|
|
|
|
1-1 The Merchant and the Genie
Long
time ago there was a merchant who was very rich. He used to go to far
places at time to time to do his business. Once he set out for his journey
putting a few eatables in his pocket because he knew that he would not get
anything to eat on his way which went through desert. When he was coming
back after finishing his business, on the 4th day of his journey, he felt
the heat scorching, so he branched from his road and came to a walnut tree
where a fountain of clear water was running. He took some food, drank
water and took some rest there.
As he
was taking some rest, he saw a huge Genie (Jinn) coming angrily towards
him. Genie said to him - "I will kill you, as you have killed my
son." Merchant got scared to see him and asked him politely -
"Sir, May I know what have I done to you, so that you have to come to kill
me?" Genie again said - "I will kill you as you have killed my
son." The merchant again spoke trembling - "But Sir, How can I
kill your son? I do not know him, I have not seen him."
Genie
asked - "When you came here, didn't you sit down here? And when you
had sat down here, didn't you eat the dates? And when you ate the dates,
didn't you throw their stones around?" "Yes, I did all; but then how did I kill
your son?" "When you were throwing the stones of the dates, my son was passing
by, and one of them hit his eye and he died out of that." Merchant
said - "Sir, I might have killed your son just unintentionally,
please forgive me for that." "No, I will kill you as you killed my
son." And he lifted the merchant to throw him on the ground. The
merchant cried taking his wife and children's names and tried his best to
save himself."
At
this time the day broke, Shaharzaad knew that Sulataan rose very early in
the morning, so she stopped telling her story. Deenaarzaad said - "Oh
Sister, This is a wonderful story." Shaharzaad said - "The
remaining story is more wonderful." Shahariyaar thought, "I can
wait till tomorrow to hear the end of this story. I can always kill her
whenever I like." And he went away. Vazeer was very anxious to know
about his daughter, but he was very much relieved, when he saw the Sultaan
entering the court. He took a great sigh of relief.
Next
morning, Deenaarzaad again requested her sister to continue the story -
"Sister, If you are not sleep, can you continue with your
story?" This time she did not need to take Sultaan's permission,
Sultaan himself said to her - "Finish the story, I am anxious to know
the end."
And
she again started - "When the merchant saw that Genie is not going to
spare his life, he asked him some time, so that he could go home, meet his
wife and children, and make his will. And then he would surely come back in
his service. Genie said - "If I will give you this time, I am sure,
you will not come back." "No Sir, I promise , I will surely come
back. Please give me a year. I will be here today, after 12 months from
this day." Genie agreed, he released him and the merchant immediately
rode on his horse and came to his house.
His
wife and children got very happy to see him, but he started weeping so
they understood that something was wrong. His wife asked him what was the
matter. He said - "Dear, I have only one year to live." and told
her the whole story. All became very sad hearing this. From next day he
started settling his pending matters. Soon the year passed, and he said
good-bye to his family with a heavy heart. He came to the same place where
he saw Genie last year on the same day. He sat down near the fountain and waited
there for him to come.
As he
was waiting, a man happened to come there and asked him - "Brother,
May I know why are you here? This place is beautiful, but is not free from
danger; as many Genie live here." Merchant told him the whole story.
The man got curious and sat down with him to witness the event. In the
meantime another old man came there with his two black dogs. He also
asked them what were they doing there. He also got curious to know the fat
of the merchant, so he also sat
down there with them. In the meantime a third man also came there and he
also sat down there with them in curiosity.
Soon
they saw smoke rising in front of them and Genie coming out of it. He again said the same thing
- "Get up, I will kill you as you have killed my son." All the
four men began to weep bitterly. The first old man fell on Genie's feet and said
- "Please listen to me, I am going to tell you my story, if you find
it interesting, you will do away with the third part of his
punishment."
Genie
thought for a few moments and said - "OK, I agree."
|
