Shaherazade's Daughters

by Sameena K Mughal

  When Shabina learned of this calculated development, she was as anxious as she was relieved. Just because he wasn’t in love with Arjuman didn’t mean that he would automatically love her. However, Sarina wasn’t worried. To her, human beings weren’t very complicated, and human men were even less so. But Shabina was not convinced.

  “What makes you think it’s that easy, Sarina?” she asked.

  “He already respects you. You love him. You care for him. Show him you’re a woman and not just a warrior in his army. Once you show him that. How can than not mean something to him?”

  “When exactly do I show him that? The next time we’re in training?”

  “Excellent idea!”

  “How?” Shabina asked.

  She didn’t get an answer because no sooner was the word out of her mouth than Sarina was gone.

  The next day, Shabina waited in cautious anticipation of what Sarina might literally conjure up. Yet, she carried on as usual. Then when training was over, she looked around and found that Datma, Aafreen, and Aisha had quietly dispersed.

  “How are you?” she asked Saif.

  “You mean since my engagement was broken? Shabina, coming straight to the mark is what suits you both in battle and life. To answer your question, I am fine.”

  “Well, I am glad for that… What would we do without you?” she added tenderly.

  For a split second, he was rather shocked. But only for a split second because he inexplicably tripped over a tree limb and then proceeded to bang his head against another. After this, the unwitting captain was rendered unconscious. Of course, Shabina recognized Sarina’s part in Saif’s uncharacteristic clumsiness.

  “Sarina! Are you trying to make me a widow before I can even have a wedding?”

  “He’ll live. Now just make the most of the situation, you silly little girl.”

  When Saif awoke, he saw Shabina’s concerned and loving face. He couldn’t help but return the love.

  While the loves of Aafreen and Shabina were being requited, the kingdom was abuzz with preparations for Caliph Haroun’s birthday. Although the people smirked at his eccentricities, they anticipated and reveled in his generosity. The caliph’s birthday was a birthday for all in the kingdom for random times of the day or night his guard could be seen throwing trays of gold in the street. As an added treat for all, he had various entertainments throughout the fortnight of celebrations.

  All the grandiosity and spectacle culminated in a palace celebration that rivaled the most lavish of New Year parties. This year, Aafreen and Shabina were more excited than ever about the caliph’s birthday party. They looked forward to having the attention of the ones they loved for so long.

  They all took extra time and care in getting dressed for the party. They paid more attention than ever to how they looked. Even Aisha and Datma, who had no one in particular to impress other themselves, made an extra effort. There was an anxious excitement in the air for all of them. For this evening, they were not just fierce warriors but fierce beauties as well.

  The palace seemed more opulently decorated than ever. Lights were strewn all over the courtyard, while fireworks lit up the sky. Dancers amused in one corner, while the palace poets and storytellers were at another corner. Conversation and wine were flowing everywhere. Ajib found Aafreen as soon as she set foot in the courtyard and vanished somewhere in the crowd with her. Soon after, Saif whisked his favorite warrior, Shabina onto one of the elegantly attired elephants roaming the party.

  Aisha and Datma suddenly found it was just the two of them but were glad of it, as they knew Aafreen and Shabina would enjoy themselves far more in the arms of Ajib and Saif than gliding around the party catching the attention of all they strode passed. Actually, this is exactly what Aisha and Datma were doing and thoroughly enjoying themselves to boot. Then Sarina appeared (literally) and the addition of a third and utterly captivating, mysterious beauty made their value skyrocket just by association.

  Every man who saw Datma and Aisha were jolted by the realization that there were women underneath these warriors they respected. Although basking in the admiration, they were quite aware of the company they were in. Respected people from neighboring kingdoms were enjoying themselves immensely. One of these grand guests was the Caliph of Maghiana, who was a generous and enlightened man known for his justice. While they were familiar with this gentleman, they were unfamiliar with and totally intrigued by the young gentleman beside him.

  Besides being handsome, he had an ease and warmth about him and spoke intelligently about many matters.

  “Sarina, who is that man standing next to the Caliph of Maghiana?” Aisha asked.

  “That, dear, is the Caliph of Maghiana’s son, Rashid. Would you like an introduction?”

  Before either of them had a chance to answer, they were already in front of Caliph Haroun.

  “Sire? May a present some of the king’s best warriors? This is Aisha, and this is Datma,” Sarina breathed in her most charismatic voice.

  “Sarina! Lovely to see you!”

  “How does Sarina know the Caliph of Maghiana and his son?” Datma whispered.

  “Just go with it, Datma. You don’t need an answer for everything.” Aisha whispered back.

  “Wonderful! And may I present my son, Prince Rashid?”

  Prince Rashid was as charming up close as he was from afar to both Datma and Aisha. Yet, as the conversation progressed, it became apparent that Prince Rashid was becoming particularly enchanted by Aisha. The enchantment was mutual. This time, Sarina had nothing to do with it, which was just as amusing for her as if she had. Of course, the imminent mischief that would ensue since Aisha was already engaged was even more amusing.

  Although Datma suddenly found herself alone due to Aisha’s preoccupation with the prince and Sarina’s sudden disappearance, she was content mingling and wandering around the palace. Yet, Datma’s enjoyment was abruptly curtailed by a living memory that she was persistently trying to forget, but could not. The rest of the world knew this living memory as, Sabir, the merchant that Datma turned away in her zest for unnecessary sacrifice. She quickly hid behind a fountain in the courtyard of the palace, hoping that he had not seen her.

  However, her hiding place wasn’t the best one because she was discovered by Sarina.

  “You can hide from people, but you can’t hide from your mistakes.” Sarina proclaimed.

  “I didn’t expect to see him. I panicked. It happens.”

  “You’ve been stabbed in the leg with a spear and hardly screamed. But you’re panicking over this?”

  “This hurts more,” Datma responded softly.

  “Then, why continue to separate yourself from him?”

  “At the time, I thought I was doing what was best for him, knowing that it was not the best thing for me. I convinced myself I was doing what was right because I was too afraid of him thinking I wouldn’t be a proper wife. I didn’t even have the courage to ask him.”

  “Had you the courage to ask me I would have told you that I never thought of you as a proper wife… I thought of you as the perfect wife,” Sabir declared, as he came out into the courtyard.

  “I told you that you may like what you hear,” Sarina smiled to Sabir.

  She turned around and whispered in Datma’s ear, “Sometimes, love works its own magic.”

  When Sarina returned to the party, she found Aisha talking with Amir, the man with whom she was engaged to be married. Inwardly, she was put out, but she feigned a dazzling smile and walked towards them. As she moved closer, she noticed Amir was also put out, which caused her some concern.

  Amir paused and nearly gaped as Sarina approached just like everyone else. He recovered quickly though and tried to look indifferent as this gorgeous woman approached. Everyone in Mulasthana was aware of her now because she no longer hid herself, but people were still in awe whenever she approached.

  By the time Sarina made it next to them, he went from put out, to awe, to indifference and then ba
ck to put out again. Sarina knew right away what was fouling up his mood and sought to provide distraction and diversion.

  “Amir, do you mind if I steal your betrothed from you for a moment?” she asked in her most intoxicating and spellbinding voice.

  “As long as it is you doing the stealing, and not someone else,” he smiled, while glancing in Prince Rashid’s direction.

  Aisha and Sarina both smiled uncomfortably and walked away. At first, Aisha was not very forthcoming about the situation. After some not so gentle prodding from Sarina, she revealed that Amir took the liberty of butting into the conversation and introducing himself to the prince as her fiancée.

  “What are you going to do?” Sarina asked dispassionately.

  “About what?” Aisha asked disingenuously.

  “You can’t be that thickheaded, little girl.” Worse than my daughters,” Sarina responded, not so dispassionately this time.

  “One conversation doesn’t change anything.”

  “One conversation can change a life, dear. “How does he make you feel?”

  “Loved.”

  “Isn’t that worth causing a man who doesn’t love you a bruised ego?”

  “Amir doesn’t take losing easily.”

  “This isn’t a game. It’s the choice between a happy life and an unhappy life.” No one wins if the latter happens.”

  “Tell him that.”

  “I think I will.”

  “Sarina!”

  The next moment, she was gone. Almost at the same time, the king’s attendant arrived.

  “Caliph Haroun would be most pleased, if you would attend a luncheon in honor of the Caliph of Maghiana.”

  As the invitation was being given, she saw Rashid walking past with one of the nobles. Their eyes met at the same time and before she could think, she found herself saying yes.

  At the end of the evening, the girls met up again, exhausted and happy. Aisha was a combination of exhausted, happy, and anxious at the uncertainty that suddenly lay before her. It didn’t escape Aafreen’s notice.

  “I think we all need to meet in the morning, before the luncheon,” she announced in a tone that belied an earnestness that didn’t need to be questioned. So no one did and the next morning, they met.

  They all congregated under their tree and discussed the situation.

  “We all have been praying for something to stop you from marrying this man you don’t love, who only wants to collect and control you. This is better than we could have hoped for,” Shabina pronounced excitedly.

  “So you break an engagement to marry a man who actually loves you. Worse things have happened in the world,” Aafreen added.

  “What if he makes a scene at the luncheon?” Aisha asked.

  “His sense of self-preservation is too keen to risk displeasing the Caliph,” Datma answered.

  “You’re right about that, but he won’t get the chance to make cause trouble,” Sarina announced, with her mischievous smile.

  “What have you done, Sarina?” Aisha asked, worriedly.

  “When I left him, he was sleeping quite peacefully on the banks of the Chenab.”

  “How did you get him to go there? I am sure he didn’t go quietly,” Shabina beamed.

  “Actually, he did, dear. I carried him there while he was sleeping, and he will continue to sleep until I wake him.”

  “Sarina! You have to bring him back!” Aisha cried.

  “Of course, I will. After the luncheon is over.”

  “Alright.” Aisha said quietly, unable to keep the smile off her face.

  At the luncheon, Aisha was placed right next to Prince Rashid. During the course of a lovely conversation, Rashid altered the mood by asking about Aisha’s fiancée and his absence. Aisha answered by saying he wasn’t feeling well and was taking some rest. (Well, it was partially true, she thought). Then before Aisha could finish swallowing her food, he asked her if she loved Amir and if he loved her. It was all she could do to keep from choking. However, she composed herself enough to say, “What?”

  “I think you know what I am asking you and why I am asking,” he responded tenderly, looking straight at her.

  “No… for us both,” she responded quietly.

  “Don’t you think you should marry someone who you love and who loves you?”

  She only stared at him.

  “Marry me, Aisha.”

  “I am already engaged. What am I supposed to say to my parents? How would it make them look?”

  “Of course, the world will understand that they can’t say no when a Caliph asks for their daughter’s hand. That’s not important in any case. What is important is what their daughter says.”

  “Their daughter says yes.”

  When the Caliph of Maghiana spoke with Aisha’s parents, it went just as Rashid said it would, with them unable to say no to a Caliph. They had outward reservations about breaking their daughter’s engagement to Amir, but inwardly they were elated that they were about to marry their daughter to a prince.

  All the parents of the prospective bride and groom decided since the Caliph and Rashid were already in Mulasthana, they should extend their stay and make all of the preparations for the engagement and other ceremonies. The evening of Aisha’s engagement came and went and all was calm. Aafreen’s, Shabina’s, and Datma’s all followed in the same month, and all was still calm. After the engagement ceremonies, Sarina decided to leave Mulastana without ceremony and without explanation. When the girls questioned her about her departure, she merely replied, “I have my own life and my own affairs to attend to.” Then, she was gone leaving the girls under their tree, just like before. Of course, it really wasn’t like before.

  The Lady in the Crystal Chest

  Long ago in a kingdom in the land of India, there lived a lady whose fate was as turbulent and unclear as a desert sandstorm. Alheena was an intelligent, independent, beautiful young girl who wanted nothing more in life than to be free. She had no desire to control anything but certainly did not want anyone to try to control her. Fortunately, she had a family who understood this in her and knew better than to try to force her to do anything.

  So when it came time to decide her marriage, they knew treading carefully was of utmost importance. They had to make sure that she was in complete agreement. Otherwise, Alheena’s wrath would be unrelenting. Luckily for all concerned, she agreed the time had come for her marriage.

  In a way, the task was manageable because they knew they could not choose someone controlling, so that left half of the suitable young men out. When the kind-hearted Azad, the son of the most successful merchant in the land, arrived in their home with a proposal for Alheena, they praised Allah for their kismet for sending them someone that could keep Alheena well-behaved. The reason they knew this was because he was the only young man who she was consistently kind to and did not thoroughly enjoy vexing. As a matter of fact, she seemed to want to please him. This in itself was a miracle because Alheena was not interested in making herself pleasing to anyone.

  As the wedding preparations proceeded, Alheena continued to be the life and heart of everything. She actually made what could have been a chaotic situation into a tranquil and enjoyable one for all involved.

  The night of the sangeet arrived. Years later when she would reflect on her past, that night stood out in her memory as one of the best in her life. Everything was perfect, especially Azad. They fell in love before marriage, not after as many couples they had seen had done. This unique gift had not been lost on them. They savored it.

  Unfortunately, this bliss was not meant to last them forever. For on the day of her wedding, Alheena caught the eye and heart of a terrible jinn. He was terrible in appearance and especially in his heart. Besides Allah, the only master he served was himself. His only desire in life was to display his power. Even when he thought he was in love, his real wish was to control the object of his love with every ounce of the immense power he possessed.

  The night of the wedding, when
Alheena trembled in anticipation of Azad touching her for the first time and he being the only man to ever touch her, her consciousness instantaneously left her, along with any thought of a joyful future.

  When she awoke, she was jolted by the unfamiliar chamber she found herself in and was even more jolted by the even more unfamiliar being that was in the chamber with her. Disconcerted as she was, she managed to question the strange and frightful being before her.

  “Who are you? And where is my husband?”

  “I am Hakim, and I am now your husband.”

  “You are not my husband,” she responded, her voice shaking, “Where is he?”

  “The sniveling mortal you were about to lead an uneventful life with? I assume he is frantically searching for you.”

  “Why have you brought me here? What do you want from me?”

  “Your heart, your mind, your body, and your soul. I offer you mine in return.”

  “Neither do I want any of these things from you, nor do I freely offer any of these things to you. Take me back to my husband now!”

  “I love your spirit. Once you see what I am offering you, you will accept me as your husband.”

  “I will never accept you as my husband. No matter what you offer!”

  “Rest, my love.”

  He walked towards her, and she was unconscious again.

  When she awoke, she found herself besides an expansive oasis. Behind the oasis was an immense palace that seemed to be right from heaven. For a moment, she suspected she was in heaven, and she felt relieved. That feeling was not to last because she felt the jinn behind her.

  “Salaams and good morning, my love,” he said, in an attempt at tenderness.

  Now that she was somewhat calm, she surveyed the jinn before her. He had deep gray skin, yellow eyes, and a bald head with a curled lock of hair on the back. He was about 9 feet tall with a muscular build that made a bold announcement of his strength. His voice was deep, so even when he was trying to be soothing he was still frightening. In a word, he was revolting.