1 a vizier's daughter - Hazara.net

18
A VIZIER’S DAUGHTER – A TALE OF THE HAZARA WAR
“Yes, a cruel, devastating war,” the chief said, smiling, “a cruel,
devastating war, but we shall win. Win as we’ve always wo n before.
Let them try, and they will see us triumph over them, slaying
thousands, as our forefathers slew.”
“We shall not triumph, “the Vizier said again, sadly, “we shall not
slay, whichever way we act, our freedom is over, but we can at least
die like men.”
“Why do you say that, father? Our country has remained unconquered
for hundreds of years, why should it be conquered now?”
“Times are changed, customs, manners weapons, warfare is changed
everywhere but with us. The Afghans have allied themselves wit the
Kafirs, the white governors of Hindustan; these Kafirs have given them
weapons, given them cannon, given them mone y. One-third of our
nation will be bought over, one third will be killed, and the remainder
will be fugitives or slaves. I see it all! But I will face it – face it to the
end. I will not pay tribute.”
“No, nor I,” the chief joined in, “but we will not be overthrown; we
will not be defeated. The Afghans have allied themselves with the
Kafirs; so be it. Let their alliance prove their curse. We will proclaim a
Jihad, a holy war, against these allies of Kafirs. Half his own nation
will turn against him. We will fight for the one true God and his
prophet, and for Ali against these Kafirs and allies of Kafirs, and you
will see who will flock to our standard. Overthrown? Of course we
shall not be overthrown, we shall triumph and take tribute from them.”
The chief’s white teeth gleamed and his deep-set eyes twinkled with
cunning and anticipation of good things to come.
His cousin’s teeth were clenched, his jaws set, his mind was made up,
but there was neither triumph nor hope in his face, nothing but fixed
purpose and fixed resolution. Gul Begum, facing the two men, read the
thoughts of each, and a sense of unrest took possessio n of her heart.
Her uncle’s sense of security was no satisfaction to her, with her
father’s set face before her, she knew which was the master mind.