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).

Courting the bride

The recovery of the Sultan went well. Akbar started working after some time. With his advisor and Grand Vizier decrees were issued to govern the sultanate. When he had recovered sufficiently, the marriage ceremony was organised. The formal marriage that had taken place during his coronation was now also confirmed with a wedding ceremony. Until this ceremony they had met, but had never been alone. They lived separated under one roof. That would change. The ceremony took place in the main hall, under the big dome.

"By Craitgod. This man and this woman are from now on bound together in the sacred covenant of marriage. Praise be to Craitgod!"

The sultan was very pleased with the marriage, a beautiful woman was now bound to him. On an elevated platform, stands a throne where the bride and groom were kneeling and a canopy above it. There was little time for the bride and groom to speak to each other. The guests passed the bride and groom's throne, expressed their congratulations and gave their gifts. The bride and groom smiles thanking their good wishes and gifts. They walked almost alone to the dining room, where the sultan had to admit that he was nervous to start a conversation with his bride. He did not want to flood her with questions. He had been dreaming about marriage for a long time, a beautiful woman for him alone. Comradeship, someone who would help him.

He thought back to what his professor said during one of the lectures: "The reason people get married, apart from dynastic motives, is that there is a framework around the relationship. Disagreements within intimate relationships are difficult to resolve, but they have to be resolved within a marriage. Because as part of the marriage vows it is the 'I won't leave you' element. As a result, within a marriage you cannot run away from every quarrel or manifestation of a defect. You have to solve it together. And how awful it is that a relationship is as unsettled as any dispute or manifestation of a flaw you can leave. Under what tension do you then live in the realisation that something only has to happen and your partner leaves? How are you going to behave then? First of all, of course you are not going to admit that you are doing something wrong. Secondly, you are going to behave like a frightened cat, because the relationship may just be over.

Some people then say it's a good thing that there is a possibility of divorce. Well, under certain circumstances that is justifiable. Only in general divorce is not a liberation from the bond of marriage. Because the uncertainty that you might get divorced if you don't, is a direct violation of your own vow of marriage. What is that vow worth if you can ignore it? After all, you made that vow, not only in front of your partner, but also in front of others.

So what is your attitude then? Look, you are in trouble, but so am I. You have flaws, but so do I. We are condemned to each other, because that is what we promised each other. It's an enormous vow, but that's why a marriage vow is also seen as a sacred act.

What would be your alternative, if you do not want to be 'bound' to a vow of marriage? Everything is changeable at any time. Well, live that. What does it look like when you're fifty? Two or three broken relationships, your family is fragmented, you have no continual stability. And it's not good for the children. It's a question of responsibility. If you can't run away, you have to solve your problems. So: I'm stuck with you, so let's solve problems. The alternative is that we have a boxing match for the next 40 years. If that responsibility doesn't hang over that relationship, then problems won't be solved. Because people avoid problems, that's the natural reaction. It is very difficult to solve problems, especially in an intimate relationship.

Suppose you have a quarrel. What your partner does and says doesn't seem to be in any proportion to what you do and say. You can't get to the bottom of it until you find out that your partner has been abused in the past. But your partner doesn't want to talk about it, and every time you bring that up, your partner gets angrier and angrier. So if in an unattached relationship there is always a threat to leave, but in the end there is a terrible story about the abuse. Your partner bursts into tears. What do you do then? In an unattached relationship you can avoid the problem and leave. Goodbye, good luck! But in a bonded relationship, you are condemned to solve this problem. Otherwise we have to carry this with us for the next forty years. This may be enough motivation to take on problems".

After dinner the party started. Music, dance and wine. Unfortunately the party was a separate affair. The men on one side of the main hall, the women on the other side. The women were shielded with a veil. While the dance and music were played in the middle. The sultan was reluctant with the wine, because he did not want to get drunk. The bride was escorted to the pouch room, where she waited for her groom to arrive. Akbar came in and there she sat on the bed. With her knees raised, under a veil. He took off his crown and sat down on the edge of the bed. She was clearly nervous. When Akbar carefully wanted to touch her hand, she pulled it away. Akbar realised that she didn't want to. He thought, was disappointed, but got up again and left. That night she slept on the bridal bed, alone.

The next few days Jodha saw her husband a few times while he was busy. She heard a conversation between him and her father, the Grand Vizier. The men did not know that she was listening while sitting on the balcony. Under the balcony, the men were in gespek. She was admired by her husband, who spoke with authority and full of wisdom. Not much later a high envoy from the Emirate of Arbor visited her. Her presence was desired and so she appeared in a beautiful dress and veil according to Aryastian tradition. In the courtyard towards the audience room she met the sultan. He nodded kindly and was apparently happy to see her. She appreciated his respectful attitude. But her court ladies, her mother and father were unhappy with the situation. According to them, the marriage had not been confirmed because they had not shared the bed.

On the other day she walked through the fortress when she suddenly saw the Sultan. He was not dressed in the usual sultanic robe. No crown on his head. His upper body was bare. Four sentries approached the sultan with drawn swords. The sultan fought the sentries, who apparently did not hold back. It was an exercise, because the brothers of the sultan were watching nonchalantly. The sultan defeated one after the other. The muscular upper body of the sultan was sweaty, she got itchy in her belly from the face. She hid behind the vitrages, but was indoctrinated from the muscular man. When the palace guards were defeated, the brothers approached laughingly. They drew their swords, but the sultan was already prepared. Akbar defeated his brothers with ferve.

That afternoon she saw in a beautiful symetric courtyard garden. She sang traditional Aryastian songs. The sultan heard her singing and was distracted. Then he finished the meeting, walked towards the beautiful singing. He saw her sitting, playing with young rabbits. The rabbits wanted to escape all the time, the court ladies were busy holding all the rabbits together. While singing her song, she stroked a rabbit in her arms. A poem, a song came into his mind and he heard the music already in his head:

Aryashti	Transliteration	Translated in Common Tongue
कहने को जश्न-ए-बहारा है दिल ये देख के हैराँ है फूल से खुशबू ख़फ़ा-खफा है गुलशन में छुपा है कोई रंज फिज़ा की चिलमन में सारे सहमे नज़ारे हैं सोये-सोये वक्त के धारे हैं और दिल में खोई-खोई सी बातें हैं कैसे कहें क्या है सितम सोचते हैं अब ये हम कोई कैसे कहे वो हैं या नहीं हमारे करते तो हैं साथ सफर फासले हैं फिर भी मगर जैसे मिलते नहीं किसी दरिया के दो किनारे पास हैं फिर भी पास नहीं हमको ये गम रास नहीं शीशे की इक दीवार है जैसे दरमियाँ सारे सहमे नज़ारे हैं... हमने जो था नगमा सुना दिल ने था उसको चुना ये दास्तान हमें वक्त ने कैसी सुनाई हम जो अगर हैं गमगीं वो भी उधर खुश तो नहीं मुलाकातों में है जैसे घुल सी गई तन्हाई मिलके भी हम मिलते नहीं खिलके भी गुल खिलते नहीं आँखों में हैं बहारें, दिल में खिज़ा सारे सहमे नज़ारे हैं...	Kehne ko Jashn-e-bahara hai Ishq yeh dekhke hairaan hai Kehne ko Jashn-e-bahara hai Ishq yeh dekhke hairaan hai Phool se khusboo khafa khafa hai gulshan mein Chupa hai koi ranj fiza ki chilman mein Sare sehmein nazare hain Soye soye vaqt ke dhare hain Aur dil mein koi khoye si baatein hain Ooooo hooooo… Kehne ko Jashn-e-bahara hai Ishq yeh dekhke hairaan hai Phool se khusboo khafa khafa hai gulshan mein Chupa hai koi ranj fiza ki chilman mein Kaise kahen kya hai sitam Sochte hai ab yeh hum Koi kaise kahen woh hai ya nahi humare Karte to hai saath safar Faasle hain phir bhi magar Jaise milte nahi kisi dariya ke do kinare Pass hain phir bhi paas nahi Humko yeh gum raas nahi Seeshe ki ek diware hai jaise darmiya Sare sehmein nazare hain Soye soye vaqt ke dhare hain Aur dil mein koi khoye si baatein hain Oooo hoooo.. Kehne ko Jashn-e-bahara hai Ishq yeh dekhke hairaan hai Phool se khusboo khafa khafa hai gulshan mein Chupa hai koi ranj fiza ki chilman mein Hum ne jo tha nagma suna Dil ne tha usko chuna Yeh dastaan humein vaqt ne kaise sunai Hum jo agar hai gumgee Woh bhi udhar khush to nahi Mulakato mein hai jaise ghul si gai tanhai Milke bhi hum milte nahi Khilke bhi gul khilte nahi Aankhon mein hai baharein dil mein khiza Sare sehmein nazare hain Soye soye vaqt ke dhare hain Aur dil mein koi khoye si baatein hain oooo hoo Kehne ko Jashan-e-bahara hai Ishq yeh dekhke hairaan hai Phool se khusboo khafa khafa hai gulshan mein Chupa hai koi ranj fiza ki chilman mein	People may Imagine spring is here Love, too, is bewildered Fragrance upstages the flowers in the garden Hidden in the veil of nature is a touch of sorrow The world around us is mellow Time is Slumbering. Lost and forgotten memories fill my heart. It is hard to describe this affliction I wonder to myself, Does she belong to me ? There is distance between us even if We travel the journey together. Like Two Shores of the ocean that never meet. She is near yet so far. I can’t endure this yearning. A wall of glass keeps us apart. The slow sleepy flow of time has silenced much of the sorrow here. and many unsaid things are lost in the heart. I heard a song, my heart choose her. What is this story that time tells me. If I am filled with sadness, She is forlorn too. Loneliness casts a shadow on our encounters. We meet and yet we do not meet. Flowers bloom and yet they do not. Springs in ours eyes and autumn in our hearts. The world around us is mellow Time is Slumbering. Lost and forgotten memories fill my heart. People may Imagine spring is here Love, too, is bewildered Fragrance upstages the flowers in the garden Hidden in the veil of nature is a touch of sorrow.