1002 Arabian Nights

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<FONT size=5>The Thousandth and Second Night…</FONT>

<FONT size=5>We all know the story of the Arabian Nights, the story of a Persian king and his new bride. Upon discovering his former wife's infidelity, the king Shahryar, had her executed and then declared all women to be unfaithful. He began marrying a succession of virgins only to execute each one the next morning. Scheherazade, the vizier's daughter, offered herself as the next bride and her father reluctantly agreed. </FONT>

<FONT size=5>On the night of their marriage, Scheherazade narrates the king a tale, but does not end it. The king is thus forced to keep her alive in order to hear the conclusion. The next night, as soon as she finishes the tale, she begins (and only begins) another. So it goes for 1,001 nights. The story we have heard so often seemingly ends here…what we are not aware of is the fact that Scheherazade started a 1002^nd tale…not because she feared execution the next morning, but because her king, so in love with her tales now, pleaded that she do so.</FONT>

<FONT size=5>Thus began a tale, this time of physicians and apothecaries. It was a story quite unlike what the king had heard before. It had fun, it had laughter, it had a deceptive depth to characters, it had emotions, it had love and most importantly it had no evil witch, uncle, stepmother or brother. Engrossed as he was in the riveting tale, Shahryar waited the next night eagerly to see how this one ended. But Scheherazade had chosen a different routine this time around. As she was now free from the fear of execution, she no longer thought it necessary to end the tale to begin a new one and so she continued with the tale, each night adding a new dimension, another joke, an extra tear and a new revelation. </FONT>

<FONT size=5>By this time Scheherazade's fame at story-telling had spread far and wide and people trickled in from far and wide and for her daily narration. Soon the king noticed to his pride, the whole nation was under Scheherazade's spell night after night. The king had already displayed his tendency of letting his emotions get out of hand once, and there he was again, bitten by lust for fame and pride in his wife and he began participating in the narrative, adding his suggestions first few at a time.</FONT>

<FONT size=5>His audience welcomed the new twists in the tale ever night, hoping they would lead them to a land of unknown adventure, but with each new twist, the king thought of another and abandoned the earlier with not so much as a second glance. Scheherazade's narration continued, devoted as she was to her husband and now affected herself by her popularity, she never stopped to question the king's flights of fancy.</FONT>

<FONT size=5>The listeners squatted in the dust, women with children, students with books, people with jobs, wives with husbands…and each imaginative twist took a turn for the worst they prayed fervently that the story eventually redeemed itself. Soon, the prayers turned bellicose and while some faithful members rose up in arms against those with different sensibilities, the latter began to realise they were fighting a lost cause. </FONT>

<FONT size=5>Slowly the privileged enlightened walked back to their homes, heads hung in shame when they met other members of their families, but gracefully accepting that they had erred in investing so much in the now never ending, completely clueless tale of Scheherazade. The faithful few remained. They gasped at the appropriate moments, clapped with glee, seduced and were seduced by, wept, loved, danced, played, rode, fought and danced with the characters…Some occasionally raised their voice in protest, some never did. </FONT>

<FONT size=5>Those that left the audience noticed how over nights and nights of listening to the story, the remaining audience all seemed to take on each others' appearances, thus amalgamating into one face, one voice and one thought. They believed and rightly so that it must be witchcraft or sorcery of the evilest kind. What else could cause such loss of individuality and that too voluntary? They watched helpless and sometimes relieved that they escaped that bewitched state, from their windows. They knew that while they were the ones who were defectors, outsiders and rule breakers, soon, their side would brim over as, one by one, others too fought the spell and escaped to their world of sanity.</FONT>

<FONT size=5>They hoped against hope that not only would the defection be complete eventually, but that Scheherazade and Shahryar would eventually be narrating their now hopelessly irredeemable story to an empty theatre, while their once-upon-a-time audience slowly made their way back to their homes and their lives that had suffered neglect in their obsession…and we still do!</FONT>

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Whoa, Aartiiii!! What an amazing post!!
You've said it all, yaar!! What else can i add to it?

I completely agree with Anu.. about the secret desires of 'those' people!

OK finally something that brings me back here...n to the show,though momentarily(but is that not wat u want?because i've also realised how Scheherazade's tales have come a full circle..)but ofcourse there are loyal fans of Scheherazade's art ...die hard loyalists(if that's a word)

I can only say..i think i get the point.And that m grinning! 😃 😉

iffy!!!!u reserved the first place lik that...unfair!!!!!

Brilliant, Aarti! 👏 👏 👏

What a twist on the Arabian nights!!

Love this part especially:

Those that left the audience noticed how over nights and nights of listening to the story, the remaining audience all seemed to take on each others' appearances, thus amalgamating into one face, one voice and one thought. They believed and rightly so that it must be witchcraft or sorcery of the evilest kind. What else could cause such loss of individuality and that too voluntary? They watched helpless and sometimes relieved that they escaped that bewitched state, from their windows. They knew that while they were the ones who were defectors, outsiders and rule breakers, soon, their side would brim over as, one by one, others too fought the spell and escaped to their world of sanity.

You've put it across in such an interesting way! Rule breakers they were indeed! Ostracized! And it so seems like witchcraft sometimes! The magical hold that S&S have on the audience! You know what else is interesting....all these ppl who are still 'bewitched' and under the spell...in some way, it reflects their real selves...it's what they all secretly desire and they actually feel flattered when their deepest desires and wishes come true. It is sad and pathetic at the same time...to know that such mindsets exist.

Woah!!!Aarti, Nicely written as usual... am very happy to be in the company of the privileged enlightened.....and though its only a trickle as of now...hopefully at some point of the story the remaining audience realises that they are being taken for a ride and actually walk out!!!

what have this to do with Dill Mill Gaye?

Anu: Rightly said...and to know such mindsets exists in the tender age and that too in such large numbers is even more scary....

Originally posted by: missy14

what have this to do with Dill Mill Gaye?

Read it a little more carefully and you'll figure it out😊

iffy...u cheeky little thing!!

kangan...u led the way..