1 a vizier's daughter - Hazara.net

58
A VIZIER’S DAUGHTER – A TALE OF THE HAZARA WAR
“To my noble father, to Ghulam Hossain,” she wrote.
“After expressing my respect, and assuring you that I never cease to
pray to God for your well-being, I write to let you know that I can no
longer remain under the roof which you provided to shelter me. I feel
as if I must leave or die. No one here has a kind word for me, my
father, but I have borne that. Three days ago, however, Mohamed Jan
insulted me, and I judge from his conduct since then that there are
worse things to follow. More than once I have been told that if is high
time this long engagement were brought to a close in the usual way,
and that if my family make no preparation for the marriage ceremony ,
that Mohamed Jan sees no reason why it should not be dispensed with ,
especially as no dowry has been offered. You may, in your wisdom, oh,
my father, think that these are mere threats intended to keep me humble
and to show me how great an obligation I am under to Mohamed Jan ,
but this is not so. There are many little things that I can hardly write
about that show me that if you do not come and fetch your beloved
child, she will be made to suffer misery that would be to her worse
than death itself. Come, therefore, and see with our own eyes, and if,
after seeing, you still think that my sorrow at being parted from all I
love makes me exaggerate things, then I will abide by whatever you
may decide; but come only once and see how things are. This house is
not far. If I were married I can understand that you would not think it
right to come and see me under the year, but I am not married to
Mohamed Jan and am never going to be, so there is no law or custom
to keep you away from me.
“After expressing my devotion to you , my beloved father, and
promising to be submissive to whatever you shall decide after seeing
me, I sign myself, your sorrowing daughter,
“GUL BEGUM.”
Having accomplished the task of writing so long a letter, a task very
great even for a girl who had been as carefully taught as she had been,
Gul Begum watched her opportunit y to get it sent to her father.
She had long since decided on her messenger. It was to be the little
herd who pastured the flocks up on the hills within easy distance of the
village. She had spoken to him about it, and had arranged that she was
to watch his master’s sheep and goats while he ran off to her father’s
house with the precious missive. So, having penned it, she started in
the direction of the hills, some three miles away. Soon, however, she
heard footsteps behind her, and turning round she saw Mohamed Jan
coming rapidly towards her. The girl literally trembled with
excitement, then calmed herself with the assurance that he knew
nothing of her letter, and that if she could not evade pursuit that day
she most certainly would the next, and that a day more or less could
make but little difference.
“Where are you going?” asked her would -be protector angrily. “What
makes you start away from the house without giving warning to any
one?”