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Prince Kaamaraal
Zamaan and the Princess of China:
The
Princess' Brother Searches For the Prince
Now
the Princess of China had her nurse and the nurse had a son named Maarzvaan,
who was the foster brother of the Princess and was brought up
with her. They were good friends also. Maarzvaan was interested in
astrology like secret arts and learned a lot from masters and was still
thirsty for knowledge. He came back to his country after quite some time,
and he saw many heads placed on the gate of the city through which he
entered the city. He asked about those heads and his sister also. People told him
many things. As he came home his mother told him everything. He asked his
mother if she could arrange a private meeting with the Princess without
the knowledge of the King. She said she would try.
She
was the only person who could go to the Princess without the permission of
the officer. She said to him - "You know that I have brought up the
Princess and I myself also have a daughter of same age. They are friends
since childhood,
since my daughter is married the Princess has not been able to see her for
some time, but she still loves her. She would love to see my daughter
without being seen by anybody else." The officer said - "I can
do anything for the pleasure of the Princess. Go and bring your daughter
at midnight and I will open the gate for you."
When
midnight came, the nurse took her son in the guise of a girl to the
Princess. The guard opened the gate and they entered the palace. The nurse
first went to the Princess and said - "O Princess, This is not a
woman, but my son who has returned from his travels just now and wants to
kiss your hand. I hope your highness will admit him to that honor."
"What? My brother Maarzvaan has come to see me? Take off my veil. Oh,
we will see each after quite a time."
Maarzvaan
came in and both were very happy to see each other. Maarzvaan said -
"I am happy to say that I have brought the remedy for you, you are in so much
of need." He took out a book and some other things. Seeing them the Princess cried out - "So you also think that I am mad, but I am not;
and listen to me." Then the Princess told him the whole story
including the exchange of the ring. Maarzvaan said - "If whatever you
say is correct, which I believe is true, you will have to keep some
patience. Let me visit those countries which I have not visited so far and
then we might find some solution." He took leave from the Princess and set
out for his new journey. He went from city to city, island to island but
he heard only about the Princess.
After
four months, he arrived at Torf, a seaport town, where he heard no more of
Badooraa the Princess of China, but where all were talking about the
Prince Kaamaraal Zamaan. He
got very happy to know this and he tried to find where he could see the
Prince. He could go by land or by sea, the sea path was shorter; so he
embarked on a merchant ship and would have arrived at the capital safely,
that just before arriving at the port, it collided with a rock and sunk
just in front of the Prince Kaamaraal's castle. Maarzvaan was a good swimmer
so he came on the shore safely. He changed his clothes and was introduced
to the Vazeer.
Vazeer
was very satisfied with his conduct and knowledge, so he said to him -
"You are no common man. You have traveled a great way. Have you
learned treating a sick man too." Maarzvaan said - "If I know
what the ailment is, perhaps I can be of some help." The Vazeer
related the whole story of the Prince Kaamaraal in detail. Maarzvaan got
very happy to hear the account of the sickness of the Prince, because luckily
by shipwreck, he has found the person he was looking for. He had no doubt
in his mind that this was the same Prince he was looking for. He immediately
expressed his desire to see him. The Vazeer took him to the Prince. The
King was also with him.
As he
saw the Prince lying on the bed his eyes shut, he could not help saying,
"What can be a greater resemblance?" As the Prince heard him, he
opened his eyes. Maarzvaan said a short verse in compliment, neither the
King nor the Vazeer could understand it, but Kaamaraal got so happy to hear
the verse, that he asked his father to move from his place and asked
Maarzvaan to sit at his place. The King asked about him and he told that
he had come from China. He said - "If you will be able to cure my son
I will reward to your satisfaction." and he went away so that Maarzvann could treat him freely.
Maarzvaan
said to the Prince - "Now there is no need to be sad. The lady you
wish for is Princess Badooraa, the daughter of Gaioor, the King of China,
because you both have experienced the same thing on the same night. But
Your Highness is the only person who could cure you effectively. For this
you will have to travel to China. But
before you can undertake this great voyage you should be all right, so
think of the recovery of your health first." Prince got so happy with
this conversation that he got up and dressed himself in nice clothes. This gave a great
relief to the King. He embraced Maarzvaan and ordered to rejoice Princes
recovery in his kingdom. He set all prisoners free, gave lots of alms to
the poor.
The Prince
soon started recovering and when he felt comfortable to take this long
journey, he asked Maarzvaan to take him to China, but there was one
difficulty - how to take leave from the King. Maarzvaan said - "Don't
worry for that, I will manage for it. I have my duty for you and the
Princess. You have not gone out for some time so take the leave to go for
hunting for 2-3 days. He should surly grant your request. Then arrange for
two good horses - one for mounting and the other to change; and leave the
rest to me.
Next
day the Prince asked the King the permission to go for hunting, which the
King readily gave but with the caution that he wouldn't stay out for more
than one night which might cause his ill health as he was still not
perfectly all right. He then ordered for ll necessary things for his
travel and the Prince got ready to go. They started their journey. When
the night fell, they stayed in an inn. They had dinner there and slept
till midnight. Then Maarzvaan gave him his own suit to wear and to take
another for himself. They mounted the fresh horses and ran fast. At
daybreak they were in a forest.
Maarzvaan
asked the Prince to wait for him. He then killed the Prince's horse, torn
his suit, smeared it with blood, threw it on the highway. The Prince asked
the reason for this, at this Maarzvaan said - "Very soon your father
will know that you have not returned and will try to know about what had
happened to you. He will send his people to search for you. When they will
come to this place, they will see these blood stained clothes and tell him
that the wild beasts have eaten you. Thus I will escape the king's anger.
The King will then stop searching you and we will be able to do our work
safely. This is a violent way of proceeding to alarm an old father with
the death of his son, but his joy will be greater when he will know that
his son is alive and well."
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