Chronicles of Akbar

The Chronicles of Akbar is a narrative series written by Gustaaf Vermeylen, describing the events surrounding Akbar I, Sultan of Sylvania.

Marhaba ho marhaba

Akbar on his horse

Akbar sat on a horse, surrounded by his guard. The enthusiastic crowd waved at him, while he was still a little upset that he had been elected sultan. Not his father, not one of his older brothers, but he had become a sultan. His smile was perhaps still modest. His meeting with Yodhaa, who was actually married to him, was very brief. Hasan had told about her and not a word of it had been lied to. As far as he could see, through her veil, she was very pretty.

He scattered gold coins into the crowd, while that crowd enhousiastically shouted at him: "Tu hai raja!” (You're the king). Suddenly Akbar was hit by an arrow. The guard reacted immediately by fencing off the sultan. Several people were not immediately aware of what was happening and were still cheering, while others were shouting in horror. Two men from the guard went after the gunman. Apparently the shooter had managed to get a weapon past the control. The shooter pointed a second arrow at the sultan, but the guard was unable to get the sultan in his sights. The two men of the guard ran towards him, when he realised this, he started to run away. He dropped his bow and arrow and fled.

The sultan was helped off his horse and brought back to the Red Fortress under guard. There doctors were summoned, while Abu's brothers sealed off the fortress. Large groups of people were imprisoned, but they were summoned to rest. The sultan was treated by the doctors, who removed the arrow from the sultan's left shoulder. The heart was not touched, the arrow was too high. The doctors treated the wound, but feared that the arrow might also contain poison. That poison could be more deadly than the arrow itself. The sultan lay unconscious while his wife and mother wept over the situation. His brothers and father remained strong, but all three of them got a headache from all the thoughts about how to proceed. The euphoria of less than an hour ago has turned into serious concern.

The two men of the guard managed to track down the shooter and took him prisoner. They took him to the Red Fortress. On the way, people spit on him, threw stones at him and the guard had to protect the shooter. In the fortress the shooter was put in a room, where he was guarded by six guards. He was searched and a capsule of cyanide was found. The shooter was disappointed, because this was how he wanted to avoid his punishment.

In the courtyard, Amir summoned the people to leave, but the councillors and dignitaries had to stay. He spoke to them, telling them honestly what the sultan's condition was. He stressed that it was precisely now that calm had to be maintained. The meeting was not entirely at ease. Hasan stressed: "If we don't stay together now, the fight for independence will have been in vain. Blood will have flowed for nothing! The only foreign guest still present said: 'If I may take the liberty of addressing you and giving you my humble advice, appoint a Grand Vizier to observe the government on behalf of the Sultan - may he soon recover. This will not put this nation out of control'. He bowed his head. The meeting actually agreed with the advice. But who should this Grand Vizier be? Amir urged everyone to remain silent, because the meeting collapsed in mutual consultation and debate. May I suggest that my brother, my father and I certainly would not become Grand Vizier? May I therefore propose that Rajesh Avchat be named Grand Vizier? For a moment, the sitting remained silent, but more and more faces cleared up, so there was agreement.

Rajesh Avchat himself was very surprised, but stated that he was very honoured. He took the oath before the meeting:

मैं यह शपथ लेता हूं मैं हर समय अपने सुल्तान की ईमानदारी और ईमानदारी से सेवा करता हूं और एक बहादुर और आज्ञाकारी सेवक के रूप में तैयार होना चाहता है, किसी भी समय इस शपथ के लिए मेरे जीवन का उपयोग करने के लिए।	main yah shapath leta hoon main har samay apane sultaan kee eemaanadaaree aur eemaanadaaree se seva karata hoon aur ek bahaadur aur aagyaakaaree sevak ke roop mein taiyaar hona chaahata hai, kisee bhee samay is shapath ke lie mere jeevan ka upayog karane ke lie.	I swear this oath that I serve my sultan faithfully and honesty at all times and wants to be ready as a brave and obedient servant, to use my life for this oath at any time.

The sitting applauded, while Rajesh nodded and bowed his head. Amir and Hasan breathed with relief. It was almost for nothing. They went back to the sultan. There they found the sultana next to the sultan, while others talked quietly from a greater distance. Suddenly the sultan moved, the doctors rushed. The sultan awoke, as if from a deep sleep. He looked up, wanted to get up, but felt the pain in his left shoulder. The anxious faces cleared up, relief began to set the mood. The sultan calmed down when he noticed he was in good hands. He saw her face, without a veil, without hindrance. Her beautiful face. He said to her: "marhaba" (welcome).