Amar witnessed all of this from his hiding place. He looked around and saw a hut resembling the gardener’s quarters. Amar approached it under cover of the trees and saw an old woman lying there. When he asked who she was, she told him she was the gardener’s mother, Champa. Amar hit her in the face with an egg of oblivion, which exploded upon impact; the drug travelled down her nose and she fell unconscious. Amar put her in his zambil and, disguising himself as Champa, went before Sharara, walking with a cane.
The false Champa circled around Sharara’s throne, offering herself as her mistress’s sacrifice to protect her against calamities. Sharara said, “Tell me, Champa, why did you wish to see me?” The false Champa answered, “May I sacrifice my life to protect yours! I heard that a thief has escaped and you tested everyone in the garden. Your slave girl now submits herself for you to test her!” Sharara answered, “There is no need to test you! I will invoke my magic tonight. It will drive Amar out from wherever he is hiding and present him before me.” The false Champa answered, “Tomorrow will be another day. I wish you to put me to the same test that others submitted to earlier today!” Sharara answered, “Very well then! Go and bring me the magic box!” The false Champa said, “I will bring it in no time. Tell me where it is kept.” After receiving the directions, she hobbled off. Entering the summerhouse and finding it deserted, the false Champa opened the magic box and, taking care not to touch the clasp, filled up the box with drug mist. She put two cotton swabs steeped in an antidote in her nostrils so that the drug mist would not affect her. Closing the lid as before and walking slowly, she carried it before Sharara. The sorceress said to her attendants, “She is too old and frail to carry the magic box by herself. Take it from her hands.” The attendants took it from Champa’s hands and put it before Sharara while the false Champa positioned herself before her.
The moment Sharara opened the lid, a cloud of drug vapour rose like smoke and Sharara and all her attendants standing close to her sneezed and fell unconscious. The moment Sharara lost consciousness Amar cut off her head with one blow of his dagger. No sooner was Sharara killed than a great pandemonium broke loose. Stones and hail began to shower and her magic spirits began making deafening outcries.
Amar took advantage of the tumult to put on his cape of invisibility. He put the White Conch, whose call made even demons leap with fright, to his mouth. In the midst of that commotion everyone heard someone call out in a voice that struck terror in their hearts: “Run or all of you will also die!” The moment they heard it, Sharara’s servants and attendants stampeded out of the garden. Amar cut off the head of every single attendant who lay unconscious with Sharara. The racket continued and everything remained enveloped in darkness for some time. Finally, everything subsided and Amar saw dead sorceresses lying all around him. All enchanted buildings and trees had disappeared from the garden. Only the real trees and buildings remained standing.
Amar beheld Prince Badiuz Zaman standing unfettered under a tree. Badiuz Zaman greeted Amar when the latter took off his cape. Amar asked him, “How were you freed?” Badiuz Zaman answered, “The chains and fetters were created by Sharara’s spell. When she died they also disappeared. The door of the chamber where I was imprisoned fell open and I came out.”
While Amar was conversing with Badiuz Zaman, a strong wind suddenly picked up. Whirlwinds rose from the ground and began twirling Sharara’s corpse around and bore it away into the air. Amar said, “We must get out of here without an instant’s delay! It seems the corpse of Sharara will be carried before Emperor Afrasiyab and some calamity will visit us before long.”
Badiuz Zaman said, “If we had a conveyance, it would shorten our journey!” Amar answered, “I know a horse is on sale in these parts but it would cost you some little money!” Badiuz Zaman promised to pay Amar a hundred thousand rupees. Amar took out a pen and inkwell from the zambil and said, “Put it on paper! You are a young man. Later, if you refuse the payment, I will have some proof to take before a judge!” Badiuz Zaman laughed and wrote out a promissory note to the treasurer in Amar’s favor for the money.
Amar put the note in his zambil and went outside the garden. He took out a horse and all its trappings from his zambil and brought him saddled before the prince. He said to the prince, “I have just bought it from a merchant outside the garden!” Badiuz Zaman answered, “And singularly fortunate it was, too, that he was standing right outside the garden door waiting for you in this upheaval!” Amar replied, “Have you learned anything in your life other than making speeches? Start moving before some other trouble claims us!” Badiuz Zaman mounted the horse and Amar accompanied him as they headed out of the garden.
On the way, Badiuz Zaman said to Amar, “It would be a disgrace for me to return straight to the camp without seeing Princess Tasveer. I have fallen in love with her. When she hears of my leaving, she will say that Hamza’s son, who desired her, found it a better bargain to escape with his life and return to his camp.”
Amar glared at Badiuz Zaman and said, “O worthless creature, what is this new song you have started singing before even returning to your camp! Keep moving or I swear by your father’s honor that I will lash you until your skin has fallen off your back!” Badiuz Zaman said, “I would offer you my precious bracelet, which is worth hundreds of thousands of rupees, if you could find some way of uniting me with my beloved! I am in such a state that,
“Either I reach my beloved’s side or my soul leaves my body
Between these choices I wager my life.”
When Amar heard of the bracelet, he said in a gruff voice, “What do you take me for, a dealer in women? I wouldn’t know how to procure girls for you! Tasveer, however, is a princess, and I will see what I can do! Come, hand me the bracelet now!” Badiuz Zaman gave the bracelet to Amar, who led him in the direction from which he had seen Tasveer come.
On the way, Amar showed him the spot where he had found Shagufa and narrated the whole story of his adventures. Badiuz Zaman laughed at Amar’s account and they headed onwards.
Ever since Princess Tasveer had returned from sorceress Sharara’s garden she was in a state that,
The day passed in lamentations, the night in tears
My life passed in such a manner, with such agony and pain
Prince Badiuz Zaman’s face had remained imprinted in her heart. It constantly called out his name.
When the princess’s companions and confidants saw her state, they insisted on knowing what passed inside her heart. They said, “Tell us who he is to whom you have lost your heart. Give us the particulars of the despotic tyrant who has reduced you to such a condition that your eyes are constantly tearful, your senses are in disarray and your condition worsens from day to day. Confide in us so that we may find some way of bringing him to you.” The princess said, “My malady has no cure. Even the Messiah cannot offer a remedy to my state!”
Her companions said, “May our lives be sacrificed to protect you! Whether it makes you happy or sad, there is no denying that Your Excellency has been in this state ever since she laid eyes on that prisoner.” One of them interjected, “And so attractive and fine looking he was, too. I swear by my eyes that my own heart became all aflutter at his sight! It has remained imprisoned in his locks ever since I caught sight of him. The core of my heart has become all bloodied; my eyes have been robbed of all sleep; night and day I long to see his face.”
When Tasveer heard these affectionate words from her friends and companions, she finally confessed her love for Prince Badiuz Zaman to them. She ordered her attendants to change into pigeons and ringdoves by magic and fly to Sharara’s garden to keep watch and report whatever passed there.
Her attendants first returned with the news that Amar, who was disguised as Shagufa, had been caught. Tasveer became terribly despondent and was in the depths of the doldrums when they brought her the news of Sharara’s death. That tulip-cheeked beauty blossomed, and said to her attendants, “Now the prince will be released and he will return to his
camp. Go and bring him here and unite the seeker with the sought!” Her attendants departed immediately upon her orders.
Amar was leading Badiuz Zaman on his way when they saw five adolescent beauties coming toward them. The partings in their hair were lined with cinnabar and their bodies were covered with jewelery.
Comely, houri-faced and fairy-like, they cavorted together and stepped with fine comportment and lofty bearing.
They approached the prince’s mount and after curtsying before him, said with folded arms, “Our mistress Princess Tasveer sends you her fond greetings and requests the honor of your visit, provided you do not consider it too much of an imposition. You may visit her garden and regale yourself there before carrying on your way.”
Amar turned his face away with feigned anger and said, “We do not find sorceresses worthy of our notice and deem them unfit even to carry our chamber pot!” The girls turned a ferocious glance at him. They beheld a thin, wiry man making these remarks. Witty and full of humour as they were, one retorted, “Regard this midget jinn who came back from the dead!” The other said, “To me he seems like a peewee demon!” A third one said, “If you ask me, he is the great ape himself!” Amar replied, “I am a peewee demon who will teach you the lesson of your life!”
Badiuz Zaman said, “Surely, there can be no harm in a short visit and calling on the princess!” Amar said, “Whenever you hear a girl’s invitation you fall head-over-heels in love with her. When we return to our camp I will have Hamza put you right once and for all!”
In short order, they accompanied Tasveer’s attendants and approached the garden. One of the girls went forth and informed Tasveer of the prince’s arrival. She ordered the garden to be decorated and all devices of pleasure to be provided. The carpet keepers quickly laid out carpets of ermine and gold tissue in the building and provided all royal comforts and the apparatus of revelry.
The princess had hardly reached the garden gates to wait for the prince when the sapling of the Lord of the Auspicious Planetary Conjunction’s garden came into view riding his mount. As he approached, Badiuz Zaman dismounted and the attendants led away his horse.
Amar also accompanied Badiuz Zaman and, approaching the garden gates, found Tasveer looking their way, gazing like the narcissus. Clad in her embroidered satin dress and draped in gold jewelery, she presented a picture of majestic beauty.
With her one hand placed on the shoulder of her attendants, she came forward and smilingly put her hand in that of Prince Badiuz Zaman. She modestly said, “O Prince of auspicious fortune, you have honored this unworthy slave by deigning to pay her a visit. It is my privilege and pride to receive you!
“Had I notice of your arrival
I would have grown the path with jasmine and roses
I would not have allowed you to set foot on the ground
With the broom of my eyelashes I would have cleaned your
soles.”
The prince said, “I likewise suffer in your love, my princess,
“The dress I made from your alley’s dust
My tears rent into a thousand shreds.
“All praise to the Gatherer of the Separated who brought us together!”
The two of them entered the garden conversing together like the rose and the nightingale.13 The prince beheld the blossoming garden that was the envy of paradise. It was in full bloom and the foliage and the greenery of its trees mocked the Grove of the Virgin of the Heavens.14 Its verdure was the envy of the down that grows on the faces of beloveds.
Next to every tree grown by nature, consummate artists had planted one made of jewels, injecting its flowers with the aroma of the original that the zephyr’s movement dispersed to perfume the soul’s garden.
Regarding the scenery, the two lovers entered the summerhouse where all comforts were provided. A wine tray was laid next to a seat. A bed enchased with gold and jewels, and a bedstead with tester and curtains was spread in the other corner. The place was decorated with mirror lights and carpets patterned with foliage.
After showing the summerhouse to the prince, Tasveer brought Badiuz Zaman to a house by the lake that was decorated like a bride and fully equipped and provided with all the paraphernalia of revelry. A lavish throne was provided there. The two lovers sat down beside each other on the royal carpet spread by the lakeside. Trays of wine were brought. Musicians and dancers were sent for and Venus-faced singers were summoned to entertain them.
Amar sat opposite the couple and began poking fun at them, saying, “Where did you find this ugly woman, O Prince? She has a sty on her eyelid and bald spots all over her head!”
Tasveer was greatly embarrassed to hear these words. Badiuz Zaman said, “My princess, this man is guided in all things by greed. If you were to make him a gift, he would begin singing your praises in no time!” Tasveer made the offering of a chest full of gold and jewels to Amar, who said, “To confer such regal gifts becomes her dignity for she is, after all, royalty. You are a lucky dog indeed Badiuz Zaman that you find yourself beside her, even though you are of humble birth – being the son of a keeper of the House of Kaaba!”15 Badiuz Zaman said, “Regard O Princess, how he has turned against me!”
Everyone laughed at Amar’s jests and the princess filled up a goblet of wine and offered it to Badiuz Zaman, saying, “It is the drink of love, O Prince! Please accept it!”
The prince answered, “O nightingale of the garden of excellence, you are a sorceress and I am a True Believer.
“See how great a difference there is between us.
“It would be difficult to establish friendship between us. If you renounce sorcery, however, I will join you in drinking and will spend my life in submission to your wishes.” She answered, “I am not at all versed in sorcery for I am only an adolescent and have not yet learned magic. My time has been spent only in seeking comfort and luxury. Now I will convert to your faith. Mine is the case of the one,
“I am the infidel of love; I need not a truer faith
My every vein binds me to my oath of love.”
With these words, Tasveer converted to the True Faith. They began drinking and quaffing cup after cup of roseate wine. Every moment they recited,
“O cupbearer pass the wine in rounds
And dispel all life’s troubles from the mind.”
As the dancers started performing, Amar began his capers. He took out a pair of scissors from his zambil and hid them between his fingers. Sneaking up behind the dancer, he cut off her gown so dextrously that no one saw it. In the middle of the dance, when the girl twirled, she became completely exposed from behind. Everyone started laughing and she became unnerved. Amar next cut off her gown from the front, and when she turned around she was completely disrobed. The princess called out, “You are a shameless wretch to be dancing like this!” When she looked down and found her gown torn, the dancer sat down from shame and everyone roared with laughter. Badiuz Zaman said, “It is all the doing of Amar!”
The princess could not stop laughing and the dancer cursed Amar Ayyar.
Badiuz Zaman was thus occupied in carousing with the princess when fickle providence became envious of their joy. The lake’s waters, which had flowed quietly until now, became suddenly tumultuous. A great noise arose, which unnerved everyone. After a moment, everyone saw a fearsome demon come out of the water carrying a flint sheet. That abominable creature called out, “O Hamza’s son, come what may, today you will not escape with your life from my hands!” Badiuz Zaman put himself between the demon and the princess and shouted, “Come face me, O wretch, for you are my prey!”
The demon swung the flint sheet and brought it down on the prince. He ducked and foiled the blow, dealing the demon a sword blow which cut him in two. Those two pieces hit the ground, thrashed about and fell into the water. After a few moments, the same demon again emerged whole of body from the lake and again attacked Badiuz Zaman. The prince again cut him in two and, as before, those parts fell into the lake, the demon became whole of body, and at
tacked the prince.
One of Tasveer’s aides named Nairang, who was witnessing this, said to the princess, “This demon will emerge seven times from the lake in this manner and may be killed seven times. But when he emerges the eighth time, none will be able to kill him and he will overpower the prince.” Tasveer said, “Tell me Nairang, if you know some way of killing this demon.” She answered, “I only know that your aunt Sharara had deputed this demon to guard you. She had also made and put away a magic bow and three arrows in a chamber in this garden. If someone were to shoot one of those arrows at the demon from that bow he would be killed. But if none of those arrows reaches its mark, the demon will never be killed.” Tasveer asked, “Where is the chamber?” Nairang replied, “Sharara had made that chamber invisible to the eye with a spell but now that she is dead, her spell will also be broken and we will see the chamber. If Your Highness were to step with me into the summerhouse, I will try to locate it.”
Tasveer went into the summerhouse with Nairang and beheld a chamber she had never seen before. She opened it and saw lying there a bow and three arrows. She rushed with them to the prince, who had killed the demon a fifth time. She told him to shoot him with the arrow when he emerged next.
Badiuz Zaman waited by the lakeside with drawn bow. When the demon came out and rushed at him, Badiuz Zaman fired, aiming at his breast. By the Incomparable Creator’s grace, the very first arrow met its mark, pierced the demon, and came out his back. The demon spun and fell to the ground. A blazing flame came out from the hole made by the arrow and burned him to cinder. A great pandemonium arose and after awhile a voice exclaimed, “Sorcerer Muhafiz the Guard was killed!”
Hoshruba Page 7