I Bought a Love Table in India

I was inspired by the story of the Taj Mahal

Photo by author — back of Taj Mahal at sunset. Shot taken from the other side of the Yamuna River.

The Taj Mahal stands in perfect symmetry as the stone seems to come to life when the sky reflects off the shiny marble.

As one of the seven wonders of the world, it is captivating and rich and, at the same time, steeped in tragic lore. Mughal emperor Shah Jahan commissioned the mausoleum to honor the love story of his favorite (and third) wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

Princess Mumtaz was a loving and faithful companion to the Emperor during their entire marriage from 1612 to 1631, when she died in childbirth while accompanying her husband in battle.

I questioned if any of the folklore held the truth as I heard the stories told during the tour.

Was it built to mimic Mumtaz’s celestial home in paradise?

Could the jealousy among the wives motivate Mumtaz’s need for the citizenry to know she was the favorite?

How did she endure hours of near-death labor while waiting for her husband to come to their tent so she could see him one more time?

Did she ask her husband on her deathbed to honor their love so others could see it was true?

I felt the presence of love as I lost myself in the shimmering Taj mirrored in the 100+ foot…