Nader Shah. Historical novel. Yunus Oghuz
to Murad and said:
– Are you the man laying an obstacle in the way of the joining two young boy and girl each other?
Jafar kishi was afraid. The Shah could punish him. He looked at Fatali khan implori ngly, asking assistance from him with his looks.
The Shah got angry seeing Jafar kishi’s keeping silence:
– They told me that you don’t agree because of Murad being poor. Is it right?
Jafar kishi could hardly swallow his word about Fatali khan’s request:
– Whatever the people tell it is right… Right… My Shah!
– How do you think, can the man who serves the Shah be poor? I will give Murad a job near me. What is your opinion, Jafar kishi? May we say “Be happy!” to the two young boy and girl who love each other?
Jafar kishi was confused hearing his words. He wanted to speak because he had promised her to a much richer person. – He had promised her to Fatali khan.
– My Shah, my daughter has been betrothed since childhood years. How can I deny my promise?
Fatali khan understood that those words concerned him. He thought that if the Shah asked about the betrothal all would be clear. The Shah also would ask him that when they met and when they were promi sed to each other. Fatali khan had to urgently solve that prob lem. Though he was only about thirty five or forty years old he had good experience of life and he was aware of what was better. At that moment he could give up the girl, but he couldn’t give the Shah up. That was why he came forward:
– Your Majesty, if you allow me I can also say a word because I am the head of this stock.
– I allow you, tell your opinion.
Fatali khan turned towards Jafar kishi:
– Jafar kishi, if our Shah wants to join this young boy and girl, the word of our Majesty is like a law. Here all the people confess that these two young boy and girl love each other. If your daughter once had a betrothed we can make him change his mind and we may find him another girl.
Jafar kishi reali zed that Fatali khan had changed his mind from his earlier wish and that was why he understood that there was no need to persist. He felt sorry in his heart for the situation. He said:
– Fatali khan, I agree with the Shah’s request. – If our Shah wishes, that is to say, it will be how he wishes.
In the tent the applause of the people was heard.
– Long live our Shah!
Tahmasb Shah stood up and came nearer to Murad:
– Stand up, brave boy!
Murad stood up quickly. The Shah put his hands on his shoulders and said: “Be happy!” He took the gift from the butler and gave it to Murad:
– Prepare for your wedding from the day after tomorrow. All the expense of the wedding will be paid by the treasury. After one month I shall wait for you in the Shah’s palace.
Murad kissed the Shah’s hands.
– All right, my Shah! I am thankful to you. Long live my Shah!
The Shah turned towards Jafar kishi:
– Don’t you object, Jafar kishi?
– My Shah, who am I to object to your decision? God bless them!
The people in the tent once more shouted: “Long live our Shah!”.
....Susen ran to Qelemnaz’s home running. Her eyes were smiling; she couldn’t say a word because of her anxiety. Qelemnaz was telling her mother about the results of that day’s competition. When she saw Susen running hurriedly, she understood that something had happened.
Susen said smiling:
– My brother has just returned from the Shah’s tent, – she said. He said that there was a real performance.
– What performance, girl? Be quick, tell me about.
– Qelemnaz, by God, you are happy!
– Do you also consider me to be lucky?
Well, well… Whom else must I consider happy? Qelemnaz, it was fated thus that the Shah himself was a watch-maker for you.
Hearing her words Qelemnaz faltered and then she was struck dumb, and she fell on her back to the floor. She fainted. Qelemnaz’s mother began to tear her face:
– Alas, alas… My daughter is dying…
Susen brought water in a little bowl and filled her mouth with water and then blew the water on her face. Qelemnaz came to herself with difficulty and said furiously:
– I don’t want to marry to the Shah or a bey! – She groaned. – I shall kill myself!
Susen was surprised:
– Which Shah, girl?
– Didn’t you tell me that the Shah himself was a watch-maker for me?
Susen realized that Qelemnaz misunderstood her words and she began to laugh. Qelemnaz got angry. Susen went on her laughing:
– It is true; the Shah was a watch-maker for you, but not for himself, for Murad!!! He was a watchmaker and made your father agree!
Qelemnaz again faltered and was struck dumb, then she fainted. She came to herself later and began to groan in tears. At last she looked at Susen sorrowfully:
– Take an oath! – She said.
– I take an oath on the God, on the Earth, on the Heavens! The Shah asked you only for Murad.
Qelemnaz raised her hands and began to pray to God, shed ding tears:
– Thank God! Thank goodness! You heard my prayi ng. My God, you didn’t want me to be hopeless. You didn’t hurt my heart. My God, thank God!
– Qelemnaz, I haven’t finished talking yet… Our Shah gave a job to Murad in his palace. The expanse of the wedding will be paid by the treasury!
Qelemnaz couldn’t believe her ears. In a day there couldn’t be so much happiness!
– But what did my father say?
– Nothing, he was standing by the Shah, his face was as white as cotton.
Qelemnaz embraced Susen and began to cry bitierly. Both her mother and Susen also were crying with her. Then Susen calmed Qelemnaz and began to speak about everything in detail.
On the next day the beys, respected adults and brave boys of the stock of Qajar were gathered in the Shah’s white tent. They took an oath to be devoted to him. Tahmasb Shah, who was pleased with the stock of Qajar, left for Tabriz.
CHAPTER IV
Qazvin, 1723
The troops of Mahmud Shah had first enclosed Qazvin, then they sent a messenger to the ruler of the city and demanded them to give Tahmasb Mirza to the Afghans. The ruler of the city told the messenger that Tahmasb Mirza wasn’t in Qazvin and if he was in the city he would never give him to the Afghans. Only after the ruler’s words, the Afghans attacked the city with about troop of ten thousand fighters. The fortress walls of the city were not firm, which was why in the third day of the blockade it was broken and the city yielded to the Afghans after intensive battles. The real tragedies began after the blockade. The Afghans hung the ruler of Qazvin at the gate of the city. In the city robbery, killing, destroying and firing began.
The population of the city had never seen such a situation. The people of the city were losing their patience.
…The mullabashi of Qazvin had also never seen such kind of cruelty. That was why he was thinking about a way out. He secretly informed the beys of Qazvin to be ready; in due time he would pronounce Fetwa