A harsh banging awoke Shazaman from his slumber. He groggily rose from the bed trying not to disturb his three wives that were still asleep. The French made clock indicated that it was 1:30 in the morning. The persistent banging continued. “In the name of Allah I am coming!” he shouted irritably. Who the devil could it be at this ungodly hour? He wondered.
He swung the door open to find an Imperial Messenger standing before him “Ahmad Shah Bahadur Badshah of All India demands your presence before him” said the messenger stonily. “You have an hour”
Shazaman’s throat caught. A summons from the Badshah at this hour only meant one thing…
Closing the door softly he went and embraced his wives and children as though for the last time. He departed carrying with him a present for the Badshah.
****************************************************************************
Shazaman entered the throne room of the Imperial Palace, walking down the white marble floor flanked by enormous pillars along the side. The ceiling was encrusted with gold and precious stones. Approaching the throne upon which the Badshah at he bowed and offered a bowl with gold coins to the Badshah’s feet.
Ahmad Shah gazed down “What is this?”
“My lord. When a servant is summoned by his master at such an hour it is customary to bring him tribute.” Replied Shazaman
“I do not need your tribute Shazaman, rise and face me”
He rose turning his eyes toward the Badshah. The Badshah’s eyes were circled with dark rings from a lack of sleep and the desks at the sides of his throne were scattered with paper and various aides and servants were rushing around carrying out their master’s orders. So it is true what they say that the Badshah never sleeps.
“What is the progress of our modernization initiative?” Ahmad Shah demanded
Shazaman nervously cleared his throat “My lord as you know it is a slow process, we have begun hiring French contractors and have made some headway, and our troops are being refitted with new weaponry.”
Ahmad Shah rose and walked to the massive balcony that overlooked the entire city of Delhi, the sandstone buildings were everywhere. “Have you reviewed reports, from our ambassadors sent to Paris?”
Shazaman nodded
“Good because that is what I want to achieve. I do not care what it takes, or how much it costs, but see to it that the Empire is modernized. I will not tolerate failure. Always be mindful of this. Just see that it is done.”
Shazaman bowed once more and backed out of the throne room
Ahmad Shah turned away from the balcony. The eunuch Arbaaz Khan sidled up beside him “Our revenue cannot sustain the cost of this project due our recent iniatatives “ he said
Ahmad Shah nodded absently “That will be dealt with, you recall the investment that we made do you not?”
Arbaaz Khan raised his eyebrows “That one?”
“Of course, I expect to get returns on that, enough to refill our coffers at the very least. There are a number of ways we can extract money from it. One way or another I will see that this is finished."