The First Dervish Part 3
He kept me warm company and his conversation was quite charming. Meanwhile, a cup –bearer appeared with a crystal cup and a expensive punch. Many delicacies were also served. While we were so absorbed, my host , the young merchant , with tears rolling down his cheeks ,said, “Now we are good friends ; and as no religion approves of keeping a secret from a friend, I frankly confide a secret in you. I have a mistress. With your permission, may I send for her here and thus exhilarate my heart with her present? I cannot fully enjoy these pleasures without her . “He spoke so fondly of her that I too became anxious to see her. I said, “I only wish your pleasure. Nothing better than what you propose . in fact , there is no true enjoyment without one’s beloved. Without any further delay, you may, please , send for her.” The merchant made a sign towards the screen which was placed there and presently came in a black women, as ugly as a witch. She took her seat by him. She was so ugly that one would die on seeing her without even being claimed death. I was really frightened to see her and thought. “Is it possible that this ugly women is the beloved of such a handsome young man? And , is she really the one he had praised so much and so fondly spoken of?” However , I just cursed him for his taste and said nothing.
‘For three days and nights together we enjoyed the music and dine. On the fourth day I was exhausted and fell asleep. The merchant woke me up in the morning and after giving me a few cups to shake off the hangover said to his beloved,”Now, to trouble our guest any more is not fair,” Hand in hand , we stood up . I begged to leave. With great warmth he bade me farewell. I put on my dress and left for my place. I had never before stayed out of my house at night, leaving the lady alone. So I hesitated to face her after the absence of three days. I offered my opologies and told her all about the festivities and the merchant’s insistence on my keeping him company. As she knew the social etiquette she said, “Well , it doesn’t matter. You did the right thing. One can’t leaves unless the host permits. But after having enjoyed the feast and festivities there, will you let it be at that? Won’t you invite him with you and treat him with hospitality twice as great as his. Do not worry about the means, everything will be easily arranged for and in a grand manner by the grace of God.”
‘So I went back to the merchant and said to him,” I accepted your invitation and enjoyed your hospitality. Now you too must give me an opportunity to entertain you.” He politely said,” I am entirely at your service, my friend.” I said “It will be a great honour if you come along with me to my place now.”
At first he was reluctant, but on my insistence he agreed. I took him to my place. But all the time on my way back I thought of my poor circumstances, saying to myself,”Had I the mans, I too would have entertained him in a grand manner. I do not know what sort of a treat he is going to have.” Absorbed in such thoughts, I reached near my place with him. I was surprised to see the great bustle and preparatiopns for a reception at the door. The street had been swept clean and springkled over with water. The guards with their clubs in hand stood alert. I wondered at this but since I knew it was my place I entered it. What I saw there puzzled me all the more. Rich carpets were spread in all the apartments; and there were big cushions, betel and scent boxes, flower vases, containers of rose-water to shower over the guest and silver spittoons-all properly placed. On the niches wewre placed crystal chinaware of different colours and shapes. On one side of the hall lamps glowed behind a bright screen of mica; on the other side they were arranged in the shapes of cypresses and lotuses. In the hall and the balcony camphor candles were lit on golden candlesticks, and glass shades studded with jewels were placed over them. Attendants stood in waiting. Some of them were busy cooking in huge pots in the kitchen. Fresh smell earthen pitchers wrapped in clean fine cloth with small earthen pitchers wrapped in clean fine cloth with small earthen pots on them were placed on silver stands in the water-chamber. There were also covered mugs and big cups set in ie and saltpeter to cool the water therein. They were nicely arranged in big round dishes on a low table.
‘In short, everything for a royal feast had been nicely arranged. Dancing childrens girl and boys, musicians and entertainers, all gally dressed, stood ready to perform. I took the merchant along with me and got him seated by a big cushion in the centre of the hall. I was surprised to see that all those arrangements, made in such a short time. I looked for the lady but could not find her. As I went intio the kitchen , I saw her in another apartment. Her head covered with white scarft and in a simple dress and ordinbary slippers, she was busy supervising the arrangements for the feast. Though unadorned, what a beauty she was:
Those on whom God beauty hath bestowed
Indeed , no ornaments do they need;
Though unadorned, beautiful they remain
Like the full moon uneclipsed!
She was giving the cooks directions to prepare various dishes and make them as tasty as possible. In fact , she, with her rose-like delicate frame, was all as sweat because of that toilsome work. I went to her and invoking blessings of God on her I tried to flatter her and admired her good sense and understanding in making arrangements for the feast. She said, “Man can do what even angels cannot. What is it that you so admire? Enough of this flattery; I do not like it. Tell me what etiquette is this that you have come here leaving your guest all to himself?? What will he think? Go and attend to him. Send for his mistress too to give him company.”
‘I went to the merchant and entertained him. meanwhile, two handsome servants carrying flasks of drink and cups studded with precious stones entered and started serving us. I said to him , “I am sincerely at your service , my friend. It will be proper, if with your permission, the beautiful lady you love so much also joins you here. I may send a man to bring her, if you please.” The merchant was overjoyed to hear this and said. “Ah, my friend , this is just what I had in my heart .” I had in my heart .” So I send a eunuch to bring her. It was midnight when that ugly witch arrived in an elegant palanquin like an unexpected evil. To pleas my guest I received her with all respect and got her seated by him. He was so delighted on seeing her, as though he had been given all the pleasures of the world, and the devilish fiend , too, eagerly embraced him. Verily , it seemed that the bright full moon had been eclipsed. All those present there gaped in wonderment and said, “See what an evil is cast on this young man !” With such a ludicrous sight before them , they forgot all else and started at the couple. One of them remarked, “ Friends, love and reason are opposed to each other. This accursed love may see what reason can never conceive. Try to see Laila with the eyes of Majnun.” All those present exclaimed , “ True , true indeed !”
‘I devotedly attended to my guest as my lady had adviced. However much merchant urged me to share drinks with him, I refrained from drinking on the pretext of my duties as a host. Actually I feared lest I should earn the displeasures of my lady. Nor did I take interest in the amusements there. Three days and nights we passed like that. On the forth night the young merchant said to me, “ I must now beg my leave; out of love for you I have neglected my work and been here for three days. Pray , won’t you sit now for a moment and share the pleasures with us? “ I thought he would feel hurt if I did not . Besides, good manners do require one to please a friend and a guest . So I said to him, “I am obliged to give in, my friend. Courtesy demands I should care more for your commands than for my duties as a host.” He offered me a cup of drink which I had taken. Then we had several rounds more at a stretch, with the result that in a short time all those present lay tired and asleep, unconscious and woke only when it was morning and the sun was high up.
‘I looked around and found that the entire crowd had vanished. Nor could I see the lady. The house was empty except for a bundle of wrapped up in woolen blanket in corner. When opened, it revealed, to my horror, the headless bodies of my guest and his mistress. This horrible sight unnerved me. I was shocked and struck dumb. I could not understand what had happened. I just wondered and looked around, when I happened to see the eunuch who had helped prepare for the feast. Seeing him I was comforted. He exclaimed, “
What is the use of knowing all about it?” I agreed with him in my heart. However, after thinking over it for a while I said,” Well, you may not speak about it but do tell me where the lady is?” He replied, “Of course , I will tell you whatever I know but pray tell me how it behoove a sensible man like you to get dead asleep without the permission of my lady and that man too with a man whom you know only a few days ago?” These polite words made me realize my mistake and I said, “Indeed, I committed a folly ; pardon me, please.” The eunuch all the more kindly give the lady’s address and bidding me farewell went to bury the two dead bodies. Thank God, I had nothing to do with that horrible event.
‘I was anxious to meet the lady . it was only in the evening that I could locate residence with great difficulty. I passed the night with great anxiety sitting in a corner near the gate. I did not hear any footstep, nor did anybody bother about me.
Next : The First Dervish Part 4
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