7 The Harem Conspiracy

(Who was the Taj Mahal built for?)

Holmes, Moriarty and Watson, were all three at Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India, they were all looking at the White Lotus of India; the Taj Mahal.

" There are two kinds of people in the world, those who have seen the Taj Mahal and love it, and those who have not seen the Taj Mahal and love it. " - Bill Clinton.

Bell had just finished that quote, as he, Moriarty and Watson had arrived at the entrance.

" Holmes, would it not have been a better idea to have visited the Tomb of Love with your wife, and not with your friends? " said Watson with a smile.

" My dear Watson… Irene and I have already visited the Taj Mahal " said Holmes with a smirk.

" When? "

" It was during our honeymoon, when we decided to travel around the world, the Taj Mahal was one of our destinations "

Bell now noticed Moriarty admiring the unrivaled building.

" Tell me what you see " said Holmes, as he walked up to him.

" I see art, based on Persian and Mughal architecture. The building shares a resemblance with the Gur-E Amir "

Moriarty now started to talk about the gemstones, the calligraphy of nature- made by paint and stucco.

He now read the words from atop the great gate;

" O Soul, thou art at rest. Return to the Lord at peace with him, and He at peace with you "

Bell could see that his student had other things on his mind.

" What is it, my boy? "

" Sir… the White Lotus is weathering… "

" What makes you say that? " said Holmes, already knowing the answer, for he had observed the same.

" The groundwater from the nearby Yamuna river is falling, which could end up destabilizing the whole building "

Bell agreed with his silence, for he had noticed the cracks at the tombs.

" My boy, I know that you are worried, but for now, let us talk about the creator of the Taj Mahal; Emperor Shah Jahan- "

Before Holmes could continue, a friend had just arrived per his request.

" Ah, Mr Edward Malone " said Bell, as he shook Mr Malone's hand.

" Mr Bell, I am honored that you called me, and please excuse my looks, I have just returned from the Lost World " said Edward Malone, as he looked like someone who has just been in South America. " You wished to talk about a conspiracy? " Edward continued.

" Ah yes, but your dialogue is not with me, but with my student here " said Holmes, as his arm was around Moriarty.

" I see. You wish for me and Edward to talk about the conspiracy surrounding the Taj Mahal " said Moriarty.

" Exactly, my boy "

" What conspiracy? " asked Watson, a little confused.

" As to who the Taj Mahal was built for, " said Moriarty.

" Surely it was built for the Emperor's wife; Mumtaz Mahal, I mean, it is even in the name " said Watson.

" Agreed, but, Emperor Shah Jahan had many wives " said Malone with a smile.

" I knew of that, but it is said that Mumtaz Mahal was the favorite of the once Emperor " said Watson.

" It is even suggested that the Taj Mahal was built just for the Emperor, " said Malone.

" Absurd! " exclaimed Watson.

" I see that you have been added to the dialogue " said Bell, as he listened with intrigue.

" I know very well that Emperor Shah Jahan's tomb is under the Taj Mahal, but so is the tomb of his beloved wife; Mumtaz Mahal, " said Watson.

" Agreed, but the Emperor also had four other wives " said Malone.

" Are you implying that the Tomb of Love was built for another of the Emperor's wives? " asked Watson.

" I am " answered Malone.

" And on what information, good sir, are you basing your theory on? " asked Watson, who was displaying many of his emotions, which shocked and amazed both Holmes and Moriarty.

" On one name, the Emperor had uttered with his dying breath, which I read on a lost scroll from the Lost World " said Malone with such confidence, that Watson was not sure that his poor heart could handle the revelation.

" The Emperor uttered the name; Rosebud "

Watson was dumbfounded for a moment, but he then noticed the smiling faces of Malone, Moriarty and Holmes.

" You are all having a laugh at my expense! " he exclaimed.

" Forgive them, Watson, I put them up to the joke "

" Bell, you were the culprit?! " uttered Watson, feeling a sense of betrayal from his dear friend.

" You know how fond I am of the Taj Mahal… " he continued.

" And you have proven your words, and I shall amends by paying for all our expenses while we are in India " said Holmes.

" I shall have you bankrupt, by the end of this trip! " exclaimed Watson, as he went to town(literally and figuratively)

Bell just smiled, as the expenses were paid by Jakob the RICH.

The four men now enjoyed the rest of their trip, together, in the land of many colors.