FilmIndia (Jan-Nov 1942)

May 1942 FILM INDIA "You are here in anger, Altunia," she said straightway. "It is written upon your countenance. Why?" "Begum", said Altunia, "strange tales have been brought to me of late, and I am come to ask you to refuto them." "Tales concerning us?" said Razia Sultana. "Concerning your Majesty personally. It is said, Lady, that your slave Jafar — " "My Master of the Horse," Razia Sultana corrected him. "This slave, I say, whom it has pleased your Majesty to ennoble over the heads of better men — it is said that you have lately made him free of your friendship to an unprecedented extent. That he is admitted to your fullest confidence in all things. That the ruby ring he flaunts on his right hand is of your bestowing. That you even allow him to lay hands upon you, lifting you to and from your saddle. Lady, this will not do. Even if the stories be exaggerated, they cannot have sprung up wholly without cause." "Wait!" Razia Sultana broke in sternly. "Do you call me to account for my actions? You forget whom you address." "I do not," said Altunia. "You, I think, Lady, forget that it was I who created you Queen, and set you on the throne; have a care lest I who made you be minded to unmake." "No man shall speak thus to me," said Razia Sultana. '\I do as I will, obeying no man's bidding." "Have a care, I say. I have been 3 good friend to you, and am still but I make a bad enemy." "Better an open foe than an uncertain fi?end," said Razia Sultana. He was a fierce-tempered man; nevertheless, with an effort, he controlled himself. "Lady," he said, "you are unwise. Think over my words; I do not threaten lightly." "And I do not forgive lightly," said Razja Sultana, at white heat. "Nor I. Better, therefore, that we should not quarrel." He went from her presence, and she summoned her counsellors, Jafar among them. Altunia she knew to be a man of his word, and quick to strike. So she strengthened her defences, and had her army ready; and when without delay he marched upon Delhi she was well prepared. Armour-clad, at the head of her troops, she herself rode forth not waiting for him to attack. WAR OF JEALOUSY They met outside the city walls, and joined battle on the instant. Hers was the greater force, but his came near to equalling it, for he had long been quietly gathering power to himself, and many chieftains who resented a woman's rule had rallied to his banner. So the battle raged long and terribly, and both sides suffered heavy losses; and Altunia's men pressed Razia Sultana's troops back, though with difficulty; for Razia Sultana, moving among them as fearlessly as a man, heartened them with her dauntless courage and the fact that she literally seemed to bear a charmed life. Her very immunity inspired them to fresh endurance. They did not know, nor she, that Altunia, being no fool, had given strict orders that she was to remain unharmed at all costs. It was not until her faithful Jafar, bleeding from a dozen wounds, fell at last, that her heart failed her — only for a moment, but that was enough. Altunia and his men, seeing their opportunity, charged forward, a surging, irresistible wave, and drove the defenders back to the very walls of the Palace and slew and captured as they would, and made Razia Sultana, righting desperately to the last, their prisoner. Victory, as Altunia knew it, was his. He marched into the city at the head of his men. It was a barren triumph; the streets were almost empty; no crowds acclaimed him; upon the faces of such as watched his entry was sullenness and no welcome. "To-morrow," said Altunia, "I will have speech with Razia Sultana, On that morrow he went in state tc the Diwan-e-Aam and he took his seat upon the throne that had been hers, and had her summoned to his presence before all his crowded court. She came, defiant still, her proud head high; she still wore the dinted armour that had served her well in that fierce battle. She was weary and most unhappy, but her eyes challenged him. "What more do you want of me, Altunia?" she asked Him without fear. "You have taken everything from me — my throne, my kingdom, my honour as a queen; have I then, still something left that you desire?" Altunia frowned; he would not admit how her scorn hurt him, and yet how his heart went out to her in admiration of her stark courage. He said instead, quietly, "Begum, yes. I hold the kingdom by capture, but that is all. If I have half the people on my side, the rest are on yours; it is a land divided against itself, and as much a prey to any robber chieftain who covets it or to your brothers should they be minded to tear in pieces among them. But were you and I united we could save it yet. Razia Sultana, here in all men's hearing I ask you to become my wife." The scorn did not leave her face. "Is that your ultimatum?" she asked bitterly. "Will not my friendship content you, if I acknowledge you as king and promise not to oppose you in return for my freedom?" "No", said Altunia. "I should still have half the people hating me for your sake. I ask your hand in marriage; I will make no lesser terms. That I t:wear by Allah himself!" "It is this marriage or the loss of my freedom?" said Razia Sultana. "A bitter choice. Give me, I beg you, one moment to consider." He waited, smiling a little; and she faced him with deep, inscrutable eyes, while all the court watched her, but did not look at 51