Hoshruba

by Musharraf Ali Farooqi

  Sayyah tied up Amar and Sarsar, and sat down to watch the dance recital.

  Now hear of Burq the Frank. In the midst of fighting Saba Raftar, he jumped into a cave. Saba Raftar jumped in after him, dagger drawn, and shouted, “There’s nowhere you can run to now.”

  Burq had fixed the snare rope to the mouth of the cave. When Saba Raftar jumped in, Burq pulled the rope and Saba Raftar fell into his lap entangled in the snare rope. Burq made her unconscious with a drug then disguised himself as Saba Raftar. The real Saba Raftar he dressed up and disguised as Amar Ayyar. Then he tied the false Amar Ayyar into a bundle and headed to where the wedding party was assembled.

  Noticing the false Saba Raftar carrying a bundle, everyone gathered to see whom she had caught. The false Saba Raftar approached and saw Amar and Sarsar sitting tied up.

  The false Saba Raftar blessed Sayyah the Traveler, then said, “Why are you holding my sister prisoner?” Sayyah replied, “I could not tell the difference. Now I will take both of them before Empress Heyrat.”

  The false Saba Raftar said, “How could you not tell the difference between a woman and a man? I am Sarsar’s vizier girl. The one you have tied up is Princess Sarsar, but the minstrel is one of Amar Ayyar’s companions. I caught the real Amar Ayyar!”

  Sayyah wished to establish the truth of her account. One of the attendees said to him, “I have the portraits of the tricksters and trickster girls with which you can verify their faces.”

  Once their identity was verified, Sayyah released the real Sarsar and tied up the false Amar, who was really Saba Raftar in disguise.

  After she was released, Sarsar recognized Burq but she said to herself, These idiots and clowns assembled here are all blind to sense and reason. They would meet the punishment they deserve at the tricksters’ hands. Let them reap their rewards since they humiliated and disgraced me. I should leave them to their just deserts.

  When Sarsar left, the false Saba Raftar said to Taseer, “I made a pledge that after I captured Amar Ayyar I would hold a celebratory feast and be a cupbearer for the sorcerers. All praise to Lord Sameri that after I caught Amar I came upon an assembly of sorcerers. It is my desire to serve wine to everyone in this gathering. I will compensate you for the wine used today from your cellar. All I ask is that you let me be the host.” Taseer answered, “Think of it as your own home. Drink and serve to your heart’s content without thought of expense.”

  The false Saba Raftar smiled and took charge of the wine service. She drugged the wine while arranging the cups and goblets, and then served the assembly. After they fell unconscious, she released Amar Ayyar, who was in the minstrel’s disguise. Immediately, Amar began looting the assembly while the false Saba Raftar beheaded the sorcerers.

  In the meanwhile, Afrasiyab opened the Book of Sameri. Since Empress Heyrat’s departure on the campaign he had consulted it often to make sure that his wife did not suffer humiliation at the hands of the tricksters. The false Saba Raftar had beheaded only a few sorcerers when the Book of Sameri alerted Afrasiyab to her doings, and the emperor learned that Amar and Burq sowed strife in the environs of the Dome of Light. Afrasiyab thought, How long must I endure these tricksters’ depredations? Today I must capture and kill Amar!

  The emperor sent for sorceress Khumar, who was already wroth with Amar after their earlier encounter when Amar had duped her and shaved her head on the banks of the River of Flowing Blood. Afrasiyab ordered Khumar to produce Amar and Burq before him as prisoners and release the real Saba Raftar.

  Khumar grew magic wings and flew away. She soon arrived at the scene and called out to the tricksters, “Stop, O wretches!” Burq quickly escaped the moment he heard her challenge. Amar hid himself in a nook too, but Khumar came down from the sky in the form of lightning and carried away Amar Ayyar in her magic claw. She recited a spell that set Saba Raftar loose, who ran away once freed from her bonds. Next, Khumar pointed her finger toward the sky and a puff of cloud materialized above the wedding guests who lay drugged. It rained and restored everyone to consciousness. Finding the sorcerers lying murdered around them, they said, “Witness what the tricksters have reduced us to with their evil deeds!” Then they went about their business.

  Khumar arrived at the Dome of Light, saluted the emperor and produced Amar before him. Amar had fallen unconscious, buffeted by the powerful gusts of wind as he was being carried by the magic claw. When he opened his eyes he found himself in Afrasiyab’s court and saluted him.

  Afrasiyab said, “Tell me O Amar if you ever believed that you would see this day?” Amar replied, “I did indeed; I will now rob your court and shave your beard. I came here today for this very purpose.”

  Enraged by this reply, Afrasiyab sent a note to Empress Heyrat in which he wrote:

  “O Empress of the World, we have captured Amar Ayyar. You should hand over the command of your camp to your deputies and return so that I may kill him in your presence to pleasure your heart and comfort your eyes.”

  Afrasiyab dispatched the note with a magic claw and imprisoned Amar in a steel cage.

  When the magic claw delivered Afrasiyab’s note to Heyrat, she broke into joyous laughter and looked more pleased than she ever had. She summoned her army commanders and gave them the news. She instructed them to take care of the camp in her absence and ordered the music assembly to play festive music in anticipation of Amar Ayyar’s death.

  As the drums began playing celebratory notes, Heyrat clad herself in a red dress, covered herself with ruby jewelery, and departed for the Dome of Light mounted on a magic peacock.

  In the meanwhile, the magic birds brought news of Amar’s capture to Mahrukh Magic-Eye and Mahjabeen Diamond-Robe and informed them of the celebrations in the enemy camp, and of Empress Heyrat’s departure to preside over Amar’s killing.

  Princesses Bahar, Nafarman and Queen Mahjabeen ordered their armies to get ready to march to Amar’s rescue or die fighting in the effort. Mahrukh Magic-Eye said, “It’s nearly impossibile to reach the Dome of Light.” Prince Asad said, “No mortal has the power to kill Amar. He is the Beheader of Sorcerers and the favored one of seven prophets. He will only die after he himself asks for his death three times. Afrasiyab has no power to harm even a hair on his body. We must all pray to the True Savior for Amar’s well being and safety.”

  All of them called out in prayer, “O Supreme Creator and Kind and Merciful Lord, all of us converted to the True Faith and became enlightened on account of Amar Ayyar. Because of his efforts we put our belief in You – the One God without partners. We pray You to take Amar into Your care and protection.”

  While they prayed, a joyous and happy Empress Heyrat arrived in the Dome of Light. The courtiers paid her their respects and she took her seat beside Afrasiyab. The attendants of the empress put bowls of dry fruit, perfume boxes and flower vases before her. Heyrat opened a gold betel box, prepared a gilauri,95 and put it into Afrasiyab’s mouth with her own hands. Then she put her arms around the emperor’s neck coquettishly and said proudly, “You must not allow any delay in sending that tyrant to his doom.”

  Afrasiyab issued his orders and the crier announced to all citizens of the City of Disregard to gather in the field opposite the Dome of Light to witness Amar Ayyar’s sorry state. Only a short time remained in his life before he would be meted out a humiliating and painful death, receiving the deserts of his evil life.

  The citizens of the City of Disregard started gathering in the field. They said to each other, “Regard the results of rebellion; one washes his hands of his life.” The wise and sagacious took instruction from Amar’s example and said, “O brave men, witness that it is the same Amar who brought even Lord Laqa to grief and who is the deputy of the Lord of the Auspicious Planetary Conjunction. The skewed revolutions of the fickle heavens can see no man of pride and majesty prosper for long. It tyrannically killed many renowned men and the earth covered them with a veil of dust.”

  Amidst these cries and hubbub, the Turk of the Heavens96 was l
ed away to his westerly prison. Mourning was proclaimed in the world’s inn for Amar. Presently, the eve of sorrows descended, all clad in black.

  Afrasiyab recited a spell, which determined that as long as he was alive no one would be able to open the lock of Amar’s cage. Then Afrasiyab removed the spell from Amar’s body. When it was removed Amar felt he could move inside the cage.

  As the evening progressed, everyone in Afrasiyab’s court busied themselves in revelry, their minds finally at peace that Amar could not break out of his prison. Since nobody was deputed to keep watch on Amar, after some time had passed, he took out a pasteboard effigy from his zambil and disguised it with his likeness. He then put on the cape of invisibility and left the effigy in his place. He retired to a corner of the cage where he was invisible to everyone but the All Seeing God.

  All night long people kept arriving in the field overlooking the Dome of Light and tablas played continuously.

  Eager to take revenge on Amar for stealing from them, every sorcerer decided to strike Amar at least once when he was dragged out of the cage. One promised to pierce his heart with his trident and short spear. Another proclaimed that he would pull out Amar’s tongue from its root. Yet another sorcerer planned to extract Amar’s eyes from their sockets.

  Amidst such talk, the dawn broke and the Luminous Bird97 fluttered out of its cage from the eastern sky in preparation for its flight across the sky. It illuminated the assembly of creation by its lustrous feathers. Dams of darkness broke and the world was flooded with light.

  When it was morning, Afrasiyab recited a spell to unlock Amar’s cage and ordered the sorcerers to bring him out. They caught Amar’s effigy by its collar and pulled it out. Clad in the cape of invisibility, Amar too, came out of the cage. While the sorcerers belabored his effigy, Amar started looting the possessions of the beautiful and lovely sorceresses and the moon-faced slave girls with the Net of Ilyas. He stuffed betel boxes, dressing boxes, glasses, perfume boxes, water utensils, platters and makeup boxes into his zambil.

  Finally, Amar said to one slave girl, “Now I am going away!” She turned to the one standing next to her and said, “Someone just said to me that he is leaving.”

  Amar called out loudly, “O clown Afrasiyab, I am now going away!”

  The sorcerers were frightened when these words rang out in the court. All the seats, thrones, tables, carpets, curtains and screens in the court disappeared all of a sudden. At that moment, Amar’s effigy also broke into pieces and the sorcerers realized to their great chagrin that the one they thought was Amar was, in fact, a pasteboard effigy.

  Afrasiyab turned to sorceress Khumar and said, “O wretch! To impress me with your resourcefulness you brought me a pasteboard effigy of Amar! Confess the truth of the matter to me at once!” Khumar answered, “O Emperor, when I produced the captive you yourself conversed with him. If it were a pasteboard effigy I had brought you, how did it speak? And if you suggest that I had made a magic slave to deceive you, consult the Book of Sameri and you will learn the truth. Any mischief on my part will be revealed.”

  When Afrasiyab looked into the Book of Sameri he learned that Khumar told the truth and discovered that Amar had escaped after tricking him.

  Now Afrasiyab ordered his minister, Baghban Nature-Gardener, to catch Amar and produce him without delay.

  Baghban recited a spell that caused a column of smoke to rise, billowing from the Earth to the Ninth Heaven.98 Baghban commanded that column, “Bring me Amar Ayyar wherever you find him. Do not release him even for a moment after his capture.”

  The column of smoke disappeared in search of Amar.

  Now hear of Amar Ayyar. After he emerged from the Dome of Light, he robbed all those who had assembled to witness his execution. Their caps, headgear, turbans and cummerbunds began to disappear as Amar swept the crowds with the Net of Ilyas. The commotion caused by these events was followed by a stampede as people ran crying, “We see ourselves being robbed but do not see the hand that robs us. Run before some calamity strikes us.”

  The field was soon deserted. People locked the doors of their houses. The bazaars shut down. Amar headed for his camp from one of the gates of the City of Disregard, looting and stealing all he could along the way, and took off his cape of invisibility. He was on his way when the smoke column surrounded him and carried him away like a cyclone. It brought Amar to Baghban Nature-Gardener, who caught Amar by the hand and led him to Afrasiyab and said, “My Lord, I present this troublesome creature before you as ordered.”

  Afrasiyab regarded Amar with a fiery glance and said, “Tell me how you would like to be put to death.” Amar replied, “I see nobody under the skies who can cast even an evil glance at me.” Afrasiyab said, “Do you not realize that you are now in my power to punish as I please?” Amar retorted, “It still remains a question whether I am in your power or you are in mine. Only this is certain, that I can punish you speedily and so rigorously that you would not recognize your own face.”

  Afrasiyab was incensed by Amar’s words but he kept his calm and said to his courtiers, “He is like the man who unburdened his heart by cursing and abusing his captor once he knew he had forfeited his life.”

  Afrasiyab asked Amar, “Tell us why you believe nobody can harm you.” Amar said, “O Emperor of Hoshruba, first you must tell me who you reckon Laqa to be?” Afrasiyab replied, “We consider him our God.” Amar asked, “Tell me then whether or not it is true that life and death are in God’s hands?” All the sorcerers present declared, “Indeed, Lord Laqa has absolute power in all matters. He may kill or bring to life at will.”

  Amar said, “I want you to know then that I kill sorcerers by the will of Lord Laqa. Otherwise, an ordinary mortal like myself would have no power to kill mighty sorcerers and retainers of the Emperor of the Tilism. As the saying goes,

  “Even should both heaven and Earth conspire

  The one whom the Lord guards none may harm.

  “Lord Laqa sent me into Hoshruba to destroy those creatures of his who become unmindful of their lord. Learn that I am Lord Laqa’s Angel of Death and kill and destroy all those heedless, rebellious creatures against whom he deputes me. I have Lord Laqa’s ear and am privy to his confidences.”

  Afrasiyab and all the sorcerers said, “Indeed, it is as he describes. Not a blade of grass moves without the will of Lord Laqa. Amar speaks the very truth.”

  Some sorcerers declared, “It is also true that we are often guilty of trespasses against our Lord.”

  Others intoned,

  “Neither a mote increases or decreases

  Nor a grain moves without God’s consent.”

  Afrasiyab rose from his throne and reverentially kissed Amar’s hand. He removed the spell from Amar and said respectfully, “O Lord Laqa’s Angel of Death, please increase our honor by seating yourself in my court, and reveal who among us have you marked for your own.”

  Amar sat down on a bejewelled chair and said, “O Emperor, I cannot reveal Lord Laqa’s secrets but if you wish I can show you the other marvellous gifts conferred on me by my Lord. I can confound you by my mastery of seventy-two different disguises, or entertain you with my gift of song. The will of Lord Laqa, however, is a secret of which I am unaware myself. There’s nothing I can tell you of it.”

  Afrasiyab said, “It’s true that no one but Lord Laqa himself knows his will. Please display for us the talents and gifts that you described.”

  Immediately, Amar became invisible where he was sitting. Everyone in the court cried out, “Indeed he was the Angel of Death sent by Lord Laqa.”

  Amar retired to a secluded corner where he took off his cape of invisibility and disguised himself as a beautiful damsel. The false damsel put on a luxurious dress, adorned herself with gold and jewels, and came before Afrasiyab. She gracefully greeted the Emperor of Hoshruba, who was stunned by her ravishing beauty and allure. Finally, Afrasiyab asked, “O rosebud of the garden of elegance, who are you and what has brought you here today?” The fal
se damsel answered coquettishly, “O Emperor, your slave girl is in love with you and her heart finds no solace.” Afrasiyab took her by the hand and seated her beside him.

  Empress Heyrat was cut to the quick by Afrasiyab’s actions and her heart conflagrated in a blaze of jealous rage. That houri-cheeked false beauty then turned to Heyrat and said, “O Empress, I am not a woman but the Lion of the Forest of Trickery, Amar Ayyar.”

  Afrasiyab was stunned and thought, Indeed, he must be the favored one of Lord Laqa. Afrasiyab lavishly rewarded Amar for his mastery in disguise and said with great deference,

  “Indeed you are the one privy to the Lord’s secrets

  All his hidden mysteries you clearly see.

  “Please regale us now with your gift of song and intone your honeyed notes within this assembly of friends.”

  At Afrasiyab’s request Amar danced and afterwards played the pipe. Then he sang so melodiously that all those present in the assembly were entranced and swayed rapturously in time with his singing.

  With everyone ecstatic and in transports of joy, Amar took control of the wine service and drugged the wine. He poured a cup and brought it to Afrasiyab, then threw it into the air and caught it on the palm of his hand.

  Afrasiyab’s heart overflowed with love and kindness and he drank the drugged wine. All the sorcerers in the court also had their fill of wine from the hand of their cruel, tyrannical cupbearer – Amar the notorious. He drugged them one and all.