Arabian Nights: 235th Night: Jullanar of the Sea - 6

The following night Shahrazad continued the story of Jullanar. 

At the end of the year after the coming of Jullanar, one day the king opened up his heart to the slave girl.
By this time the king was infatuated with the girl, and made a final attempt to make her speak.  The king said to the girl, "O my heart's delight, By God, the whole kigdom is not worth a grain of sand to me when I see you unable to speak or reply to.
me.  You are dearer to me than my eyes.  I have deserted my concubines, my favourites, and all my other women, and made you my lot in life.  I have been praying to God to soften your heart and make you speak to me.  Sometimes, I am sceptic and think that you are dumb and deaf.  If you are really deaf or dumb you say it to me.

I have no son to inherit my kingdom.  I am too old and weak.  I am lonely and forlorn.  My lady, if you are able to speak, please say a word before I die. 
The girl bowed her head, in thought and looked up at the king,smiled in hisface and said, "O gallant king, and valiant lion, may God exalt you and humble your enemies, and may He give you long life, and grant you every wish.  The God has accepted your request and has answered your prayers.  O king I am bearing your child and the time of my delivery is near.  But I do not whether child is he or she."

The king was extremely happy and embraced her and kissed her, and said, "I am happy on two accounts: the first, you speak up for the first time and second you are bearing a child."

He left her, came to his throne and sat sat on it.  In a fit of happiness, he bade his vizier distribute in alms a hundred thousand dinars to windows, destitutes and orphans and the vizier did as he bade.

Then he returned to the slave girl and asked her, O my lady, how did you spend a whole year, lying with me every night without speaking to me even a word? And why did you observe that long silence?

"O king, I am an exile and captive in a foreign land. I am broken hearted for my people, a woman all alone....."

But morning overtook and Shahrazad lapsed into silence.


 

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