Hazār Afsānah 14 - This is Love (این عشق است)

"This is Love; To fly toward a secret sky; To cause a hundred veils to fall each moment. First, to let go of life. Finally, to take a step without feet."
- Jalal ad-Din Rumi

It's time to let the flowers bloom and so, let me update you on the developments with Raiza. Tariq did not know why this beautiful orchid petal was crying and since she asked him not to stop singing, he paid heed to her request. At the end of the song, the sun had set and out came the chirps of the happy birds. The wind was strong and it blew wildly that evening, almost rocking frail Raiza off her feet. Tariq held onto her wrist and they both walked to the shade of a nearby Loor and Ma'abed (fig) tree. The tree was significant of an everlasting bond that was being created between Tariq and Raiza. This tree stood green against all weathers throughout the year. Tariq and Raiza knew that they were in love, a pure love, one that was safe from the expectations of a frivolous lady and the demands of a chauvinistic man.

They spent the rest of the evening under the tree and Raiza shared her secret. That she was the daughter of the Shah of Iran who was raped every night by her father's brother, Bahram unknown to her dear father. By the end of her story, she was in Tariq's arms crying bitterly over her past and Tariq held onto her, comforting her while stroking her hair. He whispered in her ear, "A bad wound can heal unlike a bad word. A broken hand can work unlike a broken heart. But a sweet tongue and kindness, can drag an elephant with its hair. Your time will come, you need to believe that the Gods are listening." Tariq and Raiza shared every little bit of their past with each other - that Tariq did not know his father, his mother was no more and all in all, he was just a lounge singer.

Raiza always felt that her father and she were poles apart in thoughts and action but they were more alike than two peas in a pod. She took Tariq with her in the morning to the palace in Khorramshehr where her father was residing currently. No one stopped Tariq as he was escorted by the princess herself. She walked into the darbar and asked for seclusion immediately. She had the Shah's attention now. She said, "Pedär (father), I have never asked you who my mother is. I have heard the vilest of remarks for not knowing her name. And I ask the same of you, to not ask me why, what or how but to accept that I love Tariq and am marrying him." The Shah was awestruck and for the first time, at a loss for words. He did not know what he was feeling - whether it was an unbelievable, red rage or a heart bursting with pride. And even though he knew that the right thing to do is to chide his little angel, he could not help but be proud of her for finally standing up for herself. He called on Tariq to take a walk with him in the palace courtyard.

A few hours later, the darbar witnessed an announcement by the Shah - The Wedding Of Shahdokht (Princess) Raiza to Zemindar Tariq Alizadeh was scheduled five days from now in the midst of the rose garden of the Shiraz palace. The Shah had traced Tariq's bloodline within hours and how and whence, none knows. He told Tariq of his father Taher and finally, he thought it was time to tell Raiza about her mother. One night before the wedding, the Shah took Raiza into his chambers. There stood Mali against the window, an ominous look on her gorgeous face. Raiza wondered what this conversation would be about when the Shah sat on his bed and signalled Raiza to come by his feet. He touched her head and said, "Raiza, you have always doubted my love for you and I have never found the need to validate it for you. You are my own kin, the heir to my riches and accomplishments. Can I love anything more than my own blood ?" Raiza seemed bewildered. What was her normally sane father talking about !? He continued, "Dokht (daughter), it is time for you to meet your mother. She is right here in this room. I hope you will love and accept her the way you have accepted Mali in my life."

Raiza was left bewildered. The chamber was dark, illuminated with the faint moonlight. She knew that Maliheh was in the room. Was Maliheh her mother ?! This is not possible... She secretly hated Maliheh for years. How can she now call her - Madär (mother).... Out stepped a figure from the darkness, a lady with nimble fingers and a quivering gait...... Was that Maliheh or someone else ???

A few more to go before Hazār Afsānah wraps up....

Love,
S.

Hazār Afsānah 13 - All That Glitters (همه می درخشن)

Taher Alizadeh was the Shurangiz player from the Harem who taught Ziavash how to strum the lute. Have you ever wondered why Taher never once felt enticed by the Fereshteh ? So many beautiful women from the corners of Persia, under one roof swaying their hips to his tunes and not once did he look at them with lust in his eyes ?

Taher was once the son of a rich Zemindar [landlord] on the outskirts of Shiraz. He grew up in the lap of luxury with many servants at his feet. He wasn't one to share importance with the material flamboyance of life and so unlike the rest of his family, he treated even the family servants with great respect. Since childhood, he played with the servant children and would encourage them to go to school with him. He would play the Shurangiz for these little children who would dance in circles around him. As Taher turned 16, he realised that he had developed an adulation for a young servant girl. They spent a lot of time together and the inevitable knocked on Taher's door. She was pregnant! Taher's father found out about this mishap and did what any father would. An elaborate amount was paid to the servant family who vanished come dawn. Taher was left devastated. He did not know why or where to his lady love had vanished. Not only did he lose his one lady love but also his little unborn dream. His mother spent a lot of time with him during this span. She told him that women outside the family were terrible creatures, they lured and enticed unsuspecting men, took away their youth and treasures; and then left them to rot and mend their grieving hearts.

Taher took his mother's teachings to heart. He took a solemn vow never again to fall into this trap of enticement. Hence, he never looked a lady in the eye ever again. He gave himself to his Shurangiz who would never leave him heartbroken. When Taher strummed the Shurangiz, all women stood transfixed. There was an air of ecstasy and the Harem swayed to its rhythm.

Meanwhile, a baby boy was born in Khorramshehr to a servant girl. He looked just like his father and so his mother retained his father's surname. Years passed and the boy grew more handsome. He was a lover, never one to doubt the way or wills of God. He followed his heart and his mind told him right against wrong.  Tariq Alizadeh was a gifted singer and in his free time, sang at an Arab lounge, "Azizam". He sang love ballads, Arab dance tunes as well as soulful music. His friends often coaxed him to quit singing and go out with them, sit around roadside cafes, smoke Shisha and eye young, beautiful Arab women. But Tariq was different. He did not appreciate objectifying women and was taught better by his mother. The baby boy was Tariq Alizadeh, son of Taher Alizadeh. 


Is it ironic that both father and son had a passion for music ? Or that both father and son preferred being alone ? Or that both father and son performed for an audience ...


Next week will open another secret door ... Hazār Afsānah is coming to a close .. I hope you are liking it thus far.


Love,
S.