Shaherazade's Daughters

by Sameena K Mughal

  Morgiana and Her Fool

  Long ago in Baghdad’s Golden Age, a witty, brilliant, girl was living happily with her father. She was the jewel of his world, especially since his other jewel, her mother made a graceful exit. So, Morgiana and her father, Omar lived out their contented lives running one of Baghdad’s most successful tailoring and fabric shops.

  Omar noticed his daughter’s intelligence early in her life. Whatever he taught her, she learned quickly. Many times, she was one step ahead of him. As she grew older, he noticed the eloquence of her speech and her sharp tongue and wit. However, she could charm anyone, particularly when she was conducting business. Of course, her beauty helped in that arena. Yet, even if she were not beautiful, she still had a natural acumen in business. In fact, she was so good that Omar wondered why Allah did not just make her a boy. It just would have made her life and his life easier. Still, he accepted it, and nurtured her as best he could because her talents demanded it. He would not shortchange her simply because he thought Allah made an odd choice with her gender. Later on, he would see that Morgiana would not be held back because she was a woman. She had an ease with people but suffered no fools. So, it would have shocked her father had he lived to see it, when the biggest fool entered her life and altered her world forever.

  As already mentioned, Omar left the world before the arrival of this auspicious person. He left her all his possessions, including his house and shop. Although Morgiana was more than capable of running the household, she knew that tongues would wag when a young, unmarried woman decided to live alone. So, she asked her father’s widowed sister to live with her. They had always had a sincere love and fondness for one another, so Khadijah did not hesitate to say yes to her beloved niece.

  By the time Morgiana inherited her father’s shop, she had already made a name for herself in the business community in Baghdad. She was respected by all, so she had no problem continuing the success of the business.

  However, what did give her a problem were the relentless suitors. When her father was alive, he kept them at bay. Omar wanted his daughter married, but each suitor that he saw gave him the unsettling feeling that they would stifle her in some way. He wanted a man that would always allow her to grow, just as he had always done. He would not part with her until he was sure that he had found that man.

  Of course, Allah had other plans, and Omar left before his task was complete. Now that she was alone, people just assumed that she needed to be saved, especially since she no longer had a father. For what worth can a woman possibly have if she has no man in her life? This justification spurred the suitors on more than ever. The idea of being a suitor and a savior gave them more enthusiasm to pursue this beautiful, wealthy, woman,

  Of course, this sincere determination to make the poor Morgiana a happy woman by making her a married woman was really tiresome for Morgiana and Khadijah. Khadijah was of Omar’s mindset and refused to give Morgiana to what she termed as the “archaic dolts of Baghdad.” One ‘archaic dolt” in particular, whose actual name was Hassan, unfortunately provoked Khadijah to the point of comedic violence.

  One day, he came to the house to see Morgiana and Khadijah as was custom for a man seeking marriage. When the conversation turned to Khadijah’s continuing in the business, or more importantly not continuing in the business after marriage, the visit nosedived into the abyss rather quickly.

  “Of course, there will be no need to work after marriage. Our family businesses are more than successful,” Hassan declared.

  “And what will happen to my family’s more than successful business?” Morgiana asked calmly.

  “Sell it, and do with the proceeds what you wish. Or invest it in our businesses. Your choice.”

  “How generous of you,” Morgiana smirked.

  “You’ll find that about me,” he replied, missing the sarcasm entirely.

  “So Auntie, can we consider the matter settled?” he smiled.

  Khadijah burst out in an uncontrollable fit of laughter. Of course, Morgiana could not help but join in.

  “Have I said something funny?” he asked, completely taken aback.

  “Yes. That you would insist that my niece give up my brother’s life’s work and now her life’s work and still think that I would consent to let you marry her.” she answered, still laughing.

  “Do you know how many women would say yes in an instant?” he responded, indignation in his voice.

  “Then ask them for their hand.” Morgiana answered.

  The next moment, Khadijah came back with a broom and chased him out of the house.

  “And don’t come back. Or else I’ll get my saber out!”

  When she came back, Morgiana was still on the couch laughing.

  “Auntie, why did you do that?”

  “Because I’m tired of these fools coming here. I just snapped. At least he won’t come back.”

  But the clueless oaf did come back, trying to save his bruised ego. Instead, his ego was downright bloodied.

  “What are you doing here when I told you not to come back?”

  “I believe I am owed an apology. If I get an acceptable one, I may offer my proposal again.”

  “You were warned,” Khadijah responded irritatedly. She returned with her saber in hand and smiled, “Didn’t believe me, did you? Now really, don’t come back.” With that, she chased him out of the house again. Hence forward, she was known as “Saber Aunty.”

  Through her laughter, Morgiana asked Khadijah, “Aunty, you do know it is wrong to chase someone with a saber?

  “It is wrong, but it was funny. And when something is funny, dear child, that negates its wrongness.”

  “I’ll remember that Aunty,” she smiled, shaking her head.

  After the saber incident, the suitors’ persistence waned, which made for a smooth and happy life for Morgiana and Khadijah. Until Abdullah and his brother, Amir opened their furniture shop right across from Morgiana’s shop. Old Mustapha decided to retire and sold his jewelry shop, so Amir and Abdullah saw their chance and took it.

  Now Amir and Abdullah were new to Baghdad. For years, they wanted to leave their home city of Samarra and make their fortunes in Baghdad. However, their parents were not inclined to leave, and they stayed as long as they did for them. So when their mother passed a few years after their father, they took all they owned and headed straight for Baghdad. Fortunately, they arrived at the same time Mustapha decided to retire, and luckily for them, he took an instant liking to them and sold them his shop.

  From the first day Morgiana spotted Abdullah and his bumbling ways, he amused her. He was setting up the shop with his brother, and Amir was adamant that Abdullah not touch any glass. She thought that this was a curious way to treat a grown man, so she watched the scene with interest.

  Conceding to his brother’s request, Abdullah carried two brass lamps. As he was walking, Morgiana caught his gaze and his interest. No sooner did he smile at her, then he tripped over a bench and fell, with the brass lamps in his hands and still smiling. She couldn’t help but return the smile of this clumsy fool before her and retreated into her shop.

  “Brother, did you see that? Baghdad is already bringing us fortune!” Abdullah exclaimed.

  “And you’ll take our fortunes away if you keep falling with our wares in your hands! Praise to Allah you don’t trip over the numbers,” Amir responded.

  “No one can match me in accounting, not even you.”

  “Which is why you are of some use to me,” he smiled.

  Once the shop was set up, Amir and Abdullah proceeded to make themselves known to the other merchants in the bazaar. Everyone liked them both, although it was quite apparent that they were quite different from one another. Both were charming in their ways. Amir was a typical merchant, able to talk and smile his way through anything. Abdullah was a lovable fool, always joking and tripping his way through the bazaar. All the merchants in the bazaar were fond of him, including Morgiana and Khadijah.

  One even
ing when Amir was away on business, they invited him to dine with them. They found his conversation very pleasant. When he asked about the origin of the Saber Aunty, they happily told him the story of that hapless suitor.

  “How ridiculous! Why would you ask someone to give up what they love to do? And for no other reason than it suits your status? The Holy Prophet married a woman he used to work for. If it’s good enough for him to have a wife who engages in business, it should be good enough for us.”

  Khadijah couldn’t stop smiling after that. Morgiana wondered about that smile but decided it was in her best interest not to question it. She was also intrigued by the depth of such a lighthearted man. She thought about it for hours afterwards.

  Although Abdullah showed a certain amount of sense, he was still a source of amusement for both ladies. Many times, people were laughing with him, rather than at him. He was kind to everyone. Even to people who would relentlessly haggle with him in the shop. It was refreshing for both Khadijah and Morgiana to be around a man who was simply kind to them and made them laugh.

  One slow day in the bazaar, he unwittingly entertained them for hours. An old man came into the shop and was talking to Abdullah. When a merchant with new goods came in, Abdullah excused himself and dealt with the merchant. The old man sat down. After a few minutes, he closed his eyes. Abdullah walked back over to the man, saw he was asleep, and left him alone.

  “Is he really just going to let him sleep in the shop?” Morgiana asked Khadijah.

  “I think so. He really is a kind man. How many people would do that?” Khadijah answered.

  “He is a silly one. I would have woken him up.”

  After an hour, Khadijah looked over at the old man still sleeping in the chair. He had not moved at all. He did not even look like he was breathing.

  “Morgiana, I think the old man is dead,” she announced.

  “Aunty, no he’s not!”

  “Come over and look for yourself. He’s not breathing.”

  “You’re right. He’s not breathing.”

  They both stared at each other in disbelief.

  “How long do you think it will take Abdullah to realize the man is dead?” Morgiana asked.

  “I don’t know. He hasn’t sorted it out for himself, and the man’s in his shop. Should we tell him?”

  “Not yet. Let’s just see. It’s a slow day.”

  “Morgiana, that’s just wrong,” Khadijah smiled.

  “It is wrong. But it’s funny, so that negates its wrongness,’ she smiled back.

  So they continued to watch with mischievous fascination as the situation percolated. Over the next hour, they watched him try to wake the man three different times. They marveled at his patience and his obliviousness.

  “How blissfully unaware can one man be?” Khadijah grinned.

  “I think he’s adorable… and hysterical,” Morgiana replied.

  “That, he is.”

  Then, the one person who would not find this situation humorous in the least bit came walking into the bazaar. Amir. Both ladies knew Amir would not spare Abdullah for not knowing a man died in his shop. They had to act quickly.

  “Aunty, go tell Amir to the get the Caliph’s guard to remove the body. I’ll tell Abdullah about the dead man in his chair.”

  She shut up the shop and walked over calmly to Abdullah’s shop. Like always, he flashed a most magnificent smile her way. This was never lost on her. She almost anticipated it.

  “Asalaamo-alaikum,” she said, when she walked in.

  “Wasalaamo-alaikum, Morgiana. What brings you into my shop today?”

  “I noticed a man sleeping in your chair. He hasn’t moved for hours. Have you checked on him?”

  “I have. I never saw such a deep sleeper.”

  Morgiana couldn’t help but chuckle.

  “You might want to check again. And this time, check the man’s pulse.”

  Abdullah checked the man’s pulse. His mouth dropped.

  “This man is dead, Morgiana!”

  “Yes, Abdullah. What we need to do is take him around the back, so the Caliph’s guard can get him without too much attention,” she said calmly.

  “Yes,” he responded, obviously in shock.

  So they took the dead man to the back of the shop. As soon as they put him on the ground, Abdullah fainted. At the same time, Khadijah and Amir came along with two of the Caliph’s guards.

  “Aunty, I thought you told me of just one dead man?”

  “My sister on the left is very much alive. Just a bit delicate,” Amir responded, shaking his head.

  The guard shot him a curious look and picked up the dead man.

  When Abdullah woke up, he was mortified. Why was he constantly making a fool of himself in front of this woman? He so desperately wanted this amazing woman to take him seriously and find him worthy. How was that going to happen when he faints at the sight of a dead body and she doesn’t?

  “How am I going to get myself out of this one, Amir? She probably thinks I’m weak. A woman like that would never marry someone weak.”

  “You have money. That should make up for the weakness,” Amir replied.

  “Money isn’t everything. Don’t you realize that I love this woman? Just because you don’t believe in love, doesn’t mean other people don’t.”

  “I do believe in love. But at this moment, I am willingly working like a dog to achieve what I want in this life. Why would I bring a woman into that? Do you see those travelling merchants who leave their families for six months at a time? I don’t want to do that. Money first, love later.”

  “For me, it’s love now. So, what do I do?”

  “You wait. You are a good man, Abdullah. Everyone sees that, including Morgiana. Anyway, it was a good laugh. You fainted, and the women didn’t, even the one old enough to be our mother.”

  Then he laughed himself silly. Abdullah couldn’t help but laugh with him.

  The next day, he thanked Morgiana. When he realized that she and her aunt knew the man was dead hours before he did, he was even more mortified.

  “You didn’t think to tell me?” he asked.

  “I did. But where would the fun have been in that?” she laughed.

  He smiled and fell deeper in love.

  One Friday when the bazaar was closed, he went for a walk. With thoughts of Morgiana in his head, he came upon some dyers. They seemed to be on a break of some sort. They were looking up at something, pointing, and laughing.

  Abdullah smiled and asked, “What is the joke? Let me see.”

  When he looked up, he saw Morgiana in a dressing gown, drying her hair. The smile quickly went from his face. But not before Morgiana saw him and the rest. She disappeared from view.

  “Get out of here, now!” he started yelling. He had chased all of them away when Morgiana came rushing at him.

  “How could you do that?” she yelled.

  “I didn’t! I chased them as soon as I realized what they were looking at! he yelled back.

  “You were smiling with them!”

  “I am always smiling with people. I had no idea what they were looking at!”

  “You never have any idea! You are the biggest fool in Baghdad!”

  He simply glanced at her, but she could see the hurt in his face. Then, he just walked away.

  She was starting to calm down, so she was already regretting what she had said.

  At that moment, one of the dyers approached her.

  “Madam, forgive those young boys their foolishness. I should have stopped them, so forgive me also. Sir, really did not know what they were doing, and when he realized he stopped them. Sorry,Madam.”

  The next morning, she went to Abdullah’s shop but only saw Amir. Morgiana gave him salaams and asked for Abdullah. Of course, she had to hear something from Amir.

  “You’re not going to rip his heart out again, are you? Because I really can’t let you see him if that’s the case. You understand.”

  “I do. I came to apol
ogize. Where is he?”

  “In the back room.”

  “Thank you,” she smiled.

  “No heart ripping!” he called after her.

  “Only heart mending,” she said.

  She found him writing at his desk. He did not look up.

  “Assalaamo-alaikum,” she started.

  “Walaikum salaam,” he answered, barely looking up from what he was writing.

  “I’m sorry. When I saw you smiling with them, I was more hurt by you than angry with them.”

  “How could you think I would do something like that? You should have known.”

  “You’re right.”

  “But how could you have? You always have the answer before you even finish asking the question. But this time, you were very wrong.” He got up.

  “Now excuse me. I am very busy today.”

  “Abdullah,” she said, gripping his arm. He yanked it away like hot oil was being poured on it and opened the door for her.

  She walked out the door and passed Amir. He saw the expression on her face and realized that it wasn’t over. He became terribly vexed.

  “Stop being the woman, and go get the woman,” he said.

  “She didn’t believe in me! She called me a fool!”

  “Abdullah, you are my brother, and I do love you. But sometimes, you are a fool! She was angry. I would be, too, if some idiots were watching me in my house. And if I thought one of those idiots was supposed to be my friend, I would be hurt, too. She realized her mistake and came to apologize. You love this woman! You could have used this situation to get close to her! We have all this money now, and we still can’t buy you any sense!”

  “Amir, not everything is a calculated business tactic. Now, you leave me alone, too.”

  “If you keep walking around moping over this woman, don’t expect any sympathy from me. It’s not my business to be kind.”

  Abdullah sat back at his desk. Amir was right. He did love Morgiana. It would have been very easy for anyone to misunderstand and think he was staring too. She hurt his pride, and that’s not easy to recover from.

  Across the bazaar, it wasn’t any easier for Morgiana. She knew she had made a mistake, but she was disappointed that Abdullah did not forgive her right away. Like Amir, Khadijah was not in the mood for consolation.