The story they never taught in school.

Shah Jahan: What do you need?

Mumtaz: I have told you before.

Shah Jahan: What is this tomb nonsense?

Mumtaz: I told you. Plan a tomb for me. A big, proper one. One I will be proud of.

Shah Jahan: But you're alive!
+
Mumtaz: So? I want my tomb planned before I die. I want to rest in the grandest possible way.

Shah Jahan: Or else?

Mumtaz: Or else I want to die.

Shah Jahan: That is illogical.

Mumtaz: I don't care.

Shah Jahan: Fine, you get your tomb.

Mumtaz: My love!
+
Shah Jahan: But on one condition.

Mumtaz: Yes, my love?

Shah Jahan: Sing something for me. Now.

So Mumtaz sang in her mellifluous voice, bringing her king and the great city and the ancient country to a standstill.
+
She began
...
...
...
...
...
...

and continued

...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Humen aur jeene ki
Chaahat na hoti
Agar tomb na hote
Agar tomb na hote...

• • •

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Feb 22
Raman Lamba died on this day, 1998.

Lamba was my childhood hero. Or at least one of my childhood heroes.

He was not the greatest batter who ever lived, far from it. But he made cricket look very, very easy.

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He enthralled me on debut, at Kanpur. Australia set India 251.

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The Coca Cola Champions Trophy of 1999, in Sharjah, featured West Indies, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

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Oct 23, 2021
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Oct 14, 2021
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