The Garden of Heaven a Novel

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A magnificent stone frieze adorned with peacocks, vines, and leaves weaves through this gripping saga spanning two centuries between the invasions of Dilli by Muhammed of Ghur in 1192 CE and Taimur in 1398. The story follows ten-year-old Madhav, who arrives in Dilli after the battle that leads to Prithviraj Chauhan's downfall and the rise of the Delhi Sultanate. In the bustling city, Madhav embarks on a journey as a stone carver, with his craft becoming an integral part of his identity. This inspires him to create his masterpiece, the Garden of Heaven. Parallel to Madhav’s journey is the tale of another family of stone carvers—Nandu, his proud daughter Gayatri, and Gayatri’s daughter, Jayshree, who befriends a headstrong young woman dressed as a man. The narrative also features Amir Khusro, a gentle courtier, and Ibrahim, whose forbidden love for Chhoti unites two families. Additionally, lonely Shagufta rescues a wounded Timurid soldier, Nasiruddin, and distracts him from his pain by sharing stories of her city and herself. This richly human and layered narrative captures Delhi on the brink of a transformative era, keeping readers enthralled until the very end.