running out.

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