Thousand & One Nights: 140th Night: The Lame Young Man & Baghdad Barber -2

When we heard this description of barber we were anxious to know about it in detail. One of us said, "None of us are able to enjoy our food till we hear the story of the barber."
The young man said, "O friends, I had an adventure with this barber in my native city, Baghdad. He was the cause of my lame, the breaking of my leg. I have sworn never to sit in the same place or live in the city with him, and because of him I left Baghdad and settled in this city. Now, I suddenly find him here with you. Not another night shall pass before I depart from here." We begged him to sit down and tell us what had happened between him and the barber, in Baghdad, while the barber turned pale and bowed his head. The young man said:

My father was one of the richest men of Baghdad, and God has blessed him with no other child but myself. When I grew up and reached manhood, he died. He left me great wealth, and I began to dress handsomely and to live the best of lives. It somehow happened that I became a misogynist. One day I was walking along one of the streets of Baghdad, a group of women blocked my way and I fled from them into a blind alley. I had not sat long when a window opened, and there appeared, tending some flowers in the window, a young lady, as radiant as the moon, and so beautiful that I have never seen one more beautiful. She saw me and smiled, setting my heart on fire, and my hatred of women was slowly melting, and love began to creep into my heart and limbs. I continued sitting there, lost in daydreaming till the close to dusk. A judge of the city riding a she-mule, came by, dismounted, and entered the young lady's house, and I guessed he was her father. In a pensive mood I went home, and fell upon my bed consumed with passion. My relatives came in, and wondered what was the matter with me, but I did not reply. I remained in this state for several days, until my relatives began to lament over me.

One day an old woman came in to see me, and looking at me, guessed at once what was the matter with me, and said, "Son, be cheerful; tell me what ails you, and I will help you get what you desire." Her words soothed my heart, and we sat talking.

Morning overtook Shahrazad, and she lapsed into silence. 

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