Haft Peykar (Seven Beauties)

Saturday story

Chapter one

On Saturday, King Bahram went to the black palace, which the princess of india was living there. The palace was filled with scent. He stayed there until night making games and fun. As the world was in night black dress, the king told the princess to narrate a tale till bedtime. She started with veneration and wished best for the king, and continued telling a tale that nobody before has heard:

I heard there was a pious housemaid who came in our house once a month & she was from head to foot all in black. She was asked about the reason of wearing always black cloths. “To be honest”

“I will say if you believe me” she started. I was bondwoman of a lord that I am satisfied with him although he is dead. He was a real gentleman who was wearing black cloths forever. He was a happy optimistic man who used to wear colorful cloths & he was very hospitable that had a big saloon to entertain gussets. He welcomed everybody and had a speech to figure out his situations.

The lord disappeared for a while suddenly. There was no news of him until he came back home wearing black cloths. After a few days that he was keeping silent, one day I made some services for him. He grumbled of world. “Look how world made a bad game with me” he whispered. It separated me from my normal life and nobody asked me what these black cloths are for.

“Who can fight against the fate” I answered and continued: tell me what had happened to you please. He said that he had had a stranger guest before he left city who was wearing black cloths. “Tell me why you are all in black” Asked the lord. “Don’t mention it” the stranger replied. I repeated my request and the stranger refused. I insisted on. Finally when he realized that I wouldn’t ignore my request, said that:

There is a city in china which is very flourishing but all people there used to wear black cloths. He didn’t add anything and left me alone with this thought and I was very eager to discover that city.

I took what I needed and looked for the city to find it finally. It was a city like a garden of heaven. I stayed there for a year but nobody said me the news of the happening. Finally I got familiar to a butcher who was not a talkative man. I gave him many gifts time to time. One day He invited me to have dinner at home & entertained me as much as he could.

After having meal, we started talking on everything. He asked me what the reason was for so many gifts. What can I do for you now? I won’t accept them if u don’t say your request. It made me encourage asking about the story of wearing black cloths.

I told him I was a king of my country & I was there to realize why they are upset and are all in black.

The butcher suddenly got mad but controlled himself and said: ok, You asked me something that you shouldn’t. So fallow me to show you what you are looking for. He took me to a ruin place at midnight. There was a big basket there that he told me to sit among it. The basket started flying upwards.

To be continued….