A tale of The First Dervish is taken from A Tale of Four Dervishes , it is a translation of Mir Amman's Bagh-o Bahar, literally 'Garden and Spring'. Itself an Urdu translation cum compilation, which Mir Amman ascribes as Amir Khusrau(d.AD 1325), it has seen several translations and transcriptions in many that its Turkish, Pakistan and Urdu versions already existed before Mir Amman took it up. Be that as it may, Mir Amman's work remains significants in that it appeared at a time when very little prose literature existed in Urdu for, like many other modern Indo-Aryan languages, Urdu was seldom employed for serious writing.This was done in Persian, the language of the court and admonistration of Mughal India.
Like him , of my present work i may say:
I have polished the Urdu language
And made Bengal a Hindustan
Gentlement , you are to judge for yourselves. may the star of your prosperity shine forever!
-Mir Amman
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The First Dervish part 4
I sat there helpless and neglected. When it was morning and the sun had risen, the lady chanced to look at me through a window. Only my heart knows how I rejoiced. I thanked my stars. Meanwhile, the eunuch came to me and said, " Go and stay in the adjoining mosque; there you may get what you want." I went to the mosque as advised but my eyes were still fixed at the door and I wondered what the future had in store for me. I passed the whole day and waited for the evening with the anxiety of a person who observes a fast from early in the morning till the sun sets. At long last the evening set in and the day, heavy like a mountain on my heart, came to pass . the eunuch who had given me the lady’s address came to the mosque. He was a kind person and kept all the secrets of the lady. He confronted me and took me along with him into a garden. He asked me to sit there and said, "Stay here until you get your heart’s desire. " He then took his leave , probably to convey my good wishes to the lady. I tried to amuse myself with beautiful flowers in full bloom, the bright moonlight and the fountain playing in the basins. But the roses reminded me of her rose-like beauty and the full moon brought her face to my mind. Without her , all those delightful things pierced my eyes like thorns.
At lasts, I saw her , bright like a full moon, at the garden gate. Richly dressed and in a fine embroider veil she stood there, a few steps away from me the garden and filled my heart with joy. She sat down beside a bright big cushion in a lavishly adorned alcove. Like a moth that goes round a candle, captivated by the flame, I presented myself before her and stood there like a slave with folded arms. The eunuch pleaded for me. To him I said , " I am guilty, indeed , and I should be punished for it. " The lady , much displeased, arrogantly said to the eunuch, "The best thing for him now is to take hundred bags of gold, pack up and go back to his country. " On hearing these words my spirits fell. All seemed dark before me . out of despair I heaved a sigh and tears flowed from my eyes. None else but God was my hope. In despair I said, " Will you kindly think it over?
Had I sought worldly gains, I would not so recklessly spent in your service whatever little I had. Isn’t there any consideration for devotion and selfless service in this world that you look so displeased with me? If so, I see no charm in life now. Love and unfaithfulness cannot go together. " These words offended her much. She grew indignant and with derision said, "Ah , so you claim to be my lover! Indeed , has the frog then caught a cold? You fool, don’t forget who you! It’s no more than a mere fancy. Stop this nonsense. Never utter such words again! I swear by God, had any one else dared thus, I would have him cut to pieces and thrown before vultures and kites. But alas, I still remember your kindness to me! I repeat, even now the best thing for you is to return to your country. Only thus far had fate decreed your lot worth us!" With despair in my heart and tears in my eyes I said, "If it is so ordained that I should not get my heart’s desire and if I am destined to wander about in the woods and over mountain, I feel I am helpless."
Showing disgust at these words she said, " I cannot abide such flattering silly words. Better go and find someone else who is worth it!! " Still enraged, she got up and left. However much I tried to beseech her she paid no attention to what I said.
‘Disappointed and frustrated I also left the place. Thereafter, it became my routine to wander about the city-streets and retire to the woods only to come back and wander about the streets again as though I had gone mad. Forty days I passed in this manner without food in the day and rest at night. Like a washer man’s dog I wandered from pillar to post. Man remains alive only if he takes food and water; he is just a worm which live no food. As I did not eat or drink anything, I lost all my energy. Like an invalid I lay under the wall of the mosque when the same old eunuch came to say his Friday prayers. He happened to pass by me when I was reciting this verse in a feeble voice:
Give me the strength to bear this aching heart,
Or else give me death;
Whatever is destined for me, O God ,
Let it befall soon!
It was difficult to recognize me by my face; so weak and pale had I grown. He recognized me by my voice and was moved to see me in that condition. Looking intently he said, "So , this is what you have made of yourself." I said ,"Whatever was destined has come to be; whatever little I had, I spent on her, and now I lay down even my life for her.
If she wishes it so, what can I do ?" On hearing these words the eunuch left a servant with me and went into the mosque. When he returned he carried me in a litter to the lady’s house where he got me seated behind the screen in her apartment. Changed I certainly was yet she should have had no difficulty recognizing me, having known me for fairly long time. But she pretended not to know me at all and asked the eunuch, " Who is this fellow?"
The kindly man replied, " That is why he is in such a pitable condition. The flame of love is burning him. The more he tries to put it out, the more fiercely it burns. Moreover , he is dying of the shame of his folly." She laughed at this and said, " Why tell me lies? I remember receiving reports of his having reached his country long back. God knows who you are talking of." The eunuch folded his hands in respect and said, "If you kindly grant me leave, may I say a few words?" She said , " Say whatever you have to." The eunuch said, "You are a better judge. For God’s sake , please let this screen be removed; you will not just; add to your good deeds. It will be disrespectful if I say any more. Pray , do as you please, which will be the best." She smiled faintly and said, " Well , who is attending here? Keep him under medical care and shower some rose-water to him and bring him to me when he gets well." To this the eunuch said, " You yourself shower some rose-water on him, please, and say a kind word to him. That alone will revive him a new hope of life. On hope alone rest the word." Even then the lady refused to say a kind word. Disgusted at this I mustered up courage and said, " I do not wish to live in this state any more. With one food already in the grave I care too little about my life to fear losing it. It is up to the princess now to pull me out. She may , or she may not; it is entirely her sweet will." At last, God , who controls feelings , softened her heart. She become kind and said," Quick now, send for the royal physicians."
Presently they came and after carefully feeling my pulse and examining my urine said, "This man is certainly in love with someone. Unless he has his beloved in his arms he will not recover." These words of the physicians convinced her of my love. So she at once ordered, " Take this man to the hot bath, dress him properly and bring him to me." I was carried out, given a bath and taken to her in a proper dress. She politely said, " You have brought me a bad name for nothing ! Come now; what else do you want me to do?"
"O dervishes, my joy knew no bounds at these words. In fact , I was so overjoyed that I feared I would die. I said, "Praise be to God ! At the moment you have done more than what all the science of medicine could do; your words have given me a new life. Just notice the change your kindly words have brought about." Uttering these words, I went around her three times and said, " As you bid me speak out what I have in my heart, I wish you to give me a place at your feet which I hold as more precious than the kingdom of the whole world." For a while she became thoughtful. Giving me only a sideways glance she said, "Now take your seat. Your services and fidelity are indeed such that you may say whatever you please. They are engraved on my heart. If you so wish I have accept."
The same day, at an auspicious hour under the sign of an aggreable star, a qazi was called who performed the marriage rites. After so much trouble God showed me the happy day and I got what I wished. But much as I desired to get the lady, I got what I wished. But much as I desired to get the lady , I was anxious to know all about the strange events that had taken place. Even now I knew nothing about the handsome negro who had given me so many bags of gold on just seeing a short note. Likewise, so many other things still remained a mystery: the instant grand feast, the gruesome murder of the guest couple, her casting me away and now this sudden favour ending in our marriage. In fact, my anxiety to unravel the mystery of all those events was so great that in spite of my fondness and love for her, I could not bring myself to share the bed with her. For eight days and nights I remained with her without consummating the marriage.
‘One morning, when I asked one of the maids to prepare the bath for me, my wife smiled and said, "Really , do you think you deserved a hot bath?" I keep silent but she was surprised at my conduct. In fact, I could read anger on her face.
NEXT: The Dervish Part Five
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