Hazār Afsānah 7 - The wolf in sheep's clothing (شيم سابل رد يگرگ())

This time around, I will continue the story of Dara, Jaspar and Raiza. Let me take you back to my old post.

Bahram (the Shah's oldest brother) had four wives - Behrokh (means prettiest face; Jaspar's mother),  Khojassteh (means royal), Zahra (means bold) and Farideh (means precious). Farideh was Bahram's youngest bride. The Kurdish tribe's chieftain had only one daughter, the apple of his eye whom he named Farideh. All of Afghanistan wanted Farideh and the chieftain protected her until he found a suitor in Bahram, the Shah's brother. Farideh was a beautiful, young girl with rosy cheeks who yearned to please her husband. She knew she was the youngest bride in the family, the other wives might not like her at first glance, her husband had already been with three other women at least. However, Farideh was not one to lose hope. She was known for stealing hearts of good men which included her father. With the will of a tigress looking for prey, she made up her mind. Bahram would be her ardent admirer before the next Rose festival in Shiraz.

Within days, Bahram was Farideh's devotee. Fari, he called her, cooked the best food, made the best bed, cleaned the best rooms and sang the sweetest. In the privacy of their room, Bahram told Fari that she was also the most graceful dancer he had ever laid eyes on. Every day was a battle of conquest for Fari. She competed with herself to better everything she did. To create a new lasting impression than her previous, successful attempt, Fari was slowly but steadily driving herself to insanity.

Within two months of their Aghd (wedding), Fari was pregnant. Bahram proudly proclaimed that Fari would have their most handsome son. He decided that his son will be named Dara (means wealthy). Fari prayed to the Gods for nine months to give her a healthy baby. And at the end of nine months, the Gods blessed her with just that - A healthy baby girl! During Fari's pregnancy, Bahram was with Behrokh arranging their daughter's (her name was Sanaz) marriage. The midwife knew that Bahram would be beside himself and might even cast away his young bride. Fari could not lose the only possession, she ever truly sought. The midwife gave Fari a suggestion that changed the course of Dara's life.

Have you heard of 'Bacha Posh' ? It is a common practise in Afghanistan - a land rampant with war among tribes. Having a daughter could be a disadvantage with men running about high on their hormones alone. In such places, families often dressed their daughters as young boys from a tender age. There is a perceived notion that having a bacha posh in the family would ensure that the next pregnancy would result in a male child.

Fari decided that Dara would be a 'bacha posh'. And so, from the day Dara can remember,  everyone referred to her as  Pesar (boy).  When you are moulded at that age to think like a man against your natural growth, can you even imagine the impact ? Dara began thinking like a man, he would draw his eyebrows thicker every morning just to match the traits of other men.  No one knew of Dara's secret except his mother and the midwife. The midwife passed away in a riot and now the soul survivor of this secret was Fari. 

There was a small situation though. You know how children develop crushes.... Dara developed a crush too..... on his playmate..... Raiza. But was this unforeseen ? If you force a girl to think like a man, would she fall in love with a man or woman ? What is acceptable ? He would follow Raiza everywhere and secretly watch as she bathed in her pool. He even wore Āreghoāney to attract her attention. He would be her shadow from morn till night and in his sleep, think of a lifetime with her. Such was his love for Raiza. A true love, a pure love - one untouched by the politics of growing up.

And now, here was Dara standing in her blouse and skirt, true to her form, practising her jig when Raiza and Jaspar waltzed in. Dara used to practise her dance in the tree house all the time. She knew that at night Jaspar brought some strange women there but during the day, it was a safe place. When Dara saw the shock in Raiza's eyes, he knew it was over. Raiza would never love him. Dara was brought back to reality by Jaspar's ferocious growl - Bas-ast!!!! He gripped onto the branch and roared like a lion. In his anger, he managed to break the branch of the tree. Thereby weakening the branch below on which rested the ladder to the tree house. The branch below snapped. AAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa, thudddddd!!! Who was it ??? Who shrieked ? Both Raiza and Jaspar had fallen. Who survived the fall ? Dara ran to the door and looked down, there stood the Shah gazing up at Dara, the girl!

Sorry this one is 24 hours late. Promise to be on time next week. Tell me what you think though :D

Love,

S

Hazār Afsānah 6 - Anger Has No Eyes (درادن مشچ مشخ) !!

Mali's chagoo had mercilessly sliced through someones heart. The amphitheatre erupted in chaos. Everyone ran hither thither, shishas were broken, food strewn everywhere and doogh oozed out of every nook and corner. A few minutes hence, there was a hushed whisper and no other noise. The Shah's commanders had come to examine who was murdered that evening. The inspection began to find the heart with the loudest shriek.....

Enough about Mali and the Shah. Let me tell you about Raiza's childhood.

Raiza, as you know, was a lonely child. She spent days wandering through the palace in Shiraz. She found solace in meandering through the many rose gardens that Shiraz held in her crown. She had a favourite place in the palace - the lamp room. Here, she smoked her shishas, drank mint tea, read books and practised Reqah (a type of Persian calligraphy). The palace also hosted the Shah's brothers and their families. I'm sure you are wondering 'How big is this palace' and I would love to tell you more about it but perhaps, another time :)

Bahram was the Shah's older brother - they were born 10 years apart. He lived in the lavish ambiance of his brother's palace with his four wives, four sons and two daughters. His favourite child was his oldest, Jaspar, the boy with blue eyes and blue blood. Jaspar was twelve years of age when he realised that he embraced a deep, churning hatred for Raiza. Like the colour of a brightly lit flame - Na'arenji (crimson). She was the apple of everyones eyes and the palace chef was advised to cook her favourite meals everyday. Jaspar's reasons for hating her were different. It wasn't her beauty or that his parents loved her more. The Shah did not have a son and as such, he was next in line to rule the Kingdom. If Raiza got married before his crowning, the scales of balance might tip against his favour. 

Lately, he felt like he was growing up, sprouting a moustache and some hair on his chest. Dara, his little brother always pulled on his hair and Jaspar thought it was time to either get rid of Dara or the hair. Dara was also Raiza's precious. She played with Dara whenever she had a chance. Jaspar felt like a man, a strong one at that. At a height of 6'3, he was definitely towering over the rest. He often felt the urge to be with a woman and would think against it. Being an orthodox believer, he would tell himself that "Ahriman" (the devil) was trying to distract him from his focus - the throne of Persia. Ironic again, because the Ahriman was ruling Jaspar since a long time - since the thought of hating Raiza has sown its seed or since the time he wanted to murder little Dara.

One evening, Jaspar was getting ready to make his daily visit to Saadi street when he saw something that caught his breath. A girl with the body of Ak-ana (Persian Goddess) and the walk of a dainty deer. This little breath of fresh air walked by the fountain in a white gown and purdah with the blue moon light creating an imaginary halo around her. Jaspar had to have this Goddess. He ran towards her and pulled on her purdah from behind. Out fell her auburn hair and she twirled in shock. It was Raiza - the Shah's dainty daughter. "Bas-ast Digeh! Mano tanha bezar" (Stop it! Leave me alone) she screamed. Jaspar was shocked, did he just feel a spark for Raiza ? He grabbed her by the arm and took her behind the palace. His tree house was the safest place where no one would look for Raiza and it could be secured with a large steel lock too. He dragged her up the ladder by her beautiful, auburn hair and kicked open the door. Raiza yelled and screamed but of no avail. No one came to protect the daughter of the Shah. There stood a little girl dressed in traditional Persian attire looking at herself in the mirror.

No one was allowed to enter Jaspar's tree house. It was the privilege presented by the Shah to the oldest son in the family. The one similarity between Jaspar and Raiza was their love for lamps. The tree house too was decorated in lamp of different types. But this little person in the tree house had broken in. This person was an infiltrator and for its worth, looked vaguely familiar. Raiza and Jaspar let out a gasp! It was Dara who stood there dressed in jewels from head to toe. He wore a jewelled head band and a gold coin strap on his hips. His beautiful skirt was a fuchsia pink and with it, he wore a lime green blouse. What shocked Raiza and Jaspar was that Dara's lime green blouse exuded the build of a woman !! How was that possible ? Raiza played with Dara everyday. How would she have not known that Dara was a girl!

If you want to know about a particular character in Hazār Afsānah, do drop me a comment. I hope you are liking these snippets :) Until next Friday .....

Love,
S.

Hazār Afsānah 5 - Āreghoāney Mezeh Hā (The Purple Taste)

"I know I usually update this blog on Friday but here's a treat for the rest of the working week :)
- Swati."

Maliheh loved the colour purple (Āreghoāney). Whether it was her room, the bedspreads, the chandeliers, the shisha, her make up or her clothes; Āreghoāney was her colour of choice. The Shah had decorated her room in the palace in Āreghoāney and bought her gold embroidered slippers in the same colour. That was how much he loved her. But he often wondered whether she loved him as much. Whether she lusted after his power or she wanted more money ?

Another person loved Āreghoāney. He was the son of a courtesan who entertained at Genghis Khan's darbar. They say he had shifty, enticing eyes which pierced through in its brown hue. With shiny black hair that tumbled in waves, he looked like a true Aryan. Is it not ironic that he was born to a courtesan ? His great love for music made him a master of the Shurangiz (a type of lute) and when he played, time came to a standstill. The world seemed like it stopped breathing and everything had frozen in time. The birds sang in tune and the wind added to the quartet. The peacocks danced and the rain descended its taps to match the same tune. His childhood was taken away from him, filled with insults, taunts and unwanted fondling. He grew up before time to take care of his sister and his mum. In Persia, the men of the house are expected to take care of their home irrespective of whether they are man or son or how many women the family hosted.

On a beautiful day, his mother asked to speak with him. She told him of how they did not have enough money to buy groceries or meat to even make kashk-e-bademjan. It was time for someone to step up. The home needed food to survive and it was his responsibility. She asked him to go to Saadi street and find a good man who would like to spend some time with her. She said she expected no lesser than a pouch of gold coins. And so he set out to find a good man. He did not know why a man would give his mother a pouch of gold for some time spent together. But he knew he had to feed his sister and that his mother had found a way out which was actually his responsibility. He walked up and down Saadi street and finally found a good looking man. He looked like an Aryan and felt like he was looking in an aged mirror. He told him of the proposition and the man took some convincing but agreed. They walked to his home where the stranger saw his sister. He stopped in his tracks and leered at her. He did not like it, this stranger was making lewd expressions at his sister. He ushered him towards the sitting area and his mother stood there covered in a shawl. She asked him to close the door behind him and leave her with the stranger.

How could he leave his mother alone ? His sister ran to hug him and he held her close. Abruptly, he heard the clink of anklets. His sister and he peered through a crack in the door. What he saw shocked him!! There stood two women dressed in their Āreghoāney bare minimum with coin studded hips moving to the rhythm of an inaudible tune. They both were dressed in traditional Āreghoāney Raqs Sharqi costume. He couldn't believe his eyes. He had just brought home a man. Where did the man go ? And who was this woman with his mother ? And why were they wearing Āreghoāney ?

At that moment, his mother turned and saw them peering through the crack in the door. "Ziavash !!" She screamed - "Take Zeba and go get some Bastani-e gol-o bolbol (Saffron and rose flavoured ice cream) Now !!"

Let me know what you think of this Afsānah!

Much love,
S

Hazār Afsānah 4 - Raiza's Forgotten Story .....

Everyone wants to know more about Raiza..... So here's a little bit about her....

Raiza had never known poverty or greed. Always content with what she was given, she was completely unlike her mother. Her mother she never knew, and her father never had time. Sattareh he called her when her name was Raiza. She told herself that this was because she was the star of his eyes but many said that it was because she reminded him of Sattareh. Who is Sattareh, you ask ? That's a long story, one that I will tell only with time.

Raiza was tall, as tall as a bamboo tree one might say as t'aarof. With beautiful auburn hair and slender hips, Raiza was definitely an exquisite surprise for tired eyes. Her eyes were a deep shade of green like that of the turquoise waters of the sea. Encompassed in the shape of a fish, her eyes alone would make a man stop in his tracks. Alabaster skin covered her face and was sprinkled with a few freckles that only added to her beauty. High cheek bones and her rosy, luscious lips were the envy of many women in Shiraz. She wore rose oil from the famous red rose gardens of Shiraz. This summoned her arrival to all onlookers who tidied themselves to be in the presence of the princess.

However, Raiza was lonely. Her eyes were always downcast and even though the world around her would give an arm and a leg to be her confidante, she did not feel like sharing the reason for her sorrow. Her father was the Shah who was always in the presence of eternal beauty; be it the queens of harems or nearby fiefdoms. She missed her mother, the lady she did not know. Raiza often went to the cliff to lose her sorrows in the beauty that surrounded her. The entire kingdom knew that when Raiza danced, the Gods were in audience. She danced to express and not to impress. The Raqs Sharqi was a genetic gift to her and she had mastered the Bandari dance as well. But no one knew that Raiza could sing and she sang like the whispering dew that fell on the leaf when no one was watching and yet cooled the thirsty vine.

When she heard Tariq's melody about the Fields of Gold, Raiza's green eyes bore down the tears she had withheld for many years. She wanted to run freely in the field without fear of who knew what about her. She felt like she should share her secret with this stranger who sang from his heart. He would be gone in some time and would never be able to tell any more of her secret than what she revealed. And suddenly, it went quiet. Tariq stopped singing. Her heart sank as she realised that he would never sing for her once he knew her secret. He would never want to even look at her once he knew. But this was the moment, it was now or never. She either let the secret take her down with it or shared it with Tariq and set her soul free. Should Raiza share her secret ? What was so bad that she couldn't even tell a stranger ?

 

I know you are eager to know what's next but...

"There is no great achievement that is not the result of patient working and waiting ....

- J. G. Holland."

Until next time my darlings ....

Love,

S.

Hazār Afsānah 3 - Only a Knife Knows What Goes On In The Heart Of A Pumpkin :)

Since I have been incessantly harassed about what happens next, here goes ...

Ziavash was the owner of the Harem and Mali's Koskesh (hustler). He always had a dear eye for Mali and was exhilarated on receiving the scroll. This meant killing two birds with one stone. Not only would this stir a deep malice in Mali for the Shah but also give the other concubines of his Harem a chance to win affluent customers. He went out onto Saadi street and bought new clothes and jewellery for all the women in his Harem.

Mali eyed the gown Zia bought for her carefully. It covered too much she thought. How would she steal the hearts of all the men present if she was covered from head to toe ? Out came the scissor and she cut off the arms of the gown, deepened the neck and back and shortened the hem of the skirt. This now looked like a Heart Stopper's gown.

The evening drew near and the Harem was a mad house of half dressed women running around in an effort to look their best. The palanquin bearers arrived and out poured the most beautiful women in Persia. Dressed in the finest grandeur and equipped with their most graceful charm, these ladies not only attracted glances from the men around but also the women who forgot how to hold the chador when they laid their eyes on them.

The Amphitheatre was laden with flowing white shamianas and shishas. Doogh (traditional Irani drink) and chelo kababs (rice and kebab) were the order of the day and everyone bustled around to satisfy their palates. The trumpets were sounded and in walked the Great Shah and his entourage. The music filled the air and it seemed like the birds sang in unison to welcome the great evening. The wind bellowed and the women walked onto the stage one by one to showcase their most anticipated moves. Hours went by in anticipation of Mali, the crowd started chanting her name and the Shah, himself, was now eagerly waiting to see his beloved.

All of a sudden the music came to a halt, there were three gunshots in the air and everyone looked around in trepidation. The sound of anklets graced the air and Mali glided onto the stage with coins studded on her hips. The music began with chimes and Mali stunned the audience with her rendition of Raqs Sharqi (belly dance). She swayed her hips for 45 minutes before coming to a halt. Out of nowhere she grabbed a chagoo (knife) and flung it into the air.

A loud shriek emerged from the crowd, the knife had ended someones life....

There will be more soon .. Keep reading :)

Love,
S.