The first dervish sat at ease. Looking towards the sky he heaved a sigh and said, ‘
With your permission, friends, I relate the story of my life:
Listen now all, what went with me!
Listen, how the heavens tossed me up and down!
Listen, what vicissitudes countered I;
Listen as I relate them all!
I was born in Yemen, my native place. My Father, Khawja Ahmad, was a merchant in the country. He had agents in many parts of the world. He had many warehouse and merchandise of all sorts. Large sums of money in cash, and silver and gold were always at hand. He had only two children- my sister and myself. She lived with her husband, a merchan’s son , in another city. I was brought up in affluence and with much delicacy. I learnt reading and writing and military science and book keeping.
‘But fate had something else in store for me. When I was fourteen my parents passed away. This was unexpected blow which left me an orphan with no one to look after me. I was struck with profound grief and I mourned their death day and night. On the fortieth day of mourning my relatives assembled to perform the last rites of my dead parents. They prayed for their souls and consoled me. ‘Know it, dear,’ they said, ‘losing one’s parents is the heritage of man. Every one has to die one day. Whenever your father has left is yours now.
You are all the master of it all now it is your duty to look after it well and carry on your business with utmost care and diligence.’ After thus consoling me they left. All my agenta and employees too came to me and offered their condolences. They requested me to take charge of the cash in hand the goods in stock.
I wondered at the huge amount of wealth my father had left. I took charge of it and started living , my own life. My drawing-room and private apartments were provided as well. Handsome servants clad in rich liveries were employed as my personal attendants and I would relax reclining against cushions and personal attendants and I would relax reclining against cushions scychopants and knaves and such others did not take along to gather around me. They talked idly and kept me in good cheer in our midst. And I was happy to indulge wildly. Man , as you know , meets the devil in man. In their company I devoted myself to the pleasures of the flesh and lavishly spent my father’s money on women and wine and gambling. The result of neglecting my business was obvious. Even the proverbial treasures of Korah would not have sufficed my extravagance. Wealth got without efforts is ill spent. So it was not long before I found that I had spent all that my father had left me. My servants left me . and those false friends disappeared too. Even if I chanced to meet them, they tured heir eyes from me. Penniless and friendless, and with nothing, to eat , I wondered where to go and what to do. I began to look like on dying of starvation. Completely dejected, I thought of going to my sister. I was much ashamed since in my life of comfort and leisure I had not even replied to any of her letters after our parent’s death.
And so, although conscious of my shamelessness, one day I started on foot and after an arduous journey reached my sister’s place. She was shock to see me in that wretched condition.She burst into tears and cried, "What ill luck has befallen you, my dear brother?" Guilt, on account of my behaviour in the past did not allow me to utter a single word. She was all kindness. She distributed alms to the poor for my safe arrival and send me to the bath. She got me new clothes and arranged for me a separate elegantly furnished apartment near her own. Good breakfasts and wholesome meals twice a day restored my health. Good breakfasts and wholesome meals twice a day restored my health. I thanked God; He had given me comfort after such hardship. But it was not to last for long. ‘One day my sister said to me,"Thank God! He has given you a new life.i would never wish you to remain away from me. But you know it is a srange world. It is every man’s duty to work. What will people think of you if you sit idle at home? They will say that after spending all your father’s wealth you are now living on your brother-in law’s charity. And this will be a sad reflection on our parents. I feel now is the time you should start doing something." "I myself would like to,"I said,"but you are now like my mother; I shall do as you please."
‘She was pleased to hear this and went to her apartment and soon reappeared. With the assistance of her maidservants she brought fifty bags of gold sovereigns which she placed Me and said,"I understand that a caravan of merchants is to leave for Damascus in a day or two. You should join it. Take profit in Damascus. Find a merchant honest enough and entrust your goods to him. Meanwhile you too should go to Damascus and take the proceeds from the sale of goods from him when he arrives there. Whatever merchandise remains you may sell it remains you may sell it yourself at a profit."
‘I took those bags of gold and went to the wholesale market of general merchandise. Fortunately, I met one of the merchants of the caravan. With his counsel I bought the goods and entrusted them to him and got a receipt as my sister had advised. I went back to my sister and told her what I had done. She was pleased.
"Two days later the merchants set off by sea . I took the overland route . my sister provided me with a good horse and put some eatables for me in a leather bag. She tied a sacred rupee on my arm amd marked my forhead with curd to guard against evil on my journey. With tearful eyes she said, "God be with you! May you remain safe and return soon." Thus she bade me farewell.
‘I mounted my horse and set horse and set out to Damascus. The weather was fine and the horse well-bred. It did not take me long to reach there. But since it was already night, the city gates had been closed. The guards did not concede to my request to open the gates so that I might enter the city. I, therefore, alighted from my horse and spreading my saddle-cloth on the ground, sad down. A mysterious silence prevail there. I could not sleep and just walked up and down. When it was midnight, I saw a big chest tied with strings being lowered slowly down the city wall. I was quite amazed at this, "Is it a talisman?" I said to myself, "or perhaps, God Almighty has taken pity on me and send me an unexpected treasure in this big chest." When it reached the ground I grew impatient to know what it contained. I went near it, it was a wooden chest and when I opened it I could not believed what I saw. There lay a women in it. She was wounded and the blood stains on her face appeared that she was extreme agony. The sight struck me dumb. She slowly moved her lips and said, "O cruel wretch, is this how you repay all my kindness and affection? Well, you may give me another blow. I leave it to God to do us justice." I just wondered and in a thoughtless mood found myself uttering this words: "I cannot understand who the devil could have ever thought of injuring such a lady. And she still remembers him in this death-agony." Upon these words she opened her eyes, drew the veil from her face and looked at me. Our eyes met for a moment. That glance of her’s pierced through my heart. I nearly fainted. But somehow I mustered enough courage to ask her, "what is it? Tell me, please, who are you and who treated you thus?" she had not the strength to speak. Only faintly she said,"Thank God ! but my wounds not allow me to speak. I might live only for a few moments more. When I have breathed my last, please be kind enough to bury me in this chest at a place where nobody may find it. And thus I may escape the condemnation of the people. May God bless you for this!" Then she became silent and pulled her veil over her face.
‘I put the chest near my belongings. I was determined to help her.but I too was helpless. I had to wait till dawn. Those remaining hours of night were really too long and heavy for me. At last the day dawned. I heard the cock crow and the cry of the muezzin from the mosque inside the city. I said my morning prayers, put the chest on my horse and as soon as the gates opened I entered the city. I asked the people where I could get a house on rent . with great difficulty I found a comfortable house. The first thing I did was to take that lady out of the chest and make her soft bed. I found myself a trustworthy servant who told me of a good barber-surgeon, well versed in the art of surgery, leaving the lady under his care I went out. After ascertaining it from people, I searched for and found the placedof the surgeon, Eisa by name. he was an old man with a flourishing beard, sitting at his door. A few men were preparing powders and plaster materials beside him . I paid him my respects and said, " I came to this city for trade and brought my wife along with me out of my love for her. On the way when night set in I did not think it advisable to proceed further. We stayed under a tree. When it was past midnight we were attacked by robbers. They wounded my wife and took away all her jewellery. I was helpless since they were too many. Early this morning we entered the city . she has grown week . I have rented a house and left her there. God has given you such great skill in the art of surgery. I have heard much of your renown and have come to seek your help. Would you kindly come along with me and save her life? I shall be ever grateful to you for this favour."
Next : The First Dervish Part(2)
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