Shaherazade's Daughters

by Sameena K Mughal

  Anisa was familiar with the late night visits some nobles made to some of the servants. She marveled at how they could think of the sultan in such a base way. It was then she realized how people have a tendency of accusing others of what they themselves are capable of doing.

  After she put the nobles in their place, she continued to learn about court life. She would talk with the sultan for hours about decisions he made and why he made them. She didn’t agree with him every single time and said so. In this way, she developed her own ideas, which pleased the sultan very much.

  Over time, Sultan Ali would invite Anisa to speak, and lively debates would take place between her, the vizier, and the nobles. The nobles were seething (inwardly of course).

  Surprisingly, the vizier did not share the sentiments of the nobles. He was growing to respect Anisa and her opinions; although he shared his feelings with no one. He had never involved himself in the nobles’ pettiness in the past, and he saw no need to do so now.

  In this way, an entire year passed. Anisa had made a name for herself at court and found a place in the sultan’s heart. His one regret in life was to not have children of his own, and the time they spent together assuaged that regret. In turn, he made the absence of her father more bearable.

  Then four more years passed, and Sultan Ali started to feel the weight of them. He was coming on his seventieth year and his fiftieth as sultan. His appearances at court were steadily becoming less and less. Cassim made his usual excuse of the sultan’s being tired. Anisa knew something was happening and approached Sultan Ali. He was lying in his bedroom, which he seemed to be doing more and more of lately. She had to dress as one of the servants to keep from provoking the nobles to gossip so the sultan didn’t recognize her right away.

  “Salaams, Sire, how are you feeling? You’ve been missed at court.”

  “Anisa? Why are you dressed like that? As if I have to ask. Well, you asked how I am feeling? I am old and tired.”

  “Sire,” she said hesitatingly, afraid of the answer she’d receive, “Is there something you wish to tell me?”

  “Anisa,” he answered with a sigh, “I think you know. I have lived and ruled a very long time. My time is over.”

  “Then,” she said, her voice trembling, “Whose time is it?”

  “Yours.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean it is your time to rule, my dear child.”

  “Rule? Me? A servant’s daughter? A ward?”

  “You stopped being both long ago. I am not sure that you were ever either.”

  “Then what am I? Since you seem to be deciding my future?”

  “You are the future sultana.”

  “Forgive me if I seem ungrateful, but I never asked for this. I’ve never asked you for anything. I’ve never wanted anything from you. Yet, you gave me a new life… And now…You’ve given me death.”

  “Do you think I haven’t thought of that? Anisa, I have planned this for years. I would never have taken it this far if I wasn’t assured of your safety.”

  “How can you be sure? Do you know your nobles? I’ve seen snakes with more mercy.”

  Just then, the sultan laughed.

  “I don’t find this amusing, Sire.”

  “No, dear Anisa. I’ve heard that before… From your mother. You really are like her, you know.”

  “My mother knows about this?”

  With that, she ran out of the room.

  “Anisa!”

  His call didn’t stop her. As he lay there, he felt rather annoyed with himself. He marveled at how in fifty years he could maneuver with the greatest of diplomatic ease around sultans, nobles, and viziers. Yet, these women could extract information from him just by their relentless spirits.

  When Anisa arrived at her mother’s quarters, before she could utter a word her mother said, “Anisa, before you forget yourself, sit down. Have some tea.”

  “I didn’t come here for tea, Mother. Doesn’t the look on my face tell you that much?”

  “Of course, I know that! You may call me many things, my dear child, but a fool is not one of them. The sultan’s told you then?”

  “Yes. But how did you know that was the reason for my visit?”

  After taking a sip of tea, Ayesha calmly replied, “The sultan’s quite ill, and you storm in here as if you were sultana already. You don’t have to be vizier to understand the situation. And just so we’re clear, even when you become Sultana, you will not impose your will here. The only will that matters in these quarters is my own. Understood, dear one? I’ll pour you some tea.”

  In that instant, Anisa went from fire to ice. She was glad she didn’t have to face her mother at court.

  “So you knew the sultan was ill? I see the servant gossip network is still strong. You have nothing on the nobles,” she said still pouting.

  “In more ways than one. But no matter. You’re wondering why I didn’t tell you. I know. Tell me, what would you have gained, had I told you?”

  “The truth. Better preparation.”

  “You’ve had the best preparation! You would not have accomplished half of what you have had you known. It would have made you overly conscious, overly aware. You would have second guessed everything you thought, everything you did. It would have been undue pressure on you, Anisa. It was hard enough for you to be present at court. This was the best decision. You know what I say is true.”

  “I just don’t know, Mother.”

  “Do you really think I would have let you go, if I wasn’t assured of your safety? If I wasn’t sure you’d rise to the occasion? You don’t belong here. You are exactly where you should be. And if it makes you feel better, the Sultan wasn’t planning on telling me either.”

  Anisa, laughing now, said, “Only you could work someone up to such frenzy that they tell you things they don’t mean to!”

  “I told you, child. The only will that matters in these quarters is my own.”

  As Anisa walked back to court, she thought of all her mother said. She hated to admit it, but her mother was right as usual. She never would have been able to hold her own at court half as well had she known.

  She returned to the sultan, quite overwhelmed. She gave her salaams to him, and sat down with a sigh.

  Sultan Ali glanced at her, and said, “Finished sulking or can we talk about this like the fine diplomats we are?” A slight smirk and a knowing look flashed across his face.

  “Please don’t find me ungrateful, sire. But this is all very hard to take in.”

  “I’ve never seen a more grateful person than you, dear child. I do promise that you’ll accept all this when you recognize, as I do that you’re ready.”

  Then, he told her the story of how he came to choose her as his successor.

  From then on, he began preparing her for her role as sultana. These were bittersweet times for both of them because while they always enjoyed the time they spent together; they knew these would be their last moments.

  One day, Anisa mentioned what was in both their hearts and minds.

  “I’ll miss you.”

  “I’ll miss not being around you, but I’ll always be watching over you,” he said.

  “Are you…afraid?”

  “Oh no. If you’ve lived your life in a way that pleases Allah, then there is nothing to fear. I’m waiting to meet my Fatima again. It’s been so long. Anisa, I hope you find someone to love, as I loved her.”

  “I’m not sure everyone can have the kind of love you and the sultana had, Sire.”

  “They can. They just don’t try hard enough. Promise me you’ll try. Promise me that you won’t be on your deathbed talking to a child, wishing they were your own. I want you talking to a child that is your own. Promise me you’ll at least try.”

  “I promise. And I am your child, a child who will always give her most heartfelt prayers to her father.”

  “You will always have the blessings of your father with you.”

  A week later, he passed
on. But not before he had officially named Anisa his successor. In that action, the seeds of chaos were sown.

  The nobles could not bring themselves to believe it. They knew that Anisa was a favorite, but to make her sultana! They could not accept it. How could the sultan pass over nobles with long and illustrious ties to the kingdom? How could he pass over the vizier, who had served the kingdom for over 30 years? Not only did he pass all of them over, he passed them over for a servant!

  In a secret assembly after the sultan’s funeral, the nobles discussed their next course of action. The palace was in preparation for the official naming of the next sultana. The nobles were deciding how to stop this disastrous event from taking place.

  “What can we do to discredit her?” a tall, discontented looking noble with a thick moustache said.

  “We’ve been trying that for years. She’s almost a saint! No clandestine lovers. No mysterious disappearances of funds from the treasury. Nothing. And of course we can’t get close enough to even make it seem like she’s into some sort of wrongdoing! The whore!” said a short, bearded, Imam-looking one. He looked as though he should have been praying for people, instead of cursing them.

  Just then, the vizier strolled in.

  “Charming, as usual, Talib,” Cassim commented.

  “Cassim, so good of you to come. I would think that you would have just as much interest as any of us to come here and discuss what is to be done,” Talib replied.

  “More interest, Talib. More,” the vizier replied.

  “Cassim, do you think the people would accept her? Could we hope for a revolt amongst the people?” the tall, noble with the thick moustache asked.

  “No, Bahman. The people love her. I’m sure that they would support her 100 percent.”

  “There is no choice. We must kill her! We will be the laughing stock of all the kingdoms in the East if she takes the throne. A former servant ruling the country!”

  “Talib, you’re willing to turn killer for this?” Cassim asked.

  “Yes, Cassim. To keep that upstart whore from running this kingdom, absolutely. Allah only knows what kind of spell she put on the sultan.”

  “Well, Talib, whatever the case may be, I’m sure you would accept any spell she’d be willing to cast on you.”

  “Yes, but I wouldn’t give her a kingdom for it. Jewels have always been more my style,” he laughed.

  “We’re all familiar with your style, Talib. Never mind what’s past. My question is who will do this deed, and who will be put in place?” Cassim said.

  “Bahman, myself, and whoever else wants to come along will do the deed. And who better to rule than you, Cassim?”

  “Right, who better than Cassim. But I want no part of murder,” one of the nobles said.

  “Nor do I. Anisa is not my favorite person, but I am no murderer,” another added.

  Several of them walked away.

  “Cowards,” Bahman called out to them.

  “This is what you’ve decided then?” Cassim asked.

  “We have,” Talib said.

  “What do you require of me, then?” Cassim asked.

  “Can you keep the guards occupied after Friday prayer?” Talib asked.

  “You plan on killing her when she’s finished praying?” Cassim asked, disgusted but not surprised.

  “Give the girl a chance to make her peace with Allah,” Talib responded.

  “How merciful of you.”

  “Cassim, we can count you?”

  “You can count on me to do my part and stay out of the way. Are we finished with these plans of conspiracy and assassination?”

  “Yes, Cassim, we are.”

  “Allah hafiz.”

  “Allah hafiz.”

  With that, the plans were made. After three days of mourning, Anisa made preparations for her official naming ceremony. It was a bittersweet time for her. She was now ready to embrace destiny, but the thought of doing it alone without the guidance of the Sultan made her a bit apprehensive. Yet, she knew she had to go forward without him.

  The vizier and Anisa decided that Friday would be the best time for the event. It was to be held in two weeks time. More preparations had to be made. With all the inspired lunacy surrounding the palace, Anisa was relieved by the thought of the peace Friday prayer would bring. Imam Harun’s khutbahs were always calming to her.

  Unknown to Anisa at the time, this Friday prayer would be as peaceful as a typhoon. As she walked back from the prayer, she heard pushing and shoving. When she turned around, she saw Talib and Bahman with daggers drawn. She shouted, “Guards!” and dashed for the library.

  Talib and Bahman followed her. They saw her go into a corner of the library. Smiling sadistically because they knew she had nowhere to go, they slackened their pace.

  The next thing they saw was rather curious (although they never had the opportunity to repeat it). All they heard was Anisa say, “Open,” and she disappeared. Simultaneously, the guards grabbed both the would-be assassins by the back of the neck.

  Stunned, Talib shouted, “Cassim, what are these guards doing here? You said you had more interest than any of us in what needed to be done!”

  “And I did. But not for the reason you assumed. My interest is in serving the ruler in power, not myself. I have no wish to obtain what I do not deserve.”

  “Do you think a servant girl deserves to be sultana?” Talib seethed.

  “She stopped being a mere servant girl long ago. To answer your question: no, I don’t think she deserves to be sultana. I know she does.” Cassim said.

  “Where is she, Cassim? We saw her run in here!” Bahman exclaimed, still stunned.

  “Impossible, I see no one. Guards, get them out of here.”

  “You’re a fool!” Talib shouted, as the guards took both him and Bahman away.

  “You may come out now, Sultana.”

  Anisa reappeared.

  “Sultana? I haven’t been crowned yet. Aren’t we getting a bit ahead of ourselves?”

  “No. You’ve proved it, and long before now.”

  “I actually believe that now.”

  So many things were unbelievable up until that point. When Cassim had approached her that morning to warn her of the assassination plot, she couldn’t believe her ears. Then, when the vizier told her of The Enchanted Room she thought she was in a dream.

  Even when she was in The Enchanted Room she couldn’t quite believe it. How the invisible door just opened at the word, “Open.” How it will only open for the rightful ruler. How does a room know who the rightful ruler should be? She asked Cassim this question. He shrugged his shoulders and answered in a way that only Cassim would answer, “That’s why it’s called The Enchanted Room.” So she left it at that.

  Once she was inside, she was amazed to see one of the most beautiful rooms of the palace. It was almost as if she was outside, but she wasn’t really. It was brightly lit with light that one would think came from outside, but there were no windows. There were beautiful silken pillows in the middle of the floor. Everything in the room was silken and golden. There was a large canopied bed at one corner of the room. Next to the bed, there were two glass doors

  that opened onto a large bathing area. In the other corner, there was a fountain with the bluest water she had ever seen, and the sweetest water she had ever tasted. Next to the fountain, a long table was set with fruits and various delicacies. Unfortunately she couldn’t keep her full attention on the room because she could still hear everything inside the library as clearly as if she were right there. In spite of her intoxication from the room, she listened. First, she couldn’t believe her eyes. Then, she couldn’t believe her ears. When the vizier called her back outside, she found the idea of an Enchanted Room easier to believe than the idea of Cassim actually approving of her.

  “Cassim, did you mean what you said?”

  “I always mean what I say.”

  “You don’t resent my being named successor instead of you?”

 
“I don’t resent it because I don’t deserve it. Sultan Ali was a fair judge who knew what was best for his people. He felt you were the better choice. Obviously, he was right. Otherwise, The Enchanted Room would never have opened for you.”

  “It should be called the Enchanting Room instead of The Enchanted Room. It’s so beautiful. You could pass months in that room and not even realize it.”

  “It was designed for that purpose if the need ever arose.”

  “The sultan was a beloved ruler. Surely, the need didn’t arise.”

  “Not from physical harm. Mental harm was another matter. He found it a charming escape. As I’m sure you will.”

  “Indeed, I will,” she smiled to herself.

  When the official ceremony of naming Anisa sultana was over, Cassim led her to present her to the people. As Cassim called her Sultana Anisa, the screams of the people were almost deafening.

  The sounds of the people were overwhelming. Once Anisa addressed them, she glanced over at her mother. In that moment, she finally understood her mother’s words. The people were not screaming for just a former servant. They were screaming for their sultana. The Enchanted Room opening for her had nothing do with her being one of the sultan’s former maids. It opened because she was the rightful ruler. She had evolved into the rightful ruler.

  Even if she had never become sultana, she would still be who she was. She would still have that strength of will, just like her mother. Servant or sultana, there was nothing common about either one of them.

  Over time, Sultana Anisa proved herself to be an uncommon ruler. She became well on her way to being as beloved as Sultan Ali. Eventually, she kept her promise to him as well. Soon after she became sultana, Anisa became rather intrigued with the son of the Commander of the Armies. Their wedding was reminiscent of the joys that the wedding of Sultan Ali and Sultana Fatima had brought to the kingdom of Yemen. And when her sons were born, she felt the greatest satisfaction from keeping her promise.

  Fatima and the Bandits

  Long ago in Cairo, there was a young girl called Fatima. She lost her mother when she was very young, so she had very little memory of her. Her father, Karim took care of her. He was a merchant in a traveling caravan. After the loss of his wife, he could not bear the thought of leaving his daughter to the care of others, so she would travel with him. They, along with the other merchants in the caravan traveled all over the East.