Years ago, it began to grow along the steep hillside overlooking the valley. As a sapling, it weathered the wind that buffeted it, struggled until it reached a size that its roots ran strong and deep.
How it managed to not be decimated by the deer passing through, it wasn't quite sure. But it made it, alone and lone, firm, and strong.
As #Delhi roasts at 49.9°c (a record) Maharaja Sur Singh of #Jodhpur#Marwar#Rajasthan sits smoking a #Huqqa without his shirt on!
And, so does his attendant, fanning him in this c1760 CE #IndianMiniaturePainting from the Toby Falk collection sold by Christie's Inc on 27th October 2023 for £5040.