The Gulmohar of Mehranpur

by Amal Singh

In the small city of Mehranpur, the Nawab suspects there may be a connection between the slow wasting of a beloved tree and the fate of the city itself.

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Genres: Fantasy, Short Stories, India, Historical Fiction, Adult

24 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 21, 2024

About the author

Writer of Science Fiction & Fantasy, with works having appeared/forthcoming in venues such as Tor.com, Clarkesworld, F&SF, Asimov's, among others.

Debut novel, "The Garden of Delights" now out!

Reviews

[Daren · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short (and free) story from Tor.Com (albeit the name has changed, it still redirects from this address) HERE

A fantasy story based in the India of the past, ruled by a Shah, with states run by Nawab. The Gulmohar of Mehranpur refers to the tree (Gulmohar tree - Delonix regia is a species of flowering plant in the bean family Fabaceae, subfamily Caesalpinioideae native to Madagascar. It is noted for its fern-like leaves and flamboyant display of orange-red flowers over summer), Mehranpur is the name of the state. It is believed that the health of the tree is tied to the health of the Nawab.

A new khansama (cook) arrives, promising he can prepare a meal that will provide eternal youth. The Nawab disbelieves, but allows the man to make attempt, on pain of death should he fail. The cost - a small amount of gold each day for the eighteen days it takes to prepare.

No more plot, as this short story is short enough that I would spoil it for readers.

Great cover art, and I quite liked this for a 10 minute diversion, and would read more of this authors work.

4 stars

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the cover! And yes, hated the characters. Read it until the end cos it is a short story. Tired of reading about impatient powerful mindless characters. But yes, this one is more like “moral of the story is…” stop being selfish and listen to the one who cares about you. And yes, if you pay someone try their product and decide not harass them.

[Hanneleele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mulle juba lapsena "Saja rahva lugudest" India omad meeldisid.
Ainuke kaebus on, et puude aastarõngad ei paista enamasti nende koore pealt välja :P

[Sanaa Hyder · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This was nice. Nawabs, gold, a majestic tree, and the promise of eternal youth in a karahi. I would love to read a novella with the extended version. The short story left me wondering what else the khansama could cook…

The story can be found here: https://reactormag.com/the-gulmohar-o...

[Radwa · Rating 3 out of 5]

first of all, that's a gorgeous cover.
this story didn't stick with me that much, it felt too much like a story with a moral, that it wasn't really an engaging story.

[Divya Shankar · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Nawab of a small city named Mehranpur is getting old. As senility eats him from within, his heart is heaving with rage and anxiety, rage at the ill treatment he, his subjects and his city face at the hands of the Shah of Alipur to whom they were all subservient and anxiety/worry over the future of the city which is on the precipice of death, just like its ruler, the Nawab and the Gulmohar tree in his garden. Despite good water and manure and careful tending by the Nawab and his gardener, the gulmohar fails to be revived.
When a new khansama, extremely confident and proud, arrives at the court of the Nawab with the promise to cook a meal that brings eternal youth, a few things change and don't change in Mehranpur.

A short story with a message to never give up, seek happiness and positivity in little things around us, The Gulmohar of Mehranpur, is too short to create an impact. Though well written, the characters don't leave a lasting impression. Wish the story had been as vibrant as the cover itself. I have the author's novel waiting to be read, picked this short story for a start. This is available for free on reactormag.com, so guess readers shouldn't take the trouble of purchasing the Kindle copy.

[Kam Yung Soh · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Nawab (ruler) of Mehranpur is offered a meal that can bring eternal youth, taking many days to prepare. During that time, the Namab worries about his tree, a Gulmohar, which is wilting and dying. Just before the meal is ready, he is summoned by the ruler of another kingdom, which the Nawab is a subject of, and told to uproot and present his tree to the ruler. As the Nawab ponders what to do, the meal is present: its effect would make the Nawab consider alternatives to the ruler's demand.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting little fairy tale, didn't really stick around all that much with me.

[Deb Cheatham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very short story. I read it in 25 minutes. Beautiful imagery in the book which transported me into the story. Very brief, very serene story. Would recommend.

[Per · Rating 2 out of 5]

https://reactormag.com/the-gulmohar-o...