44-2
- Alee
Baabaa and the Forty Thieves:
Robbers Kill Kaasim
In the
meantime the thieves came there and entered the cave. As they went inside,
they saw a man in the cave. They kept all the bags at their places. They
guessed that Kaasim did enter the cave but could not get out of the cave,
but they could not imagine that how did he enter the cave, because they
could not think that somebody might have heard their secret key to open
the door. But since it has happened, now the most important question was
of the cave's security. They cut the Kaasim's body in four parts and hung
its two parts on one side and the other two parts on the other side inside
the door of the cave. It was done just to terrify the person who attempted
to open the door of the cave in future. Then they went away.
Now
when Kaasim did not return till night, his wife got frightened, ran to Alee Baabaa's
house and said to him - "O Brother, I think Kaasim has gone to that
cave and he has not returned yet. I guess something bad has happened to
him." Alee Baabaa never thought that his brother would go to the cave
so soon, so he condemned his brother's behavior and told her that maybe he
would come in late night. But the midnight came and still there was no
sign of Kaasim. She did not go to Alee Baabaa's house in the night, but as
soon the day broke she went to his house again.
Alee
Baabaa asked her to be calm and immediately went to the cave with his
three asses. He did not see either the mules or his brother, but some
spots of blood near the door. He also expected something bad, so he
opened the door and to his dismay, he found his brother's body cut in four
parts hung on either side of the door. He immediately took his body parts, wrapped in a cloth, loaded them
on his one ass; he loaded the gold on his other two asses and returned
after the night had fallen. He handed over the two asses laden with gold
to his wife, and took the third one to his sister-in-law's house.
The
door was opened by Kaasim's clever and intelligent slave Marjeenaa. He
unloaded the ass and said to Marjeenaa - "You keep this secret
for the good of your mistress and myself. Your master's body is in these
two bundles, and now we will have to bury him as if he has died natural
death. Go and tell your mistress that "I want to speak to her"
and mind what I have said to you."
Marjeenaa
went to her mistress and Alee Baabaa followed her. He told her that the
news was not good, but she should hear the full story without interrupting
him and quietly. He told her the whole story and said to her - "Now,
You have to bury him as if he has died naturally. I think you can leave
this to Marjeenaa and I will help you in whatever way I can." Kaasim's wife
had no alternative and Alee Baabaa went away leaving them there.
Merjeenaa
immediately
went to a doctor and asked him to prepare some lozenges, which he prepared
soon and asked her "Who is ill?". Marjeenaa said - "Kaasim
himself is ill. They do not know his exact illness but he is neither
eating nor speaking." After saying this she hastily came back to
home. Next morning she went to the same doctor again with tears in her
eyes and asked for the essence which they used to give to somebody in his last
moments. Taking the essence she said - "I am afraid, this essence is
also not going to work either and I am going to lose my
master."
People
also saw Alee Baabaa and his wife going to Kaasim's house frequently on
that day, so they were not surprised to hear the cries of Kaasim's wife in
the evening. Next morning Marjeenaa went to a cobbler, Baabaa Mustafaa,
and gave him a gold coin. He looked at it asked Marjeenaa - "What can
I do for you?" Marjeenaa said - "I will take you to a certain
place blindfolded. Take your sewing material and come with me."
Mustafaa hesitated at this offer, he said - "It means you want me to
do something against my conscious and honor?" Marjeenaa put another
piece of gold on his palm and said - "No, no. Just come with me and
do not fear."
Marjeenaa
brought him to her master's house. She said - "Mustafaa, You should sew
my master's parts together soon and when you are done I will give you
another piece of gold." When he had done, she gave him the third
piece of gold, blindfolded him again and dropped him at his shop. She
asked him to keep this secret. Kaasim's body was buried with all formal
ceremonies. And thus nobody knew about Kaasim's murder.
After
a few days Alee Baabaa removed his few goods to his brother's house. The
money which was taken from the robbers he returned it to them in the night. And
soon Kaasim's widow's marriage was announced. Alee Baabaa gave Kaasim's
shop to his eldest son.
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