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
No comments:
Post a Comment