43-1
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Prince
Kaamraal
Zamaan and the Princess of China:
Prince and Princess Meet Each Other
There
lived a King in the Islands of the Children of Khaaldaan just 20 days sail
from Persia. He had only one son, his name was Kaamraal Zamaan. When he
grew up, he became knowledgeable in all kinds of sciences which he should
have known and everybody liked him. When he became 15 year old, his father
decided to appoint him the King of that island. When he expressed this to
his Vazeer, although he did not fully agree with this decision, he
said - "Sir, The Prince is still young, and it will be too early to
crown him as a King. If you think that he might be spoiled during this
period of age, you might think to marry him. Then keep him in the court
with you so that he can learn how to rule."
The
Sultaan agreed to his Vazeer, so he dismissed him and called his son
there. The Prince was used to see his father at certain times without
being called, so when the Sulataan called him at this odd hour, he got
startled. He came and stood quietly eyes fixed on the ground. The Sultaan said
- "Do you know why I have called you?" The Prince said -
"No Father." The Sultaan said - "I wish to marry you. What do
you think?" Kaamraal Zamaan said - "I am surprised at this
proposal because I am very young." The Sultaan got afflicted at this
reply still he said to him - "Take your time and think over it."
He
admitted him into his council and tried his best to convince him. At the
end of the year he said to him - "Prince, Will you still refuse my
proposal and suffer me to die without this pleasure?" The Prince said
- "After the consideration I am more firm in my ideas and I hope that
Your Majesty will pardon me to talk further about marriage." And he
went away without hearing his father's reply. The Sultaan reported this matter to
his Vazeer and asked him - "How can I give my throne to such a
rebellious son?" The Vazeer said - "Patience is greater than
anything. Please be patient for another year. Maybe then you can propose
him in the council, and at that time he would not be able to refuse
it." Another year passed but the Sultaan didn't find any change in
the Prince's mind.
One
day when there was great council held, the Sultaan again proposed to his
son in that council meeting. But the Prince still didn't agree with his
father. At this the Sultaan cried - "Does one talk to his father like
this?" He ordered his guards to take him away to an old tower which
was unoccupied for quite some time, and shut him there with only a bed, a
little furniture, some books and one slave to attend him. Kaamraal got
very happy to hear this as he didn't want any disturbance in his freedom.
In the
evening he took bath, read some chapters of the Quraan, left the lamp burning
till he slept and went to bed. Now in the tower there was a well. There
lived a fairy, Maimoon - the daughter of Damriyaat, in the daytime.
Damriyaat was the head of Genies. At about midnight, Maimoon came up the
well to wander about the world. She saw a light in a room of the tower, so
she
entered the room and saw the finest young man of the world. She thought
"what crime he has committed that the King has punished him so
severely." After a while she kissed him and came out of his room and
went away flying.
After
a while she heard the sound of flipping of wings and when she saw towards
the direction of the sound, she found that the sound was coming from the wings of a rebellious Genie's
wings. Maimoon was from that class whom Solomon compelled to acknowledge
him. This Genie's name was Danhaash and he knew Maimoon and her power. He
wanted to avoid her but she was too near to him to avoid. He requested her not to
hurt him, and Maimoon promised him to do so.
Then he
said - "I tell you a wonderful thing. I am coming from the utmost
limits of China. It is very beautiful." Maimoon said - "Go on,
but just tell me the truth, otherwise I will cut your wings."
Danhaash said - "I will tell you only truth and nothing but truth. It
is a very powerful kingdom and presently its King is Gaioor. He has an
only daughter, Badooraa, who is so qualitative that all of us Genies cannot describe
her. His father loves her very much. He has built seven most
extraordinary and magnificent palaces for her. The first palace is of rock
crystal, the second one is of copper, the third one is of fine steel, the
fourth one is of brass, the fifth one is of touchstone, the sixth one is
of silver and the seventh one is of gold. He has furnished these palace
appropriately.
Seeing
the riches of the Princess, the Prince of the neighboring country sent his
ambassador to request her marriage. Since the girl was not satisfied, and
the father did not like to force his wishes on her, the ambassador was
sent back to his country. The girl said to her father - "You want to
see me married, but where I will find such palaces and gardens. People
like to be masters, not to be commanded."
Then there was a Prince to whom
her father himself recommended but the princess refused him also on the
same basis. He father got very angry at this, as if she has gone mad, so
he shut her up in a single room in one of his palaces with 10 old women
for her help. And he declared that his daughter had gone mad and whoever
would cure her, he would marry her to him. I am very sorry for this maiden and I go
daily to see this incomparable beauty. Come with me and see her."
Maimoon
laughed loudly and said - "Oh I was thinking you would tell me
something very extraordinary, but this is the story of a mad woman. Then
what would you say if you see my Prince?" "Which Prince you
are talking about?" "The story of this Prince is also similar to
that of your Princess. Danhaash said - "Well, Let me see your Prince
then I can compare him with my Princess." Maimoon said - "There
is no need to argue about the beauty of both, you go bring your Princess
here and place her in my Prince's room, then it will be easier for us to
compare who is more beautiful. If your Princess is more beautiful, I will
pay; else you will pay." And she showed him the tower where he had to
bring the Princess.
Danhaash
agreed with Maimoon's proposal and brought the Princess almost immediately
and laid her beside the Prince. Both looked at the Prince and the Princess
but could not reach any conclusion, so they decided to call an umpire to
decide this. Maimoon stamped her foot, the earth opened and out came a
humpbacked, squinting, lame Genie with six horns on his head. His name was
Kaashkaash. He greeted Maimoon and asked her what he could do for her. She
asked him to tell her that who was more beautiful between the two. But he
also could not decide; but he suggested that both of them should be awakened
one by one and examined by their conduct. Both liked this proposal, so Maimoon changed herself into an insect and stung on
the Prince's neck so
nicely that he woke up.
As he
woke up he saw the Princess of China lying beside his bed. He was surprised to see the greatest
beauty of the world. She was so beautiful that he kissed her very softly.
He was going to wake her up, that he thought, was it not this beauty to
whom his father was going to marry him? Why didn't he show her to him
before? It
was his mistake that he disobeyed him. And now he wanted to surprise me by
keeping me here and bringing her here like that. Thinking like this he
drew out the ring which the Princess was wearing on her finger and put his
own ring on her finger. After this he fell into a more profound sleep than
before.
When
the Prince was in sound sleep, Danhaash stung on the Princess' lips
rudely. The Princess woke up startled and was very surprised to see a most
handsome Prince beside her. She also thought in the same way. She thought,
"Is it that Prince to whom my father wanted to marry me? I am indeed
most unfortunate not to accept his proposal." She wanted to wake him
up but Maimoon had made him sound sleep. She shook him several times but
he did not wake up. She noticed that he had a ring on his finger which was
like her own, then later she became sure that it was her own because she was
wearing his ring. She could not think how the rings got exchanged, and she
also
fell asleep fast.
When
Maimoon saw that the Princess spoke without fear of awaking the Prince,
she cried - "See, Your Princess is inferior to my Prince. I
pardon you this time, but next time, you will have to agree with me." Danhaash took
the Princess back to China and Maimoon also went away her own way.
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