Arabian Nights: 292nd Night: Ala-ed-Din & The wonder Lamp - 8

The following night Shahrazad said:

Ala-ed-Din sent his mother to the Sultan to demand the accomplishment of latter's promise. Sultan saw the mother of Ala-ed-Din, and he remembered his promise to her. "O Vizier, the woman who gave me precious jewels is now in front of me, among the audience beyond. Bring her to me, immediately. The Vizier elbowed his way to the old woman and ushered her to the king. She saluted the king. The king asked her if she had any petition. The woman said, "O the king of Age, You have promised me that you will marry your daughter, Bedr-el-Budur to my son Ala-ed-Din after the expiry of three months. Now it is over."

The king was perplexed: She was  poor and mean. Yet the gift she had given was exceedingly splendid; beyond his power to purchase. He turned to the Vizier and asked, "What shall I say to her? I made her a pledge. But it is evident to me that they are poor people, and not of our situation." The Vizier was envious of the old woman and his son. Her poor son marrying the daughter of Sultan, and my son losing her. So, he said to the Sultan, "It is easy to get rid of this woman. We know nothing about them." 

The Sultan asked, "In what way we get rid of her, when I have pledged my word? The word of king is sacred."

The Vizier said, "O my lord, my advice is that you demand of him forty bowls of pure gold full of jewels, and forty maids to carry the bowls, and forty black slaves to attend and escort them."  The Sultan found this a good idea. 

The Sultan said to the mother of Ala-ed-Din, "Go and say to your son, that I stand by the promise, provided he give my daughter a splendid dowry: forty bowls of pure gold, each full of jewels to be carried by forty maids and escorted by forty black slaves."

Ala-ed-Din's mother returned. From where shall my son procure so much of gold and jewels. Suppose he go to treasury and get these jewels. But these maids and black slaves? Thus, thinking about these splendid dowry the mother reached home. Ala-ed-Din had been waiting for her arrival. As she saw him, she said, "O my son, did I not tell you that you could not attain the princess." Then she explained to him in detail the dowry demanded by the Sultan. And she also said of the role of the Vizier in this decision. 

Ala-ed-Din patiently lent his ears to his mother, and then said, "O mother, be cool, and let us have some food, and then we will find what we can do." 

And after the food, they engaged in some small talks to while away. "Sultan thinks that he can keep me away by demanding high dowry," said Ala-ed-Din.

"My son, leave that Sultan's daughter. There are enough girls in this city, I will find out one for you," she said and went for basket to buy some provisions from the market.

"Where are you going, mother?" 

"No. I will go to market collect some provisions. Your errand gave me a lot of tension. Let me relax by a walk." 

Ala-ed-Din went to his chamber and took his Lamp, and rubbed it. The Slave appeared, and said, "O master, ask me what you desire."

Ala-ed-Din replied, "I have demanded the daughter of the Sultan in marriage. The Sultan demanded a dowry."

"What is it?" 

"Ten bowls of pure gold each weighing ten pounds, and the bowls filled with jewels from the Treasury. These are to be carried by forty maids and the maids are to be escorted by forty slaves." 

"Master, let it be so." The slave disappeared.

By the time his mother returned, forty damsels each carrying a bowl of jewels and escorted by the black slaves were ready. Ala-ed-Din asked her mother to lead them to the court of the Sultan. Coming out from the house of Ala-ed-Din and stepping into the street it became a procession. Attracted by the show, people hanging here and there joined the procession. The girls wore dresses embroidered with gold and trimmed with jewels that  transcended the sunlight falling on them. Over each was a piece of brocade embroidered with gold and studded with precious stones. People wondered at this strange spectacle.

The procession entered the gate of the palace. When the lords, chamberlains and officers of the army saw them, they were amazed; never in their life they witnessed such a show. The damsels would turn the head of an anchorite. [1]

The guard went in and informed the Sultan. The Sultan ordered that they should be brought to the Hall

of Audience.

In the Hall, Ala-ed-Din, his mother and the damsels and black slaves saluted the Sultan. The Sultan first marvelled with admiration; then bewildered at the splendour and beauty of the jewels and he was at his wits' end. He never expected this, that too within short time. He commanded that the damsels be welcomed to Lady Bedr-el-Budur's chamber.

The mother of Ala-ed-Din said to the Sultan, "O my king, your daughter, the princess merits more than these gifts." 

Sultan turned to the Vizier, and said, "What do you say? Who can produce such riches in such a short time? He is worthy to be Sultan's son-in-law." Vizier was jealous, that his son could not enjoy a fortune. So he said, "It is not worthy of her. All the treasures of the world are not equal to the little finger of your daughter." Sultan observed that his words are the result of jealousy. He turned to Ala-ed-Din's mother and said, "O woman, go to your son, and tell him that I have accepted his dowry, and I stand by my promise. Ask him to meet me, so that I may know him. Let him come to me without any delay."

Ala-ed-Din's mother went home straight as an arrow. The Sultan stands by his promise.

The Sultan dismissed his audience, and went to the chamber of his daughter, Bedr-el-Budur. Then he called the servents and asked them to bring the damsels and the bowls of jewels. When they were brought the princess examined the jewels and found that they were original and unique. She was marvelled by the beauty and grace of the damsels. She knew that these presents were from the new bridegroom. She felt some sympathy towards the son of Vizier, but it was momentary. The Sultan said to her daughter, "Daughter, how do you feel about the new bridegroom?

"Let me see him, father. These presents are only secondary."

The Sultan was pleased with her answer and said, "You will soon meet him."

The mother reached her house panting because of running all the way with joy and excitement. At a distance Ala-ed-Din could sense the mood of her mother. He said, "Praise the God. It seems my desire is now accomplished."

And his mother said, "Good news to you my boy. Cheer your heart! The Sultan wants to meet you." Ala-ed-Din hugged her mother, and kissed her hand and thanked her.

Ala-ed-Din entered his chamber, took the lamp and rubbed it, and the slave appeared. Ala-ed-Din said to The slave, "Take me to a bath, the best in this city." The slave took him into a bath, which he saw for the first time in his life.

The morning overtook and Shahrazad lapsed into silence.

Notes:-

1.turn the head of an anchorite: An  expression that means to make someone who is very reclusive or ascetic is tempted back to worldly life.