Sa'eed - The Warrior

Another Mother

Shehzada sat in front of Hazrathji and placed his books on the desk. He wondered why he had never thought of associating himself with a spiritual guide before Saeed had suggested it. It was doing him a lot of good. He felt more peaceful and relaxed. The raging fire that burned just below the surface did not show itself often. Anger cannot be extinguished, it can just be redirected. And his anger was changing its course. Instead of burning on small issues, it chose to erupt only at required places.

He opened his next lesson and read it. Hazrathji appreciated his progress. "You have worked hard and Allah never ignores hard work. Your efforts will be paid in full".

Shehzada had been thinking about punishing Mir Jafar from a long time and after his recent class on forgiveness he felt confused. He voiced this concern in front of his teacher.

"My dear boy. There is a fine line between justice and revenge. Justice is a virtue and revenge a sin. Justice is a man's right while revenge is a man's folly. Forgive a person you want to revenge but being a ruler justice is your duty"

"Alhamdulillah! That makes me feel a lot better", said Shehzada ready to leave. Now that people had started recognizing him he preferred to use the palace gates rather than the tunnel and made sure Ali was with him. He did not fear attack from his subjects. They easily parted to make way for him and bowed their heads in respect. But there was no saying what his enemies might do, for that he needed Ali. The sun was setting as they entered the palace.

"Shehzada you need to meet your little brother. He is missing you a lot", said Ali as he walked behind.

"You are right. Tell Firdous Ummi to send him to me after Maghrib Salah". He entered the Shahi Masjid to pray. With the crowning ceremony tomorrow this might be the last time he played with his brother as a Shehzada. What if he did not find enough time after he became Shehenshah? Not possible, he thought. Neither he, nor his brother could stay without each other for long. Whether he was the Shehenshah or not, Firoz would make sure he got his time.

"Assalamualaikum!" With a scream Shehzada Firoz Shah flung on him as he entered his room.

"Walaikumassalam!". Shehzada picked him by his arms and did a roundabout. The little boy laughed merrily.

"I want to go to the roof today please". Firoz Shah looked at Shehzada with puppy eyes.

"Come on then!" Shehzada ran out of his chamber towards the narrow stairs that led to a part of the roof and the battlements with his little brother following right behind.

Once they reached the roof they went to their favourite secluded spot. Guards posted on the battlements saluted them as they passed. They lay down facing the sky. It was a beautiful sight as usual! Millions of stars twinkled like lanterns, brilliantly lighting the vast expanse of black. Firoz Shah loved counting the stars and joining them to make patterns. "Akhi! Look at that one, when you join it with the star below it looks like a hammer".

Shehzada followed his gaze. "Yes it does. See that group of stars there, if you join them they look like Mir Jafar's nose". Firoz Shah clapped his hands and laughed.

"I am waiting for you to become the Shehenshah then we can change the shape of Vahash's nose!" Though Shehzada enjoyed the words he frowned at Firoz as he did not want to encourage him. Firoz realized his folly and immediately changed the subject. "You know Rehan made a dua and it got accepted".

"Really? Which one?" asked Shehzada as he continued to gaze at the sky. "Because I had 3 mothers even he wished he had more than one mother. He always prayed to Allah to grant him another mother and he got one!". Shehzada looked at him bewildered. What a strange tale. Surely there has to be a logical explanation for this extraordinary phenomenon. Rehan was the son of chief kaneez of Harem.
Though he was elder to Firoz Shah in years he was his only playmate and companion.