1 a vizier's daughter - Hazara.net

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A VIZIER’S DAUGHTER – A TALE OF THE HAZARA WAR
“Bibi,” she said, “I cannot be Ferad Shah’s wife. There are reaso ns
why I can be no man’s wife, but I fear to tell you, you may be angry.”
“Ah, you are going to tell me you are married,” the lady said hurriedly,
“or that you have already been named on some one. All that will make
no difference to Ferad Shah. He is not particular about little details of
that sort; besides, you are a slave girl, a war prisoner. No former tie
need be recognised now, even b y the most religious, and no one would
call Ferad Shah that.”
The girl bent forward, and whispered something in the lady’s ear. “I
was married once, but I was returned to my father’s house,” she added,
not quite truthfully.
Her mistress laughed. “Oh, that’s it; is it? Then why were you sent
here? Whose doing was it?”
“I was sent b y the soldiers,” she said, “and I have been waiting for a
chance of explaining things to you. Oh, Bibi; when my husband sent
me home, he beat me and ill-treated me, and you have no idea what I
suffered. My beauty is a great misfortune to me, it only gets me into
trouble.” Then kneeling down before her, she went on hurriedly as
though she feared there would not be time for all she had to say. “I
have thought of a plan, and I think it would suit you well. I know
something of Ferad Shah, and of his practices.”
“Ah, then you know something,” the lad y interposed in an almost
inaudible whisper. “You cannot know all, he is bad beyo nd all
description, beyo nd all imagination. He is a monster. What you say
will make no difference to him. He will want you all the same for your
beauty.”
A jealous pang gnawed at the elder woman’s heart.
“Listen, Bibi,” Gul Begum went on, “in this house you are all
powerful; till he returns you can do anything you please. Swear over
your women to tell ever y o ne that I am hideous and untidy, and cannot
work, and am generally worthless, and send us all away. Sell us to
some one.”
The lad y smiled a gratified smile. “I cannot do that,” she said, “I am
not so powerful as you think, but I can do something, and I will do my
best to help you. You do not wish to remain here, you would rather go
somewhere else?”
“I would rather go where I am wanted as a servant, and not as a wife. I
know what it means. I have gone through much alread y. Spare me,
Bibi, if you can, and send us all awa y.”