Classics Retold

These stories reflects the events of different times and different cultures, and some stories are a fusion of different time, space and cultures. Most of the stories were popularised by ancient story tellers. Later they evolved into the art of Drama, integrating some features of tribal, cultural and political rituals. Whatever the form of art, it is for entertainment. Though it is entertainment it reflects history. The story is told by the third dervish in the presence of the beautiful girls of Baghdad house. My lady, when I was sure that I had killed the young man, as the God above had preordained, I rose, and ascending the stairs, replaced the trapdoor, and covered it with earth. I looked towards the sea and saw the ship that had brought him, cleaving with waters towards the island to take him. I said to myself, " The moment they come and see their boy slain, and find that I am his slayer, they will surely kill me." I headed towards a nearby tree, and climbing it I hid amon...

The frame story was told by Shahrazad to her sister Dinarzad. But the stories attracted the attention of the Indian king Shahriar who went berserk after he happened to see his queen in compromising posture with a black slave. Earlier his brother Shahzaman witnessed a same situation involving his queen with the kitchen boy. Many of the stories are veiled attacks on the concept of virginity and chastity. This is an inner story within the frame story, presented by the third dervish before the three independent girls of Baghdad house.  The story told by the man who lives secretly in lonely Island, to the third dervish: My lady, when I asked the young man to tell his story, he was happy and regained his composure, he asked me to come near him. "O, my brother," he began, "My tale is strange and amazing. My father is a very wealthy jeweller who deals with kings. He has a number of slaves, both white and black. He has many traders who travel in his ship and trade for him. But he...

Frame story is told by Shahrazad. This is the second part of the inner story by 3rd Dervish. I saw the path on the side of the mountain. I hung against the rock and began to climb little by little. The atmosphere was still, and helped me with the ascent. I reached the summit and entered the dome. I prayed. Then I went that part of the dome overlooking the sea. I sat by the curve and fell asleep. "O Ajib, when you are awake dig under your feet. You will find a brass bow, three lead arrows inscribed with talismans. Take the bow and arrow and shoot at horseman to throw him off the horse and rid mankind of this great calamity. When you shoot at him, he will fall into sea, and the horse will drop at your feet. Take the horse and bury it in the place of the bow. When you do this, the sea will swell until it reaches the level of the dome, and there will come to you a skiff carrying a man of brass (a man other than you will have thrown), holding in his hands a pair of paddles. Ride with h...

The frame story is told by Shahrazad, the daughter of vizier who had been entrusted with the job of securing a girl to the king of India (not the modern day India, but an India conceived first by Greek merchants and followed later  by Roman, Egyptian, and Middle East and West Asian merchants)  The king was an ardent believer in virginity and chastity (always applicable to females only) and once happened to see Queen's compromising posture with a black slave. Though the virginity and chastity were applicable to females, they always haunted men. So king Shahriar went berserk and was determined to have a girl for each night and end her after he finished the job. Shahrazad a learned girl wanted to put an end to his insanity. The Tale of Third dervish is one of the inner layers of the main frame. It is a first person narrative. My story is stranger than their's. Misfortune took them by surprise; I myself brought my misfortune. My father was a great and powerful king. When he died I...

The king's daughter implored, "The Fire! The Fire!  The king said, "I am afraid, I would too perish. Look at the servant, she is no more. And this young man lost an eye." He wept. I also wept. The girl implored again, "The Fire! The Fire!" A spark shot at her legs  and burned them, and flew to her thighs, then to her bosom, while she crept crying out, "The Fire! The Fire!" until all of her body burned to a heap of ashes. I grieved very much at her plight. Her father, the grieved very much. The statesmen and the servent came in. The statesmen and the servants mourned for seven days over the death of their princess. A vaulted tomb was built over her ashes.  The king lay ill for a full month. After his recovery, he summoned me. He said, "Young man, listen to me. We were very happy until you came. You are the cause of my misfortune. I lost my daughter only because of you. You must leave this city." I was dumbfounded. Deaf and dumb to everyth...

Baghdad house of three beautiful and independent girls. Besides these girls the following persons are present. The porter Three dervishes  Harun Al Rashid and his vizier and executioner.  Narrator: Second Dervish. Both the porter and first dervish were absolved of their guilt. But they linger to hear the stories of the remaining five members.  The scene of the story is the palace of a king. King's daughter, second dervish, the king and demon are present. Both the demon and king's daughter were in serious battles. All these stories are layered within the frame story of Shahrazad, the vizier's daughter who through her stories challenged the myth of virginity and chastity. The rooster, glad to see the seed, rushed to pick it, when it rolled into fountain, became a fish, and dove into water. The rooster turned immediately into a bigger fish and plunged after it, and the two disappeared into the bottom of the fountain for a very long time. We heard loud shouts, shrieks, and ho...

The Baghdad house of three beautiful and independent young girls. The porter, three dervishes, Harun Al Rashid, his vizier and executioner were present. The narrative is by the second dervish.  The scene of his narrative was the Chamber of another king. The king, his young daughter and the second dervish in the form of an ape were present. The king's daughter took a knife engraved with names in Hebrew characters. Next she drew a perfect circle in the middle of palace hall. Inscribed on it named in Kufic letters as well as other talismanic words. Then she muttered charms and uttered spells; in a short time it was dark   until we could no longer see anything around, and thought that the sky was falling on our heads. Suddenly the demon appeared in the garb of a lion as big as a bull and we were terrified. The girl cried, "Get away, you dog!" The demon replied,  "You traitor, you had betrayed me and broken the oath. Have we not taken an oath that neither would cross the ...