FilmIndia (Jan-Nov 1942)

FILMIND1A March 1942 "Well?" he said to Aril' when the horoscope was completed. "What is my destiny?" "Conquest," said the astrologer. "Victory after victory, and never a defeat; till men tremble at your name and the rumour of your coming. See here, Majesty — and here )> He unrolled the great parchment chart that he had made, and the two peered over it. "That is well; it is as I would have it," said Shah Alam Khan at length. "Tell me if you can, Arif — how far will my conquests extend? Five crowns adorn Zarzar's Tropny House today — how many shall there be in ten years to come?" Arif was silent, for a moment, and into his fathc-miess eyes there came the strange, blank look of one who beholds, though but dimly, things which are hidden from other men. "Majesty," he said at length, "I see not five crowns for you, but twenty. Nineteen shall lie in your Trophy House; Nineteen shall be yours by right cf might; but the twentieth crown you shall never wear in life." His voice died to silence, and the light of everyday came slowly back to his face. Shah Alam Khan stood smiling, with triumph in bis eyes. ♦ * * Tn the years that followed he fulfilled the astrologer's words with f.errible fidelity. Inspired by them, and encouraged by his unexpected victory over Yaghistan, he set cut to subdue the neighbouring countries one by one. For the most, part it was easy: they were little kingdoms, and his name was already a name of fear. Such resistance as they could offer was nothing to him who now had the armies of Yaghistan at his command, and the riches of Yaghistan with which to hire mercenaries. One by one they fell, the little kingdoms; and he added their land:; to his own and the crowns of their kings to the growing collection in his Trophy House. Had there been any unity among them they might have com bined to withstand him; but there was not. His arm stretched far. From the north, among the foothills of the mountains, to the sandy deserts of the south, nis conquests ran. He took Qila, whose king had never known defeat in fifty years' reign until Shah Alam Khan taught him that bitter lesson. He only threatened Hujra with attack; and Hujra, small and prosperous and timid, a land of merchants, not of warriors, opened its gates and surrendered hastily. He sent his spies to reconnoitre in far kingdoms and start the rumours of his coming; and their rulers rode at speed to parley with him rather than risk his wrath. Each year brought its triumphs; until e1 length no less than eighteen countries owned his sway, and in the Trophy House where all his pride was centered lay eighteen gold and jewelled crowns. "Majesty, reflect." said his counsellors. "All this vast prosperous land and never an heir to it. Were it not well that your Majesty should marry9" "Perhaps so," said Shah Alam Khan, who hitherto had not spared time to consider the matter. "Whom do you suggest as a bride?" "Majesty, there is the Begum of Kharah," said his counsellors. "She is young and said to be ravishingly lovely". "And her country lies just beyond my northern boundary and would match well with mine," said Shah Alam Khan. "That is a good suggestion. We will send an envoy to her at once." So it was done; and his envoy set cut for Kharah in splendid state, as befitted the messenger of so great a king. And in due course the envoy returned, bearing the Begum of Kharah's reply; and when Shah Alam Khan received it his brow grew thunderous; for incredible as such a thing would seem, the Begum had dared to reiuse. "Now let her look well to her defences; this is an insult I will brook from none!" roared Shah Alam Khan, and called his generals into consultation, and laid his plans and mustered his men, and marched upon Kharah. NON-VIOLENT VICTORY He looked to take it easily; he did not dream how easily. He knew it for a tiny, peaceable place, remote among its hills, untroubled by enemies and unused to war. He expected to encounter little resistance. He did net expect to encounter none at all. 71