Sushmajee
Shishu Sansaar | Arabian Nights Stories-3

Arabian Nights Stories-3

Home | Shishu Sansaar | Stories | Arabian Nights

Story No 65-2/4

Previous Story | Previous Page | Next Page | Next Story

 

65-2 - Three Sharpers, Two Sultaans, and a Lunatic (2 of 4)

Shaharzaad further said - "Thus those three Sharpers lived there for some time till one day, when the Sultaan said to himself - "These people have solved my every question of genealogy - first the jeweler proved himself, then the horseman proved himself correct and then the third man told me about the genealogy of human being also correct. Now I should ask him about myself." 

So his people brought the third man in the court and the King asked him - "Can you tell me my genealogy?" Said the Sharper - "Yes, Sir, I will do so but on one condition - that you promise me my safety after what I have told you. For the wise say that "When the Sultaan sits on the throne, beware his headstrongness, he can anytime say, "Smite..." At this the Sultaan said - "You have a promise of immunity - a promise which will never be false." The Sharper said - "O King, let this information be between us - you and me." Asked the Sultaan - "Why?" The Sharper said - "Allah's one name is "Veiler"." So the King sent all his people out of the court. Then the Sharper said - "You are the son of shame and an issue of adultery."

As soon as the king heard this his limbs fell lose, he lost his hearing and sight and fell fainted on the ground. After a while he recovered and said to the Sharper - "By Allaah, If you have told the truth, I would give you my kingdom to you because none deserves it except you; but if I find your speech lying, I will slay you." "Sure, Sir." Then he went in to his mother and said to her - "You tell me the total truth otherwise I will cut you in little bits with this blade."

His mother got frightened and asked him - "What do you want to know my son?" He asked - "Whose son am I? And what is my descent?" She said - "I will tell the fact that you are the son of a cook. The Sultaan that was before you, took me as his wife and I lived with him for some time but could not have a child from him, for he had no seed, nor he could enjoy food or sleep. Once he longed to eat poultry, so he sent for a fowl and asked his cook to slaughter it. At that time I thought that if the King lives like that, he will die and the kingdom will go out of our hands. So the Shaitaan (Satan) tempted me and I went to the cook adorned in my finest apparel. I had him and then he went his ways. I became pregnant. When the King heard this he became so happy that he distributed so many gifts and alms and then I had you.

When you were born, he was in the garden, When he heard the news of the birth of a boy, he ordered to decorate the capital. The decoration lasted for 15 days. Then the city itself remained decorated for 40 days. This is my case and my story."

The King went to the Sharper, he gave his own dress to him, dressed him in royal dress and asked - "What made you say that I was he son of adultery?" "O Lord, My proof was, that even after our correct answers you rationed us only a dish of roasted meat and two cakes of bread; that is how I knew that you have to be of cook's breed; otherwise if you had been a King, you had made the present of money, and valuables, not of meat and bread as you did."

He replied - "You are right." He seated him on the throne and went to wander about in the guise of Darvesh leaving all his women and wealth to him. When the Sharper sat on the throne, he called the other two Sharpers to test whether they could recognize him. But when they came and he talked to them they could not recognize him. He made gifts to them and sent them back to their place and ruled generously.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Two Kings
Now the Sultaan, wandering here and there, came to Cairo where the King Muhammad ruled. He found the place safe and prosperous. Wandering in the city he came to the palace where he saw the Sultaan returning from his pleasure trip. Seeing him coming, Darvesh stood aside to allow him to enter the palace. The Sultaan saw him and saw the sign of former prosperity, so he said to his people to take him and entertain him until he called for him.

When the Sultaan had rested, he called for the Faqeer and asked him - "Where have you come from?" He said - "O Lord, I am a beggar man." "What has brought you here?" The Darvesh said - "I can tell you in private." "Be it so." So they both rose and went into a private room and the Faqeer related him the story what had befallen him since he left his kingship and how he gave up his throne and took up the life of Darvesh.

The other King then called his people loud in and said - "Laud be to Him. I have passed an adventure which is marvelous. I must tell you about that. I also began my career as a Darvesh, till one day, I became the possessor of just 10 silver coins which I decided to spend on myself. So I went to market and looked around for something. That I saw a man passing by leading a dog-faced baboon fastened with iron chain and crying - "This ape is for sale for 10 Faddaas." I gave him 10 Faddaas and bought the ape from him. As I entered my cell, I questioned myself, "How I am going to manage food for this baboon and myself?" 

As I said these words, that baboon changed into a very handsome young man. He spoke to me - "O Shekh Muhammad, You have bought me with 10 Faddaas, all that you had and are now thinking how to feed both of us?" "Who are you?" He said - "Ask me no question, because good luck has fallen upon you." Then he gave me an Asharfee (a gold coin) and said - "Take this and buy something to eat and drink for both of us." I took it from him, went to the market, bought some food and drink and came back to my cell. We ate to our satisfaction and slept comfortably in that cell. Next morning the man said - "This cell is not comfortable for both of us, so rent a bigger place."

I went and rented a bigger room in the upper part and we  moved in that room. Then he gave me 10 Deenaars more and asked me to buy some furniture for the room. I went out and bought some furniture. When I came back, I found him sitting near a bundle of royal clothes. He asked me to go to take bath and wear those clothes. When I had put on those clothes I found 100 pieces of gold in each of my pockets. I said to  myself - "Am I dreaming or awake?"

When I returned to the room he gave me another big bundle and asked me to take it to the Sultaan and ask for his daughter's hand in marriage for myself. So I went to the Sultaan and when his people saw my attire, they thought of me as a proper person to meet the Sultaan, so they asked me - "What is your business and what do you want?" I said - "I wish to see the Sultaan." They replied - "Wait a while." After a while a person came and took me inside. I greeted the Sultaan and presented him the bundle I brought for him. The Sultaan asked to open that bundle. He found a royal suit whose like he had never owned. He was astonished at the sight of the suit and said - "It is accepted, but you must have come to me to want something."

I said - "I wish to have connection with you. I wish to marry your daughter." As he heard this, he asked his Vazeer - "Counsel me what should I do." The Vazeer said - "Show him the most precious jewel and ask him to bring one like that." The Sultaan brought a jewel and showed it to me and said - "If you can bring such a jewel, that will be my daughter's dowry." I asked him - "If I bring such a jewel, will the Princess be my mine?" He answered, "Sure?" So I came from there and showed the jewel to him. He asked me if I proposed for his daughter? I said, "Yes. And he has asked me to bring such a jewel then he would marry his daughter to me." The young man said - "I cannot do it today, but I will bring 10 such jewels to you and you may present them to the Sultaan."

Contd on Next Page

 

 

Home | Shishu Sansaar | Stories | Arabian Nights

 

Previous Story | Previous Page | Next Page | Next Story

Created by Sushma Gupta on January 15, 2002
Contact:  sushmajee@yahoo.com
Modified on 07/12/14