Thousand & One Nights 7: Night Two: The Merchant & The Demon continued

When the demon raised his sword, the merchant said, "Please give me time to say good-bye to my family, life and children, and divide my property among them. I shall come back."
The demon replied, "I am afraid that you may never come."
The merchant replied, I swear that I will stand by my pledge as the God of Heaven and Earth is my witness."
The demon asked how long it would take. The merchant replied that it would take one year, so that he may see his children, bid his wife goodbye, discharge his obligations to people and come back on New Year's Day." 
The Demon said, "Do you swear to God that you will come back on New year's Day?"
The merchant gave his word.
The demon released him, and he went home.

He arrived at his home. He wept bitterly, and related to his wife and children what happened to him during the trip. When they heard his story the began to cry.

The next day he wrote his will, dividing his property, discharged his obligations to his customers, left bequests and gifts, distributed alms, engaged reciters to read the portions of Quran in the house. Then he summoned legal experts and in their presence freed his slaves and slave girls, divided among his elder children their shares of the property, appointed guardians on behalf of little children, gave his wife her share according to marriage contract. He spent the rest of the time with his family, and when the year came to an end, he performed his ablutions, performed his prayers, and, carrying his burial shroud, began to bid his family good bye.  His sons hung around his neck, his daughters wept, and his wife wailed.  Their mourning scared him, and he began to weep, as he embraced and kissed his children goodbye. He said to them,  "Children, this is God's will and decree, for man was created to die." Then he turned away and, mounting his horse, journeyed day and night, until he reached the orchard on New Year's ear's Day.

He sat at the place where he had eaten dates, waiting for the demon with a heavy heart and tearful eyes.  As he waited, an old man leading a deer on a leash, approached and greeted him, and he returned the greeting.  The old man said, "Friend, why do you sit here in this place of demons and devils? For in this haunted orchard, none come to good." The merchant told him what had happened to him.  The old man was amazed at the merchant's fidelity and said, "Yours is a magnificent pledge." I shall not leave until I see what will happen to you with the demon."  Then he sat down beside him and chatted with him. 

Night gone and morning come.  Shahrazad lapsed into silence. "What a strange and wonderful story," said Dinarzad.  Shahrazad replied, "Tomorrow night I shall tell something more stranger and wonderful."

End of the Section 

Note:-
1.The second part of the story is post Islamic  update to include the reference of Quran. The original story might have been of more than three thousand years' old. The story has been passed down by story tellers, before the art of printing. Story telling had been an art and pastime carried down by Sutas in India, Griots in Africa, Ashiks in the Middle East, and Bards in Europe.

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