Story 2 - Part 8: The Political Figure

I hope I have not caused you any distress. I swear, with all the sincerity and devotion I have towards you, I don’t know how to express my thoughts. Yes, you will soon be in the good graces of the Khan of the Realm. The Khan holds you in high regard. And this is just the beginning! I have done everything I could in expressing my loyalty, and I have not spared any effort in praising you. You will see, I mentioned to His Excellency that Sheikh Ja’far is a well-regarded figure in every gathering, and he is hopeful that, with your assistance, the trouble caused by Faghfoor al-Dawlah, the traitor and enemy of the homeland, will soon be alleviated. The Khan of the Realm is not one to forget his friends, and unlike Faghfoor al-Dawlah, he would never turn against us. If only you knew how much I did for Faghfoor al-Dawlah when he became Prime Minister! After that, he didn’t even remember our name, nor did he leave us a place to stand. The Khan is a man of integrity, and for the time being, a small sum has been sent for expenses, which will be delivered to you in time. God willing, everything will be settled.”

Suddenly, I found a bag of money in my hand, and I was startled. It was as if I had been caught in a scheme. At first, I didn’t understand what was going on or why all this flattery and deceit was happening. But gradually, the words of this person came back to me, and I realized what had been happening. The Khan had been bribed by Faghfoor al-Dawlah and had heard of my name. He wanted to use me to set up Faghfoor’s downfall. Well, good for us, we’re decent men after all. I laughed heartily at the thought.

At that moment, the bag of money fell to the ground, and its contents scattered all over the courtyard like coins. They rolled around, like chicks running from a dog. Just then, the door opened, and I heard a familiar voice. It was Haji Ali. As soon as he saw the coins, he made a face and said, “Ah, it seems that instead of the old cotton in your house, you now have Empress coins falling. Well, thank God, the sound of Gabriel’s wings is better than the sound of the camel driver’s bow! It seems you’ve finally solved your troubles, and now you’ve sold your soul to find money!”