1 a vizier's daughter - Hazara.net

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A VIZIER’S DAUGHTER – A TALE OF THE HAZARA WAR
you, or I shall get into trouble myself, but if I do what I can for you
now, and get you taken into favour by the master when he returns, you
must not forget me later on. I have more influence than you perhaps
think.”
“I shall never forget your kindness to me, but send my companions to
me now, I entreat,” was all Gul Begum could find words to say.
“Yes, when I can, but first I must send the Derwan to the Bibi,” the
girl replied. “Crouch down there in the corner as though you felt
yourself to be humiliated, and later on I will come to you if I can.”
Gul Begum did as she was bid, and apparently her disgrace soon
became the gossip of the harem, for now and again one girl, and
sometimes two, would come to look at her, then laugh derisively and
pass on, then come back and laugh again.
Presently the Derwan came through the garden door and passed into the
large room where the Hazaras had first been received, and shortly
afterwards the Bibi, with several of her women, entered the same room.
What transpired she never knew, but in the meantime the other Hazaras
had joined her, and she was completely engrossed in explaining her
plan of action to them.
“What we have to do is to get out of this place at any cost,” she said,
“and if you will only follow my advice, boldly, we shall succeed, but
do not ask me for details now, the ver y walls here have ears.”
What she really felt was that she dared not tell them that the Bibi, for
her own selfish interests, was willing to befriend her. She could not
trust one of them with such a secret as that, at a time when she had no
idea what the next few hours would have in store for them all.
Presently the Derwan came out of the house, and towards them, as they
sat crouching by an outhouse at the far end of the quadrangle.
“What tomfoolery have you been up to?” he said, addressing Gul
Begum. “You may have deceived the Bibi, but you can’t deceive me.
However, come and do as she bids, and as you have yourself chosen,
come and work with the labourers in the garden. I’ll give you a patch
to yourself where no one will molest you, but I shall expect to be
remembered for this service.”
And so Gul Begum’s wish was realised, and she went to work among
the beautiful, many-coloured flowers under the shade of the spreading
trees, but her heart was beating with the wildest hopes and fears, and, a
presentiment of evil that no beauty could alla y, though after a time she
felt soothed. The soft blamy air played through her hair and fanned her
burning temples, and the gentle cooing of the turtle doves lulled her
excited brain to something like rest.